Divers particulars of the Persecutions of Iames Nayler, by the Priests of Westmerland.

JAmes being at a meeting at Edward Briggs house on the first day, where many people met, he was desired by divers friends to meet the day following at Widow Cocks house, about a mile from Kendal; whereof the Priests having notice, raised the Town of Kendal against him; but being long in gathering together, the meeting was done; but Spies being out upon the Steeple top, and other places, notice was gi∣ven what way Iames passed from thence: and coming down towards Kindal, two Priests being accompanied with a Justice of Peace, and some other Magistrates of the Town, with an exceeding great multitude of people following them, met him saying, Nayler, I have a Message from the Lord Iesus Christ to thee, but that there is not a convenient place. To which James answered, The Lord Iesus Christ is no respecter of places. The message that he had to declare was this: I conjure thee that thou tell me Page  45 by what power thou inflictest such punishment upon the bodies of creatures. James answered, Dost thou remember who it was that did adjure Christ to tell if he were the Son of God, and asked by what authoritie he did those things? for James saw him to be one of that Generation. But the Priest still conjuring him to tell by what power he did it; James answer∣ed, Dost thou acknowledge it to be done by a power? Yea (saith he) I have the Spirit of God, and thereby I know it is done by a power. James said, If thou have the Spirit of God, as thou sayest thou hast, then thou canst tell by what power it is done. The Priest said, When God comes, he comes to tor∣ment the souls and not the bodies. James said, He comes to redeem the souls.

But after much jangling, the Priest began to accuse him before the Justice and Magistrates of many things; As, that he taught people to burn their Bibles, Children to disobey their Parents, Wives their Husbands, People to disobey the Magistrates, & such like accusations: To which James answered, Thou art a false accuser: prove one of these things if thou canst, here, before the Magistrates. But not being able to prove any one, he began to accuse Iames for holding out a light that doth convince of sin, which, saith the Priest, all have not. To which Iames said, Put out one in all this great multitude, that dare say he hath it not. Saith the Priest, These are all Christians; but if a Turk or Indian were here, he would deny it. James said, Thou goest far for a proof: but if a Turk were here, he would witnesse against thee.

The people beginning to fight, the Priest turned away, saying. Here will be a disturbance. Said James, These are thy Christians, and this is the fruiuts of thy Ministery. But the Justice with some others, did endea∣vour to keep the rude people off him, so that they could not come to their purpose there: But he being to passe over the bridge, and through the town, they that were of the Priests party ran before, swearing they would throw him off the bridge into the water; but coming thither, and seeing their purpose, he was encouraged in his God, who gave him assurance of protection, and did wonderfully keep him, and those that were with him: for when he came unto the bridge, the word of the Lord came unto him, and he was made to cry out against their rage, and the power of the Lord was with him, so that he received no harm, though he was made to speak all along▪ and in the Market-place, and till he came out of the town. But the raging Priests continued shouting, cry∣ing and throwing stones at him, a quarter of a mile out of the town: But such was the power of the Lord, that neither he, nor any with him received any harm. The work was wonderfull, and we were brought much to admire it and praise the Lord, who is blessed for ever and ever.

Page  46 Another time Iames being desired of many Christian Friends to be at a meeting at Ortor, there to wait upon the Lord for what he would make known to his people, did accordingly; and many friends and bre∣thren accompanied him; but the Priests having intelligence some dayes before, five of them were gathered together, and many people from all quarters. A friend in the town desired Iames to come to his house; and being come into his house, a message was sent from the Priests, desi∣ring him to come into the field, under pretence of a more convenient place for the great multitude. To which Iames answered, It is my desire that all may be edified: and coming into the field, the Priests came with a great multitude, and asked him by what authority he came thither, and had gathered so many people together to break the peace; and tempt∣ing him, said, Wilt thou be bound that none here shall break the Peace? To which Iames answered, We come not hither to create offences, but if any break the Law, let him suffer by the Law: for he perceived they intended violence, as it appeared afterward.

But seeing they could not prevail in that, another of them desired him to go into the Church, as he called it, tempting him, saying, The people may all sit and hear better: But James perceiving their deceit said, All places were alike to him, he would abide in the field. Whereupon they pulled out an Ordinance of Parliament, forbidding any to speak, but such as were authorized to speak either in Church or Chappel, or any publike place; and bad him speak at his perill, as he would answer the contempt of it. To which he answered, saying. This is not a publike place. No? said one of the Priests, Is not this a publick place, the Town∣field? and charged the Constable of the town to do his office; and ex∣amined his authority: James answered, Those that are sent to declare the things of God, have not their authoritie from men. But they bad him prove that. He said, Paul received not his Commission from man, nor by man. To which one of them answered, That was his Gospel; but they would prove that Paul had a call from man to preach; and for that end he named that place in Acts 13. 2. where the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul: and the Apostles laid their hands upon them; which said one of them, was the laying on of hands of the Presbytery; But when he had found that place, Iames asked him if that was Pauls cal• to the Ministery (three times) but he answered nothing. Then said James, If that was his call, he had preached long without a call before that; and instanced to prove it Gal. 1.

Whereupon that businesse ended; But another Priest stood up and said, Thou oughtest to give an account of thy Faith to every one that asketh; Page  47 whereupon, he asked divers questions; whereunto James answered, in∣somuch that some who stood by cried out, Answer not all, but ask him some. A while after, James asked him how he would prove himself a Mini∣ster of the Gospel, and live upon Tythes? To which he would not answer. Then said Iames, Neither will I answer thee, if thou aske me twenty more.

The next question he asked, was, Whether Christ was ascended, or no: but Iames said, I will not answer thee. Whereupon he cried out to the people, and said, He denies the humanity of Christ, and made a great out∣cry among the people of it: but he people cried out saying. Let us hear him; you have often told us many things against him: let him speake, and then if he speak not the Truth, you may then reprove him. Iames hearing the desire of the people began to speak, and the people gave audience and were very silent. But beginning to hold out Christ alone to be the Teacher of his people in spirit and Truth, one of the Priests cried out, I cannot endure to hear this Seducer any longer. Vpon which, Iames said, Prove me a Seducer before all this people, or else thou art a false Accuser. But he had not one word to say against any thing that he had spoken; But said, If thou wilt not answer me that question I asked thee, I will call thee a Seducer as long as I live.

Whereupon, seeing there could be no peace there, nor libertie to speak, they desired Iames to go into the house; and they kept close about him, to keep him from the violence of some that came along with the Priest: but they raged so, that he and some other friend received stripes, and with much ado got into the house: But the r•ging S•a mires waited about the dore to do mischief, and kept shouting about the house 〈◊〉 the while he was speaking: but the house being filled with People they could not come to their purpose; and he Lord so ordered it in the Eve∣ning, we came away without any more harm: but not long after, there came some of the Priests party about the house, and asked if Nayler was gone: and when they heard he was gone, they said, He may thanke God of that. Thus by the wisdome of God he escaped their vi∣olence at that time

But the Priests missing of their purpose there the next first day after, they prepared their Sermons sutable to what they intended, possessing the people that he was a Blasphemer, and denyed he Resurrection and the Humanity of Christ and all Authoritie; and that the Parliament had opened a gap for Blasphemy, and as it was said by some of their hearers, they did God good service that would knock him down Thus having stirred up the ruder sort, the next day they prevailed with 〈◊〉 Page  48 called a Justice of Peace: the Priests son got him to come twelve miles from his own house, he was one that had been in actual arms against the Parliament, for the bringing in of the Scots: and having armed a a great multitude against the next morning, they came very early to the house where he was, where many Christian friends should have met that day, and asked for Nayler, threatning to knock out his brains a∣gainst the stones in the wall, and that they would pull down the house, if he would not come out, though the dorewas never shut against them. But some of them come into the house, and commanded him to come forth, under pretence to dispute with the Priest. But James seeing what they intended, answered, You did not use me socivilly the last time I was amongst you, but if any have a mind they may come in, the doores are open. Which answer they told the Priests whereupon they rushed violently in, and took him by the throat, haled him out of the dore into a field, where was a man whom they called a Justice and with a Pitchfork struck off his hat, & commanded him to answer to such Questions as the Priests would ask him. Whereupon, the Priest began to ask many Questions: as concerning the Resurrection, the Humanitie of Christ, the Scriptures, and divers other Questions, as the Sacrament and such like: to which he answered, and proved Scripture. But at last, being asked if Christ was in him, he said, he witnessed him in measure. The Priest asked, if Christ was in him as man. James said, Christ is not divided. But he ur∣ged him to tell whether Christ as man was in him or no. He answered, Christ is not divided; for if he be, he is no more Christ: but I witnesse that Christ in me who is God and man in measure. But the Priest said, Christ is in heaven with a carnal body. To which said James, Christ filleth Heaven and Earth, and is not carnal but spiritual: for if Christ be in Heaven with a carnal body, and the Saints with a spiritual body, that is not proporti∣onable: neither was that a carnal body which came in among the Disciples, the doors being shut: for Christ is a Mystery, and thou knowest him not.

Then after much jangling and tempting, the Priest not having got the advantage he waited for, he cried out unto the people not to re∣ceive him into their houses: and alledged that in the second Epistle of 〈◊〉, verse 10. Now how suitable that place was for his pur∣pose, all people may see who have eyes, for there they are forbidden to receive any into their houses but such who abide in the Doctrine of Christ and confess themselves that they had both the Father and the Son, and preach that Doctrine: but the Priests say that is blasphemy.

Then the Priest turned away from him: upon which, the armed mul∣titude began to be violent against divers friends that were there. James Page  49 hearing friends cry out, said to the Justice, You will surely set us peace∣ably into the house again: But seeing him to go away, and leave them in the hands of the rude multitude, he gave himself up saying, The Will of the LORD be done.

Upon which the Justice turned again, saying, We will see him in the house again: and going towards the house, many friends kept close a∣bout James, exposing their own bodies to the danger of their weapons, to save him harmlesse: and so with much ado we got into the house, not receiving much harm. Which being done, and as James was prais∣ing the Lord for his wondrous deliverance from their malicious intents, some heard them say, If we let him go thus, all people will run after him. Whereupon they agreed that he should be brought before the Justice again; and came with violence and haled him out again. Then the Ju∣stice and the Priest getting a horsback, they caused him to run after them to an Alehouse on the other side the water, where they went in, not suffering one friend to go in with Iames. And when he came be∣fore the Justice, he told him, if he would not put off his hat, he would send him to prison, and also because he Thoued him for the Justice said, My Commission runs, Ye. To which Iames answered, I do it not in con∣tempt, for I own Authoritie, and honour it according to the Scriptures: But I find none such honour commanded in Scripture, but forbidden. Then they concluded to commit him for that, and also as a wandring person, and said none knew there from whence he came, for those who knew him were kept out. Then said he to Arthur Scaife, Thou knowest me; I was in the Army with thee eight or nine yeares. It is no matter, said the Justice, thou art no Souldier now.

Then they writ a Mittimus to send him to prison, and carried him to Kirkby-Steven that night & shut him up in a Chamber and set a guard upon him; but divers of our friends following into the Town, where a great multitude was gathered together for meeting, then did the peo∣ple come from the Steeple-house where another had been preaching: for divers of the Priests were gathered together that day; some preach∣ing, some plotting, and some persecuting: 〈◊〉▪ fast was a prepara∣tion for Naboths death. But friends not being suffered to go into the house where Iames was, they abode in the streets: and some of them being moved to speak to the people, the Priests perceiving the people to give audience to what was spoken, made complaint. Whereupon some were sent forth and with violence fetched in one Francis H••gill, a friend, who was speaking to the people, and brought him into the High-Priests hall, where were five Priests assembled, with many other Page  50 of their partie, but not one friend. And bringing him before the Justice, he was commanded to put off his hat. He answered, I know no such law. The Priest said, He will tread both Ministery and Magistracy under his feet. He said, Thou art a false Accuser: prove wherein. But one that stood by, took off his hat, and cast it into the fire. Then said the Justice, What is this thou speakest against the Ministers? He answered, What hast thou to accuse me of? Whereupon one affirmed that he said, All the Ministers that taught for hire, and in Steeple-houses, were enemies and liars against Iesus Christ, and no Ministers of Iesus Christ. Vpon that the Justice said, Thou speakest against the Law; for the Law gives them their main∣tenance. He said, I meddle not of the Law but of their practice. Then said Francis to the Priest, Didst thou ever know a Minister of Jesus Christ that was a persecutor, or did labour to imprison any? And after some more discourse, he said to the Priest, I have seen a great deal of tyranny and persecution in this dayes actions. Then said the Justice to the people. Take notice, he saith the Law I act by is Tyrannie and persecution. To which the people assented. Then said Francis, Thou maist give out to the people what thou wilt; but I speak not of the Law but of your Actions. Upon that he was sent to prison, a guard of 8 men was set over them, who spent the night in drinking, swearing, and filthy and unclean talk∣ing; and the more they were desired by the people to take heed of sin, the more filthy they did appear: but these are the fittest instruments for acting the Priests intentions, being Members of the Churches.

The next day they were guarded to Appleby: but some friends fol∣lowing could not be suffered to passe on the streets that way, so great was their envie against all that set their face that way. And the prisoners being brought thither much means was used that none should come at them but such as were sent to tempt them. There they were kept until the Sessions; in which time they sent up and down the Country to seek for any that would witness any thing against them, and improved their utmost interest for their advantage. A Jury was chosen; divers of them were resolved on the business, so that it was told the Prisoners what would become of them before the day of examination came; and it was accordingly: For the day came, and judgement passed; but the Prisoners never saw their Accusers, nor know who they are; but against that day, the Priests had prepared 3 large Petitions stuft with most filthy untruths and slanders, raised out of the bottomless pit; but not one of them proved though one of the Justices said to them, It is fit they should be proved: neither was there any thing in them which they could charge upon the prisoners, save onely the Power of the Lord had manifested at Page  53 their meetings in shaking proud flesh, and pouring out his Spirit among many, especially, as they said upon little children: which the Priests concluded was Sorcery and Witchery, and of the Devil: hereby decla∣ring themselves to be of that generation, who called the good man of the house Beelzebub; and if they should not doe the same to them of his houshold, the words of Christ could not be fulfilled.

Likewise they had gathered up all reports, true or fals, of things done by many that the Prisoners had not seen the faces of, nor ever knew; thinking thereby to make them odious to the people. They also brought two Priests out of Lancashire, to swear things that another man had spoken in the presence of foure Justices of the Peace, and for which the man had been tried and cleared: And these they brought, thinking to ad afflictions to the Prisoners bonds. But he is kept in great peace and joy, having not any comfort from man, but from God, who hath appeared to him in this condition, and hath given him assurance of his love, in whom he rests. To whom be praise, honour and glory, for ever.