according to the spiritual birth, born of the immortal seed. Q. Wert thou ever called the Lamb of God? A. I look not back to things behind, but there might be some such thing in the letter; I am a lamb, and have sought it long before I could witness it. Q. Who is thy mother, or whether or no is she a virgin? A. Nay, according to the natural birth. Q. Who is thy mother according to thy spiritual birth? A. No carnal creature. Q. Who then? A. [To this he refused to answer.] Q. Is the hope of Israel in thee? A. The hope is in Christ, and as Christ is in me, so far the hope of Israel stands; Christ is in me, the hope of glory. Q. What more hope is there in thee than in others? A. None can know but them of Israel, and Israel must give an account. Q. Art thou the everlasting Son of God? A. Where God is manifest in the flesh, there is the everlasting Son, and I do witness God in the flesh; I am the Son of God, and the Son of God is but one. Q. Art thou the Prince of Peace? A. The Prince of everlasting Peace is begotten in me. Q. Why dost thou not reprove those that give thee these attributes? A. I have said nothing unto them, but such things are written. Q. Is thy name Jesus? [Here he was silent.] Q. For what space of time hast thou been so called? Q. When thou wast called the King of Israel, didst thou not answer, thou sayest it? A. Yea. Q. How dost thou provide for a livelihood? A. As do the lilies without care, being maintained by my Father. Q. Whom dost thou call thy Father? Q. What business hadst thou at Bristol, or at way? A. I was guided and directed by my Father. Q. Why wast thou called a Judge to try the cause of Israel? [Here he answered nothing.] Q. Are any of these sayings blasphemy or not? VOL. V. A. What is received of the Lord is truth. Q. Whose letter was that which was writ to thee, signed T. S. A. It was sent me to Exeter gaol by one the world calls Tho. Symonds. Q. Didst thou not say, if ye had known me. ye had known the Father? A. Yea, for the Father is my life. A. At Anderslow in Yorkshire. A. She, whom thou callest my wife, lives in Wakefield. Q. Why dost thou not live with her? A. First, under him they call lord Fairfax. A. Afterwards, under that man called col. Lambert and then I went into Scotland, where I was a quartermaster, and returned sick to my earthly habitation, and was called into the North. Q. What wentest thou for to Exeter? A. I take no care for that, Q. Doth God in an extraordinary manner sustain thee, without any corporal food? A. Man doth not live by bread alone, hut by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Father: the same life is mine that is in the Father; but not in the same measure. Q. How art thou cloathed ? Q. Dost thou live without bread? A. As long as my heavenly Father will: I have tasted of that bread, of which he that eateth shall never die. Q. How long hast thou lived without any corporal sustenance, having perfect health? A. Some fifteen or sixteen days, sustained without any other food except the word of God. Q. Was Dorcas Erbury dead two days in Exeter, and didst thou raise her? A. I can do nothing of myself: the Scripture beareth withess to the power in me which is everlasting; it is the same power we read of in the Scripture. The Lord hath made me a sign of his coming: and that honour that belongeth to Christ Jesus, in whom I am revealed, may be given to him, as when on earth at Jerusalem, according to the measure. Q. Art thou the unspotted Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world? A. Were I not a lamb, wolves would not seek to devour me. Q. Art thou not guilty of horrid blasphemy, by thy own words? A. Who made thee a judge over them? Q. Wherefore camest thou in such an unusual posture, as, two women leading thy horse; others singing, Holy, holy, &c. with another before thee bare-headed, knee-deep 3 H Q. Thou hast a wife at this time? A. A woman I have, who by the world is called my wife; and some children I have which according to the flesh are mine. Q. Those books which thou hast writ, wilt thou maintain them, and affirm what is therein? 4. Yea, with my dearest blood. Martha Symonds's Examination. She confesseth, she knew James Nayler formerly; for he is now no more James Nayler, but refined to a more excellent substance; and so she saith she came with him from Bristol to Exeter. Q. What made thee lead his horse into Bristol, and sing Holy, holy, holy, &c.? And to spread thy garments before him? A. I was forced thereto by the power of the Lord. Q. He is stiled, in Hannah Stranger's letter, The Fairest of Ten-thousand, The Hope of Israel, and The only begotten Son of God: dost thou so esteem him? A. That James Nayler, of whom thou speakest, is buried in me, and he hath promised to come again. Q. Dost thou like of that attribute, as given to bim? A. I cannot tell, I judge them not. Q. Whether didst thou kneel before him? A. What I did was in obedience to a power above. Q. Dost thou own him to be the Prince of Peace? A. He is a perfect man; and he, that is a perfect man, is the Prince of Peace. Q. Hast thou a husband? A. I have a man, which thou callest my husband. Q. What made thee to leave him, and to follow James Nayler in such a manner? A. It is our life to praise the Lord, and the Lord my strength (who filleth heaven and earth) is manifest in James Nayler. Q. Oughtest thou to worship James Nayler, upon thy knees? A. Yea, I ought so to do. Q. Why oughtest thou so to do? A. He is the Son of Righteousness; and the new man within him is the everlasting Son of Righteousness; and James Nayler will be Jesus, when the new life is born in him. Q. By what name callest thou him? 4. Lord. Q. Why dost thou call him Lord ? A. Because he is the Prince of Peace and Lord of Righteousness. Q. What reason canst thou shew for thy calling him king of Israel? A. He is so anointed. Q. Who hath anointed him? Q. What Prophet was that? Q. Thou confessest that thou didst spread thy cloaths? A. Yea, I did. Q. Tell me; doth that spirit of Jesus, which thou sayest is in Nayler, make him a sufficient Jesus to others? A. I tell thee, there is seed born in him, which above all men I shall (and every one ought to) honour. Q. Is he King of Israel, as thy husband saith? A. If he saith so, thy testimony is double. Hannah Stranger's Examination. She saith, she came from Bristol to Exeter with James Nayler; and that she flung her handkerchief before him, because commanded so of the Lord; and that she sung Holy, &c. and that the Lord is risen in him. Q. Wherefore didst thou sing before James Nayler? A. I must not be mute when I am commanded of the Lord. Q. Wherefore didst thou sing to him? A. My conscience tells me I have not offended any law. Q. Was that letter thine: and didst thou spread thy garments before him? A. Yea, and my blood will maintain it. Q. Dost thou own him for the Prince of Peace? Thomas Stranger's Examination. He owneth the Postcript of the letter, in which he calleth James Nayler Jesus; but could not be got to answer to any more questions, any further than, If I have offended any law. He confesseth he called James Nayler Jesus, and saith he was thereto moved of the Lord. Timothy Wedlock's Examination. Q. Dost thou own James Nayler to be the only Son of God? A. I do own him to be the Son of God. A. I do own the songs of Sion. Q. Thou wilt go through a great rain bareheaded, Why then wilt thou not be uncovered to a magistrate? A. What I did was as the Lord commanded. A. His flesh and bones are new. Q. Christ raised those that had been dead; so did not he. A. He raised me. Q. In what manner? A. He laid his hand on my head, after I had been dead two days, and said, Dorcas, arise; and I arose, and live as thou seest. Q. Where did he this? A. At the Gaol in Exeter. Q. What witness hast thou for this? Q. His power being so much, wherefore opened he not the prison-doors, and escaped? A. The doors shall open, when the Lord's work is done. Q. What Apostles hath he? A. They are scattered, but some are here. Q. Jesus Christ doth sit at the right hand of the Father, where the world shall be judged by him. 4. He, whom thou callest Nayler, shall sit at the right-hand of the Father, and shall Q. What is your opinion concerning Reli-judge the world with equity. gion? A. I own no opinions, nor any judgments. Q. Wherefore didst thou honour him in towns, and not elsewhere? A. We did as well in commons; but in both, as the Spirit of the Lord directed us. Q. Wherefore didst thou kneel before him? Dorcas Erbury, the Widow of William Erbury, her Examination. Q. Where dost thou live? Q. Wherefore didst thou sing Holy, &c.? Q. Dost thou own him that rode on horseback to be the Holy One of Israel? A. Yea, I do; and with my blood will seal it. Q. And dost thou own him for the Son of God? A. He is the only begotten Son of God. Q. Wherefore didst thou pull off his stockings, and lay thy cloaths beneath his feet? A. He is worthy of it; for he is the holy Lord of Israel. Q. Knowest thou no other Jesus the only begotten Son of God? A. I know no other Saviour. Q. Dost thou believe in James Nayler? Q. Jesus was crucified; but this man you call the Son of God, is alive? A. He hath shook off his carnal body. Here followeth a Relation concerning one of his companions : One of James Nayler's disciples, having attained to some knowledge in the French tongue, went over into France to a city called Bourdeaux, where, after entering into a congregation of the Protestants, he began, after his in the open congregation, against the miniswonted manner here in England, to cry out, ter, calling him conjurer, lyar, impostor, deceiver; and the elders and people being astonished at the novelty, and reputing him a madınap, came and told him that they had laws in France to protect the congregations, either of Papists or Protestants, from any disturbance; and thrust him forth of their church, Upon which, he went into the church-yard, and, upon a stone, continued his discourse, which drew the whole congregation out of the church, after him, and caused the minister to give over; and the Elders, coming again to him, told him, that, he being a stranger, they were willing to favour him; but, seeing he did continue his disturbance, they would commit him to justice; he told them, justice was never in that place until his appearance. Upon that, they took him away to the governor; where, being brought, with his hat on, he asked the governor what he was; who told him, he was the governor of that place under the king of France: he said, That he would not answer him as governor, his government being carnal : and a certain bishop being with the governor, who was a Papist, desiring that he might question him, and demanding what he was, he told him, he was an Englishman, and sent of the Lord to prepare his way: he demanded of the bishop what he was; who told him, he was a bishop; whereupon he replied, That against him he was sent, who was one of the locusts that was sent forth of the bottomless pit; and that the weapons he had with him were fitted to destroy him and the whole kingdom of Antichrist, who was held in darkness and blindness; and that he was to pour out vials of the Father's wrath upon him. The governor of Bourdeaux, perceiving several of the people to be infected with his doctrine, demanded if there was any ship ready to sail for England; which being informed of, he therein shipped him, being not willing to use extremity to a stranger, but caused some six or seven, who had been infected with his doctrine, to be whipped through the streets. A relation concerning some others of the same tribe: Seven or eight others went over in a vessel to New England, where, being arrived, they began to spread themselves; but the governor, having notice, caused them to be clapped up close in a castle, and would not sutier any to come to see them under penalty of five pounds in the mean time, he sent for the master of the ship that brought them, and commanded him immediately to carry them back into old England, which he refusing, was also clapped up close prisoner, until he consented, and took them a-board again. Now, reader, I shall close up all with a word or two of his life aud actions: James Nayler is a man of so erroneous and unsanctified a disposition, that it is hard to say. whether heresy or impudency beareth the greater rule in him; as will appear: First, In what he testifieth before sufficient witnesses; see the Brief Relation of the Northern Quakers, p. 22, That he was as holy, just, and good, as God himself. And, Secondly, That he, in a letter to one in Lancaster, expressly saith, That, he that expected to be saved by Jesus Christ that died at Jerusalem, shall be deceived: see Mr. Billingsly's Defence of the Scriptures, p. 16. The perfect Pharisee, p. 8. And so said another of that sect: he was not such a fool, as to hope to be saved by Jesus Christ that died at Jerusalem sixteen-hundred years ago: see Mr. Farmer's Mystery of Godliness and Ungodliness. Thus they glory in their ignorance, and count that foolishness which is the true wisdom. having kissed her very often, she took occasion to say, 66 Now, James, what would the world say if they should see us in this pos ture?" To which he said somewhat, but he was so low, that it could not be heard. This was objected against him, but he denied to answer it before the said church; objecting, That he would not speak to them, that spoke not immediately by the spirit. Fourthly, In that, when I had discourse with him concerning perfect perfection, at the Bull and Mouth, he said, I was a lyar to say be owned it; then I proved it from his own writings, as that he said, "They that say they have faith, and their life is not the life of Christ, and them that say they have faith, and yet they cannot be saved from their sins but in part in this world, them and their faith I deny, &c." To which, he hypocritically said, that I was a lyar to say that he owned it in himself, though he disowned it in others. And, when I had objected any thing against what he said, he would deny it as soon as be had spoke it; which, to convince she people of his lying deceits, I desired them that stood by me, to remember that he said, "All that are in the world are of the world," in direct opposition to that saying of Christ, John xvii, “Į pray not, holy Father, that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but preserve them from the evil of the world;" which I presently accused him with, for which he called me lyar; for he said, He said not so; I then desired them that heard him testify to the truth, against the lyar and his deceit, which they did; but his seared impudence was such, that he said should a thousand say so, they were all lyars; with much more to the like effect. For his Character. He is a man of a ruddy complexion, browa hair, and slank, hanging a little below his jawbones; of an indifferent height; not very long visaged, nor very round; close shaven; a sad down look, and melancholy countenance; a little band, close to his collar, with no bandstrings; his hat hanging over his brows; his noise neither high nor low, but rising a little in the middle. Something concerning some others of them aiso : Thirdly, In a letter I had in my possession, Disborough, not much inferior to Nayler but now lent to a friend, subscribed by the himself, attempting to lie with one Rebeccah Pastor, and other members of that congrega-(who was first seduced to be, and then was of tion in the North, whereof Nayler once was a member, till, for his apostacy, he was excommunicated, it is offered to be proved, and by them testified to be true, that one Mrs. Roper, her husband being gone, on some occasion from her, a long voyage, this Nayler frequented her company, and was scen to dandle her upon his knee, and kiss her lasciviously; and, in that time of his society with her, she was brought to bed of a child, when her husband had been absent seven and forty weeks, to a day, from her; and, on a time, he was seen to dance her in a private room; and, their heresy) she asked him, what his wife would say if she should know what he st tempted? Disborough replied, That he gave her the same liberty that he took himself (that was, to be a whore, as he was a whoremaster) but, in short, be having obtained his desire of her, she asked him, How if she should prove with child? He answered she must be content to be numbered with the transgressors, and to make her grave with the wicked (so that be followed not that light which is pure, but sinned against knowledge) as she, the said Rebeccah, as bewailing her sin, confessed unto one Mr. White, a Lincolnshire gentleman, to whom she added, That Nayler attempted to defile her also; so that, instead of perfect Saints, they are rather perfect sophisters. This relation under the said gentleman's hand, and the aforementioned letter from the church, whereof Nayler was once a member, were offered to be proved and made good, in the public meeting at the Bull and Mouth to Nayler's face, more than once or twice, who was unable to say aught unto it. but left his standing, and sat down silent. They, that offered it so to public trial, were, one Mr. Persivall, and Mr. John Deacon, author of the Public Discovery of their Secret Deceit. Some of their Opinions are these: 1. They deny the Scriptures are the Word of God. 2. They esteem their own speakings to be of as great authority. 3. They hold it unlawful to expound or interpret the Scriptures. 4. They say, that he, that preaches by a text of Scripture, is a conjurer. 5. That the holy Letter is carnal. as man. 8. Some have said, that Christ never ascended into Heaven. 9. That to pray that their sins may be pardoned, is needless. 10. They believe not that there is another world. 11. Some of them deny the Resurrection. 12. That they cannot sin, but that they are perfect. above God, in the open house, before hundreds then present. At which, my friend wondered, and pressing forwards a little into the multitude, he saw some disputing upon the same words; who demanding what was the matter, one answered, That George Fox said, Earth is above God; and here is one saith, that whatsoever George Fox should do or say, he would maintain (pointing to a young mau then standing by) to whom, my friend replied, he had undertaken a harder task, then he was able to perform: for God was the creator of the earth, and all things else; and therefore above the earth, and not the earth above him, that created it; forasmuch as the workman is above his work: for, although an artificer shall by art compose any thing, that is never so excellent, yet it can claim no equality with the maker, in regard that what is excellent in it, is the maker's excellency, and not its own: for, destroy the work, and the workman can make the like; but destroy the workman with the work, and both perish. To which he replied, He did not mean the earth under our feet, but earthly sin in man. To which my friend replied, that now his blasphemy was worse than it was before; for take the earth simply in itself, it hath no prejudice towards God; but sin is that, which seeks God's destruction, and therefore he was not to be conversed with, being of so diabolical an opinion. One Stephens of London, being on a time at their meetings, with an intent to oppose what he should there hear not agreeing with truth; which, at his first coming, he did for a short time, till one of them, taking him by the hand, and rubbing his wrist very hard; which put him to very sore pain, and so altered his resolution, that he was so transformed by their inre-chantments, that he since confessed, that, should any one whatsoever have dared to oppose or resist them, as he just before did, he would have stabbed them to the heart, whatsoever had come of it. 13. They make no distinction of persons. A friend of mine being desirous of being solved of a doubt; as, whether that which was reported, of that heretical sect, were more than they erred in, or less than they crroneously maintained contrary to the truth? He went unto their meeting, within Aldersgate, where he had no sooner entered that Synagogue of Satan, but the then Speaker (namely, George Fox) cried out, but on what occasion he knoweth not, Quakers, Quakers, Earth is There is one Stephens (and it is supposed, the same) a Quaker, that now lieth stark mad, and hath so been a pretty while, through the disturbances of that spirit, which ruleth in the old Quakers. JOHN DEACON. 201. The Trial of MILES SINDERCOME, alias FISH,* before the Lord Chief Justice Glynn, and Mr. Justice Warburton, at the Upper-Bench, Westminster, for High Treason: 8 CHARLES II. A. D. 1657. January, 1657. MILES SINDERCOME was committed close prisoner to the Tower of London, for High "The principal person employed in the traitorous design, for the destruction of his his highness's person, was a notable desperate fellow, named Sindercome, one who heretofore had been a quarter-master under sir John Treason; and sir John Barkstead, knt. lieutenant of the Tower, gave order to Mr. David Steer, one of the warders of the Tower, to be Reynolds in the army, and was about two years ago cashiered by general Monk, among others in Scotland. He associated to himself one Cecil, and many others were engaged in the business. For the carrying on their work, |