a spoliation of the property of its members, for Ecclesiastical purposes, to the amount, in 175 years, of ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING! The oppression on individual members (who are in no case indemnified out of the common fund) is very commonly rendered heavier by the conduct of the persons receiving fees at the bench, and making charges on account of their attendance there, as well as at seizures and sales; and availing themselves thus of the circumstances of the party deemed in the wrong, and condemned by the Magistrate to suffer. The condition of the Quakers could not have been much worse in point of charges', had they been really defaulters in respect of the payment of rent or taxes, or convicted of criminal acts rendering them liable to fines! I shall conclude this article with the three texts which meet my eye in the title-page of the book I have referred to: John xv. 20. The servant is not greater than his LORD: if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. Ps. xxxiv. 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Ps. xii. 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD: I will set him in safety, from him that puffeth at him. And with this, of my own choosing: Isaiah Ixi. 8. I hate robbery for burnt offering! ART. II. Sufferings of the Quakers in Barbadoes. I gave the Reader to expect some account of the personal, in addition to the pecuniary, sufferings of the friends in Barbadoes: and it will be as well not to conceal from him a circumstance in which occasion was given on the part of the sufferers to some harsh proceedings, not consequent on those Testimonies in which the whole society is concerned. "In the year 1673, Margaret Brewster, a devout woman, under a religious concern and affliction in spirit, at the gross sins and wickedness of many of the inhabitants of this Island, found herself constrained to appear in an unusual and extraordinary manner, in order if possible to excite them to repentance: To which purpose she exhibited herself to them as a visible sign of that sorrow, abasement and humiliation of soul, which was necessary for them to be exercised in. Accordingly she disfigured her face, let her hair hang loose about her shoulders, put ashes on her head and sackcloth over her clothing, and in that habit went to their church (so called) at Spight's Bay, while the priest and his hearers were at their worship. She was scarce entered the place, before she was pulled out again with violence and hurried into the town. The priest, an utter stranger to such prophetic appearances, was highly displeased, and failed not to incense the Magistrates against her, who of themselves were apt to take offence at such an amazing way of reproof. She was the next day committed to prison by the following Mittimus, viz. BARBADOES SESSIONS. Whereas Margaret Brewster, alias Sawyer,* did upon the last Lord's day, being the 21st of this Instant, December, come into the church at Spight's Bay, in time of Divine service, with her face disfigured, her hair about her shoulders and ashes upon her head, and sack-cloth upon her upper garments, and bare footed, like unto some wild satyr, or some mad lunatic person: By which unlooked for strange aspect the whole congregation was disturbed, some children much affrighted, and several women were ready to faint, which is to the dishonour of God, scandal of religion and contempt of Government : And being examined this day before us, would give no account † for her so doing, but uttering several railing and reproachful words against the priests and their ministry, aud being by us requested to find sureties for her appearance at next court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Spight's Bay, and for her good abearing for the future, and having refused to do the same: These are therefore in his Majesty's name to will and require you forthwith to take into your custody the body of the said Margaret Brewster, and her safely convey unto his Majesty's common gaol at St. Michael's town, and her deliver unto the keeper thereof, who is hereby required to receive her from you, and her in safe custody to keep, until she shall find sureties for her appearance at next Court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Spight's Bay, and for her good abearing for the future, or until she shall be delivered from thence by due order of his Majesty's laws: Hereof fail not at your perils. Given under our hands this twenty-second day of December, Anno 1673. WILLIAM YEOMANS, ROBERT BREVITER. Pursuant to this sentence, the innocent and patient woman was conveyed to the common gaol, and there kept, lying in a room so exposed to the cold and weather that it much endangered her health. This singular action of the woman, and her imprisonment thereupon, occasioned Edward Wright and Samuel Hancock to write some queries to the priest :—-” The queries, which are long and not very fit in all parts for the edification of readers in this day, contain among other matter the following: Whether an house, composed of wood, stone, and lime, is any where called a Church' in Scripture?—Whether that service were divine which led to such outrages and inhumanity as was proffered to the sufferer ?-Whether the Scriptures of truth make not mention of the Lord's servants that went for signs, and whether signs were not for unbelievers?—If Isaiah had come naked, or Ezekiel or Jeremiah as formerly, whether or no you would have sent them to Very probably her maiden name, they not allowing our marriages to be lawful. + This is not true, for she declared to them, that she came thither and in that manner in true obedience to the Lord, to warn them of their pride and their superfluous adornments and attire.' prison? If such expressions as lunatic, mad people, disturbers of the peace, were not usual terms given to the servants of the Lord by their persecutors ?-Whether that was a congregation of Christ who were so affrighted at what had happened?-Whether priest Walker's hearers, with their periwigs, fringes, paintings, and other wild attire, look like a congregation of the righteous?-If priest Walker be a minister of Christ, why doth he not reprove the abominable, much to-be-lamented, antick, and sinful attire of his hearers ?-Whether he and his wife, in their ornaments, are a pattern for modest raiment to the flock, or whether the Wo be not to the crown of pride ?—And whether priest Walker's great feasting of late, with fiddling and dancing, at the heathenish custom of sprinkling his child,―spending the creation of God in such excess of riot when many of his poor parishioners want bread, were the practice of any of the followers of Christ or no? Did not music and dancing inflame the wicked part in Herod, and cause him to murder John Baptist? Whether the nature of wolves and dogs is to kill and bite the sheep, or the sheep them ?" These queries, however, remained unanswered, the priest choosing rather to acquiesce under the protection of the Magistrate's authority than to controvert by writing such points as he knew how to determine by a method to him more short and easy; which was as follows: "Case 80 [presented to Governor Atkins.] Samuel Hancock, for not appearing in Captain Farmer's troop, 300lbs [sugar], and for a fine imposed upon him by the Sessions for writing some queries to Wm. Walker, a priest, for him to answer, about religion, 3000lbs. "Case 81. Edward Wright, surgeon, for a fine imposed on him for being concerned with Samuel Hancock in writing the aforesaid queries, 3,500lbs. He was also imprisoned for the same about a month." 6 Let us review the whole case. Here is a devout woman', who ' under a religious concern' finds herself constrained to appear in an unusual and extraordinary manner at church, in order, as she says, to warn them of their pride, their superfluous adornments and attire.' If she had blacked her face, it is alleged against them that they let many others escape, whose vizards rendered them the same.' However the whole congregation was disturbed, some children much affrighted, and several women were ready to faint! We will admit for a moment, what the Quakers are not obliged to concede (seeing there is precedent in Holy Scripture; and no prohibition, but rather prediction, of like prophetical doings in the last days) that the woman was under a delusion that it was not the Holy Spirit, but some lower inspiration which prompted to the act. We see what was the extent of the mischief; while if any good was done, through serious impressions upon the mind, we are left in ignorance of this. And surely the way to prevent a good issue was, to treat the poor friend with roughness and inhumanity while a truly Christian spirit in the preacher, taking occasion from the event and improving' (as we hear some express themselves) the opportunity for good, might in the first place have inculcated the great duty of charity, and advised to forbearance towards the intruder, and patience under the interruption; and then have made such remarks as might arise, tending to edification, on her apparent intention, and on the matter (if any) which she had offered. I speak not of that which I have not known; having had occasion, in time past, under the trial of very disagreeable intrusions on meetings for worship, to do the very thing. And I believe we can scarcely exercise patience, in silence, for an hour to better purpose. Had the friend offered violence to any one, or even resistance when apprehended, or uttered unseemly expressions, it might have been alleged, with some colour of reason, that she was under the influence of a wrong spirit—what is called, in an evil sense, Enthusiasm. But taking in all the circumstances as they stand, and considering also the occasion which the narrative presents for some more than ordinary religious censure on the lives and manners of the Barbadians, I am rather inclined to leave the whole matter to the just judgment of the Almighty, than to condemn the innocent and patient woman.' But what shall we say to such proceedings as the following? "It happened that on the 25th of December-Herbert Griffith and William Fortescue, standing to inspect some workmen employed about the wall of a burying place, were observed by William Goodall, a Justice of the Peace-who in much anger called to those who were with him, saying, Is there no constable here? Lay hold on these rogues. Take away the fellows' tools.' Accordingly, the priest's. clerk being present, took away the tools, and detained them from the owner many weeks. Herbert Griffith desired the justice to hear him a few words, but he, full of fury, cried out Drag the old rogue along-away with them all to the stocks. Some people present said, 'Sir, pray pity that aged, honest man.' But the Justice replied, 'I care neither for his age nor his honesty.' Then one Thomas Saunders, a very rude person, said, 'Sir, these Quakers will not put their legs into the stocks.' The Justice replied, 'Down with them; drag them in.' Whereupon the said Saunders gave the ancient man a blow on the breast, and struck up his heels with such violence that his head came first to the ground, and then he threw down William Fortescue, who falling on a stone cut his elbow, that it bled; and then they dragged in William Ashby, the mason, and his man, and locked them in the stocks about three hours. "After which the said Richard [?] Goodall, and Richard Noke, made a Mittimus to send them to gaol, directing it from constable to constable, with a rude company to guard them, as if they had been murderers. The constable to whose charge they were first committed was very uncivil, and would not suffer the ancient man to ride his own horse. But other constables were more moderate; and the last of them said they were honest men,' and directed them to go themselves to the town, and he would send one to meet them there to-morrow, which he did accordingly; and they were committed to the common gaol, where they remained four weeks; after which, some neighbours engaging for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions, they were permitted to go home. "On the 12th of the first month [then March] following, they appeared at the Sessions, where, by means of one John Witham, an officious justice, then Chairman, they were re-committed to prison (except the mason's servant, who, being no Quaker, was discharged) where they lay about six weeks, till the General Sessions, on the 24th of the second month, 1677; at which time the Governor gave them liberty, upon promise of appearing at the next General Sessions, which was about the 24th of the ninth month following; at which time they were tried by a jury, who acquitted Herbert and Fortescue, but found William Ashby, the mason, guilty of working on that day [called Christmas*] for which he was fined 500lbs of sugar and the other two were cleared by proclamation. "This so displeased some of the Justices, that they prevailed with the rest to commit them to prison a third time, and the verdict was set aside! On the 10th of the Tenth Mo. they were brought again to trial on a fresh indictment; when Justice Goodall himself came off the bench to give evidence, and swore he saw the said Herbert and Fortescue at work. But when the foreman of the Jury asked him 'whether they had in their hands any tool, either hammer or trowel he was forced to explain himself by saying, that as they were overseeing the work, they were at work. THIS NOT SATISFYING THE JURY THEY WERE THE SECOND TIME ACQUITTED, AND DISCHARGED. "Richard Andrews, a sober virtuous youth, a servant to Joseph Borden, was several times taken out of his master's shop by soldiers, and had to their place of exercising, where they endeavoured to make him bear arms, but he steadfastly refused, saying, he durst not break Christ's command. On the 4th of the Third month 1678, the soldiers carried him to Needham's fort, and the next day, being the first day of the week, their captain, John Burrows, ordered him to be tied neck and heels, in which manner he lay about an hour; after which the Captain struck him a great blow with his cane and threatened him sorely. He was kept at the fort a week, his lodging being mostly on the cold stones. When he came home his countenance was much altered, his appetite much impaired, and his body very poor and thin. Nevertheless, on the 25th of the same month, the officers fetched him out again and carried him to their place of exercising, where the said Captain ordered him to be tied neck and heels again, which was done, and he was tied so strait that he could hardly speak. Some of the soldiers were troubled at his cruel usage, while others scoffed at and derided him. Within a few days after this usage, he was taken with the bloody flux whereof he died in a little time. Concerning the observance or non-observance of which the best rule is certainly that contained in xiv. Romans. It is not likely they selected this day for their work. Ed. |