ELDER G BEEBE - THE HISTORY OF PROTESTANT PRIESTCRAFT IN EUROPE AND AMERICA part 12

[Tom Adams]

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Some of you may have noticed a slight change in the Subject line. I happened to relook at the initial screenshot of Elder Beebe's add in the Signs for this book and noticed that the actual title of the Book is: "THE HISTORY OF PROTESTANT PRIESTCRAFT IN EUROPE AND AMERICA."

I forgot the "THE" in the beginning and reversed "EUROPE AND AMERICA". 

This will be my last submission of the book as a single chapter. I have finished transcribing the book from the digital scan of the original and am in the process of fine-tuning it.  Which includes going back through and attempting to find my typing mistakes which resulted in misspellings. So, if ANY ONE located any of these misspellings and was keeping a list until I was finished, please share your findings with me. I would greatly appreciate it!!

As soon as I am comfortable I will send out the final draft in "PDF" format. 

A Sinner in Hope,
Tom

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THE HISTORY OF PROTESTANT PRIESTCRAFT IN EUROPE AND AMERICA
Elder Gilbert Beebe
BANNER OF LIBERTY
1865

PART II


CHAPTER III.
PURITAN PERSECUTIONS OF THE QUAKERS IN NEW ENGLAND.

In giving this portion of our History, we shall copy from “Sewell’s History of the People called Quakers,” published in 1811, of which few copies are extant:

It was in the month called July, 1656, when Mary Fisher and Ann Austin arrived in the road before Boston, before ever a law was made there against the Quakers; and yet they were very ill treated; for, before they came ashore, the deputy governor, Richard Billingham, (the Governor himself being out of town,) sent officers aboard, who searched their trunks and chests, and took away the books they found there, which were about one hundred, and carried them ashore, after having commanded the said women to be kept prisoners aboard; and the said books were, by an order of the Council, burnt in the market place by the hangman. Afterwards the Deputy Governor had them brought on shore, and committed them by a mittimus to prison as Quakers, upon this proof only, that one of them speaking to him had said thee instead of you: whereupon he said, he needed no more, for now he saw they were Quakers. And then they were shut up close prisoners, and command was given that none should come to them without leave; a fine of five pounds being laid on any that should otherwise come at, or speak with them, though but at the window. Their pens, ink and paper were taken from them, and they were not suffered to have any candle light in the night season; nay, what is more, they were stripped naked, under the pretense to know whether they were witches, though in searching, no token was found upon them but of innocence: and in this search they were so barbarously misused, that modesty forbids to mention it: and that none might have communication with them, a board was nailed up before the window of the jail. And seeing they were not provided with victuals, Nicholas Upshal, one who had lived long in Boston, and was a member of the church there, was so concerned about it, liberty being denied to send them provision, that he purchased it of the jailer at the rate of five shillings a week, lest they should have starved. And after having been about five weeks prisoners, William Chichester, master of a vessel, was bound in one hundred pounds bond to carry them back, and not to suffer any to speak with them, after they were put on board; and the jailer kept their beds, which were brought out of the ship, and their bibles, for his fees.

Such was the entertainment the Quakers first met with at Boston, and that from a people who pretended, that for conscience sake, they had chosen the wildernesses of America, before the well cultivated Old England; though afterwards, when they took the lives of those called Quakers, they, to excuse their cruel actions, did not stick to say, that at first they had used no punishment against the Quakers.

Scarce a month after arrival of the aforesaid women at Boston, there came also Christopher Holder, Thomas Thirdstone, William Brend, John Copeland, Mary Prince, Sara Gibbens, Dorothy Waugh and Mary Wheathead; they were locked up in the same manner as the former, and after about eleven weeks stay, sent back; Robert Lock, a master of a ship, being compelled to carry these eight persons back on his own charge, and to land them on where but in England; having been imprisoned till he undertook so to do.

The Governor, John Endicot, whose blood-thirstiness will appear in the sequel, being now come home, bid them, “Take heed ye break not our ecclesiastical laws, for then ye are such to stretch by a halter.” And when they desired a copy of those laws, it was denied them; which made some of the people say, “How shall they know then when they transgress?” But Endicot remained stiff, having said before, when at Salem he heard how Ann Austin and Mary Fisher had been dealt with at Boston, “If I had been there, I would have had them well whipt.” Then a law was made, prohibiting all masters of ships to bring any Quakers into that jurisdiction, and themselves from coning in, on penalty of the house of correction. When this law was published, Nicholas Upshal, already mentioned, could not forbear to shew the persecutors the unreasonableness of their proceedings, warning them to take heed that they were found fighting against God, and so draw down a judgment upon the land. But this was taken so ill, that though he was a member of their church, and of good repute, as a man of unblameable conversation, yet he was fined in twenty-three pounds, and imprisoned also, for not coming to church, and next they banished him out of their jurisdiction. This fine was exacted so severely, that Endicot said, “I will not bate him one groat.” And though a weakly old man, yet they allowed him but one month’s space for his removal, so that he was forced to depart in the winter. Coming at length to Rhode Island, he met an Indian Prince, who having understood how he had been dealt with, behaved himself very kindly, and told him, if he would olive with him, he would make him a warm house. And father said, “What a God have the English, who deal so with one another about their God!” For it seems Upshal was already looked upon as one that was departing from his church-membership. But this was but a beginning of the New England persecution, which in time grew so hat, that some of the Quakers were put to death on the gallows, as will be related in its due time.

Next that came after that, were Anne Burden, a widow, whose business it was to gather up some debts in the country, that were due to her; and Mary Dyer from Rhode Island, who, before her coming, knew nothing of what had been done there concerning the Quakers. These two were both imprisoned, which William Dyer, Mary’s husband, hearing, came from Rhode Island, and did not get her released with a great deal of pains; becoming bound in a great penalty, not to lodge her in any town of that colony, nor to permit any to speak with her: an evident token that he was not of the society of Quakers, so called, for otherwise, he would not have entered into such a bond; but then without question, he would also have been clapt up in prison. As for Anne Burden, she was kept in prison, though sick, about a quarter of a year. Whilst she was in this restraint, some tender hearted people had procured of her debts to the value of about thirty pounds in goods; and when she at length was to be sent away, she desired that she might have liberty to pass to England, by Barbadoes, because her goods were not fit for England. Now how reasonable soever this request was, yet a master of a ship was compelled to carry her to England, without her goods, for which she came there, except to the value of about six shillings, which an honest man sent her upon an old account. And when the master of the ship asked who should pay for her passage, the magistrates bid him take so much of her goods as would answer it. But he was too honest to do so, being persuaded that she would not let him be a loser, though he cold not compel her to pay, since she went not of her own will: yet for all that she paid him at London. After she was gone, when he that had the first trust from her husband, was to convey her goods to Barbadoes, these rapacious people stopped to the value of six pounds ten shillings for her passage, for which they paid nothing, and seven shillings for boat hire to carry on shipboard, though the master proffered the governor to carry her in his own boat, but that was not allowed; she being sent with the hangman in a boat that was pressed: besides, they took to the value of fourteen shillings for the jailer, to whom she owed nothing. Now, though this widow had made such a great voyage, to get something of what was due to her, to relive her, and her fatherless children, yet after three years she had nothing of it come to her hands: and whether she got anything since I never understood.

The next of the Quakers that came to Boston, was Mary Clark, who having left her husband John Clark, a merchant tailor, with her children, at London, came thither to warn these persecutors to desist from their iniquity: but after she had delivered her message, she was unmercifully rewarded with twenty stripes of a whip with three cords, on her naked back, and detained prisoner about twelve weeks in the winter season. The cords of these whips were commonly as thick as a man’s little finger, have each some knots at the end; and the stick was sometimes so long, that the hangman made use of both his hands to strike the harder.

The next that came were Christopher Holder and John Copeland, who had been banished before; and coming to Salem, a town in the same colony, Holder spoke a few words in their meeting after the priest had done; but was hauled back by the hair of his head, and a glove and handkerchief thrust into his mouth, and so turned out with his companion; and next day had to go to Boston, where each of them received thirty stripes with a knotted whip of three cords, the hangman measuring his ground, and fetching his strokes with the greatest strength he could: which so cruelly cut their flesh, that a woman seeing it, fell down as dead. Then they were locked up in prison, and the jailer kept them three days without any food, not giving them so much as a draught of water; and so close that none might come to speak with them; laying on the boards without bed or straw. Thus they were kept nine weeks prisoners without fire in the cold winter season. And Samuel Shattock, of Salem, who endeavored to stop the thrusting of the glove and handkerchief into Holder’s mouth, lest it should have choked him, was also carried to Boston, and there imprisoned, till he had given bond for twenty pound, to answer it at the next court, and not to come at any meeting of the Quakers.

The career of this cruelty did not stop here; for Lawrence Southwick¹ and his wife Cassandra, members of the public church at Salem, and an ancient and grave couple having entertained the aforesaid C. Holder and J. Copeland, were committed to prison, and sent to Boston, where Lawrence being released, his wife was kept seven weeks prisoner, and then fined forty shillings for owing a paper of exhortation, written by the aforesaid Holder and Copeland.

The next that came from England, to this land of persecution, was Richard Dowdney, who was apprehended at Dedham, and brought to Boson, having never before been in that country; yet he was not spared for all that, but thirty stripes were also given him in like manner as the former. And after twenty days imprisonment, he was sent away with Holder and Copeland; after having been threatened with cutting off their ears, if they returned. These cruel dealings so affected many inhabitants, that some withdrew from the public assemblies, and, meeting by themselves quietly on the first days of the week, they were fined five shillings a week, and committed to prison. The first whose lot this was, were the aforesaid Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, and their son Josiah, who, being carried to Boston, were all of them, notwithstanding the old age of the two, sent to the house of correction, and whipt with cords, as those before, in the coldest season of the year, and had taken from them to the value of four pounds thirteen shillings, for not coming to church. There was a fine settled of five shillings a week to be paid for not coming to church, as it was called. And thus from time to time occasion was found to use cruelty against the inhabitants though none of those called Quakers came from abroad. William Shattock, a shoemaker, at Boston, being on a first day of the week, found in his house, instead of coming to the public worship, was hauled to the house of correction; where, at his first entrance, he was cruelly whipt, and then kept to work, whilst his wife and innocent children were in want because of his absence. In the meantime the deputy governor, Richard Bellingham, did not stick to say to William’s wife, that since he was poor, and could not pay five shillings a week for not coming to church, they would continue him in prison. Thus was verified that saying of Solomon, “cruel are the mercies of the wicked.” Bellingham also endeavored to persuade this woman, that what he husband had done, was to be rid of her, and therefore advised her to disown him. Now these persecutors began to have abundance of business; and taking away of goods and cruel whippings became almost daily work, which was performed without regard of age or sex; all which to relate would exceed my limits.

Two women, named Sarah Gibbons, and Dorothy Waugh, being come to Boston, and having in the public meeting-place, after the lecture was ended, spoken a few words, were brought to the house of correction, and three days before their being whipt, and three days after, were kept from victuals, though they had offered to pay for them. And when Sarah afterwards asked the Governor, John Endicot, whether this was justice or equity; adding, that by this all might see that they were thus preserved without food; and if they perished, their blood would fall heavy on those that were the occasion thereof; he answered, that he mattered it not.

Not long after Hored Gardner, an inhabitant of Newport, in Rhode Island, came with her sucking babe, and a girl to carry it, to Weymouth: from whence, for being a Quaker, she was hurried to Boston, where both she and the girl were whipped with a three fold knotted whip. After whipping the woman kneeled down, and prayed the Lord to forgive those persecutors: which so reached a woman that stood by, that she said, surely she could not have done this, if it had not been by the spirit of the Lord.

But when should I have done, if I would describe all the whippings inflicted on the Quakers so called, in those parts! For now a law was made, which furnished continual work to the persecutors there. The contents thereof were, that whosoever of the inhabitants should directly or indirectly cause any of the Quakers to come into that jurisdiction, he should forfeit an hundred pounds to the country, and be committed to prison, there to remain till the penalty should be satisfied. And whosoever should entertain them, knowing them to be so, should forfeit forty shillings to the country for every hour’s entertaining or concealment; and be committed to prison till the forfeiture should be fully paid and satisfied. And farther, that all and every one of those people that should arise among them there, should be dealt withal, and suffer the like punishment as the laws provided for those that came in, viz. That for the first offence, if a male, one of his ears should be cut off, and be kept at work in the house of correction, till he should be sent away on his own charge. For the second, the other ear, and be kept in the house of correction, as aforesaid. If a woman, then to be severely whipt, and kept as aforesaid, as the male for the first; and for the second offence to be dealt withal as the first. And for the third, he or she should have their tongues bored through with an hot iron, and be kept in the house of correction, close at work, till they be sent away on their own charge.


In the latter part of the fifth month, it came to pass, that William Brend and William Leddra, having been at Salem, came to Newbury, where at the house of one Robert Adams, they had a conference with the priest, in the presence of Captain Gerish, who had promised that they should not suffer; but after the conference was ended, the Captain would not let them go, but on promise presently to depart the town; which being loth to comply with, as they were on their way, they were sent for back, and Capain Gerish riding after them, commanded them to return; whey they refusing, he compelled them thereunto, and sent them with a constable to Salem, where being brought before the magistrates, they asked whether they were Quakers? To which they answered, that they were such that were in scorn called so. Next it was objected to them, that they maintained dangerous errors. They asking what these were, it was told them, that they not only denied that Christ at Jerusalem had suffered on the cross, but also that they denied the Holy Scriptures. They boldly contradicted this, and said, they owned no other Jesus but he that had suffered death at Jerusalem, and that they also owned the Scriptures.

Now although nothing could be objected against this, yet they were carried to the house of correction, as such who, according to the law made at Boston, might not come into those parts. Some days after they were carried to Boston, where, in the next month, they were brought into the house of correction, to work there. But they unwilling to submit thereto, the jailer, who sought his profit from the work of the prisoners, would not give them victuals, though they offered to pay for them. But he told them, it was not their money but their labor he desired. Thus he kept them five days without food, and then with a three-corded whip, gave them twenty blows. An hour after he told them, they might go out, if they would pay the marshal, that was to lead them out of the country. They judging it very unreasonable to pay money for being banished, refused this, but yet said, that if the prison-door was set open, they would go away.

The next day, the jailer came to William Brend a man in years, and put him in irons, neck and heels so close together, that there was no more room left between each, than for the lock that fastened them. Thus he kept him from five in the morning, till after nine at night, being the space of sixteen hours. The next morning he brought him to the mill to work, but Brend refusing, the jailer took a pitched rope, about an inch thick, and gave him twenty blows over his back and arms, with as much force as he could, so that the rope untwisted; and then going away, he came again with another rope that was thicker and stronger, and told Brend, that he would cause him to bow to the law of the country, and make him work. Brend judged this not only unreasonable in the highest degree, since he had committed no evil; but he was also altogether unable to work; for he wanted strength for want of food; having been kept five days without eating, and whipt also, and now thus unmercifully beaten with a rope. But this inhuman jailer relented not, but began to beat anew with his pitched rope, and on this bruised body, and, foaming at his mouth like a mad-man, with violence laid fourscore and seventeen blows more on him, as other prisoners that beheld it with compassion, have told; and if his strength, and his rope had not failed him, he would have laid on more: he threatened also to give him the next morning as many blows more. But a higher power who sets limits even to the raging sea, and hath said, “hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther,” also limited this butcherly fellow: who was yet impudently stout enough to say his morning prayer. To what a most terrible condition these blows brought the body of Brend (who because of the great heat of the weather, had nothing but a serge cassock upon his shirt) may easily be conceived; his back and arms were bruised and black, and the blood hanging as in bags under his arms; and so into one was his flesh beaten, that the signs of a particular blow could not be seen; for all was become as a jelly. His body being thus cruelly tortured, he lay down upon the boards, so extremely weakened, that the natural parts decaying, and strength quite failing, his body turned cold; there seemed, as it were, a struggle between life and death: his senses were stopped, and he had for some time neither seeing, feeling, nor hearing till at length a divine power prevailing, life broke through death, and the breath of the Lord was breathed into his nostrils.

Now the noise of this cruelty spread among the people in the town, and caused such a cry, that the governor sent his surgeon to the prison to see what might be done; but the surgeon found the body of Brend in such a deplorable condition, that as one without hopes, he said, his flesh would rot from off his bones, ere the bruised parts could be brought to digest. This so exasperated the people, that the magistrates, to prevent a tumult, set up a paper on the meeting-house door, and up and down the streets, as it were to shew their dislike of this abominable, and most barbarous cruelty; and said, the jailer should be dealt withal the next court. But this paper was soon taken down again upon the instigation of the high priest, John Norton, who, having from the beginning been a fierce promoter of the persecution, now did not stick to say, – ‘W. Brend endeavored to beat our gospel ordinances black and blue, if he then be beaten black and blue, it is but just upon him; and I will appear in his behalf that did so.’ It is, therefore, not much to be wondered at, that these precise and bigoted magistrates, who would be looked upon to be eminent for piety, were so cruel in persecuting, since their chief teacher thus wickedly encouraged them to it.

In the meanwhile it pleased God, even miraculously to heal W. Brend, and to keep him alive; but as if the hearts of these persecutors were more hardened thereby, to shew themselves obedient followers of their teacher, they made an order, that the jailer, if the Quakers that were in his custody refused to work, should whip them twice a week, the first time, with ten lashes, the next time with fifteen, and so at each time with three more, till they would work. This was performed on four persons, who of which were William Ledra and John Rous, who may be mentioned hereafter. And to keep the passionate jailer within due bounds, forsooth, it was ordered that each time he should warn two constables to see the execution. But how little moderation was truly meant, and that this was more like a jest, may appear in that the jailer the first time laid fifteen lashes a piece on the said persons, and so added five stripes to the first number of ten.

It happened about this time, that some of the people called Quakers that lived there, being had before the magistrates, it was demanded by one of them, how they might know a Quaker? To which Simon Broadstreet, one of the magistrates, answered, ‘Thou art one, for coming in with thy hat on.’ Which made the other reply, it was a horrible thing to make such cruel laws, to whip and cut off ears, and bore through the tongue, for not putting off the hat. Then one of the bench said, that the Quakers held forth blasphemies at their meetings. To which one of the others desired him to make such a thing appear, if it were so; that they might be convinced: and farther, that they should do well to send some to their meetings, that they might hear, and give account of what was done and spoken there; and not conclude of a thing they knew not. ‘But,’ said Major-General Denison, ‘if ye meet together, and say any thing, we may conclude that ye speak blasphemy.’ A very strange syllogism indeed! No better (to prove persecution lawful) was the argument of Charles Chansey, chief teacher at the University, who, in a sermon at Boston, argued this: ‘Suppose you should catch six wolves in a trap, and ye cannot prove that they killed either sheep or lambs; and now ye have them they will neither bark nor bite; yet they have the plain mark of wolves, and, therefore, ye knock them down.’ A base expression thus to compare a man to beast; for God said in plain terms to Noah, ‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.’ But these persecutors thought there was stress enough in it, to call the Quakers wolves; and to make one pass for a Quaker, they counted it a sufficient proof, when they saw he did not put off his hat to men: ‘Knock him down, it is a wolf.’

And if the hat was not found fault with, something else was thought on; for at Salem twelve persons were fined forty pounds nineteen shillings, for not coming to church: and of others much money was extorted, because their wives absented themselves from the public worship. William Marston of Hampton, was fined ten pounds for two books found in his house, viz., John Lilburn’s Resurrection, and W. Dewsbury’s Mighty Day of the Lord. Thus these people did whatever they would, without any regard to the law in Old England: and when once some prisoners appealed to it, the governor, John Endicot, and his deputy Billingham cried, ‘No appeal to England! No appeal to England.’ And they seemed to fear nothing for what they did to the Quakers, according to what Major-General Denison said in open court: ‘This year you will go and complain to the parliament; the next year they will send some to see how things go; and in the third year the government will be changed.’ Now they not at all caring for Old England, denied also the prisoners their request of being tried according to the laws of that realm, by a jury. And the rulers dealing thus arbitrarily, the jailer of the house of correction did the like; for when some of his prisoners shewed themselves not unwilling to work, provided that their families should have something of the gain, he would not allow that, unless they paid him eight-pence for every twelve-pence gain: and when they refused this, the whipping post was his refuge.

But to go one; in the foregoing year mention was made of John Copeland and Christopher Holder: these coming in the sixth month to Dedham, lodged there one night; but the next day were taken up by the constable, and carried to Boston, where being brought before the governor, he said in rage, ‘Ye shall be sure to have your ears cut off.’ Not long after, John Rous came again to Boston, but was shortly after taken, and committed to prison. On the 17th of September, he, with Holder and Copeland, were brought before the magistrates in court, where the deputy governor told them, that they, in contempt of the magistrates and ministers being come there again to seduce the people, mighty know that whatever befell them whether the loss of their ears, or of their lives, their blood would be upon their own heads. They denying this, and saying, that the Lord had sent them thither, the Governor Endicot said, ‘You are greater enemies to us, than those that come openly; since under the pretense of peace you come to poison the people.’ Being asked for proof that the Lord had sent them, they replied, that it was some kind of proof that the Lord had sent them; because they met with such an entertainment as Christ had told his disciples, would be meted to them, for his name sake, viz.: whipping, &c. To this Major-General Denison said, ‘Then when malefactors are whipt they suffer for Christ’s sake.’ Then John Rous, whose father was a lieutenant-colonel in Barbadoes, said, ‘If we were evil doers, the judgments of God would be heavier upon us than those which we suffer by you.’ To which Major-General Denison replied, ‘Mr. Rous, (for so I may call you, having heard your father is a gentleman,) what judgment of God do you look for greater than is upon you, to be driven from your father’s house, and to run about here as a vagabond, with a company of deceivers, except you look for a halter?’To this Rous said, ‘I was not not driven from my father’s house, but in obedience to the Lord I left it; and when the Lord shall have cleared me of this land, I shall return to it again.’ Then Endicot called to the secretary to read the law, who thereupon read this clause in it, that if any who had suffered the law, should presume to return again, they should have one of their ears cut off. Some more words were spoken, and among the rest, Endicot said, ‘The Quakers have nothing to prove their commission by, but the spirit within them, and that is the devil.’ And when one of the prisoners said, ‘We have seen some of your laws, that have many Scriptures in the margent; but what example have you in scripture for cutting off ears?’ Endicot asked, ‘What Scripture is there for hanging?’ To which Denison said scoffing, ‘Yes, they would be crucified.’ Then Endicot called the prisoners by name, and said in great passion, ‘It is the sentence of the court, that you three have each of you his right ear cut off by the hangman.’ Then they were carried to the prison, and on the sixteenth of September, the Marshal’s deputy came thither, letting as many come in as he thought meet; and when the doors were made fast, the said marshal read the following order.

‘To the Marshal General, or to his deputy. You are to take with you the executioner, and repair to the house of correction, and there see him cut off the right ears of John Copeland, Christopher Holder, and John Rous, Quakers; in execution of the sentence of the court of assistants, for the breach of the law, entitled Quakers.
EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary.’

Then the prisoners were brought into another room, where John Rous said to the marshal, ‘We have appealed to the chief magistrate of England,’ To which he answered, he had nothing to do with that. Holder said, ‘Such execution as this should be done publicly, and not in private; for this was contrary to the law of England.’ But Capt. Oliver replied, ‘We do it in private to keep you from tattling.’ Then the executioner took Holder, and when he had turned aside his hair, and was going to cut off the ear, the marshal turned his back on him, which made Rous say, ‘Turn about and see it;’ for so was his order. The marshal then, though filled with fear, turned, and said, ‘Yes, yes, let us look on it.’ Rous who was more undaunted than his persecutor, suffered the like, as well as the third, and they said, ‘Those that do it ignorantly, we desire from our hearts the Lord to forgive them; but for them that do it maliciously, let our blood be upon their heads; and such shall know in the day of account, that every drop of our blood shall be as heavy as a mill-stone.’ Afterwards these persons were whipt again; but this practice becoming so common in New England as if it was but a play, I will not detain my reader with it.

Persecution being now come to the cutting off of ears, did not stop there, but went higher, and rested not, before it came to the taking away of lives. But to compass that proved very difficult; for there were many honest people who abhorred such a cruelty. Yet John Norton, and the other priests, petitioned the magistrates to cause the court to make some law to banish the Quakers, upon pain of death. This gave encouragement to the magistrates, for since the churchmen pushed on so wicked a business, no scruple was made to go on with this bloody work: and the court of magistrates voted it to be put in execution by a country court, which three magistrates made up, the majority of which might hang at pleasure, without trial by a jury; a thing not heard of in Old England: but it served the purpose of Norton, and his fellow preachers. The court where this law was made, consisted of twenty-five persons; and when it was put to the vote, it was carried in the affirmative, the speaker and eleven being on the negative, but thirteen on the affirmative, so that one vote carried it. This so troubled one Wozel, when he heard it, having through illness been absent, that he got to the court, and weeping for grief, that his absence should occasion such a law to pass, said, if he had not been able to go, he would have crept upon his knees, rather than that it should have passed. But what he said proved in vain; they had now passed the Rubicon, and what was eagerly desired, was obtained. Yet there was a great difference in the court, and the twelve that had voted in the negative resolved to enter their dissents to that law: which the others seeing, that so many difficulties would weaken their law, they admitted this addition, to be tried by a special jury; though a standing law of the country contained, that none be sentenced to death and banishment, but by a special jury, and a court of assistants; and such a court consisted of seven magistrates at the least. But it was now resolved, to prosecute the Quakers to death; and all this trial, when it came to it, was, but whether they were Quakers? Which they judged by their coming in covered; and that they had been banished out of the country. Now to enter upon this bloody business, the following act was made at a general court, held at Boston, 20th of October, in this year of 1658.

An Act made at General Court held at Boston, 20th of October, 1658.

‘Whereas there is a pernicious sect (commonly called Quakers) lately risen, who by word and writing have published and maintained many dangerous and horrid tenets, and do take upon them to change and alter the received laudable customs of our nation, or reverence to superiors, whose actions tend to undermine the civil government, and also to destroy the order of the churches, by denying all established forms of worship, and by withdrawing from orderly church fellowship, allowed and approved by all orthodox professors of the truth, and instead thereof, and in opposition thereunto, frequently meeting themselves, insinuating themselves into the minds of the simple, or such as are least affected to the order and government of church and commonwealth, whereby divers of our inhabitants have been infected, notwithstanding all former laws, made upon the experience of their arrogant and bold obtrusions, to disseminate their principles among us, prohibiting their coming in this jurisdiction, they have not been deterred from their impetuous attempts to undermine our peace, and hazard our ruin.

For prevention thereof, this court doth order and enact, that every person, of the cursed sect of the Quakers, who is not an inhabitant of, but is found within this jurisdiction, shall be apprehended without warrant, where no magistrate is at hand, by an constable, commissioner, or selectman, and conveyed from constable to constable, to the next magistrate, who shall commit the said person to close prison, there to remain (without bail) unto the next court of assistants, where they shall have a legal trial: and being convicted to be of the sect of the Quakers, shall be sentenced to be banished upon pain of death: and that every inhabitant of this jurisdiction, being convicted to be of the aforesaid sect, either by taking up, publishing, or defending the horrid opinions of the Quakers, or the stirring up mutiny, sedition, or rebellion against the government, or by taking their absurd and destructive practices, viz., denying civil respect to equals and superiors, and withdrawing from our church assemblies, and instead thereof frequent meetings of their own, in opposition to our church order; or by adhering to, or approving of any known Quaker, and the tenets and practices of the Quakers, that are opposite to the orthodox received opinions of the godly, and endeavouring to disaffect others to civil government, and church orders; or condemning the practice and proceedings of this court against the Quakers, manifesting thereby their complying with those, whose design is to overthrow the order establishing church and state, every such person, upon conviction before the said court of assistants, in manner as aforesaid, shall be committed to close prison for one month, and then unless they choose voluntarily to depart this jurisdiction, shall give bond for their good behavior, and appear at the next court, where continuing obstinate, and refusing to retract and reform the aforesaid opinions, they shall be sentenced to banishment upon pain of death; and any one magistrate, upon information given him of any such person, shall cause him to be apprehended, and shall commit any such person to prison, according to his discretion, until he come to trial, as aforesaid.’

Here endeth this sanguinary act, of a professedly reformed Christian magistracy, consisting of such, who themselves to shun persecution (which was but a small fine for not frequenting the public worship) had left Old England. This act was answered by Francis Howgil, and the said answer published in print, wherein was plainly shewn, that it spoke the language of the ancient persecuting Jews and Heathen. In the sequel we shall see the bloody execution of it upon some persons.

I have already made mention of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, and their son Josiah, of whom more is to be said hereafter; but first I will speak of Daniel and Provided, sone and daughter of the said Lawrence and Cassandra. These children seeing how unreasonably their honest parents and brother were dealt with, were so far from being deterred thereby, that they rather felt themselves encouraged to follow their steps, and not to frequent the assemblies of such a persecuting generation; for which absence they were fined ten pounds, though it was well known they had no estate, their parents being already brought to poverty by their rapacious persecutors. To get this money, the following order was issued in the general court at Boston:

“Whereas, Daniel Southwick and Provided Southwick, son and daughter of Lawrence Southwick, absenting themselves from the public ordinance, have been fined by the courts of Salem and Ipswich, pretending they have no estates, and resolving not to work: the court upon a perusal of a law, which was upon the account of debts, in answer to what should be done for the satisfaction of the fines, resolves, that the treasurers of the several counties are, and shall be fully empowered to seel the said persons to any of the English nation, at Virginia, or Barbadoes, to answer the said fines, &c.
Edward Rawson, Secretary.”

The subject of this order was answered effectually at large in print, by G. Bishop, who shewed the unreasonableness of this work very plainly from sacred writ, as from Amos ii., 6, where the judgments of God are denounced against those who sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; and from Levit. xxv., 43, where the making the children of Israel bondmen, is expressly forbidden; this being not lawful, but in the case of theft, if the thief had nothing to make satisfaction with.

But to return to Daniel and Provided, there wanted nothing but the execution of the said order against them. Wherefore Edmund Butler, one of the treasurers, to get something of the booty, sought out for passage, to send them to Barbadoes for sale; but none were willing to take or carry them: and a certain master of a ship, to put the thing off, pretended, that they would spoil all the ship’s company. To which Butler returned, “No you need not fear that, for they are poor harmless creatures, and will not hurt anybody.” “Will they not so,” replied the shipmaster: “and will you offer to make slaves of such harmless creatures?” Thus Butler, maugre his wicked intention, the winter being at hand, sent them home again, to shift for themselves, till he could get a convenient opportunity to send them away.

It happened also in this year, that a girl, about eleven years old, named Patience Scot, whose religious mother had been cruelly whipt by these people, bore witness against their wicked persecutors, that they sent her to prison; and the child having been examined, spoke so well to the purpose, that she confounded her enemies; some of which confest, that they had many children, who had been well educated, and that it were well if they could say half so much for God as she could for the devil. But this child not being of years to be obnoxious to the law, how wicked soever they were, it seems they could not resolve to proceed to banishment, as they did with others.

All that hitherto I have said of the New England persecution, is but cursorily, and only a very small part of those manifold whippings that were inflicted there; besides the extortions of fines, which were exorbitant to a high degree; as may appear by what was done to William Maston, at Hampton, who was fined ten pounds for two books found in his house, five pounds for not frequenting their church, and three pounds besides, as a due to the priest: and he not being free in conscience to pay this fine, had taken from him what amounted to more than twenty pounds. I find also, that not long after this time, above a thousand pounds was extorted from some, only because they had separated themselves from the persecuting church: and it seems they were deemed such as were shut out from the protection of the law; insomuch that Thomas Prince, Governor of Plymouth, did not stick to say, that in his conscience the Quakers were such a people, that deserved to be destroyed, they, their wives, and children, their houses and lands, without pity, or mercy. I find also that one Humphrey Norton, at New Haven, for being a Quaker, was whipt severely, and burnt in the hand with the letter H, to signify heretic.

This cruelty of the English, did also stir up the Dutch to persecution: for without enquiring what kind of people the Quakers were, they seemed ready to conclude them to be men of pernicious opinions, since those of their own nation, who pretended to more purity than other Protestants, did so severely persecute them.

It happened that one Robert Hodshone, being in the Dutch plantation at Hamstead, had a meeting with some of his friends that were English, and lived there; but as he was walking in an orchard, an officer came and took told of him, and brought him before one Gildersleave, and Englishman, and a magistrate there, who committed him to prison, and rode to the Dutch government to acquaint him therewith: and coming back with a guard of musketeers, the fiscal searched the prisoner, and took away his knife, papers, and bible, and pinioned him, and kept him so all night, and the next day. And making enquiry after those that entertained him, he took into custody two women on that occasion, one of which had two small children, the one yet sucking at her breast. Then they got a cart and carried the women away in it, and Robert was fastened to the hinder part of the cart, pinioned, and so drawn through the woods in the night season, whereby he was much torn and abused. And being come to New Amsterdam, now New York, he was loosed, and led by the rope, with which he had been fastened to the cart, to the dungeon, being a filthy place, full of vermin; and the two women were carried to another place. Some time after he was examined, there being one Captain Willet, of Plymouth, who had much incensed the Governor against him, who before had been moderate. The conclusion was, that a sentence was read in Dutch to Robert, to this effect, that he was to work two years at the wheelbarrow with a negro, or pay, or cause to be paid, six hundred guilders. To this he attempted to make his defence in a sober way, but was not suffered to speak, and sent to the dungeon again; where no English were suffered to come to him. After some days he was taken out, and pinioned, and being set with his face towards the court-chamber, his hat was taken off, and another sentence read to him in Dutch, which he did not understand: but that it displeased many of that nation, did appear by the shaking of their heads. Then he was cast again into the dungeon, where he was kept some days.

At length betimes in a morning, he was hauled out, and chained to a wheelbarrow, and commanded to work: to which he answered, he was never brought up, nor used to such a work. Upon which they made a negro to take pitched rope, nigh four inches about, and to beat him; who did so, till Robert fell down. Then they took him up again, and caused the negro to beat him with the said rope, until he fell down a second time, and it was believed that he received about one hundred blows. Thus he was kept all that day in the heat of the sun, chained to the wheelbarrow; and his body being much bruised and swelled with the blows, and he kept without food, grew very faint, and set upon the ground, with his mind retired to the Lord, and resigned to his will, whereby he felt himself supported. At night he was locked up again in the dungeon, and the next morning he was chained again to the wheelbarrow, and a sentinel set over him, that none might come so much as to speak with him. On the third day he was had forth, and chained in like manner; and no wonder that he still refused to work, for besides the unreasonableness of requiring such a servile work of him who had committed no evil, he was not in a condition to perform it, being made altogether unable by the cruel blows given him. In this weak state he was brought before the governor, who demanded him to work, otherwise, he said, he should be whipt every day. Robert asked him, what law he had broken? And called for his accusers, that he might know his transgression. But instead of an answer, he was chained to the wheelbarrow again, and threatened that he spake to any one, he should be punished worse. Yet he did not forbear to speak to some that came to him, as he saw meet, and thought convenient. Then seeing they could not keep him silent, they put him into the dungeon again, and kept him close there several days, and two nights; one day and a half of it, without bread or water.

After this, he was brought very early in the morning, into a private room, and stript to the waste, and hung up by his hands, and great log of wood tied to his feet, so that he could not turn his body, and then a strong negro was set to whip him with rods, who laid many stripes upon him, which cut his flesh very much. Then he was let down again, and put into the dungeon as before, and none suffered to come to him. Two days after he was had forth again, and hung up as before, and many more stripes were laid upon him by another negro. He almost fainting and not knowing but his life might be taken away, desired that some English might be suffered to come to him; which was granted, and an English woman came and washed his stripes, finding him brought so low, that she thought he would not live till the next morning. And she telling this to her husband, it made such an impresson on him, that he went to the fiscal, and proffered him a fat ox, to suffer Robert to be at his house until he was well again. But the fiscal would not permit this, unless the whole fine was paid. And though there were some that would willingly have paid the fine for him, yet he could not consent to it; but within three days after he had thus been whipped, he was made whole, and as strong as before, and was free to labor, that he might not be burthensome to any. Some others of those called Quakers, (who came thither from the plantations in New England to enjoy liberty of conscience, and whose names and sufferings I pass by for brevity’s sake,) met also with hard measure from the governor, by the instigation of the aforesaid Captain Willet. Robert now, though guiltless, being kept like a slave to hard work, it raised compassion in many, and the governor’s sister, who was much affected with his sufferings, became instrumental in obtaining his liberty; for she plied her brother, that he at length set him free without paying one penny, or anybody for him; by which the governor shewed, that though he had been too easily wrought upon to commit evil, yet he was not near to that height of malice, as the New England persecutors, who increased in their hardheartedness, and become inured to cruelty: insomuch that if any one amongst them would not give his vote for persecution, he was counted unworthy to be a magistrate; as appears by a letter of one James Cudworth, written sometime before to one of his friends in Old England, wherein I meet these words:

“As for the state and condition of things amongst us, it is sad; the anti-christian persecuting spirit is very active, and that in the powers of this world. He that will not whip and lash, persecute, and punish men that differ in matters of religion, must not sit on the bench, nor sustain any office in the commonwealth. Last elect Mr. Hatherly and myself left the bench, and myself discharged of my captainship, because I had entertained some of the Quakers at my house, that thereby I might be the better acquainted with their principles. I thought it better to do so, than with the blind world to censure, condemn, rail at, and revile them, when they neither saw their persons, nor knew anything of their principles. But the Quakers and myself cannot close in divers things; and so I signified to the court I was no Quaker, but must give my testimony against sundry things that they held, as I had occasion and opportunity. But withal, I told them that as I was no Quaker, so I would be no persecutor.”

Now shall I enter upon the narrative of their putting some to death, who died martyrs; for this was yet wanting to complete the tragedy, which it seems could not be done to the satisfaction of the actors, without playing a murdering part.

The two first that sealed their testimony with their blood, were William Robinson, merchant of London, and Marmaduke Stevenson, a countryman of Yorkshire. They coming to Boston in the beginning of September, were sent for by the court of assistants, and there sentenced to banishment on pain of death. This sentence was passed also on Mary Dyar, mentioned heretofore, and Nicholas Davis, who were both at Boston. But William Robinson, being looked upon as a teacher, was also condemned to be whipt severally; and the constable was commanded to get an able man to do it. Then Robinson was brought into the street, and there stript; and having his hands put through the holes of the carriage of a great gun, where the jailer held him, the executioner gave him twenty stripes with a three-fold cord whip. Then he and the other prisoners were shortly released, and banished; which that it was for no other reason but their being Quakers, may appear by the following warrant:

“You are required by these, presently to set at liberty William Robinson, Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyar, and Nicholas Davis, who by an order of the court and council, had been imprisoned, because it appeared by their own confession, words, and actions, that they are Quakers; wherefore a sentence was pronounced against them to depart this jurisdiction on pain of death, and that they must answer it at their peril, if they, or any of them, after the 14th of this present month September, are found within this jurisdiction, or any part thereof.
EDWARD RAWSON.”
Boston, September 12, 1659.

Now though Mary Dyar and Nicholas Davis left that jurisdiction for that time, yet Robinson and Stevenson, though they departed the town of Boston, could not resolve (not being free in mind) to depart that jurisdiction, though their lives were at stake. And so they went to Salem, and some place thereabout to visit, and build up their friends in the faith. But it was not long before they were taken, and put again into prison at Boston, and chains locked to their right legs. In the next month Mary Dyar returned also. And as she stood before the prison, speaking with one Christopher Holder, who was come thither to inquire for a ship bound for England, whither he intended to go, she was taken into custody. Thus they had now three persons, who according to their sanguinary law had forfeited their lives. And on the 20th of October, these three were brought into court, where John Endicot and others were assembled. And being called to the bar, Endicot commanded the keeper to pull off their hats; and then said that they had made several laws to keep the Quaker from amongst them; and neither whipping, nor imprisoning, nor cutting off ears, nor banishing upon pain of death, would keep them from amongst them. Yet notwithstanding, his following words without more ado, were “Give ear, and hearken to your sentence of death.” W. Robinson then desired that he might be permitted to read a paper, giving an account of the reason why he had not departed that jurisdiction. But Endicot would not suffer it to be read, and said in a rage, “You shall not read it, nor will the court hear it read.” Then Robinson laid it on the table.

He had written this paper the day before, and some of the contents were, that he being in Rhode Island, the Lord came and commanded him to go to Boston, and to lay down his life there. That he had felt an assurance that his soul was to enter into everlasting peace, and eternal rest. That he durst not but obey, without enquiring farther concerning it; believing that it became him as a child, to shew obedience to the Lord, without any unwillingness. That this was the cause, why after banishment on pain of death, he staid in their jurisdiction: and that now with sincerity of heart he could say, Blessed be the Lord, the God of my life, who hath called me hereunto, and counted me worthy to testify against wicked and unjust men, &c. This paper being handed to Endicot, he read it to himself, and after he had done, said to Robinson, “You need not keep such ado to have it read; for you spoke yesterday more than here is written.” Yet this was not so; for it contained a circumstantial relation of the divine operations on his mind; and that he was not come there in his own will, but in obedience to his Creator: and that travelling in Rhode Island, on the eighth of the eighth month, he had been moved thereto from the Lord, and therefore had submitted to his divine pleasure without murmuring. W. Robinson desiring again that the paper might be read, that so all that were present might hear it, it was denied him, and Endicot said, “W. Robinson, hearken to your sentence of death; you shall be had back to the place from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, to be hanged on the gallows till you are dead.” This sentence was not altogether unexpected to W. Robinson; for it was four months now that he had believed this would be his share.

Robinson being taken away, M. Stevenson was called, and Endicot said to him, “If you have anything to say, you may speak.” He knowing how they dealt with his companion, was silent, though he had also written in prison a paper, containing the cause of his being come there; but he kept it with him, and found afterwards occasion to deliver it to somebody. Then Endicot pronounced sentence of death against him, saying, “M. Stevenson, you shall be had to the place from whence you came, and from thence to the gallows, and there be hanged till you are dead.” Whereupon M. Stevenson spoke thus: “Give ear, ye magistrates, and all who are guilty; for this the Lord hath said concerning you, that the same day ye put his servants to death, shall the day of your visitation pass over your heads, and you shall be cursed for evermore. The mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. Therefore in love to you all, I exhort you to take warning before it be too late, that so the curse may be removed. For assuredly if you put us to death, you will bring innocent blood upon your own heads, and swift destruction will come upon you.

After he had spoken this, he was taken away, and Mary Dyar, was called: to whom Endicot spoke thus: “Mary Dyar, you shall go to the place from whence you came, (to wit the prison) and from thence to the place of execution, and be hanged there until you are dead.” To which she replied, “The will of the Lord be done.” Then Endicot said, “Take her away, marshal.” To which she returned, “Yea, joyfully I go.” And in her going to the prison, she often uttered speeches of praise to the Lord; and, being full of joy, she said to the marshal, he might let her alone, for she would go to the prison without him. To which he answered, “I believe you, Mrs. Dyar; but I must do what I am commanded.” Thus she was led to prison, where she was kept a week, with the two others, her companions, that were also condemned to die.

The day appointed to execute the bloody sentence, was the 27th of October, when in the afternoon the condemned prisoners were led to the gallows by the marshal Michaelson, and Captain James Oliver, with a band of about two hundred armed men, besides many horsemen; as if they were afraid that some of the people would have rescued the prisoners: and that no actors on the stage might be wanted, the priest Wilson joined the company, who, when the court deliberated how to deal with the Quakers, said, “Hang them, or else,” (drawing his finger athward his throat,) as if would have said, “dispatch ‘em this way.” Now the march began, and a drummer going next before the condemned, the drums were beaten, especially if they attempted to speak. When they were come near the gallows, the priest said in a taunting way to W. Robinson, “Shall such jacks s you come in before authority with their hats on?” To which Robinson replied, “Mind you mind you, it is for the not putting off the hat we are put to death!” Now being come to the ladder, they took leave of each other with tender embraces, and then Robinson went cheerfully up the ladder, and being got up, said to the people, “This is the day of your visitation, wherein the Lord hath visited you; this is the day the Lord is risen in his mighty power, to be avenged on all his adversaries.” He also signified, that he suffered not as an evil doer, and desired the spectators, to mind the light that was in them; to-wit: the Light of Christ, of which he testified, and was now going to seal it with his blood. This so incensed the envious priest, that he said, “Hold thy tongue, be silent; thou are going to die with a lie in thy mouth.” The rope being now about his neck, the executioner bound his hands and legs, and tied his neck-cloth about his face: which being done, Robinson said, “now, ye are made manifest;” and the executioner being about turning him off, he said, “I suffer for Christ, in whom I live, and for whom I die.” He being turned off, Marmaduke Stevenson stept up the ladder, and said, “Be it known unto all this day, that we suffer not as evil doers, but for conscience sake.” And when the hangman was bout to turn him off, he said, “This day shall we be at rest with the Lord;” and so he was turned off.

Mary Dyar seeing her companions hanging dead before her, also stept up the ladder; but after her coats were tied about her feet, the halter put about her neck, and her face covered with a handkerchief, which the priest Wilson lent the hangman, just as she was to be turned off, a cry was heard, “Stop, for she is reprieved.” Her feet then being loosed, they bade her come down. But she, whose mind was already as it were in heaven, stood still, and said, she was there willing to suffer as her brethren did, unless they would annul their wicked law. Little heed was given to what she said, but they pulled her down, and the marshal and others taking her by the arms, carried her to prison again. That she thus was freed of the gallows this time, was at the intercession of her son, to whom it seems they could not then resolve to deny the favor. She now having heard why she was reprieved, wrote the next day, being the 28th of October, the following letter to the court:

“The 28th of the 8th Month.
“Once more to the general court assembled in Boston, speaks Mary Dyar, even as before. My life is not accepted, neither availeth me, in comparison of the lives and liberty of the truth and servants of the living God, for which in the bowels of love and the meekness I sought you: yet, nevertheless, with wicked hands have you put two of them to death, which makes me to feel, that the mercies of the wicked is cruelty. I rather choose to die then to live, as from you, as guilty of their innocent blood; therefore, seeing my request is hindered, I leave you to the righteous judge, and searcher of all hearts, who, with the pure measure of light he hath given to every man to profit withal, will, in his due time, let you see whose servants you are, and of whom you have taken counsel, which I desire you to search into: but all this counsel hath been slighted, and you would none of his reproofs. Read your portion, Prov. i. 24 to 32. For verily the night cometh on you apace, wherein no man can work, in which you shall assuredly fall to your own master. In obedience to the Lord, whom I serve with my spirit, and pity to your souls, which you neither know nor pity, I can do no less than once more to warn you, to put away the evil of your doings; and kiss the son, the light in you, before his wrath be kindled in you; for where it is, nothing without you can help or deliver you out of his hand at all; and if these things be not so, then say, there hath been no prophet from the Lord sent amongst you; though we be nothing, yet is his pleasure, by things that are not, to bring to naught things that are.

When I heard your last order read, it was disturbance unto me, that was so freely offering up my life to him that gave it me hither so to do, which obedience being his own work, he gloriously accompanied with his presence, and peace, and love in me, in which I rested from my labor; till by your order and the people, I was so far disturbed, that I could not retain any more of the words thereof, than that I should return to prison, and there remain forty and eight hours; to which I submitted, finding nothing from the Lord to the contrary, that I may know what his pleasure and counsel is concerning me, on whom I wait, therefore, for he is my life, and the length of my days; and as I said before, came at his command go at his command.
MARY DYAR.”

The magistrates now perceiving that the putting William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson to death, caused great discontent among the4 people, resolved to send away Mary Dyar, thereby to calm their minds a little. And so she was put on horseback, and by four horsemen conveyed fifteen miles towards Rhode Island, where she was left with a horse and a man to be conveyed the rest of the way; which she soon sent back, and so repaired home. By the style of her letters, and her undaunted carriage, it appears that she had indeed some extraordinary qualities; I find also, that she was of a comely and grave countenance, of a good family and estate, and am other of several children: but her husband it seems was of another persuasion.

Whilst I now leave her at home, I am to say that one John Chamberlain, an inhabitant of Boston, having seen the execution of W. Robinson and M. Stevenson, was so reached by their pious speeches that he received the doctrine and the faith, for which they died: but his visiting those in prison, was so ill resented, that afterwards he was whipt several times severely; as was also Edward Wharton, an inhabitant of Salem; who, having said that the guild of Robinson’s and Stevenson’s blood was so great and heavy, that he was not able to bear it, was, for this, his pretended sauciness, whipt with twenty lashes, and fined twenty pounds.

But before I quite leave the persons that were hanged, I must say that being dead, their countenance still looked fresh; (for the terror of death had not seized them.) But being cut down, they were very barbarously used, none taking hold of their bodies: which so fell down on the ground, that thereby the skull of W. Robinson was broken: and even their shirts were ript off with a knife, and their naked bodies cast into a hole which was digged, without any covering. And when some of their friends would have laid their bodies into coffins, it was denied them. Neither would they suffer the place where the bodies were cast, to be fenced with pales, least ravenous beasts might prey upon them.

When the people returned from the execution, many seemed sad and heavy; and coming to the draw-bridge, one end of it fell upon some, and several were hurt, especially a wicked woman, who had reviled the said two persons at their death; but now she was so bruised that her flesh rotted from her bones, which made such a noisome stink, that people could not endure to be with her; in which miserable condition she remained till she died. But the magistrates, instead of taking notice of this grew more hardened; and priest Wilson did not stick to make a ballad on the executed.

Now I return again to Mary Dyar, who being come to Rhode Island, went from thence to Long Island, where she said the most part of the winter; and then coming home again, she was moved to return to the bloody town of Boston, whither she came on the 21st of the third month, in the year 1660, and on the 31st she was sent for by the general court. Being come, the governor John Endicot said, “Are you the same Mary Dyar that was here before?” And it seems he was preparing an evasion for her, there having been another of that name returned from Old England. But she was far from disguising, that she answered undauntedly, “I am the same Mary Dyar that was here the last general court.” Then Endicot said, “You will own yourself a Quaker, will you not?” To which Mary Dyar said, “I own myself to be reproachfully called so.” Then the jailer (who would also say something) said, “She is a vagabond.” And Endicot said, the sentence was past upon her the last general court, and now likewise: “You must return to the prison, and there remain till to-morrow at nine o’clock; then from thence you must go to the gallows, and there be hanged till you are dead.” To which Mary Dyar said, “This is no more than what thou saidst before.” and Endicot returned, “But now it is to be executed; therefore, prepare yourself, to-morrow at nine o’clock.” She then spoke thus: “I came, in obedience to the will of God, the last general court, desiring you to repeal your unrighteous laws of banishment on pain of death; and that is my work now, and earnest request; although I told you, that if you refused to repeal them, the Lord would send others of his servants to witness against them.” Hereupon Endicot asked her, whether she was a prophetess? And she answered, she spoke the words that the Lord spoke in her; and now the thing was come to pass. And beginning to speak of her call, Endicot cried, “Away with her, away with her.” She she was brought to the prison-house, where she was before, and kept close shut up until the next day.

About the appointed time the marshal Michaelson came, and called her to come hastily; and coming into the room where she was she desired him to stay a little; and speaking mildly, said, she should be ready presently. But he being of a rough tempter, said, he could not wait upon her, but she should now wait upon him. One Margaret Smith, her companion, being grieved to see such hard-heartedness, spoke something against their unjust laws, and proceedings: to which he said, “You shall have yours as the same.” Then Mary Dyar was brought forth, and with a band of soldiers led through the town, the drums, being beaten before and behind her, and so continued, that none might hear her speak all the way to the place of execution, which was about a mile. With this guard she came to the gallows, and being gone up the ladder, some said to her, that if she would return, she might come down, and save her life. To which she replied, “Nay, I cannot, for in obedience to the will of the Lord I came, and in his will I abide faithful to the death.” Then Captain John Webb said, that she had been there before, and had the sentence of banishment upon pain of death, and had broken the law in coming again now; and therefore she was guilty of her own blood. To which she returned, “Nay, I came to keep blood-guiltiness from you, desiring you to repeal the unrighteous and unjust law of banishment upon pain of death, made against the innocent servants of the Lord; therefore my blood will be required at your hands, who willfully do it: but for those that do it in the simplicity of their hearts, I desire the Lord to forgive them. I came to do the will of my Father, and in obedience to his will, I stand even to death.” Then priest Wilson said, “Mary Dyar, O repent, O repent, and be not so deluded, and carried away by the deceit of the devil.” To this Mary Dyar answered, “Nay, man, I am not now to repent.” And being asked by some, whether she would have the elders pray for her, she said, “I know never an elder here.” Being further asked, whether she would have any of the people pray for her? She answered, she desired the prayers of all the people of God. Thereupon some scoffingly said, “It may be she thinks there is none here.” She, looking about, said, “I know but few here.” Then they spoke to her again, that one of the elders might pray for her. To which she replied, “Nay, first a child, then a young man, then a strong man, before an elder in Christ Jesus.” After this she was hanged with something which was not understood what it was, but she seemed to hear it; for she said, “It’s false, it’s false; I never spoke those words.” Then one mentioned, that she should have said, she had been in paradise. To which she answered, “Yes, I have been in paradise several days.” And more she spoke of the eternal happiness into which she was not to enter. In this well-disposed condition she was turned off, and died a martyr of Christ, being twice led to death, which the first time she expected with undaunted courage, and now suffered with Christian fortitude.

Thus this honest, valiant woman finished her days; but so hardened were these persecutors, that one of the court said scoffingly, “She did hang as a flag for others to take example by.” And putting to death for religion did not yet cease, as will be related hereafter.
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1 This last name was spelled two different ways in the original. “Southwick” and “Southick” (without the ‘w’). Doing a search for this couple on-line it showed their name with the ‘w’ so for consistency sake that is how it is rendered throughout. – TRA