APPENDIX IV

Duration of the persecution of the Quakers by the Colony of Massachusetts.

Besse, in Vol. II. p. 225, gives the Royal Mandate for the release of the Quakers, as follows:

"Charles R.

"Trusty and Welbeloved, we greet you "well. Having been informed that several "of our Subjects among you, called Quakers, "have been and are imprisoned by you, "whereof some have been executed, and "others (as hath been represented unto us) "are in Danger to undergo the Like: We "have thought fit to signify our Pleasure, "in that Behalf for the future, and do "require, that if there be any of those

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"People called Quakers amongst you, now "already condemned to suffer Death, or "other Corporal Punishment, or that are "imprisoned, or obnoxious to the like Con“demnation, you are to forbear to proceed "any farther, but that you forthwith send "the said Persons (whether condemned or "imprisoned) over to this our Kingdom of England, together with their respective "Crimes or Offences laid to their charge, "to the End such Course may be taken "with them here, as shall be agreeable to 66 our Laws, and their Demerits. And for "so doing, these our Letters shall be your "sufficient Warrant and Discharge. Given "at our Court at Whitehall, the 9th Day "of September 1661, in the thirteenth Year "of our Reign.

"Subscribed, To our Trusty and Welbe"loved John Endicot, Esq: and to all "and every other the Governour or Gov"ernours of our Plantation of New-Eng"land, and of the Colonies thereunto be

"longing, that now are, or hereafter shall "be: And to all and every the Ministers "and Officers of our said Plantation and "Colonies whatever, within the Continent "of New-England.

"By His Majesty's Command.

"WIL. MORRIS."

Upon the arrival of the Royal Mandate at Boston the following order was issued:

"To William Salter, Keeper of the Prison at Boston.

"You are required, by Authority and Order "of the General-Court, forthwith to release "and discharge the Quakers, who at pres"ent are in your Custody: See that you "dont neglect this.

"By Order of the Court.

"EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary."

"Boston, the 9th of

"December, 1661.”

Hallowell, in his Quaker Invasion of Massachusetts, p. 191, says: "A Quaker jubilation followed this gaol delivery, but the liberty they enjoyed was of short duration. Fear of further interference from England having been allayed, the law of May 22, 1661, with slight modification, was reënacted. This was done on the 8th of October, 1662. The fires of persecution were rekindled. John Endicott pursued the Friends with relentless cruelty until, in March, 1665, death ended his wicked and bloody career.

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Bellingham succeeded Endicott, but was less persistent, and instances of cruelty, under his administration, are not numerous. His clemency was due in part to the interference of royal commissioners, who, on the 24th of May, 1665, submitted a series of demands to the General Court, one of which was, that the Quakers should be allowed to attend to their secular business without molestation. Bellingham died in

December, 1672. In November, 1675, persecution was revived by the passage of a law prohibiting Quaker meetings, and in May, 1677, it was further provided, that the constables should make diligent search' for such meetings, and should break open any door where peaceable entrance is denied them.' For a brief period it seemed as if the scenes of 1661 and 1662 were to be reënacted. Men and women were seized, dragged to gaol, imprisoned, fed on bread and water, fined, and publicly whipped. In the 6th month (August) fourteen Quakers were taken at one meeting, and in the following week a second arrest of fifteen was made. Most, if not all of them, in addition to other punishment, suffered flogging at the whipping post. These are the latest cases of corporal punishment noted by Besse. The Friends rallied in increasing numbers and once more the authorities

were forced to respect their rights."