Chapter XXV: Front Matter (25)

Sometimes some came to the prison upon their saints’ days, and asked them what day it was: and they not being acquainted with those saints, would answer, ‘We do not know it.’ When the others then told them, that it was such or such a saint’s day, and that this saint would punish them that night, because they did not observe his day; they answered, that they knew the saints to be at peace with them, and that therefore they did not fear them. Another time a friar came and told them, it was seventeen days to Christmas, and that the Virgin Mary conceived that present day. On which Catharine made this remark, that indeed this was very singular, that she did go with child but seventeen days. Such like occurrences grieved her exceedingly, when she considered the gross darkness these people were in: and as she was crying to the Lord in prayer, that it seemed that all their travail and labour was fruitless, she felt this answer: ‘Be not grieved, though Israel be not gathered, the seed of Malta is to increase into multitude; that which ye have sown shall not die, but live.’

1662.

After Catharine and Sarah had been imprisoned at Malta about three years, there came one Daniel Baker, who did whatever he could, and went also to the inquisitor, to obtain their liberty, but in vain; for he required that some English merchants at Leghorn, or at Messina, should engage for four thousand dollars, that they being released, should never return into those parts. But they were unwilling to enter into those terms, as not knowing what the Lord one time or other might require of them. Daniel, seeing he could not obtain their deliverance this way, offered himself to be imprisoned instead of them; and this not being accepted, he went yet further, and signified, that he was willing to lay down his life for their liberty, if it was not to be purchased otherwise. Great love indeed! of which but few instances are to be found. And they hearing of this, were touched with exceeding great admiration. In the meanwhile, he found a way to get some letters delivered to them, and wrote also himself, both to comfort and exhort them to steadfastness. At length he found means also to speak to them: for on a time, as they stood at the prison gates, he being come in their sight, saluted them in those words: ‘The whole body of God’s elect, right dearly beloved, own your testimony, and ye are a sweet savour unto the Lord and his people.’ To which one of them answered, that it was a trouble to them that they could not be more serviceable. This made his heart melt with pity and compassion, considering the wonderful mercy of the Lord in preserving them without fainting in that sharp trial: and they beholding one another at a distance through the iron grates, were mutually refreshed at that season. They afterwards wrote to him, and signified with the most tender expressions, how highly they valued his great love; and also sent him letters for their friends and relations in England; and he neglected not to write back again to them during his stay, which was in the forepart of the year 1662. But he was forced to leave them prisoners there: yet the time of their redemption drew nigh, which was brought about at the instance of George Fox and Gilbert Latey, by writing to the lord Aubigny, as hath been said already.

Some time before Daniel Baker came to Malta, it had been told them, that if they would turn Catholics, they might dwell at Malta. To which their answer was, that they were true Catholics. One of the magistrates said, that if they would not turn Catholics, they must yet suffer long imprisonment by the pope’s order. And yet it was not true that there was such an order. It was also told them, if they would kiss the cross, they should be released; and they might stay at the house of the English consul, until an opportunity offered to carry them to England. In the meanwhile they heard that the pope had given order to let them pass to England without doing them any hurt. But however it was, they were preserved well contented, and they said resolutely, that they would not kiss the cross, nor purchase their liberty at that rate. It seems the consul aimed at some advantage by their releasement; for he told them that the inquisitor had said, if any one would engage for three or four thousand dollars to be paid, if ever they came thither again, they should be set at liberty. This he said also to D. Baker, and added, that if none would engage, they must die in prison, and that this was the pope’s order. After Baker’s departure, word was sent to some English merchants, concerning such an engagement, but none appeared willing to enter into it; and the prisoners were so far from desiring, that they spoke against it. Yet there were many that sought to obtain their liberty, showing themselves willing to engage for what was reasonable; but all their endeavours were in vain.

Once they fasted three days, and though it was a cold season, they sat upon the ground, with a very little clothes, without stockings or shoes, having nothing upon their heads but ashes. The inquisitors seeing it, wondered exceedingly; and Sarah began to speak zealously against superstition and idolatry. And when the time of their fast was expired, Catharine composed the following

HYMN TO GOD.

All praise to him that hath not put
Nor cast me out of mind,
Nor yet his mercy from me shut,
As I could ever find.

Infinite glory, laud, and praise.
Be given to his name,
Who hath made known in these our days.
His strength and noble fame.

Oh none is like unto the Lamb!
Whose beauty shineth bright,
O glorify his holy name,
His majesty and might.

My soul praise thou the only God,
A fountain pure and clear,
Whose chrystal streams spread all abroad,
And cleanseth far and near.

The well-springs of eternity,
Which are so pure and sweet,
And do arise continually,
My bridegroom for to meet.

My sweet and dear beloved one,
Whose voice is more to me
Than all the glory of the earth,
Or treasures I can see.

He is the glory of my life,
My joy and my delight.
Within the bosom of his love
He clos’d me day and night.

He doth preserve me clean and pure
Within his pavil’lon,
Where I with him should be secure,
And saved from all wrong.

My soul praise thou the Lord, I say,
Praise him with joy and peace;
My sp’rit and mind both night and day,
Praise him and never cease.

O magnify his majesty,
His fame and his renown,
Whose dwelling is in Sion high,
The glory of his crown.

O praises, praises to our God,
Sing praises to our King;
O teach the people all abroad,
His praises for to sing.

A Sion song of glory bright,
That doth shine out so clear;
O manifest it in the sight
Of nations far and near;

That God may have his glory due,
His honour and his fame,
And all his saints may sing anew
The praises of his name.

After Catharine had joyfully sung thus, she went to the well in the court, and drank much water in the sight of the prisoners, as did Sarah also: for they were very dry, and Sarah washing her head also in cold water, they cried out in their language, ‘Ye will kill yourselves, and go to the devil.’ But this they did not fear, neither caught they any cold, and so became a wonder to others.

About half a year after Daniel Baker was gone, it came into Catharine’s heart, that if she could speak with the inquisitor, he would grant them their liberty. And it was not long after that he came to the inquisition court chamber, which they hearing, desired to speak with him, which was granted, and being admitted into his presence, they told him they had not wronged or defrauded any, but had suffered innocently almost four years for conscience-sake, &c. After this the inquisitor was very courteous to them, and promised their liberty in a few days, saying he would send for the consul, and get him to engage for five hundred dollars, to be paid for them if ever they came again. And in case the consul denied this, he would send to Rome to the pope, to set them at liberty without any obligation.

Not many days after the inquisitor came with his lieutenant, the chancellor, and others, and after some discourse, asked them whether they would return back again to their husbands and children, if it were the will of God: to which they answered, it was their intent in the will of God so to do. Hereupon they were released, and the inquisitor took his leave very courteously of them, and wished them a prosperous return to their own country; so likewise did the magistrates, and the inferior officers, not requiring one pennyworth for fees or attendance; yet in their own freedom they gave something to the keeper and some poor men.

Being thus set at liberty, they kneeled down and prayed God never to lay to their charge what they did unto them, because they knew them not. And then they were delivered into the consul’s hands, who told them that he had engaged for them to get them free; but they could never find that it was true. Now they were kept eleven weeks at the consul’s house, before they could get a passage from thence. Catharine in the meanwhile, being under a great concern, because of a judgment that was impending over the city, wrote a paper to the rulers of Malta, in which she said, that on the 25th of the month called August, it came upon her from the Lord to write thus to them in his name, ‘My wrath is kindled against you, and my judgment is set up amongst you, because of your hard-heartedness and unbelief. I the Lord, who desire the death of no man, but that all should return unto me and live, have cast my servants amongst you, contrary to their will, and without their knowledge, to go and forewarn you of the evil that was coming upon you. For all the wicked shall be brought to judgment. I will establish my beloved Son upon his throne, and he shall rule in his princely power, and reign in his kingly majesty, whose right it is over all; and his own spiritual government shall he set up in all places, righteous rule and pure worship in Spirit and in Truth. There is nothing that can prevent the Lord, who saith, If ye will not hear my servant, which speaketh my word, whom ye proved almost these four years, whose life hath been harmless and spotless, in pure innocency amongst you, then will I bring wo upon wo, and judgment upon judgment upon you, till the living shall not be able to bury the dead. My mouth hath spoken it, and my zeal will perform it; and every man’s hand shall be upon his loins for pain; for the day of recompence is come. But if you will hear my servant which speaketh in my name, and return in your minds to the light in your consciences, which convinceth of all evil, and deny all evil thoughts, words, and actions, then will I pour out my spirit upon you, and will soon cure you of your diseases, and heal you of your pain.’

This, and more she wrote, and delivered to the consul to give it to the grand master, and the rest of the governors; but the consul not being pleased with it, threatened her with imprisonment again. What further became of the paper I do not find, but this, that on the 8th of October, there was great thunder and lightning, which set on fire and blew up one of the powder-houses about a mile out of the city, and another powder-house was thrown down; and in the city, five houses were overthrown, most of the glass windows of the palaces and other houses broken, the doors lifted off their hooks, the walls torn, and the whole city terribly shaken, so that being at midnight, a cry went through the whole city, and the bells were rung. At the bed’s feet where Catharine and Sarah lay, was a glass window, which also was broken, but they received no hurt, though the house was so shaken that they did exceedingly fear and quake; but being given up unto the Lord to live and die, their fear was soon taken from them, and turned into joy in the Lord. When it was day the consul came to them, and they being still and quiet, he asked whether they were not dead: and while he was speaking others came in, telling what was done in the city; and he told them that even the ships in the harbour had suffered damage. Then they said, ‘One wo is past, and behold another wo cometh quickly, if ye do not repent.’

Some days after Sarah fasted, sitting upon the ground with ashes upon her head, her neck and shoulders bare; and she spoke to the consul to desire the grand master to proclaim a fast, and to make the people to meet together to wait upon the Lord, with their minds turned to him, that so he might turn away his judgments from them; for the hour of his judgments was come, wherein the painted harlot should be stripped naked, and receive a cup of trembling from the hand of the Lord. The consul performed this message to the magistrates, and the friars said the woman had a good intent. Sometime after the inquisitor came, and talking with them, said, ‘Your intent is good, but the devil hath deceived you.’ And they asked him whether the devil could give power over sin: to which he said, the devil could transform himself into an image of light. This they assented to, but yet said he could not hide himself from the children of light; though they that were in the dark could not discern him. He could not abide to hear this, but went away, and the consul, who was present, wrought against them to get them into bondage again, but in vain. Many now died in the town of a violent fever: whether any other disaster followed upon their prediction, I cannot tell.

At length there came one of the king of England’s frigates, called the Sapphire, commanded by captain Samuel Titswel, who took them in, together with some knights of Malta; among them was the inquisitor’s brother, who often spoke to the captain, that they might not want any thing that was in the ship, and he told them, if they came to Malta again, they should not be persecuted so. And to the captain he said, ‘If they go to heaven one way, and we another, yet we shall all meet together at last.’ But they told him that Christ Jesus, the light of the World, was the only way to the Father.

Departing from Malta, after some time they came to Leghorn, where the merchants showed them great kindness, and sent wine and other things for their refreshment, proffering them also money; but they were unwilling to accept it. From thence they came to Tangier, which the king of England had in marriage with the daughter of the king of Portugal. This place was at that time besieged by the Moors, yet Catharine and Sarah entered the town, and many came flocking into the house where they were lodged, for they boldly exhorted the people to depart from wickedness. They also went to the governor, who was courteous to them, and took their admonition in good part, and promised to follow their counsel. And he would have given them money, but they took none, though they accepted his love; for he commanded that none of the garrison should abuse them either in word or deed, upon pain of severe punishment: yet the Portuguese and Irish were ready enough to have done them mischief. They being inclined to go out to the Moors, desired the governor to let them go forth, but he told them they must expect from that savage people nothing but cruel death, or bonds forever: and though they signified to him that they believed the Lord would preserve them, since they were persuaded that he required of them to go to the Moors, yet the governor in a friendly manner withheld them from going. Being thus stopped, they believed that the Lord accepted of their good will. When they went aboard again, though in another ship, several took shipping with them, from a belief, that on their account, they should have a safe passage. The captain and others that were in the ship, behaved themselves very civilly towards them; and though they met with tempests, yet at length they arrived safe in England.

Catharine afterwards related, that when, (in the inquisition,) she was for many days together in expectation that they should be burnt, she saw in a dream in the night, a large room, and a great wood fire in the chimney, and she beheld one sitting in the chair by the fire, in the form of a servant, whom she took to be the Eternal Son of God: likewise she saw a very amiable well-favoured man-child, sitting in a hollow chair over the fire, (not appearing to be above three-quarters of a year old, and having no clothes on but a little fine linen about the upper parts,) and the fire flamed about it; yet the child played, and was merry. She would then have taken it up, for fear it should have been burnt; but he that sat in the chair bid her let it alone. Then turning about she saw an angel, and he that sat in the chair bid her take up the child, which she did, and found it had no harm; and then awaking, she told her dream to Sarah, and desired her not to fear, since the heavenly host thus followed them.

I have collected this relation of the occurrences of these women at Malta, from several papers and letters, which not long after their return home were published in print. And since no due order was observed there, and many things mentioned, which to avoid prolixity I have passed by, as not very material, I may have haply missed in some case or other, as to the order or series of time, but yet I think the matters of fact are not mutilated. Now to give the reader an idea of the frame of these women’s minds, and their sufferings, I will insert some of their letters: among those which they wrote to their friends in England was this following:

‘O dearly beloved friends, fathers, and elders, and pillars of
God’s spiritual house, and brethren and sisters in the Lord Jesus
Christ, in the measure of love and life of our God, do we salute
you all, and do embrace you in that which is eternal, and we do
greatly rejoice, and glorify the name of our heavenly Father,
that he hath counted us worthy to be partakers of the death and
sufferings of his blessed Son with you; though we be the least
of God’s flock, yet we are of the true fold, whereof Christ
Jesus is shepherd; and he hath had as tender a care over us, as
he hath had of any of his lambs which he hath called forth in
this the day of his power, and hath carried us through and over
as great afflictions as most of our brethren and sufferers for
his name, both in mockings, scoffings, scornings, reproaches,
stripes, contradictions, perils at land, perils at sea, fiery
trials, cruel threatenings, grief of heart, sorrow of soul, heats
and colds, fastings, and watchings, fears within, and fightings
without; terrible temptations and persecutions, and dreadful
imprisonments, and buffetings of Satan; yet in all these our
trials, the Lord was very gracious unto us, and did not absent
himself from us, neither suffered his faithfulness to fail us,
but did bear us up, and keep us from fainting in the midst of
our extremity. We had not another to make our moan to, but the
Lord alone; neither could we expect a drop of mercy, favour, or
refreshments, but what he did distil from his living presence,
and work by his own strength; for we sat one in one room, and the
other in another, near a year; as owls in deserts, and as people
forsaken in solitary places. Then did we enjoy the presence of
the Lord, and did behold the brightness of his glory, and we
did see you, our dear friends, in the light of Jesus, and did
behold your order and steadfastness of your faith and love to
all saints, and were refreshed in all the faithful-hearted, and
felt the issues of love and life which did stream from the hearts
of those that were wholly joined to the fountain, and were made
sensible of the benefit of your prayers.

‘O the sorrows, the mournings, the tears! “But those that sow in
tears, shall reap in joy.” A true sorrow begets a true joy; and
a true cross a true crown: for when our sorrows did abound, the
love of God did abound much more: the deeper the sorrows, the
greater the joys; the greater the cross, the weightier the crown.

‘Dear friends and brethren, marvel not that Israel is not
gathered, our judgment remains with the Lord, and so do our
labours; for it was not for want of travail, nor pain, nor love
to their souls; for we could have been contented to have fed
upon the grass on the ground, so we might have had our freedom
amongst them: for, had it not been for the great opposition,
they would have followed after us, as chickens after a hen,
both great and small. But oh! the swelling seas, the raging and
foaming waves, stormy winds and floods, and deep waters, and
high mountains and hills, hard rocks, rough ways, and crooked
paths, tall cedars, strong oaks, fruitless trees, and corrupted
ones, that cumber the ground, and hinder the righteous seed to
be sown, and the noble plants from being planted. Oh! they shut
up the kingdom against the simple-hearted, and hide the key of
knowledge from the innocent ones, and will not enter into the
kingdom themselves, nor suffer them that would enter, but stir
up the magistrates to form carnal weapons, thinking to prevent
the Lord of taking to him his inheritance, and to dispossess his
Son, who is heir of all, that he might not have a dwelling-place
among them, nor a habitation nigh them; because that his light
will discover their darkness, and his brightness will burn up
all their abominations, and mar their beauty, and stain their
glory, their pomp, and their pride, that it may perish as the
untimely figs, and fall as the flower of the field, and wither
as the grass upon the house-top. Oh! the belly of hell, the jaws
of Satan, the whole mystery of iniquity is at the height, and
all manner of abomination that makes desolate, stands where it
ought not, and is upholden by a law, that upon pain of death none
must speak against it, nor walk contrary to it. But praises to
our God, he carried us forth to declare against it daily. Oh!
the blind guides, the seducing spirits, that do cause the people
to err, and compel them to worship the beast and his image, and
have his mark in their foreheads, and in their hands, and to bow
to pictures and painted walls, and to worship the things of
their own hands, and to fall down to that which their own fingers
have fashioned, and will not suffer them to look towards Sion
upon pain of death, nor to walk towards Jerusalem upon pain of
faggot and fire, but must abide in Babel, and believe whatsoever
they speak or do to be truth. But oh! the ways, the worships,
the fashions, forms, customs, traditions, observations, and
imaginations, which they have drawn in by their dark divinations,
to keep the poor people in blindness and ignorance, so that they
perish for want of knowledge, and are corrupted, because the way
of Truth is not made known among them; they are all in the many
ways, out of the one true living way, and their ways be so many
and so monstrous, that they are unrehearsable; but the Lord our
God hath kindled a fire in the midst of them, that will consume
all forms, fashions, customs, and traditions of men, and will
burn up the briers, thorns, and tares, stubble, and fruitless
trees, and corrupted ones; and will blast all the fruits, works,
and labours of wicked and ungodly men, with the mildews of his
wrathful indignation, and will scatter all his enemies with the
whirlwinds of his displeasure. They do not know the Scriptures:
their bibles would grieve any honest heart to behold them,
because of the corruption.’

This letter was signed by both of them, though perhaps Catharine was the writer, who also wrote a letter of exhortation to the popish inquisitor at Malta, and another to friar Malachy. Among the letters she wrote to her husband and children, I count the following really worthy to be delivered to posterity:

‘_For the hands of John Evans, my right dear, and precious
husband, with my tender-hearted children, who are more dear and
precious to me than the apple of my eye._

‘Most dear and faithful husband, friend, and brother, begotten
of my eternal Father, of the immortal seed of the covenant of
light, life, and blessedness, I have unity and fellowship with
thee day and night, to my great refreshment, and continual
comfort. Praises, praises be given to our God for evermore, who
hath joined us together in that which neither sea nor land can
separate or divide.

‘My dear heart, my soul doth dearly salute thee, with my dear
and precious children, who are dear and precious in the light of
the Lord, to thy endless joy, and my everlasting comfort; glory
be to our Lord God eternally, who hath called you with a holy
calling, and hath caused his beauty to shine upon you in this
the day of his power, wherein he is making up of his jewels, and
binding up of his faithful ones in the bond of everlasting love
and salvation, among whom he hath numbered you of his own free
grace; in which I beseech you, dear hearts, in the fear of the
Lord, to abide in your measures, according to the manifestation
of the revelation of the Son of God in you. Keep a diligent watch
over every thought, word, and action, and let your minds be staid
continually in the light, where you will find out the snares and
baits of Satan, and be preserved out of his traps, nets, and
pits, that you may not be captivated by him at his will. Oh, my
dear husband and children, how often have I poured out my soul to
the everlasting Father for you, with rivers of tears night and
day, that you might be kept pure and single in the sight of our
God, improving your talents as wise virgins, having oil in your
vessels; and your lamps burning, and clothed with the long white
robe of righteousness, ready to enter the bed-chamber, and to
sup with the Lamb, and to feed at the feast of fat things, where
your souls may be nourished, refreshed, comforted, and satisfied,
never to hunger again.

‘My dear hearts, you do not want teaching; you are in a land
of blessedness, which floweth with milk and honey, among the
faithful stewards, whose mouths are open wide to righteousness,
to declare the eternal mysteries of the everlasting kingdom, of
the endless joys and eternal glory; whereunto all the willing and
obedient shall enter and be blessed for ever.

‘My dear hearts, the promises of the Lord are large, and are all
Yea and Amen to those that fear his name; he will comfort the
mourners in Sion, and will cause the heavy-hearted in Jerusalem
to rejoice, because of the glad tidings: they that do bear the
cross with patience, shall wear the crown with joy; for it is
through the long-suffering and patient waitings, the crown
of life and immortality comes to be obtained. The Lord hath
exercised my patience, and tried me to the uttermost, to his
praise, and my eternal comfort, who hath not been wanting to us
in anything in his own due time; we are witnesses he can provide
a table in the wilderness, both spiritual and temporal. Oh, the
endless love of our God, who is an everlasting fountain of all
living refreshment, whose crystal streams never cease running to
every thirsty soul, that breatheth after the springs of life and
salvation.

‘In our deepest affliction, when I looked for every breath to be
the last, I could not wish I had not come over sea, because I
knew it was my eternal Father’s will to prove me, with my dear
and faithful friend. In all afflictions and miseries the Lord
remembered mercy, and did not leave nor forsake us, nor suffer
his faithfulness to fail us; but caused the sweet drops of his
mercy to distil upon us, and the brightness of his glorious
countenance to shine into our hearts, and was never wanting to
us in revelations or visions. Oh, how may I do to set forth
the fulness of God’s love to our souls: no tongue can express
it, no heart can conceive it, nor mind can comprehend it. Oh,
the ravishments, the raptures, the glorious bright shining
countenance of our Lord God, who is our fulness in emptiness,
our strength in weakness, our health in sickness, our life in
death, our joy in sorrow, our peace in disquietness, our praise
in heaviness, our power in all needs or necessities; he alone
is a full God unto us, and to all that can trust him. He hath
emptied us of ourselves, and hath unbottomed us of ourselves, and
hath wholly built us upon a sure foundation, the rock of ages,
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, where the swelling seas,
nor raging, foaming waves, nor stormy winds, though they beat
vehemently, can be able to remove us. Glory, honour, and praise,
is to our God for ever, who, out of his everlasting treasures,
doth fill us with his eternal riches day by day; he did nourish
our souls with the choicest of his mercies, and doth feed our
bodies with his good creatures, and relieve all our necessities
in a full measure. Praises, praises be to him alone, who is our
everlasting portion, our confidence, and our rejoicing, whom we
serve acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a
consuming fire.

‘Oh, my dear husband, and precious children, you may feel issues
of love and life, which stream forth as a river to every soul
of you, from a heart that is wholly joined to the fountain. My
prayers are for you day and night without ceasing; beseeching
the Lord God of power to pour down his tender mercies upon you,
and to keep you in his pure fear, and to increase your faith, to
confirm you in all righteousness, and strengthen you in believing
in the name of the Lord God Almighty, that you may be established
as Mount Sion, that can never be moved. Keep your souls unspotted
of the world, and love one another with a pure heart fervently;
serve one another in love, build up one another in the Eternal,
and bear one another’s burdens for the Seed’s sake, and so fulfil
the law of God. This is the word of the Lord unto you, my dearly
beloved.

‘Dear hearts, I do commit you into the hands of the Almighty, who
dwelleth on high, and to the word of his grace in you, who is
able to build you up to everlasting life and eternal salvation.
By me, who am thy dear and precious wife, and spouse, in the
marriage of the Lamb, in the bed undefiled,