APPENDIX.

The following narrative we have thought proper to insert in the very

words of the sufferer, as taken from his own mouth. The candid reader

will easily excuse the simplicity of its style, and the plainness of

its expressions. It is the more like the man, and carries the greater

evidence of the honesty and integrity of the relater, viz.

‘_An account of the sufferings of Richard Seller, of Keinsey, a

fisherman, who was prest in Scarborough-Piers, in the time of

the two last engagements between the Dutch and English, in the

year 1665._

‘I was pressed in Scarborough-Piers, and refusing to go on board

the ketch, they beat me very sore on the sand, and I refusing

to go on board, they hoised me in with a tackle, on board of

the ketch that pressed for the ship called the Royal Prince,

and they bunched me with their feet, that I fell into a tub,

and was so maimed, that they were forced to swaddle me up with

clothes: from thence we sailed into Bridlington bay, where Thomas

Swales and Mary Stranger hearing of me, sent me victuals on

board of the ketch; then we sailed to the Buoy and Nore, where

they hauled me in at a gunport, on board of the ship called the

Royal Prince. The 1st day of the third month they commanded me to

go to work at the capstane; I refused, and told them, that ‘As

I was not free to do the king’s work, I would not live at his

charge for victuals;’ then the boatswain’s mate beat me sore, and

thrusting me about with the capstane till he was weary. Then the

captain sent for me upon the quarter deck, and asked me, ‘Why

I refused to fight for the king, and why I refused to eat of

his victuals?’ I told him, ‘I was afraid to offend God, for my

warfare was spiritual, therefore I durst not fight with carnal

weapons.’ Then he fell upon me and beat me with his small cane,

then called for his great cane and beat me sore, and felled me

down to the deck three or four times, and beat me as long as

his strength continued. Then came one Thomas Horner, (who was

brought up at Easington) and said, ‘I pray you, noble captain, be

merciful, for I know him to be an honest man, and a good man.’

Then said the captain ‘He is a Quaker, I will beat his brains

out;’ then falling on me again, he beat me till he was weary;

then called some to help him; ‘for,’ said he, ‘I am not able to

beat him enough to make him willing to do the king’s service.’

Then came out the commander’s jester, and told the captain, ‘He

would lay a guinea with him that he would make me work, and

haul the king’s ropes,’ and told the captain, ‘he was a fool;’

so two guineas were thrown down upon the deck: then the jester

called for two seamen, and made them make two ropes fast to the

wrists of my arms, and reeved the ropes through two blocks in the

mizen-shrouds, on the starboard side, and hoised me up aloft,

and made the ropes fast to the gunnel of the ship, and I hung

some time. Then the jester called the ship’s company to ‘behold

and bear him witness, that he made the Quaker haul the king’s

ropes;’ so veering the ropes, they lowered me half way down, then

made me fast again: ‘Now,’ said the jester, ‘Noble captain, you

and the company see that the Quaker hauleth the king’s ropes,’

and with that he commanded them to ‘let fly the ropes loose,’

where I fell upon the deck. ‘Now,’ said the jester, ‘Noble

captain, the wager is won, he hauled the ropes to the deck, and

you can haul them no farther, nor any man else.’ Then the captain

called the boatswain’s mate, and bid him take the Quakerly dog

away, and put him to the capstane, and make him work, and beat

him, and spare him not. So the boatswain’s mate had me down

to the geer-capstane, and thrust me about with the men at the

capstane, and beat me withal, when he could get time; then he

went and sat him down upon a chest-lid, and I went and sat down

upon another chest-lid beside him, then he fell on me and beat

me again, then called his boy to bring his two seizings, and he

seized my arms to the capstan’s bars, caused the men to heave the

capstane about, and in three or four times passing about, the

seizings were loosed, no man knew how, nor when, nor could they

ever be found, although they sought them with lighted candles:

then the boatswain’s mate, seeing what was done, caused all the

men to come from the capstane, and took a bible, and commanded

them all to swear, that they neither loosed me, nor knew how I

came loose, (they all being willing to swear,) he then searched

their pockets for the seizings, but could find none, so he let

them go; then he called them all again to him, and said, ‘Hear

what I shall say to you; you see this is a wonderful thing, which

is done by an invisible hand, which loosed him, for none of you

could see his hands loosed, that were so near him: I suppose

this man,’ said he, ‘is called a Quaker, and for conscience sake

refuseth to act, therefore I am afflicted, and do promise before

God and man, that I will never beat, nor cause to be beaten,

either Quaker, or any other man that doth refuse for conscience

sake to act for the king; if I do, I wish I may lose my right

hand.’

‘Then on the third-day came the admiral, sir Edward Spragg, on

board of his own ship, called the Royal Prince, and hearing

of a man that was pressed on board, that was called a Quaker;

also hearing that the boatswain’s mate had beaten me much, and

had given me over, and had denied to beat me any more, he was

therefore called to come before the admiral, to answer for

himself, why he would not beat the Quaker? He said, ‘I have beat

him very sore, and I seized his arms to the capstane’s bars,

and forced them to heave him about, and beat him, and then sat

down, and in three or four times of the capstane’s going about,

the seizings were loosed, and he came and sat down by me; then I

called the men from the capstane, and took them sworn, whether

they had loosed him or no, but they all denied that they either

loosed him, or knew by what means he was loosed, neither could

the seizings ever be found; therefore I did, and do believe that

it was an invisible power that set him at liberty, and I did

promise before God and the company, that I would never beat a

Quaker again, nor any man else for conscience-sake.’ The admiral

told him, ‘He must lose his cane:’ he willingly yielded it. And

told him, ‘He must also lose his place:’ he was willing. He also

told him, ‘He must lose his right hand:’ he held it out and

said, ‘take it from me if you please.’ So they took his cane from

him, and displaced him. So the commander gave order to the seven

yeomen, to beat me wherever they met with me, for seven days and

nights, and make me work. They being called to an account, what

they had made me do? told the commander, that ‘They were weary,

and could not make me work, so they desired to be excused.’ Then

the eighth yeoman was called, who promised ‘he would beat me, and

make me work;’ and he did beat me for a day and a night, when

he met with me, and being weary, he desired to be excused. Then

the commander sent for me upon the quarter-deck before him, and

caused my clothes to be stript off, shirt and all, from my waist

downward, then he took a view of my body to see what wounds and

bruises I had, but he could find none, no not so much as a blue

spot in my skin. Then the commander was angry with them for not

beating me enough: then captain Fowler answered him, and said,

‘I have beat him myself, as much as would have killed an ox.’

The jester said, ‘He had me hung a great while by the arms up

aloft in the shrouds.’ The men said, ‘They also had beat me very

sore, and they might as well beat the main-mast,’ Then said the

commander, ‘I will cause irons to be laid upon him, during the

king’s pleasure and mine.’ Then the boatswain was called, and

commanded to call the ship’s company together, and make ready the

irons: the commander, sir Edward Spragg, said, ‘You gentlemen

sailors and soldiers, whosoever serves here under me for the

king, on board of his majesty’s ship called the Royal Prince,

the admiral of the blue, you are to take notice, that there is a

man on board called a Quaker, he is to be laid in irons during

the king’s pleasure and mine, for refusing to fight, and eat the

king’s victuals, therefore I charge you all and every man, that

none of you give or sell him any victuals, meat, drink, or water,

for if you do, you shall have the same punishment that he hath.’

So this being called three times over, he commanded the boatswain

to take me away, and put me in irons. So I being kept in irons

six days and nights, and falling sick of a fever, I grew very

weak, insomuch that when I was set out to ease myself, (which

was but once in twenty-four hours) I could neither stand nor go:

so the officers that let me out, called some of my countrymen to

carry me into the ship’s-head to ease myself, and bring me back

again to the irons. Then the officer took pity of me, and bid me

lay down upon the bilboes that night, and he would hap me with a

coverlid, so I lay there that night, and next day till evening;

then the officer desired me to go by the way a little, seeing all

was quiet, and see if I could get a little rest: so I being lame

of a leg with the irons, was creeping over the larboard-side of

the ship, the lieutenant coming down, said, ‘Thou damned rogue,

(and many other wicked words) hast thou broken the irons?’ and

with that drew his rapier, and swore he would stab me, and so

drove me back again to the irons, and called the yeoman, and

would have known who let me out, and said he should be punished,

and I would not tell him; but the same yeoman came in the crowd,

and I put my hand out to him, and he locked it, and none knew

how: I then being the king’s prisoner, I bid them ‘begone, they

had nothing to do with me.’ So I remained in irons six days more,

and recovered very well of my weakness: then on the seventh

day at night, several, all seamen, fell to drinking of brandy,

and playing at cards, and became very loud, the boatswain’s

mate hearing of them, came down, and desired them to leave;

they being full of drink would not, so a quarrel arose, and the

boatswain’s mate cried out ‘murder,’ and immediately there came

assistance to him, but the men ran away and hid themselves, only

two were taken, and put in irons with me.

‘Now I shall speak a little of the carpenter’s mate’s kindness to

me: when I had been in irons some days, and my food being taken

from me, which was three day’s victuals, that I had left of that

which Thomas Swales and Mary Stringer sent me in Bridlington

bay, he came in the crowd, and joined himself so near me, that

he put about a pint of brandy into my pocket, and no man knew;

likewise some meat, and none knew; and told me he would supply

me daily, ‘for,’ said he, ‘I have meat of my own, which is not

at the king’s charge;’ and said farther, ‘that he had a strict

charge given him by his wife and his mother, before he came on

board, that if any Quaker came on board with him, he should be

kind to him;’ and that he had lately received a letter from them,

wherein they charged him to ‘remember his promise, and be kind

to Quakers, if any were on board.’ But there being some occasion

more than ordinary, he was taken off on board, and I had nothing

for three days and three nights; and the two men before spoken

of, that were in irons with me, while the commander was with us,

the men would lie no where but upon me, and as soon as he was

gone, they laid off me, and gave me brandy to drink, and promised

me they would not hurt me. Then the lieutenant came at the middle

of the night, and found them lying upon me, he asked ‘Why they

did lie upon me?’ they said, ‘You would have him killed, so now

we will kill him for you;’ then he came down the third time in

the morning, and found them lying upon me, for they sat one to

watch his coming, and found them lying very close upon me, so

that he could see nothing but my feet, I being so pressed and

weak, that he could scarce hear my voice.

‘Then the lieutenant went to Sir Edward’s cabin door, and

knocked; the boy answered, ‘Who was there?’ He told him, ‘It

was the lieutenant that would speak with Sir Edward, for there

had been a mutiny in the ship by some men playing at cards, and

they had beat the boatswain’s mate.’ He told him, ‘He should

have laid them in irons, and not called on him.’ He said, ‘They

are already in the bilboes.’ He also said, ‘If it please your

highness, Sir Edward, to remember that there is a poor Quaker in

yet, that was laid in two weeks since, and they will lie no where

but upon him, and they will kill him for us.’ He bid him ‘go to

the yeomen that had the keys, and take him out of the bilboes,

and put up a flag at the mizen-mast’s head, and call a council of

war;’ which was done. Then the captains of the other ships all

came on board, to answer the council of war, before eight o’clock

in the morning, (it being the first day of the week.) So I being

brought before the council of war, the commander asked me, ‘If I

would go on board of a hoy that was a tender, and had six guns?’

I refused, and desired to stay on board, and bear the punishment

that I had to abide. Then he bid the council of war go on with

their business; so they did proceed, and I being set on a bulk

head, being so lame with the irons that I could not stand, and

hearing them pass sentence of condemnation upon me. The judge

was a Papist, being governor of Dover castle, and went to sea on

pleasure. So they could not tell at present, what death to put

me to. The judge said, ‘I should be put into a barrel or cask

driven full of nails, with their points inwards, and so rolled

to death.’ But the council of war taking it into consideration,

thought it too terrible a death, and too much unchristian-like,

so they agreed to hang me. And I hearing them speak several

things against me, which I was clear of, had a desire to arise

from my knees, where I was set to answer for myself, but I had

not any power to arise or open my mouth, but was condemned

within myself, insomuch that I had not power to breath unto God.

Proffering to rise again the second time, there came a motion

within me, and bid me ‘Be still, be still, be still,’ three

times; which I obeyed, and was comforted; then I believed God

would arise: and when they had done speaking, then God did arise,

and I was filled with the power of God, and my spirit lifted up

above all earthly things, and wonderful strength was given me to

my limbs, and my heart full of the power and wisdom of God, and

with glad tidings my mouth was opened to declare to the people

the things that God had made manifest to me. With sweat running

down, and tears trickling from my eyes, I told them, ‘The hearts

of kings were in the hand of the Lord, and so are both yours

and mine, and I do not value what you can do to this body, for

I am at peace with God and all men, and you my adversaries; for

if I might have an hundred and thirty years longer, I can never

die in a better condition, for the Lord hath satisfied me, that

he hath forgiven me all things in this world, and I am glad

through his mercy, that he hath made me willing to suffer for

his name’s sake; and not only so, but I am heartily glad, and do

really rejoice, and with a seal in my heart to the same.’ Then

there came a man and laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said,

‘Where are all thy accusers?’ Then my eyes were opened, and I

looked about me, and they were all gone; and one said, ‘There

goeth thy chief friend, the judge.’ Then it arose in my heart,

that I had news for him from the power of God, and I said, ‘Man,

come back, I have news for thee better than ever thou heardst in

any coffee house, or elsewhere; and answer for what thou hast

done.’ Then came a lieutenant, and said, ‘Sir Edward, this is

an hypocrite Quaker.’ I said, ‘Commander I intreat thee to look

upon me a little.’ So I loosed my kneestrings and put down my

stockings and let him see how the blood and rotten stuff ran

down my leg round about. He said, ‘Put up thy stocking, there is

enough.’ Then presently came an ancient soldier, and loosed down

his knee-strings, and put down his stockings, and put his cap

under his knees, and begged his pardon three times. Then said

he, ‘Arise up soldier, and speak;’ and he intreated him, and

said, ‘Noble Sir Edward, you know that I have served his majesty

under you many years, both in this nation, and other nations, by

sea, and you were always a merciful man; therefore I do intreat

you in all kindness, to be merciful to this poor man, who is

condemned to die to-morrow, and only for denying your order, for

fear of offending God, and for conscience-sake; and we have but

one man on board, out of nine hundred and fifty, but one which

doth refuse for conscience-sake, and shall we take his life

away? Nay, God forbid; for he hath already declared, that if we

take his life away, there shall a judgment appear upon some on

board within eight and forty hours, and to me it hath appeared;

therefore I am forced to come upon quarter-deck before you, and

my spirit is one with his; and therefore I desire you in all

kindness, when you take his life away to give me the liberty to

go off on board, for I shall not be willing to serve his majesty

any longer on board of ship: so I do intreat you once more, to be

merciful to this poor man: so God bless you, Sir Edward, I have

no more to say to you.’

‘Then came the chief gunner, that had been a captain, and loosed

down his knee-strings, and did beg his pardon three times, being

upon his bare knees before Sir Edward. Then he said, ‘Arise up,

gunner, and speak.’ So he said, ‘If it please your worship, Sir

Edward, we know you are a merciful man, and therefore I intreat

you in all kindness, to be merciful to this poor man, in whom

there remains something more than flesh and blood, therefore I

intreat you, let us not destroy that which is alive, neither

endeavour to do it; and so God bless you, Sir Edward, I have

no more to say to you.’ Then he went away. Then the commander

desired me to go down, and take leave of my friends (this day)

that were on board; so he gave order, that any that had a mind

to give me victuals might, and that I might eat and drink with

whom I pleased, and that none should molest me that day. Then

came the lieutenant, and sat by me while they were at their

worship, and he would have given me brandy, but I refused. Then

the dinner came up to be served, and several gave me victuals

to eat, and I did eat freely, and was kindly entertained that

day; and night being come, a man kindly proffered me his hammock

to lie in that night, because I had laid long in irons, and I

accepted of his kindness, and laid me down and slept well that

night. The next morning being come, it being the second-day of

the week, on which I was to be executed, about eight of the clock

in the morning, the rope being veered upon the mizen-yard’s

arm, and the boy ready to turn me off, and boats having come on

board with captains of other ships that were of the council of

war, who came on purpose to see me executed. I was thereupon

called to come to be executed, then I coming to the execution

place, the commander asked the council, ‘How their judgment

did stand?’ So most of them did consent, and some of them were

silent. Then he desired me freely to speak my mind, if I had any

thing to say before I was executed. I told him I had little at

present to speak. So then came a man, and bid me go forward to be

executed, so I stepped upon the gunnel to go towards the rope;

the commander bid me stop there, if I had any thing to say. Then

spake the judge, and said, ‘Sir Edward is a merciful man, that

puts that heretic to no worse death than hanging.’ Sir Edward

turned him about to the judge, and said, ‘What saidst thou?’ ‘I

say,’ replied he, ‘you are a merciful man, that puts him to no

worse death than hanging,’ ‘But’ said he, ‘what is the other word

that thou saidst, that heretic:’ I say, said the commander, ‘he

is more a christian than thyself; for I do believe thou wouldst

hang me, if it were in thy power.’ Then said the commander unto

me, ‘Come down again, I will not hurt a hair of thine head, for I

cannot make one hair grow.’ Then he cried, ‘Silence all men,’ and

proclaimed it three times over, that if any man or men on board

of the ship, would come and give evidence, that I had done any

thing that I deserved death for, I should have it, provided they

were credible persons. But nobody came, neither opened a mouth

against me then. So he cried again, ‘Silence all men, and hear me

speak:’ then he proclaimed that the Quaker was as free a man as

any on board the ship was. So the men heaved up their hats, and

with a loud voice cried, ‘God bless Sir Edward, he is a merciful

man.’ The shrouds, tops, and decks being full of men, several of

their hats flew overboard, and were lost.

‘Then I had great kindness showed me by all men on board, but

the great kindness of the Lord exceeded all; for the day I was

condemned to die on, was the most joyful day that ever I had in

my life-time, and so remained exceeding joyful, until the very

time that I was proclaimed a free man. But soon after troubles

came upon me again; for I being laid upon the deck one night, as

it was my usual lodging-place, there was something appeared to

me, and struck me as it were dead; and I being in great dread and

fear, believed our ship was to engage such a day of the month,

with the wind at south-east; then appeared also a small cloud to

me, about as big as a hat. After being engaged, the same cloud

spread, and became a great one, insomuch that it darkened part

of the ship; then I stepped over on the starboard side of the

ship, into the shrouds, and looked aft, and I saw a thick water

arising in the wake of the rudder, then I feared the ship was

near ground. This appeared to me three times that night, and I

would gladly have put it from me, but I could not. Then I did

believe, and was satisfied of the truth of it, then I was at

peace and quiet in my mind, but then I was to make it known to

the pilot, and I did believe it was death by law to discourage

them; so I thought, then I should give them an occasion that

they should take away my life; but I could not rest, eat, drink,

or sleep, until I had declared it. So I breathed unto God, and

desired that he would find me a way to reveal it. So it remaining

with me two days and two nights, and being walking upon the deck,

and taking notice of the chief gunner of the ship, I was ordered

to go to him, and walk with him. Very solitary were both of us,

and he perceived I had something to say to him of some weighty

matter, so he desired me to speak my mind to him, and I told

him, I had such a weighty matter to declare, that it was death

by the law to declare it, I desired that he would stand true to

me in that respect, and he promised me fidelity in the presence

of God, before whom we were, that he would be true to me in

all respects, and if one suffered, both should suffer. Then we

espied the mate of the ship walking, he being a sober man, we

drew near to him, and he perceived we were both afflicted, and

desired to know what was the matter? So we told him, we had a

weighty matter, and if he would be as faithful to us as we were

one to another, we would declare it to him; so he promised to be

faithful to us, for he did believe it did concern him. Then we

told him the matter; and he was fully satisfied of the truth of

it. ’But,’ said he, ‘it doth belong most of all to the pilot;’ so

we must speak to him, and he being such a brickle, high-spirited

man, we scarce knew how to speak to him, but calling him to us,

and walking with him, he took notice of our heaviness, and asked

our business with him; we told him, ‘We had a matter to declare

to him of great concern, therefore we desired him to be faithful

to us, and we would declare the matter to him,’ and he promised

to be as faithful to us, as he supposed we were one to another.

So they told him the matter; then he asked, ‘Who saw it?’ I told

him, ‘I see it.’ Then he fell into a rage, and seemed to fly from

his promise, and said, ‘He would go and tell the commander.’ So

away he went, and said, ‘He would have me executed speedily.’ I

said, ‘Let him do; better I die, than the whole company perish.’

But they said, ‘If thou die, we will all die.’ Then he came to

us again near weeping, and told us, that when he came before the

commander, his mouth was stopt, that he could not speak a word

good or bad. He was very tender, and praised God that he had

such a messenger. Then he took me by the hand, and desired me

to tell him the name of the sand. I told him I did not know, I

never came there; but at that time I looked up with my eyes, and

told him whereabouts the sand laid: so he desired me to go to

the compass, and he asked me, if I knew the compass? I told him,

very well; so I showed him upon what point of the compass the

said land laid, and he took a book out of his pocket, and found

the sand, and the name of it. Some days after we were engaged

on that very point with the Hollanders, and as soon as we were

engaged, the cloud appeared to me, and came and darkened the

ship. Then I stepped into the main shrouds, and I saw the thick

water, which I showed to the pilot, and he called two of the best

men to the lead. They called, ‘Five fathom and a quarter.’ Then

the pilot cried, ‘Starboard your helm.’ On which the commander

cried ‘Larboard your helm, and bring her too.’ The pilot said,

‘He would bring the king’s ship no nearer, he would give over his

charge.’ The commander cried, ‘Bring her too.’ The pilot cried to

the lead-men, ‘Sing aloud, that Sir Edward may hear;’ (for the

outcry was very great amongst the officers and seamen, because

the ship was so near aground, and the enemies upon them) so they

cried, ‘A quarter less five.’ The commander cried, ‘We shall

have our Royal Prince on ground, take up your charge, pilot.’

Then he cried hard, ‘Starboard your helm, and see how our ship

will veer;’ so she did bear round up. The men at the lead cried,

‘Five fathom, and a better depth.’ Then the commander cried, ‘God

preserve the Royal Prince.’ Then the pilot cried, ‘Be of good

cheer, commander.’ They cried, six fathom, then nine fathom,

then fifteen fathom, then sixteen fathom. The Hollanders, then

shouted, and cried, ‘Sir Edward runs.’ Then he cried, ‘Bring her

too again;’ and the fight continued till the middle of the day

was over, and it fell calm. The ships being engaged ahead of us,

we could see nothing but fire and smoke; so out of that smoke I

espied a fire ship designed to lay us on board of the larboard

bow. Then I cried to the chief gunner to come to me quickly, and

I showed him the fire ship coming to board us on the larboard

bow. Then he fired a chace-gun with a ball in her; and as soon as

the smoke was gone from the gun, we espied the fire-ship all on

a fire, blown up, and what remained of her sallied on board of

the Cambridge, and only burned her ancient. The fight continued,

and my employ was to carry down the wounded men, and look out

for fire-ships, and the commander was mightily pleased with my

service, and said ‘It would have been a great pity that my life

should have been taken away before the engagement;’ and the chief

gunner said, ‘I was instrumental, through mercy, not only for

giving notice of the ship coming on ground upon the sand, but

also for preventing of the fire-ship that was near to board us,

who gave me the first notice, whereof I am witness.’ And the

lieutenant said to the commander, that ‘There was not a more

undaunted man on board, except his highness.’

‘Eight days after, we were engaged again with the Hollanders,

and the officers sent for me upon the quarter deck, and asked

me, What I would do that day? I told them, I was willing to do

as I had done before; they desired I would do that service, and

take that care upon me, only to look out for fire-ships coming on

board. I told them I was free to do it, likewise to carry down

the wounded men, if there was occasion; so presently we engaged,

but not one fire-ship troubled us that day, but we lost about

two hundred men. The lieutenant meeting me, he asked me, If I had

received any wounds? I told him, I had received none, but was

well. He asked me, How came I to be so bloody? Then I told him,

It was with carrying down wounded men. So he took me in his arms,

and kissed me; and that was the same lieutenant that persecuted

me so with irons at the first. Then we came to the Buoy and Nore

again, and then went up near Chatham, and the king coming on

board, the lieutenant desired me to go and walk upon the deck

with him, in sight of the king, that haply some might give him

notice of me, hoping I might be brought to a trial, and have my

liberty: but I did not understand that he had any intelligence of

me. The next day the same lieutenant came to me, and desired me

to walk along with him upon the quarter deck. I being somewhat

unwilling, told him, I did not use to go upon the quarter-deck,

unless I was called by the officers. He said, ‘My uncle hath much

business, and doth forget you; so walk along with me, I desire

you.’ And I did as he desired me, and he being with me, walked

away and left me alone. The commander being there, and several

captains with him, he came from his company to me, and laid his

hand upon my head, and said ‘Thou hast done well, and very well

too:’ so he walked by me, and I blushed. Then he asked me, Why I

blushed? I told him I desired to know wherein I had done so well.

He said, ‘By encouraging them which should have encouraged both

thee and me.’ Then said he, ‘Thou shalt have thy liberty to go on

shore.’ I asked him, If I might go on shore to recruit, or go to

my own being? He said, ‘I should choose whether I would.’ I told

him, I had rather go to my own being. He said, ‘I should do so.’

Then I told him, there was one thing that I requested of him yet,

that he would be pleased to give me a certificate under his hand,

to certify that I was not run away. He said, ‘Thou shalt have

one to keep thee clear at home, and also in thy fishing;’ for he

knew I was a fisherman. So he called the captain, and ordered

him to write me a certificate, and bring it to him; which he did

with speed, but he did not like it, but flung it him again, and

ordered him to make me one more legible. Then he brought another,

and he signed it, and gave it me, and wished me well, and said,

‘He desired to hear from me if I got well home;’ and I told him,

I would send him a letter, and so I did. But soon after I got

into London, two press-crews came to me, and said. ‘This is Sir

Edward’s Quaker; you are welcome to shore, will you please to go

to the tavern with us?’ I told them I would not go, nor drink any

thing. Then they wished me well home.

‘Also they proffered me my pay, before I came off on board, and

said, ‘I deserved it as well as any man on board.’ But I refused,

and told them, I had of my own, that I hoped would serve me home.

And the lieutenant was troubled because I would take nothing; he

would have given me twenty shillings, but I would not take it.’

Thus ends the remarkable narrative of the sufferings of this faithful

sailor, who rather than violate his conscience by being instrumental

to destroy other men’s lives, endured with much patience many and sore

trials, persevering faithful in his testimony against war and fighting,

even to death; to which he was wholly resigned, and from which he was

preserved by a singular providence attending him, in those moments of

time which he thought would have been his last. But the virulence of

the popish judge against him as an heretic, gave the commander, Sir

Edward Spragg, who professed himself a protestant, such disgust, that

scorning to be made a tool to execute the vengeance of a papist in this

case, he delivered the innocent man from the death he was condemned

to: being thus preserved alive, he was made instrumental to the saving

of the ship, and the lives of many therein: and by the exercise of an

undaunted Christian courage and constancy, triumphed over the malice of

his adversaries, who conscious of his innocence, at length became his

friends and favourers.

* * * * *

_A narrative of the Sufferings of John Philly and William Moore,

in the Inquisition of Hungary, from the first month 1662, to

the seventh month 1663. Taken from a letter written by William

Moore to William Caton, dated Amsterdam, 11th month, 1663._

‘On the 29th of the first month, 1662, John Philly and William

Moore, being refreshed with the overflowings of the love of God

through thee, we took our leave of thee and the rest of our

dear friends in Germany; and what a cross it was to my flesh

and blood to leave thee and them, and to take such an unknown

journey, is best known to him that seeth the secrets of all

hearts, and what a capacity I was in, is pretty well known to

thyself, yet we passed according to the information thou hadst

procured for us of the way, together with what we got elsewhere,

and we prospered in our journey, and arrived the 16th of the

second month at Cutshort, by the Hottersche[113] brethren, about

a day’s journey from Presburgh in Hungaria, where we were pretty

kindly entertained by some of them, and there I dealt some books

among them, which I had carried with me, and the next day I went

alone to another family of them: and in my going thither the Lord

preserved me out of the hands of a wicked man which I met withal,

who seeing me a stranger, would, it’s like, have laid violent

hands on me, or have knocked me on the head for my money, had not

the Lord restrained him, and the brethren (so called) wondered

I was preserved, for they could not go so far as to the next

village, but were in danger. After we had some pretty good[114]

service among them, we got the names of some more of their

families, and one of them was three hundred miles farther, at a

city called Pattock, in Upper Hungaria, but some of them would

have dissuaded us from going any farther, but rather only to have

visited the families thereabouts, which I could have been free

unto, but John was pressed to go forward, and I had not freedom

to leave him, he not having their language, which I had.

[113] These Hottersche brethren were a kind of Baptists, who

lived in a community, having, like the primitive Christians,

their goods and possessions in common. They also refused to

swear or fight, and dwelt by hundreds of them together in one

family.

[114] Their service was that of preaching to those

communities, and endeavouring to promote and advance their

growth in the doctrines of christianity.

‘After that we returned to Presburgh, where the Danube divideth

itself, and it meets at Comora, where we were taken, which

happened as followeth: we finding a boat going with meal to the

garrison at New-Hausell, which lies in the way to Pattock, we

went to her, and when we came near unto the place, the boatmen

asked me, ‘Whether I had acquaintance there?’ I said, ‘No.’

‘Whether we had a pass?’ I said, ‘No.’ Then said they, ‘It is

dangerous going thither,’ because they would be suspicious of

us, and to travel farther in that land, they being tributaries

to the Turk, we should be in danger of being killed either by

the countrymen, or by some of the Turks, and at that garrison

they did use to put men to cruel deaths, which have been found,

without leave, on the tributary ground. Yet John was desirous to

be at that village which was near there, but said the boatmen,

‘He will not take counsel before ye shall remember our words, and

repent it when ye cannot help it;’ and their words had the more

impression on me, because I had seen a night or two before in my

sleep, that which afterwards came to pass at Comora, where we

arrived, and were brought to an Hungarian’s lodging, but we could

not understand one another; but the next night they sent for a

student from the college, who asked me in Latin, ‘Whence we were,

and whither we were intended?’ I told him, ‘We came from Great

Britain, and desired to be at Pattock.’ Afterwards we entered

into a discourse about religion, and when we parted, he said,

‘He wished us well, though there was a vast difference in our

judgment,’ &c.

‘The next day we endeavoured to get over the river, and made

signs to a countryman with some money, who began to make his boat

ready to help us, but an old Dutchwoman came forth, and said,

‘What do ye?’ And told me, ‘The governor would presently cause

him to be hanged, if he set us over;’ so we let it rest, and we

returned to our former lodging, and the next day I went over the

water on the south-side of the town, where I heard there were

many Dutch people and soldiers, hoping to find some countrymen

to speak with, and some books I took with me, which I would

willingly have sent to Pattock; and coming to the soldiers, asked

for countrymen, but finding none, I asked leave of the guard,

and walked out into the field, where a trooper sat sentinel,

discoursed a little with him, and passed on farther, where some

were ploughing. And as I returned back, there did meet me a

soldier of captain Fusch’s company, with two other, and having

a book in my hand, called, ‘A paper sent forth into the world,

to show the grounds and reasons why we denied the priests of

the world.’ He looked on the title, and began voluntarily to

tell me, that ‘Such a place was in Turkey, and if a man went

thither, he might have good days there,’ &c. But I said, ‘I will

go from whence I came,’ and intending to return to John on the

other side the water, the aforesaid soldier came to me again at

the water-side, and told me, ‘I must come to the captain,’ and

when I came before him he asked for the book, and looking on

it, asked, ‘If I was a Quaker?’ I said, ‘Yea.’ And he being in

a rage, said, ‘These rogues show no respect;’ and said, ‘I was

a young Hus come forth to seduce the people, and make uproars,

&c.’ And he caused the soldiers to pull off my clothes, and to

search me for letters, and took my money from me: and I spake

something to them, to give them to understand they would not be

so done by. But he said, ‘When you get clear, you shall have your

money again.’ But he did not think that should be, so he sent

me to the guard a while, and sent for me again, and searched me

more narrowly, and found the books which were inclosed between

the linings of my breeches: then I was sent to the guard again,

and the marshal was to put iron shackles with a chain upon my

foot and hand; and there was a talk as if I should be stuck upon

a wooden spit, as some had been who had but gone to the next

village without their order; but I turned my mind inward, and was

pretty well resigned up to the lord. So they having sent over to

the chief officer to inform him, there were two soldiers sent

with their burning matches to fetch me, and I little expecting

less than present death, had told some soldiers, ‘I had a

companion in the inn on the other side, and he would marvel what

was become of me if he did not hear.’ Afterwards I was carried

to the officer aforesaid, who asked me, ‘If Mary had continued

always a virgin?’ To which, when I had answered, ‘Thou rogue,’

said he, ‘if I had but power over thee, I would presently drown

thee in this water.’ Afterwards they went to our lodging, and

apprehended John also, howbeit free of that crime they imputed to

me, which was for going over, and into the garrison. I was put

in the Dutch prison, called the Stock-house, and John into the

Hungarian’s vault, which was twenty foot long, where they rack

people, and there was a private gallows, a pair of stocks, and

a filthy tub of excrements; and the aforesaid officer took our

portmantle, but afterwards it was given to the marshal, who took

what pleased him out of it, with the Bible and papers, and left

the rest to another officer, who feignedly, after our commitment,

seemed to be troubled that we had no bread, and asked me, Whether

John had no money, which I could not deny, and then he went to

the other prison, and threatened him to give it him. So John gave

him a ducat, which he got changed, and brought us the money, and

desired we would give him some of it, and he would be worth it at

our hands. John afterwards expecting they would search him for

gold, did afterward hide some, and kept some by him.

‘The day following, we were first examined by the inquisitor,

Whence we were? Whither we intended? How old we were? Who was the

author of our coming forth? What money we had taken up? And John

was searched, and the gold found which he had left by him: and

I was examined concerning the books, and told, It was a capital

crime, and would cost me my life. But I said, ‘What I had done

therein, I had done in simplicity,’ &c. And he asked, ‘Who had

spoke with us in our lodging?’ I told him, ‘A student,’ with many

more words.

‘And after the first examination, one colonel Fusch desired

to have me brought forth before him, and he asked me several

questions concerning the books; and ‘Who was the first bringer

up of this doctrine?’ I told him, ‘George Fox was one of the

first preachers of it in this generation,’ and because I owned

the books aforesaid to be wrote by the motion of the Spirit

of God, he was very bitter against me, and several cunning

questions did he ask me, as thereby to ensnare me, but it did

not avail. Something he read in one of the books concerning

their steeple-houses, as advice to people that they should go

no more to them, &c. which seemed to be very odious to him; and

he told me, that ‘He would cause all those books and writings

to be copied and sent to his prince at Mentz, and when he could

spare them the inquisitor should have them.’ Afterwards I was

taken to the deputy governor, (a cruel old fox) who asked me

several questions, and said, ‘He would send me with a message to

the devil;’ and he said, ‘I had done more than if I had killed

an hundred men;’ and because I would not take off my hat, he

judged that to be a Turkish principle, and I not being free at

that time to drink wine, he asked me, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘because

I would bring my body into subjection.’ ‘How long,’ said he,

‘will you abstain?’ I said, ‘till night at least.’ ‘That,’ said

he ‘is another Turkish point, to fast till night.’ He had also

sent for the Hungarian student, and commanded him to tell him

in Latin, all what had passed between us in our lodging, which

the inquisitor afterwards took to read when we were examined,

but he would not read it openly, lest the sitters by should have

heard and owned the truth thereof. Afterwards they brought our

attempt to go over the water, as a mighty crime against us, and

the aforesaid soldier was called to testify against me, whose

testimony being false, I withstood him, and told the inquisitor,

who did much seek occasion against me, that ‘He should beware

what he did, for if he should cause my blood to be shed under

such a pretence, it would cry to the Lord for vengeance, and

thereby he might draw the wrath of God upon him and others.’ And

I desired the other soldiers might be examined, who also had

heard what I said; which after some time was granted, and I was

put forth, and my adversary and accuser he was kept within, and

one of the other was called; and then I thought, ‘Now if the

Lord doth not assist me, they may persuade him to speak the same

thing.’ But when he came forth, he told me, ‘He did not speak as

the other, for that which the other had affirmed, was not true;’

then I thanked the Lord that this pretence failed them. But

afterwards the inquisitor told me, ‘The books were enough, though

there were nothing else;’ and asked me, ‘Whether I knew not that

the catholics had laws to burn and torment heretics, and such as

carried such books?’ I said, ‘I should not have expected such

dealing among good Christians,’ and so did not tell him. Howbeit,

I knew well, that they were cruel and bloody enough.

‘Then he opened a book of the corrupt popish laws, and read

therein, how that such persons as carry such books and papers

are to be racked, &c. And about this time was John searched yet

farther for gold, by the command of the inquisitor, and having

taken so far off as one of his shoes and stockings, he was slow

in taking off that where the gold was, and the marshal thinking

it tedious, and thinking there had been no more, bid him put

them on again. And upon a certain time he gave it me in half

a little white loaf, when we stood with the soldiers waiting

to be called. And they seeing the book called ‘The way to the

kingdom,’ that it was printed at Amsterdam, asked me, ‘What books

I brought from thence to Paltz, and how many?’ And one morning

having sent for one of the priests. He got that written book

of George Fox’s of the Apostacy of Christendom, who looking on

it, began to be hot and wrathful, saying, ‘How are we (meaning

the papists) apostatized, and how can that be proved?’ I said,

‘Friend, it becometh not a spiritual man to be so furious, but

gentle, meek, peaceable,’ &c. Then was his countenance dashed,

and he had little more to say. The inquisitor asked me farther

concerning the sacrament, &c. And I told him how Christ said,

‘The flesh profiteth little, it was the spirit that quickened,’

&c. which seemed strange to him, and he asked the priest, ‘Sir,

father, how is that?’ who bethought himself, and said, ‘He

did remember there was such a saying;’ and more words passed

between us, which would now be too long to relate. Farther, the

inquisitor asked me, ‘If I would be a catholic?’ I said, ‘If I

should be so for fear or favour of them, the Lord not requiring

it of me, I should not have peace in my conscience, and the

displeasure of the Lord would be more intolerable than theirs;

and as for compelling people, that did but make them hypocrites,

and doth not truly change the heart.’ Which the priest could not

deny but that it was true. And notwithstanding our innocence, the

governor would have us racked, which seemed to me, according to

relation, a cruel torment; and in those days I often poured forth

my supplication to the Lord with tears. And being almost every

day examined until the eighth day, they made ready benches to sit

on, lighted the candle, and put John out of his room, and sent

for me. The inquisitor sitting there with two more officers, and

the marshal and the hangman by them.

‘The inquisitor said, ‘William, that you may not think we deal

with you as tyrants, we will lay it before you, that you may tell

what you know in time, for if you be racked, you will be but a

miserable man, and must have your head cut off besides.’ But I

told him, ‘I knew no evil, nor had any such thing in my heart

against them.’ Then he read a few lines to this purpose. ‘We,

Leopoldus, &c. Emperor, &c. having understood of two impeached

persons, John Philly and William Moore, found by our frontier

garrisons, our desire is they should be racked, to know their

intent.’ And then the hangman, according to order, put on an

iron screw hard upon my thumbs, and bid me, ‘Tell out.’ Then

he slacked them and screwed them harder again; but that not

availing, he was commanded to proceed farther, and so he tied a

small cord about my wrist behind my back, and drew me up some

degrees on the ladder, and tied my hands to one of them, and

another cord about my ancles, with a battel of wood between my

feet, lifted up my body quite from the ladder, and at the first

pull my left arm gave a pretty loud crack out of joint, being

shorter tied above that wrist; then he was bid put it in joint

again. So he slacked, and they asked me, having three things

especially to ask. 1st. Why did I ask the student, if one should

come to them, and say, He intended to buy somewhat of them, if

they would then kill him? 2d. Why we had desired to be set over

the water at the town, and who was the author? 3d. Why I had

written up some of the names of the garrisons, and other places,

notwithstanding I had them in the maps?

‘And though he mentioned but three questions at the first, yet

he would have forced me to have told, whether J. Philly was an

engineer, a gunner, or a minister? Now this suspicion of his

being a minister, had an Irishman, it seems, put into their

heads, who had almost an irreconcileable hatred or malice in

him against Englishmen, as I afterward out of his mouth plainly

understood, especially against ministers, as authors of their

ruin and exile: and this man was interpreter between me and them.

But I answered, and kept to this, that he was an husbandman and a

maltman, and I knew him not till he came to Amsterdam. He asked

me, ‘If I had a mind to go to the Turks, and to be one?’ I said,

‘I had rather die than be one.’ In the mean time I was so racked,

that my chin was so close to my breast, and closed my mouth,

that I was almost choaked, and could not well speak any longer,

and I should not wish any to experience how painful it was, and

yet they would be questioning me. Then I asked them ‘Where is

now the Christian love, and do ye now as ye would be done unto?’

And I cried the louder, that the people without might hear and

bear witness what they were a doing to me, for the door was shut

and guarded, and sometimes when I was slacked, it was almost

as painful as the pulling: but something they would have out of

me, and I told them, how that they might by such means force

one (as I believed many had done) to say more than they knew,

to be out of their pain; for I had rather they had proceeded

to have beheaded me according to their threatenings, than to

have tormented me; but yet that they would not do then, for he

(the inquisitor) would have me say yea to it, which it’s likely

would have been enough to them, though they had known us to have

confessed a lie: howbeit finally I confessed, it was for love to

our religion that we were come to those places. Then they left

off, as thinking there was crime enough: yet he spake as if I

should be racked again on the third day.

‘Then they fetched John, who not seeing me, but having heard me

crying out before, he thought I had been hanged on the private

gallows, and put out of the way. But he was given up, being

confident in the Lord, who had sealed to him (he said) that he

should have his life for a prey before he came forth: so they

laid four things to him chiefly to answer, and his thumbs were

screwed, and he was drawn on the ladder twice, and he cried out,

‘Innocent.’ And they asking the interpreter, What that was? He

said, ‘they were smitten in their consciences, and they left

off:’ I judge the sooner, because if there had been any evil,

they would have got it out of me, with whom they had more delight

to meddle, because they could understand me, and I them: and

then it was afternoon, and they hungry, it’s like, for they had

begun early with me, and when all was done, and they could find

no contradiction, they invented a lie, and the marshal came unto

me, and told me, John had said, I had no money by me, but what

I had was his; and bade me tell how it was? But I knew it was

otherwise: but they sought occasion against us, that they might

yet have tormented us more, but I kept to truth, which he also

had spoken, and their expectation failed them.

‘Afterward a priest with the marshal came, and felt my ears to

see whether I had been a rogue, or some one of account, which

they would have concluded, if they had been either cut or bored.

‘When they had done all this, they told me, There would be twenty

or thirty men of note appointed out of the quarters round about,

to hold a court of justice upon us, and to determine what deaths

we should die, and to make new laws for our sake; but in the mean

time the inquisitor came, and would have me first write some of

the heads of my religion, so I did write many particulars, which

I cannot now set down word by word, at some of which he raged

very much.

‘About that time John Philly, feeling much of the wickedness of

the inquisitor and priests, and being sensible how they plotted

to take away our lives, did once cry out to the governor when

he was in his coach, and he sent to know what he would have,

which was to acquaint him with the particulars laid, before him

in his racking, and what his answers were, and how there was no

contradiction found in our answers, for he was jealous, that the

inquisitor and priests would prevent our words to the governor,

and afterwards he got pen and ink, and wrote to the governor, but

the inquisitor got it, and sought to keep it from the governor,

for it is like, he was convicted in his conscience of his dealing

so evil with us. But John perceiving he would smother it, called

to the governor again, who commanded him to give me it to

translate for him, which was done; so not long after came the

inquisitor to me, having been sick three days upon the bed, and

told me, he was sent by the governor, that we might go forth and

fill a little earth in the wheelbarrow, whereby we might earn

near two pence a day to buy us bread; ‘for,’ said he, ‘that which

remains in my hands of the money is little for my pains, and the

marshal and hangman will have some for their pains.’

‘This was about five weeks after our coming to Comora, and we

were willing to accept of the governor’s proffer, that we might

thereby have the benefit of the fresh air, and that our bonds

might be manifest to such as might somewhat take it to heart;

for there were both Lutherans and Calvinists that did partly

commiserate our conditions, but durst not venture to come and

see us in the castle, and sometimes was some small thing given

us by some, and the papists marvelled, and others were glad we

had obtained the favour as to be suffered to work; yet sometimes

the marshal would not suffer us to go out, and sometimes he kept

back of our wages, and on saints days, so called, and rainy days,

we had no wages. Howbeit the Lord provided for us, for there

were some women that remembered us on these days, and pretty

much we could have gotten, had we spoken to rich people, and

to officers, but we were not free to beg of any, whereupon the

marshal was angry. And as for that gold which John had hid in the

prison-wall, some had found it, and taken it away. And when we

had been about seven weeks asunder, John obtained that favour as

to be with me, but one night he was in danger of being murdered

by a student, who privily got to him when he was asleep, and took

him by the neck, and might have choaked him, had not the Lord

preserved him.

‘After that John wrote again to the governor, and commended

his wisdom in forbearing to proceed so severely against us as

some would have had him, but that paper the inquisitor did also

intercept, and he sent for me, and threatened that he would help

us to the gallows himself, howbeit I have spared and helped you

before, said he; and about that time I did eat but little, that

I might be the better prepared to die the sooner, if they should

have been suffered to have hung me upon an hook by the ribs, as

it was their manner with some, who lived in a most miserable pain

for three or four days.

‘After that I wrote something to the governor, but the inquisitor

did also intercept that, and I spoke with the governor’s

secretary and his chamberlain, who were two pretty discreet

young men, and one of them told me, how the inquisitor was made

to give his lord our papers which he had intercepted; and it

appeared, that he was come into disfavour with the governor, and

the chief-priest, our great adversary, was in danger of being

punished, but for what cause we did not yet certainly know;

however that evening the chain was taken off from each of us, and

but a little left upon one leg.

‘After that came down the general-president with the

deputy-chancellor and others, to view the garrison, and they came

riding by us where we were at work, and one looking out of the

coach, and seeing us not take off our hats, cried ‘These are the

Quakers;’ and the same day was a new gallows made, and we were

called in, and by the way the marshal said, ‘We were to go before

a general, and if we did not take off our hats, we should see

what would become of us, for the gallows was ready.’

‘And coming before them, there sat a priest at the table, and

said, ‘We had forfeited our lives by desiring to go over the

river,’ &c. But I told him, ‘They thirsted after blood, and the

potentates of the earth hearkened unto them.’ And as for us,

we had no man but God to plead for us; and many sophistical

arguments he produced, as thereby to ensnare me, but some of

the rest desiring to speak with me, I regarded what he said the

less, and with much boldness I spake unto them. And as for the

president, who seemed to be the wisest among them, he called John

to him, and spoke French with him, and afterwards called me, and

spake with me. The deputy-chancellor asked me, ‘Whether I would

rather turn papist, or be hanged?’ I said, ‘I did not desire to

have them put it to my choice.’ The president asked, Whether I

would not that all people were as I was? I answered, and said,

Whatsoever is good in me, I wish them like me in that. He asked,

Whether I would not they were all of my religion? I said, I

wished all might be faithful to that which they knew already to

be good. Then he caused them to bring us our hats again, which

some had thrown off, and when they had dined, they desired us to

write for certificates, and so went their way.

‘And upon a certain time colonel Fusch came riding by where we

were at work, and some Italian lords with him, who were intended

for Rome, and he proffered to send me with them if I pleased, or

if I would be a Papist, or Calvinist, (i. e. Presbyterian) he

would procure my liberty, &c. And many more temptations we had

daily, which would be too long here to relate. And often there

came officers and asked us, What saith the Spirit now? Hath the

Spirit sent you to work? And had he not done better to have

counselled you to stay at home? And doth he not yet tell you that

you must be Catholics? And when I had done speaking to them, and

they not knowing how to defend themselves, they would say, ‘Such

heretics ought to be burned;’ and more bad words to the same

purpose.

‘And when sixteen weeks were expired of our imprisonment, the

Hungarian deputy-governor, a bitter old man, came where we were

at work, and said, ‘He must send us to Cæsar;’ for John had

before in his paper appealed unto him.

‘Then we went into the garrison, until four soldiers and an

interpreter, and letters, were ready, that went along with us,

and there were iron-bolts put upon our feet, and we put into a

waggon. And the interpreter told us, how he had heard the letter

which was come concerning us, but nevertheless, he said, we

should not come into England. So that whole night we rode, and

arrived the third day at the house of one called his excellency,

lord Francis of Nadasti, &c. Judex Curiæ Hungariæ, the Emperor’s

majesty’s active privy counsellor and lord chamberlain, &c. to

whom the governor of Comora had given us over, it was supposed,

partly to make friendship with him, for they had been formerly

at variance; and when he came from his worship he caused us to

be called, and asked me, If we were Quakers? I said, ‘Yea:’ He

said, ‘Very well.’ And in the afternoon his wife looked out of a

window, and asked me several questions, and I had much freedom to

answer her, which she interpreted to some Hungarians that were

with her: and the next morning we were taken to the vice-king’s

parlour, where the lords of that kingdom and of the other

dominions were set about the table, and John was ordered to go to

one end by the secretary, who seemed to be an understanding man,

and he was partly reached by John’s answers, and he was forward

to repeat them aloud to the archbishop and the rest; and Nadasti

asked me several questions, but hastily, about our religion, of

which we gave friends an account formerly.

‘And though they had little or nothing to say against our

answers, yet they passed sentence upon us, that we should

be burned, if we would not be instructed, and embrace their

religion; for they had a law, they said, which tolerated but

three religions, viz. theirs, the Lutherans, and the Calvinists,

and whosoever brought a new religion there, was according to

their law, to be burned; and upon that we were sent away. And

John told me, The power of the Lord would divide them in their

council, as an Irish priest did afterwards tell him, who was sent

to require an account of our religion in writing, and when it

was done, the Irishman got an English copy of it, and said, ‘He

would tell them the contents of it, and help us what he could;’

but we thought it would be the best that I translated it, which

accordingly I did, and I gave it Nadasti in his hand.

‘Afterwards they sent the priest to convert us, and there he

read out of his catechism, and asked John concerning the creed,

pater-nosters, seven sacraments, mass, faith, hope, love,

patience, and more such like things, to which John answered him.

After that came down some priests, and asked us, If we were come

forth to sow our seed? O, said the Irish priest, ‘they cannot

speak Latin;’ yet he and others know that I could. And seeing

they could not prevail with us there, we were sent to another

place, five Dutch miles from [115]Wien, (the Emperor’s seat)

with two soldiers, by Nadasti’s command, and when we were come

thither, the priests gave order to put us in the hole with the

Turks, because they suspected us to be preachers, and by their

instigation, and with the consent of the court-master, (who told

me, that there should be wood and straw fetched to burn us) did

the soldiers take off our coats, and searched our pockets, and

took our books and papers, and the next day, because we would

not speak Latin, nor take off our hats to their images in their

churches (so called) they set others upon us to ensnare us in

words, and strove to do it themselves, that they might have

occasion to take away our lives, which they often threatened to

do, and when they could not prevail with all their cunning baits,

nor make us bow to their worship, they manifested their cruelty

farther, in causing iron-shackles to be put upon our hands; and

though they were so little that I was forced even to cry out, by

reason of the extremity of pain, yet with force they thrust on

the lock, and beheld it with joy.

[115] Vienna.

‘And in the hole we had scarce room to put forth our feet without

touching the Turks, whose feet were in the stocks, and hands

in irons, and necks and feet in iron-bands tied to the walls

with strong chains. Afterwards the priests being drunk at their

feasts, sent for us to examine us farther, and they said ‘They

could not believe but John was a preacher, for an husbandman

could not answer so readily.’ And one of the chief of them told

us, that they had several instruments of cruelty, which they

could also let us taste of; that they could burn men under their

arms, and put hot iron or copper-plates upon their breasts: and

he also told us, that we should be sent down into Hungaria to

be burned. I spoke to one of the priests, and desired we might

be dealt withal as men or Christians, and might have a little

straw or hay to lie upon, for we were worse used than the Turks.

‘Yea,’ said he, ‘we prefer them before you.’ And about that time

they proffered us a drink in an urging manner, which it was

supposed was made to poison us; and John refusing to take it,

one of the priests said, ‘Suspectum est nos.’ One of the priests

asked me, If I had a wife? I said, ‘I never knew woman-kind.’

He said, ‘The heretics had not that grace of chastity, neither

had I any grace from God.’ The Turks, he said, had some grace,

they were good soldiers, and somewhat else he said of them.

Another priest asked me, ‘How I had lain in the hole, and how the

iron-shackles pleased me?’ And threatened we should be put into

the miry-dungeon in the tower, and called me filthy names in the

Hungarian tongue, before the people.

‘Howbeit, blessed be the Lord, we had slept well in the shackles,

upon the besoms in a corner; yea, better than could be expected,

though at the first my wrist-band pained me much. And when the

priests and others were seeking much to discourage us, I was upon

a time setting musing upon a bench, and thinking Lord help us,

what will be the end of this, and whether they shall have power

to murder us here, where few may know of it, for in this place

are no other sects to be witnesses, as at Comora and Presburgh,

and then my mind was turned inwards, and I was as if I had slept;

and on a sudden it was as if I had seen a man all clothed in

white, sitting on a milk-white horse, riding in post-haste to

me-wards, as if he were hastening to rescue me; then I looked up

and was pretty much comforted, thinking it was from the Lord to

encourage me, lest I should be too much cast down. And the very

same day there came tidings from the earl, that he was displeased

at what they had done, as he told his barber, to whom he showed

the papers which John had writ; and the barber hearing of us,

together with his perusing the aforesaid papers, the witness of

God was reached in him, which had stirred much in him in the time

of his youth, by which he was stirred up to declare against the

darkness and deadness of the brethren’s forms aforesaid, among

whom he had been educated; neither could he be well satisfied in

himself until he came to see me, and after some discourse with

us, was yet more convinced, and he told us, how that the earl

did judge that the priests had been drunk, which was true, both

with rage and wine. Then did the streams begin to turn, and some

desired our favour, both the officer and priest began to flatter

us, with others who had been high against us; and then they had

no more power to put us into the hole to exercise their cruelty

upon us, as they had done before, which was no small cross to

their wills.

‘After that there came a spiritual lord (so called) an

Englishman, from Wien, and he asked John, If we were come to

plant our religion? saying, ‘Sects had occasioned much mischief

in England, but now they would be rooted out.’ But John said,

‘The love of God can reconcile them again.’ ‘A pox o’ God, take

that love,’ said he, with other such unsavory words, whereby

he showed himself to be carnal indeed, although he was called

spiritual. Another came to us, who was called Frater Valentine,

and speaking with us concerning the bible, he said, ‘It had

brought many thousands into hell,’ and reading a paper of

John’s, which he had writ to the earl and council, wherein John

showed, how he was an Englishman, and forasmuch as there was

no discord betwixt England and the Empire, he knew not why an

Englishman coming into any of the emperor’s dominions, to visit

a sort of people, and to spend his money, should be so used,

&c. But said the aforesaid Frater, ‘They ought to be beheaded,

for if they had done so to Luther at first, said he, there had

not been so many Lutherans or heretics at this day.’ Farther he

said, ‘We were forerunners of Antichrist;’ and this rumour went

through the kingdom and elsewhere, that Antichrist was taken,

and was at Nadasti’s court. However, soon after it was thought

we might have been set at liberty, but that the priest did so

much incense the earl against us, and we having writ according

to order for certificates, which in due time came to hand, from

friends in Holland, and they were of good service, with the

king’s proclamation for setting Friends at liberty; but the earl

was taken exceeding sick at Wien, so that the thing was not then

effected.

‘In the mean time Adam Bien, the earl’s barber, had desired,

unknown to us, that we might have the liberty to come forth, and

be in his house, the winter being cold, and we in a cold guard,

where the doors stood open all day, and much of the night; and

he proffered his own person in our stead, if we should run away.

Howbeit, we were not free to be so burdensome to him, though he

had obtained the thing, but chose rather to content ourselves

where they had appointed us, that the burden might come the

heavier upon them, that they might be the sooner weary of us; and

what storms and assaults we had from the priests and soldiers,

and others with them, and how they sought to ensnare us, would

be too long here to relate: but in the mean time we were often

refreshed through Adam’s and his wife’s love, together with a

sense of the love of God, and of friends who were afar off; and

our adversaries might have been the worse to us, but that many

of them there stood in pretty much awe of Adam, who stood in his

integrity over them, for he having such daily access to the earl,

and knowing most of them at court guilty of more or less, they

did therefore dread him the more. And sometimes we did go to his

house, and had sometimes opportunity to speak with some of the

aforementioned brethren, who were warned of that sore desolation

which is since come upon many of them. For of nine families there

is but one remaining, and the rest were burned, with the value

of many thousands in them, and above two hundred of the men were

slain and taken captive.

‘And about that time there was a gentleman (so called) appointed

for to bind and carry me away, whose waiting-man came to me, and

gave me two big glasses, as if I should have gone with him to

have fetched some wine or something else; but presently I was

sensible all was not right or well, for he had a great cudgel in

his hand, and that same morning he had given me very bad words,

and when I had followed him into the fields, there came many

sleds, (for the snow was so deep that wagons could not travel,)

and when the first came at us, the man that had given me the

bottles, caused me to lay them down, and get upon one of the

sleds, and he returned back again. The other, who had so much

threatened me formerly, came towards me, and then I was very

sensible of mischief intended by them, and then I was troubled

for John and Adam, lest they should have avenged themselves on

them, through pretending I had been run away, (for they were

become full of envy against Adam for his love to us,) so I

resolved to endeavour to get back to the town; thinking, that

if they did stop me, it might be the better manifest I was not

run away. But when I essayed so to do, that wicked man caught me

by the hair in a great fury, and shed pretty much of my blood,

and I thought he had quite struck out one of my eyes, and he

pulled me down in the snow, and did sorely abuse me, and bound

my arms with thongs, as also my feet, and bound me so in the

sled, that I hung also by the arms and feet with my face in the

hay, neither knew I to the contrary, but that they would have

murdered me in that wood which was close by; but O, thought I,

that I might but live one quarter of an hour, that peradventure

some might pass by and see me, whereby Adam and John might come

to know what was become of me; afterwards we came by a gallows,

where I thought they might have executed me, but there we passed

by, and people coming that way, they muzzled me with a cloak,

and one sat upon me till the people were passed by. Howbeit, I

hearing their feet in the snow, called to them and desired them

to acquaint the aforesaid barber that I was there; but then did

the soldier beat me sore again, the other having charged him not

to suffer me to say any thing. Then where we came at night, the

irons were put on my feet, and a long big chain, tied on high

about a beam, was put about my neck all night. Next morning we

came to a village, when I would gladly have spoken with one, but

they caused me to lie down until we were passed both village and

castle, and so we travelled towards a place in the wilderness, as

I was informed, and finally we came to a place where they were

building a new cloister; but the prior not being at home, the

other priests would not take me in without his order, so that

night I was put in chains as before, and the next morning was led

up to the castle, and was ordered to be put in a dark hole where

no light was, for he that came along with me bade them blindfold

me, and put me in a deep dungeon, and give me but little bread

and water, and that none should tell of me, and there being a

Jew, he was forbidden on pain of death to say any thing; and

I was soon after put into an hole where there was but little

light, and there I was four days and four nights in cold frosty

weather, and it was much I was not starved. But after the prior

wrote home to the monks, I was sent for; and when they used their

ceremonies, and sprinkled their infants, &c. I did not conform

to them in their kneeling and the like, at which they marvelled,

but said not much in my presence, but when I went to my lodging,

they said, I was a bad dog, and a stubborn rogue; and sometime

they sent for an armed soldier to guard me, or rather to affright

me. And when I had been there about twelve days, the prior came

home, and it seems he had some orders to rack me for writing

letters at Puttendorf: then did the prior send for me, and asked

me concerning our coming into the country, and to what end, and

concerning some points of our religion, to which I answered him

according to truth; but he said, ‘That was not enough, we must

believe that the Pope was Christ’s Vicar, and that he and they

had power to bind and loose,’ &c.

‘And when we had reasoned a while together, he said, ‘I must

have my habitation again in the castle, and that he would come

sometimes by me and bring the bible.’ And afterwards he came up

sometimes to see his corn and provision, but had little delight

to speak with me; but once he called me where he sat, and told

me, ‘The earl had desired him to inform me, that I should not

marvel that he sent me thither, for it was not for my sake alone,

but for seducing so many souls, and if it could be proved I

was come on such purpose, I should be laid on an heap of wood,

meaning, I should be burned. In the mean time I bore my testimony

against their fruits of covetousness, pride, persecution, &c.

and against their weapons, which were not like Christ’s, nor his

apostles; and with this some that stood by were affected; and

many things passed betwixt us at that time, which I shall not now

rehearse; and afterwards I was told, how he had said to some, he

had spoken to many learned men, but never did any answer him as

I did. And afterwards I had more liberty and more respect showed

me, and the report went, how that none that dealt with me could

gain at my hand.

‘And after I was so treacherously taken away, as before

mentioned, from Adam and John, the earl told Adam, I was run

away, and he might see where to find me; he said, ‘He could not

believe that,’ but afterward he got intelligence where I was,

and writ some lines by the officer of the castle, but he was

unwilling to give it me, but gave me bad language, saying, ‘He

had appointed an hangman to flea off my skin, if I did not turn

papist;’ but finally, I got a sight of it, and he told me how

closely the design of my removal was carried on, insomuch that

but three did know of it at first. He also told me, how he had

longed for an opportunity to send me bodily necessaries, which

he afterwards did, and gave orders to give me bread enough on

his account: and finally, the earl being sick, nigh unto death,

Adam obtained a promise of him to let us have our liberty. But

after that he in whose custody I was had set me free, he kept

me six weeks to help the masons, and promised to tell me a good

message when he returned, if I would be diligent. And afterward

he took me aside, and told me, ‘The Earl would have me informed,

that if I would be a catholic I should have good service and

preferment, but if not, however he could not detain me, for he

had prisoners enough besides.’ But this was concluded, if I was

found afterwards in Hungaria or Austria, I should be burned, and

my companion also.

‘And before I was brought from thence he did try me many ways,

for he would have me learn to shoot, and hath tied match about my

fingers, and hath struck me to make me hold the musket. But I was

like a fool, and they made themselves sport with me, and several

times would put pistols in my hands and bid me shoot, sometimes

in seeming earnest, and sometimes to make sport before strangers.

‘Afterwards I was examined about my religion, and they thinking

such a liver would adorn their profession, they did threaten to

have my tongue cut out if I would not be a papist; and afterwards

a priest was sent for to instruct me, and convert me, but when he

could not prevail a tub was made ready, and a rope put through

the ears of it, and I was set in it, and they said, I should be

let down into a well thirty-six fathoms deep above the water,

and I knew not but that it might have come to pass, howbeit they

drew the rope but over a beam to affright me, and I falling out

of that, they laid me cross over the saddle of an ass, and drew

me up, and turned me hard about, and then let it go with a whirl

to make my head dizzy; but I was silent, and valued it little,

whereat they marvelled, as if I had been past all feeling. And

from thence they carried me to another place, and there they

locked my neck and feet near together, and my hands spread

abroad, and locked in a thing wherein they torture the Turks to

make them confess of what ability they are, or their friends,

whereby to get great ransom, and some asked, if it was painful?

and others said, they committed more sins than they did profit

thereby.

‘And at another time I was put in a wheel which was made for the

well, and they caused the soldiers to turn it about, that I might

tumble to and again in it, which might have done me much hurt,

but that I held fast on the side of it, yet however one of my

elbows was in great danger of being sorely harmed, and afterwards

I was much threatened, as if they would have racked me again.

‘And about that time I was told by the secretary and others, that

the emperor, by reason of the hot wars that were in the country,

had given orders to set all the Christian prisoners at liberty,

so that it was thought they could not detain us much longer.

‘And about the 4th of the seventh month, 1663, I was carried into

the country with the prior and a priest from Rome, and others,

and when we came to the water which parts the two countries,

we parted; and the aforesaid Adam had ordered one of them to

give me some money to bear my charges, and he gave me but five

groshees, which is about the value of ten-pence. After that I

came to a place called Pinkfield, where several Lutheran barons,

and others, came to see me; and many things they asked me, to

which, according to freedom, I answered. And I had a desire to

have gotten to Wien, but they told me, ‘It was impossible for

me to pass, that would not take off my hat, besides there were

abundance of soldiers that way;’ and one desired me to stay by

him till I could have opportunity. Afterwards I was directed to

go through Stoyermack to Gratz, a great city, where there were

merchants from Noremberg at the fair, and one of them it was

thought, might be somewhat of my opinion, and thither I went,

but going in at the gates was called back, and was not suffered

to go in, for they were fearful of the enemy, and suspicious of

strangers.

‘The next day, when I saw I could not meet with the aforesaid

merchant, I resolved to travel on my journey, and to trust to the

Lord to take care for my sustenance, who had often done it, when

as to the outward there was little appearance of relief. And in

my journey I inquired for the privatest ways, which I found to be

most peaceable. Howbeit, when I came to the west-end of Austria

I was twice stopped, as if I might have been sent from the Turks

to spy out and burn towns, but when I produced my certificate I

was suffered to pass, but charged not to tarry at their town, and

after that I avoided coming into cities and villages as much as

I could, and so got forward, though not without difficulty. And

I have great cause to thank the Lord for his goodness, for I did

not much want food, but through mercy got either bread or fruit,

or something; for in those countries they are accustomed to give

travellers and tradesmen bread, and lodging in their barns, and

sometimes I told them how I had been robbed by soldiers and

abused, and then their hearts were moved so much the more with

pity towards me.

‘And I proceeded on my journey, and through mercy got about the

2d of the eighth month into some part of the Paltz in Germany,

and came through Heidelberg and Manheim, and upon the 7th of the

same month I arrived at Christein among friends, and being there

kindly entertained, and abundantly refreshed, I tarried there

some weeks, waiting to have heard of John or from Adam.

‘Now the last news which I had of John was by dear Adam’s

[116]letter, which I hope may be come to thy hands before this.

Several more passages might be set down, and what we suffered

together, and since we parted, but this for the present may

suffice till another opportunity. Farewell.

[116] That letter signified that John Philly was set at

liberty, and departed toward Germany on the 6th of the

seventh month, 1663.

‘Thy dear friend in the love and light of God,

‘WILLIAM MOORE.’

Amsterdam, the 11th month, 1663.

The narrative contained in the preceding letter, exhibits many

instances of that protecting Providence of God, which supports and

accompanies those who in an holy obedience to the commands of his

spirit are devoted to answer its requirings. The many dangers and

trials through which they passed, the despitefulness and tortures

with which their enemies were suffered to prove their meekness and

patience, the cruel and shameful deaths wherewith they were threatened,

give the clearest demonstrations of their steadfastness in the faith

from which they could not be moved; for they looking unto Jesus, the

author and finisher of their faith, who for the joy that was set

before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at

the right hand of the throne of God, and considering him that endured

such contradiction of sinners against himself, were not weary, nor did

faint in their minds. See Heb. xii. But in all their afflictions were

supported by the consciousness of their integrity, and the consolations

of the Spirit of God, raising their spirits above the fear of man, and

enabling them to persevere in a steady confession of their faith, and

supplying them with that wisdom which is from above, whereby they were

enabled to withstand the subtil devices and snares of those who sought

their ruin and destruction: from which they were preserved by the power

of the Lord, the only preserver of those that put their trust in him,

whom he delivereth out of the hand of the wicked, and out of the hand

of the unrighteous and cruel man. Psal. lxxi. 4.