A collection of the several writings and faithful testimonies of that suffering servant of God, and patient follower of the Lamb, Humphry Smith who dyed a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, in Winchester common-goal the 4th day of the 3d moneth in the year 1663.

The Cause of the long Afflicted and sore Oppressed; sent forth (in brief) from Win∣cheste•• Prison, b••i••g a Copy of the Mittimus, wh••••e••y H••mphry Smith was again committed (in o••th pace of his former lon•• suffering, in the same streight unsavory Prison) wi••h his Answer (which was then sent b••ck thereunto; As likewise a sho••t Relation from the rest of them called Qua∣kers there.

The Mittimus.

To the Keeper of his Majesties Goal at Winton, or to his sufficient Deputy, Greeting.

YOu shall herewithal receive the Body of Humphry Smith, who was taken at unlawful Meetings at Al∣ton, being a Ringleader, and one of the chief of the Quakers, who travelleth the Country to seduce the People, and disturb his Majesties Peace, contrary to the Law in that behalf made and provided These are therefore, in his Majesties Name, to will and require you forthwith, that you receive the Body of him, the said Humphry Smith, into your Custody, and him to detain

in your said Goal, until he shall be delivered from thence by due order of Law. Whereof fail you not, at your peril:

Given under our Hands and Seals at Alton, the 14th day of October, in the thirteenth year of his Majesties Reign, Anno 1661.

• John Norton,
• Humphry Bennit.

The Answer.

THe Jews (who denyed him that said, I am the Light) laid hands on Paul, crying out, Help, men of Israel; this is the man that teacheth every where against the Law, Acts 21. 28. And the Jewish Christians (who denied the Light) laid hands on Humphry Smith, and in the Mittimus say, He was at an unlawful Meeting. And so, these called Christians say, Our Meetings are Un∣lawful, or against the Law. And just so it was said of Paul, That his teaching was against the Law. Again, John Norton and Humphry Bennit say, That Humphry Smith was a Ringleader: Likewise, Turtullous said, That Paul was a Ringleader, Acts 24. Again, Humphry Smith is accused for one of the chief of the Quak••rs, and for travelling the Country to seduce the People: And in the same manner Paul was accused for a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World, Acts 24. 5. (and if so, then Paul was a greater Traveller than Humphry Smith) And as Hum∣phry Smith is here accused for seducing the people; so Paul was ac∣cused for setting forth of strange Gods, and for preaching new Doctrine, Acts 17. 18. And again, Haman accused the Lords People, That they kept not the Kings Laws: And these men accuse us, that we disturb the Peace, contrary to the Kings Laws. And the Rulers accused Paul for teaching things that were not Lawful: And these accuse Humphry Smith, That he did that which was contrary to the Law, which they say, is made and provided, which is as much as if they had said, We have a Law, just like their Fathers, who (crucified Christ and) said, We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to dye: And so, these who have Envy (which is Murther) in their hearts say, We have a Law made and provided, and by the force thereof Humphry Smith (who is a member of Christ) must be Imprisoned (his Body, [Mark] not his Soul, then his Soul may be at liberty.) And them Ma∣gistrates

cast Paul into Prison: And so these did by H. Smith. And they charged the Goaler, To keep Paul safely, Acts 16. 12. And these charge or require the Goaler in no less than his Maje∣sties Name, and at his own Peril, to receive and detain the Body of Humphry Smith in his said Goal, until he shall be delivered by due Order of Law.

And in this their acting and writing, they themselves have com∣pared Humphry Smith with Paul (and others of Gods people) And themselves with Pauls Persecutors, and other such Rulers, who accused and Impri∣son Gods people formerly, who pretended a Law then as these do now: And so, here is still much Law spoken of, but little Mer∣cy, and less Justice or Equity either among them or these: And thus we are daily brought before Magistrates, and cast into Pri∣son, where the Members of Christ have been sick, and some have dyed too; whom these called Christian Magistrates never vi∣sited: And thus in pretence of a Law doth Christs Members suf∣fer by these now, as he himself did by those then, who said, We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to dye.

And hereby all People may plainly perceive (who are not wilfully blind) that here is not one thing charged against H. Smith, but what hath been Charged against Gods Servants in the days of old: And all persons may easily see, that Humphry Smith is not any otherwise accused than the Members of Christ have already been. And all the Rulers themselves may hereby know, that in all this, there is not one word or particular thing by which Humphry Smith doth now suffer, but what the Lords dear people have already suffered by and under, and that by the Magistrates, or the Rulers of the People, by whom likewise now Humphry Smith doth Suffer; and so, he is hereby and therein the more de∣clared to be one of Gods Servants, and they by whom he thus suffers, are manifested the more, to be of the same Generation, who still accuse and Imprison, and by cruel hands cause Gods Servants to suffer; but Christ hath promised (whose word shall stand for∣ever) That these things should turn to us for a Testimony, Luke 21. 17. And this may and doth this day testifie to the World (and for us against the World) that we are of God, and that

Humphry Smith is his Servant, and that he doth this day suffer by the Rulers, under the same accusation, and no other, and for the same Truth, and so in the same cause, as Gods People of old did, and not for any thing else, nor any other thing pretended a∣gainst him, nor in the least laid to his charge.

And if this will in no wise convince these Rulers of their Evil herein, nor other People, of the Innocency of my present suf∣ferings, Then let them all take heed lest the God of this World hath wholly blinded them, and hardned their hearts therein, and chained them up in obscurity, and bound them under the Powers of Darkness, and so far Seduced them already, that they are be∣come past Sense, Sight or Feeling, and then no more b••t a most fearful looking for the Righteous Judgments and Indignation of the Almighty, which will one day devour, and none shall deliver.

And then shall they all know, both Rulers and People, that I am Gods Servant, this day in Bonds for the Testimony of Jesus (against the Cruelty of men) in close Prison at Winchester; be∣ing known to the wicked World by the name,

Humphry Smith.

This was in short time sent back to them that committed me.

A Coppy of a Paper sent to the l••te intended (but Adjourned) S••ssions..

WE are men that do fear the Lord, and do also truly desire peace with and amongst all men, among whom we have likewise behaved our selves in peace and qui••tness, labouring with our hands in the things that are honest, whereby to pro∣vide for our selves and Families, continuing also in careful••ess therein, that though we suffer in body and estate, that neither we nor them, might be chargeable to any, neither have we wil∣fully provoked the Officers and Rulers against us, but in Humi∣lity in that we dare not but obey the Lord that made us, in wait∣ing upon him, for the which only and for no other cause, on our parts, we have already suffered before this Imprisonment so much cruelty and Inhumane Usage, that several sheets of Paper might be filled there with, though it would not be easie to be be∣lieved,

that English-men should so unmercifully be abused, by Souldiers, and other men, of their own Nation, as hath been daily inflicted upon us in the Town of Portsmouth, the place of our aboad and habitation, where for the space of one year and half, few First-dayes therein, but we were by the rudest Souldi∣ers (that they could chuse for the purpose, and such like Officers) either haled out of our Meetings (before the Law was made, as against us) or beat forth with much Voilence, or thrust or beat with Muskets along the streets, or punched, or knocked with the great ends of Muskets, and so with Voilence drove forth at the Gates, from our own Habitations, and then were hindered from coming in again to our Employments; and most, if not all these things were daily inflicted upon us, ^• with many more crueler Beatings and Bruisings of our Bodies, than is herein writ∣ten; and our Goods have been spoiled, and some carried away and our Windows battered down, even after we were beat and turned out, as aforesaid; and such First-dayes as we escaped, these things, we were shut up together in our own Houses, and Armed men set on every side to keep us in, both Men and Wo∣men, in a most evil and unseemly manner, and food deny••d to be brought in to us, and sometimes our food that was sent us, taken away by the Souldiers, and other times we were some of us kept in several nasty Holes, which are so bad, that most people do esteem it a hard thing for the worst Fellon or Offender, to be kept a few dayes, where we were constrained to be several weeks, having also both Friends, and our own Wives and Relations, yea, and Food it self, and other needful things then kept also from us; and in Feltons-Hole the Waves of the Sea have so beat in on one of us in Winter-season, that he hath stood in water up to the Ancles: for the which things the Lord God hath and will visit them that were the Actors thereof.

And when we had for the space of one year and half in much patience suffered many such things as aforesaid; then Affliction was added by the severe Execution of a Law against five or above meeting from their habitations, and assembling together, under pretence of Worship; the which, though our Meetings were not in pretence, but really intended, and absolutely for the Wor∣ship of God; yea, notwithstanding, though we were not this

time (for the which we yet suffer) the Number of Five that de∣parted from our habitations, and so not Transgressors of that Law, as we made it appear unto the Mayor and Rulers that com∣mitted us: Neither could they themselves affirm and prove, that we had therein transgressed that Law; yet notwithstang they im∣posed the utter most penalty upon us, which in the said Law is men∣tioned against them that transgress it, and so kept us full three Moneths in Prison in that Town, and three Weeks moreover then the three Moneths. And then in our Mittimus they did not so much as deal justly with us, but writ therein, That we were lately taken at a Meeting, as though it had been very lately in∣deed; and thereby have sought to conceal the long Imprison∣ment we had then suffered for the same Meeting therein signified; and concerning which we have also suffered nine weeks more in this Prison of Winchester, this 13th of the 11th Moneth, 1662.

And these our heard and unreasonable Sufferings, and grievous Abuses, doth even cause a Cry for Mercy, and may claim Com∣passion in Equity, as well as Justice from you, who in Justice ought to shew Mercy, in relieving the oppressed; who having suffered all these things only upon the account of some difference in Opinion, in matters of Religion, or matter in us of Con∣science to God, wherein also the King's late Declaration offer∣eth us Relief, the benefit thereof we shall gladly receive; but if otherwise, then we say, The will of the Lord be done, whom we dare not but follow, though it should be to the loss of all.

John Austin, Jonas Goff, William Bucklan, Thomas Cozens, Nichlos Cumplin, William Jennings.

Solomon Nun, also a Prisoner eleven Weeks, for not paying four Shillings for being absent four First-dayes from their Church at Fareham, which in Conscience he could not pay; and so he is kept from his Masters business, being a young Apprentice-lad.

John Bishop, also a Prisoner nine Weeks, being taken out of his own House, from the which he was not departed, neither were there then found with him any more men but two.

Humphry Smith, a Prisoner one year and three Moneths, and ne∣ver called at Assize or Sessions, nor suffered to come to any of the Rulers in the County to lay before them the true state of his Case.

And now seeing the hardness of the hearts of the Rulers is such, that though a Copy of this fore-going Paper was sent unto them, at the time of their late appointed Sessions, and they not release the said sufferers nor commiserate their long and fore suf∣fering Cause, being some of them but poor men, and seeing the said Paper, was turned again, and so the cause of the long op∣pressed turned aside.

Therefore is this published (with the other) that both Rulers and People may hear and see the long and many Afflictions of the harmless.

And now, as touching four Coats that in cold Winter wea∣ther were stript off us, since we came to this Prison, and openly carried forth (by one whose name we forbear to write) and the Money for them drunk presently in strong Beer; concer∣ning the which, although we mentioned not a word amongst the rest of our sufferings, in the fore-going Paper: And yet seeing it is so, that just thereupon we were curbed and checked, and Friends kept out from us, and bitter words used at them that were let in (though the Goaler had profit by them) and that even by the Goaler's Wife (she having slighted Gods love, and so now hath little Pity for us) and this being also done at the same time, when the King's Declaration was come forth, which is so largely tending to our Liberty: And that the said Goalers Wife and himself (if they own that action) may know, that it was out of forbearance of love, and not of slavish fear of any, that we mentioned not these our Coats in the said Paper.

Therefore are these few lines pertaining to this matter, now added to the rest of the sufferings of us J. A. T. C. J. G. N. C. This 14th day of the 11th Moneth 1662.

And the cause, or the Reasons wherefore the Copy of the Mit∣timus, with the answer of me, H. S. is herein made publick, are these.

First, Because John Norton and Humphry Bennit, have not only thus committed me upon no other account, but for being such a man as Gods servants were in the days of old, and for doing no other thing, but what was (though sometimes unjustly) charged against them, and also before this late Law was made (intenti∣onally) against Meeting. Secondly, Because they have kept me

close Prisoner one Year, three Moneths and upward, and that only upon this account. Thirdly, Because I have been all this time deprived even of that benefit of the Law in this Land which Thieves and Murderers have, being not all this time called at Assize or Sessions. Fourthly, Because the said John Norton refused to let me have any liberty for a little season, when a Friend came to seek it of him, after I had lain here almost a Year. Fifthly, Be∣cause nothing of evil is proved or brought in against me, nor any Law known, by which they thus keep me in long Bondage, though wrongfully in the Mittimus they have pretended a Law. Sixthly, Because I am more hardly dealt with (in my imprison∣ment) then the High-way-men, that break out of Prison, or any other Ossendor here, by their order, for the keeping of Friends from coming in to visit him that is one of the Members of Christ in Prison. Seventhly, Because that by no means all this time I can be permitted once to pass forth to any House in the Town; and several Reasons more, wherein I am unreasonably dealt with, all which having so long, and with much silence and patience un∣dergone. Eightly, Because all this and much more of their hard dealing, and my sufferings are so little regarded by the said John Norton and Humphry Bennit, and other Rulers, who some of them said, I might Rot here.

Therefore, I say, thus much is at present published, and that other tender hearted people, and the meekest among the Rulers, may both read and consider the cause of the Oppressed, and also the long sufferings of Humphry Smith.

The time cometh that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service, John 16. 2. If the World hate you, ye know, that it hated me, before it hated you, John 15. 81. But in the great day when it shall be said, Come ye Blessed, and Go ye Cursed; the things then laid to their charge will be these, I was Hungry, Thirsty, a Stranger, Naked, Sick, and in Prison, and ye visited me not; Answer, When saw we thee so? Reply, In as much as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not to me, according to Mat. 25. 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46.

Notes

• Southton
• But now they have a∣bove a year together, contrary to Law, depri∣ved me, of the benefit of all their Law and Liber∣ty.