The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. 62'1 Chap. VI. The body of Mr. Wil/iam Strong, preacher in the abhey church, and ChKing I · 6 h r · h r h c I ,., arles r. buned there July 4, 1 54· T e1e Wit ,ome ot ers o, euer note, 1661 . both men and women, were thrown together into one pit in St. Marga- ~ret's church-yard, near the back-door of one of the _prebendaries: But the work was fo indecent, and drew fuch a general odtum on tl}e government, that a fl:op was put to any further proceedings. Amomr others who were obnoxious to the minifl:ry, were the people Uf tbe qua– called ~AKERS, who having declared openly againfl: the lawfulnefs of kers. making ufe of carnal weapons, even in felf-defence, had the courage to petition the houfe of lords for a toleration of their religion, and for a difpenfation from taking the oaths, which they held unlawful, not from any diifaffe<'lion to the government, or a belief that they were lefs obliged by an affirmation, but from a perfuafion that all oaths were unlawful; and that Jwearing upon the mofl: folemn occaGons, was forl;Jidden in the new tell:ament. The lords in a committee rejeCted their petition,. and in!lead of granting them relief, palfed the following att May z, the preamble to which fets forth, '' that whereas fundry perfons have taken Ac1 againjf '' up an opinion, that an oath, even before a magiflrate, is unlawful, ;~·~~~:·Ir. " and contrary to the word of God. And whereas under pretence of ca 1,, x. " religious worlhip, the faid perfons do alfemble in great numbers in " feveral parts of the kingdom, feparating tbemfelves from the rell: of his " majell:y's fubjeds, and from the pl!blic congregations and ufual places " of divine worihip; be it therefore enaCted, that _if any fuch perfons " after the 24th of March 1661-2, !hall refufe to take an oath when " lawfully tendered, or perfuade others to do it, or maintain in writing " or otherwife, the unlawfulnefs of taking an oath ; or if they lhail af- " femble for religious worlhip to the number of five or more, of the· " age of fifteen, they lhall for the firll: offence forfeit five pounds; for the " fecond ten pounds ; and for the third lhall abjure the realm, or be " tranfported to the plantations: And the jull:ices of peace at their open " feffions, may hear and finally determine in the affair." This aCt wasplifed by commiffion, and had a dreadful influence upon that people, though it was notorious they were far from -fedition or diifaffettion to the ~overnment. G. Fox in his addrefs to the king, acquaints his majefl:y, Sewer, p. that three thoufand and fixty-eight of their friends had been imprifoned 346. fince his majell:y's refloration ; that their meeting5 were daily, broken up K. Cliron. by men with clubs and arms, and their friends thrown into the wate-r, and p. 651 ' trampled_ under foot, till the blood guihed out, which gave rife to their meetmg ~n the open fl:reets. Another narrative was printed, figned by twelve Wltnelfes, which fays, that more than four thoufand two hundred quakers were imprifoned; and of them five hundred were in and about Lon-
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