On this day in 1664, the Baptist pastor, Benjamin Keach was found guilty and sentenced to a fortnight in jail and a day in a public pillory for what he wrote and published in a children’s book, entitled, “The Child’s Instructor.”
The charge against Keach stated, “Thou art here indicted by the name of Benjamin Keach, of Winslow, in the county of Bucks, for that thou being a seditious, schismatic person, evilly and maliciously disposed and disaffected to his Majesty’s government, and the government of the Church of England, didst maliciously and wickedly of the fifth of May… write, print, and publish, or cause to be written printed, and published, one seditious and venomous book… where are contained, by way of question and answer… damnable positions, contrary to the Book of Common Prayer and the liturgy of the Church of England; that is to say, in one place you have thus written: Q. Who are the right subjects for baptism? A. Believers, or godly men and women, who make profession of their faith and repentance.”