A brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the true Christians, the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these last eleaven years, viz, from 1660 until 1671 with an occasional treatise of their principles and practices briefly stated, whereby the innocency of their cause, for which they so suffer, is not only plainly demonstrated, but also from all false asperations and causeless pretences sufficiently vindicated / collected by T.H. and A.F.

Munster Province.

Cork City and County.

1660. WIlliam Morris, William Brimsby, Walter Castle and John Exham, being (with others) met at Edward Cook's House in Bandon-Bridge, to wait upon God in his holy Name and Fear, were haled thereout, and committed to Goal by John Laundon Provost, who was so cruel that he was offended with the▪ Goalers Wife, for suffering Straw to be brought to the Prisoners, that were put in a Nasty Dungeon, where they were kept two Weeks, during which time they were cruelly used by Robert Stowers the Goaler, who did not admit Friends to bring the Prisoners any Food, but what was given them through the Grate.

Some of the Lord's People being met together at Daniel Mossey's House in Bandon-Bridge, had their Meeting broken up, and com∣mitted to Prison by the said Provost, who caused Susanna, the Wife of Bishop Worth, to be haled out of the said Meeting, and dragged her to Prison in such a brutish manner, that many cry∣ed Shame upon such barbarous Usage to such an Aged and Sober

Woman; insomuch that some of the Officers said, They could ra∣her go to Prison themselves, then be Actors of such Cruelty.

Philip Dymond, Alexander Atkins, Stephen Harris, George Neno, Christopher Pennock, Geo. White, Ananias Kello, Wil. Steel, Wil. Thorne, James Puckridge, John Edwards, David Williams, Richard Jordan, and George Pett, for meeting together (with some other Friends) in the City of Cork to worship God, were committed to Goal, and there detained till the next Assizes by order of Chri∣stopher Oliver then Mayor.

Thomas Cook, Richard Br••cklsby, Tobias Wear, and Francis Ro∣gers, &c. being met together in the City of Cork for the End aforesaid, were committed to Prison by William Hodder Deputy Mayor, and kept Prisoners until the following Assizes.

1661. Alexander Atkins, Philip Dymond, Tho. Cook, Philip Godfrey, and several other Friends, for meeting together in their usual Place in Cork City to wait upon God, were committed to Prison; and at the following Assizes Twenty Five of them were fined by Judge Alexander in 1190 l. for their said Meeting, and for wearing their Hats before the Judge, and so remanded to Prison.

Christo. Pennock, Tho. Loe, Phil. Dymond, John Workman, Ed∣ward Cook, and twelve Friends more, for meeting in Cork City, as aforesaid, were committed to Prison by Walter Cooper Mayor, where they were kept several Weeks.

1662. Geo. Gamble, Phil. Dymond, James Adamson, Alexan∣der Atkins, and about sixteen Friends more, for their meeting in Cork City for the End aforesaid, were committed to Prison by the said Mayor till the following Assizes, and then indicted, and though not found by the Jury, yet by the rule of Court they were to remain in Prison till each of them paid 10 s. a piece to the Judge for Traverse; and to the Cryer, and other Fees, some 14 s. and some 20 s. apiece more: And at the same Assize, most of the Friends were indicted again for not going to the Church (so called) and such as said, they did not go, were presently fined; and some that stood silent, were re-committed without Bail or Mainprize till the next Assizes; and all in general were returned back to Prison, where they were kept several Moneths.

1667. George Webber, Wil. Penn, Fran. Rogers, John Taylor, Philip Dymond, Wil. Hawkins, Geo. Gamble, John Gossage, Christo. Pennock, Thomas Mitchel, James Knolls, Stephen Harris, Henry Bennet, James Dennis, William Steel, James Toghill, Richard Pike, John Moor, and Thomas Robins, for meeting together the 3d of the 9th Moneth to worship the Lord God, were committed to Prison by Christopher Rye Mayor of Cork.

Geo. Gamble, James Dennis, John Smith, Arthur Johnson, Chri∣stopher Pennock, Geo. Neno, and Philip Godfrey, for meeting toge∣ther the 24th of the 9th Moneth for the End aforesaid, were ta∣ken out of their Meeting-place, and sent to Prison by the said Christopher Rye Mayor.

Francis Rogers, Geo Gamble, Philip Dymond, William Fletcher, Stephen Harris, Alexander Atkins, Richard Pike, Rob. Whetstone, and Tho. Godfrey, for meeting the 8th of the 10th Moneth, were committed to Prison by the said Christo. Rye Mayor.

1668. Tho. Cook, Geo. Webber, John Taylor, James Knolls, Rich. Pike, Geo. Neno, Tho. Mitchell, Tho. Wight, Christopher Pen∣nock, Arthur Johnson, James Dennis, Wil. Bigley, and Wil. Burch∣field, being met together at their usual Meeting-place in Cork, City to wait upon and worship the Lord, were taken thereout, and committed to Goal by the said Christo. Rye; and the Goaler told the Prisoners, That he was forbid to give them a Copy of the Mittimus.

Thomas Cook, and several other Friends, being met together to worship God the 13th of the 10th Moneth, had their Meeting broken up, and committed to Prison by the said Christopher Rye; and the said Tho. Cook was then much abused by William Sexton Constable, who struck the said Thomas with the Staff of his Of∣fice (with his full strength, as he himself hath since said) on the side of his Head, which for a time deprived him of his Sences.

Thomas Wight, George Gamble, Alexander Atkins, Geo. Webber, Thomas Cook, John Gossage, and Geo. Neno, for meeting together as aforesaid, were haled thereout, and committed to Prison by order of the said Christo. Rye Mayor.

Geo. Webber, Geo. Gamble, Fran. Rogers, Alex, Atkins, Thomas Cook, Jo. Gossage, Christo. Pennock, James Dennis, John Workman,

Thomas Wight, Tho. Ridge, Charles Sinderby and James Toghil, for meeting together to worship the Lord at their usual Place in Cork City, on the 28th of the 12th Moneth, were sent to Prison by order of the said Christo. Rye; eleaven Seats or Forms carried then away, and still detained, worth about 50 s. by the said Mayor's Order.

1669. Philip Dymond, John Stubbs, George Gamble, &c. for meeting together the 15th of the 4th Moneth, in Cork City, to wait upon God, were committed to Goal by the said Christo. Rye Mayor.

Geo. Gamble, Alexander Atkins, Thomas Cook, Christo. Pennock, James Dennis, Steph. Harris, Jo. Gossage, Rich. Brocklsby, William Steel, Phil. Godfrey, Martha Webber, Susanna Michel, Lucretia Cook, Jone Cook, Thomasin Gossage, Elizabeth Erbery, Hannah Wear, and Jane Morris, for meeting together in the Fear of the Lord, and to worship him, were committed to Goal (by the said Christo. Rye Mayor) where some of them were kept a long season, in which time Susanna falling exceeding sick in the Prison, Eliz. Erbery went to the said Mayor, and desired his leave to remove her said sick Friend (if her strength would bear it) and he not only refused, but much abused her, calling her, The Old Witch of Endor, with other opprobrious words, much unbeseeming a Ma∣gistrate: He also caused some of the Friends Children that were at the said Meeting to be carried to the Stocks, and there kept a while by the Whipping-Beadle.

About this time Richard Pike (through Cold and Distemper got in his Imprisonment) Dyed a Prisoner.

James Taylor and James Knolls, for being at a Meeting of the Lord's People in Cork City, were committed to Prison by the said Christopher Rye Mayor, and kept several dayes before their Mittimus was made, and afterwards detained long in Prison; and almost every First-day, towards the end of his Mayorality (having been Mayor two years) he caused such of the men Friends as were at the Meetings to be imprisoned.

Samuel Thornton being visited by several Friends at his Lodging, at Elizabeth Erbery's in Cork City (being newly come thither on a Journey) and after Supper he spent some time in Prayer, for which he was taken thence by the Constable, and had before

Matthew Dean then Mayor, who committed him to Goal, where he was kept close Prisoner about Eight Weeks.

Geo. Webber, Steph. Harris, and several other Friends, being at their usual Meeting-place to wait on the Lord, were taken thereout, and committed to Prison by the said Matthew Dean Mayor, who would not suffer Meat, Drink, or Bedding to be brought them, causing a Maid Servant of Stephen Harris (that was carrying a Bed to her sickly Master in the Prison) to be set in the Stocks, and the Bed to be taken away from her, and Geo. Webber's Maid-Servant carrying Food to her said Master in Pri∣son, the said Mayor commanded his Sergeants to take away the Food, and to set her in the Stocks; but got to the Prison before the Sergeant over-took her.

While Samuel Thornton was Prisoner in Cork, divers Men and Women Friends, and others of the City, went one First-day to sit together with him to wait upon the Lord, who is worthy to be feared and worshipped at all times, and in all places; and—Quinnall the Goaler shut the Doors, and lockt them all in, being about Eighty Persons, and carryed away the Key (as it was said) to Matthew Dean Mayor (a suitable Succes∣sor to Christopher Rye for Persecution) who gave Command, That the said Prisoners should not be admitted to have Meat or Drink (as the Goaler alledged) neither had they any in at the Door, being forced to draw it up with Ropes, and take it through the Grate, and some thrown in to them at a Hole: And that Night the Souldiers, who kept Guard un∣der the said Prisoners, made so great a Smoak, that it was like to have smoothered the Prisoners: And notwithstand∣ing that Application was made to the Mayor, in behalf of the Prisoners, and their Conditions; yet as a man without Pitty and Mercy (forgetting Humanity, or the Bounds of common Civility) and without any regard to Age or Sick, (as to Women with Child, and Women Nurses, not suffering the one to come at the other) with Scoffing Language, ill-be∣coming him, said, They are all Brethren and Sisters, let them lie one upon another; and if they are choaked, its their own Faults: and thus were they kept together about Twenty Four Hours.

John Hull, William Bigley, and some others, going on a First∣day to visit Friends in Prison, and to spend some time with them in waiting upon God, the said Matthew Dean Mayor charged the Goaler not to suffer them to go out again; and so they were kept Prisoners several Weeks, and then released by an Order from the King's Lievtenant General, and Council of Ireland.

1670. Thomas Wight, for being at a Meeting with the Peo∣ple of God, was committed to Prison by Order of the said Matthew Dean Mayor, and there kept close Prisoner Fifteen Weeks, until the next Assizes; and then, for Fees claimed by Robert Fletcher, as Clark of the Crown, &c. was sued, and Execution got against his Body, being then a Prisoner, by means whereof he was kept in close Restraint about Six Moneths.

And the said Matthew Dean Mayor of Cork (generally) every First-day broke up Friends Meetings, and imprisoned most of the Men Friends in the City; and would not suffer poor Men (that were Tradesmen) to work in Prison, that had no other way to get Bread for themselves, Wives, and Children, but by their daily Labour; giving Order to the Goaler, to take away their Tools from them: And to add to his Cruelty, as one that would out-do his Predecessor in Persecution, and to make Havock, as it were, as much as in him lay, he took account of Friends Names, how oft they were at Meetings, and thereby made occasion of multiplying Indictments against Friends at the Assizes, where some had two, others three, six, or more Indictments drawn up and fra∣med against them; the effects whereof, through Fines and Fees, &c. proved very prejudicial to them.

These following Distresses were taken for Fees claimed by Rob. Fletcher, as Clark of the Crown, and Town-Clark, occasi∣oned (originally) for Meetings, besides what he got by the many Indictments last before mentioned.

Alexander Atkins, for Fifteen shillings demanded, had taken from him a piece of Stuff worth 1 l. 12 s.

Christopher Pennock, for the like, had forty nine yards of Stuff taken from him worth 2 l. 3 s.

Thomas Cook, for thirteen Shillings six Pence, had Iron taken from him worth 1 l. 16 s.

Limerick City.

1661. Thomas Phelps, Richard Pearce, John Cobb, James Cra∣ven, (with other Friends) being met together in Limerick to worship the Lord God, were haled thereout by Bartholomew Garnet Constable, and others with him, and committed to Pri∣son by Thomas Miller Mayor, and there kept till the next As∣sizes, and then ten of them were fined by Judge Alexander in 40 l. a man, and remanded to Prison, where they were kept about four Months, and then released by order from the chief Rulers (called, Lord Justices.)

Waterford City,

1661. William Blanch, William Wright, Samuel Mason, and Eight Friends more, for meeting together in the Fear and Worship of God, were imprisoned, and at the following Assi∣zes fined by Judge Alexander in 580 l.