from this time forward as to what Places he went so with whom he conversed and whom he should shun and when he found there were some who laid in wait for him to trepan him and hale him to Prison he immediately hastened away He did also moreover advise his Party by his Letters and Pamphlets that all of them should make it their business and endeavour to do nothing against the King's Authority and the Common-weal and allow of nothing in that kind which might be avoided by them Besides this Fox proceeded to write many things even against their Adversaries but in such a manner as not to set forth so much what his own Sentiments were as what he wrote and in what place he wrote it Which sort of Life Fox from thence forward led even to his Death that all his Actions both in the middle and last part of his Life might be like unto those he had practised in the beginning so that I judge it needless to say many more words concerning Fox in this Treatise unless something that is altogether new and strange should occur And thus did almost all the Quakers behave themselves now more cautiously and circumspectly among their Adversaries neither did they so often and constantly make a noise in the Churches and Publick places neither did they Act those Fooleries where there was a Concourse of People and utter such ridiculous Bablings neither when they were brought before the Magistrate did they talk so uncivilly abruptly and foreign to the purpose as they had been wont to do neither did they Answer when the Judges asked them what their Name was what Country-men they were where they lived that they were of the Land of Canaan and that they lived in God so that as the Time even so their Manners changed yea from henceforward these Men wrote and published in England not only Pamphlets but Books in which they handled the Heads of things not at large only and confusedly but curiously and distinctly and did Argue in them first against the Opinions and Tenets of the Principal Episcoparians and then against those of other Dissenters which they did not approve of and this in a neat and orderly way of Argumentation not by wrangling but examining every Proposition and coming up to the Merit of the Cause and by admirable Skill arriving at their designed Conclusion neither did they urge those things which they taught and believed by a rude and disjointed way of Reasoning but clearly and openly and explicated the same at large and strenuously defended it Which Method was vigorously pursued by Samuel Fisher who was the chief Man and the Ornament of the whole Sect. Moreover some of them were not afraid to Discourse Argue and Dispute with the Adverse Party yea and when need required with the very Ministers of the Publick Church concerning their own and the others Doctrine and Concerns Which sort of Disputation was held this very first Year at Hereford between two City Ministers and three Preaching Quakers Howgil Burroughs and Cross wherefore from henceforward these People the Quakers began gradually and by little and little to stand up and to increase in number and strength and to be reckoned and used as one of the Sects of the Christian Religion Things were at the same pass with these Men in Scotland saving that their Affairs did not thrive so fast there until the arrival of two Men of great Fame and Reputation amongst all the Quakers Geroge Keith and Robert Barclay by Name by whose Labour Toyl and Industry the whole Doctrine of the Quakers especially their chief Dogms Principles and Fundamentals were very much illustrated and confirmed and because this is the first place where we meet with the Names of these Men and that hereafter mention will be made of them upon various Accounts we shall in a few words acquaint those who do not know it what sort of Men these are they were both of them Scots but there is only one of them to wit Keith that is yet alive Barclay the other being dead George Keith was at first of the Reformed Religion and a Student of Philosophy and Divinity as soon as he commenced Master of Arts and was more especially had in esteem for a good Mathematician he did afterward become a Chaplain or Minister of God's Word in a certain Noble Family But seeing that he was always transported with a desire of searching after and learning somewhat that was new and alighted upon these late Sectaries he did in a short time embrace their Doctrine and arrived to be one of the chief Speakers and Holders forth amongst them This Man after many Toyls Wanderings and Perambulations went at last into that part of America which from the Owner thereof is called Pensylvania and there in their Church and Latin School of Philadelphia exercised the Office of a Teacher Robert Barclay was a Gentleman of Scotland the Son of that same David Barclay whose Book we have made mention of a little before his Father had sent him to the City of Paris the Capital of France and there was brought up in good Literature and after a manner that suited to his Quality and those Noble Youths that were his Fellow-Students But this Young Man had an Uncle in that City that was Principal of the Scotch Popish College there to whose Precepts when Barclay had for some time attended he leaves the Reformed Religion and turns Papist which when his Father came to know he sends for him home and as he himself in the mean time was turned Quaker he also endeavours to induce his Son to embrace the same way but he seeing he had in all other things been Observant to his Father refuses and says he could not in so great and weighty a thing as that was hearken to him But when he had not long after come to one of the Meetings of the Quakers he suddenly turns about and becomes throughly one of them being now Eighteen Years of Age and from thence forward for a great part of his Life was as it were the Legate or Messenger of the Quakers in their weightiest Affairs it 's also said that he was descended from John Barclay that notable Writer of Heroick Verse and Satyr and whose Name it 's enough to mention Keith wrote many things in English wherein he does clearly Teach Explain and Confirm those chief Points of their Doctrine which Fox and others had neither so distinctly handled nor so artificially and dexterously propounded and vindicates the same from the Objections and Exceptions of their Adversaries which afterward all the rest of the Quakers greedily snatched at and would appropriate and reckon among the Opinions of the Quakers excepting two or three Articles which they left alone as peculiar to himself He was indeed the first of them all who taught polished and perfected those Principles concerning the Seed and Light within immediate Revelation the Eternal Divine and Spiritual Filiation of Jesus Christ for so do all
THE General History OF THE QUAKERS CONTAINING The Lives Tenents Sufferings Tryals Speeches and Letters Of all the most Eminent Quakers Both Men and Women From the first Rise of that SECT down to this present Time Collected from Manuscripts c. A Work never attempted before in English Being Written Originally in Latin By GERARD CROESE To which is added A LETTER writ by George Keith and sent by him to the Author of this Book Containing a Vindication of himself and several Remarks on this History LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street 1696. TO THE Truly Noble and Honourable NICHOLAS WITSEN Burgomaster and Senator of Amsterdam c. THOSE two very things Right Noble and Honourable Sir to wit the greatness of your Name and the smallness of this Work which might disswade me from such an Application do both of them invite and in some sort engage me to adventure not only to make a Present of this Book but also a particular Dedication thereof unto you And seeing that it is a thing most certain and that the very sight of the Book doth immediately shew it that what I here offer is a Piece that is altogether new but yet neither over bulky nor prolix I was perswaded that this my Undertaking would not prove unpleasing to you because that as the Great are very much taken with the Novelty of other things even so they are of Books and as a conciseness in speaking is very agreeable to them a short and compendious way of Writing is found to be no less so which has given occasion to that old Proverbial Adage Little things are pretty To this I may add that this Book briefly treats of things transacted up and down and for some time in that Nation where in the Name of the Renowned States you have been first Envoy to the Most Potent and most Serene Princes King William and Queen Mary to that great and glorious Queen alas lately ravished from Earth by inexorable Fate of whose Vertues there are at this time so many Testimonies in the funebrous Orations of great and most Eloquent Men who for all that had they never so much exhausted their brains and been profuse of their Abilities in declaring and magnifying the Excellencies of this Queen had yet nee'r been able to form a true Idea of them in their Thoughts much less represent them as they ought to be to their Auditors than which nothing more can be said of Man and after that for some time Resident there where you were to Congratulate Their Royal Majesties Accession to the Throne and the Deliverance of so many Countries and People as also to confirm that Ancient League and Amity that was between both Nations In which Time and Place seeing that perhaps some but not all these things came within the Verge of your Knowledge this new and small Treatise but Pardon the Expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may gratifie that desire which your Honour and even most Men have who have lived or come from abroad of having a perfect Knowledge of such Transactions as have happened in those places during their time or near unto it by exhibiting as in a little Table-Book the first Rise Progress and End of all these doings But yet this is not all the Reason I had for such an Undertaking I must confess Illustrious Sir that as to the matter of this Work it is such as may seem to them that are not very curious needless and unnecessary and that it is such a way or method as may easily induce some who are not over-skilful but given to scoff and chatter to look upon it as very mean and contemptible because that having regard only to the single Relation of Things and to Truth I treat thereof in a Style and Language that is plain and ordinary free from all manner of Affectation and do not which is a thing very common and much approved of and prevalent among the Vulgar either ridicule or proudly scoff at and prosecute in Writing those things which 〈…〉 the Religion and Manners of those Men who are treated of herâ—en Neither do I though there may be some among those very Persons who look with an evil Eye upon and bear ill will unto us for that Reason retribute the same and make the like return unto them as some are pleased to do who think such reciprocal doings ought always to be But seeing that it many times so happens that they who write with such Moderation are liable to fall under I know not what Suspicion of crack'd Credit from these Men so as that I found my self under a necessity of seeking out for some Patronage and Refuge-place upon this Account I was fully satisfied I could meet with that principally in you Great Sir who know as well as any Man alive what amongst such a multitude of Writers and itch of Writing is most fit to be writ what an Historian's scope ought to be in such a Work as this is and over and above that what on the one hand Religion and what in the mean time also Nature and the Power of Humanity require and call for And because I have fallen upon this Head I earnestly wish the Temper of the present Times was not such that this were not the sad distinguishing mark of the Age we live in as that there should be so many Men such strangers to and devoid of Charity and Modesty and hurried with that unruliness and outrageousness of Mind that as soon as they discern any Heterodox Opinion in matters of Religion and especially if any Heresie be smelt in the case they immediately suppose that it is the Property of Religion to scoff at persecute and afflict such Men some going so far as to urge there ought to be a precision or a cutting off of the same by violent Methods Fire and Sword Imprisonment and Bonds Racks and Torments and even by the most dreadful and cruel Deaths For the Good and Peace of the Church and State for so they Argue cannot otherwise be preserved nor the Christian Faith and Humane Obligations subsist Were it not for this we should not see against so many Reformed Churches so many Hundred Thousand Christians such and so great and nefandous Violences contrived and offered such lamentable yea unheard-of Calamities and Slaughters and even if they could make entire Extirpation Rulne and Destruction by those who go by the Names of Christians and Catholicks but are in truth the most bitter and implacable Enemies of the True Religion I 'll go yet further I heartily wish there were not sometimes amongst others and even among them who have withdrawn themselves from the Papacy that immoderation of Spirit that even where there is no manner of Heresie no Fundamental Error yea not the least difference but in words and way of Expression only mens Minds become forthwith divided thereupon an Interruption of Fellowship and at last a sâ—â—â—ssion into Parties doth ensue And that those who lay
every Countrey of Europe desiring 'em to examine and return them an Answer The next year he wrote and publish'd his Apology a work greater and better known than that I need give account of it He sent two Copies of this book to every Princes Ambassadour at Niâ—iguen that met to treat of the Common peace that they might weigh and send it to their Prince for their Cognizance and Inquiry into the matter To each he added a double Letter of advice that as the burden of the Christian world was laid upon them so they might with all care and diligence endeavour according to their Incumbent duty to procure the rest and safety of Christians Nic. Arnold professor of the Theology in the College of Frizeland oppos'd a Theological Exercitation to these Theses wherein he bassles Barclay's opinion To this treatise Barclay answer'd by another piece shewing that Arnold did only repeat what has been often said by a changed expression A little after Tho. Brown a Scot Barclay's Country-Man one of the Preachers of the word of God who to the Number of 2000 were depriv'd of their Benefices for not submitting to the Regency of the Prelates wrote a thick and large Volume in English against the great treatise of Barclay in which Barclay taking him to mistake their meaning and therefore too much to expatiate and wander from the purpose answers him in the same Language putting neither more nor less in his book than what he thought necessary Afterward Joh. G. Bajerus Doctor and Professor of Theology at Jena a Lutheran publish'd the Doctrine concerning the beginning of the true and saving knowledge of God against Barclay's dissertation in his Theses and Apology who carping at some Expressions of Barclay as not proper but absurd and obscure from which no body could gather what Barclay did mean was answer'd by G. Keith Barclay being then taken up with other affairs a Man most skillful in Philosophy and Argument who against Bajer did plainly unfold the sence and meaning of his friend's words and in this reply so handled the whole Argument that afterward Bajer made never any return Lastly Joh. Chr. Holthusius a pastor addicted to the Ausburg Confession wrote a large treatise in the German Tongue worthy to be stil'd the Antibarclaian German since the Quakers has not hitherto answer'd it In this year 75 at Rome Mich. Molin a Spaniard a Priest and Doctor of Theology publish'd his book in the Italian Tongue to which he gave the Title of the Spiritual Captain In which book he reviv'd the Mystick Theology as they call it which for many years had lain Dormant in the Papacy who was Tutor and Pedagogue to a Number of Men for advancing that Doctrine of study and life The Sect was call'd Quietism and the followers Quietists from their singular Discipline which prescribes the laying aside External helps of coming to God meditation and reasoning by things outwardly Consider'd and Compar'd which are the first Elements that belong to these who begin to enter into Eternal Life and making only use of Divine Contemplation and the simplicity of faith Those who have made or desire to make great progress in the Celestial way must employ themselves intently with a ready will and ardent Love to receive and perceive God in themselves and suffer him to work in them by his Spirit while they wait for him with a quiet silence I shall add no more of this Man's Doctrine or its success as being known to the Learned Historians of our Age As ever since the Quakers name had its rise nothing among Christians in Religion Behaviour and Conversation scem'd to be hatch'd or invented with greater care or more resin'd and remov'd from the custom of the Vulgar but what was presently father'd on the Quakers Authority fellowship and patronage Thus in Italy and elsewhere many made the Quakers in England with their Creatures and Confederates the Sole cause and Original of this Sect and all the opinions thereupon following In like manner in England the Quakers were Reckon'd among the Religious crew which they call Mysticks and Branches of the Quietists drawing their common nature and temper from the same Root with one another This rumor and suspicion was the more increas'd that the Quakers especially Barclay in his Apology extraordinarily commended these ancient Mysticâ—s and not long after that Keith in his book call'd the way to the City of God which he publish'd in English did so teach confirm and advance that Theology that he seem'd to joyn with and strengthen the hands of the Quietists Because this opinion before was and as yet is so infix'd in the minds of many that the Quakers are of the flock of the Mysticks or that the Quietists and they don't much differ I shall pick out especially from Keith's book a short Summary of that Doctrine adding as little of my own as I can except where I 'm forc'd to put my own words for his without Impairing his meaning at all We ought says he to withdraw our selves from every vain thought earthly purely intellectual yea even Divine which are subjected to such words and propositions as fall under the force of Argumenting and Reasoning which draw their being from another original When God manifests himself in Man in the Seed of God which is in Man and hereby conveys himself into the mind of Man Man must betake and apply himself to God in the Seed of God 'twixt the influence and operation of God in him and only to give himself the leisure to wait for these feelings of the mind that proceed from God viz. The seeing hearing smelling touching tasting of the Spirit of the power the light and Life of God in Christ in that Seed And so it is agreeable to Man when he has thus converted himself unto God to persist and continue in that State with much patience tranquillity and silence before he fall to the use and exercise or daily business of his Lawful vocation When this happens In a little time the mind in some measure approaches to an holy and Divine life the beginnings of Spiritual Death Regeneration and Active operation It 's not then sit to do any thing without the certain Conscience and clear knowledge of faith but what the internal Guide and Spiritual Counseller and Instructor teacheth without that apparent assurance that the Spirit is arisen or raiseth himself in us and makes us inwardly to feel leave and liberty to do what the Spirit commands or suffers to be done And so it 's convenient at first to Act faith only by receiving and then exercising it as the Cion when first graffed into the stock first receives juice then grows and fructifies In these things that the rest of the Quakers both did and do agree it s scarce to be doubted Tho it sufficiently appears from what has been said that these Mysticks Molinists and Quakers do not so far differ in this Doctrine and Study as that one of 'em does either fear
this theme as if he had aim'd at no other design then to bring in some and play upon others with a few frothy flowrishes of words This is the matter of fact The Parliament made it their purpose and endeavour to give Liberty of Conscience to such as I have Nam'd A Committee of a select number of the house was order'd to treat of this affair They when doubting of the Quakers Doctrine and saith concerning the sacred Scripture and mystery of the holy Trinity because they use not to call the Scripture the word of God thinking that name to be proper only to Christ or to the internal word of God under which sense external Letters can never fall nor to term the Father Son and Spirit three persons that being a word not used in Scripture ordered their Articles and opinion to be presently inquired into Two famous Quakers at that time Geo. Withad and John Virughton treated of these matters with Sir Tho. Clargy a member of the house He advis'd 〈◊〉 with Kindness and Candour to publish their mind fully and fairly concerning these two Articles that were doubted of They without delay write and subscribe their Thoughts and willingly presented 'em to that honourable Man from whom as they had received a wholsom Advice they now also expect a seasonable assistance The form of each of 'em for himself was to this purpose I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth the sacred Scriptures to be Divine left us by Men Inspir'd of God as an exact rule of our faith and behaviour and I profess to believe in one only God who is the father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son very God and very Man and in the Holy Spirit one and the same God with the Father and Son blessed for evermore This confession having pleas'd Clargy was given to be read to the rest of the Members who thought fit to call in some nine or ten Quakers that were ready at hand for such a design to question 'em if that were their faith and perswasion Upon their owning it the day following the matter was presented by the Committee to the whole house and thus it was agreed that the Quakers shou'd have liberty and order'd it shou'd be recorded and drawn out into an Act. While publick affairs were thus changed W. Penn was not so regarded and respected by King and Court as he was formerly by King James partly because of his intimacy with King James and partly for adhering to his old opinion concerning the Oath of fidelity which was now mitigated but not abrogated Besides this it was suspected that Penn Corresponded with the late King now Lurking in France under the umbrage and protection of the French King an enemy justly and equally odious to the Brittish King and united Provinces 'twixt whom there was now an inveterate War This suspicion was follow'd and also encreas'd by a Letter intercepted from King James to Penn desiring Penn to come to his assistance in the present State and Condition he was in and express the Resentments of his favour and benevolence Upon this Penn being cited to appear was ask'd why King James wrote unto him he answer'd he cou'd not hinder such a thing being further question'd what Resentments these were which the late King seem'd to desire of him he answer'd he knew not but said he supposed King James wou'd have him to endeavour his Restitution and that tho he cou'd not decline the suspicion yet he cou'd avoid the guilt and since he had loved King James in his prosperity he shou'd not hate him in his adversity yea he lov'd him as yet for many favours he had conferr'd on him tho he wou'd not joyn with him in what concern'd the State of the Kingdom He own'd he had been much oblig'd to King James and that he wou'd reward his kindness by any private office as far as he cou'd observing inviolably and intirely that duty to the publick and Government which was equally Incumbent upon all Subjects and therefore that he had never the vanity to think of endeavouring to restore him that Crown which was fallen from his head so that nothing in that Letter cou'd at all seem to fix guilt upon him From that time Penn withdrew himself more and more from business and at length at London in his own house confin'd himself as it were to a voluntary exile from the converse fellowship and conference of others employing himself only in his Domestick affairs that he might be devoted more to Meditation and Spiritual exercises In the year Ninety three two books of his came out in English the one of a Solitary life the other a Key to understand the Articles of the Quakers faith This year Penn went out of his voluntary Prison compensing the leisure of his lonely life by the comfort of Marriage which he now entred into and the greater toil he took on himself in managing all his business and affairs Geo. Fox also after many changes and viciâ—â—itudes having seen various chances and dangers after he had often been Anxious concerning the progress and continuance of his life now not doubting to Consummate and end his Labours in the beginning of Ninety one resign'd up his Life After his Death his Widdow Margaret an old woman of about 76 years who had shar'd with him in the office of preaching wrote thus to a General Meeting of women held at London that same year Most Dear Friends and Sisters in the Lord I Did not scruple to write unto you from the Sense of that which was from the beginning which now is and for ever shall be and that for your great Love and care of me and the half of my self my Husband as long as he labour'd among you for the Lord. Since he 's now entred into Rest and heavenly Glory if we 'll regard what he said while he was alive let 's fix our constant Dependance upon God Neither doubt I if we walk with that Spirit of Life and Strength he had but we shall be preserv'd even unto the end In the mean time growing up and bearing fruit unto the Lord we shall become Trees Justice to the praise and Glory of God Wherefore I do earnestly warn and exhort you to abide constantly in the service of God for ye shall certainly reap the reward of much Consolation in this World and of an eternal Recompence in that which is to come Farewell and joyn with me in praising of God Fox not long before he died by the Interposal of certain Friends and Amanuenses's wrote a large book in English only with reference to what concern'd himself during the time he labour'd among his friends in the Ministry and provided by his latter will it shou'd be carefully Printed and a Coppy of it sent to all the yearly and Quarterly Meetings of his Friends wherever gather'd together throughout the whole World in Remembrance of him and for their particular Advantage The book was publish'd being strengthen'd
followed by others of both Sexes Neither were the Actions of these very memorable their Power being abridged by the Sufferings they were forced to endure which indeed may be reckon'd so great and so many that they are not unworthy to be noticed and obserued Of all the Tract of the New England Common-wealth Boston is the Metropolis and Judiciary Seat At that time John Endicot was Rector or Governour of the whole Province one that from a very low condition was gradually mounted to this Honour and Dignity Of whose Temper Behaviour and Government which was then variously thought and talk'd of and whereof there were afterwards on both sides Witnesses I shall content my self wholly to be silent Next to him was Richard Bellingham whose manner of Life and Nature I also pass by At this time there was no where any thing like a Law enacted against the Quakers A Ship then arriv'd at Boston and was no sooner Anchor'd than a rumor was spread that 2 Quaker women were come in the Ship The Governour being absent he that was depute immediately sent order for seizing these women sealing up and keeping their Hampers Boxes and Chests and bringing the Books of their Sect whereof they had great store into the City where they were publickly burnt by the hand of the Hangman Then the women themselves were brought into Town and soon after before the Judges who presently as soon as they sat down on the Bench pronounc'd the women to be certainly Quakers for giving the singular title of thou to the Judge and not the more Courteous compellation of you contrary to the custom of almost all the English The Judges thinking this to be a sure enough sign and the matter to be clear and evident of it self their office rendring 'em best Advocates for themselves order'd the women to be taken and thrown into Goal and have nothing of the goods they had left in the Ship not so much as their Tools and Instruments of Writing lest they shou'd write of the Condition to which they were reduc'd or something of their New Religion and Doctrine The Goaler to compleat what the Judges had begun had the manners Irreligiously to rob 'em of their Bibles 'T was also decreed that none shou'd go speak or carry any meat to them Being kept in so strait and narrow a place having scarce any thing to eat sleep or lie upon till after some days something of their own was suffer'd to be brought 'em from the Ship which Nichol. Vpshal a Citizen of Boston and Member of the Church there privately agreed for a summ with the Goal-Keeper to let in and also to give 'em what sustenance was sufficient They complain'd further of their treatment as being reproach'd and revil'd as Whores who scruple not to expose and defile themselves and upon pretence of searching the truth of the matter of their being most basely and rudely strip'd naked and not only view'd contrary to Chastity and Shame Fac'dness but even handled with wicked and immodest hands without regarding those secrets of nature which modest Men wou'd shun the seeing or touching of These things being so Villanous to Act and scarce modest to name the women were rather forc'd to sit with and endure than betray their own shame without any Redress or expose their Disgrace without Sympathy or Compassion The women abode for five weeks shut up in this lonely and poor habitation Then the Captain of the Ship with whom they came before he set Sail had leave from the Judges at his own proper provision and charges to carry them back from whence he had brought ' em They being driven back in a little time after Sara Gibbens Mary Wartherhad Mary Prince Dorothy Wangre also Christopher Holder Thomas Thunton William Brent and John Copelan coming there met with such Treatment as the women had done before Upon this occasion there was a Law establish'd that no Ship-Master shou'd presume to bring a Quaker there and if any Quaker shou'd Adventure to come upon their Territories he was presently to be rewarded with the Confinement of a Prison Nichol Vpshal whose civility to the Imprison'd women I spoke of inquiring more narrowly into the Quakers Religion began to withdraw from his own Church and betake himself to the Quakers fellowship and oppose and exclaim against the Legislators Constitutions for establishing a humane sanction or Law contrary to the Rule of Divine precepts warning and advising 'em all to take care lest by a willful fighting against God they pull down his wrath and Judgment on themselves The Judges minds were hereby so Exasperated that resolving to make so new a danger Exemplary they first fin'd him in a hundred Crowns sentenc'd him to Goal and last of all to Banishment There was in the Western part of the province in sight of the Countrey an Island call'd Rhodes Here some Quakers did live hither went Vpshal to joyn with his cause Whither when he came 't was commonly reported that the Barbarous Indian Governour finding him gave him an Invitation to reside in his Countrey and Precincts promising him a seat in his indigency and exile and also to Accommodate him with a suitable habitation adding those words What sort of God have the English who deal so with others that worship their own After the others were put to the flight Ann Burden a widdow of London in Old England having some years ago liv'd with her Husband at Boston came there now for some Money that was due to her with Mary Dyer wife to William Dyer being both ignorant of what was establish'd by Law and what mischief here did threaten the Quakers These women were presently seiz'd and kept in Prison untill the husband did succour the one and good and Compassionate people the other Ann Burden was so acquitted that she was particularly prohibited to import these Warrs others had brought in her name and account for summs and Moneys due by some debtors tho they cou'd have been sold dearer there than in old England she was forc'd again to Transport 'em over the Sea not without being clipt by the Customers and Officers who were Artists sufficient in meddling with her goods and dividing a considerable part among themselves In 75 the year following and matters were stretch'd to such a pitch that all advice and assistance to that sort of Men seem'd so fruitless that they afforded but matter of Accusation and Calumny Since they cou'd not by Sea they did therefore by Land travel through strange and desolate places even such Woods Forests and Solitudes as none before 'em ever pass'd over not knowing or having wherewith to sustain themselves except what they carry'd along in a bag but when that fail'd being in utter want they sometimes met with help and supply from the Indians tho otherwise the most Barbarous of all Mortals who not only shewâ—d 'em the way but things needful for life and use yea such as these Countries take for Rarities and Delicacies so
his defence insisting that what he had said of Keith he had said with very good reason The difference too between Keith and Fitzwater was brought on the Stage which had been handled in the former Monthly Meeting And they all agree and pass this Peremptory sentence that Stockade by a publick Writing should take the blame upon himself of his offence against Keith and that Fitzwater should do the same for himself for as much as relates to Keith and over and above should give an account of his faith in Writing before this Council and therein satisfy them as to what he held of the Resurrection of Christ and the present State of his humane nature in Heaven and that in the mean while both of them should desist from Praying and Preaching in their Meetings till they had done what was order'd them The determinations of this assembly tho Stockade and Fitzwater at first either expresly or silently submitted to yet now at last sentence being past upon them they flew off and refused to obey it alledging That whereas this was a business Ecclesiastical and was a Controversy wholly amongst the Ministers of the Church and that a very hard and difficult one too which they themselves could scarce comprehend therefore it was onely proper for the Cognizance and Decision of the Ministers of the Church Now that part of those that had undertakon to Judge and Determine these affairs and they a Considerable part too were of those whose office these things don't belong to and whose aptness to enlarge their own Power and Authority was sufficiently well known Wherefore neither was their sentence or determination Valid nor would they obey such an Interdict Therefore Stockade and Fitzwater notwithstanding all this went on in their Ministerial functions and withdrew and seperated themselves from those that were the followers of Keiths Yet Keith and those of his party did not presently take notice and allow of this seperation nor likewise disjoyn themselves utterly from their Society but waited in hopes to see them repent of what they had done and give satisfaction for their Injurious dealings or at least in words to own their faults and so in good time to return into Friendship with them again and wholly unite together in stricter Bonds of Friendship than ever The most part both of City and Country held on Keith's side and from thence were called Keithians As things stood thus this Governour and rest of the Magistrates fearing lest the difference should spead further and be the forerunner of greater disturbances came to a Conclusion that it would be best to put a stop to this Inconvenience as soon and as well as they could Wherefore they considered that it would be best not to rescind the former Judgment but yet to recall those things which were done before under a new Cognizance At their Command therefore there met together at Philadelphia in the year 92 the 20th day of the 4th Month eight and twenty Men of which the greater part were Ministers or Preachers among whom were some who exercised the offices both of Ministers in the Church and Magistrates in the Common-wealth of which one was Sam. Jennings a great Enemy of Keiths and another Arthur Cook no great friend to him To these Men was Committed the care and Administration of this affair to advise as Friends and Arbitrators on both sides and to put a final end to the Difference and Contention that was between Keith and his Adversaries But these Men meeting together not so much to decide these Differences which were now become General as to Condemn Keith and those of his party and absolve those of the other side in their first Session pass this short sentence upon him without hearing him or any thing on his behalf and Seal it in Writing That Keith is a Man that has not the fear of God before his Eyes Than which sentence Keith could not have had a severer pass'd upon him by open Enemies than was done by these his Judges And now according to his Adversaries principal wish the Magistracy forbid keith without any further delay all exercise of his Ministerial function in the Church and if notwithstanding he should continue so to do he should be prosecuted as an adjudged Enemy And now the Enemys of Keith applaud themselves that they have compassed their Ends and obtain'd their revenge on him Wherefore Keith and one Tho. Bud publish a book in English Entituled The Vindication of an Innocent cause against a false Judgment pass'd upon it Wherein they relate the form Continuance and order of the Judgment pass'd against the Keithians and also the deprav'd Morals of some of the Judges that had combin'd together in this Cause and specially of the Ministers of the word Not to cast any Reflection upon the Magistracy nor Sully the Honours of the Ministers of their Church or discover the failings of any order of Men but to shew what it was they ought to beware of least the evil should be dispers'd from the head through all the Members and so the Enemies might take occasion to reflect disgrace upon this Church and Arrogate Glory to themselves Upon a time Keith entred into Discourse with the Governour and makes a long and heavy complaint to him of the Judgment that was past upon him in his absence without being duely cited or the cause heard that of the Judges Divers were prejudic'd against him and he had thereupon suffered Divers Injuries unusual and unheard of amongst just and upright Judges After which the Governour as it were directing his discourse to Keith's Complaints said that if he had sustain'd any Injury in the aforesaid Meeting he should complain of it and seek redress in the general and yearly Council which was shortly to be held at Philadelphia Keith being oppressed with so many adversities and troubles yet not overcome considered that it was best for him to do so and so being egg'd on with a resentment of the Injuries he had receiv'd He writes a sharp appeal to the Council and lays down twelve Articles containing an Exposition of his and his Friends's Doctrine and Belief And that the whole state of the Case after so great and long a Controversy which in a short space of time could not so easily be comprehended in all its parts might the better be apprehended and more commodiously decided by the Synod and they in their great Wisdom and Vigilance might briefly adjudg for the one and against the others as might be convenient and prescribe to each their Duties And because it seem'd dangerous to write out so many Books in Manuscript Keith causes both Books to be Printed to the intent in time to send a Copy to them all that they might from this time weigh and consider the Case and then being prepared be ready to give it a quick dispatch The Title of the Book was An Appeal from twenty eight men to the Spirit of Truth Printed by William Bradford Two Copies of
satisfaction for any Dammages sustained This was done first in the Synod of Rotterdam An. 57. It happen'd at Goud that one William Tick a Man much addicted to the Quaker's opinions and ways call'd a Council or Assembly of some of his own Gang which the Magistrate looking upon as a Company of Infidels and sending for Tick he would neither declare what his intention was or in the least uncover his head so he was sent into an House of Correction There was a Town not far from Goud in the way to Rotterdam In which Ames had drawn a certain Cooper one Martin's Son into his Society and here this Man also one time inviting Ames to his house gets together there some of his Neighbours to discourse of the Things of Faith and the good ordering of their Lives News of this being brought to the Minister of the Place and known to others they ran from every side to this house crying out That there was a Conventicle of seditious wicked men assembled there Which Tumult roused up Ames so that he walks out in a Calm Mood and very leisurely paces it along but all of a suddain they fall a reproaching him with a thousand opprobrious terms and handle him so at last that if he had not betook himself to his heels he had run in danger of his Life But a little while after these same Men nothing fearing the violence of the Mob reassembling in the same place again some run away and told the Burgomaster what they were a doing And when they had told him what these Men had done heretofore and so being induc'd to believe that these Meetings were Conspiracies against the Common Weal and the peace and security of the State he sent Sergeants and Officers to take Ames and his Landlord and carry them to Rotterdam and there put them in the Bethlem-house I made mention of not long ago Which coming to be known in the City some of the Ministers both of the reformed Church and the Remonstrants too go to Ames to see him and talk with him And they discourse much with him of many points both of his Doctrine and Religion and that several times but he handling things so obscurely and perplexedly to any Man's apprehension that other people could scarcely tell what he would have and they on all occasions starting such objections as he either could not tell how or declin'd to give a plain answer to this Discourse was to no purpose at all Ames published a little book not long after in which he proposes to the Ministers of our reformed Churches 83 questions of several Articles of Faith for them to solve To these Answers James Coleman then a youth and then also of a happy wit and Eloquent Tongue as also one of known piety and probity integrity and uprightness both in life and manners for all those that were any ways considerable for Age or Learning despis'd and pass'd by in silence as things not worth the minding those little triffling questions of this Quaker propos'd onely for ostentation and shew and that lest these people should boast themselves as if we were silent and refus'd to answer them in despair of the Victory And he answered them not with a youthful heat but with moderation and wisdom And this young Man in like manner proposed 60 questions to Ames and the rest of his Brethren the Quakers that they might have whereon to exercise themselves and shew their wit and parts Now whilest Ames was consined to this solitary place he spent his time principally in Writing And so besides several Letters to his friends he makes and publishes a reply to Coleman's Answers not forreign indeed from the purpose but bitter and not to be suffered in those that so much reprehend the same fault in others But as to the Questions that Coleman proposed to the Quakers those not Ames but Higgins Answers but so as not onely partly declining that wherein the State of the Case lay partly improperly and absurdly partly obscurely and in dark terms but also roughtly and with ill Language he mannages and if it were but by this alone betrays his cause Ames at last being set at liberty from this place comes to Leyden and there also going on with the same work as before he was cast into such another like place full of Spiders and Cobwebs and there he was kept till the Burgomaster weary of his Idleness or Misery and Sickness sent him away from thence Then away he travels into other provinces of Holland 'T is a wonder he being a Man than whom there was scarce any of those people more forward and travelling over so many Towns and Places understanding both Languages very well both English and Dutch and bestowing so much labour and pains amongst all sorts of People that there were no more that joyned themselves with him and the Quakers not even in the most populous Cities where there were so many Inhabitants English and all sorts and kinds of Men and some very near the Quakers in a great many things But as the coming and motion of these Men had rais'd these little Disturbances here and there and greater troubles and confusions were fear'd in other places these things principally stir'd up the Carefulness and Diligence of the Clergy every where as there was occasion to be on the watch and look out least they should cause any inconvenience or do any damage to their flock And so this gave occasion to the Synod of Goud An. 59. To make this decree that all Pastors should take a diligent observation of these Quaker's Meetings and the books they should disperse and apply themselves to the Magistrates by their Authority to suppress these things and that if these Men should any where give any Trouble to our People the Ministers of the word should well confirm the minds of their Auditors in their Sermons Catechisings and Visitations After this there was little heard of the Quakers For it was a long while before the people knew what the Quakers were Whence at first they were look'd upon as a poor sort of people without a Name or place of habitation as a kind of Fools and Madmen Then as an unquiet and troublesome sort of people For which reasons they were cast into Bonds and Prisons And at last they were accounted for bringers up of some new Sects of Religion which wanted a new place of residence And therefore now as defiled persons they seem'd fit to be removed a far off Some therefore in their progress sate down amongst the Anabaptists or Mennonites an unquiet sort of people alwaies hunting after Novelties Others are believ'd to have gone over to the Socinians a pestilent deceitful sort of Hereticks from whom nevertheless they are so far off that except the Papists there 's none they are more averse from It happen'd that in the year 64 the Socinians of which there was a great Number in those Countries every day grew more and more and made some
perhaps destruction The same year did William Cotton go to Calaiâ— a City on the Sea-coast of France six miles distant from Dunkirk with the same design as the other two had before-mentioned but not so skilful in the Language of the Country where entring into the great Church and viewing all things frowningly but holding his Peace he said at last that he was a sort of a new Guest and when after some time he was known to be an English-man he was led to the House of a certain Noble Scotch-man and being asked what he was he did not deny but that he was so and so There when the foresaid Scotch-man made himself to be his Interpreter to the People Cotten speaks a few words concerning the Idolatry and Corrupt Manners of the People which when he had done and that they contrived to do him an Injury he no sooner came to hear of it but bethinking himself he ought to take heed and to reserve his life for another necessity of dying as his Friends before had done he suddenly and without any manner of delay that he might disappoint the Consultations and Contrivances of his Enemies flies and makes the best of his way back again into England George Ball was the only person that penetrared into France and so that he never returned thence again and so it 's uncertain and unknown what he did or what became of him The Quakers think he perished somewhere in Prison None other after thesemen went on this design into France St. Crisp tryed this Experiment in that horrid and more than barbarous Persecution of the whole Reformed Churches in that Kingdom and in the dispersion of so many Thousands of men through other Reformed Countries of which we have not yet seen an end that he wrote a book and took care to send and deliver it to those men to try whether he could aâ—â—ect some of them so as to entertain a good Opinion of the Quakers Religion and joyn themselves to their Sect. It 's not to be doubted but that Book had its first beginning from Crisp but because it was written in French as it was to the French and that Crisp was ignorant of that Language or not well skilled therein itâ—s certain it was Translated and believed to have been much increased and published bâ— another hand And it 's no crime to think seeing the Style is so like unto that way of wâ—iâ—ing used by Peâ—n who is still the choicest Writer amongst the Quakers that he was that same Artificer It contains in it nothing concerning Religion It only puts those French in mind to consider with themselves wherefore God suffered such Calamities to befal them whether they were not the Consequent of their Soft and Depraved Education and Love to Earthly things and blind Obedience towards those to whose care they commited the Direction of their Consciences then that they should weigh what Good what Progress in Sanctity of Life those Calamities wrought in them which they endured with so much Lamentation Lastly That not contenting themselves with that Reformation which hitherto was instituted amongst them they should go on and do their endeavour to Finish and Consummate this begun Work But the Book was writ both in Respect to the Sentences Phrases and words very different from the English Mode and not only from that of the Quakers and to Conform to the Method and way of Writing in the French Tongue at this day when that Language is Arrived to its highest Maturity that there could be nothing in my Judgment writ more neatly and more congruous to the Genius and Temper of those People This Book the Quakers distributed gratis every where through the Countries where those French Refugees had Fled and in some places as the People were coming out of their Churches But there was not one found that we have heard of or came to understand that was induced by this Book to fall in with the Quakers Hester Bidley relates this Passage to have happened to her self a little before this time which every one is at liberty to believe as he pleases She went to the late Q. of England of happy memory and complains to her That it was very great grief of Heart to her as she was a Woman and a Christian that so great and tedious a War was waged between Christians and such great Calamities and Slaughters of Men which happened every day pierced her Heart and therefore she Exhorted the Queen to endeavour at least to bend her study this way for to end this War that Peace may be made and so gain great respect and affection from all The Queen who was of a most free and good Temper having given her her Answer she further desires That the Queen would grant her leave to go over into France saying she would advise and speak to the French King about the same affair and would have a Letter from the Queen to the same effect This the Queen refused and diswades her from the said enterprise urging that such a Journey and Business would be very difficult and dangerous yet for all this the woman through her importunity and earnest sollicitation got a pass from the said Queen's Secretary and seeing that a short space of time is tedious to a longing person she forthwith sets out and after various traverses comes into France and goes to Versailles and there coming to know that the late King of England was there she at first applies her self unto him as to one to whom he had been some years before known upon the like occasion and delivers unto him the Letter written by her to the French King the substance whereof was this That she being stirred by God the Supreme King of all that Illuminates this World pray'd the King to make his Peace with God and with the Nations he was at War with and put a stop to such an over-flowing and Rivulet of Blood that was shed King James having seen the Epistle sends the Woman to the Duke of Orleance to whom when she had come she delivered the Letter and said withal that she must speak with the King the Duke agrees to deliver the Letter but said she must not speak with the King whereupon the Woman full of Grief and Lamentation and with shedding many Tears did at last break forth into these words Am I permitted to speak with the King of Kings anâ— may not I speak with Man Should I tell this to our People in England they would believe what they are all of them already perswaded of that the King of France is so high and proud that none can speak with him Which passage when the King came to understand he in about three days after grants her liberty to come to his Presence the Room was full of Princes and Princesses Prelates and great Men the King Enters the same and having seen the Woman speaks to her with his Hat under his Arm whereupon she asked whether he was the King the King
her any other way from her purpose he puts her on board a Ship go her Convey'd to Venice She having lost the opportunity but not the will she had to accomplish her design after that she had sailed up as high as Peloponesus or the Morea she made them put her a shore on the next Land There having got this freedom and regarding neither the circumstances of Nature nor the weakness of her Sex being all alone and ignorant of the Way and the Language that she might avoid the danger of falling into the hands of Thieves she Travails on Foot all along the Shoar and Sea-Coast of the Morea Greece and Macedon and from thence over the Mountains and craggy places of Romania or Thrace as far as the River Mariza came to Adrianople where the Emperor did then continually reside because he was very much hated by those of Constantinople and so he in like manner shunned the presence and sight of them There was a vast Retinue and Concourse of People attending the Emperor besides his Army which lay there so as that there was scarce room enough to containâ— such a multitude The Woman was lucky tho' she did not know it to alight upon such Men who tho' they are called by the name of Turks came not short in their Kindnesses to Strangers of any other Nation especially the nobler and better sort of them which I my self have not so much understood as experienced yea do so respect and esteem Women-kind that if any injure them in VVords or Actions he runs in danger of his Life It was a very difficult thing to come to and speak with the Emperor but as there is nothing pleasant to a Lover but what is sought after and hard to be obtained she trys every way looks about her narrowly follows closely her Business and after many Sollicitations and Traverses backwards and forwards through many places at last she found one who spoke for her to the Grand Visier who is the chief Man in Authority next the Emperor and acquaints him that there was an English VVoman who had some good Counsel to give the Emperor in the Name of the Great God This Visier was Achmet Bassa very Renowned among the Turks because he succeeded his Father in that great Office which Honour none ever before him attained to in that kind The Visier speaks to the Emperor on the Womans behalf the Emperor grants her Liberty to come to him She came accompanied with the Dragmans or Emperors Interpreters but I could never learn what it was the Woman said to him The Emperor after he had given her Audience commands her to withdraw and ordered her to be conveyed to Constantinople that she might from thence return to her own Country This is that which the Woman after her return was wont to relate to the Quakers and none able to confirm or confute it and this is that same person who together with Anne Austin was the first of all the Women that went to Preach their Religion in New England and who for her great Endowments not only of mind and wit but also for her great dexterity and experience was by William Ball a Preacher of no small fame among the Quakers thought worthy to make him a VVife as I have said in the beginning of this Book that so that which was the beginning of this Book is also the end of the same and of the whole work AN APPENDIX CONTAINING The True Copy of a Latine Letter Writ by George â—eith and sent by him to Gerard Croes Translated out of his Latine Manuscript into English Some Annotations upon diverse things related in the Latine Book called The Quakerian History of Gerard Croes concerning me G. K. and some Opinions or Sentiments not well by him alledged to be mine with an Emendation and Correction of those things which the Author through Mistake hath unduely fixed on me As also concerning some other things respecting some Sentiments of many called Quakers and our late Controversies in matters of Faith and Religion IN the Epist Dedicat. Who hate every humane Name in the Church The Annotation It is well said I wish the Reformed so called did endeavour so to do As to my part it is very odious to me that such among the People called Quakers professing the same Christian Faith with me should be called Keithians For if the Name of Calvinist be odious to him Why should not the Name of Keithian be equally odious to me and to my Brethren professing the same Faith of Christ with me the which Name this Author useth in divers places of his History In the Epist Dedic There is not any thing of any moment in the whole work that was not done in publick view The Annot. The Author doth relate most things in a good degree candidly and moderately but in some things that are no less matters of Fact than Articles of Doctrine which he imputeth to me he hath missed the Mark but as I believe unwillingly he not being in all things well informed that did concern my Affairs in Religious Controversies Page 192. of the History Being a Chaplain in a certain Noble Family was adapted a Minister of the Divine Word The Annot. I acknowledge I did live for some time in a certain rich Family giving Education to some Children belonging to that Family using frequent Prayer and other Exercises of Religion in the same but before I had the Profession of a Quaker I was never adapted a Minister of the Divine Word Page 194. Thus the Doctrine and Religion of the Quakers oweth its birth and growth to England its Accomplishment and Perfection to Scotland The Annot. Here he seemeth too much to favour Robert Barclay and Me being both Scotch-men for certain Writings and Labours of ours in Explaining the People called Quakers their Principles and so they seemed unto us But that I may confess the thing as it it By too great experience for some years past I have learned having more inward Conversation with some Ministers of the first rank among them than formerly I had and more intently Reading some of their Books which before I did little Read and such of them as I had Read I had not so carefully and accurately considered what I did Read in them that many of the Principles and Dogma's deliver'd and explain'd by me in the Name of the Quakers were not so according to the sense of most of the Ministry among that People as according to my sense given to me by the Grace of God and I do ingeniously confess that therein I was greatly mistaken P. 178. And concerning Christ dwelling in every Mâ—â—â— The Annot. Here he doth not relate aright the distinction at least wise as by me explained betwixt the Existence or in-being of Christ in Man and his In-dwelling Christ indeed is in every Man as he is the Word that hath proceeded or emanated from God but he dwelleth only in the Saints The Inhabitation of God and Christ in