You have before you letters written by Thomas Hardcastle, Pastor of a congregation in Bristol England. This congregation came into being in 1640. They called themselves a Church of Christ in Broadmead, Bristol England.

These letters have been extracted from a book published by the Hanserd Kollys Society in 1847. The book is simply titled The Broadmead Records 1640-1687.

The letters were written by Pastor Hardcastle to his congregation during the course of his second imprisonment for preaching to the Broadmead Church in Bristol.

From the Record

“Upon the second of this said sixth month, Mr. Hardcastle and Mr. Weeks, their time of six months’ imprisonment being expired, are at liberty. Mr. Hardcastle, the next Lord’s day, goes to his congregation in their public place and preacheth; Hellier comes up and sees him, then departs and fetcheth constables and serjeants, and after Mr. Hardcastle had reasoned with them, he would not come down until he had ended his sermon and concluded with prayer, although they charge him and threaten him very sore. Then they carry him away to the mayor, and convict him for preaching in the corporation, upon the Five Mile Act; but let him depart for that time, because they could not imprison him for the first offence until one day after.

The next Lord’s day, being fifteenth day of the 6th month, August, 1675, Mr. Hardcastle goes again to the said public meeting place, and preacheth again. Hellier comes betimes, and finds him preaching: departs, and brings Alderman Lawford, with serjeants and the bishop’s secretary, and others of his servants, near twenty in all came: makes great disturbance, and at last carries Mr. Hardcastle away before the mayor, who sends him to prison.”
                                                                                 ---- Robert Sims ----