grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第31节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ty　offered　for　the　suing　out　of　pardons。　　　Whereupon　I　continued　in　prison　till　the　next　assizes；　which　are　　called　MIDSUMMER　ASSIZES；　being　then　kept　in　AUGUST；　1661。

Now；　at　that　assizes；　because　I　would　not　leave　any　possible　means　　unattempted　that　might　be　lawful；　I　did；　by　my　wife；　present　a　　petition　to　the　judges　three　times；　that　I　might　be　heard；　and　that　　they　would　impartially　take　my　case　into　consideration。

The　first　time　my　wife　went；　she　presented　it　to　Judge　HALE；　who　　very　mildly　received　it　at　her　hand；　telling　her　that　he　would　do　　her　and　me　the　best　good　he　could；　but　he　feared；　he　said；　he　could　　do　none。　　The　next　day；　again；　lest　they　should；　through　the　　multitude　of　business；　forget　me；　we　did　throw　another　petition　　into　the　coach　to　Judge　TWISDON；　who；　when　he　had　seen　it；　snapt　　her　up；　and　angrily　told　her　that　I　was　a　convicted　person；　and　　could　not　be　released；　unless　I　would　promise　to　preach　no　more；　　etc。

Well；　after　this；　she　yet　again　presented　another　to　judge　Hale；　as　　he　sat　on　the　bench；　who；　as　it　seemed；　was　willing　to　give　her　　audience。　　Only　Justice　CHESTER　being　present；　stept　up　and　said；　　that　I　was　convicted　in　the　court；　and　that　I　was　a　hot…spirited　　fellow　（or　words　to　that　purpose）；　whereat　he　waived　it；　and　did　　not　meddle　therewith。　　But　yet；　my　wife　being　encouraged　by　the　　high…sheriff；　did　venture　once　more　into　their　presence　（as　the　　poor　widow　did　before　the　unjust　judge）　to　try　what　she　could　do　　with　them　for　my　liberty；　before　they　went　forth　of　the　town。　　The　　place　where　she　went　to　them；　was　to　the　SWAN…CHAMBER；　where　the　　two　judges；　and　many　justices　and　gentry　of　the　country；　was　in　　company　together。　　She　then　coming　into　the　chamber　with　a　bashed　　face；　and　a　trembling　heart；　began　her　errand　to　them　in　this　　manner：…

WOMAN。　　My　lord　（directing　herself　to　judge　Hale）；　I　make　bold　to　　come　once　again　to　your　Lordship；　to　know　what　may　be　done　with　my　　husband。

JUDGE　HALE。　　To　whom　he　said；　Woman；　I　told　thee　before　I　could　do　　thee　no　good；　because　they　have　taken　that　for　a　conviction　which　　thy　husband　spoke　at　the　sessions：　　and　unless　there　be　something　　done　to　undo　that；　I　can　do　thee　no　good。

WOMAN。　　My　lord；　said　she；　he　is　kept　unlawfully　in　prison；　they　　clapped　him　up　before　there　was　any　proclamation　against　the　　meetings；　the　indictment　also　is　false。　　Besides；　they　never　asked　　him　whether　he　was　guilty　or　no；　neither　did　he　confess　the　　indictment。

ONE　OF　THE　JUSTICES。　　Then　one　of　the　justices　that　stood　by；　whom　　she　knew　not；　said；　My　Lord；　he　was　lawfully　convicted。

WOM。　　It　is　false；　said　she；　for　when　they　said　to　him；　Do　you　　confess　the　indictment？　he　said　only　this；　that　he　had　been　at　　several　meetings；　both　where　there　were　preaching　the　Word；　and　　prayer；　and　that　they　had　God's　presence　among　them。

JUDGE　TWISDON。　　Whereat　Judge　TWISDON　answered　very　angrily；　　saying；　What；　you　think　we　can　do　what　we　list；　your　husband　is　a　　breaker　of　the　peace；　and　is　convicted　by　the　law；　etc。　　Whereupon　　Judge　HALE　called　for　the　Statute　Book。

WOM。　　But；　said　she；　my　lord；　he　was　not　lawfully　convicted。

CHESTER。　　Then　Justice　CHESTER　said；　My　lord；　he　was　lawfully　　convicted。

WOM。　　It　is　false；　said　she；　it　was　but　a　word　of　discourse　that　　they　took　for　a　conviction　（as　you　heard　before）。

CHEST。　　But　it　is　recorded；　woman；　it　is　recorded；　said　Justice　　CHESTER；　as　if　it　must　be　of　necessity　true；　because　it　was　　recorded。　　With　which　words　he　often　endeavoured　to　stop　her　mouth；　　having　no　other　argument　to　convince　her；　but　it　is　recorded；　it　is　　recorded。

WOM。　　My　Lord；　said　she；　I　was　a　while　since　at　LONDON；　to　see　if　I　　could　get　my　husband's　liberty；　and　there　I　spoke　with　my　lord　　BARKWOOD；　one　of　the　House　of　Lords；　to　whom　I　delivered　a　　petition；　who　took　it　of　me　and　presented　it　to　some　of　the　rest　of　　the　House　of　Lords；　for　my　husband's　releasement；　who；　when　they　　had　seen　it；　they　said；　that　they　could　not　release　him；　but　had　　committed　his　releasement　to　the　judges；　at　the　next　assizes。　　This　　he　told　me；　and　now　I　am　come　to　you　to　see　if　any　thing　may　be　　done　in　this　business；　and　you　give　neither　releasement　nor　relief。　　　To　which　they　gave　her　no　answer；　but　made　as　if　they　heard　her　　not。

CHEST。　　Only　Justice　CHESTER　was　often　up　with　this；　…　He　is　　convicted；　and　it　is　recorded。

WOM。　　If　it　be；　it　is　false；　said　she。

CHEST。　　My　lord；　said　Justice　CHESTER；　he　is　a　pestilent　fellow；　　there　is　not　such　a　fellow　in　the　country　again。

TWIS。　　What；　will　your　husband　leave　preaching？　　If　he　will　do　so；　　then　send　for　him。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　he　dares　not　leave　preaching　as　long　as　he　　can　speak。

TWIS。　　See　here；　what　should　we　talk　any　more　about　such　a　fellow？　　　Must　he　do　what　he　lists？　　He　is　a　breaker　of　the　peace。

WOM。　　She　told　him　again；　that　he　desired　to　live　peaceably；　and　to　　follow　his　calling；　that　his　family　might　be　maintained；　and　　moreover；　said；　My　Lord；　I　have　four　small　children；　that　cannot　　help　themselves；　one　of　which　is　blind；　and　have　nothing　to　live　　upon；　but　the　charity　of　good　people。

HALE。　　Hast　thou　four　children？　said　Judge　Hale；　thou　art　but　a　　young　woman　to　have　four　children。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　I　am　but　mother…in…law　to　them；　having　not　　been　married　to　him　yet　full　two　years。　　Indeed；　I　was　with　child　　when　my　husband　was　first　apprehended；　but　being　young；　and　　unaccustomed　to　such　things；　said　she；　I　being　smayed　at　the　news；　　fell　into　labour；　and　so　continued　for　eight　days；　and　then　was　　delivered；　but　my　child　died。

HALE。　　Whereat；　he　looking　very　soberly　on　the　matter；　said；　Alas；　　poor　woman！

TWIS。　　But　Judge　TWISDON　told　her；　that　she　made　poverty　her　cloak；　　and　said；　moreover；　that　he　understood　I　was　maintained　better　by　　running　up　and　down　a　preaching；　than　by　following　my　calling。

HALE。　　What　is　his　calling？　said　Judge　Hale。

ANSWER。　　Then　some　of　the　company　that　stood　by；　said；　A　tinker；　my　　lord。

WOM。　　Yes；　said　she；　and　because　he　is　a　tinker；　and　a　poor　man；　　therefore　he　is　despised；　and　cannot　have　justice。

HALE。　　Then　Judge　HALE　answered　very　mildly；　saying；　I　tell　thee；　　woman；　seeing　it　is　so；　that　they　have　taken　what　thy　husband　spake　　for　a　conviction；　thou　must　either　apply　thyself　to　the　King；　or　　sue　out　his　pardon；　or　get　a　writ　of　error。

CHEST。　　But　when　Justice　CHESTER　heard　him　give　her　this　counsel；　　and　especially　（as　she　supposed）　because　he　spoke　of　a　writ　of　　error；　he　chafed；　and　seemed　to　be　very　much　offended；　saying；　My　　lord；　he　will　preach　and　do　what　he　lists。

WOM。　　He　preacheth　nothing　but　the　Word　of　God；　said　she。

TWIS。　　He　preach　the　Word　of　God！　said　Twisdon；　and　withal；　she　　thought　he　would　have　struck　her；　he　runneth　up　and　down；　and　doth　　harm。

WOM。　　No；　my　lord；　said　she；　it　is　not　so；　God　hath　owned　him；　and　　done　much　good　by　him。

TWIS。　　God！　said　he；　his　doctrine　is　the　doctrine　of　the　devil。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　when　the　righteous　Judge　shall　appear；　it　　will　be　known　that　his　doctrine　is　not　the　doctrine　of　the　devil。

TWIS。　　My　lord；　said　he；　to　Judge　Hale；　do　not　mind　her；　but　send　　her　away。

HALE。　　Then　said　Judge　Hale；　I　am　sorry；　woman；　that　I　can　do　thee　　no　good；　thou　must　do　one　of　those　three　things　aforesaid；　namely；　　either　to　apply　thyself　to　the　King；　or　sue　out　his　pardon；　or　get　　a　writ　of　error；　but　a　writ　of　error　will　be　cheapest。

WOM。　　At　which　Chester　again　seemed　to　be　in　a　chafe；　and　put　off　　his　hat；　and　as　she　thought；　scratched　his　head　for　anger：　　but　　when　I　saw；　said　she；　that　there　was　no　prevailing　to　have　my　　husband　sent　for；　though　I　often　desired　them　that　they　would　send　　for　him；　that　he　might　speak　for　himself；　telling　them；　that　he　　could　give　them　better　satisfaction　than　I　could；　in　what　they　　demanded　of　him；　with　several　other　things；　which　now　I　forget；　　only　this　I　remember；　that　though　I　was　somewhat　timorous　at　my　　first　entrance　into　the　chamber；　yet　before　I　went　out；　I　could　not　　but　break　forth　into　tears；　not　so　much　because　they　were　so　hard…　hearted　against　me；　and　my　husband；　but　to　think　what　a　sad　account　　such　poor　creatures　will　have　to　give　at　the　coming　of　the　Lord；　　when　they　shall　there　answer　for　all　things　whatsoever　they　have　　done　in　the　body；　whether　it　be　good；　or　whether　it　be　bad。

So；　when　I　departed　from　them；　the　book　of　statutes　was　brought；　　but　what　they　said　of　it　I　know　nothing　at　all；　neither　did　I　hear　　any　more　from　them。


SOME　CARRIAGES　OF　THE　ADVERSARIES　OF　GOD'S　TRUTH　WITH　ME　AT　THE　　NEXT　ASSIZES；　WHICH　WAS　ON　THE　19TH　OF　THE　FIRST　MONTH；　1662。


I　SHALL　pass　by　what　befell　between　these　two　assizes；　how　I　had；　　by　my　jailor；　some　liberty　granted　me；　more　than　at　the　first；　and　　how　I　followed　my　wonted　course　of　preaching；　taking　all　occasions　　that　were　put　into　my　hand　to　visit　the　people　of　God；　exhorting　　them　to　be　steadfast　in　the　faith　of　Jesus　Christ；　and　to　take　heed　　that　they　touched　not　the　Common　Prayer；　etc。；　but　to　mind　the　Word　　of　God；　which　giveth　direction　to　Christians　in　every　point；　being　　able　to　make　the　man　of　God　perfect　in　all　things　through　faith　in　　Jesus　Christ；　and　thoroughly　to　furnish