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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60506	The Quakers spiritual court proclaim'd Being an exact narrative of two several tryals had before that new-high-court of justice, at the Peele in St. John's Street; together with the names of the judges that sate in judgment, and of the parties concern'd in the said tryals: also sundry errors and corruptions, in principle and practice among the Quakers, which were never till now made known to the world. Also a direction to attain to be a Quaker, and profit by it. All which, with many new matters and things of remark among those men, are faithfully declared and testified. By Nathaniel Smith student in physick, who was himself a Quaker, and conversant among them for the space of about XIV. years.	Smith, Nathaniel, d. 1668?; Yearwood, Randolph, d. 1689.	1668 (1668)	Wing S4135; ESTC R219636	40,156	50

be Good in it self yet it is the out-side that must be Fare Neat and Clean. For some of them that keep the Court constantly and observe what is done and do help you themselves yet for all that when I have laid this close to them they have said they did believe that they did cast some out that were better than some amongst themselves but in that they did car●y it fair to the World they could not meddle with them Now see whether yours be not a making clean of the out side and a plucking up of the Wheat But by ●eason I am cast out from amongst men by you and that I understand that you can well dispence with Hippori●es give me leave to Write to the World and ●eradventure they will furnish you with good Store now they know your minds and that you will advance their Fortunes as you would have done mine If you will be willing to observe them in all things and give way to such as Hilkiah Bedford and Jo. Boulton and to Ex●●l Boulton to be a man more perfect than David was for David might be reproved by a Prophet but Jo. Boulton by no manner of person must be spoke against but I leave him to answer for himself and proceed A few Words of Instruction to all those that are d●sirous to come into the Society of the Quakers and to be Received of them I mean not them only that comes out of Conscience but all Sorts whether it be them or not they shall all be Received although it be only for Preferment and in time be taken for the Faithful therefore I desire you to come near and Understand what I shall Write to you IN the first place thou must become Acquainted with some one of them that goeth constantly to Meetings and speak Lovingly to him not Theeing or Thouing of him at the first but speak well of them in General then it may be that he will Invite thee to go with him Do so and when all is done then Praise him that Spoke although he Spoke nothing else but Nonesence then the other Good Friend that went with thee will say Yes he is a Precious man or a Good Friend or such like Words then thou must be desirous to Hear him again the next Meeting and he will tell thee thou mayst Hear him or another So be sure the next Sunday to call upon him before he go to the Meeting and go along with him and there perchance thou mayst light upon one that was a greater Dance than the first And that was bad enough then be sure to keep close to thy Neighbour and go with him back again to his House and there begin to admire him that Spoke and Praise him as highly as thou canst and then thou shalt see how the other man will admire him also and then thou must be more Desirous than ever to go to the next and Speak and Act as aforesaid and per●aps that some Woman may ●e the Teacher or else some one that hath as little Reason as a Woman but however thou must take it in good part and say That without all Doubt this is the Truth for now there is this Scripture fulfilled which God said should come to pass That he would pour forth his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and his Daughters should Prophecy Then the other will say Blessed be the Goodness of the Lord that he hath been pleased to hide those things from the Wise and to deliver them to the Foolish of this World But if thou dost but observe a while thou shalt find them Cunning enough if not too Cunning for thee except thou hast a care and thou must bless God for opening thine Eyes to see the Truth Now by the next Meeting thou mayst begin to Thee and Thou but be sure thou move not thy Hat if thou shouldest meet the chiefest man in the City for if thou dost all thy Labour is lost thus far What they are to Observe and how to carry themselves before the rest of their Brethren FIrst as I told thee before be sure to watch the Door of thy Lips that there proceed not forth Yes but Yea nor No but Nay nor You but Thou nor Yours but Thine to any single Person these must be truly Learn'd and Practised for in them there is wrapt up a great Min● or a great Mystery of Godliness therefore be sure that thou have this little Knack or else thou dost nothing but if thou hast i● then thou shalt see what Wonders there may be done by it Now when thou hast done this then thou must be very Curteous to them but not with the Hat neither must thou Salute them with a Kiss if they be Women although at the first it was Common amongst them both men and women but in a short time it did some hurt to some of the Women for they got great-Bellies by the bargain and therefore it was left off by both Men and Women Now when thou hast attained to this great Perfection thou must go amongst them at other times and in the Week-dayes but if thou chance to ask me what great Perfections these were that I spoke of I answer Thou knowest as well as I but if thou hast not these thou canst not be look't upon as a Good Practick or a Faithful Freind But to proceed After thou hast been a constant Goer to the Meeting about a Quarter of a Year then some of the Heads will come to Visit thee they being come thou must get the best things the House can afford and if thou hast not such things as thou wouldest desire then send for it presently and give them more kind Entertainment then thou wouldest do to thy Father and Mother or the dearest Friend thou hast then after they have Eat and Drank with thee they will depart and report thee to be a very loving Friend and that there is abundance of Love raised in thee in a short time but thou must be sure to observe the Rules which before I have given thee Then they will Report it to their Minister what a good Friend there is lately come into the Truth and then in a short time thou ●●alt have him come and give thee a Visit especially if thou be a Rich man for of others they have too many already and now thou must shew forth thy parts and make much of him and if thou hast no Wine in thy House be sure to send for some with other things agreeable to it and to thy Estate it may be he will seemingly blame thee for sending for the Wine but at last he will take it in good part and if it be good Wine he will like it very well but thou must be sure to have a care that if thou shouldest meet them in any place not to invite them into any publike House as Tavern Inn or Al●-house for then they will look upon thee as one that is Prophane but behave thy self as

was already done After this at another time he and I went to the Cooks Shop in Smithfield to Dinner and being at Dinner he was still pressing me to this party but withall told me that she was covetous but if I would ●ake his advice he would do well enough for that but I must keep his counsel and do as he would tell me I askt him what it was and he said that I must buy four or five Hundred Pound Bags and go to Hackney High-way and fill them with little Pibbles I askt him what that was and he told me they were little Sto●es and bring them home to my Lodging and set them in my Closet then I must invite him to my Chamber and when he came I must open the Closet Door and let him see them and he would pretend to her that they were money but I abhor●ing all such deceit in my heart did not condescend to it After this another time at the same House we being at Dinner he blamed me that I went no of●ner to the party and said that he would teach me and it was this That he that would Wooe a Maid mu●t ●ain lye and flatter but he that would Wooe a Widdow must rehearsing these words several times down with his Britches and at her After this with many other perswasions which he used and perceiving that I would not do as he would have me he began to exclaim against me and call me all he could devise and also inform'd thee against me as thou knowest G. F. Hast thou any more to say against him Answ Yes but I would have him to answer to this first and leave the other for another part this is enough at once for him to answer to and when he hath so done he shall hear the other G. F. I would have thee to say all thou hast to say first Answ No I will not he shall answer to this first G. F. But there is another thing thou didst at his House thou wast uncivil there and offeredst some abuse to his Kinswoman or Sister Answ I know not his Kinswoman or Sister any more than him whom I never saw in my life nor I know not that I did any thing to them that was uncivil that I remember and if I did salute one or both of them it is more than I can remember but it may be I did and that was all To this Hilkiah Bedford made no reply to say whether it were so or no and so it was let alone G. F. Come Hilkiah make answer to what he hath said against thee is it true or not H. B. That is the Devil or it come of him for he is the Father of all such and looking upon me lyes for that which he hath said is false and there is no Truth in it G. F. Speak to the first is that true or not H. B. It was not as he said but it is true that I came there and found them together and said what you want one to joyn your hands together so I took their hands and in a light vain manner put them together and I blame my self for it G. F. That 's well said thou dost well to confess the Truth and to be sorry for it but what dost thou say to the other concerning the Stones H. B. The truth is that I could never see any thing in him but lightness and vanity I thought it was no matter of Conscience in him because he was so bad and so I said to him Canst thou not do so but for the rest it is false G. F. Thou dost well to confess the Truth but what sayst thou to the last H. B. There was some idle Discourse stir'd up by his vain mind which made me speak some vain words but what he saith is false and he lies G. F. Thou dost well to confess thy faults and not to stand in them I commend thee for it But yet for all his well-doing and saying and for this commendation of George's he did but praise a lyar for he spoke not the truth in any thing as it was done at the first Then I said to him that he had not spoken the Truth but did lye H. B. If they were the last word that I should speak they are true but he spoke after that therefore he did lie I answered if there be any Truth in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath that which he hath spoken is false then they blam'd me for bringing that in question upon such light occ●sion and spoke well of him for yielding to the truth whereas it was but to his own lyes that he yields to This being ended as you have heard then he was to accuse me of things that I am not sure whether ever I spoke them to him however I shall place them as they were spoken to me G. F. Hilkiah Hast not thou something to d●●use him of about James Sparkes H. B. Yes he said he had proved James Sparkes Ministry false and he a lyar and he said that George Fox took his part also and called James Sparkes a raw Boy G. F. But there is something concerning Jo. Bo●lton H. B. Yes he boasted and said that he disputed him and rou●ed him and put him in such amaze that he could not finde the way to the Meeting and further said that if the Ministers were in any dispute they must be beholding to him to help them out G. F. What do●t thou say to this what art thou sorry for abusing him Answ George I desire to have leave to speak how it was this which he speaketh of was done at Lancaster upon a time when he came from Bristol I having liv'd there formerly desired to know how friends did there they told me they were well I asked also for George ●ishop and whether he were in Prison or not they said yes I enquired in what Prison he was in they answered in none but in Thomas Gouldney's new House then said I Thomas Gouldney's new House is his Prison then they thundered Plagues and Damnation on me for saying Thomas Gouldney a very good friend should build Houses for Prisons for friends I told them again that I did n●t say that Thomas Gouldney did build it for a Prison but if George Bishop were Prisoner the place that did contain him by vertue of the Law was his Prison but they told me there was no vertue nor li●e in me nor in any thing that I did then I told them they did lye and that I would prove vertue in a Post then they said that the Plagues and veng●ance of God was for me and hang'd over my head and with many speeches of exclamation against me they went to their Chamber and I likewise went to mine and when I was entered into it I wept bitter●y to think how long a time they had professed the truth and p●e●end that they had the Divine teac●ing of the Spirit and ye● should ●e so ●oolish as not to understand reason

World and only make the true God a stalking-Horse to cover themselves withall but I leave them to the true God to be ●udged at the last Day although many of them believe it not as I shewed you before There is one thing more that I have known to be carried on with security and never mistrusted if thou hast a report it 's no matter any further for if thou shouldest buy a parcel of Goods then thou mayest take out about a fifth or a sixth part and convert it to thy own use and when a Chapman cometh to buy the other then thou mayst declare to him that thou wilt tell him to a penny what it cost thee and he shall know that thou wilt deal fairly and plainly with him and that thou wilt not cheat any Man but thou must have profit and that shall be very reasonable thou wilt refer thy self to him This Man seeing thy fair dealing as he judgeth gives thee good profit and here thou gainest on both hands also for that which thou tookest forth was sufficient for thee to get and the other that thy Chapman gave thee was clear gains Thus have I known a very good friend do and if ever thou thinkest to be a good friend thou must imitate the best I have two or three Rules more to instruct thee in and I will leave thee to thy new way of Conformity hoping that if at any time I have occasion to request thee to deliver me a message to the Church thou wilt do it and by this means thou dost ingage one to instruct thee further First thou must know that he that is a Man must be so in all parts for if any thing be wanting he is not esteemed for if a Man want his A●parel he is not taken for such a Person of honour as he is therefore thou must have a special care that thou art well provided or else all that thou hast done is but in vain therefore thou must observe that thou must cross the World in their fashions of Cloaths for in this there is a weighty matter and no small sin in the shape of Garments although in the mat●er thereof there is none save only in the forme for if it be ●ade like the Worlds it is judgable and not fit to come amongst ●●iends although the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in old ●●me stood not upon this but went like them of their own Nation yet th●● is nothing to thee for these are a People that comprehends all the Prophets and other Saints yea and God himself only they could never comprehend an Angel nor any other ●pirit yet they could Prophesie without either Angel or Spirit but which way soever it was done it was strange to me But to proceed first when this way came first up there was long-toed ●hooes and high-crown'd Hats then they must wear short Shooes ●●t for their Feet and low-crown'd Hats which were more fit for their Heads But now when others come to wear these then thou must leave them of and betake thy self to a great-crown'd Hat big enough for an Asses Head and broad-toed Shooes contrary to the World and then thou dost right and if thou didst wear thy Cloak without a Cape it would be the more out of the Worlds fashion and so the better accepted with them although it would be worse for thy shoulders but thou must not regard that if it be according to the truth The second thing is that thou have no Ribbons nor Lace about thee for if thou hast Lucifer the Prince of Pride will keep his Court there in the sight of the whole World and if thou hast any affection for him thou mayst set open the door of thy heart and let him sit there and that will please him and friends also for he will cause thee to carry thy mind very high and to conceit thy self to be some extraordinary Creature and more pure and sublime than any other that thou mayst stand in Authority and Rule to trample and tread all others that saith and doth not as thou sayst and doest under thy Feet and by this means purchase to thy self great fame I would have thee take a pattern of Dr. Gray for he is as perfect in that as any I know as also of his discourse and carriage but thou must pretend to some extraordinary Revelation as he did when he was ●ast into Prison that through the everlasting goodness of God he had reveal'd to him the secrets of Physick and now 〈◊〉 was able to cure all Di●eases for which he was 〈◊〉 esteem'd of all friends not only for what he could do but 〈◊〉 that it was reveal'd to him of God when he was in Prison 〈◊〉 as the truth of all is that this God of his was an old Gentlew●man in Islington Mistri●s Slack by name who I believe 〈◊〉 counted for no better than a Devil when she Su'd him for 〈◊〉 bargain and cast him and made him pay for his Revelations also for his Doctorship which he learn'd of her The last thing I have to instruct thee in is that thou dost no● question any of their Ministers about any principle in Religion 〈◊〉 for if thou dost they will tell thee there is no questioner in th● truth and that thou must wait to understand in thy self an● they which seeks out to others are wandering mindes and no● to be satisfied but thou must believe them as they speak in publick for in private many of them can give but a small account 〈◊〉 their faith FINIS

it before them If I should speak of it again to any of them by reason they thought I should set them one against another for there are some amongst them that do believe that there are Spirits and Angels and that there is an Immortal Soul which shall be received either into Joy and Glory or into Woe and Misery but they thought if this should come forth that they would question them about it and then they must either maintain themselves by Lyes or the other would declare against them Yet for all this I was resolved to keep this rapt up in the close Garment of Secrecy and not to declare it to others lest at last it should come forth to the Eares of all Men and so turn a reproach to me I being one of them but still this false deluding Fancy did more and more work in them by reason that they had fallen from the Truth into these Errours as aforesaid and as you shall see further In the Year 1665 when that Great Affliction or Judgment with which God was pleas'd by his hand to afflict this great City did begin having sent his Messenger the Plague and Pestilence then when the Lord first stretched forth his hand to touch some that so the rest might prepare themselves for him at that time there being many of the Quakers in this City the Lord spared them at the first and struck not the first Strock at them at which time they boasted themselves and would undertake to Prophesie all the Kingdom over and to declare unto all people That the hand of the Lord was against this City for their Persecuting them And as I have heard they were so bold as to give it forth in Print That they were the servants of the Lord and that he would cover their Heads in this His day of judgment and that it was only for the wicked And that the Saints of the most High should have their Heads covered in that day and that those that were Faithful unto the Lord should be k●pt sa●e And that now the Lord was Appearing to streth for●●●●●●s mi●hty Arme and would destroy the wicked Pers●cutors And that there should not any Friends dye for now the Lord would shew who were His in preserving them that were Vnspotted and Blan●l●ss that this his judgments should not come near their Dwelling place They appropriated this to themselves and pretended the Revelation of the Spirit for it But let all judge whether God himself seemed not A●gry with them for their Boasting of themselves for in a short time after their dyed more of them than of any other People considering the number of them and the number of others but thi● it is man is too much prone to boast of himself and his own Righteousness but it is a very sad thing When he pretends to speak by the Spirit of Prophecy and doth Lye against the Lord. At this time I was at Lancaster where the same Spirit of Prophesie was in the most Friends as they are called perswading others of them to the same whereupon they declared the same that is That no Friend● should have the Plague but that the Lord would would preserve them And this was generally believed amongst them but I for mine own part was resolved to speak my Judgment not pretending that I had it from the Spirit as they did I told them that as they were Corruptible bodies they were as subject to change as well as others that if the Sickness did Increase as I heard it did that they should not be free from it any more than others But some of them said my Opinion was like me but however it was most like to the Truth for within a month after it proved as I said and what they said of it was false then whereas they would scarce look upon me because they thought that I did it to cross what they had said and they did believe what they had said would come to pass and that I was out of the Truth then when it came to pass I was received into Favour again But for all this I was neither Exalted nor cast down but did desire with all my heart to reform these Absurdities and false Visions and counter●eit Sights by which they did pretend to see and discern but I for my part did desire to hide these things under the Coverlid of Love and to rap them up in the secret Corner of my Heart hoping that in time they would understand better and that then they would esteem those that had been constant Lovers of that which was Just and look upon them as their best Friends for what I said was out of the simplicity of my heart and not for Favour or for Envy CHAP. II. IN April 1667 I came to London and within Ten dayes after I became acquainted with Hilkiah Bed●ord at the Angel in Hosi●r-Lane a Mathematical Instrument Maker of whom I had heard so much Fame in the North and what Service he did here for Friends in London and not only for those that were in London but also in other Parts of the Kingdom for he was a man of a bold Spirit and could go to the King at any time when others could not possible come to speak with Him and that he was ready at all times to go to the King to deliver either Letter or any Message according as he had Orders or Directions whereby he became very serviceable to all Friends and he was a Faithful good Friend himself then I thought my self in no small Happiness for coming to visit him I often found George Fox with him and sometimes while I stood or sat by him George Fox would come and enquire of him about business that he had done at the Court then I thought my self more happy than ever that at the first I should light with so good an Aquaintance And understanding that George was great with him I thought by this means I might get some Pre●erment and come to great Credit by which means I might get Patients which fell out even as I thought in my self for in a few Dayes after by this means I had two or three Patients But alas many times when a Man thinks himself mo●t happy than is he most miserable And when a Man thinks himself the best befriended then many times i●●e most abused Now I thought my self happy and in very Great Bliss and Felicity and how sweet it was to me in this City to have Acquaintance how pleasant it was to me that was a stranger to get such Acquaintance But alas how soon did all turn to my Ruine and Destruction as they think not only to the loss of my Friends new Acquaintance and Patients But at the last cast out from amongst Men and to become one that is not fit to keep company with Men as will appear by this Discourse Now I must come to speak of these my New Friends in this City of London First of their Abuses and Carriage towards

nor moderation After that came Jo. Stubs into my Chamber and found me there weeping he askt me what was the rea●on of my weeping then I told him I would turn a Diogenes before I would be so abused by them he told me it was their weakness and that he would inform● George of it the next Morning he went to the Castle and when he came back he told me that he had informed George of all the Discourse and his answer was that James Sparks was a raw Boy in those things and that he must not meddle with those things that did not concern him and this Jo. Stubs told me that George had said as is aforesaid Now as concerning his Ministery being false and he a Lyar it was thus James Sparks having been at home a certain time came again to Lancaster where there being many other friends of my acquaintance I came into the Room where he was and he asked me what I came among them for giving me some of the same Language as he had the time before adding also that I was a Ra●ter and said that he had the Spirit of discerning I told him that he lyed and withall I told him that I would prove him one sooner than he could me but withall he told me that I had no Light nor Ve●tue in me then I left him and went up to the Castle where many came about me and blam●d me much for speaking against a Minister as they call'd him but I told them that one Man was no more to me than another further than they spoke the Truth then then they said to me what Would I offer to say that he that was a Minister did not speak the Truth I answered that he either was Lyar or his Ministery false and that I would prove it and they themselves should Judge then I told them that they themselves heard him say that there was no Life nor Vertue in me and yet in his Ministery he said that it is in every Man and I am sure that I am a Man and yet he saith it is not in me Therefore he is either a Lyar or his Ministry False Judge Y● G. F. We shall take no notice of these private things betwixt James Sparkes and thee Put dost thou think that thou didst well to bring this story Two Hundred Miles to tell it in this City What sayst thou to that Answ I blame my self for that but it is true and I do not repent that I did so by him George said that that word ●aw Boy was out of the Truth and he was certain he never said so but for my part I know not whether he did or no but this I certainly know that Jo. Stub● told me so G. F. But what sayst thou concerning Jo. Boulton Did he lose his way to the Meeting Answ Yes he knew not where he was untill he inquired G. F. But thou saydst that he was lost and in amaze Answ Yes he knew not where he was G. F. John Boulton Didst thou go to the Meeting after or not J. B. Yes I did but it was ●igh half done before I came there G. F. Dost not thou see what an untruth thou hast spoken here before Vs thou saydst that he was lost and yet he came to the Meeting after that Art not thou a Lyar Answ George Thou art now upon Criticks but what if a man should be lost in a Wood or Desert and after that should be taught the way home was he therefore not lost G. F. Why but he went to the Meeting that Day therefore he was not lost Answ But he knew not where he was untill he did ask J. B. I was out of my way because I came in lower than I use to do for I came in at the Hollow-way or Hog-lane under the Windmills Answ Now let all judge betwixt thee and I whether or no thou wast not both lost and in amaze when thou knowest not from that time to this very Day where thou wast for we never came neer the Windmils nor in that Lane for thou wentest strait out of Old-Street along that Lane to Shoreditch Church didst thou take that for a Windmil certainly the Windmil it was in thy head at that time J. B. But thou sayst I went not to the Meeting but that I left thee at the Alley and so I did Answ But I brought thee first into thy way before I left thee I wish thou mayst keep in a right way G. F. But art thou sorry that thou hast done this by him in telling it again Answ I am sorry I ever told it Hilkiah Bedford G. F. That is because thou art caught in it and questioned for it But dost thou condemn the thing in thy self for Evil Answ George I came not here to condemn my self I came here to be Judged of you and to hear your Judgment for I know my self and what I am guilty of better than you can tell me I came here to have a Tryal of those things I was accused of that you might be Judges betwixt us to see who were in the Fault that they might be reproved which were found guilty G. F. But here is Jo. Boulton who is an ancient Citizen and a sufficient Man and well known and hath suffered much and there are none to speak against him Art thou sorry for what thou hast said Answ There is more that I have to say which hath not yet been spoken of let us go through with that and then I shall answer you to your desire G. F. But thou must answer to this first or else thou art not to go any further for we will clear things as we go Answ I remember that the last time I was here he served me after this manner which I condescended to and then he would not let me speak any further but that I must repent of that or else I must not come among them therefore I will not Then answered Doctor Gray and told me that I said that I had drin kt that day Answ That I do every Day and Eat also when I can get it or have a Stomack to it this is another petty Judge But all this while I had forgotten the Woman with her Apish tricks for she seemed to me as if she would have Commanded me Silence with shaking of her Head grinding of her Teeth and mumbling her Lips and making of Ill-favoured Faces at me I never saw the like before except it were a Jack●napes but I commanded her to speak what she had to say but ●he was silent but for some of the rest of the Wome● I ●●ave them to their merry Conceits which they had gotten in a Corner But to return T●en there stood up a Country man and began to speak G. F. Askt me Whether I would ●●and to his Judgment for he was my Country-man Ans Yes I will stand to any ones Judgment for I came here to the same intent G. F. Come Friend speak Coun. Country-man ●t

is thy boasting proud Spi●it in thee G. F. Do●t thou stand to his Judgment Answ Yes I said before that I would stand to your Judgment But Friend what Country-man art thou He answered Stafford-Shire as I did understand T●●n said I thou art none of my Country-man Geo. blamed him for Speaking but 〈◊〉 suppose and so may all others that it was because Geo. would not have himself to be found in an Untruth as here he was otherwise it had been no matter G. F. But dost thou blame thy self and C●ndemn it in the bottom of thy Heart Answ Geo. I told thee before that I did Repent and was sorry in that I told it Hilkiah Bedford and I know not whether I did tell it to any other but I must tell thee That at that time he ca●t out some Words that I thought to have told it to thee And if I had done so I should not have Repented but in Telling it where it was not Expedient or Convenient I am sorry and repent for it G. F. But art thou sorry for it and do●t thou condemn thy self if thou do●t then we will proceed to the other Let me perswade thee for if thou stand in it after this manner thou art not to come amongst men nor to discourse nor have any Familiarity with man and what wilt thou do then thou must be undone because thou wilt not yield to this It were better for thee to submit to Jo. Boulton Answ I have said enough I think if you would have me say any thing else tell me what I must speak I shall say it G. F. We must not spend our Precious time thus for we have other things to do and to wait upon the Lord and if thou will not Submit then thou must go from amongst Vs We had more Words which were to no effect and cannot well be put in Order because they were like a Horse in a Mill still running round but come to the same place Then G. Fox commanded the Clark to Write That whereas Nathaniel Smith hath spoke Evil of J. Boulton behind his back and will not submit to him Therefore he is not to have any Communication with any man or any man with him This he was to Record against me but let all judge whether I did not submit enough to him or whether he or I was in the greatest Fault or whether he had not cause to have repented or submit to me for his Judgment the last Tryal But all that they did aime at was to have me to condemn my self that so they might the better have done it hereafter and that he might Rule and bear Dominion over others Then G. Fox Commanded me to go from amongst them for they had other things to do but that good Saint Hilkiah Bedford was received again and suffered to be as one of them but I departed at his Command Some few dayes after this I came to some of their Houses and they took occasion to speak to me of the last Tryal and said that I must bear with Friends I told them that I had born with them these 10 Years in hopes that in time they would grow in the Truth and Righteousness and then they would cast off all such Ceremonies and Conceits as they had got amongst them as you shall here further in m● Reply to their Answer if they make any if not I shall let it rest There was some others that said I must forget and forgive for that was according to the Truth and not take Notice of such things and that I ought to bear with others I know that all this is true but what is the reason they observe it not themselves They lay B●rthens upon others that they themselves will not bear for this is the first they have to Accuse me of but I have to Accuse them from time to time Yet I have born with and forgiven it but if they be not Sati●fied in it t●e● shall have it the next time when they desire me to Answer them to their Propositions But now G. Fox begins to clear himself of this Court that he is not Guilty For we saith he cast out none but they cast out themselves through their Wickedness for we do not receive them i● therefore we cannot cast them out What then was that Sentence that the Clark of the Closet drew up But you Preach Teach and Speak whereby to bring them in and then if they will not observe your Ceremonies then you do your Endeavour to do it and to my own knowledge by Wards you have past Sentence upon them as you did by me and others you have carried out by Violence and here it appears you do for I my self did not leave you till Jo. Boulton Commanded me not to come Here it doth Appear that there is a different Spirit amongst them and so it cant be said that I cast out my self by reason of Wickedness for I came to complain against the Wickedness of some of you But you had rather Des●roy any Person than your Juglings should come to light as it hath done in this but how G. Fox will clear himself that he doth not cast any forth and yet did it by me and said That it was better for me to submit to Jo. Boulton as I suppose that Shordit●h-Church was a Wind-Mill and that he was not lost nor then out of his way neither in amaze If I would have submitted to this then the Sentence should not have been past against me nor I cast ●ut but it doth appear to me something like them in Old time when they cast them forth and Imprisoned them and put them to Death yet they said it was their own Fault and that they brought all upon their own Heads for in all times those that were the Perse●utors would ever clear themselves of it as far as their Tongue or Pens could reach and many times they would Reach over many Kingdoms to beguile the Ignorant Geo. But this is the Triming of the Vineyard and the plucking up of the Tares out of the W●eat and s● it is lawful But yet George there is something more in it for thou must have a ca●e whe● thou Trim or Prune the Vine for thou mayst as well Destroy it as Cure it in Cutting o●● when it should rather have been Nursed up and the Bryars and T●orns that did choak it have been cut down before that thou hadst meddled with it then mightest thou have had abundance of it to discern between Good and Evil but it may be that it is thy Resolution to pluck up the Tares from amongst the Wheat and set the rest of thy Servants to do the like but thou must receive a greater Call than those did which Christ reproved and said that the Wheat and Tares must grow together lest they should Destroy the Wheat also but I understand that this i● no great Burthen to tread down the Wheat if every blade do not please you although the Wheat