OATES. 429 commonly reported, that this Oates had for his pains ten shillings a piece for dipping the richer, and two shillings and six-pence for the poorer. He came very bare and mean into Essex, but, before he had done his work, was well lined, and grown pursy. In the cold weather in March he dipped a young woman, one Ann Martin, whom he held so long in the water that she fell presently sick, and her belly swelled with the abundance of water she took in; - and within a fortnight or three weeks died, and upon her death-bed expressed her dip- ping to be thecause of her death.". The enemies of the baptists considered this as a fair opportunity for exercising their power to oppress them. Accordingly, for this, " and other misde- meanors, he was committed to Colchester jail, made fast ill irons, and bound over to the next sessions at Chelnisford. The other crimes laid to his charge were these : That he had preached against the assessments of the parliament and the taxes laid upon the people, teaching them that the saints were a free people, and should 'contribute not by compulsion, but voluntarily; but now, contrary to this, they had assess- ment upon assessment, and rate upon rate.' That in his prayers he made use of this petition : That the parliament might not meddle with making laws for the saints, which Jesus Christ was to do alone. Since his commitment," our author adds, " there hath been great and mighty resort to hint in the prison. Many have come down from London in coaches to visit him ; and I have a letter by me," says he, " from a minister in Colchester, wherein he writes thus : Oates, the anabaptist, hath had great resort to him in the castle, both of townand country ; but the committee ordered the contrary last Saturday.'" Mr. Oates was brought to trial April 7, 1646, and acquitted of the charge of murder; but the judge bound him to his good behaviour that for the future he should neither preach nor dip. This, however, had very little effect upon him ; for on the following Lord's day, he returned to his work as usual. Though Mr. Oates escaped with his life, the presbyterian's were determined he should not go unpunished. " The people at Wethersfield," says Edwards, "hearing that Oates andsome of his companions were come to the town, seized on them (only Oates was not inthe company) andpumped them soundly. And Oates coming lately to Dunmow in Essex, some of the town hearingwhere he was, fetched him out of Edwards%Gangrwna, part ii. p. 121. 1 Ibid. p. 122. 11.1 1,110.30..,7=Waialf, .11111.4,
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