The Warrant was in the Name of three Justices, to Summon
him to Appear forthwith at one of their Houses, which
was about two Mile from the Town, but he desired liberty to
stay and Sup with his Family first, supposing his Entertainment
there would be such as would require some Refreshment:
This would not be granted, till one of the Chief of the Town
was bound for his speedy Appearance: His Supper being prepared,
he sat down eating very heartily, and was very chearful,
but full of holy and gracious Expressions, sutable to his
and our present state, After Supper, having Prayed with us,
he with the Officer, and two or three Friends accompanying
him, repaired to the Justice's House, where they lay to his
Charge, that he had broken the Act of Uniformity by his
Preaching; which he denied, saying: That he had Preached
neither in any Church, nor Chappel, nor place of publick Worship,
since the 24th. of August, and what he did was in his own
Family, with those others that came there to hear him.
When that would not do, they Accused him for being at a Riatous
Assembly; though there were no Threats, nor dangerous
Words, no Staves, nor Weapons, no Fear so much as
pretended to be struck into any man, nor any other Business
met about, then Preaching and Prayer. Here he was much
Abused, receiving many Scorns, and Scoffs from the Justices,
and their Associates, who were met to hear his Examination,
also from the Ladys and other Gentlemen, who called him
often Rogue, and told him he deserved to be Hanged, and if
he were not, he should be Hanged for him: With many such
like Scurrilous passages, which my Husband received with
much Patience, and seeming, as they apprehended by his Countenance,
to slight their Threatnings; they were more Inraged
at him, they urged him much to Accuse himself, which they
seeing they could not bring him to; and having no Evidence
as appeared after: Yet did make his Mittimus for to go to the
Goal on Monday Morning, after they had detained him till
Twelve at Night, abusing him beyond what I do now distinctly
remember, or were fit to Express.
Assoon as he returned, it being so late about two a Clock,
he lay down on the Bed in his Clothes' where he had not
slept above two or three Hours at the most, but he was up,
spending his time in Converse with God, till about Eight a
Clock; by which Hour, several of his Friends were come to
Visit him: But he was so watched, and the Officer had such
a charge, that he was not suffered to Preach all that Sabbath,
but spent the day in discoursing with the various Companys,
that came flocking in from the Town, and Villages, to Visit
him; Praying often with them, as he could be permitted.
He was exceeding chearful in his Spirit, full of Admirations
of the Mercys of God, and incouraging all that came to be
bold, and venture for the Gospel, and their Souls; notwithstanding
what was come upon him for their sakes: For as he
told them, he was not at all moved at it, nor did not in the
least repent of any thing he had done, but accounted himself
happy, and under that Promise Christ makes to his, in the
5th. of Matthew, that he should be doubly and trebly blessed
now he was to suffer for his sake: And was very earnest with
his Brethren in the Ministry, that came to see him, that
they would not in the least desist when he was gone, that
there might not be one Sermon the less in Taunton; and with
the People to attend the Ministry with greater Ardency, Diligency,
and Courage, than before; assuring them how
sweet and comfortable it was to him, to consider what he
had done for God, in the Months past: And that he was going
to Prison full of Joy, being confident that all these things
would turn to the furtherance of the Gospel, and the
Glory of God.
But he not being satisfied to go away and not leave some
Exhortations with his People, he appointed them to meet
him about One or Two a Clock in the Night, to which they
shewed their readiness, though at so unseasonable a time:
There was of Young and Old, many Hundreds, he Preached
and Prayed with them about three Hours.
And so with many yernings of his Bowels towards them,
and theirs toward him, they took their farewel of each other;
a more affectionate Parting could not well be.
About Nine a Clock, he with two or three Friends that
were willing to accompany him, set out for Illchester: The
Streets were Lined on both sides with People, and many followed
him a foot some Miles out of the Town, with such
Lamentations that he told me after did so affect him, that
he could scarce bear them; but the Lord so strengthened
him, that he passed through them all with great Courage,
and Joy, labouring both by his chearful Countenance and
Expressions, to encourage them.
He carried his Mittimus himself, and had no Officer with
him; but when he came there, he found the Goaler absent,
and took that oportunity to Preach before he went into the
Prison; which was accounted by his Adversaries, a great
addition to his former Crime. Assoon as the Goaler came,
he delivered his Mittimus, and was clapped up in the Bridewel
Chamber, which was over the common Goal. When he came
to the Prison, he found there Mr. John Norman, late Minister
of Bridgwater, who for the like cause, was Apprehended
and Committed a few days before him a Man who for his
singular Abilities in Preaching, his fervent Zeal and holy
Boldness in the Cause of Christ, his Constancy to his Principles
in the most Wavering and Shaking times, joyned with
an exemplary Carriage and Conversation, was deservedly had
in great Repute among the People of God in these Western
parts; and indeed there were very few that knew him, either
among the sober Gentry, or Commonalty, but for his eminent
Parts, and spotless Life, had great respects for him.
There were also Five more Ministers, with Fifty Quakers,
which had all their Lodgings in the same Room, only parted
with a Mat, which they had done for a little more Retirement.
It was not long after before Mr. Coven, and Mr. Powel,
with Eight more, were brought into the same place, being
taken at Meetings; which made their Rooms very straight,
and it was so nigh to the upper part of the Prison, that they
could touch the Tiles as they lay in their Beds; which made
it very irksome, the Sun lying so hot on it all the day, and
there being so many of them, and so much Resort continually
of Friends, they had very little Air, till they were forced
to take down the Glass, and some of the Tiles, to let in
some Refreshment. But here they were confined to Lie and
eat their Meals, and had no place but a small Garden, joyned
to the place where all the common Prisoners were, which
was no Retirement for them, they having there and in their
Chamber, the constant noise of those Wretches, except when
they slept; who lay just under them, their Chains ratling,
their Tongues often blaspheming, or else Roaring and Singing
by Night, as well as in the day: And if they went into
the Courts of the Prison, there was the sight of their Clothes
hanging full of Vermin, and themselves in their Rags and
Chains: But that which was most grievous to them, they had
no place to Retire to God in, neither alone, nor together.
They were also much mollested by the Quakers, who would
frequently disturb them by their Cavils, in the times of their
Preaching, Praying, and Singing. and would come and work
in their Callings just by them, while they were in Dutys,
which was no small disturbance to them: And the want of
the Air was more to my Husband, than to most of them, because
he always Accustomed himself both in Oxford, and after,
to spend his most secret Hours abroad in by Places, in
the Fields, or Woods.
Assoon as he came into the Prison, he Preached and Prayed,
that he called the Consecration of it. After he had spent
a day or two in the Prison, being willing to have me either
in the Town, or there, to attend him, and to keep company
with his Friends, who came frequently to Visit him, he
then began to fit up his Lodging; having prevailed with the
Keeper for one Corner which was more private than the rest,
to set his Bed in, about which he made a little Partition by
some Curtains, that so he might have some Conveniency for
Retirement. This was much comfort to him, and after a few
Weeks, he got leave of the Keeper to go out a Mornings and
Evenings a Mile or more, which he did constantly, unless the
Weather or his Keepers fury did hinder him.
Their Diet was very good and sufficient, and sometimes
abundant, by their Friends kindness. Here they Preacht
once a day constantly, sometimes twice, and many came dayly
to hear them Eight or Ten Miles round about the
Country, and Multitudes came to Visit them; it being a
strange sight to see Ministers laid in such a place. Their Friends
were exceeding kind to them, endeavouring by their frequent
Visits, and provisions for Diet, and supplys of Money,
to make their Prison sweet to them.
But my Husband's Labours were much increased by this,
spending all the day in Converse, he was forced to take much
of the Night for his Studies, and secret Converse with God.
Thus he with my Brother Norman, and his Company, with
their fellow Prisoners, continued in that place for four Months,
being tossed from Sessions to Assizes. On the 14th. of July
following, he was brought to the Sessions held at Taunton, and
was there Indited for Preaching on May, the 17th. but the
Evidence against him was so slender, that the Grand Jury
could not find the Bill, so that he was not brought to his Answer
there at all: And his Friends hoped he should have been
Dismissed, it being the constant practice of the Court, that if a
Prisoner be Indited, and no Bill found, he is Freed by Proclamation.
But however, my Husband was sent to Prison
again until the Assizes, and to his Friends that earnestly expected
his Inlargement, he said, Let us bless God that his
Will is done, and not the will of such Worms as we.
August, 24th. He was again Indited at the Assizes, and
though the Evidence was the very same, that at the Sessions
was by the Grand Jury, judged Insufficient, yet now at the
Assizes, the Bill was by them found against him. So was he
had to the Bar, and his Inditement read, which was to this
purpose: That he upon the 17th. day of May, 1663. with
Twenty others to the Jurors unknown, did Riotously, Routously,
and Seditiously, Assemble themselves together, contrary
to the Peace of our Soveraign Lord the King, and to
the great Terrour of his Subjects, and to the evil Example of
others. Unto which, his Answer was, That as to Preaching,
and Praying, which was the truth of the Case, of these things
he was Guilty, and did own them as his Duty; but as for Riotous,
Routous, and Seditious Assemblies, he did abhor them
with his Heart, and of these he was not Guilty. At last he
was found Guilty by the Petty Jury, and was Sentenced by
the Judge to pay an Hundred Marks, and to Lie in Prison till
Payment should be made. Sentence being pronounced against
him, he only made this brief Reply: That he was glad
that it had appeared before his Country, that whatsoever he was
Charged with, he was Guilty of nothing but doing his Duty, and
that all did appear by the Evidence, was only that he had Sung a
Psalm, and Instructed his Family, others being there, and both
in his own House: And that if nothing that had been urged would
satisfie, he should with all Cheerfulness, and Thankfulness, accept
whatsoever Sentence his Lordship should pronounce upon him, for
so Good and Righteous a Cause. Thus from the Assizes he was
sent to Prison again, where he continued a whole Year wanting
but Three days.
But the Winter coming on, they were willing to try if they
could have the favour to be removed to the Ward, this place
being like to be as Cold in the Winter, as it had been Hot in
the Summer there being no Chimney in the whole Chamber
which with some difficulty they obtained; and then had more
comfortable Accommodations in all respects.
Here they had very great Meetings, Week-days, and Sabbath-days,
and many days of Humiliation, and Thanksgiving.
The Lords-days many Hundreds came. And though my
Husband, and Brother Norman, had many Threats from the
Justices, and Judges, that they should be sent beyond Sea,
or carried to some Island, where they should be kept close
Prisoners; yet the Lord preserved them by his Power, and
thus ordered it, that their Imprisonment was a great furtherance
to the Gospel, and brought much Glory to him, both
by their Preaching, and Conversing with Souls: In which
they had great Success through his Blessing on their Labours.
My Husband having here more Freedom, made a little Book,
Entitled A call to Archippus, to stir up his Non-conforming
Brethren, to be diligent at their Work, whatsoever Dangers
and Sufferings, they might meet withal: And because he
could not go to his Flock, he had prepared for them, The Synopsis
of the Covenant, which was after placed into one of
my Fathers Books.
And for the help of the Governours of Families, in their
Weekly Catechising those under their charge, he Explained
all the Assemblies shorter Catechism, to which he Annexed an affectionate
Letter, with Rules for their daily Examination;
which were Printed and Dispersed into all their Houses by his
Order, while he was a Prisoner. He also Writ many Holy,
and Gracious, and Affectionate Letters to all his Relations,
and many other Friends, to many Churches of Christ in other
parts and places, both far and near.
His Sufferings that he underwent for the sake of the Gospel,
could neither remit his Zeal, nor abate his Activity for God,
but he would gladly imbrace all Opportunities of doing him
Service. The Minister who was appointed to Preach at certain
times to the Felons in the Prison: being by Sickness disabled
for that Work, he freely performed that Office among
them, as long as he was permitted; earnestly Exhorting them
by Repentance towards God, and Faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ, to secure the Eternal welfare of their Souls; freely
bestowing upon them according to his Ability for their Relief,
that by doing good to their Bodys, he might win upon
them to receive good for their Souls. He was very forward
to promote the Education of Youth, in the Town of Juelchester,
and Country adjacent, freely bestowing Catechisms
on those that were of poor Families, to Instruct them in the
Principles of Religion; stirring up the Elder to Teach, and
incouraging the Younger to Learn. He was a serious and
faithful Monitor to his fellow Sufferers, if he espied any thing
in any of them that did not become the Gospel for which
they Suffered.
Here, as elsewhere, he was a careful redeemer of his time,
his constant practice was early to begin the day with God,
rising about Four of the Clock, and spending a considerable
part of the Morning in Meditation and Prayer, and then falling
close to his Study in some Corner or other of the Prison,
where he could be private. At times, he would spend near
the whole Night in these Exercises, not putting off his Clothes
at all, only taking the Repose of an Hour or two in his night
Gown upon the Bed, and so up again. When any came to
Visit him, he did not entertain them with needless Impertinent
discourse, but that which was Serious, Profitable, and
Edifying, in which he was careful to apply himself to them,
according to their several Capacities, whether Elder, or
Younger; Exhorting them to those gracious Practises which
by reason of their Age, or Temper, Calling, or Condition,
he apprehended they might be most defective in, and dehorting
them from those Evils they might be most prone, and liable
unto. He rejoyced that he was accounted worthy to Suffer
for the Work of Christ, and he would Labour to Incourage
the Timerous and Faint-hearted, by his own and others
Experience, of the Mercy and Goodness of God in Prison,
which was far beyond what they could have thought, or expected.
He was a careful observer of that Rule of the Lord
Jesus, Mat. 5.44. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully
use you, and persecute you. It was none of his practice to Exclaim
against those that were the greatest Instruments of his
Sufferings, but to pity their condition, requesting for them,
as the Martyr Stephen did for those that stoned him, That God
would not lay this sin of theirs to their charge. The greatest
harm that he did wish to any of them, was, That they might
throughly be Converted and Sanctified, and that their Souls
might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
In all his Imprisonment, at present I could not descern his
Health to be the least Impaired, notwithstanding his abundant
Labours; but cannot but suspect, as the Phisitians judged,
that he had laid the foundation for that Weakness, which
suddenly after surprised him, and was his death.
At his return from the Prison, he was far more earnest in his
work than before; yet willing to preserve his Liberty among
his people, who had no Minister that had the Oversight of
them, though some came and Preacht while he was absent;
And the people flocked so greatly after him, that he judged
it best to divide the Company into Four, and resolved to
Preach Four times each Sabbath to them: But finding sensibly
that would be too hard for him, his Strength much decaying,
he did forbear that Course, and Preacht only twice a
Sabbath as formerly, and often on Week-days at Home and
in the Country; and spent what time he had else from his
Studying, in private Converse with God, as formerly he had
done: Pressing all that feared the Lord, especially those that
were of a more weak and timerous Spirit, to a life of Courage
and Activity for God, and to be much in helping one
another, by their Converses, now Ministers were withdrawn;
and to be much in the work of Praises and Thanksgiving to
God, rejoycing and delighting themselves in him; and with
chearfulness and readiness, denying themselves for him, and
resigning themselves and all they did injoy, to him: Letting
the World know, they could Live comfortably on a God alone,
on his Attributes, and Promises, though they should
have nothing else left.
He was very urgent with those that were Unconverted, to
look with more care after their Salvation, now they were removed
from them that longed for it, and had watched for
their Souls; using this as an Argument often, that now they
were fallen into the hands of such, many of which, if not
most of them, had neither Skill nor will to save Souls: And
setting home upon them with most tender Affections, what
miserable Creatures they were while Unregenerate, telling
them how his Heart did yearn for them, and his Bowels turned
within him for them; how he did pray and weep for them,
when they were asleep, and how willingly he had suffered a
years Imprisonment: Nay, how readily he could shed his
Blood to procure their Salvation. His Councels and Directions
were many, and suted to the several states of those he thus
Conversed with, both as to their degree and place, and their
sins and wants, and would be too long to Recite, though I
can remember many of them.
But it pleased the All-wise God, to take him off from the
eager persuit of his Work, and designs for him, by visiting
him in the later end of August, with much Weakness; so that
he had not above three Months time after he came out of Prison:
For he going about Sixteen Miles, at the Request of a
Society, whose Pastour was not able to come among them
to Preach, and to Administer a more solemn Ordinance; he
was so disabled, that he was not able to perform the great and
chief Work, though he did adventure to Preach, but with much
Injury to himself, because he would not wholly disappoint the
people, who came so far as many of them did: With much
difficulty after three or four days, I made way to get him
home to Taunton, where we then Sojourned, and presently
had the best Advice the most able Phisitians, both in, and
round the Town, could give, who Advised together, and all
Judged it to be from his abundant Labours, and the Preaching
too soon after his Meals; as he did, when he Preacht four
times a Sabbath, whereby he had so abated the Natural heat of
his Stomach, that no Food would digest, nor oftentimes
keep within him: He would assure us, he was in no pain,
but a constant Discomposure in his Stomach, and a failing of
his Appetite, that he could not for many Weeks, bear the
sent of any Flesh-meat, nor retain any Liquours, or Broths,
so that he Consumed so fast, that his Life seemed to draw to
an end: But the Lord did so bless the means, that he Recovered
out of this Distemper, after two Months time, but so
lost the Use of his Arms from October, till April; that he could
not put off, nor put on his Clothes, nor often Write either his
Notes, or any Letters, but as I wrote for him, as he dictated
to me: He was by all Phisitians, and by my earnest beseechings,
often diswaded from Preaching, but would not be prevailed
with, but did go on once, and sometime twice a Sabbath,
and in his private Visiting all that Winter; in the
Spring, the use of his Arms returned, for which he was exceeding
thankful to the Lord; and we had great hopes of his
Recovering, and making use of further Remedies, he was
able to go on with more freedom in his Work: And the Summer
following by the use of Mineral Waters in Wiltshire, near
the Devises, where he was born, his Strength was much Increased,
he finding great and sensible good by them.
But he adventuring too much on what he had obtained, his
Weakness returned frequently upon him the next Winter, and
more in the Spring following, be seised as he was at the first:
But it continued not long at a time, so that he did Preach often
to his utmost strength nay, I may say, much beyond the
strength he had, both at Home and Abroad; going into
some remote parts of the Country, where had been no Meetings
kept all that time the Ministers had been out, which was
two Years: And there he ingaged several of his Brethren,
to go and take their Turns, which they did with great
Success.
He had also agreed with two of his Brethren to go into
Wales with them, to spread the Gospel there; but was prevented
in that, by his Weakness increasing upon him: It was
much that he did, but much more that he desired to do.
He was in this time much Threatned, and Warrants often
out for him, and he was so far from being disturbed at it,
that he rejoyced; that when he could do but little for God;
because of his Distempers, God would so far honour him,
that he should go and suffer for him in a Prison. He would
often with chearfulness say, They could not do him a greater
kindness: But the Lord was yet pleased to preserve him from
their Rage, seeing him not then fit for the inconveniences of
a Prison.
The Five Mile Act coming in Force, he removed to a place
called Wellington, which is reckoned five Miles from Taunton,
to a Dyers House, in a very obscure place, where he Preacht on
the Lords Days, as he was able: But the vigilant Eyes of his
old Adversarys were so watchful over him, that they soon
found him out, and resolved to take him thence, and had put
a Warrant into the Constables hand to Apprehend him, and
sent for our Friend, and threatned to send him to Goal for
Entertaining such persons in his House: So my Husband returned
to the House of Mr. John Mallack, a Merchant, who
Lived about a Mile from Taunton, who had long solicited him
to take his House for his Home: we being in such an unsetled
state, my Husband thought it best to accept of his courteous
Offer: But many of his Friends were willing to injoy him in the
Town, and so earnest, that he did to satisfie them, go from one
to another, staying a Fortnight, or three Weeks, or a Month
at each House; but still took Mr. Mallacks for his Home:
This Motion of his Friends he told me though it was troublesome
for us to be so unsettled he was willing to embrace,
because he knew not how soon he might be carried again
from them to Prison, and he should have oppertunity to be
more intimately Acquainted with them, and the state of their
Souls, and of their Children, and Servants, and how they
perform their Duties each to other in their Families.
He went from no House without serious Counsels, Comforts,
or Reproofs, as their Conditions called for; dealing
with all that were Capable, both Governours, and others
particularly, acquainting them faithfully, and most affectionately,
what he had seen amiss in any of them.