keep them Clofe Now we desire thee to satisfie us out of the New Testament and give us Chapter and Verse for these things which thee and you practice and let us see where it is written for the Apostle tells you you are not to presume above what is written as thou may'st see in 1 Cor. 4.6 for thou being a Bishop oughtest to satisfie us in a Scripture way And so we thy Prisoners desire thy Epistle and satisfaction from thee by the Scripture of the New Testament For our not paying thee Tithes the Lord knows is not for Covetousness or Rebellion but for Conscience sake to our God knowing that Christ said to his Disciples Freely you have received freely give as thou mayst see in Matth. 10. And what was set before them that they might Eat and if thou or any of thy Ministers if they be Ministers of the Gospel and abide in Christ's Doctrine we will receive them and thee into our Houses and set before you Meat and Drink and you shall freely Eat and Drink of our Carnal Things if you have any Spiritual Things to minister to us And did ever Christ or his Apostles cast any into Prison without Admonishing of them as thou hast done us Let us see where it is written So we leave our Cause with the Lord And as we are thy Prisoners having laid these things before thee whether thou wilt give thy Epistle and shew us Chapter and Verse for thy Practice or if thou canst not be silent Or whether thou wilt continue us or set us at Liberty we leave them with thee and rest satisfied For though in the World we have Tribulation yet in him that overcame the World we have Peace which the World cannot take away in which we rest whose names are Roger Haydock Heskin Fell Prisoners The third Person by them imprisoned and complained against because she had Liberty who by course of Law was released yet a Suit depending and therefore a Sufferer for her Testimony who with us we joyn in what we have writ Her name is Alice Haydock Lancaster Castle the 17th of the 8th Month 1676. A Brief ACCOUNT Of the Life Travels Sufferings and Death of Roger Haydock I Now having before me the Account at large of what Observations my dear Brother Roger Haydock in Manuscript had writ down with his own hand from the time of his Convincement to the day he was visited with Sickness could not omit communiating to all to whom this may come an Abstract thereof to manifest the Soveraignty of that Power Light and Life which made him what he was endued him with Understanding and Zeal and carried him along through his Pilgrimage both at home and abroad by Sea and Land and preserved him from the Depths of one hand from the heights of the other hand in that love which bears all things suffers through all things and reigns over all things In the 9th Month 1667. Roger Haydock was Convinced of the Truth and received it in the Love and Warmth of of it In the 2d Month following he and I being at a Meeting with Friends in Bury in Lancashire upon the 5th day of the said Month were then with five other Friends taken Prisoners and had before Robert Holt called Justice who by Mittimus committed us to the common Goal of Lantaster we Conscienciously refusing to give Bond to appear at the Sessions c. where we remained till the 28th of the 5th Month following and then were released Upon the 22d of the 11th Month 1669. he was apprehended and brought before the Justices at the Quarter Sessions at Manchester and by them for being at three Meetings in Bury fined 15 l. And upon the 12th of the 7th Month 1670. he had the exercise with his Mother and Brethren of Burying our deceased Father In the 9th Month 1671. he had a Concern in the Spirit of Christ to go into Cheshire to visit several of Friends Meetings there and then returned to his place In the 4th Month 1672. he was drawn forth to visit several of the Churches in Yorkshire and returned Afterwards 1672 and 1673. his Service lay sometimes in Yorkshire Lancashire and Cheshire but in Cheshire and Yorshire more particularly The Lord blessed his Service and Travels amongst those Churches for several People were convinced Upon the 3d of the 3d Month 1674. he was apprehended and sent to the common Goal at Lancaster for non-payment of Tithes there remained until the 12th of the 11th Month in the same Year then released In the 5th and 6th Month 1675. he visited several Churches in Cheshire Staffordshire Warwickshire Worcestersheir Herefordshire Shropshire and returned And the 23d of the 6th Month for being at a Meeting in Boulton in Lancashire he was fined 20 l. The 15th of the 7th Month following he was committed Prisoner to the common Goal at Lancaster for non-payment of Tithes by Ralph Bridock Bishop of Chester In the 8th Month following he did go to visit several Churches and returned In the 10th Month following he visited the Churches in Westmorland and returned The 20th of the 4th Month 1676. he had liberty to go into Cheshire where he had a Dispute with Priest Barber and returned In the 6th Month following by the Instigation of the said Bishop he was confined close Prisoner and it lay upon him to write to the said Bishop after which his Bonds were not so strait during the Bishop's Life The 23d of the 11th Month following he had liberty to go into Cheshire where he had a Dispute with John Cheyney Priest at Arley Hall which the Lord blessed with Success for several were Convinced He writ that Year a Book entituled The Skirmisher Confounded And in 1677. another entituled A Hypocrite Vnvailed Or a Blasphemer made manifest In the 9th Month 1677. he was many days under great Exercise and Travel of Spirit but in the end the Lord did reveal his Will unto which he submitted After he returned out of the North from visiting Friends there in the 5th Month 1677. The 13th of the 12th Month 1678. after the Bishop's Death he was releas'd so that he was a Prisoner from the 15th of the 7th Month 1675 to the 13th of the 12th Month 1678. Three Years four Months and twenty nine Days save what Liberty was allowed him which Liberty he greatly improved to the Honour of God who alone shall have the Praise In the same Year he was drawn to visit many of the Churches of Christ in the South to and again to Bristol and so for London and back into the North and so was constant in publishing the Gospel and bearing witness to the Light and Truth within in many places in this Nation bearing also a faithful Testimony against that Spirit which led into the Separation from Truth and the Unity of Friends and those tainted therewith having thereof a clear discerning as many can bear witness The 30th of the 3d Month 1679. he pass'd for London and through several
Counties to and again in the South visiting the Friends and returned into Lancashire In the 5th Month following he went for Notinghamshire after which he travelled visiting many Meetings in England till the 3d of the 3d Month 1680. at which time he took Shipping for Ireland and landed at Dublin visiting the Churches there and in the South part and Mid-land of that Nation and returned to Dublin the 13th of the 5th Month following at which place he was taken extreamly Sick and lay four days then recovered and travelled into the North and visited several Meetings there but at Lisnegarvy was taken Sick yet passed to Belfast and Knockfergus where his Sickness encreasing grew to a violent Fever so that he was nigh unto Death in the view of most that saw him yet the Lord restored him blessed be his Name After which he assayed to Travel to Lisnegarvy and Lurgan where being weak he rested till stronger and so came to Dublin where Friends gladly received him Staying some Weeks there having good Service he left the City took Shipping in the 7th Month following and landed at Leverpool in the North of England where he visited Meetings to and again till the middle of the first Month 1681. at which time he travelled the Country visiting the Friends to Bristol and so to London where he took Shipping at Gravesend and past to the Brill in Holland The 5th of the 4th Month following he visited the Churches in Holland Westfriezland Groningland Frederickstadt Hambrough Saxony Germany Palatinate An Order was sent from the High Court at Altry by which he was brought before the Chief Magistrate there who kept him Prisoner eleven days being twice brought to the Ant-house and there examined and at last released and so returned visiting the Churches came to the Bril the 17th of the 7th Month following by Packquet Boat came to Harwith and so along visiting Friends Meetings to London and through part of the South and so into the North where he travelled visiting the Meetings of Friends And according to the good Order of Truth practised in the Church he took to Wife Elianor Lowe the 6th of the 3d Month 1682. and after stayed in Lancashire and Cheshire till the latter end of that Month and then travelled for London afterwards through the South part to Exeter visiting the Churches to Bristol and so into the North where he settled his Wife at Warrington in the South of Lancashire in the 7th Month following The 20th of the 6th Month 1683. he was for being at a Religious Meeting committed to Lancaster Goal and kept Prisoner till the 26th of the 3d Month 1684. then set at Liberty The 24th of the 5th Month 1684. he was by the Lord's Assistance Serviceable to Friends in Staffordshire and returned to Warrington very Sick which proved a Fever which continued twenty Days and the weakness that followed forced him to keep home till the 28th of the 7th Month following Then he pass'd Northward and visited Friends Meetings to and again and returned back And the 10th of the 10th Month following was at the Burying of his Mother The 29th of the said 10th Month he was by the Constables of Warrington John Taylor and William Carter apprehended and brought to Lancaster Goal and at the Assizes brought twice before Judge Atkins and continued Prisoner until the 19th of the first Month 1686. at which time he and several other Friends were by the King's Pardon released So that from the 29th of the 10th Month 1684. to the 19th of the first Month 1686. he was a Prisoner In the 2d Month following he spoke to the Earl of Darby about Friends Sufferings in the Isle of Man who was moderate towards the said Friends and then took his Journey to visit the Meetings along the several Counties through Wales to Bristol and so along to Cornwal and so to London to the Yearly Meeting afterwards by Colchester to Harwich where he took Shipping on Board the Hope and landed at the Brill the 11th of the 4th Month 1686. and came to the Yearly Meeting at Amsterdam where by Friends he was gladly received and afterwards travelled those Countries to Hambrough to and again in Germany Groningland Friezland and Holland visiting the Churches And at the Brill took Shipping and landed the 26th of the 5th Month following at Harwich past to Colchester so to London and after visiting the Meetings past along the Counties for the North and came to Lancashire in the beginning of the Winter where he pass'd the Winter over and at the Spring following visited the Meetings further North and pass'd into Scotland by Douglass Glasco and to Edenburgh to a Yearly Meeting there then to Rosse Aberdeen Kinmuck and returned by Edenburgh and after having visited the Churches in Scotland returned to England and by New-Castle through Bishoprick Cleaveland East part of Yorkshire then to York at the Yearly Meeting there Thus having visited the Churches along pass'd for Lancashire to his Wife and Family which he removed from Warrington to Brick-hall in Penketh in the 5th Month 1687. and there settled them In the 6th Month following he was visited with Sickness which continued some time but after he recovered he visited Friends Northward and returned into Staffordshire and Cheshire where he was taken Sick again and in the 10th Month returned to his House not well and kept his Bed several days The 11th Month after recovered and past to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting from thence returned unwell again which continued sometime so that he travelled not much because thereof save only to Meetings in the South part of Lancashire and Cheshire till the 2â—th of the 3d Month 1688. at which time he travelled for London to the Yearly Meeting and returned to Lancashire the latter end of the 4th Month following and travelled to and again visiting the Meetings and about the Churches Affairs in the North the Winter and Spring following and till the beginning of the 6th Month 1689. A violent Fever then took him which brought him very weak yet blessed be God he recovered And in the 7th Month following the Tithe-takers broke open his Gates being lock'd and took his Corn against whose doings he appeared in Testimony and got Cold grew weak again and so continued all Winter till Summer following in which upon the 29th of the 4th Month 1690. he got to Franley Meeting it being the first after his Fever took him which was the 7th of the 6th Month 1689. so that his Weakness made him unfit for Travel near eleven Months afterwards he travelled at times to visit Meetings and about the Churches Affairs Northwards that Summer and Winter following and latter end of the 3d Month 1691. he travelled for London to the Yearly Meeting and so through several Counties visiting Friends Meetings in his return for Lancashire and to and again that Summer and till latter end of the 12th Month he travelled visiting the Friends in the North at which time he got a Surfeit and
Quotidian Ague which continu'd nine Weeks in which time he was assessed 20 s. for a Preacher and had Corn taken by Thomas Taylor and Thomas Clare worth 28 s. and the second time assessed the like Sum and had Wheat taken for it A Dispute agreed upon by him in the latter end of the 12th Month 1692. and had with John Hide a Priest in Cheshire the 16th of the first Month 1693. which alarmed the People of that County and was of Service to Truth Afterwards he took his Journey through many of the Southern Counties through Wales by Bristol Weymouth and so to London at the Yearly Meeting After returned to Lancashire and Lancaster Quarterly Meeting and to Penketh and so again into the South visiting several Meetings in several Counties and in the 8th Month following returned to Lancashire where he travelled to and again that Winter in the North in visiting the Meetings and about the Affairs of the Church At the Spring 1694. he was at London at the Yearly Meeting giving a full Visit through that City to the several Meetings there and then returned to Lancashire and to York Yearly Meeting and after visited some Meetings in Yorkshire then to Penketh and visited the Meetings in the South part of Lancashire then to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting and after that returned to his own House but staid but a while for he travelled to and again in Lancashire and Cheshire till the 11th Month and then went to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting so to Kendal at Quarterly Meeting then visited some of the Meetings in those parts and then came back for Penketh The 20th of the first Month 1695. took his Journey to the Yearly Meeting in Wales and then visited the Churches in several places therein so to Bristol visited the Meetings there and staid the Yearly Meeting then visiting the Meetings in several Counties Southward came to London at the Yearly Meeting from whence to Colchester and Harwich took â—hipping the 26th of the 3d Month â—anded in Holland the 29th lying Windâ—ound 36 Hours came to Amsterdam at Yearly Meeting then visited the Churches in Holland Westfrizeland Groningen Embden to Frederickstadt Hambrough and so along those Countries visiting Friends to Amsterdam and Roterdam afterwards took Shipping and landed at Harwich the 28th of the 5th Month 1695. and so by Colchester to London still visiting Meetings along as he travelled and then for the North where he travelled to and again at times until the 25th of the 12th Month 1695. and then took his Journey for Bristol and was at the Marriage of William Penn with Hannah Callowhill and back After his return he visited Meetings to and again in the North till the 29th of the 2d Month 1696. he with his Brother's John and Robert Haydock accompanied the two Wifes of Roger and Robert on their Journey to Talk-hill in Staffordshire John Haydock and two Women being on their Journey to visit the Meetings of Friends in the South of England and there they parted from John and the two Eleanor's and returned back to Penketh Fifty Three Years Old he was the first of the 3d Month 1696. and having been at Hartshaw Monthly Meeting for Worship the 8th Day day of the said Month returned back and the day following being the 7th day of the Week and 9th day of the said Month was taken with Sickness which was supposed to be a Malignant Fever and upon the 2d day next departed whose Body was buried at the Burying-place belonging to Friends at Grayston in Penketh in the South part of Lancashire many Friends and other People being present And thus have I abreviated the Journal of my Fellow-labourer in the Gospel and dear Brother according to the Spirit and Brother also according to the Flesh whose Unity and Fellowship in the Light was precious being of one Mind in things relating to Truth and the Discipline in the Church of Christ as also of the Doctrine and Precept of Christ being joyned in the Truth which is but one and bound up together in the Bond of Life and Love in our Souls to be one and in the one Eternal Spirit and Light of Life together sealed And although he be removed from the House of Clay or Dust which moved to and fro in the Counties Islands Countries and Kingdoms here below wherein he bore a faithful Testimony to the Light the Truth the Life manifest within in which he was supported and carried along in that weighty Work and Service in his Day yet the Fruits of his Labours and Travels shew forth the Praise of God and his Faithfulness Uprightness and Zeal to God and his Truth is sealed in many Hearts by the Spirit of Christ From the time of his Convincement to the time he was first moved by the Spirit of God to visit the Churches of Christ and Children of Light was four Years in which time Sufferings by Imprisonment he passed through being young Our Father's departure the 10th of the 7th Month 1670. and burial the 12th of the same and other hard Exercises which he past through I at that time being in Ireland in the labour of the Gospel had but small past thereof From the first of his going abroad in the Work of the Ministry to the time of his departure from hence was twenty four Years and a half in which time not with standing his Imprisonment Sickness and Weakness of Body and Family he travelled by Sea and by Land by Computation Thirty Two Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Seven Miles and ministred in Two Thousand Six Hundred and Nine Meetings or Churches as his Journal plainly makes appear which he writ down with his own hand from Day to Day Weekly Monthly and Yearly to that very Day he was visited which was the 9th day of the 3d Month 1696. as aforesaid And now having finished the Account I give taken out of the Manuscript of his Sufferings Travels Services and Zeal as aforesaid add this furthur Account This my Friend departed was my younger Brother begot by one Father and brought forth by one Mother and Born in Coppul in the South part of Lancashire brought up whilst a Child at School and had some Learning who whilst a Schollar had an Exercise of Mind by the in-workings of the Light but at that time attained not to the Knowledge of that good Spirit of God in his Heart which was then at work in him so that after it pleased God the Father in the 7th Month 1667. to visit me by his Light in the inwards of my Heart by which he powerfully work'd in me until my Will was brought down and subjected to the Will of God and my Heart so fitted that in it I saw Christ the Light and Word of Eternal Life and believed After this my said Brother coming to my Father's House was by our Mother put on to Discourse with me she being a Professor and inclined to the Presbyterian Way but quickly he was put to Silence and confounded so that being gone from
often express it and truly so was he to me every Day every Way and in every Respect no Tongue nor Pen can relate the full of that Comfort and Joy we had in God and one in another Yet we find such hath been the Pleasure of God concerning them he hath loved to try them in the most near and dear Enjoyments that it might be manifest he was loved above all that no Gift or Gifts may be preferred above the Giver but that he may be all in all and over all who is and is to come God blessed for ever and ever And truly there hath been great Care and Watchfulness one over another and over our own Spirits to see that our Love though great was bounded and kept within its Compass the Truth being its Original the Alpha and Omega also Although it hath been the Pleasure of God to try me in the removal of so great a Blessing from me sure it is that I may be the more inward to him and have his Love always in my Remembrance who gives and takes away and in all Bless his Name My Soul travels that I may always follow his footsteps of Self-denial in all things that I may finish my Course in this World to the Glory of God as he did and have my part in that Mansion of Glory with him eternal in the Heavens though it be my Lot to stay for a time in this World of Troubles yet I have hope in Immortality and Eternal Blessedness when time in this World shall be no more My dear Husband was a Man very Laborious in his time though he had several long weak Fits of Feavers and Agues yet when a little well regarded the Lord's Business above all Besides his Travels about home and here in England he travelled through Scotland and twice in Holland and Germany since we were Married and had great Services for the Lord in many Places as I doubt not but Accounts may be given and through Mercy for two Years last had his Health well and is gathered to his place like a Shock of Corn in its due Season and rests with the Lord for ever I have sometimes considered the suddenness and manner of his Removal although it was ordered by Providence that I was far remote at that Time in in the Service of Truth which was with his free Consent and Approbation being brought on my Way by him so far as Talk-Hill in Staffordshire where we parted in great Love and Sweetness the Glory of the Lord resting upon our Spirits in which Breathings ascended up to the Lord for each other And though I saw not his going away yet have seen in what he went that it was full of Zeal and Fervency in the Love of God and Life of Righteousness So in pure Submission to the Will of God I conclude this short but true Relation of my Worthy Dear Husband whose Name and Memorial is blessed and will live and be of a sweet Savour in the Hearts of the Righteous through Ages I am Truths Friend and a well-wisher to the Souls of all People Eleanor Haydock Penketh the 15th of the 3d Month 1697. Ashort Testimony to the Lord's Kindness and to the Life Ministry Sufferings Services and Death of our Worthy Friend Roger Haydock who departed this Life the 11th Day of the 3d Month 1696. WE are deeply affected and bowed in Soul in a sense of the Lord 's free Love and Goodness unto us in looking upon and visiting us in the time of our Uncleanness when we were unworthy of the least of his Mercies Oh! then was his Arm revealed for our Help Redemption and Salvation a Work of so great Kindness as ought ever to be had in Remembrance in that neither we noâ— any of the Children of Men can sufficiently set forth so great a Favour the Concern is of great Moment the only begotten Son of God laid down his Life to effect it We Travel in our several Measures that we and all the Lord 's gathered People may ever dwell in a Worthiness that we may be in the Lords hand Instruments to work the appointed work of our Day And under this tender sense we found our Hearts open to give the Salutation of unseigned Love to all our dear Friends where these may come with this brotherly Exhortation That you may all stir up one another to the Duty you owe unto the Lord that as a Church and People of our God's peculiar gathering you and we may be presented to him without Spot or Wrinkle And dear Brethren the dealings of the Lord with his Instruments and faithful Servants and the removing of them from us hath considerable Weight upon our Spirits and raiseth a holy Desire in us that we and you may not abate but encrease our Zeal Diligence and Labour that the Lords good Work begun may not stop but go on and prosper and that the great Lord of the Harvest may never want faithful Workmen Next hereunto O Reader We recommend to thy perusal this following Account of our said Friend Roger Haydock First As touching the manner of his Life we having several of us known and conversed with him from the time of his Convincement can say of it His Conversation was without Covetousness of Self-denial he was a good Pattern in Habit Plain in Meats and Drinks very Temperate and in his Actions and Concerns Careful that what he did might answer the better Part in all and justly offend none Walking he would often say he preferred before Talking and laboured that others might walk as they had Christ for an Example Secondly As to his Ministry though we need say little because it was known in most places where these may come We have from good Experience this Account to give That he preached the Gospel freely both in this and other Nations always possessed with a Care that Life and Vertue might put him forth and manifest him to his Auditors very weighty and deep things did often drop from his Mouth and although he had sometimes sharp Arrows to shoot at Babylon and against all Hypocrites and Double-Minded yet many times a Living Sweet Consolating Stream was conveyed through him to water the tender Plants and very often a Morsel to the Poor and Needy Very tender and kind to his Fellow-Labourers yea to the least Child that from a right Concern opened a Mouth for the Lord and for the sakes of such did many times sit whole Meetings through in Silence very kind in that Respect to Strangers yea such was the Care of this good Man that Friends might truly reap benefit in their Meetings that in many of our Week-day Meetings he used to wait amongst us in Silence that none might too much depend upon Words or be surfeited through the multitude thereof And when at any time he had upon him a Concern to visit Churches in remote Parts his manner was to lay before and wait for the Concurrence of this our Meeting which many times occasioned
Journey was of great Service to me in my young Days and indeed a Time of Service to many in that County many were Convinced that Journey and many young ones strengthned and refreshed many drawings about that time had he had into that County of Chester and of great Service it was the Lord wonderfully blessed his Labours and there remains many Seals of his Ministry amongst which was my dear Brother John Low who was Convinced of the Truth and lived and dyed in It a faithful Man also his dear Wife Children and Servants besides many that way at which the Priests began to Rage and prepare War because many refused to put into their Mouths and could Buy their Merchandize no more receiving the Invitation that was free Come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price It was a glorious Time indeed and by the plenteous Preaching of the Gospel the Lord opened many Hearts to receive it as he did the Heart of Lydia of old and the Word of God grew in our Hearts that had received it in Love and the Lord opened my Mouth and touched my Tongue as with a Live Coal from his Altar that I might testifie to that Word of Life that Converts the Heart and gives Understanding to the Simple In this Time was he very Helpful and of great Service to me being always ready to lend an Hand of Help to weak ones to promote every good Word and Work About that time I with my Cousin Elizabeth Hodson went to visit Friends in some parts of Yorkshire and he brought us on our way as far as Bradley where we had a good Meeting where William Ellis and some others were Convinced there he left us and we travelled some Weeks in that County and had good Service for Truth and returned Truth prospering and Zeal and Fervency for it in our Hearts encreased About this time the Lord raised a Concern of Love in our Hearts each to other relating to Marriage In which Concern we felt the Lord's special Hand to order us It continued betwixt us for the space of five Years we never Created Opportunities to discourse it nor any Journey on purpose was made about it during that Time yet in the Way of Providence we met together sometimes in which we had some Discourse the Lord still evidencing to us his good Pleasure therein in which time we laboured in our respective Gifts in the Work of the Ministry being truly united in Spirit and daily sensible of one another's Exercises though much absent one from another outwardly he being concerned in Travels in the Labour of the Gospel though much a Prisoner yet the Lord made way for the Work 's sake that he travelled in many Parts of this Nation both North and South as also through the Nation of Ireland where he took Sickness which was then some Exercise to me being at such a distance but the Lord shewed me that at that time he should not Dye and blessed be the Lord he returned well with the Reward of his Labours Peace and Satisfaction After that he stayed a while and visited the Churches up and down in England where the Lord wonderfully blessed his Labours many were convinced and turned to Christ Jesus their Teacher and the Convinced were strengthned and built up together in that most holy Faith which gives Victory over the World and when clear of these Services here he went up to London to the Yearly-Meeting and found drawings for Holland and Germany which after the Yearly-Meeting was over he faithfully answered together with Roger Longworth his Companion at that time the Lord greatly blessed his Labours and made them effectual to many the same time I was at London with him at the Yearly-Meeting where we were refreshed together being devoted to the Work and Service of God which the Lord blessed and us in it I with dear Mary Warrel travelled from London west-ward through several Counties as Hampshire Dorsetshire Devonshire as far as Plymouth so back to Bristol and homeward The Lord was with us and blessed our Labours and we return'd in Peace After our return Home my dear Friend returned back from Holland that Winter and about this time the Lord gave us to understand our Concern of Marriage was near to be accomplished betwixt us in which we had regard to the Lord's Hand and Counsel It was compleated the Spring following the 6th Day of the 3d Month 1682. before many faithful Friends and others the Lord 's glorious Presence and Power was with us as a Crown upon his Ordinance And as we had evidence in our selves of the Lord's hand with us guiding us in that Affair so the Lord raised up his Testimony in the Word of Life in others And I may further say The Lord who joyned us together blessed Us when together so that we lived in great Love and Peace 14 Years and five Days in which time we were never straitned one towards another always of one Heart and of one Mind purely knit together in the Covenant of Life so that the Grave hath not broken our Fellowship it goes beyond the Grave where we can enjoy the Spirits of the Just the Separation that is made is only of Bodies not of Spirits Praises to God therefore My dear Husband as he was a faithful Man so was he a growing Man doubled his Talents and encreased his Gifts both as a Minister and as a Help in Government in the Church who being very Skilful and Wise therein settled many Affairs comfortably in the Church not only in our own County but Neighbouring Counties I may say of him He was wholly redeemed from the World altogether the Lord's in all Respects given up to him I saw his Growth daily and sometime rejoyced in it yet in my Joy there was some Heaviness looking he was nigh the Perfection of his Gifts and in a little time must go to his Rewards The sence of this came upon me with Sorrow when he was last in Holland which occasioned me to turn over all Affairs to see whether I had given the Lord occasion to withdraw so great a Blessing from me but blessed be the Lord I found all Accounts straight and no Rebuke upon my Spirit any way having always given him to the Lord according to that Promise I made before I took him by the Hand before so many Witnesses which was To give him to the Lord as long as he lived which the great Lord before whom only I promised helped me to the performance of so that my Heart was never strait there through our time and I may further say as freely as I gave so freely was I given to the Lord my dear Husband often expressing his great Love to me above all Visibles as the best of enjoyment he had in this World yet would say I was not too dear to give up to serve the Truth because in it I was made a Blessing to him more comfortable every Day than other he would
a weighty Sense of his Service to spring among us Many were convinced by him We have not heard of any of his Travels but some became Seals of his Ministry in all this as he did so do we attribute the Glory to God whose chosen Vessel he was Thirdly As this our said Friend was called to Believe and to Receive a part of the Ministry so did he joyfully embrace Sufferings as a part of his Calling and on the account thereof we several of us having been his fellow-Prisoners can with much certainty Testifie that he never turned his back or gave ground to Truth 's Adversaries in his Testimony but chearfully suffered Bonds as well as Spoil of Goods as the Lord permitted him to be tryed therein We can further add that all his Sufferings he underwent with great Simplicity as well as Patience the Lord's hand alone without Carnal Contrivance being truly regarded eyed and depended on for his Enlargement so that he was made to Triumph in the Lord for his Deliverance Fourthly The next part in which he was evidently manifested to us to be a Workman who needed not to be ashamed was his singular Care and watchfulness over the Flock of God amongst whom he was not only a good Apostle a Minister of the Spirit but a careful Over-seer an Instrument to Prune Dress Fence in and keep Clean that the Church of God might be kept in its Beauty and wear its own Livery even even the White-Linnen without Spot or Wrinkle We are truly sensible his Care and Labour tended to this He was a very seasonable and constant Attender of these our Meetings as well as others oftentimes was he opened amongst us in a short Testimony in God's Wisdom suitable to the occasion Cautious that neither he nor any amongst us might obstruct the Days Service by enlarging therein Weighty and Clear he was in handling the Concerns of Truth yea studious to propagate its Interest with all his Strength very Zealous that nothing might remain in the Churches either to be a stumbling-Block or occasion our Posterity to enquire why these things were left All Superfluities of Meats Drinks Apparel and Furniture as well as Feastings at Births Marriages and Burials and other needless worldly Customs he lived to see put a stop to and which he in the Lord's hand was made an Instrument to effect He would with Gravity Clearness and Plainness go through weighty matters and in handling was very Righteous for though he was of an humble Condescention to hear the mind of the least Member yet would he not submit the justness of a Matter or lessen his Judgment or the Stroak of Truth upon it for the Interest of either Friend or Brother and as ready he was to submit himself where he either mis-apprehended or was mis-informed In this manner we cannot forbear to tell it was he conversant amongst us a good help in Government for which sake we truly honoured him and on behalf of the Concern the Lord had laid upon him relating to the Discipline of the Church we can say to the Praise of God that what he recommended to Friends Practice in places abroad as he fell in their Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings not taking effect to be complyed with in his Life-time hath since his departure from us been put in Practice by them and a Benefit found thereby so that being Dead he yet Spâ—aketh his Life and Spirit Bent and Inclination have still their Motion in the Minds of many Much more might be truly said to the Praise of that Vertue that dwelt richly in him but our design was Brevity in this Undertaking and our only Aim therein the Exaltation of that Grace by which he was what he was to God his Church and People Lastly As to his Death It was sudden and surprizing to us in that not above three Days before it he seemed in full Strength both of Body and Mind and bare amongst us a living Testimony to that Universal Grace and Sufficiency of it by which we were called and in which all have Life Salvation and Peace and exhorted Friends to avoid every thing that would gender to Bondage c. The Day following he fell Sick as was supposed of a malignant Fever which continued violent upon him for about two days and a half and then dyed in the Presence of many Friends His Body was accompanied by a great number to Friends Grave-Yard in Penketh after the interring of the Corps was a very large Meeting many more than the Meeting-House could contain several Testimonies were born and a solid Weight of Divine Goodness over-shadowed the Meeting so that we may say Precious in the Eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Saints And now tho' our loss of so faithful a Friend and Fellow labourer cannot but affect us very nearly yet in this we are satisfied that in the good Pleasure of God he is taken from us And tho' he might according to the Course of Nature have lived many more Years yet as to his Growth and Ripeness we can say of him He died in a good Old Age having lived to behold his Ministry and Services crowned with the Conversion of many to the Faith and Establishment therein And we are under a full satisfaction that his Rest is glorious amongst his Fathers even faithful Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the Followers of the Lamb there to Sing Praises to God on high who is Worthy for ever and ever Given forth from our Mens-Meeting at Hartshaw the 18th of the third Month 1697. Signed on behalf of the Meeting by Richard Cuttan William Barns George Burch Joshua Crosby John Bispham Robert Tompson Robert Haydock James Laithwait Henry Mollineux John Burch Joseph Coppock John Johnson Richard Tarbuck Gilbert Thompson A few Lines by way of Testimony from Friends in Cheshire concerning Dear Roger Haydock Deceased THough we believe that many Testimonies will be given from several Faithful Friends concerning that good Man yet we that have reaped so great a Benefit from his Labours in Testimonies and other ways cannot keep wholly Silent concerning him For soon after he had received a Gift for the Ministry he found himself concern'd to visit This County and where in his first appearance he was very gladly received for he proved very Serviceable to many that waited for the Redemption of Zion and greatly helpful in strengthening and incouraging those whose Faces were turned thither-ward Thus meeting with so pleasing a Reception in his early Visits found himself ingaged to come often amongst us and he greatly grew and was filled with the Life and Power of God and his Service was much inlarged and very many were awakened that had fallen asleep in a kind of Self-security who were ready to cry out What shall we do to be saved For they were prick'd to the very Heart So prevalent was his Testimony so powerful was Truth And indeed several were Convinced and with great gladness received the Testimony of the Word of
Righteousness The Faithful City William Ellis London the 20th of the 6th Month 1697. A Short Plain and True Testimony for and in the behalf of 〈◊〉 â—ceased Friend Roger Haydock ALthough I heard that some Friends had Intentions to Write something by way of Testimony as a Memorial of this Servant of Christ above named yet upon Consideration I did not find my self clear and easie though delayed for a time except I did cast in my Mite amongst the rest having had knowledge of him since he was convinced and received the Truth which was in the Year 1667 since which time I observed that he was still in a growing Condition in the Truth to his last End as a Tree planted near the River of Life in God's Garden which was always Green whose Branch withered not but spread over the Wall that they without might be induced to come in to be made partakers of the Fruit of the blessed Vine Christ in due season as faithfulness to the Call and Gift of God was lived in He was a Man that had good Will for all and true Love especially to the Household of Faith Poor or Rich was no Respecter of Persons in those Cases but had an Eye to the Inward State and Condition so that as Truth did encrease and prosper in any his Love encreased for it was his great delight to see Truth prosper and Friends in it for he loved Friends for Truth 's sake God endued him with Wisdom from above that he had a sense of Inward States so that he could divide the Word aright Bread and sweet Wine for Obedient Children and Judgment for the Rebellious But with such Wisdom and Moderation that gained upon many of them so as to consider what it was they rebelled against even the Light of Jesus Inwardly discovering that which is Evil. He certainly learn'd of Christ to be Meek and Low in Heart very clear from an exalted Spirit but ready to be a Servant to the least Child I believe it was pleasant to him to be doing Good he was a Man given to Hospitality himself and very Careful of the Poor I heard him once say in a Meeting upon occasion We have enough let not the Poor want He was a Man of good Utterance in his Declaration and the Gospel he preached he lived in and preached it Freely as he had Freely received it from God it was the Power of God that comes over the Power of Satan in Man His Doctrine dropped as the Dew and small Rain to the refreshing of the tender Buds and Branches in the Vine Christ and comforting the stronger that did abide therein he was an Help and Support to the Cast-down of which I have some Experience and although he was younger than I yet I had a great esteem of him for Truth 's sake and did honour him as an Elder yea with double honour for he was worthy who ruled his own House well and took care of the Church of Christ I have been often upon occasion in his Family and never law better Government in any Family wheresoever I came than there He hath left a good Example behind him to his dear Wife who observeth it diligently He was faithful in that Work God caled him unto which many are Witnesses of in his own Native Country besides his Services in other Nations as Scotland Ireland Holland and Germany He hath been several times a Sufferer for Truth but never daunted but reign'd in Authority in the Power of God as a King over the Power of Darkness and Persecution which was no more to him than a little Dust under his Feet I was with him in a Meeting where some in Office as was said assisted with a great Company of Rude Fellows with great Staves making a noise like Mad Men finding him at Prayer had like to have pulled him off his Knees but were something restrained of which he tooâ— no notice but when he did rise they laid hold on him and hurried him away out of the Meeting with an howling noise like a Company of Wolves that had made a Prey upon a Lamb for so he behaved himself all which did not so much touch nor hurt him as to alter his Countenance as I perceived But after the Rude People were gone Friends continued their Meeting and there being some from several Meetings we had a good Meeting for the Power of Darkness was driven away and the Enemies blinded And this was at Freckleton in the Fylde where there is now a settled Meeting and hath been for several Years He was also Prisoner for the Truth at Lancaster-Castle several times Now in as much as I am fully satisfied that his Spirit is Crowned with Life Eternal in Heaven where my Spirit in some Measure hath unity with him as he is brought to my Remembrance Why should not his Name which is precious be kept in a living Remembrance from one Generation to another for the stirring up others to follow him as he followed Christ That over all God may have all the Honour the Glory and the Praise who alone is worthy for this my Friend in his Life time never sought it to himself but sought the Honour of God only He was of excellent Service in these parts where he lived upon Truth 's Account but what he did it was by the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit and Grace given unto him so nothing to be attributed to Man tho' he was a good Man for out of the good Treasure of his Heart he brought forth good things He was of a Noble Spirit a Person Prudent in Matters and the Lord was with him his Company was Pleasant and his Discourse Profitable I may hope that none will be offended with me that I give so much Commendations to God's Workmanship both Inward and Outward that God may have the Honour and Praise of his own Work And when he according to the Will of God had finished his Course the Lord was pleased to favour him with but a short Sickness He had his Accounts ready he laid down his Head in Peace and dyed in the Faith the 11th day of the 3d Month 1696. Isaac Ashton Sen. Given forth the 21st of the 7th Month 1697. James Laithwait 's Testimony concerning Roger Haydock deceased OUR Faithful and Well-beloved Friend Roger Haydock was Born of honest Parents who were of good Repute in the World and concerning him I have this Testimony to bear from a certain Knowledge I had of him for I knew him soon after he was Convinced and received the Knowledge of the Truth and I then took great notice of him he appearing in great Humility and under a great Inward Exercise and Travel of Spirit before he appeared in a publick Testimony for the Truth which was about the Year 1669. At which time a great Power and clear Life was shewn forth in him in the beginning of his day it being a day of the Revelation of the great Power of God and of his Powerful
Days we intend to leave this City and pass to Graves-end where we purpose to take Shipping for Holland having a Concern upon us to visit the Low-Countries c. Things here at London are pretty well William Rogers and his Party are here we had a Meeting with them Yesterday which lasted nigh 12 Hours and about 7 this Morning begins again the Lord's Power was over all Glory to his Name for ever So with my cordial Love once more Saluting you all I am your Faithful Brother Roger Haydock London 28th of the 2d Month 1682. DEar P. H. J. A. C. M. C. J. K. E. K. and all my Beloved Friends in Holland To you all in the Covenant of Light who are Called and Chosen of God to be Heirs of Salvation and Life is the tender Salutation of my Love ever to you who are the Circumcision to whom the Adoption and Covenant appertains who are bound to keep the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus your Circumcision being that of the Heart and of the Ear that you may hear and do the Law of God which is written upon the Tables of your Hearts and be Witnesses of the bringing in of the better Hope which makes perfect as appertaining to the Consciences upon each of you Beloved in God and Christ my Love opens freely my Life greets you often your Remembrance lives with me you are near me in Life and in abiding Love is your Remembrance refreshing to me As a Brother my Heart is open to you the Breathings of my Life are for you that the Circumcised Adopted and Chosen amongst you may keep the Everlasting Covenant God hath made with you that you may not only be the Called but also the Chosen Faithful and True who continue to the end and be saved through the Effects of the Hope brought in which whosoever hath it purifieth himself even as he the Author of the Hope and Salvation is pure For my Beloved Friends we are not ignorant how that many have made their Circumcision Uncircumcision being turned with the Dogg to their vomit and with the Sow that was washed to the wallowing in the Mire and that too too many have broken Covenant with the Lord and cast his divine Law behind their backs being turned from the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and from Truth into a Lye and in the Lasciviousness and Lye have stood up to oppose the Grace and gainsay the Truth their end will be Destruction their Damnation slumbereth not We think it not strange that we meet sometimes with Exercises of this kind to wit Perils amongst false Brethren Satan's Transformings and the falling away of some who are gone out from us For the Apostle speaks of a Falling away that the Son of Perdition should be made manifest and again it 's said They went but from us that they might be made manifest that they were not of us When Eve and Adam fell away from God they died the Death the Devil and Satan was made manifest When Man went or fell from Truth to the Lye the Lyar was made manifest when Judas fell away the Son of Perdition was made manifest And there hath been a falling away from Truth to the Lye from God to the Devil from Christ to Belial and through the falling away is the Lye Devil and Belial made manifest in their Flesh whose Spirits fall away Now as through their falling away the Son of Perdition is made manifest so are they made manifest to us to be Sons of Belial who are in the Gall of Bitterness and Band of Iniquity and from the Gall which they are in bitter Fruits are brought forth by them being Men of corrupt Minds as to the Faith Reprobates And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these Men resist the Truth they are Enemies to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ I doubt not my Friends but that you have had your share of Exercise with some who are gone out from you or from the Truth which is your Life who probably may yet for some time have Assembled with you that they might give you the greater Exercise who themselves being of corrupt Minds have endeavoured to corrupt others and Judas like with a Kiss betray Truth into the Hands of Sinners and draw the weak and unstable into the Snare with them making the Weak to err and turning the Feeble out of the way which is a grief to the Upright-hearted Not but that they see that as Judas's Kiss could not cover his Treachery no more can their Kisses cover their Treachery for of all the Faithful whose Eyes are in their Head Christ they are seen and judged But for the sakes of the Weak and Feeble deluded by them and of the place it gives to the Devil and great occasion to the World to Blaspheme God his Truth and People it hath made sad the Heart which God hath not made sad However my Friends in and through these and all other your Exercises God hath been with you sanctifying Tribulations to you and confounding those that have set themselves against you on the one hand and on the other have they fallen that troubled you To God who is on your side be all the Praise What now remains to us who know the Righteous God pleads our Innocent Cause and that our Righteousness is of the Lord but that each of us who stand take heed lest we fall and that we use all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure before we go hence and be no more seen Let the feeble Knees amongst you be made strong that not one that is halting may be turned out of the way and let the strong of you be more strong You Fathers and Elders that know him that was from the beginning and you young Men and Brethren who are strong who have overcome the wicked One in you the Word of God abiding Being as the Watch-Men in Israel amongst the Circumcision and as Saviours upon Mount Zion unto the hindermost of them who worship God in Spirit And all of you who are Abraham's Children to whom Circumcision was given who was to Circumcise himself the Males in his House his Sons and his Servants bought with his Money Be you all Circumcised and when all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit is done away then keep you Covenant with God whose the Circumcision is who hath given you the answer of a good Conscience For as Circumcision in the Flesh appertained to the First Covenant and they that were Circumcised were bound to keep the Law of the First Tables so Circumcision in the Spirit appertains to the Second Covenant and the Circumcised are bound to keep the Law of the Second Table And those that will lose their Life they through Death shall come to have Life And such are Witnesses that the New Creature avails so that all the Circumcision may have that which avails the New Creature which is Created after God in Righteousness and perfect Holiness for