Bristol the 8th of the 3d Moneth, called May, 1682.

IN our former printed Relation, you have an Acccount of proceedings till the 29th of the 2d Moneth called April, in Easter-Sessions, when remained Seventeen of our Friends Prisoners, on account of Fines for Meetings; since which divers that were then discharged out of Prison, on promise of Ap­pearance; and some others were called into Court again upon the next adjournment of the Sessions, and there Indicted for breach of the Peace, fined and committed for their Fines.

In the mean time Sheriff Knight and John Hilliar went on with their Inhumane and Arbitrary proceed­ings against us; for yesterday the 7th of the 3d Moneth, being the first day of the Week, called the Lord's-day in the Morning, they sent seven Men to Newgate from their peaceable Meeting, and then caused, the Doors to be nailed upon the Rest (viz.) eighty seven Women and fourteen Men together, thus Imprison­ing them in their Meeting-house well nigh six Hours, allowing no way out for conveniency of Ease or Re­freshment to Nature, which Hilliar was so sensible of, that he told the Women to this effect, That the next time they should bring Chamber-Pets with them. It is too large to insist on all their sordid Abuses.

The seven were sent for out again, and dismissed, occasioned, as is supposed, by their making the said Meeting a Religious Conventicle, and not a Riot.

In the After-noon the same Day John Hilliar, John Tilly, &c. Constables, came to the Meeting, and because our Friends did not depart upon Proclamation, they called then WHORES and ROGƲES, guarded the Door, and confined them in their Meeting place, which is in a Yard in the Rain, since they were kept out of our Meeting-house: This they did without respect to Sex, Age or Quality, them­selves having taken up the Places of Shelter to drink Ale and smoke Tobacco in: And because when their usual time of departure was come, our Friends attempted to go forth and depart peaceably away to their respective Homes, the Door not being fast shut, one of the Constables laid Violent Hands on an Antient Woman, (viz. Haunah Jordan) griped or princed her Arm so hard and Maliciously, that made it very black, the like whereto Sheriff KNIGHT had formerly done by her other Arm. Thus violently stop­ping them, they continued them there in the Rain, and after wards Indicted them for a Riot, because they attempted to go: But the Jury brought in their Verdict NO RIOT; at which Sheriff Knight and John Hilliar were greatly discontented, the former threatning some of the Jury, To have them up to London.

Brisol the 15th of the 3d Moneth, called May, 1682.

YEsterday being the first Day of the Week, called the Lord's-day, Shcriff Knight, John Hilliar, with Edmund Brand, John Tilly, Thomas Lugg, &c. sent from our Morning Meeting twen­ty five, viz. eleaven Men and fourteen Women to Bridewel and Newgate, and there kept them without Mittinsus till six or seven of the Clock in the Evening, and then had them before Alderman Olliff. to the Three Tun-Tavern, who required Sureties of them for their appearance at Sessions, and of their good behaviour in the mean time (viz.) To come no more to such Meetings to worship God: Which (with La­mentation we may say) is accounted a Crime with them; and we leave it to sober People in Bristoll to judge, whether it is not worse punished than Cursing, Swearing, Whoreing, Drunknness, &c. For are not such common and crying Sins little regarded? And because they could not with good Conscience com­ply with those Terms, the said Alderman Olliffe presently committed them all to Newgatc, undor the No­tion [Page 2]of PEACE-BREAKERS, the Alderman being but the Night before returned from London: It was much taken notice of how heartily John Hilliar Thanked his GOD for it, as knowing that he would do their Business; so though the Sheriff had made many Attempts before upon the women, to get them fastened in Newgate, notwithstanding his former pretence to the contrary, of more respect to their Sex, yet could not have it effected, till he had gotten them before the said Alderman at his Tavern; for hither to it was Evident on occasion of the said Sheriffs frequently causing them to be brought before the Magi­strates in open Court, that it seemed more Unnatural to the Mayor and other of the Justices, and more void of Pretext, and obvious to Universal Censure, to commit Women, against whom they had no­thing to object about Chusing Parliament Men, than it was before to commit their Husbands. Women, their known peaceable Neighbours to such a Noisome Prison, under pretence of breach of the Peace, for their Religious Assemblies in the fear and love of God, to serve and worship him in the Spirit and Truth; One would have thought the Pitiful Shift the said Sheriff was formerly driven to, on the like occasion, when Interrogated by the Mayor, Wherefore he brought these Women before him? should have dis­couraged him from meddling more with them; for he confessed, They neither said nor did any thing; and had nothing more to alledge, than That they were such a time at such a place, and did not depart upon Procla­mation, and that he knew not what Business they had there unless it were to Contrive to break open the Prison Doors and rescue their Husbands.

Bristol the 22d of the 3d Moneth, 1682.

THe 21st in the Morning, being the first day of the Week, called the Lords day, after Alderman Hicks, Sheriff Knight, Edmund Brand, &c. had dispersed the Meeting, and driven out Friends be­fore them into another Street, and were gone to their Worship, Ralph Olliffe, (Son of Alderman Olliffe) Constable, &c. pursued them; he sent several to Prison imperiously, saying, Since the Justices will not commit them to Prison, I will; and as he was driving Friends over the Bridge, some rested, upon which he made Proclamation, run and called out he Sheriff from his Worship, with some Constables; but be­fore they came, our friends were gone; Darcas Dole, Wife of John Dole, visiting them that were sent to Prison, prayed to God amongst them, for which she was Conlined also.

In the Afternoon much Rudeness was committed by those that came to desturb the Meeting, by calling abusive Names, and beating, pulling off Friends Hats, but none sent to Prison.

Bristol the 19th of the 3d Moneth, called May, 1682.

YEsterday Morning, being the first day of the week, call'd the Lords day, before the Meeting was fully ga­thered, came Sheriff Knight, E. Brand, R. Olliffe, with other Constables; after the Sheriff had walked to and fro a little, he made Proclamation for all to depart, and disperse themselves; frequently asking Friends business there, with design to ensnare them, and bring them under the Penalty of the Conventicle Act, which hath been his and their Practice all along from the beginning; but Friends, though ready to give an ac­count of their Faith, and Reason of their practice of Meeting together to all sober Enquirers, and have, as occasion hath offered in Court, publickly and solemnly professed it to be for no other end, but to Wait upon and Worship our God that made us, and that not in Pretence, but in Sincerity and Truth, God is our Witness: Yet we have not thought our selves obliged to gratifie that Spirit any, that seeks to ensnare us out of our own Mouthes, to make a Prey and Advantage to themselves of us. But our Adversaries finding themselves disappointed by our silent Meetings, which is no new thing, nor strange to the obser­vation of most that know us, to have been our Practice from the beginning, to wait for the Consolation of God Spirit: Rather than loose their Advantage, and want VVork of Mischievous tendency against their Innocent Neighbours, what the Law will not do, they supply by their Oaths, who sometimes have sworn these our Meetings Conventicles, in other manner than according to the Liturgy, though no di­stinguishing Character appeared; other times they have sworn them to be of a clear contrary Tenden­cy (viz.) in Disturbance of the Kings Peace, though no unpeaceable Word or Action to proved, no­thing more opposite; for our Meetings are for our procuring and preserving our Peace and Favour with God, and maintaining Amity, Love, Good Will and Concord one with another, and with all Man­kind, having nothing in our Hearts, (the Lord knows,) to break the Kings Peace; though upon such false Informations of breach of the Peace we have been committed, and alter having endured seve­ral Moneths close Imprisonment, thronged together is a noisom Goal. Many have been Indicted, Con­victed and Fined without measure, and remain Prisoners on the said Fines to this day. But to return to the Business of our Meeting, Friends not departing upon Proclamation, the Sheriff very formally arrest­ed in the Kings Name eleaven Friends, both Men and Women, and afterwards seized on one VVoman more, whom he said, he would have to make up a JURY; these were had away to Newgate, and then Sir Rebert Yeamons, John Hilliar, John Tilly and Thomas Lugg came to the Meeting, and soon after three more were sent to Newgate, and presently upon it a Mittimus for them all sent to detain them without being convened before any Magistrates; the Names of the rest were taken, and so dismist.

The same Day in the Afternoon to the Meeting in the Fryars, came Sheriff Knight, John Hilliar, Ed­mund Brand, John Tilly, Thomas Lugg, &c. they askt Friends (as usually) What they did there? and then [Page 2]made Proclamation in the Kings Name to depart; John Hilliar went up and down in the Meeting Searching for Stools to make a Bonfire, (as he said) the next day being the Kings Birth and Restoration Day: Then the Sheriff settled in a Chair without the VVicket, at the entrance of the Meeting place, ordered Friends to be brought out one by one, and their Names to be taken, and then placed them in the Cloysters till all were out of the Meeting, putting a Guard at both ends of the Cloysters; and then sent away about Ninety to Bridewell, making a Scoff thereat, saying, They would send them by Dezens, at thirteen to the Dozen; one of them Querying, Whether one Constable was sufficient for a Dozen? Hilliar replyed, It was as the Nature of the Cattel was. Thus bruitishly they compared their Innocent NEIGHBOURS to CATTEL, and dealt with them accordingly, by their driving them roughly along to Prison, like Sheep to the Slaughter; HILLIAR above all others behaved himself very Vile and VVicked at this Mee­ting; He took the Child of Rebecca Ithell, being about four Years old, violently away by the Arms from her, and lifted him from the Ground three times, and letting him down again, in a pounding manner, cast him off from him, and said to the Child, You Rogue, will you come no more to Meeting? Which Action so harmed and terrified the Child, to a great extremity of Crying, the sight whereof made the People that were present as Spectators, cry out shame, Will he kill the Child? and some went and took the Child away: And then Hilliar going to the Mother of the Child, whom he had taken Prisoner, she asked him, Why he so abused her Child? who replyed, You WHORE, I could thrust my Cane down your Throat; and so he se [...]t her, with the rest, to Bridewell, as before. Eighty five were brought to Prison, being all VVomen and Maids, except four Men and a Youth, some VVomen with Child, and some very antient and feeble; how­beit, without respect to Age, Sex or Condition, they were put in together, where for want of Beds, (there being in all but three to spare) they were forced to sit and lie on the Stones, and the Floor, Benches and Tables all Night in five Rooms, some of them being very Nasty, and open, without either Galss or Shutters to the VVindows, which had not been made use of for many Years. The next day they were sent for before the Mayor and Aldermen to the Tolrey, where (after so ill a nights lodging) they were detained about Eight hours, viz. from about nine till five in the Evening, the most part of the time locked up in the lower Council-house, until the Magistrates could come to a conclusion amongst themselves what to do with them, through which long continuance of standing together, with the heat, several of them were sick and faint, not being in a fit condition for such Confinement; at length they committed Seventy Three of them; the Men they sent to Newgate, but the VVomen to Bridewell, all under the usual colour or pre­tence of Breach of the Peace, where they are grievously thronged together, lying on the Floors, seven, eight and nine Beds in a Room.

Let it be observed, they promised faithfully to appear according to appointment; but the Reason why they would not [...]nter into Bonds of appearance, was the usual Charge of ten Groats, each, and they knowing it was for no other cause but for waiting upon the Lord, they could not gratifie the designs of such as would make that as an occasion of advantage upon them, and which they were liable to the next Meeting-day; besides that, many were poor, and their Charge very considerable.

Bristol, the 5th of the 4th Moneth, called June, 1682.

YEsterday being the first day of the the Week, John Hilliar, John Tilly, &c. broke up the Morning Meeting early, sent five Men and four Women to Bridewell, where one of the Women that was a Prisoner, speaking to the rest, being met together to wait upon God, Thomas Lugg came and haled her out violently, and put her in the place called the Pen.

In the Afternoon John Tilly and Ralph Olliffe, jun. &c. sent from the Meeting in the Fryars five Women more to Bridewell, where all remain without a Mittimus, neither were they brought before a Magistrate. James Gainer, one of the men taken Prisoner yesterday to Bridewell, for demanding of John Hilliar a Copy of his Mittimus, and replying upon John Hilliar's Question, (By what Scripture he demanded his Mittimus. viz. What Scripture he had to keep him without a Mittimus. John Hilliar said, Sarrah, I will teach you Scripture: And using other threatning words, commanded the Goaler to put him in a place he called Francklins Fen, which was accordingly done, and there he remains.

Bristol, the 12th of the 4th Moneth, called June, 1682.

YEsterday Morning (being the first day of the Week) Raiph Olliffe, jun. &c. broke up the Meeting, and sent four Men to Newgate, and five Women to Bridewell, who were since fastened by a Warrant from Alderman Olliffe, without being called forth or convened before him. In the Afternoon John Hilliar, &c. came to the Meeting, and demanded the cause of Friends being there, and being answered by one present, It was to wait upon the worship god, they took Friends Names and turned them away, as is supposed making the Meeing a Con­venticle, notwithstanding John Hilliar sent or had away to Bridewell seven of the Children that were present at this Meeting, and there continued them till it was late. The five Men that were sent to Bridewell last Week, were afterwards committed to sent to Newgate.

Thus they continue to deal with us, making it a light matter to send and commit the Master, Mistriss and Servants all to Prison, the Husbands in one, and their Wives in the other Prison where they are in both Prisons miserably thronged together, to the Number of about One Hundred and fifty.

Bristol, the 18th of the 4th Moneth, called June, 1682.

IT being the first day of the Week, Sheriff Knight, John Hilliar, Ralph Olliffe, jun. Tho. Lugg, John Tilly, —Dyer, John Patrick, Edmund Brand, and divers others came to the Meeting in Temple-street, after they had cast their Eyes round the Meeting, John Hilliar came to Thomas Callowhill, and asked, What was their business there? T. Callowhill answered, That as it had been for long time their accustomed manner on these days to meet together to wait upon the Lord, so was it their occasion at this time. The Sheriff and J. Hilliar directed their Names to he taken, as in order to convict them for a Conventicle, one of their Followers saying, Thomas Callowhill now, and Thomas Jordan the former Meeting, are the great Saints that must pay for all the rest. Thomas Callowhill stepping to Sheriff Knight, asked him, saying, Is it a Transgression of our Laws to wait upon the Lord? The Sheriff answered, Yes, that it is. Mary Gouldney saying also somewhat to them concerning our being there to wait upon the Lord, John Hilliar replyed to it, You should have been at home at your Spindle and Distaff a spinning. Mary Gouldney saying somewhat to this purpose, Do ye appoint these dayes for Spinning? Then John Hilliar to amend it, said, Third days and Sixth days you should Spin. So putting the said Persons, amongst others, out of the Meeting, dispersed the Meeting, saying. Take these Boys and Girls, and put them in the Stocks. In the way homewards, in the Street John Hilliar and Thomas Callowhill passing some words, T.C. said, John Hilliar, prethee be not so Ex­tream, [Page 5]the Laws of this Realm are not really against Peoples waiting upon the Lord, and to extend them farther than they are is an abule to your Authority, and the Government. John Hilliar became froward and offended the reat, saying to T. Callowhill, You shall go to the Stocks for so reflecting; and so taking him in hold, said, I arrest you, you shall go to Bridewell. And walking further onwards, observed a little Girle about ten Years of Age, who had been at the Meeting, said, Here, take this Girle and put her in the Stocks with the rest. Mary Gouldney being by, observing the little Girle, said to her, Thou needst no fear the Stocks: J. Hilliar took hold also of M.G. for so saying, telling her he did Arrest her, and that she should go to Bridewell for encouraging the Girle in her Rebellion. So brought the said M. G. and T. C. to Bridewell, and in the way at the High-Cross Stocks put six Youths, which they brought from the Meeting, being not of Age to come under the Penalty of the Conventicle Act, viz. Benjamin Wall, Elias Osburne, John Bencher, Joseph James, Samuel Gibbons,— whom they kept there about an hour, then being set out and brought before the Mayor, after with T. C. and M. G. as they entred the Court door, hearkned, supposing they heard some­body speaking above, ran up, and finding Darcass Dole at Prayer, so rudely haled at her to pull her off her Knees, and forth with Violence, strained so against a large Table board, as near to over set it, and for that Transgression, as they accounted it, penned her up in a dark low small Pen, so damp and noisome, and there continued her, until she (overcome with the Damp and Nastiness thereof) fainted; and when they took her out, she could not speak nor see, until some time she recovered. Tho Lugg passing out, perceiving the Key of the Garden, privately took up the Key, and said, The Quakers had too much liberty; and so kept the Key until the Evening, that the Keeper might not permit them, it being a very small Garden under the House side. Attested by Thomas Callowhill and Mary Gouldney.

The same day in the Afternoon, some Friends being met near their Meeting-place in the Fryars, as is usual, John Hilliar, John Tilly, Thomas Lugg, and divers others came there; J. Hilliar commanded them to depart, disperse themselves, and keep the Kings Peace, and began to take hold of several, taking off the Boys Hats, hurling them away; particularly John Hilliar took a good Hat off Benjamin Wall's head, and gave it a poor Boy, taking off his old dirty Hat, and clapt on Benj. Wall's head, which B. W. refusing to accept, J. Hilliar held up his Staff, and threatned, as if he would have beaten him, and so bid the Boy go away with his Hat; and rudely pulled off some of Mary Didicots Clothes from her Head, and threw off the Hats of several, which being gathered up by one of the Constables or Watchman atten­ding on Hilliar, counted them to be eleaven, and calling for one more to make them a dozen, carried them away, and came again to fetch another parcel, which was also carried after: Some of them took forth Anne Day, Anne Gibbons, Mary Didicot, Sarah James, Deborah Merce, and put them in Bridewell; and others took Richard Lindy, a poor blind man, aged Eighty Three years, Richard Kayse and Thomas Dixon to Newgate, and caused the Boys bear-headed, (being in the open Court) to be penned up therein, not suffering them to come out, or have their Hats for near five hours, then let them go. Attested by Richard Kayse, Thomas Dixon.

Brist. Sc. ‘FOrasmuch as Sir John Knight, Kt. one of the Sheriffs, and divers Constables of this City were this Morning in execution of their respective Offices, at an House in Temple-street, within this City, dispersing an unlawful Coventicle or Meeting, there held at the time of divine Service, contrary to the Laws & Statutes of this Realm, and thereupon Tho. Callowhill, one of the persons so there unlawfully assembled, in contempt of our Sover­raign Lord the King's Majesty, and the said Laws and Statutes, upbraidingly spoke of the said Sheriff and Constables reproachful words, to this effect, That they troubled the Govern­ment; for no other reason, as appears to me, than for doing their Office and Duty in ex­ecuting the said Laws and Statutes, and thereupon one of the said Constables secured and put into your Custody the said T. Callowhill, as a Contemner of the Laws and Breaker of his Majesties Peace; all which appear to me upon Oath. These are therefore to will and require, and in his Majesties Name straitly to charge and command you, to detain and keep in your Custody the Body of the said Thomas Callowhill, until he shall become bound to his Majesty, by Recognizance with Sureties for his Personal Appearnace at the next general [Page 1]Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, to be held for this City and County, to answer his said Contempt, Misdemenour and breach of his Majesties Peace, and for his good behaviour in the mean time, or that he shall be thence discharged by due course of Law. And hereof you are not to fail, at your Peril.’

Brist. Sc. ‘FOrasmuch as Sir John Knight, Kt. one of the Sheriffs, and divers Con­stables of this City, were this Morning in execution of their respective Offices, at an House in Temple-street within this City, dispersing an unlawful Coventicle or Meeting, there held at the time of divine Service, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of his Realm: And forasmuch as divers Boys and Girls, amongst others, were there unlawfully assembled; and forasmuch as John Hilliar, Gent. one of the Constables within this City secured in Custody one of the said Girls, and the better to deter her from frequent­ing such kind of unlawful Meetings, threatned to put her in the Stocks; and thereupon Mary, Wise of Thomas Gouldney, one of the Persons so there unlawfully assembled did comfort and encourage the said Boys and Girles in their Disobedience of the Law, and in frequent­ing of the said Boys and Girles in their Disobedience of the Law, and in frequent­ing of the said Meeting, said to the Girle so secured in custody, these words, or to this effect (viz.) Do not he afraid of the Stocks. And thereupon the said John Hilliar secured and put in­to your custody the said Mary Gouldney, as a contemner of the Laws and breaker of his Majesties Peace; all which appear to me upon Oath. These are therefore to will and re­quire, and in his Majesties Name straitly to charge and command you, to detain and keep in your custody the Body of the said Mary Gouldney, until she shall find sufficient Sureties to his Majesty by Recognizance for her Personal Appearance at the next general Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, to be holden for this City and County, to answer her said Contempt Misde­menour and Breach of his Majesties Peace, and for her good be haviour in the mean time, or that she shall be thence discharged by due course of Law: And hereof you are not to fail, at your perrill.’

Thus you may see what slight occasions our Adversaries create to themselves to commit us to Prison, crowding us together without Mercy. The Lord (if be his will) incline the Hearts of our Superiors to consider our long and continued severe Treatment, and present suffering Condition, and work Deliverance from under the cruel Oppressions of our Perse­cutors, that the Guilt of the Blood of an Innocent People, who are in danger to be Suffe­cated to Death in Prison, may not lie at their Doors.