two justices, which he did as followeth, although to no purpose. "Richard Smith, aged about twenty-eight years, deposeth upon the four evangelists; that on sunday last, he, this deponent, was at a Quakers' meeting in Hempstead, where he heard a man preach, whose name he since understands is Samuel Bowne: in his preaching, he, this deponent, remembers to have heard him speak these words, or words to the like effect, viz: That the church of England in baptism made use of godfathers and godmothers; but our God is the ever living God, and has no need of a godfather or a godmother and further this deponent saith not. "RICHARD SMITH. Having thus laid a foundation for a prosecution, a warrant was issued; a copy of which is as under: "JOSEPH SMITH, Esq.; E. BURROWS, Esq.; “You are hereby, in her majesty's name, strictly charged and commanded, immediately on the receipt hereof, to attach the body of Samuel Bowne, a Quaker, if he can be found in your bailiwick, and to bring his body before us, to answer for such matters of misdemeanour, as shall on her majesty's behalf be objected against him. And hereof fail not at your peril. Dated under our hands and seals this 24th November, 1702. Justices." "Vera Copia Ex. JOSEPH SMITH, P. Thos. Cardall, vic. Ed. Burrows, ( Thus all things were ready to be put in execution and several substantial people, not Friends, would have had me gone off, but that I could not do. On the 29th of the same month, I was at Flushing in Long Island, it being the Half-yearly Meeting, which was very large, Keith being expected there. When the meeting was fully set, the high sheriff came with a very large company, who were all armed; some with guns, others pitchforks, others swords, clubs, halberts, &c. as if they should meet with great opposition in taking a poor harmless sheep out of the flock. The sheriff stepping up into the gallery, took me by the hand, and told me I was his prisoner. "By what authority?" said I; he pulled out his warrant, and showed it me. I told him that warrant was to take up Samuel Bowne, and my name was not Samuel Bowne, but VOL. III.--No. 1. that Friend's name is so, pointing at the Friend by me. "We know him," said he, "this is not the man, but you are the man: pray then, what is your name?" "That is a question which requires consideration, whether proper to answer or not, for no man is bound to answer to his own prejudice; the law forces none to accuse himself." Thus we pro'd and con'd a little time, and I got up from my seat, and John Rodman, Samuel Bowne, and sundry other Friends, walked out of the meeting, it not being proper to discourse there at that time; and they, on conversing with the sheriff, who in his nature was a very moderate man, having known Friends in England, easily prevailed on him to stay the meeting, with all his retinue, and afterwards they would consider what was best to be done. They willingly laid down their arms on the outside of the door, and came in, which increased the throng very much the meeting was silent a considerable time, and the sheriff's company queried of each other privately, so that I heard it, Why I did not preach; others concluding I should preach no more, being now a prisoner; that is enough to silence him, said they. But finding the word like a fire, I could no longer contain, but standing up, I had a very agreeable service, both to myself and Friends, with the rest of the company; the sheriff himself, and his company also, spoke well of it: it was the first day of the meeting, and the seventh of the week. After meeting was ended, several Friends went to Samuel Bowne's, to consult with the sheriff, and he being very moderate, and in a very good humour, spoke very mildly and courteously, blaming Keith and Bradford, and gave liberty that I should stay with my friends until the fifth-day following, there being two days of the meeting yet to come, and the funeral of a noted Friend to be the day after it ended. The meeting increased, and the last was the largest and most open it was supposed there might be nearly two thousand people the last day, but Keith did not come there. The time for my appearing before the justices being come, several substantial Friends went with me, and a great crowd of other people came to hear; but for want of the conveniency of a large hall, which they might have had, but by the coldness of the season, as was pretended, the justices would not go there, they were deprived of the opportunity, for want of room, to hear my examination. There were four justices, viz: Joseph Smith, Edward Burrows, John Smith and Jonathan Whitehead. The last was a very moderate man, and endeavoured much to have me set at liberty; but they had a priest with them, who tried to put the worst construction on 4 everything I said. They had shut a man up of our sovereign lady Queen Anne, of Engin a closet, to take in short hand the exami-land, &c. Annoq. Dom. 1702. "A true copy, by Thomas Cardall. "JONATHAN WHITEHEAD." nation, that they might peruse the same to their own advantage: but the man was so drunk, that he lost his papers going home, and a Friend providentially found them, to their great disappointment and shame: great inquiry was made about them among the people. Having done what they thought fit in examin- I was delivered up a prisoner, and my ing me, they turned me and my friends out of friends left me, having first got me a good the room, to consult what was to be further wholesome room, and a very good bed, taking done; and after a little time, we were all care that I should want nothing necessary for called in, I to receive my doom, and my life. This continued for three months; at the friends to hear it. The clerk, as mouth to end of which a special commission of Oyer the court, said, "These honourable justices and Terminer, and general jail delivery was have agreed, that you must enter into two given to John Bridges, Esq., chief justice of thousand pounds bail; yourself in one thou-the province; Robert Miller, Esq., second; sand, and two of your friends in five hundred Thomas Willet, John Jackson, and Edward each, or else be committed to the common Burrows; and on the 26th day of the twelfth jail." I answered, I could enter into no bond on that account. Here one of the justices queried, if the sum was too large? I answered, that was nothing to the matter, if as small a sum as three half-pence would do, I should not do it, it being a matter of such a nature as I could by no means comply with. Then the last justice offered to be bound for me, in what sum they required. But not only I, but all my friends opposed it with all our might; giving them, as well as him, the reason for it. I went with my kind friend the young justice to his house, and found very good and kind entertainment, his wife being a very religious, tender hearted Friend, and took great care of me. Next morning we met again, the mittimus was brought in, executed, and was as under: "Queen's County, ss. "JOSEPH SMITH, Esq.; E. BURROWS, Esq.; justices of the peace for Queen's County, &c., to the high sheriff of Queen's County, greeting: month, Bridges and Miller came, attended with much company, in great pomp, with trumpets and other music before them, to hold the said court; and about the fourth hour in the afternoon, they in the same order went to court, which was held in the hall, read their commission, and called over the jury, to whom they gave an uncommon charge, adjourning till monday the 28th, at ten o'clock in the morning. At the same time the court met and called over the grand jury, consisting of twenty-two men, and charged them to retire to their chamber, and the attorney general should send them business.-The court then adjourned. The grand jury retired, and had a bill of indictment sent them against me, but I could never get a copy of it first nor last. I had prepared sundry reasons to set Bradford's evidence aside, which the grand jury had before them, and they were of considerable On the 29th the court weight with them. met, and the clerk ordered to call over the jury. "We send you herewithal the body of Then it was demanded, what business the Samuel Bownas, a Quaker, brought before us jury had to lay before the court; and they this day, and charged with speaking scandal-presented two bills, one against a woman for ous lies of, and reflections against, the church some misdemeanour, and the bill against me, of England as by law established, and other both endorsed ignoramus, upon which the misdemeanours by him done and spoken at a public assembly in Hempstead, in this county, on the 21st day of this instant November. And therefore these are in behalf of her majesty to command you, that immediately you receive the said Samuel Bownas, and him safely keep in the common jail of this county, until that he shall be thence delivered, by the due course of her majesty's laws. Dated under our hands and seals at Jamaica, this 30th of November, in the second year of the reign judge was very angry. The other justices on the bench being mostly Presbyterians, said little or nothing to the matter, but he addressing himself to the jury, said, "Gentlemen, surely you have forgotten your oaths, and for so doing I could give you some hard names, but at present shall forbear: is this your verdict touching the Quaker?" for they mattered not the other bill, if they could have their ends on me. The foreman said, "It is Sir." Judge.-I demand your reasons, why you have not found the bill against him? One, whose name was James Clement, a bold man, well skilled in the law, answered, we are sworn to keep the queen's secrets, our fellows and our own; and for that reason we declare no reasons. Judge.-Now Mr. Wiseman speaks, but I tell you, you are not so sworn, and I could find in my heart to lay you by the heels, and a fine upon your brethren. Clement replied, he might if he pleased, but when it was done, it should be exposed with as much expedition as the case would admit in Westminster-hall; for, adds he, juries, neither grand nor petty are to be menaced with threats of stocks or fines, but they are to act freely, according to the best of their judgments on the evidence before them. The judge finding he had not children to deal with, altered his manner of address, and began to flatter, and requested that they would take back both bills, and resume their considerations upon them. On this the jury was in judgment divided, but at last they all consent ed, and then the court adjourned till nine o'clock the next day. The court met according to adjournment, and the jury being called over, the judge said, "Foreman, how find you the bills?" Foreman.-As we did yesterday. 66 ture, and most dangerous consequence, as tending to subvert both church and state." When an account of this was brought me, I was under a great cloud, and the power of darkness so very strong upon me, that I desired death rather than life, fearing that if I was so served, I should be an object of derision to all on board; and greatly doubting that I should not be able to bear the suffering which I must undergo in such a case, with that decency and honour that were requisite in so good a cause. The Friends left me alone, and I having lost all my faith, which was still worse than being alone, I thought myself the most wretched among men, and scarcely able to live under it. At which time, an honest old man, Thomas Hicks, who had been chief justice in the province some years, and well versed in the law, came to visit me, and on my standing up to show my respects to him, he took me in his arms, saluting me with tears; and thus expressed himself; "Dear Samuel, the Lord hath made use of you, as an instrument, to put a stop to our arbitrary courts of justice, which have met with great encouragement since his lordship came here for governor;" meaning the lord Cornbury, who oppressed the people sorely. "But there never has been so successful a stand made against it as at this time and now, they threaten to send you to England chained to the man of war's deck. Fear not, Samuel, they can no more send you there than they can send me; for the law both here and in England is such, that every crimi On which the judge, in great wrath, charged them with obstructing the course of justice. Why," says Clement! "because we cannot be of the same mind as the court? We would have you to know, that we desire nonal must be tried where the cause of action other but that justice may take place." The judge now threatened to lay Clement by the heels again. But Clement, no way daunted, told him he might if he pleased; but if he did, he should hear of it in another place. is; else, why in England do they remove criminals from one county to another to take their trials where the offence was committed? But, after the judgment of the court is given, you may bring your appeal against that judg ment; and securing the payment of such fees The clerk was now ordered to call over as are commonly allowed in the like case, the jury by name singly, to show their rea- they dare not deny your appeal. The judge sons, why they could or could not find the frets because he cannot have his end against bills. Sundry of them refused to say any you; and the governor is disgusted also, he more than, "That is our verdict." Others expecting to have made considerable advanagain, said, "How unreasonable, and against tage by it. But the eyes of the country are law it is, that the court should endeavour to now opened, and you are not now alone, but perjure the jury, by revealing their secrets in it is the case of every subject; and they will the face of the country." It appeared after never be able to get a jury to answer their the examination of the jury, that seven were end. Had the Presbyterians stood as you for finding the bill, and fifteen stood firm for have done, they had not so tamely left their the verdict, as signed by the foreman. This meeting-houses to the church: but that people angered the judge to that degree, that he gave had never so good a hand at suffering in the strict orders to keep me more close than be- case of conscience, as they have had in perfore; threatening, "As justice cannot be here secuting others who differed from them." Here come at, I will send him to London, chain- he blamed that people very much, for being ed to a man of war's deck, like other vile so compliant to all the claims of the governor, criminals, with his crimes and misdemeanours although ever so unreasonable and against along with him, which are of the highest na-law. This honest man, as if he had been sent by Divine commission, by his discourse raised my drooping spirits, renewed my faith, and I was quite another man: and as he said, so it proved. They could not get the next jury to find the bill against me. I could never get a copy of the mittimus or indictment against me, but the judge gave the sheriff orders to keep me more close. I was accordingly put up in a small room made of logs, which had been protested against as an unlawful prison two years before; but that made no difference: I was locked up there, and my friends denied coming to me. I was now advised to demand my liberty, as a right due by law, and I did so: but it was denied me, without showing any other reason, than that I might thank the grand jury for my then confinement. It was likewise thought proper to lay the case before the governor by petition, and demand my liberty of him also; which petition is omitted for brevity's sake. But all was in vain, for they said they were resolved not to be so baffled by the country, but would bring me to justice. Keith printed some sheets, pretending to open the eyes of the people, saying, that I had reproached the church, the ordinances and government; aggravating the case to the highest. But what he printed with a design to make my case appear the worse, had quite the contrary effect upon the people, it being looked upon as no other than envy and revenge against the Quakers in general, and me in particular. work with, and with his direction I closed one of the upper leathers before he left me, and he put it on the last for me, and by night I finished that shoe; which when he came to see, he admired it was so well done, showing me how to mend the faults in the next, which I finished the next day. He then supposed I had done something at the trade before, but was mistaken: and when I would have paid him, he refused it, and told me he would not take any money of me; so I proposed, that if he would give the leather, I would give my work; and so we gave the shoes to a poor honest man who went on errands for us both. I had then more work of him, and he was so pleased with it, that he would allow me half pay for making it up, and was so forward to advance my wages in a few weeks, that unless I would take full pay, he cheerfully told me, I must look out for another master. pleasantly replied, I did not desire to change. "Well then," said he, "I sell the shoes you make, for as much as any of the like sizes made in my shop." I as This I made such improvement in this business, that I could in a little time earn fifteen shillings per week, being three shillings of their money for making a pair of large man's shoes, which was my chief work. Their shilling was about nine pence sterling. new trade was of very great service to me, by diverting both body and mind; and finding I now could supply my own wants with my own hands, it gave me great ease indeed: but some Friends were uneasy that I should do it, supposing it would be to their dishonour; but others were glad, and thought it an honour to the cause of the Gospel, and rejoiced with thankful hearts that I succeeded so well. The court was adjourned for six weeks; and finding myself more closely confined than before, and not knowing when or how it would end, I began to be very thoughtful what method to take, not to be chargeable to my friends. As I was full of thought on my pillow about the matter, it came into my mind Going on thus some weeks my kind masto try if I could learn to make shoes; and ap- ter came one morning, and did not bring so plying myself to a Scotch churchman in the much work as before. I asked him the reaneighbourhood, one Charles Williams, a good son; adding pleasantly, "Doth my credit natured man, I made a proposal to buy a pair sink, that I have no more work brought?" of shoes of him, cut out for me to make up, He smiling said? "It is not best to trust jail and to give him the same price as if made, birds too far, and I am now resolved you desiring him to let me have materials and shall work no more for me after this I have tools to go on with the work, and requesting now brought." "Why! what is the matter?" that he would be so kind as to show me how said I, He added, "you shall be a master as to begin and proceed in it. I acquainted him well as I." "How can that be?" said I. He with my reason for so doing. He replied, "It replied, "you shall have leather of your own, is very honest and honourable in you: but," and by doing that you may get eight-pence, added he, "if one of our ministers were in ten-pence, or a shilling a pair, more profit the like state, they would think it too mean than you do now." But I told him I had for them to take up such a practice, though it rather work journey-work for him than to do were for bread; and your friends perhaps will so: for I knew not how to get leather or other not like it." However he readily fell in with materials, and when I had, then I was a stranme, that if I could get my bread with my own ger to cutting out. "Trouble not yourself hands, it was most agreeable with Paul's prac-about that," said he, "for I will do all this for tice; and accordingly next morning he brought you :" and so he did with much cheerfulness, me leather cut out, with materials and tools to delighting to serve me effectually. But to return to the proceedings of the court, which adjourned from the 4th day of the first month, 1702-3, for about six weeks, and so continued by adjournments to the last day of the eighth month following. The occasion of these adjournments was this: Judge Bridges was ill, and had been for some time declining, but was expected to be able to attend the service of the court, and take vengeance on me and the Quakers, none being thought so fit for that work as he; yet he never did, but died some months before I was set at liberty. I went on thus for several months, and he they professed themselves to be so. Then he came to me every day once or twice, and was and the company showed their admiration, a very cheerful pleasant tempered man, but that one Christian could do thus to another. too much addicted to take delight in some of Then he inquired concerning the difference his neighbours' company, who were disguised between me and them. I replied, it consisted with strong liquor, and he would often say, if of sundry particulars; first my adversaries you were to continue here, I should overcome hold with sprinkling a little water on the face it, and I verily believe should be a sober Qua- of an infant, using a form of words, and the ker. I told him he must leave the company ceremony of making the sign of a cross with he frequented; which he not observing, I their finger on the babe's forehead, calling heard afterward they proved very hurtful to this baptism, and urging it as essential to fuhim. We had very often serious conversa-ture happiness: and I, with my brethren, can tion about religion, and it appeared to me, he see no good in this ceremony.-Here they had been favoured with an enlightened under- talked one with another again, but I understanding, and would confess, if there was stood them not. After which they asked me, any such thing as preaching Christ truly, it "If I thought there was nothing in this cerewas amongst the Quakers; for Churchmen, mony, of good to secure our future happiness?" Presbyterians, Independents and others, all I said, I see nothing of good in it. I was preach themselves, and for their own advan- right, they said, "neither do we;" asking, tage in this world; so that if there was no "wherein do you further differ from them?" pay, there would be no preaching. He fre- I proceeded, that they held it needful to take, quently attended our meetings for a time. at certain times, a piece of bread to eat, with a small quantity of wine to drink after it is consecrated, as they call it, which they pretend to do in remembrance of Christ our Saviour, urging this as necessary to our future happiness, as the former, calling this the Lord's supper. He told me, they had seen both these ceremonies put in practice by the Presbyterians, but could not understand, that if it was a supper, why they used it in the middle of the day; but they looked upon them both as very insignificant to the end proposed; saying, "The Great Spirit looked at the heart, how it was devoted, and not at these childish things." Asking, "wherein do you differ further from them?" I proceeded, that they held it lawful to kill and destroy their enemies; but we cannot think that good and right in us; but rather endeavour to overcome our enemies with courteous and friendly offices and kindness, and to assuage their wrath by mildness and persuasion, and bring them to consider the injury they are doing to such as cannot in conscience revenge themselves again. He assented that this was good, "but who can do it," said he; "when my enemies seek my life, how can I do other than use my endeavour to destroy them in my own defence?" My answer was, that unless we were under the government of a better spirit than our enemies, we could not do it; but if we are under the government of the good Spirit, which seeks not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, and teaches us to do good for evil, and to forgive injuries, then we can submit to Providence, putting our trust in the great God to save us from the violence and wrath of our enemies. The king said, "Indeed this is very good; but do you thus when provoked by your enemies?" I said, many of our friends In this time of confinement I had several visits, two of which were more remarkable than the rest. The first was by an Indian king, with three of his chief men; and the other by one John Rogers from New London, who staid with me about six days. An abstract of both conferences follows, viz: I shall first take notice of the conference with the Indian king, as he styled himself; but his nation was much wasted and almost extinct, so that he had but a small people to rule. However, there were some marks of superiority above the other three who attended him, who showed some regard to him as their sovereign. This Indian, with his attendants, staid some time, inquiring the cause of my confinement: an account of which I gave them as intelligibly as I could, finding they understood English better than they could speak it. The conference was mostly between the king and me, the rest but very seldom putting in a word. The king asked, "if I was a Christian?" I told him I was. "And are they," said he, "Christians too that keep you here?" I said |