0 PART FIRST,-Containing a brief Relation of the Sufferings of the People called SECOND PART, Being a further Relation of the Cruel and Bloody Sufferings of the People called Quakers in New England, Continued from Anno 1660 to Anno 1665. Beginning with the Sufferings of William Leddra, whom Containing the Writings of Several of the Sufferers, with some Notes, showing the Accomplishment of their Prophecies, and a Postcript of the Judgments An Answer to Cotton Mather's Abuses of the said People, in his late His- The Whole being at this time Published in the said Peoples' Vindication, as a And they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testi- PREFATORY REMARKS. 1 IN N presenting a new edition of New England Judged by the Spirit of the Lord, by GEORGE BISHOP, it seems appropriate to prefix a short account of the author, gathered from brief notices found in the Journal of George Fox and Sewel's History of the Christian People called Quakers. He appears to have been a resident of Bristol, (England,) and was a captain in the army of the Parliament. In 1654, John Camm and John Audland visited Bristol, and through their ministry GEORGE BISHOP was convinced of the principles of Friends, laid aside his sword, and became a zealous member of that despised and persecuted society. In 1661, while the persecution of Friends in New England was at its height, GEORGE BISHOP published the work by which he is best known, now re-printed in the present volume.. A copy of this book was presented to King Charles II., who-after reading Major-General Dennison's sneering reply to some persons that complained of the cruelties which were practiced upon them, "This year ye will go to complain to the Parliament, and the next year they will send to see how it is, and the next year the government is changed," said to some who stood by, "Lo, these are my good subjects of New England; but I will put a stop to them.". A mandamus was soon after issued by the King, and a Friend, who had been banished on pain of death, was deputized to convey the same to New England. The persecution of Friends was checked thereby. Again, in 1664, while many were in prison, and a number had been banished from England for their testimony to the Truth, GEORGE BISHOP addressed the following letter to the King and Parliament: "To the King and both Houses of Parliament, thus saith the Lord:"Meddle not with My people because of their conscience to Me, "and banish them not out of the nation because of their conscience; "for, if you do, I will send My plagues upon you, and ye shall know "that I am the Lord. "Written in obedience to the Lord, by His servant, "Bristol, the 25th of the "Ninth month, 1664." "GEORGE BISHOP. Joseph Smith, in his Catalogue of Friends' Books, gives the title of about Thirty works written by GEORGE BISHOP. He is also believed to have written several letters to Oliver Cromwell, during the period extending from First month, 1650, to Sixth month, 1651, inserted and published in the Original Letters and Papers of State, found among the Political Collections of John Milton. GEORGE BISHOP died at Bristol, (England,) the 7th of Ninth month, 1668. In concluding these remarks, it may be well to assure the reader that, while numerous alterations have been made in orthography, by substituting modern words and phrases for those which have become obsolete, and in re-arranging many complicated and obscure passages, special care has been taken to preserve the exact meaning of the author, and no part of his narrative has been omitted. A copious Index has been carefully prepared for the assistance of such as may desire to refer to this work for facts relating to the History of the Society of Friends. PHILADELPHIA, Seventh month, 1885. |