was loosed from the Post, and had led him out of the Town, I should not have broken any Law either of God or Man. To this they said, That there was a Law in all Courts of Justice, both in Old England, and other Countreyes, to punish contempt of Authority, and so had they such a Law among themselves; To which I said, That in Old England, and in other places they had such a Law I denyed not, but that Law also was both Enacted and published, but what Law have I broken in taking my Friend by the hand, when he was free, and had satisfied the Law? To this they replied, That he had not satisfied the Keeper; To this I answered, That he had talked with his Keeper, and there was some Agreement between them, and so in that sence also not under the Law, but free; Then said they, if you would have shewed kindnesse unto your Friend, you might have forborn in that place, and done it more privately; To which I answered, I knew not but that place was as free as another, he having satisfied the Law. The Testimony that was given by Mr. Cole was this, sci. I saw Iohn Hazell take Obediah Holmes by the hand, but what he said I cannot tell; this is the Substance of all the proceedings untill the last day at night, and then they said I should be whipped, but said some of their Officers, the Whipper cannot be found, then they commanded that they should be ready by the second day morning, and then I did expect to be called forth, but neither that day, nor the third, nor fourth, was I called, but am as I understand reserved unto the 5th day, to be more publick in the view of the World, and when the 5th day came, as I had many before, so also then, that would have paid the Fine, if I would give my consent, which I denyed to doe, and so set myself by the power of Christ to suffer what should be inflicted upon me, but when Noon came I was told I should not suffer whipping, yet not having a discharge, I did not look to be freed untill the Keeper told me, I might goe about my businesse; then I demanded a discharge (meaning under the Magistrates hands) so he bad me goe, he would discharge me.

The strokes I was enjoyned by the Court to have, were 10 with a three-corded whip, the very same number I understand, that the worst Malefactors that were there

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punished had, of which some were guilty of common Whoredom, other of forcing a little Child, and one Indian for coyning of money; thus far have you a relation according to my best remembrance from the first to the last, of all the passages concerning this matter; By me Iohn Hazell, written with mine own hand in Boston Prison, the 13 day of the 7th moneth, 1651.

A Postscript. Since I wrot, I understand there is a report that I was willing to pay my Fine, and that the Magistrates would not accept of it without I were willing. Gentle Reader, be pleased to understand that this is false, for it was without my consent or approbation; and further understand, That the Fine was taken by them, upon the profer of Mr. Bendall for Iohn Spur, it was willingly accepted by the Magistrates, and approved of, although Iohn Spur did to their faces contradict it, and oppose it; therefore good Reader beleeve not such reports.

By me Iohn Hazell.

Now of what hath been spoken in this Narrative (Reader) this is the sum.

1. Thou maist understand that the next morning after we three, being strangers, were come to our friends house at Lin where we lodged, (it being two miles out of the town) we were persued and also apprehended by the Constables under the name of erronious persons being strangers, and by that power were caried (after a full and clear manifestation of our unfreeness) unto their Assembly, then to Prison, and after a while were also brought before their Iudgment seat; in which two Assemblies, to which we were forced, they drew forth matter enough as they conceived to make us transgressors, and thereupon proceeded to sentence us without producing either Accuser, Witness, Iury, Law of God, or man, whereby either we might appear to be guilty, or they to be just and justified in their proceedings against us.

2. After we were thus persued, and apprehended under the name of erronious persons and strangers, and by their Court condemned and sentenced as Herericks or scismaticks, a motion being made by their Governour touching a discourse with their Ministers, was readily accepted by us,

and often repeated, and as often promised by them, but yet could not be obtained, as is here at large to be seen.

3. Although through the mercifull hand of our God upon us, we had wronged no man, corrupted no man, defrauded no man, as he, together with our Consciences, then did, and still to this day, do bear us witnesse yet besides the exceeding great loss and detriment otherwise sustained, we had all no doubt met with as cruell Scourgings as his faithfull servants of old, had not the provident hand of our God so disposed the hearts of some of our friends to lay down our ransome, by which two did escape; and this did evidently appear in the third who came under their zealous, yet merciless hands, and received from them 50 stripes above the restraint of the Iews, as writers report, yea and such entertainment no doubt should strangers or Angels from Heaven, yea Christ Iesus himself have received at their hands, if they could effect it, in case they should have come among them, and not submitted, (as it is not possible they should) unto that golden, and glorious Image or likeness of the worship and way of God appointed by Christ which they have set up.

4. When this faithfull Martyr and Witness, that Christ is the Lord, had born this fourscore and ten stripes cruelly laid on, not only with a patient mind, but with an exceeding great joy of the holy spirit, as the spectators could not but discern, and was loosed from the Post, and was going to Prison again, some being inwardly moved with joy in beholding the gracious support which the Lord afforded him, (as they have affirmed) could not forbear to take him by the hand, for which thing sake two of them were apprehended and sentenced to pay each of them 40s or els be whipt. Let the Actors themselves, and all that peruse their practice for cautions sake consider, whether the spirit by which they are led thus to act, be not very like unto, if not the same which is seen, Revel. 13. Acting the second Beast that arose up out of the Earth which had two hornes like a Lamb, yet spake like a Dragon, and exercised all the power of the first Beast that was before him, caused a lively Image to be made unto him, and forced the Earth and them that dwel therein, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to worship his Image, and that no

man might buy, or sell, save he, that had the marke, or the name, or the number of his name. Here is Wisdom! and let such as desire from their hearts to live Godly in Christ Iesus, and do as really expect to suffer with Christ in this present evill World, as they do to reign with him in that good World which is yet to come, let such I say consider, and bear still in mind these expressions, Revel. 13. 10. He that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity, he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword; here is the patience and faith of the Saints. Rev. 12. 11. And they overcame him by the bloud of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Rev. 6. 9, 10, 11. I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held; And they cryed with a loud voice saying, how long holy and true wilt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwel on the Earth, &c.

Rev. 20. 4. And I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Iesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshiped the Beast, neither his Image, neither had received the marke upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

And now forasmuch as it was boldly affirmed by a Solicitor for New-England, and that in the Councell Chamber before that honourable Committee there assembled in Councell, that men in New-England might freely injoy their understandings, and Consciences, provided they walk civilly among them, and that they that suffered of late, did not suffer for their Consciences but for some misdemeanor, thereby endeavouring to possess those noble brests with that which is false; therefore I think it necessary (both for the Vindication of truth, and to the end that such worthy persons may not be taken with, or deceived by such unworthy reports, so as to be drawn to countenance persons that walk in a way that they are ashamed in plain and open terms to profess, and acknowledge, for these ends I say I think it necessary to produce their Laws, at least such as speak to the matter in question, whereby these two things will plainly appear.

1. That they that will not, or else in Conscience towards God cannot conform to their worship, or suspend the worship of God as their Souls are perswaded, are by the authority of their Laws to be forced to the one, and restrained from the other, and that the Magistrate is thereby not only justified in, but also injoyned unto, such a proceeding against them, although the men otherwise walk not only as civilly or soberly as themselves, but also righteously, and Godly in this present evill World, and are such indeed as are a Law to themselves.

2. Although they have Laws thus to proceed to force all to their worship, & to restrain those that differ from them, from that worship to which their Souls are perswaded, yet in our case they were so far transported with zeal, that, what they did unto us, they did without Law, yea against those Cautions which their own Laws have provided.

Certain Lawes established in the Colony of the Mathatusets in New-England, and drawn forth (by constraint) to prove that the Authority there established cannot permit men, though of never so civill, sober, and peaceable a Spirit and Life, freely to enjoy their understandings and consciences, nor yet to live, or come among them, unlesse they can doe as they doe, and say as they say, or else say nothing, and so may a man live at Rome also.

It is ordered by this Court, and the Authority thereof, That no mans life shall be taken away; no mans honour or good name shall be stayned; no mans person shall be arrested, restrained, banished, dismembred nor any wayes punished; no man shall be deprived of his wife or children, no mans goods or estates shall be taken away from him; nor any wayes indamaged under colour of Law or countenance of Authoritie, unlesse it be by vertue, or equity of some expresse Law of the Country warranting the same, established by a General Court and sufficiently published; or in case of the defect of a Law in any particular case, by the word of God. And in capitall cases, or in cases concerning dismembring, or banishment, ac4TH S.

VOL. II.

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