A Brief Account OF THE Illegal Proceed and SINFUL DOCTRINES of JAMES BEDFORD Priest of Blunsome and Earith in Huntingdon SHIRE, Who by many hath been esteemed eminent, and above all the Priests in the Isle of Ely for his opposing the People called QUAKERS.  
This is to discover his fruits and Doctrines both to Rulers, Priests and people, that both Rulers, Priests and people may see the iniquity that is upheld amongst them, and which many of the Priests still persist in; this is to discover to them a little of their abomination (among much more that they are found in and of the horrible and filthy thing that is committed in the Land, and in particular by James Bedford Priest of Blunsome and Earith in Huntingdon Shire, that so they that will uphold or countenance these Priests in their iniquities may be left without excuse, and they that love their souls may save themselves from that perverse generation, who are destroyers both of bodies and souls for dishonest gain, because of whose iniquities the Nations deeply suffers and wants the true establishment; for it is Right ousnesse that establisheth a Nation, and Iniquity that confounds and imbondageth it; So mark the following account, which is as it was certified from the hands of some of the Sufferers hereafter mentioned, who are known to be credible and honest men.  
London, Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1660.   

The said Priest Bedford his proceed against John Cranwell of Earith for the four years' p●st, etc.  
THe two former years he the said Priest Bedford came into John Cranwells f●…ld and took 4 Lambs without leave, and sent his men for Tithe Wool at shear-day, but John Cranwells refused to give him any (because he was convinced in his conscience that Tithes now in the priesthood of Christ ought not to be paid, and that it was not equity that he should maintain such a Minister as he is not taught by) whereupon the said Priest Bedford sent his men and unlocked John Cranwells barn door, and took away as much wool as they thought good, and also took away of his Hay and Corn what they would, and did cast John Cranwell into Huntingdon Goal; So the Priest having dealt thus illegally (and as appears being convicted in his conscience of the unlawfulness of this his proceed.) The two last years, the Priest said he would go on Legally, in the year 1658. he did fetch a warrant for John Cranwell to bring him before two Justices to show cause why John had not set forth his Tithe, which I C. did show before Justice Pedley and Robert Vintner, so after some words passed, they called three men to be sworn; then they did ask them what Lambs and sheep John Cranwell had that year, and what Hay and Corn, and what they did value the Tithe of them to be worth that year; and they did value it at 12 l. almost; but if John would pay the Priest, they said they would abate twenty shillings, John told them he oweth the Priest nothing, nor would give him any thing; Then they said they would make a warrant for fifteen pounds, which they did; And a while after Priest Bedford came with the Constable and took three Cows which was with calf, which the Constable said was worth 15. l. also they took, Carts, and 4 pair of wheels which also was worth 15. pound, but they brought three again, and kept one of them, (viz. the best) worth six pounds, and so they took one and twenty pounds worth of goods for Tithes demanded but to the value of twelve pounds, according to their own account. But mark how this said Priest hath added to his Iniquity, In the year 1●59. the said James Bedford the priest came violently with two rude fellows with him upon john Cranwells ground, and the priest said to john Cranwells Son that he came for Tithe Hay, and john's Son discharged them off his father's ground, and the Priest said he did not care for that, he came for his deuce; so john's Son whipped away their horses (when the Priest would not remove them) upon which one of the Priests men swore that if he whipped away their horses again, he would run his fork into his belly, than the Priest said he would bear him harmless if it cost him an hundred pounds, and the Priest then threatened to overthrow john Cranwells Cart, which Cart stood then loaden upon john's own ground a little way off them; and john's son putting away the Priests horses again, (notwithstanding his and his men's threaten) the Priest road galloping, and striving to make john Cranwells horses overthrow the Cart; and john Cranwels' Son told the Priest it was a shame for him to take away his Father's goods in that manner; the Priest said he could find in his heart, if he were not a Minister, to come off his horse and whip john Cranwells Son; so the Priest forcibly took away what Hay he would.  
And moreover the Priest his men came by night, & bound up and carried away half an acre, and half another half acre of Jo. Cranwells wheat, and about the worth of another rood of wheat the Priest took away for small Tithe, as he said.  
And the said Priests men violently took away of Jo. Cranwells Barley & pease as much as they would, never setting out the Tithe, so that the quantity of or worth of all I. Cs. Goods which this Priest hath taken away cannot be certainly known, he hath taken away so much in such an illegal & felonious manner, as all that reads this may judge, and see what fruits are brought forth by these Teachers in this Nation, who profess to be Ministers of the Gospel, and to take the cure of souls, when thus they are found in Robbery and oppressing the people, and to these unjust proceed they take the more Liberty from the Rulers not putting a stop to them, pretending they have the Law & Government on their sides.  
To all the aforesaid wicked actings of Priest Bedford, those whose names are hereunto annexed, can testify the truth of the same, Richard Catlin, Stephen Chody, Matthew Peacock, Bennet Cranwell.  
And likewise take notice of the further Illegal proceed of the said James Bedford against Thomas Purcas of Blunsome; as first of all in the year, 1655. it seemed not enough for the said Priest Bedford to cast Thomas Purcas into prison, but after he was forth of prison, sent his men to the land of the said Thomas Purcas, and took away what of his Hay and Corn they would. And also at another time the said Priest sent his man into his yard, and fetched away a Pig after a felonious manner, and said his Master would bear him harmless. Moreover in the year 1658. the said James Bedford cast the said Thomas Purcas into prison again, where he continued nine weeks, and after he was forth of Prison, he sent his men upon the land of the said Thomas Purcas, and took away from him what they would, as aforesaid. And moreover in the year 1659. Priest Bedford himself came upon a land of the said Thomas Purcas, & beat off the said Thomas his Team, and took away all the Grain of that Land except three Sheaves; And yet notwithstanding all this his so wicked actings, his covetousness in all this was not satisfied, but sent his men to another land of the said Thomas, and out of six shocks took away five and left but one, and his servant Thomas Bar by force pulled away the sheaves out of the said Thomas his cart, and other of his men at several other times did the like.  To all which aforesaid several actions done by the said Priest and his men, there are many witnesses can testify the same; wherefore men may here plainly see what spirit this Priest Bedford is of, and in what paths he walks, even in the steps of the false prophets which Christ prophesied of, which should appear in sheep's clothing, but inwardly ravening Wolves, as by his fruits aforesaid he is made manifest, Mat. 7.15. 
And now seeing this said Priest Beford hath been had in great esteem for an eminent disputant against the Quakers, and after a meeting that John Whitehead had with him at Hadnam in the I'll of Ely, Justice Castle of Hadnam did esteem of this Priest Bedford above all the Priests in the I'll of Ely, in saying That he had done more (in disputing against John Whitehead) than any Minister in the I'll of Ely would have done, and so he set him above all the Priests in that I'll, (though his folly and confusion was plainly manifest both at that meeting and other places;) Therefore take notice of some of the Priests Doctrines here, from whence the Readers hereof may easily judge what an ignorant company of Priests they have in the I'll of Ely, if this Priest Bedford be above them all.  
Pr. At the said meeting, he the said Priest Bedford denied that every man is enlightened with a spiritual Light, and affirmed that the light within led men to murder, instancing for his proof, John 16.2. and Paul's persecuting the Saints.  
Answ. Christ is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World, and his light with which he enlightens every man is Spiritual; so the Priest in saying that the light within led men to murder, he hath blasphemed against the Light of Christ, who came not destroy men's lives but to save them; and the gifts of his light or grace which he gives freely unto mankind, are of the same Nature that Christ is of from whence they flow forth, and what Paul did in persecuting the Saints, he did it ignorantly and not by the light, for the light shown him his transgression in so doing, and they spoken of John 16.2. who thought they did God service in killing the Saints were not led by the light, for they and their thoughts were deceived by him who was a murderer from the beginning.  
Pr. At a meeting which was at Blunsome Steeplehouse the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, where George Whitehead opposed the said Priest Bedford, the Priest scoffed at quaking and trembling, judging it to be of the Devil, as also he did at falling down (as some have done when they were smitten by the power of God.)  
Ans. Here the priest scoffed at the power of God, and reproached its work, which caused Moses to quake, and David's flesh to tremble, and him to morn all the day long, and the word of the Lord said unto Ezekiel, Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and Paul fell down to the earth when he was smitten, and he trembled, and said work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and john fell down at the feet of Christ; many more examples might be shown for this against Pr. Bedford's blasphemy, whom we ask if it was not the power of God that caused the Devils to tremble? Surely he is not come so fare as the devils were, to acknowledge the power of God, when they confessed to the Name of Jesus, Eze. 12.17, 18. Acts, 9.4.6. Rev. 1.17.  
Pr. Bedford scoffed at the Quakers silent meeting, and called it a Ridiculous Foppery.  
Ans. So he might as well have scoffed at job and his Friends for sitting upon the ground together in silence seven days and seven nights, job. 2.13. ch. 3.1. And at Ezekiel, who witnessed the like, Ezek. 3.15, 16, 17. And saith the Lord, keep silent O ye Islands before me, and let the People renew their strength; so the Prophets and Holy men of God knew a time to be silent and a time to speak, and in silence they waiting renewed their strength.  
Pr. Bedford much scoffed at going naked; Instancing a friends going naked in Cambridge.  
Ans. So he would have scoffed at the Prophet Isays, going naked and barefoot for a sign and a wonder, Isa. 20. and at saul's being naked a day and a night when the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and therefore it was said is Saul also among the Prophets? 1 Sam. 19.23, 24. And some of the servants of the Lord in this age, have been moved to go naked, for a sign to those whose shame and nakedness the Lord would discover, as he hath done the priest's nakedness, and the Scholars of Cambridge their shame and filthiness, since the friend went naked there.  
Pr. Affirmed that the Quakers tread under foot the word of God, in denying the Scriptures to be the Word.  
Ans. This is also a lie and a slander, for we own the Scriptures in their place in owning that to be the Word which they say is the Word, and that is God and Christ, who was before the Scriptures (which is the writings) were; wherein are the words that God spoke, but the word was before the words or writings were.  
Pr. Affirmed that all the Scriptures from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation is the word of God, and that the Devils words are the word of God.  
Ans. So you may see here this priest makes no distinction between the Devil's words (which are in many places recorded in the Scripture) and the word of God, but in counting the Devils words the word of God, he would here make the Devil a Minister of God's word, and here all may see his blasphemy, for the Devil was a liar from the beginning, as he was when he tempted the woman, and spoke quite contrary to what God had said, Gen. 3.3, 4.  
Pr. That the Colleges were not built by the Papists, for he said the College at jerusalem was before the Papists were, 2 Kin 22.14.  
Ans. See what a silly priest this is, the College (so called) at Jerusalem was but one, and there's no mention of any being made Ministers at it; but that Huldah a Prophetess dwelled in that College, who spoke the words of the Lord, such a one as the priests will not allow to preach; but here are many Colleges in England, at Oxford and Cambridge, which this priest Bedford could not clear from being built by Papists. Also this Priest Bedford's deceit and lies against the people of God called Quakers, was taken notice of in many other things which he read in a book, as he had gathered them out of the priests books; and that he durst not at all fairly dispute with G. Whithead at the said meeting, but filled up much of the time with vain stories, lies, and scoffing, laughing, and filthy talk not fit to be mentioned, of which many of his hearers were so ashamed, till many of them cried out against him, and some said he was mad, and others asked what he was else but a beast? When he spoke much of a Quakers calling him a beast, which he was proved to be from Titus. 1.10.11, 12, 13. And thus poor people have long been led captive by such profane priests as this, whose profaneness is gone abroad, and will remain upon record for future ages, by whose iniquities the soul of the Righteous is grieved, and this Nation greatly suffereth by reason of such profane Teachers, who are the Leaders that cause the people to err: And how can ever a Nation be settled in peace, while such are upheld by the Rulers to be leaders of the people as oppress them, whose practices and principles tends to the rum both of bodies and souls, let the serious consider it, and the people lay it to heart.  
G. W.   
THE END.