〈…〉 a young man named Thomas White. We made what haste we could to the river Charroll, intending (had we been pursued) to swim over it; but finding the coast clear, we kept the bank about a mile, and then leaving it, took the North Pole for our guide; and (that we might avoid the danger of His Majesty's Scouts) declined all high ways, and villages, crossed over ploughed lands, enclosed pastures, high hedges, and deep mierie ditches, till we came into the open fields. Having journied thus all night the morning light began to appear, and discovered unto us, that we were not full ten miles from Oxford, though, I think, had we gone in a direct line, we might have been twenty.  
My body was much weakened by my long restraint, wet I was in my feet, weary, hungry and thirsty, but 'twas no time to linger now, nor any secure place was there for refreshment: on I must. Well after a 40-miles circuit, my companion and I with joyful hearts arrived at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, where we met with two more of our fellow-prisoners, and were all of us courteously received, and beyond our expectation relieved by the worthy Commanders, and other Gentlemen of that garrison, whose favour and bounty I shall ever acknowledge with a thankful heart.  
I was requested by some of those worthy Gentlemen to set down briefly the usage of the prisoners in Oxford, 'twas my duty to satisfy their desires, and I have done it as succinctly as I could, leaving the full prosecution and farther enlargement of so sad a story to him, who shall hereafter write a second book of Martyrs. The Reader shall find nothing here, but what I either felt, or saw, or else received by information from those, who have drawn their proofs from their own woeful experience.  
The persons imprisoned I shall reduce to these 3. heads. 1. Gentlemen, under which title I comprehend Parliament men, Commanders, and the Officers in the Parliaments Army. 2. Ministers. 3. Common Soldiers, such I mean, as did bear arms, or else such Yeomen and men of inferior quality, who were taken prisoners to fill up the number, though so fare from making opposition, that they were only following their Country affairs, and husbandry in the fields.  

1. Gentlemen.  
1. The Gentlemen whom I found in the Castle, when I was first imprisoned, were these; Captain Wingate, a member of the House of Commons, he was kept close prisoner in a little room, and not suffered so much as to take the air for his health's sake, by which means he grew very sickly; Captain Walton a member of the House of Commons, Captain Scroop, Captain Lidcot, Captain Austin, Captain Catseby, Captain Vivers, and Captain Lilburne, all close prisoners, their friends not permitted to speak with them; yea some of their wives were denied access. Captain Lilburne was put in irons, Capt. Scroop and Capain Walton being chamber fellows, had their bed taken from them by that barbarous Smith, who threatened to tie their necks and heels together. Some had their liberty sometimes to walk in the Castle court (a little stinking yard, and the only place, that the prisoners had to ease nature, Smith not permitting any, no not with a keeper, to go to any other upon that necessity) and those were Sir William Essex Knight, Cap. Fleming. Capt. Primrose a Scotchman, Capt. Haslewood, Cap. Scotchforth, and Mr. Ingram, who made an escape, Lieut. Dingly, Lieut. Fuller, Lieut. Lindsey a Scot, Liut. Cotterell, Ensign adam's, Mr. Moody and Mr. Ellis both of the liveguard to his Excellency the Earl of Essex.  
When Marleborough was taken were brought in Mr. John Franklin Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, Lieut. Col. Ramsey, and a Sergeant Major (whose name I remember not) both Scotchmen, M. Brown. and young Cap. Franklin. About the same time were brought in Captain Hamilton, and Captain Forbes both Scotchmen.  
After the taking of Cyrencister, Mr. George a Member of the House of Commons, Lieut. Col. Carr a Scot, whose valour was much spoken of for his once or twice repulsing P. Rupert's forces, when they had entred the Town, with many other Captains and country gentlemen were imprisoned in the same Castle: most of these (nay that worthy Commander himself Mr. Carr did not escape) were, when they were taken, stripped of their clothes, and put into old filthy rags: most of them also, when they were with us, were constrained for a time to quarter on the bare boards: how long they continued so I know not, for within 4. or 5. days after I myself was cast into a dungeon, and saw them no more.  
How inhumanly the monster Smith dealt with these worthy Gentlemen their own Petition to His Majesty with the Articles exhibited, or at least that were to be exhibited against the said Smith, will in due time demonstrate. I must crave pardon, if I have, or shall fall in the cacographie of the names of men, or places.   

2. Ministers.  
2. The Ministers who were prisoners in the Castle were these, M. Harvert of Banbury, who was (when I was put into the Dungeon) close prisonet, on whom some vile persons cast many base calumnies, & most false aspersions; but when upon examination his innocency appeared, he might have been released upon the taking of a new Protestation, which was in many things (as I conceive) quite contrary to that which was framed by the Parliament, and sent into all parts of the Kingdom, which new Protestation he refusing was still detained. Doctor Claiton, what he was charged with I could never (though I were sometimes his chamber-fellow) understand from him. Mr. Gregor●e of Cyrencister, and Mr. Stanvill, a neighbour Minister of his, who in their passage towards Oxford, were not only despitefully, but most sordidly abused. The terms of Cobblers, Tinkers, and Tub-preachers put upon them: yea these Atheistical wretches asked them inderision, Where is now your God? Mr. Stanvils lodging, when he first came to us, was on an old Mat on the ground. There was but one Minister more, namely myself, the meanest I confess of all the rest.  
The Lords residing at Oxford issued forth a kind of Proclamation (I know not what fit name to give it) to secure those of the adjacent villages, who following their lawful occasions should repair to Oxford: business of importance brought me thither, which when I had dispatched I went to the Inn for my horse, but 'twas taken away by one Cap. Whitley, who seized on it, because he was informed, that I was a round-head (a great crime you see is laid to my charge) when I demanded my horse of Whitley, he committed me, and in my passage towards prison I and the Officer with me met Smith the Marshal, who carried me before the Lord chief Justice Heath, who upon examination of the matter seemed angry with the Officer, that contrary unto the late published Order I should be so injuriously dealt with, told me that I should not be wronged, and gave me many good words, wherein he was fruitful, but proved at last very barren in his actions. I took my leave of his Lordship, and depatted, presuming, that I was not only a freeman, but conceiving also a probability of getting nay horse again: but I was no sooner gone from my Lord's presence, but the Catch-poude Smith laid hands on me again, and sent me to the Castle, From whence I twice petitioned Sir Robert Heath, that either some charge might be made good against me, or else that he would be pleased to grant me my liberty. But because I rejected the new Protestation (for he was made acquainted with it) he also rejected my Petitions; so imposing a necessity of taking that Protestation, which doth (if we respect the letter itself) give liberty to accept; or refuse it.  
After a fortnight's imprisonment, Smith tells me, that there is no charge against me; and if I will take the Protestation, and pay my sees, I shall be released. When I had read the Protestation, I gave Smith a fair answer, hoping to obtain my freedom without yielding to his conditions: but the man grew choleric, and commanded me to answer directly whether I would take it or not. I told him plainly, I could not. Upon this he cursed me bitterly, and put me out of my chamber, so that for a fortnight I was forced to make the boards my bed, many times was I solicited by Smith, but seeing he could not prevail, after about ten week's imprisonment in the Castle, and after he had sound beaten me with his cane, he put me in the dungeon at Bridewell, & how it was with me there you shall hear anon.  
And by the way I cannot but make known the unkindness of Dr. Radcliffe, Principal of Brasennose College, & his injustice towards me I was his Curate in the Country, after I was by the maliciousness of some people driven from a small Living which I had in Oxford: how I was oppressed by the base calumnies and violent deal of those men, will appear hereafter. Nine weeks was I in prison, and yet would not the Doctor, though resident in Oxford, in all this time send after me, to inquire, whether I were living or dead: here is his unkindness. And when after so long a season, I had gotten an opportunity of writing (paper and Ink being before kept from me) and desired of him that money (which was justly due to me for my pains in his Cure) he returned me this answer, that he would not pay me one penny; there was his injustice: and when I was in the dungeon, he gave out menacing speeches (as I am informed by persons of credit) that when Smith had done tormenting me, he himself would begin: and I may add in this he shown his cruelty: but I leave him to his bags of gold and silver, though perhaps the Soldiers will not.   

3. Common Soldiers.  
3. Whom you are to understand by common Soldiers, I have expressed before. I found not many of these in the Castle at my first entrance. But after nine or ten day's space, there were nine score persons brought from Marleborough, wet and very dirty, who, after their coards were taken off, were put up into an high Tower, and lodged upon the boards: the rooms were so stuffed with them, that they could not lie down one by another; I went to comfort them, and to pray with them, as oft as I could get leave; and by that means was a more frequent spectator of their miseries, than other men; at last I was threatened, that if I did not forbear, I should be shut up into the same place with them. On these poor souls, did the Viper Smith exercise his more than savage cruelty: He allowed them but five farthings a day, so that many of them grew very sick; all very weak. Smith was often solicited to show more mercy: but his answer was still; Hang them damned rogues, villain traitors, the Devil take them, they are too well used; nay, when some of them were ready to expire, and he acquainted therewith; nay, when some were brought and laid before his face, yet would not this inhuman wretch suffer any thing to be administered to them for their recovery, so that they died.  
Most of these men being pinched with hunger and thirst were brought even to the gates of death, and now there began to be a great cry amongst them forbread, and water; but Smith, and his officers denied them both, though a river ran under the Castle-wales. When some of them were brought forth for examination, and other ends, they drank the water wherein most of the gentlemen had washed their hands, they drank the rain water in the Castle court, and (as I have been credibly informed) some of them have drank their own piss. By this means Smith presumed, that he had made them pliable, and like soft wax fit to receive any impresion, and therefore tells them, that so many of them, as would take the protestation, and pay their fees should be released; Many yielded, and with great charge purchased their liberty, of some of these poor men Smith received above twenty pounds a man for their sees, they that refused were put up again in their old mew, & now the tiger Smith began to rage against them worse than ever, & after a season, when they were extreme hungry, sent this message to them that as many as would take the protesttation should have a penny worth of cheese every day, and shortly after their liberties; Many poor souls embraced the offer, and protested, but within three days their cheese was denied them, and their liberty too, unless they would pay large fees, or serve under one of his majesties Cap: or be Smith's servants. Most of these some way or other obtained their freedom, but some still held out, and utterly refused the protestation, to the greatest part of whom God hath since given a gracious deliverance.  
The fame (or rather the infamy) of Smiths cruelty began to fly through town and country; Money was sent to the poor prisoners from their friends and other charitably persons, but sometimes they fared little the better for it, for if Smith knew it, he would take it from them, it was an usual thing with him to pick men's pockets; It may be, it had been formerly his trade. If they bought meat, his servants, if they found it would eat it from them. Many of the proore prisoners were wounded and one Mr. Bettresse an honest Chirurgeon of the town doing his best to ' cure them, was requited with Smiths cruelty, who twice imprisoned him, who having after much importunity and payment of large fees procured his liberty, durst not visit his Patients any more, so that their wounds stanke and festered, and some of them died.  
This bloody persecutor Smith, more cruel than those in Queen Mary's days (for he hath been the death of many a man, and I am persuaded, that had not there been secret ways to convey food to them that many scores of these Marleborough men had perished for want of it) hath beaten many, wounded some, exercised cruelty towards all; some hath he tied neck and heels together for the space of 44. hours not suffering them to have one bit of bread, or drop of water, some have been tied after that manner three Weeks without intermision having only enough to keep life and soul together: and all this, either because, they called for bread, and water, or for that, they refused the Protestation, and at last those poor souls, that refused, were conveyed from the Castle to Bridwell, and there put some of them into a dungeon, and the rest (for the dungeon would not receive all) into a little base cold room on the top of the house.  
Not long after their departure, Smith in his fury calls me to him, strickes me on the face, head, and arms with his Cane, and then after many a bitter Curse, and blasphemous Oath (and yet this bloody Atheist would be thought to be one, that defends the Protestant Religion) calls me Rogue, and Traitor, and charges me with dissuading the Prisoners from taking the Protestation, would not suffer me to answer for myself, but presently causes me to be bound with a Cord, and so carried through the Marketplace (it was on the Market-day) and commanded them, that guarded me, to tell the people, that I was a Tub Preacher, and then to clap me into the dungeon at Bridwell; they executed their commands with great exteritie. The dungeon was full of people, so that being straightened for want of room, I was driven to sit all night for 3. weeks together on the bottom of the Dungeon stairs, it stanke greivously, no lodging was there, but the bare ground, no house of office but the same place (in some places of it a man might have gone almost over his shoes in piss.) Our fare was only water, and a penny worth of bread once in 24. hours. sometimes penny half penny, and for 4. or 5. days 2. pennyworth. Money we had some of us, but nothing could we buy for it, the master of the Bridewell was put in prison for relieving us, two keepers set over us, and charged on pain of death not to permit any person to speak with us, we had no place for the easement of nature but that where we were in, both night & day, also sickpeople were forced in the same place to empty their stomaches, so that the stinch of the place was enough to poison us.  
The Cyrencester men (for some of them were brought out of the churches thither) that were imprisoned over us, died daily, many among ourselves grew extreme sick, and we all feared the plague. We petitioned Smith to be removed to some other place, or at least that the sick men might; he denied both. We petitioned again, that the sick men might have nourishment convenient for their weak estates, he answered us, that they should have nothing but bread and water, and if in case they died, should be cast on a dunghill; we saw nothing but death before our eyes, whereupon some of our company went to work with their knives, and in time with those weak instruments, and a little piece of timber, that was leftcarelesly amongst us, made a hole through the dungeon-wall ('twas a thick wall built with soft freestone, and therefore the more secable) out of which most of us issued, that were in health, leaving behind us 5 sick persons nigh unto death. Those a so that were in the little chamber on the top of the house, being formerly acquainted with the whole business, opened their door, and whilst the keepers were sleeping, or otherwise negligent, got to the hole, where we received our bread, and water, cut it or tore it wider, I know not whether (for I was gone some hours before) came into the dungeon, & so through the same place that we did.  
Many footsteps of Gods immediate providence might be seen before, and in the very act of our deliverance. Some of our Company got out the Lords day late at night; I, myself, and some others durst not go forth then, fearing the watch. The hole, which was towards a Baker's yard, was open Monday all day, only a stone set against it, and yet not discerned, when in the Evening I and some 4. more had gotten out, and durst not, because the streets were full of people, presently leap over the Baker's Wall, on a sudden one in the same yard came with a Candle behind us, whom we thought to have been our Keeper, and therefore hastily leapt altogether into the street, and yet were not taken notice of by those that passed to, and fro in it, neither was the hole discerned by the fellow with the Candle, though he were close by it, but the rest of our company afterwards escaped out.  
We, who have thus seen the salvation of God, may say with thankful hearts: God is the Lord by whom we escaped death, the Lord looseth the prisoners; blessed be our strong Rock, and praised be the God of our salvation.   

Postscript.  
By way of Postscript, I must acquaint you with some things Omitted.  
1. Cyrencester men were barbarously dealt with, before their coming to Oxford, and in their passage to it: most of them were stripped of their , some of their very shirts, so that many amongst them, were almost naked, they weredriven like Horses in the Cart-ways; and when they came to Oxford, wet and dirty, as they were, almost up to the middle, were put in Churches, where many of them were starved by Smith, who would not ●ermit their wives or sisters to come at them, & many their flesh even rotting from their bones died for want of Surgeons. I believe also, that many of those, that were Ransomed, will scarce ever recover their former strength again, so cruelly were they handled by this Serpent Smith, but I hope that some one or other will fully set out to the view of all the World their sufferings, and Smiths unparralled Cruelty.  
2. There are 2. Smiths, both Marshals of his Majesty's Army: one of them Provost Martial general, a sluxen-heaired man, and this is the Smith mentioned in this Discourse. The other Marshal of the Horse, a tall big fellow, and has been formerly (as some say) a Fencer, a man of a bloody mind also.  
3. Smiths Fees for a Gentleman are 20. shillings, for a Minister (but I must entreat him to forbear me a while) ten shillings, and for a Common Soldier 〈◊〉. shillings a day, so long as they continue under him.  
FINIS.