The cry of the oppressed being a true and tragical account of the unparallel'd sufferings of multitudes of poor imprisoned debtors in most of the gaols in England ... together with the case of the publisher.

From the Gaol at Hereford, Novemb. the 7th, 1690.

SIR,

THE Keeper of this Gaol, William Huck, is a common Lewd Person, a Swearer, Curser, Lier, Drunkard, which has not been

[illustration]

Debtors in a Dungion 9 foo•• under Ground

[illustration]

A Goaler knocking a Woman in the Head with his Keys

at Church but once in Seven Years, a Friend to help to save Jesuits and Priests, which came in to be Gaoler in the time of the late King James, he is a Fighter, disturbing, beating and wound∣ing of his Prisoners, as will be prov'd; he is a common hunter of Whore-Houses, and such persons as will spend their Moneys Lewdly in his Company, he will take abroad with him, and at Midnight he will come home, and then they being all Mad-Drunk, he will set upon the poor, quiet, sober Prisoners which Lodg in the Wards, which have not, or will not spend their Moneys upon him, he will Threa∣ten to Beat, Wound, or Kill, charging his Pistols, and drawing his Sword against them, and run at them with a long and dangerous Javelin, to Kill them; he hath endangered the Lives of several Prisoners, as will be proved; he not only Wounded but Murthered one Ma∣ry Barard, a Prisoner, that was under his Custody, (as Witness Nicholas Kerwood, and Thomas Gumman, Gent. &c.) On the Mor∣row Morning after the Death of the said Mary Barard, one of his Sons declared, that his Father had Killed her, by knocking her on the Head with the Gaol-Keys; and the said Mary laid her Death wholly upon him; this was done in the Year 1688, (Witness Willi∣am Munhouse, and Charles Clibbry, &c.) He Threatned to Beat, Wound, or Spoil, the Bo∣dy of Anthony Meek, for no cause but going into the Chambers to see his Fellow-Prisoners; this was in December 1689. He Wounded the

Body of Robert Miles, and with his Pocket Pistol, ready charg'd with Powder and Bullet, struck Fire, with full intention to Kill him; this was in the Year 1689. He the said Gao∣ler drew his Sword at one Mr. John Bartram, then his Prisoner, using his Wicked Endea∣vours to Kill, Wound, or Spoil him, and did then break his Arm, in the Year 1689. He that Gaoler hinders and keeps his Prisoners from going to the House of Office, and one John Badham easing his Body, Huck the Gao∣ler ran at him with a great Club to Wound, Spoil, or Kill him; this was in the Year 1689. Also one Thomas Dayes a Gentleman of the Age of Seventy Two Years, going up stairs to speak with some of his Fellow-Prisoners, he the said Huck ran up after him, and would have thrown him down the stairs to break his Neck; he also drew a Naked Knife, and took a pair of Taylor's Shears to Kill him the said Dayes; and further, took his own Sword out of the Scabbard, and gave another Sword to his Son, charg'd his Pocket-Pistol a full Shaf∣nel with Powder and Bullet, rapping out ma∣ny Damning Oaths and Curses, That he would Kill or Murther the said Thomas Dayes; this he did about the Month of June, 1690. He the said Huck is a Companion and Protector of Thieves and Cutpurses, for after they are discharged out of the Gaol, they go to Fairs and there Cut Purses, and Rob honest People, and after that come and shelter themselves in the Gaol, and Rant and Spend their Money

they Stole, upon and in the Company of the said Gaoler. Further, There is a Garden bought for the Prisoners to take the Air, and Walk in; all other Gaolers before him kept a Lad to see to the Prisoners whilst they walk'd there, which was done with safety to the Gaoler, and Comfort and Health to the Priso∣ner; but now the present Gaoler suffers no Prisoner but whom he pleases, and when he pleases, and only such as will spend their Mo∣neys on him to make him Drunk; and also when any Prisoners are discharged, he the said Gaoler keeps and detains them for most strange, unmerciful, exacting Fees, and by that forceth many poor Debtors to pawn, sell, or leave behind them, their Cloths from off their Backs, contrary to the Statutes and Laws of this Land. Also if any Gift come to the poor Debtors from any Charitable well disposed People; if it be Victuals, then he Or∣ders the best of it for his own Family, and for the rest he causes to be given to those that Lodg in his own Chambers, and spend what they have with, and on him, he having there∣by endangered the Starving of several Priso∣ners. The said Gaoler keeps his Swine, Geese, Ducks, and Hens, stinking, and breeding Dis∣eases among the Prisoners; and many more such Cruelties he the said Gaoler is guilty of, and is always committing more against the poor Prisoners for Debt, which will be proved upon him upon Oath, pray therefore let it be put in Print, for there is no Wickedness acted

against poor Prisoners, but this Huck is guilty of. We have here sent you the Witnesses Names, to prove every one of these Wicked Villanous Actions on him. This at present from your Humble Servants, John Taylor, John Seaborne, &c.