His first prosecution, during the English Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell, was by a Church of England priest who objected to the outdoor preaching of Quakers meeting outside the parish church of Cressage near Shrewsbury on 5 October 1656. He and six others who were present were ultimately brought before Bridgnorth Assizes, where they were fined for contempt of court in refusing to remove hats.
His initial prosecution, during the English Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell, was by a Church of England clergyman who objected to the outdoor preaching of Quakers meeting outside the parish church of Cressage near Shrewsbury on 5 October 1656. He and six others present were ultimately brought before Bridgnorth Assizes, where they were fined for contempt of court in refusing to remove hats.