A True and Strange RELATION OF THE Travels, Adventures, and great Persecution of FOUR Eminent Quakers Who in the Year 1680, Traveled through France, Italy, and Turkey, to promote their RELIGION.  
Wherein is fully Declared the Designs, Endeavours and Attempts of these Zealous Quakers, for the Conversion of the Great TURK and the POPE.  
With a perfect Account Of the Event and Success of the Business, and of all the most remarkable Passages. As also a faithful Relation of their private Discourses and Disputes which passed between these Quakers and the Pope, the Cardinal his Cousin, and Cardinal Pool.  
Also of their VOYAGE to Constantinople, And of their most Barbarous, cruel and bloody Death, by the Special Command of the Chief Governor the Great Turk.  
Who caused their Hands to be chopped off, their Tongues to be cut out, and their Eyes bored out, and each Man to have a sharp Wooden Stake run in at his Fundament quite through his Body.  
Faithfully and compendiously related by John Elias Esq; who was an Eye-witness to a great part of these Transactions in Constantinople.  
With Allowance.  
Printed for I. Clerk, at the Bible and Harp in West-smithfield, 1681.   

The True and strange Relation of the Travels, Adventures, and great Persecution, of four Eminent QUAKERS, etc.  
IT was towards the end of March, in the year 1670, that John Watson, William Stubbs, Nathaniel Golden, and Rowland Jenkins, all eminently known to be Leading-men among the Quakers: It was I say, about that time that these men said they had the Spir it of Burning, and the Holy Anointing in them, and were called and sent by God to preach the Everlasting Gospel to the Nations and Heathens. And they said that the Child Jesus within them, had assured them of great success, and that the Lord would be wonderfully with them in this Dispensation, that they should break the Bread of Life to the Nations, and that the Springs of Life should break forth out of their Bellies It is a wonder to see what strange effects and boldness these Enthusiastical persuasions and Fanatical Dreams caused in these poor men. They were now swelled with hopes and expectation of Wonders. They now resolved to leave England, and embark for France, and begin this great work of converting Nations and Heathens.  
Reader, I do intent to give you a true and impartial account of these men's actions in Foreign parts, as I have received it from their own mouths, and also been fully and faithfully informed by several other persons of known worth and Integrity, who were eye-witnesses to the same.  
John Watson was a Gentleman of a pretty considerable estate and been well Educated, he had spent some years at the University, and had also formerly been a Traveller into France, Spain, and Italy, all which Languages he throughly understood, and spoke very fluently. The other three were plain Countrymen, and knew no other Language but their own, but persuaded themselves t●ey should have the Gift of Tongues, and be endued with power from above.  
In Easter Week they took Shipping at Dover, and were soon wasted over to Calis. I find not that they had any Impulse of Spirit to say or attempt any thing, but that they traveled on very peaceably and quietly, paying for what they had, and so came to the great City Paris, where they spent two days only, and then advanced towards Lions, where they continued about a Fort night. Here it was that the tumultuous Spirit began first to show itself to the French Nation. On April 27. William Stubbs said he had received a command from God to speak; and he signified as much to John Watson and the rest. On the next day which was Sunday, about 10 of the Clock in the Forenoon, they went all four to the great Cathedral, or St. John's Church; where they were celebrating high Mass (as they call it) about the middle of the Mass, William Stubbs on a sudden climbs over the Rails and goes up to the High Altar, where as he was beginning his Discourse in English (for as yet he had not received his gift of tongues) the Church-Officers presently lay hands on him and carry him out, and commit him to Prison until the next day. On Monday the Officers have him before the Magistrate, who refuses to meddle in this case, but causes him forthwith to be sent to the Archbishop. The Archbishop is highly offended with him for his bold attempt and resolves to punish him with all severity imaginable, he remits him to Prison, and orders that the next day at 10 of the Clock in the monrning, he be brought before him again. On Tuesday he is strictly examined what his intentions were, and how he durst be so bold to commit so great a Crime in so public and confident manner; His answers were altogether impertinent, and withal so saucy, that the Bishop sent him to the House of Correction where he was sound lashed. On Friday morning the Bishop ordered him to be brought before him again; and seemed to be much incensed against this poor Quaker: Now the reason why his Grace was so fierce against this poor man, was, because of his Servants had maliciously suggested to him that he was set on and encouraged to offer this public affront to their Divine Service, by some of the Hagonot Ministers; which was a most malicious untruth, for as yet these Quakers had not had any of the least correspondence or converse with any Protestant in France, as they did all very soberly attest to me in Italy. The Bishop was resolved to give him a full hearing, and to sift the business to the bottom. He asked him if he was not set on to this irreverent action by the Huguenot Ministers? He replied no, he was moved by the Spirit of God within him, and that it was the Spirit of Burning and the Holy Anointing that had caused him to do as he had done. And here he entered into a long discourse, telling the Archbishop, and the Canons who were there present, that the Law of God was written upon men's hearts, and that now the time was come that they should be taught of God. Now the Lords people were all to be Prophets, they were all to have fresh Springs arise in their hearts. And that the Lord had sent him and three Friends more into these parts, to break the bread of Life to the Nations, to open the hidden Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom, to overthrow the Babylonish Practices of Rome, to break the Serpent's Head, and wound the great Leviathan.  
The Archbishop, the Canons, and the whole Company were much astonished at this man's confidence, and his wild and Frantic discourse and answers, and began now to relent, and to pity this poor man, and look upon him as a Madman, and one out of his senses, and so accordingly gave order to have him to the Hospital of Mad People, and there carefully to be looked after until he gave further order.  
About a week after this, 3 English Gentlemen hearing what had passed, and how that an English man who was mad, was committed to the Hospital of Madmen: The Gentlemen went immediately to the Hospital to inquire the truth of the matter, when they came, the Keeper very courteously informed them of the whole business, brought them to the sight of Stubbs; who was locked up in a small Cell by himself, and an Iron Chain about his Leg, and his head shaved (for it is the custom there to shave all mad people.) When the Gentleman came in, they found him sitting in a melancholy sullen posture: he would not so much as look up or speak one word to them, for the space of above an hour, notwithstanding they spoke very kindly to him, and asked him concerning his condition, and the causes of his Distemper, and promised him all the assistance and kindness that lay in their power: at last this sullen Spirit was overcome, and he began to enter into a long discourse of the Spirit within him, and that God had sent him and his three friends to break in pieces the great Leviathan of Rome. Now the Gentlemen quickly perceived his Spirit, and plainly discovered him to be no Madman, but a Quaker. They asked him concerning his other friends where they were? And withal promised to do their utmost for his Releasement, and so giving the Keeper some Money to be kind to their Countryman, they bid him farewel. At evening they went to the Inn to visit the other three Quakers, and had much discourse with them, endeavouring to persuade them to desist from this so hazardous and fruitless an enterprise, and speedily to return to their own Country, demonstrating the great dangers and inconveniences they would thrust themselves upon, if they did still persist, or any farther prosecute this fond and ridiculous undertaking; and so they parted. The next day they addressed to the Archbishop, who was pleased to entertain them with much civility and respect. They returned humble thanks to his Grace for his greatcare of their Countryman, in sending him to such a place where he was so well accommodated in all things in order to his Cure, and withal, represented to his Grace his condition, quality and Religion; and how that he was not a Madman, but one of those Sectarians which in England are called Quaker. And withal, informed the Archbishop and Canons, how that party do desire to appear different from all others in their manner of speech, their apparel, and manners. And also humbly Petitioned his Grace for a Releasement, promising within a day or two to dispatch them out of the Town; The Archbishop readily condescended to all their demands, and presently gave order that Stubbs should be set at Liberty, which was accordingly performed. And the day following they all four left the Town, and hasted their Journey to Italy.  
When they came to Milano in Italy, they had another Enthusiastical impulse of Spirit. And now John Watson, Nathaniel Golden and Rowland Jenkins, who had hitherto been silent, or (as they expressed it themselves) humbly waiting at the feet of Jesus, who had now given them command to begin to Preach the Everlasting Gospel to the Italians. Here Stubbs accompanied with his three friends, did now (as formerly at Lions in France) upon Sunday enter the Domo or Cathedral of the City, and made a great and public disturbance when they were in the height of their Solemnities. Watson began to make a discourse in Italian, but was presently seized and carried forth, and had before a Magistrate, who forthwith committed them all four to Prison, but withal, gave order they should be civility used, and lack for nothing until further order; about four or five days after, they were commanded to appear before the Governor of Milan himself, who was resolved to have a full account of the matter. The Governor when he saw their uncivil behaviour, their sullen looks, and heard their wild discourses, he presently concluded them Madmen, and gave order to have them confined and carefully looked after, and also appointed two Physicians to visit them, and to do their utmost for their recovery. The Physicians presently made a visit to the Hospital, and had a long discourse with Watson, (who spoke Italian well) and then returned to the Governor to give him their judgements of the business, they told his Excellence that they were mad, as did evidently appear to them by their very countenance and manner of Discourse: and that one of them (meaning Stubbs) had a manifest and signal token of his distemper, viz. his head was shaved according to the usual Practice of all Physicians in the world. They added also that they did verily believe they were Dutchmen, who made an escape from their Keepers. The Governor was well satisfied with this account the Physicians gave of the Quakers, and accordingly ordered them to take care of them, and let no means be wanting that might be used for their recovery, and that they should be used with all tenderness imaginable. The Doctors all the time of their Imprisonment causing their heads to be shaved, letting them blood, and Purging them so excessively, that Jordan after a fortnight's confinement, being in a melancholy humour, he gave up the Ghost. The other three by Purging and bleeding, were brought very low, the Physicians were very much disheartened and did altogether despair of their recovery, and did signify as much to the Governor, withal telling his Excellence that they supposed it was some Religious Melancholy that these men were afflicted with, and that it was insufferable and not to be overcome by any Art, and so desired the Governor to release them, which was accordingly performed; And towards the beginning of June they left Milano and set forward for Rome; for to convert the great Leviathan the Pope.  
June the 18 they came to Rome, the place they so much desired to see, upon the Sunday following, they according to their old Custom, entered a little Church called San Jacome Scozza Cavalli, where Watson made a fierce and zealous discourse against the Babylonish Idolatry of that City, and said that the Pope, who was the Man of Sin and the great Leviathan, was now to be crushed in pieces, and God had sent them from the utmost parts of the earth to convert that City, and to confound the Pope and all his Adherents, and that now God would pour out the full Vials of his wrath and fierce indignation upon them, and bring them all to utter Ruin, shame and confusion.  

The Conference of Cardinal Pool with the English Quakers, and how he brought them before the Pope.  
These poor Quakers had not been a Month in Rome, but the whole City took great notice of them, and generally condoled their condition, as being distracted and far from their own country, July 6 Cardinal Pool hearing much of these men's frantic actions, was very desirous out of curiosity to see them, and to discourse with them; hereupon he caused them to be brought before him, and was pleased with much patience to discourse an hour with them, and then civilly dismissed them, and sent them to their Lodgings. About two days after he made report to the Cardinal his Cousin, and to the Pope himself of what had happened, and of the strange enthusiasms of these 3 English Pazzi (for so he always termed them) and how they had a great desire to have some conference with his Holiness, and that they affirmed that God had sent them to deliver some secret Revelations to him. The Pope at first was a little surprised at the news, and gave order to have them privately brought before him and the two Cardinals. When they were admitted into the presence, Watson saluted the Pope with this address. Art thou that Man of Sin, that Artichrist and great Leviathan, Verily God hath raised us up from the utmost parts of the Earth to preach the everlasting Gospel to thee, and to convert thee from thy Idolatrous errors and sinful ways, unto the true way and to the Light, etc. The Pope was amazed at this strange confidence, and did really believe that the common report had not at all belied them, but that they were very much distempered in their minds, and distr●cted, and gave a strict command that none should oder any violence to them, but withal privately appointed some of the English College to persuade them to return home, or else to take charge of them in their College, and not let them thus run about the City disturbing the people. This was effected according to the Pope's desire, for about the end of July, seeing how unsuccessful their endeavours had been, they resolved to leave that Babylonian City, and go preach the Gospel to the Turks and Mahometans. In order thereunto, they took Shipping for Constantinople, where within two Months they safely arrived.  
They had not been above a fortnight in that great City, but they went into the Mahometans Mosco's and Temples, and caused great tumult among the people. For this offence they were condemned to be bastinadoed, i. e. to receive three hundred blows upon the sols of their Feet, which was accordingly executed with that extremity of rigour and cruelty, so that in few days the putrified flesh came off from the bones, which was a miserable spectable to behold. But this spirit of Quakerism had so Transported and infatuated them, that they got wooden Crutches, and once more went to their profane M●sco's, and caused a much greater disturbance than before. Hereupon the Turks were sore vexed, and presently had them before the Mufti himself, who forth with in a great fury and rage passed this cruel sentence upon them, viz. That they were to have their hands chopped off, their Tongues cut out, their Eyes cut out, and each Man to have a sharp Wooden Stake run in at his Fundament, and so quite through his body, all which was accordingly put in execution: And so these poor wretches after all their sufferings, ended their miserable Lives.   
FINIS.