a. Edward Burrough's Appeal to Charles II
Edward Burrough's Declaration of the Sad and Great Persecution and Martyrdom of Quakers in New England (London, 1660), 17-20. All italics in this extract are in the original.
... 2. TWELVE Strangers in that Country, but free-born of this Nation, received twenty three Whippings, the most of them being with a Whip ofthree Cords, with Knots at the ends, and laid on with as much strength as they could be by the Arm of their Executioner, the stripes amounting to Three hundred and seventy.
3. Eighteen Inhabitants of the Country, being free-born English, received twenty three Whippings, the stripes amounting to two hundred and fifty.
4. Sixty four Imprisonments of the Lords People, for their obedience to his Will, amounting to five hundred and nineteen weeks, much of it being very cold weather, and the Inhabitants kept in Prison in harvest time, which was very much to their losse; besides many more Imprisoned, of which time we cannot give a just account.
5. Two beaten with Pitched Ropes, the blows amounting to an hundred thirty nine, by which one of them was brought near unto death, much of his body being beat like unto a jelly, and one of their own Doctors, a Member of their Church, who saw him, said, It would be a Miracle if ever he recovered, he expecting the flesh should rot off the bones; who afterwards was banished upon pain of death. There are many Witnesses of this there.
6. Also, an Innocent man, an Inhabitant of Boston, they banished from his Wife and Children, and put to seek a habitation in the Winter; and in case he returned again, he was to be kept Prisoner during his life: and for returning again, he was put in Prison, and hath been now a Prisoner above a year.
7. Twenty five Banishments, upon the penalties of being whipt, or having their Ears cut; or branded in the Hand, if they returned.
8. Fines laid upon the Inhabitants for meeting together, and edifying one another, as the Saints ever did; and for refusing to swear, it being contrary to Christ's Command, amounting to about a Thousand pound, besides what they have done since, that we have not heard of; many Families, in which there are many Children, are almost ruined, by these unmerciful proceedings.
9. Five kept Fifteen dayes (in all) without food, and Fifty eight dayes shut up close by the Jaylor, and had none that he knew of; and from some of them he stopt up the windows, hindring them from convenient air.