Part of the SUFFERINGS OF Leicestershire & North-hamptonshire, By Informers and Priests.
ALSO, God's Mercies Testified unto, And MANS CRUELTY Bore Witness against; Being a faithful Demonstration, given forth in the Dread of the Lord, against the Cruelty of PERSECUTION, As it hath of late been manifested, and notoriously acted by the Priest and People of the Town of Farthingstone, in the County of North-hampton, to the shame of their professed Religion, and to the Injury of those who truly fear God, and Worship him.
Which may be as a Prospect unto them, whereby they may behold themselves and consider the Evil of their ways, and be warned to timely Repentance in this their Day.
By one who testifies, that Love worketh no ill to our Neighbour, and that he that loveth not his Neighbour as himself, is a Transgressor of a greater Command than the Law of Man, W. Pooley.
Behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison, Rev. 2.10.
London, Printed in the Year 1683.
A short Account of some Sufferings of the People called Quakers, in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The Sufferings of John Adams, Francis Broughton, Hannah Fish, William Smith, and others, for Harborough-Meeting in Leicestershire.
VVHither John Smith and one Ricket his Servant, and Tobiah Smith his Assistant came to our peaceable Meeting, it being in silence to wait on the Lord, the second day of the second Moneth, called April, 1682. when they were collecting Money (the Meeting being over) for the Poor, and some Friends gone away when they came; for which John Adams was fined by Samuel Cole Justice, 20 l. as being the reputed Owner of the Meeting-House, whereas he was not the Owner; besides the Fines of the said Hannah Fish, Francis Broughton, William Smith, and others.
And the said John Smith and Ricket, on the 23d of the said Moneth, came again to the said Meeting-place, and after swore before the said Justice, That John Adams was there; who was not, as before the Justice he offered to prove; and for that Meeting William Smith was fined for the House 20 l.
And the said J. Smith and his Servant swore, That the said Francis Broughton, John Adams and Hannah Fish, and others, were at the Meeting the 10th of May; though neither John Smith nor his Man were seen at the Meeting at that time by any there; for which, and the other said Meetings, the said Justice fined the said John Adams 20 l. 10 s. and the said F. Broughton 11 l. 15 s. and the said Hannah Fish 10 l. 5 s. and the said William Smith 20 l. 15 s.
Robert Dexter, on the 23d of the 2d Moneth aforesaid, the very next day after he was sworn Constable (after the decease [Page 4]of J. Cork, the younger, who suffered the Distress of 5 l. for not distraining on his Neighbours Goods) came with two Officers, and warned John Adams, and several others at their Houses, to go to Church, and at night warned them again to appear the next-day before the Justices, and next day but one brought a Warrant about Sun-rising, and fetcht the said John Adams, Francis Broughton and Hannah Fish, and others, and carried them nine Miles to the said Cole (as fittest for the Informer) who then fined them as aforesaid: And the said Dexter next Morning about half an hour after Sur-rising came with about eight Officers, and several other Assistants, and climbed over a Hedge a back-way, coming in at a back-Door (the fore-door being not yet opened) and using boisterous Language, took from the said John Adams two Cows and two Heifers, with the most part of his Houshold Goods, in all worth 22 l. 11 s. and next day carried the said Cattel to a Fair to sell (so quick and dexterous in his Master, the God of the World's sinister Work, was this Constable Dexter.) And for same Meetings were taken by the said Constable, from the said Francis Broughton, a poor Weaver, his Loome (being contrary to Law, which prohibits the distraining of Working Tools) and some other Houshold Goods, to the value of 4 l. 16 s. 6 d. and from Hannash Fish Goods and Chattels to the value of 16 l. 2 s. These three Friends were Inhabitants of Great Bowden.
Some other lesser Distresses about the same time:
From William Smith, for his Fines for the Meetings aforesaid, by the Officers of Harborough were taken of Shop-goods and Houshold-goods to the value of 10 l. 10 s. 8 d. and also account taken of other Goods mark'd, though not then taken away.
And for the said Meetings were fined Joseph Fish's Wife 20 s. Elizabeth Harper 25 s. and Samuel Shuter's Wife 25 s. all of Harborough.
Upon the Act for 12 d. a Sunday, from John Philips of Lubenham, and his Wise's absence from Church (so called) three days, and for that, fined 6 s. were distrained Goods worth 7 s. From Thoma: Corby of Turlangton, for the like three days absence fined 3 s. were Goods distrained worth 6 s.
Northamptonshire, by Warrants from Henry Benson.
THe 24th of the 1st Moneth, (called March) 1682. from Benjamin Wright of Blaxly, were taken fifty four foot of Oak Boards, worth 6 s. 9 d.
The 5th of the 3d Moneth, 1682. from George Eayre of Farthing stone, of Cattel and Houshold-Goods, and all sorts (as appears by the List) they met with, worth 46 l. 15 s. 11 d.
[Note, John Hutton, the Priest, spake to the Officers after his service, To take care to mannage the work throughly; and Thomas Hog the Informer stood up at the same time, and promised him, That he would see it throughly mannag'd, which he did; for he, with the Priest's Man, the other Informer, waited on them all the while, looking up and down the House, and forcing, (as much as in them lay) the Officers to make Spoil of all; only the Priest gave order to let their Beds alone at that time. But they threaten daily to come for more, not having brought, as they say, to make up the Money.
And the same day from Susanna Bilton of Farthingstone, for 10 l. Goods worth 18 l. at a moderate price. Thomas Hog and Matthew Arnold the Priest's servant, Informers, much desiring the Officers both by flattery and threatning to mannage the work throughly, as the Priest had done. And when they had sold the Goods, they brought her but 5 l. again: But the Widdows Relations and the Officers, without her consent, gave part of it to the Priest for a Mortuary for her Husband lately deceased, though buried among Friends; and the other part of it for Steeple-house fess; and the remaining 8 s. would have forced upon her, which she refused.
The 18th of the 3d Moneth, 1682. from John Eayre of Lithborow, Goods worth 4 l. 14 s 3 d.
[Note, Joseph England the Constable, told the other Officers, If they could have got good store of Goods into his Hand, he would have given them all; but now he would give them none.]
Gods Mercies testified unto, AND Man's Cruelty bore witness against.
Being a faithful Demonstration, given forth in the Dread of the Lord, against the
Cruelty of PERSECUTION.
GOD Almighty, who is over all blessed forever, having, according to his pretious Promise of old, given his Son for a Light to the Gentiles, that he might be his Salvation to the ends of the Earth, hath among the many Nations, Kingdoms and Countries of this World beheld and visited this little Northern Nation of ENGLAND, and in his Love and Mercy hath he caused his Blessed and acceptable day of Salvation to dawn upon it to give Light to them that sit in Darkness, and in the Region of the Shadow of Death, by which Pretious Light, as many as have taken heed unto it, and faithfully obeyed it, have known their feet turned into the way of Peace, Glory and endless Praises to the God of living Mercies for evermore; and blessed be his Name that a Remnant hath received and embraced the Visitation of his acceptable Day, in the Light whereof, as they have walked, they have been gathered out of the World, and its Ways and Worships, and departed from among them, who are of the Night, who love Darkness rather than Light, because their deeds are Evil.
And ever since the day in which the Lord hath thus appeared, great hath been the Opposition that hath been met withal by these whom God hath thus gathered: Oh! how hath the Prince of Darkness, with all his Power, Force and Instruments gathered themselves together, and raised up their Might and [Page 7]Strength, that they might bring to nought and extinguish the Work of the Lord, and scatter again the People whom he hath gathered, that they might not remain nor appear upon the face of the Earth, as many might be the Testimonies of the Unworthyness of many of this Generation, who have not only resisted the blessed appearance of the Light of the Son of God in themselves, but have also with force and violence sought the destruction of them that have received him, and believed in him. Large is the Record of Cruelty, which at sundry times, and in divers manners, and in several places of this Nation for twenty or thirty years last past, by Imprisonment, Banishment and Spoiling of Goods, which hath been acted in furious Severity, without any pity, even against them that have truly feared God, and Worshipped him; so that it may justly befall thee, O England! to be Judged and chastised because thou hast been so cruel and Unmercifulto those of thy own Nation. And though the Lord hath many times appeared in Wrath, and executed his Judgments against thy Inhabitants, because of these things, whereby thy heart hath been humbled a little, and brought down for a time, and thy cruelty and violence hath ceased for a season; yet alas! as Peace, Ease and Prosperity hath abounded again, how have many of thy Inhabitants (like Pharoah of old) even hardened their hearts and renewed their Ʋnchristianlike Envy, to oppress their near innocent Neighbours within thee, and persue them to Destruction? And (with the several places within thy borders) O England! we in the County of Northhampton have not escaped thy Wrath nor been altogether unsensible sometimes of the implacable outrage of some of thy Inhabitants against us, although God in his Justice hath taken away several of them, and as an evident token of his great displeasure hath cut off some in the height of their Fury when their Wrath was kindled against us, which the prudent among the Magistrates have seriously observed, and taking Example by it, have with-holden their hands from such like Actions, and been moderate and peaceable in their places for their times, by which they have obtained a good Report in the Country, and been honourable among the people; yet how are others again risen up in the Youth of their years, who have not known nor took notice [Page 8]what the Lord hath wrought, but in the heat of their Fury are spending their Strength, to fill up the measure of their Fathers Sins, as is largely witnessed and verified at and near about the Town of Farthingston, in the County of Northampton, where Satans Seat is, who, by his Agents and Subjects of his Kingdom, is there executing his great Wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a snort time. O ye People of the Town of Farthingston! Consider and observe how you are become as furious Captives of the Enemy of your own Souls, who being hurried by him and his Ministers, are rushing into Persecution as the Horse rusheth into the Battel, therefore are your hearts filled with Wrath and Insatiable Envy against God and his People, and the Righteous Worship, by which his Name is honoured in the Earth.
O Farthingston, Farthingston! my Soul has been distressed for thee, and my Spirit oppressed within me, in the remembrance of you, O ye People of Farthingston! And in the fence of the Cruelty of your Actions, oh what manner of Lamentation may be taken up for you? or what may be said unto you, that you might hear, fear, and be warned, at least in this your day, of the Evil of your Ways, before the time of your Visitation pass over, and Repentance be utterly hid from your Eyes. Alas! alas, for you! how is hardness of Heart seized upon you! How has Darkness, even gross darkness covered you! that while you pretend to Loyalty, your Passion is so hot, that you will not admit of true Christianity! O what will become of you! have not you declared your Sin as Sodom, and your Iniquity as Gomorrah? Who being like unto you in their day, even filled with Violence, became dreadfull Examples of Gods Judgments: And do ye think, O ye Inhabitants of the Town of Farthingston! that whilst you are guilty of the same things, you can escape the just hand of the Almighty? O surely nay, your pretended Christianity will not secure you, nor the Law you pretended to act by Justifie you in the day when God will plead with you, and require these things of you again, which by Wicked hands through violence and cruelty you have unjustly taken away from those who have had no Helper in the Earth. Wherefore consider and read John 15.7. Acts 5.28, 30. By which Scriptures we may understand, that although the Jews said of Christ, We have a Law, and by our Law [Page 9]he ought to Dye, yet notwithstanding were they charged by the holy Ghost as Murderers, and guilty of Innocent Blood, even as you, notwithstanding your Legal Confidence, will certainly be found in the sight of God deeply guilty of violent Spoil and cruel wrong; therefore consider, and ponder your Wayes, and take a view of your Actions; have you done as you would be done unto? Do you desire to find no more pitty from him to whom you owe ten thousand Talents, than you have shewed towards your fellow Servants, as by the Parable you may read your portion, Mat. 18.33, 34. For certainly God that made you will reckon with you, and the Almighty will call you to an account for those things; and as you have had Compassion on your fellow Servants, even so may you expect to find pitty from the Lord; and alas! if thus it must be measured unto you, how little will that be to you, who have not counted it enough to take away all outward supplies, but after you have stripped of all, to cast into Prison; you who have not Compassionated the Condition of the Fatherless, nor Widdows, nor yet spared to Spoil the Goods of the Motherless Child! O Merciless Cruelty! How insatiable has your Wrath been! but certainly the Lord will plead for these things, and his Soul will be avenged on such a People as this, although your Teachers that lead you, may cry Peace, Peace unto you, and may with Confidence preach your Security for a Season, in the possession of your Ravenous prey, which you have so greedily taken away from the Innocent and helpless, yet certainly know, God will raise his Witness in you, and the Anguish and Burthen of the Guilt of those things which you have thus received with Joy, and treasured up together with delight, will be as Meat to that worm that will never dye, and as fewel to that fire that will Torment you, and never be quenched, without your timely unfeigned Repentance.
And can you imagine, O Priest and People of the Town of Farthingston! or can you securely think with your selves, that your late unneighbourly & cruel Ʋnchristian-like Actions will be taken for your Loyalty to the KING, or any real zeal to his Laws and Government, as you so stoutly pretend? O Surely nay; this Covering is too narrow to hide your Wickedness and the inbred Abomination of your Hearts; for know assuredly, the day which [Page 10]is dawned doth discover your secret Iniquity, and the Light which you persecute doth make you openly manifest, that it is not true Loyalty, but Covetousness which is Idolatry, which as a raigning Pestilence has begun in the heart of your Priest. And behold! how has this Plague broke forth among you, and infected almost his whole Congregation? And so contagious is this Distemper among you, that without Remedy it will prove eternally mortal unto you, except you Repent; and because of the noysom effect of this your Covetousness and furious Idolatry, how are you become as an odium to your Neighbour-Towns, and as a loathsom ill Savour to sober and considerate People, who do hear of and abhor your abominable Actions? So that it may be said of thee, O Priest, and you his captive Proselites of the Town of Farthingston, that although many have done wickedly, yet as in the County of North-hampton you have exceeded them all. Oh! therefore consider what is the matter, examine a little what aileth you? O People! you who once, many of you, were freely inclinable to moderate attention to the divine Testimonies of Gods pretious Truth, which hath been sounded among you through the Servants of the Lord in our Assemblies: O! how strangely is the State of your hearts changed! What! is a Woolf in Sheeps cloathing entred in among you, and e'er you saw thorow his false covering? how are you begotten into the same Woolfish Nature by him? So that some of you are not only Ravening after the same Ungodly Prey with him, but others of you are (even you your selves) become as Captives of Prey to his Ravenous Teeth. Alas for you! O poor People, that although some of you do now see that his fruits do clearly make him known so to be, yet do not know how to deliver your selves from his oppressive Yoke, but are driven by violence, with him, to do that with your hands, which the witness of God in your own hearts condems you for: Oh! my Soul truly pities you, for your Condition is deplorable: But how are some of you, like the Boar out of the Wood, and the wild Beast of the Field, even given up with greediness to waste and devour God's Heritage, in this place, to your power? but the Lord will too strong for you: Oh, that it should be so with you! that men, pretending to Christianity, should not only so far lose the Nature of Christians, but even of men also, and be degenerated into the very nature of Beasts, even Beasts of prey!
And this is the-Effect of the Ministry of your Teacher, and the unhappy fruits his Preaching has produced, sience he came among you, that instead of turning you from the power of Satan, unto God, you are become many fold more the Children of the Devil than you were before, unto whose discipline you have so devoutly proselited your selves, that you are become greatly alienated in your Mindes from the fear of him who hath said, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self. And may it not be truly said of you, that you have not been more effectually zealous to any Duty, than to oppress your Neighbours with the great Cruelty, much like in Nature to those of whom Christ foretold John, 16.2. who should think they did God Service by killing his Servants? Wherefore, O People! consider your Wayes, and be still; fear the Lord, and not man; Tremble before him, and dread his mighty Name, lest his Wrath break forth against you, and you perish in his displeasure; For if we reason a little with you, what may we say unto you, O People! wherefore do ye so contemn God? wherefore is it that you have such despite against him, that you will not suffer those that love him to Assemble themselves together, to wait upon him, and to perform that duty which they owe unto him, and which Conscientiously they believe the Lord their God requireth at their hands? O! why is it so, that for this, and no other cause, you are so Angry with them, and so Outragious against them? Do you grudge against it, that the holy Name of the Lord, the God of Heaven should be honoured amongst men in the Earth? or do ye think hereby to draw us away from the Profession of our precious Faith to have fellowship with you, and to be conformable unto you in your vain Worships, who are destroying and persecuting us? If so, I must tell you, assuredly your Hopes will perish, and your expectation will deceive you; For behold, the Lord is our Rock, and the God of Israel is our Salvation; And as we abide faithful to him, you shall never be able to pluck us out of his hand though for a season you may execute your Wrath in this your hour and power of darkness. Yet the hope that we have in him doth more confirm us; than the greatest of Cruelties which you can threaten, can terrifie us; and it is freely our choise, rather to be of the number of those that are in Jeopardy to suffer Affliction by you, than to have fellowship with you in your presumptuous sins, or to be joyned unto you in [Page 12]your Cruelties; for we know right well, if we partake with you of those your Sins, we must receive of your Plagues, which neither your pretended Christianity, nor litteral formed Worships will save or secure from.
Therefore, in time be warned of the evil of your wayes, and Repent of the Works of your hands, and of the Cruelties of your Actions, O Priest and People of the Town of Farthingston! least Judgment without Mercy be your portion (who have shewed no Mercy) and you justly receive at the last, the heavy sentence of those unto whom Christ will say, In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me. And thus in the fear of the Lord, according to Truth, not with flattering words, but in plainness of Speech, having cleared my Conscience unto you, I remain,
the increase of Love and peace among all people forever.
William Pooley.