and about the City and cleared my self of what Services the Lord had at that time laid upon me there I left the Town and travelled into Kent Sussex and Surrey Kent Sussex Survey visiting Friends in those Counties amongst whom I had great Meetings and many times met with Opposition from Baptists and other jangling Professors but the Lord's Power went over them We lay one Night at Farnham where we had a little Meeting Farnham and the People were exceeding Rude But at last the Lord's Power came over them After Meeting we went to our Inn and gave notice That any that feared God might come to our Inn to us And there came abundance of rude People and the Magistrates of the Town also and some Professors I declared the Truth unto them and those of the People that behaved themselves rudely the Magistrates put out of the Room When they were gone there came up another Rude Company of Professors and some of the Chief of the Town and they called for Faggots and Drink though we forbad them and were as Rude a carriaged People as ever I met withal The Lord's Power chained them that they had not power to do us any Mischief but when they went away they left all their Faggots and Beer which they had called for into the Room for us to pay for in the Morning We shewed the Inn-keeper what an Vnworthy thing it was but he told us we must pay it and pay it we did And before we left the Town I writ a Paper to the Magistrates and Heads of the Town and to the Priest shewing them and him how he had taught his People 1656. Basingstoke and laying before them their rude and uncivil Carriage to Strangers that sought their good Then leaving that Place we came to Basingstoke a very Rude Town where they had formerly very much abused Friends There I had a Meeting in the Evening which was quiet for the Lord's Power chained the Vnruly At the Close of the Meeting I was moved to put off my Hat and to pray to the Lord to open their Vnderstandings upon which they raised a Report That I put off my Hat to them and bid them Good Night which was never in my Heart After the Meeting when we came to our Inn I sent for the Inn-keeper as I used to do and he came into the Room to us and shewed himself a very Rude Man I admonished him to be sober and fear the Lord but he called for Faggots and a pint of Wine and drank it off himself and then called for another and called up half a dozen men into our Chamber Thereupon I bid him go out of the Chamber and told him he should not drink there for we sent for him up to speak to him concerning his Eternal good And he was exceeding mad rude and drunk When he continued his Rudeness and would not be gone I told him The Chamber was mine for the Time I lodged in it and I called for the Key and then he went away in a great Rage In the Morning he would not be seen but I told his Wife of his Vnchristian and Rude Carriage towards us Bridport After this we passed through the Country till we came to Bridport having Meetings in the way We went to an Inn there and sent into the Town for such as feared God to come to us and there came a Shop-keeper a Professor and put off his Hat to us and seeing we did not the like to him again but said Thou and Thee to him he told us He was not of our Religion and after some discourse with him he went away his Wife who came with him being somewhat loving Then went he and stirred up the Priest and Magistrates against us and after a while sent to the Inn to us to desire us to come to his House for there were some would speak with us he said Thomas Curtis was then with me and he went down to the Man's House where when he came the Man had laid a snare for him for he had gotten the Priest and Magistrates thither and they boasted much that they had catched George Fox taking him for me When they perceived their Mistake they were in a great Rage yet the Lord's Power came over them so that they let him go again Mean while I had an Opportunity of speaking to some sober People that came to the Inn. And when Thomas was come back and we were passing out of the Town some of them came to us and said The Officers were coming to fetch me But the Lord's Power came over them all so that they had not power to touch me There were some Convinced in the Town that time who were turned to the Lord and have stood faithful in their Testimony to the Truth ever since and a fine Meeting there is there 1657. Portsm Pool Ringwood Weym Dorchester Passing from hence we visited Portsmouth and Pool where we had glorious Meetings and many were turned to the Lord. And at Ringwood we had a large general Meeting where the Lord's Power was over all And at Weymouth we had a Meeting and from thence came to Dorchester and so to Lime where the Inn we went to was taken up with Mountebanks 1657. Lime so that there was hardly any room for us or our horses In the Evening we drew up some Queries concerning the ground of all Diseases and the Natures and Vertues of Medicinable Creatures and sent them to the Mountebanks letting them know If they would not answer them we would stick them on the Cross next Day This brought them down and made them Cool for they could not answer them But in the Morning they reasoned a little with us And we left the Queries with some friendly People that were Convinced in the Town to stick upon the Market-Cross And the Lord's Power reached some of the sober People in that place who were turned by the Light and Spirit of Christ to his free Teaching Then traveled we on through the Country till we came to Exeter Exeter and there at the Sign of the Seven Stars an Inn at the Bridge-foot we had a general Meeting of Friends out of Cornwal and Devonshire to which came Humphry Lower and Thomas Lower and John Ellis from the Land's End and Henry Pollexfen and Friends from Plimouth Elizabeth Trelawny and divers other Friends A blessed heavenly Meeting we had and the Lord 's everlasting Power came over all in which I saw and said That the Lord's power had surrounded this Nation round about as with a Wall and Bulwark and his Seed reached from Sea to Sea And Friends were established in the everlasting Seed of Life Christ Jesus their Life Rock Teacher and Shepherd The next Morning after the Meeting Major Blackmore sent Souldiers to apprehend me but I was gone before they came and as I was riding up the Street I saw the Officers going down So the Wolf missed the Lamb
Meeting but not without danger of being Apprehended 1669. Balby York the Constables having threatned to take up Friends about that time I passed on from thence visiting Friends through the Country till I came to Balby and so to York to the Quarterly-Meeting there and a blessed Meeting we had Friends had in Yorkshire Seven Monthly Meetings before and they were so sensible of the Service of them that they desired to have Seven more added to them For Truth was much spread in that Country Accordingly in that Quarterly Meeting they were settled and established So that whereas before they had but Seven now they have Fourteen Monthly Meetings in that County It being the Assize-time at York there I met with Justice Hotham a Well-wisher to Friends and one that had been Tender and very Kind to me at the first After I had finished my Service for the Lord in York I passed further up into the Country And as I went a great Burden fell upon me but I did not presently know the Reason of it So I came to a Meeting on the First-Day at one Shipton's R. Shipton which was very large But there being a Meeting the same day at another place also the Priest of that place being mis-informed that I was to be there got a Warrant and made great Disturbance at that Meeting of which Isaac Lindley who was there gave me an Account by the following Letter thus G. F. WHen thou went'st from York the First-Day after thou wast at Richard Shipton's That Day I had appointed a Meeting Ten Miles from York where there had not been a Meeting before But the Priest and the Constable got a Warrant on the Seventh Day and put thy Name only in the Warrant for they had heard that thou wast to be there and they came with Weapons and Staves and cried Where is Mr. Fox over and over many Friends being there they concluded thou wast among them But those Raveners being disappointed plucked me down and abused me and beat some Friends and then had me before a Magistrate but he set me at Liberty Isaac Lindley After the aforesaid Meeting was done I passed through the Countries Whitby Scarborough visiting Friends at Whitby and Scarborough When I was at Scarborough the Governour hearing I was come to the Town sent to invite me to his House saying Surely I would not be so unkind as not to come and see him and his Wife Wherefore after the Meeting was over I went up to Visit him and he received me very Courteously and Lovingly The Wouls Now after I had visited most of the Meetings in Yorkshire and up to the Wouls and Holderness Holderness H. Jackson T. Tayler Eldreth I passed through the Country till I came to Henry Jacksons where I had a great Meeting And from thence to Thomas Tayler's and so to John Moor's at Eldreth where we had a very large Meeting 1669. Eldreth And the Lord's Power and Presence was eminently amongst us Not far off from this place lay Col. Kirby lame of the Gout who had threatned that If ever I came near he would send me to Prison again and had bidden 40 l. to any man that could take me as I was credibly informed After this Meeting I passed through the Countries till I came into Staffordshire and so into Cheshire Staffordshire Cheshire Warrington where we had many large and precious Meetings I had a very large Meeting at William Barns his House about two Miles from Warrington and although Col. Kirby was now got abroad again as violent in breaking up Meetings as before and was then at Warrington yet the Lord did not suffer him to come to this Meeting and so we were preserved out of his hands Now was I moved of the Lord to pass over into IRELAND IRELAND to visit the Seed of God in that Nation and there went with me Robert Lodge James Lancaster Thomas Briggs and John Stubbs We went near to Liverpool and waited there for Shipping and Wind Liverpool and after we had waited some days we sent James Lancaster to take Passage which he did and brought Word the Ship was ready and would take us in at Black-Rock Whereupon we went thither on foot and it being pretty far and the Weather very hot I was very much spent with Walking Yet when we came there the Ship was not there so we were fain to go to the Town and take Shipping there When we were come on Board I said to the rest of my Company Come ye will Triumph in the Lord for we shall have fair Wind and Weather There were many Passengers in the Ship and many of them were Sick but not one of our Company was Sick The Master and many of the Passengers were very loving and we being at Sea on the First-Day of the Week I was moved to declare Truth among them Whereupon the Master said to the Passengers Come here are things that you never heard in your Lives When we came before Dublin we took Boat Dublin and went ashore and the Earth and Air smelt methought with the Corruption of the Nation so that it yielded another Smell to me than England did which I imputed to the Corruption and Popish Massacrees that had been Committed and the Blood that had been spilt in it from which a Foulness ascended We passed through among the Officers of the Custom four times yet they did not search us for they perceived what we were and some of them were so Envious they did not care to look at us We did not presently find Friends but went to an Inn and sent out to inquire for some Friends who when they came to us were exceeding glad of our Coming and received us with Great Joy We stay'd there the Weekly Meeting which was a great one and the Power and Life of God appeared greatly in it Afterwards we passed to a Province-Meeting which lasted Two Days there being both a Mens-Meeting about the Poor and another Meeting more General in which a mighty Power of the Lord appeared and Truth was livingly declared and Friends were much refreshed therein Passing from thence about four and twenty miles we came to another place where we had a very good refreshing Meeting But after the Meeting was over some Papists that were there were Angry and raged very much When I heard of it I sent for one of them who was a Schoolmaster 1669. Ireland but he would not come at me Whereupon I sent a Challenge to him with all the Friers and Monks Priests and Jesuits to come forth and Try their God and their Christ which they had made of Bread and Wine but no Answer could I get from them Wherefore I told them They were Worse than the Priests of Baal for Baal's Priests tried their Woodden God but these durst not try their God of Bread and Wine and Baal's Priests and People did not Eat their God as these did and then make
222* 267* Anne 269 B. BAiley Charles 241 Bailey William 172 361 Baker Daniel 248 Baker Nathaniel 479 Ball Nathaniel 316. 479 Richard 429 Barclay Robert 407. 433-435 446 Barnes William 327. 332 Barwick Grace 307 Bateman Miles 76. 82 Bathurst Charles 532 Bates Nathaniel 376 Baxe Richard 342 Beard Nicholas 151 Beaton William 221* 266 Bennet Col. Just 37. 41. 187 217* 219* Benson Just 73. 80. 90 91. 101. 103. 111. 116 117. his Wife 112. Francis 270 Beaumont Lord 255. 258 Bewley Thomas 108. 118 George 262. 263. 270 Bicliff Anthony 226 Billing Grace 212* 272* Edward 272* 277* Bindlas Robert Esq 93 Bingley William 520 521 Birdet 64 Birkenhead Sir John 304 Birkhead Serj. 197 Birkhead Abraham 374 Bishop George 152. 210. 244 Blackmore Major 245* Blaykling John 74. 80. 267. 269. 423 Bolton John and Wife 171 Bond Thomas 153 Nicholas 286* Bonner Bishop 293 Booth George 202 Bottomley Jacob 131 Bousfield Major 73 Bradden Capt. 179 180. 184. 185 Bradford Capt. 128 Bradshaw Judge 80 Brassey Nathaniel 519 Brathwait John 77 Brickley Anthony 131 Brigges Thomas 90. 259 260. 265. 327. 332. 341. 349. 356 357. 361 Britland see Priest Broadstreet Simon 243 244 Bromley Thomas 148 Brown Capt. 254. John 316 Bryerley James 430 Bushel Thomas Ranter 59 Burnyeate John 363 364. 367 368. 432 Burrough Edward 76. 84. 124. 131. 286* 241 242. 259 Burton Just 213 C. CAm John 84. 124. 170. 225* Thomas 423 Cannon Richard 396 Canterbury Bishop 245 Cartwright John 349. 357. 361. 364. 366-369 382 Cary Robert 174 Caton William 150. 594 Ceely Peter Just Major 176. 182-184 187. 219 Chamberlain Col. 352 CHARLES II. King 225. 228 229. 238. 241-243 245-248 250 272. 277. 279 280. 325. 336. 349. 402. 404 405 CHARLES I. 226. 460 461 Charles Thomas 430 Chetham George Sheriff 228 Chevers Sarah 252 Claessen Dirick 452 Clark Just 309 Clause John Holl. 433. 438 439. 444. 446. 463. 521. 594 Claypoole Lady 189 James 503 504 Coale William Amer. 374 Hezekiah 456 Cob Francis Esq 298. 303. 326 Cob Ranter 139 Cock 76 Colburn Capt. of Amer. 380 Cole 167 168 Colonel of Bristol 210 Conway Lady 457 Cooper Edward 430 Corbet Thomas 405 406 Costrop Richard 248 Cotton Arthur 304 Covel Richard 383 Countess of Derby 275 Cradock Dr. of Coventry 4. 301 Craven Robert 224* 225* 129. 140 Crips Nathaniel 222* 225* 310. 315. 456 457 Craston Thomas Just 114 Cromwel Oliver 136-138 169. 187. 214* 223* 224* 269* 288* 190. 194-196 392. 448 Richard 196. 229. 418. 199 200. 204. 229. 238 Crook John 149 150. 169. 282* 286* 457 Crosland Jordan 298. 300. 305 Crouch Edward 469 Crowder Dr. 393 Cubban Richard 259* 276 Cubham Richard 282 Cummings Thomas 218 Curtis Thomas and Anne 220* 244* Thomas 216. Anne 222 D DAndy John 222* 266 Darcy Abigail 314 Davenport Capt. 279 Davis Richard 405 Dennis Col. 204 Desborow Maj. Gen. 178. 214*-217* Dewes Col. Amer. 375 Dickinson James 77. 80 Dilger Emanuel of Dantzick 595 Dirick Niesson Gertrade 434. 446. 451-453 Dixon Alexander 102 Dodgson Constable 306 Doily Bray 388. 389 Dove Lieut. 281 * Downer Anne 186 187 Dowes Sybrand of Friezl 439. 444 Drakes John 352 Draper Henry 269 Drury Capt. 136-138 Dry Thomas 311. Widow 343 Duisbury William and Wife 54. 118. 137. 430. 457. 479 Duncon Robert 153. 432 E. EAston Nicholas Governour 366 Eccles Solomon 349. 361 362 379 Edmundson William 170. 349. 356. 361. 364. 369. 379 John of Maryl 372 373 Edwards Edward 255* Elizabeth Princess of Herwerden 435. 438 Ellis John 245 * 263 Ellwood Thomas 455 456 Elson John 406. 479 Endicot John of New Engl. 242 243 Evans Catharine 252 F. FAirfax Widow 301 Farnsworth Richard 54. 70 71. 80. 131 Fauks Thomas 255 Faulconbridge Lord 300 Fell Judge 77. 80. 83. 88. 90 91. 103. 261* his Son 85 Margaret 78. 88. 216. 221 222. 231. 238. 262. 266. 271. 273. 278. 289. 295. 312. 334. 336. 346 384. 387. 389. 402. 404. 407. 423 428 Daughters 152 Henry 230. 248 Leonard 79. 258. 262. 269-271 312. 325. 407. 423. 430 Mary 262 Rachel 387. 389. 423 Sarah 262. 336. 407 Susan 407 Fisher Samuel and Wife 150 151 Martha 349 Fleetwood Charles 269* Fleming Daniel Just 270. 273. 278-181 306 Fletcher 270 Floyd Charles 312 Forstall Richard 351 352 Forster Thomas 349 Foster Judge 226 227 Lieut. 279* Widow 511 Fox Christoph Mary 1. 390. 396 George 46. 48 49 192 Fox John 332 333. 336 337. 429 Capt. 178. 211 * Fraterus of Dantzick 295 Frecheville Lord 297 298 Fretwell Ellen 309 Ralph 356. Samuel 429 Frith Susan 309 Frizbey James 374 Frondenberg Abraham of Harlem 522 Frouzen Wilbert of Rotterd 520 Frye 262 Fuce Joseph 154 155 Furly Benjamin 245. 433. 435. 453 519 John 432 433 G. GAdecken of Dantzig 595 Gamboll Thomas 430 Gandy Will. 247* 226. 332. 407 Garland Wid. 296 Gaul Alderm of Rotterd 520 Geary John Amer. 379 380 General of Denmark 453 Gerard Lord 230 Gibbs Henry 312 Gilpin 123 Glyn Judge 179-185 189* 200* Goldsmith Ralph 242 Goodyear Thomas â—â— 54 Governour of Barbados 356. 361 of Carlisle 117 of Carolina 376 of Jamaica 362 of Mevis 357 Gouldney Tho. 210. Henry 613 Gray Richard 520 Green Wid. 71. Thomas 218 Grimes Coll. 225* 213 Gratton John 470 Gritton 149 Gwin Paul 221* 222* H. HAcker Coll. 136 137. 166. 195. 238. 260. 272 Haistings Lord 258 Hales Chief Just 405 406 Haley Wid. 430. 479 Halford John 388 389 Halhead Miles 84 Hambleton Margaret 269* Hambley Loveday 212* 219* 262 263. 319 Hamberry Richard 247* 316 Hammersley Thomas 130. 311 Hancock Edward 174 Harding John 570 Hardy 218 Harris George 319 Jailer 404 Hartiss George 64 Hartshorn Richard 365. 370 Harvey 137. 195 Harwood Robert 372 Hawkings George 264 Hellen Joseph 262 263 Hendricks Peter 451. 463. 594 Elizabeth 523. 594. 596 Hill John 442. 444 Hodges Francis 263 Hodgson Doctor 272 Peter 307 Holder Christopher 370 Holmes Thomas 124. 246* Holstein Duke 441. 523-527 Hookes Ellis 304 Hotham Just 55. 64. 66. 80. 326 Howard Luke 151 Howgil Francis 74. 83 84. 120. 124. 131. 216 Howsigoe Thomas 150 Hubberthorn Richard 84. 93. 124. 153. 156. 204. 226 227. 229. 231 250 Hubbersty Miles 76. 84 Steph. 76 Hull John 349 Hunter 297. 306 Huntington Robert 239 Hutchinson Hugh 269 Jam. 33â— Hutton Eliz. 7. 349. 361 362 Thomas 87 J. JAckson Henry 326 Jacobs Hessel Friezl 438. 445 Jay John 368. 370 Jenkins Walt. 167. 246* 247* 314 Jews 441. 453. 559 560 Indian Emperor 364. 372. 382 Empress 382 King 365. 375. 377. 379. 382 Priest called Pawaw or Bawaw 377 Captain ibid. John ap John 123. 240. 251 * 253 259 Johnson Richard 332 Jones Rice 127 128. 281** 282* James Just Amer. 381 the King's Attorney 394 Jose Nicholas 207. 263 Justices in Wales 245* 253* 254* 281* K. KEat Capt. 177-179 187 Keith Geo. and Wife 433-435 452-454 521. Geo. 407 Kellet Priest 15 Killam John 213 King of Poland 458-463 538 541. 594 595 Kirby William Col. 270
Innocent and Simple-minded were satisfied and went away refreshed but the fat and full were fed with Judgment and sent empty away for that was the Word of the Lord to be divided to them Now when Meetings were set up and we Met in private Houses then began Lampitt the Priest to Rage And he said We forsook the Temple and went to Jeroboam 's Calves-houses So that many Professors began to see how he was declined from that which he had formerly hâ—ld and preached Hereupon the Case of Jeroboam's Calves was opened to the Professors Priests and People and it was declared and manifested unto them That their Houses which they called Churches were more like Jeroboam's Calves-houses even the Old Mass-houses which were set up in the darkness of Popery and which they who called themselves Protestants and professed to be more enlightned than the Papists did still hold up although God had never commanded them Whereas that Temple which God had commanded at Jerusalem Christ came to end the Service of and they that received and believed in him their Bodies came to be the Temples of God and of Christ and of the Holy Ghost to dwell in them and to walk in them And all such were gathered into the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name 1652. Ulverstone and there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven but by the Name of Jesus And they that were thus gathered met together in several Dwelling-houses which were not called the Temple nor the Church but their Bodies were the Temples of God and the Believers were the Church which Christ was the Head of So that Christ was not called the Head of an Old House which was made by Mens Hands neither did he come to purchase and sanctify and redeem with his Blood an Old House which they called their Church but the People which he is the Head of Much work I had in those Days with Priests and People concerning their Old Mass-houses which they called their Churches for the Priests had persuaded the People that it was the House of God whereas the Apostle says Whose House we are c. Heb. 3.6 So the People are God's House in whom he dwells And the Apostle saith Christ purchased his Church with his own Blood and Christ calls his Church his Spouse and his Bride the Lamb's Wife So that this Title Church and Spouse was not given to an Old House but to his People the true Believers After this on a Lecture-day I was moved to go to the Steeple-house at Vlverstone where were abundance of Professors Priests and People I went up near to Priest Lampitt who was blustering on in his Preaching And after the Lord had opened my Mouth to speak John Sawrey the Justice came to me and said If I would speak according to the Scriptures I should speak I stranged at him for speaking so to me for I did speak according to the Scriptures and I told him I should speak according to the Scriptures and bring the Scriptures to prove what I had to say for I had something to speak to Lampitt and to them Then he said I should not speak Contradicting himself who had said just before I should speak if I would speak according to the Scriptures which I did Now the People were quiet and heard me gladly until this Justice Sawrey who was the first Stirrer up of cruel Persecution in the North incensed them against me and set them on to hale beat and bruise me Then on a sudden the People were in a Rage and they fell upon me in the Steeple-house before his Face and knock'd me down and kicked me and trampled upon me he looking on And so great was the Vproar that some People tumbled over their Seats for fear At last he came and took me from the People and led me out of the Steeple-house and put me into the Hands of the Constables and other Officers bidding them Whip me and put me out of the Town Then they led me about a quarter of a Mile some taking hold by my Collar and some by my Arms and Shoulders and shook and dragg'd me along And there being many Friendly People come to the Market and some of them come to the Steeple-house to hear me divers of these they knocked down also and brake their Heads so that the Blood ran down from several of them And Judge Fell's Son running after to see what they would do with me they threw him into a Ditch of Water some of them crying Knock the Teeth out of his Head Now when they had haled me to the Common-Moss-side a Multitude of People following the Constables and other Officers gave me some Blows over my Back with their Willow-Rods and so thrust me among the rude Multitude who having furnished themselves some with Staves some with Hedge-stakes Common and others with Holm or Holly-bushes fell upon me and beat me on my Head Arms and Shoulders till they had amazed me so that I fell down upon the Wet Common And when I recovered my self again and saw my self lying in a Watry Common and the People standing about me I lay still a little while And the Power of the Lord sprang through me and the Eternal Refreshings refreshed me so that I stood up again in the strengthening Power of the Eternal God And stretching out my Arms amongst them I said with a loud Voice Strike again here are my Arms my Head and my Cheeks There was in the Company a Mason a Professor but a rude Fellow He with his walking Rule-Staff gave me a Blow with all his might just over the back of my Hand as it was stretched out with which blow my Hand was so bruised and my Arm so benummed that I could not draw it unto me again so that some of the People cried out He hath spoil'd his Hand for ever having any use of it more But I looked at it in the Love of God for I was in the Love of God to them all that had persecuted me and atter a while the Lord's Power sprang through me again and through my Hand and Arm so that in a Moment I recovered Strength in my Hand and Arm in the fight of them all Then they began to fall out among themselves and some of them came to me and said If I would give them Money they would secure me from the rest But I was moved of the Lord to declare to them all the Word of Life and shewed them their false Christianity and the Fruits of their Priest's Ministry telling them they were more like Heathens and Jews than true Christians Ulverstone Market Then was I moved of the Lord to come up again through the midst of the People and go up into Vlverstone-Market And as I went there met me a Man a Souldier with his Sword by his Side Sir said he to me I see you are a Man and I am ashamed and grieved that you should be thus
following Assize at Lancaster informed Judge Windham against me Whereupon the Judge made a Speech against me in open Court and commanded Colonel West who was Clerk of the Assize to issue forth a Warrant for the apprehending of me But Colonel West told the Judge of my Innocency and spake boldly in my defence Yet the Judge commanded him again either to write a Warrant or go off from his Seat Then he told the Judge plainly that he would not do it but that he would offer up all his Estate and his Body also for me So he stopt the Judge and the Lord's Power came over all So that the Priests and Justices could not get their Envy executed That same Night I came into Lancaster it being the Assize-Time and hearing of a Warrant to be given out against me I judged it better to shew my self openly Lancaster Assize than for my Adversaries to seek me So I went to Judge Fell's and Colonel West's Chambers And as soon as I came in they smiled on me and Colonel West said What! 1652. Lancaster Assize are you come into the Dragon's Mouth I stayed in Town till the Judge went out of Town and I walked up and down the Town but no one meddled with me nor questioned me Thus the Lord's blessed Power which is over all caâ—â—â—ed me through and over this Exercise and gave Dominion over his Enemies and enabled me to go on in his glorious Work and Service for his great Name's-sake For though the Beast maketh War against the Saints yet the Lamb hath got and will get the Victory From Lancaster I returned to Robert Wither's and from thence I went to Thomas Leper's to a Meeting in the Evening Meeting at T. Lepers and a very blessed Meeting we had there After the Meeting was done I walked in the Evening to Robert Withers's again And no sooner was I gone but there came a Company of disguised Men to Thomas Leper's with Swords and Pistols who suddenly entring the House put out the Candles and swung their Swords about amongst the People of the House so that the People were fain to hold up the Chairs before them to save themselves from being cut and wounded At length they drove all the People of the House out of the House and then searched the House for me who it seems was the only Person they looked for for they had laid wait before in the High-way by which I should have gone if I had ridden to Robert Withers's And not meeting with me on the VVay they thought to have found me in the House but the Lord prevented them Soon after I was come in at Robert Withers some Friends came from the Town where Thomas Leper lived and gave us a Relation of this wicked Attempt And the Friends were afraid lest they should come and search Robert Withers's House also for me and do me a Mischief But the Lord restrained them that they came not Though these Men were in disguise yet the Friends perceived some of them to be French-men and supposed them to be Servants belonging to one called Sir Robert Bindlas For some of them had said that in their Nation they used to Tye the Protestants to Trees and whip them and destroy them And his Servants used often to abuse Friends both in their Meetings and going to and from their Meetings They once took Richard Hubberthorn and several others out of the Meeting and carried them a good way off into the Fields and there bound them and left them bound in the Winter-Season And at another Time one of his Servants came to Francis Flemming's House and thrust his naked Rapier in at the Door and Windows But there being at the House a Kinsman of Francis Flemming's one who was not a Friend he came with a Cudgel in his Hand and bid the Serving-man put up his Rapier which when the other would not but vapoured at him with it and was Rude he knock'd him down with his Cudgel and took his Rapier from him And had it not been for Friends he would have Run him through with it So the Friends preserved his Life that would have destroyed theirs From Robert Withers's I went to visit Justice West To Justice Wests over the Sands Richard Hubberthorn accompanying me And not knowing the Way nor the Danger of the Sands we Rid where as we were afterwards told no Man ever rid before swimming our Horses over a very dangerous Place When we were come in Justice West asked us If we did not see Two Men riding over the Sands Justice Wests I shall have their Cloaths anon said he for they cannot escape Drowning and I am the Coroner But when we told him that we were the Men be was astonished at it and wondred how we escaped Drowning Upon this the envious Priests and Professors raised a slanderous Report concerning me That neither Water could drown me nor could they draw Blood of me and that therefore surely I was a Witch for indeed sometimes when they beat me with great Staves they did not much draw my Blood though they bruised my Body oft-times very sorely But all these Slanders were nothing to me with respect to my self though I was concerned on the Truth 's behalf which I saw they endeavoured by these Means to prejudice People against for I considered that their fore-Fathers the Apostate-Jews called the Master of the House Beelzebub and these Apostate-Christians from the Life and Power of God could do no less to his Seed But the Lord's Power carried me over their Slanderous Tongues and their bloody murtherous Spirits who had the Ground of Witchcraft in themselves which kept them from coming to God and to Christ. Having visited Justice West I went to Swarthmore visiting Friends there-aways Swarthmore and the Lord's Power was over all the Persecutors there And I was moved to write several Letters to the Magistrates Priests and Professors there-abouts who had raised Persecution before That which I sent to Justice Sawrey was after this manner Friend THOU wast the first Beginner of all the Persecution in the North Thou wast the Beginner and the Maker of the People Tumultuous Thou wast the first Stirrer of them up against the Righteous Seed and against the Truth of God and wast the first strengthner of the Hands of Evil-doers against the Innocent and Harmless And thou shalt not prosper Thou wast the first Stirrer up of Strikers Stoners Persecutors Stockers Mockers and Imprisoners in the North and of Revilers Slanderers Railers and false Accusers and Scandal-Raisers This was thy Work and this thou stirredst up So thy Fruits declare thy Spirit Instead of stirring up the pure Mind in People thou hast stirred up the VVicked Malicious and Envious and taken Hand with the Wicked Thou hast made the People's Minds envious up and down the Country This was thy Work But God hath shortned thy Days and limited thee and set thy Bounds and broken thy Jaws and discovered thy
thither before me And when I came there I found James Lancaster speaking under a Yew-Tree which was so full of People that I feared they would break it down I looked about for a place to stand upon to speak unto the People for they lay all up and down like People at a Leaguer But after a while that I was discovered a Professor came to me and asked If I would not go into the Church I seeing there was no place abroad convenient to speak to the People from told him Yes Whereupon the People rushed in so that when I came in the House and Pulpit was so full of People that I had much ado to get in and they that could not get in stood abroad about the VValls 1653. A Meeting near Cockermouth When the People were settled I stood up upon a Seat And the Lord opened my Mouth to declare his Everlasting Truth and his Everlasting Day and to lay open all their Teachers and their Rudiments Traditions and Inventions that they had been in in the Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days And I turned them to Christ the true Teacher and to the true Spiritual VVorship directing them where to find the Spirit and Truth that they might Worship God therein I opened Christ's Parables unto them and directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves that would open the Scriptures unto them And I shewed them how all might come to know their Saviour and sit under his Teaching and come to be Heirs of the Kingdom of God and know both God's and Christ's Voice by which they might discover all the false Shepherds and Teachers they had been under and be gathered to the true Shepherd Priest Bishop and Prophet Christ Jesus whom God commanded all to hear So when I had largely declared the VVord of Life unto them for about the space of three Hours I walked forth from amongst the People and the People passed away very well satisfied Among the rest a Professor followed me praising and commending me and his Words were like a Thistle to me At last I turned about and bid him Fear the Lord Whereupon one Priest Larkham of Cockermouth for several Priests were got together on the Way who came after the Meeting was done said to me Sir why do you judge so you must not judge said he But I turned to him and said Friend dost not thou discern an Exhortation from a Judgment for I admonished him to fear God and dost thou say I judge him So this Priest and I falling into Discourse I manifested him to be amongst the false Prophets and covetous Hirelings And several People being moved to speak unto them he and two other of the Priests soon got away When they were gone John VVilkinson who was Preacher of that Parish and of two other Parishes in Cumberland began to dispute against his own Conscience for several hours till the People generally turned against him for he thought to have Tired me out but the Lord's Power tired him out and the Lord's Truth came over him and them all And Many hundreds were Convinced that day and received the Lord Jesus Christ and his free Teaching with Gladness of whom some have died in the Truth and many stand there faithful Witnesses thereof The Souldiers also were Convinced and their VVives and continued with me till the First-day Cockermouth On the First-day I went to the Steeple-house at Cockermouth where Priest Larkham lived And when the Priest had done I began to speak and the People began to be Rude but the Souldiers told them We had broken no Law and then they were quiet Then I turned me to the Priest and laid him open among the false Prophets and Hirelings At which word the Priest went his way and said He calls me Hireling which was true enough and all the People knew it Then some of the Great Men of the Town came to me and said Sir We have no learned Men to dispute with you I told them I came not to dispute but to declare the way of Salvation to them and the way of Everlasting Life And so I declared largely the way of Life and Truth to them 1652. Brigham and directed them to Christ their Teacher that had died for them and bought them with his Blood When I had done I passed away about Two Miles to another great Steeple-house of said John Wilkinson's called Brigham where the People having been at the other Meeting were mightily affected and would have put my Horse into the Steeple-house-Yard but I said No the Priest claims that have him to an Inn. When I came into the Steeple-house-Yard I saw the People coming in great Companies as to a Fair and abundance were already gathered in the Lanes and about the Steeple-house I was very Thirsty and walked about a quarter of a Mile to a Brook where I got some Water and refreshed my Self And as I came up again I met the said Wilkinson who as I passed by him said Sir will you preach to day If you will said he I will not Oppose you in Word or Thought I replied Oppose if thou wilt I have something to speak to the People And said I thou carried'st thy self foolishly the other day and spakest against thy Conscience and Reason insomuch that thy Hearers cried out against thee So I left him and went on for he saw it was in vain to Oppose the People were so affected with the Lord's Truth When I came into the Steeple-house-Yard a Professor came to me and asked If I would not go into the Church as he called it And I seeing no convenient Place abroad to stand to speak unto the People from went in and stood up in a Seat after the People were settled The Priest came in also but did not go up to his Pulpit So the Lord opened my Mouth and I declared his Everlasting Truth and Word of Life to the People directing them to the Spirit of God in themselves by which they might know God and Christ and the Scriptures and come to have heavenly Fellowship in the Spirit And I declared to them that Every one that cometh into the World was enlightened by Christ the Life by which Light they might see their Sins and Christ who was come to save them from their Sins and died for them And if they came to walk in this Light they might therein see Christ to be the Author of their Faith and the Finisher thereof their Shepherd to feed them their Priest to teach them and their great Prophet to open divine Mysteries unto them and to be always present with them I opened also unto them in the Openings of the Lord the first Covenant shewing them the Figures and the Substance of those Figures and so bringing them on to Christ the New Covenant I also manifested unto them that there had been a Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days but that now the Everlasting Gospel was preached again which brought
unstopped the deaf Ears hath let the Oppressed go free and hath raised up the Dead out of the Graves Christ is now preached in and among the Saints the same that ever he was and because his heavenly Image is born up in this his faithful Servant therefore doth fallen Man Rulers Priests and Peopleâ— persecute him because he lives up out of the Fall and testifies against the Works of the VVorld that the Deeds thereof are Evil he suffers by you Magistrates not as an Evil-Doer For thus it was ever where the Seed of God was kept in Prison under the cursed Nature that Nature sought to imprison them in whom it was raised The Lord will make him to you as a burdensom Stone for the Sword of the Spirit of the Almighty is put into the Hands of the Saints which shall wound all the Wicked and shall not be put up till it hath cut down all corrupt Judges Justices Magistrates Priests and Professors till he hath brought his wonderful thing to pass in the Earth which is to make New Heavens and a New Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousness which now he is about to do Therefore fear the Lord God Almighty ye Judges Justices Commanders Priests and People ye that forget God suddenly will the Lord come and destroy you with an utter Destruction and will sweep your Names out of the Earth and will restore his People Judges as at the First and Counsellors as at the Beginning And all Persecutors shall partake of the Plagues of the VVhore who hath made the Kings of the Earth and the great Men drunk with the VVine of her Fornications and hath drunk the Blood of the Saints and therefore shall you be Partakers of her Plagues We are not suffered to go see our Friend in Prison whom we witness to be a Messenger of the Living God Now all People mind Whether this be according to Law oâ— from the wicked perverse envious Will of the envious Rulers and Magistrates who are of the same Generation that persecuted Jesus Christ for said he as they have done to me so will they do to you And as he took the love the kindness and service that was shewed and performed to any of his Afflicted Ones in their Sufferings and Distress as done unto himself so the Injuries and Wrongs that were done by any to any of his Little Ones he resented as done unto himself also Therefore you who are so far from visiting him your selves in his suffering Servant that ye will not suffer his Brethren to visit him ye must depart ye Workers of Iniquity into the Lake that burns with Fire The Lord is coming to thresh the Mountains and will beat them to Dust And all corrupt Rulers corrupt Officers and corrupt Laws the Lord will take Vengeance on by which the tender Consciences of his People are oppressed And he will give his People his Law and will judge his People himself not according to the sight of the Eye and hearing of the Ear but with Righteousness and with Equity Now are your Hearts made manifest to be full of Envy against the living Truth of God which is made manifest in his People who are contemned and despised of the World and scornfully called Quakers You are worse than the Heathens that put Paul in Prison for none of his Friends or Acquaintance were hindred to come to him by them therefore they shall be Witnesses against you Ye are made manifest to the Saints to be of the same Generation that put Christ to death and that put the Apostles in Prison on the same pretence as you act under in calling Truth Error and the Ministers of God Blasphemers as they did But the day is dreadful and terrible that shall come upon you ye Evil Magistrates Priests and People who profess the Truth in Words outwardly and yet persecute the Power of Truth and them that stand in and for the Truth While ye have Time prize it and remember what is written Isa 54.17 George Benson Anthony Pearson Not long after this the Lord's Power came over the Justices and they were made to set me at Liberty But sometime before I was set at Liberty the Governour and the said Anthony Pearson came down into the Dungeon to see the Place where I was kept and understand what Vsage I had And when they were come down to me they found the place so bad and the savour so ill that they cried shame of the Magistrates for suffering the Jailer to do such things And they called for the Jailers into the Dungeon and required them to find Sureties for their good Behaviour and the Vnder-Jailer who had been such a Cruel Fellow they put into the Dungeon with me amongst the Moss-Troopers 1653. Cumberland At T. B's Now after I was set at Liberty I went to Thomas Bewley's where there came a Baptist-Teacher to Oppose me and he was Convinced And Robert Widders being with me was moved to go to Coldbeck-Steeple-house and the Baptist-Teacher went along with him the same day And the People fell upon them and almost killed Robert Widders and took the Baptist's Sword from him and beat him sorely This Baptist had the Inheritance of an Impropriation of Tithes and he went home and gave it up freely Robert VVidders was sent to Carlisle-Jail where having lain a while he was set at Liberty again VVilliam Dewsberry also went to another Steeple-house hard by and the People almost killed him they beat him so but the Lord's Power was over all and healed them again At that day many Friends went to the Steeple-houses to declare the Truth to the Priests and People and great Sufferings they underwent but the Lord's Power sustained them Now I went into the Country and had mighty great Meetings and the Everlasting Gospel and VVord of Life flourished and Thousands were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his Teaching And several that took Tithes as Impropriators denied the receiving of them any longer Westmorland and delivered them up freely to the Parishioners Then passing on into VVestmorland I had many great Meetings and at Strickland-Head I had a large Meeting Strickland head where a Justice of Peace out of Bishoprick whose Name was Henry Draper came up and many Contenders were there The Priests and Magistrates were in a great Rage against me in Westmorland and had a VVarrant to apprehend me which they renewed from time to time for a long time Yet the Lord did not suffer them to serve it upon me So I traveled on amongst Friends visiting the Meetings till I came to Swarthmore Swarthmore where I heard that the Baptists and Professors in Scotland had sent to me to have a Dispute with me Whereupon I sent them word Cumberland that I would meet them in Cumberland at Thomas Bewley's House whither accordingly I went but none of them came Some dangers at this time I underwent in my Travels to and fro Wighton for at one time as
Company went their way to Hallifax The People asked them Why they did not kill me according to the Oath they had sworn And they maliciously Answered That I had so bewitched them that they could not do it Thus was the Devil chained at that time Friends told me that they used to come at other times and be very rude and unruly and sometimes break their Stools and Seats and make fearful work amongst them But the Lord's Power had now bound them Shortly after this that Butcher that had been accused of killing a Man and a Woman before and who was one of them that had then bound himself by an Oath to kill me killed another Man and was thereupon sent to York-Jail Example Another of those rude Butchers who had also sworn to kill me having accustomed himself to Thrust his Tongue out of his Mouth in derision of Friends when they passed by him had his Tongue so swollen out of his Mouth that he could never draw it in again but died so Several strange and sudden Judgments came upon many of these Conspirators against me which would be too large here to declare God's Vengeance from Heaven came upon the Blood-thirsty who sought after Blood for all such Spirits I laid before the Lord and left them to him to deal with them who is stronger than them all in whose Power I was preserved and carried on to do his Work The Lord hath raised a fine People in those Parts whom he hath drawn to Christ and gathered in his Name who feel Christ amongst them and sit under his Teaching After this I passed through the Countries till I came to Balby Balby Lincolnshire from whence several Friends went with me into Lincolnshire where I had formerly been of whom some went to the Steeple-houses and some to private Meetings There came to the Meeting where I was the Sheriff of Lincoln and several with him who made a great Contention and Jangling for a time But at length the Lord's Power struck him that he was Convinced of the Truth and received the Word of Life as did several others also that did Oppose and continued among Friends till they died Great Meetings there were and a large Convincement in those Parts Many were turned to the Lord Jesus and came to sit under his Teaching leaving their Priests and their superstitious Ways and the Day of the Lord flourished over all Amongst them that came to our Meetings in that Country there was one called Sir Richard Wrey and he was Convinced as was also his Brother and his Brother's Wife who abode in the Truth and died therein though he afterwards Run out Having visited those Countries I came into Darbyshire Darbyshire and the Sheriff of Lincoln who was lately Convinced came with me In one Meeting we had some Opposition 1654. Derbyshire but the Lord 's glorious Power gave dominion over all At Night there came a Company of Bayliffs and Serving-men and called me out so I went out to them having some Friends with me When I was come out they were exceeding Rude and Violent for they had it seems Complotted together and intended To have Carried me away with them in the dark of the Evening by force and then to have done me a Mischief But the Lord's Power went over them and chained them so that they could not effect their Design and at last they went away The next day Thomas Aldam understanding that the Serving-men belonged to one called a Knight who lived not far off went to his House and laid before him the bad Carriage of his Servants And the Knight seemed to Rebuke them and did not allow of their Evil Carriage towards us Nottingham-shire Skegby After this we came into Nottinghamshire to Skegby where we had a great Meeting of all sorts of People and the Lord's Power went over them and all was quiet and the People were turned to the Spirit of God by which many came to receive his Power and to sit under the Teaching of Christ their Saviour A great People the Lord hath that a ways Kidsley-Park Then I passed towards Kidsley-park where there came many Ranters but the Lord's Power checkt them From thence I went up into the Peak-Country Peak Country towards Thomas Hammersly's where there came the Ranters of that Country and many high Professors The Ranters opposed me and fell a Swearing And when I reproved them for Swearing they would bring Scripture for it and said Abraham and Jacob and Joseph swore and the Priests and Moses and the Prophets swore and the Angels swore Then I told them I did confess all these did so as the Scripture records but said I Christ who said Before Abraham was I am saith Swear not at all And Christ ends the Prophets and the Old Priesthood and the Dispensation of Moses and reigns over the House of Jacob and of Joseph and he says Swear not at all And God when he bringeth in the First-begotten into the World saith Let all the Angels of God worship him to wit Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all And as for the Plea that Men make for Swearing to end their Strife Christ who says Swear not at all destroys the Devil and his Works who is the Author of Strife for that is one of his Works And God said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So the Son is to be heard who forbids Swearing And the Apostle James who did hear the Son of God and followed him and preached him forbids all Oaths Jam. 5.12 So the Lord's Power went over them and his Son and his Doctrine was set over them and the Word of Life was fully and richly preached and many were Convinced that day This Thomas Hammersly being summoned to serve upon a Jury was admitted to serve without an Oath and he being Fore-man of the Jury when he brought in the Verdict the Judge did declare That he had been a Judge so many Years but never heard a more upright Verdict than that Quaker had then brought in Much might be written of things of this nature which time would fail to declare But the Lord's blessed Power and Truth was exalted over all who is worthy of all Praise and Glory for ever Thus travelling through Darbyshire I visited Friends Leicestershire Swanington till I came to Swanington in Leicestershire where there was a General Meeting to which many Ranters came and Baptists and other Professors for great Contests there had been with them and with the Priests in that Town To this Meeting several Friends came from several Parts as John Audland and Francis Howgil and Edward Pyot from Bristol and Edward Burrough from London and several were Convinced in those Parts The Ranters that came to the Meeting made a disturbance and were very rude but at last the Lord's Power came over them and they were Confounded The next Day Jacob Bottomley a great Ranter came from
from even that Temple and those Tithes and Offerings which God had for a time Commanded And the Apostles Met in several private Houses being to Preach the Gospel in all Nations which they did freely as Christ had commanded them And so do we who bring People off from these Priests Temples and Tithes which God never Commanded to Meet in Houses or on Mountains as the Saints of old did who were gathered in the Name of Jesus and Christ was their Prophet Priest and Shepherd There was present with the Parliament-Man that I discoursed with one Major Wiggan a very envious Man yet he bridled himself before the Parliament-Man and some others that were there in Company He took upon him to make a Speech and said Christ had taken away the Guilt of Sin but had left the Power of Sin remaining in us I told him that was strange Doctrine For Christ came to destroy the Devil and his Works and the Power of Sin and so to cleanse Men from Sin So Major Wiggan's Mouth was stopt at that time But the next day desiring to speak with me again I took a Friend or two with me and went to him Then he vented a great deal of Passion and Rage beyond the Bounds of a Christian or Moral Man 1658. London Whereupon I was made to reprove him And having brought the Lord's Power over him and let him see what Condition he was in I left him After some time I passed out of London and had a Meeting at Sergeant Birkheads at Twitnam to which many People came Twitnam and some of considerable Quality in the World A glorious Meeting it was wherein the Scriptures were largely and clearly opened and Christ exalted above all to the great Satisfaction of the Hearers But there was great Persecution in many places both by Imprisoning and breaking up of Meetings At a Meeting about Seven Miles from London the Rude People usually came out of several Parishes round about to abuse Friends and did often beat and bruise them exceedingly One day they beat and abused about Eighty Friends that went to that Meeting out of London tearing their Coats and Cloaks from off their Backs and throwing them into Ditches and Ponds and when they had besmeared them with Dirt then they said They look'd like Witches The next First-day after this A Meeting near London I was moved of the Lord to go to that Meeting though at that time I was very weak When I came there I bid Friends bring a Table and set it in the Close where they used to Meet to stand upon According to their wonted course the Rude People came and I having a Bible in my hand shewed them theirs and their Priests and Teachers Fruits and the People came to be ashamed and was quiet And so I opened the Scriptures to them and our Principles agreeing therewith and I turned the People from the Darkness to the Light of Christ and his Spirit by which they might understand the Scriptures and see themselves and their Sins and know Christ Jesus to be their Saviour So the Meeting ended quietly and the Lord's Power came over all to his Glory But it was a time of great Sufferings for besides the Imprisonments through which many died in Prisons our Meetings were greatly disturbed For they have thrown Rotten Eggs and Wild-fire into our Meetings and have brought in Drums beating and Kettles to make Noises with that the Truth might not be heard and among these the Priests as Rude as any as may be seen in the Book of the Fighting Priests wherein a List is given of some of the Priests that had actually beaten and abused Friends Many also of our Friends were brought up to London Prisoners to be Tried before the Committee where Henry Vane being Chair-man would not suffer Friends to come in except they would put off their Hats but at last the Lord's Power came over him so that through the Mediation of some others that perswaded him they were admitted Now many of us having been Imprisoned upon Contempts as they called them for not putting off our Hats it was not a likely thing that Friends who had suffered so long for it from others should put off their Hats to him But the Lord's Power came over them all and wrought so that several Friends were set at Liberty by them Now inasmuch as Sufferings grew very sharp I was moved of the Lord to write a few Lines and send abroad amongst Friends to encourage them to go on faithfully and boldly through the Exercises of the day of which a Copy here follows My Dear Friends every where abroad scattered in Prison or out of Prison Fear not because of the Reports of Sufferings let not the Evil Spies of the Good Land make you afraid if they tell you the Walls are high and that there be Anakims in the Land For at the blowing of the Ram's-Horns did the Walls of Jericho fall down and they that brought the Evil Report perished in the Wilderness But dwell ye in the Faith Patience and Hope having the Word of Life to keep you which is beyond the Law and having the Oath of God his Covenant Christ Jesus which divides the Waters asunder and makes them to Run all on Heaps in that stand and ye will see all things work together for good to them that love God And in that Triumph when Sufferings come what-ever they be Your Faith your Shield your Helmet your Armour you have on ye are ready to skip over a Mountain or a Wall or an Hill and to walk through the deep Waters though they be Heaps upon Heaps For the Evil Spies of the good Land may preach up hardness but Caleb which signifies an Heart and Joshua a Saviour Triumph over all G. F. Now after a while I passed into the Country and went to Reading Reading and was there under great Sufferings and Exercises and in a great Travel in my Spirit for about Ten Weeks time For I saw there was great Confusion and Distraction amongst the People and that the Powers were plucking each other to pieces And I saw how many Men were destroying the Simplicity and betraying the Truth and a great deal of Hypocrisie and Deceit and Strife was got uppermost in the People so that they were ready to sheath their Swords in one anothers Bowels There had been a Tenderness in many of them formerly when they were low but when they were got up and had killed and taken Possession they came to be as bad as others So that we had much to do with them about our Hats and saying Thou and Thee to them For they turned their Profession of Patience and Moderation into Rage and Madness and many of them would be like distracted Men for this Hat-Honour For they had hardned themselves by persecuting the Innocent and were at this time Crucifying the Seed Christ both in themselves and others till at last they fell a biting and devouring one another
Bickliff's and at Non-Eaton at a Priest's Widow's House we had a blessed Meeting wherein the everlasting Word of Life was powerfully declared and many settled in it Then Travelling on again through the Countries visiting Friends Meetings as I went in about three Weeks time from my coming out of Prison London I came to London Richard Huberthorn and Robert Withers being with me When we came to Charing-Cross there were Multitudes of People gathered together to see the Burning of the Bowels of some of them that had been the Old King's Judges and had been hanged drawn and quartered We went next Morning to Judge Mallet's Chamber who was putting on his Red Gown to go sit upon some more of the King's Judges He was then very peevish and froward and said I might come another time We went another time to his Chamber and then there was with him Judge Foster who was called the Lord Chief Justice of England With me was one called Esquire Marsh who was one of the Bed-Chamber to the King When we had delivered to the Judges the Charge that was against me and they had read to those Words That I and my Friends were Imbroiling the Nation in Blood c. they struck their Hands on the Table Whereupon I told them 1660. London I was the Man whom that Charge was against but I was as Innocent of any such thing as a new-born Child and had brought it up my self and some of my Friends came up with me without any Guard As yet they had not minded my Hat but now seeing my Hat on they said What did I stand with my Hat on I told them I did not stand so in any Contempt to them Then they commanded one to take it off And when they had called for the Marshal of the King's-Bench they said to him You must take this Man and secure him but you must let him have a Chamber and not put him amongst the Prisoners My Lord said the Marshal I have no Chamber to put him into my House is so full that I cannot tell where to provide a Room for him but amongst the Prisoners Nay said the Judges you must not put him amongst the Prisoners But when he still answered He had no other place to put me in Judge Foster said to me Will you appear to morrow about Ten of the Clock at the King's Bench-Bar in Westminster-Hall I said Yes if the Lord give me Strength Then said Judge Foster to the other Judge If he say Yes and promises it you may take his Word So I was dismissed for that time And next day I appeared at the King's Bench-Bar at the hour appointed Robert Withers King's-Bench-Bar Richard Huberthorn and that Esquire Marsh before named going with me I was brought into the middle of the Court and as soon as I was come in I was moved to look about and turning to the People said Peace be among you and the Power of the Lord sprang over the Court The Charge against me was read openly the People were moderate and the Judges cool and loving and the Lord's Mercy was to them But when they came to that part of it which said That I and my Friends were Imbroiling the Nation in Blood and raising a new War and that I was an Enemy to the King c. they lifted up their hands Then stretching out my Arms I said I am the the Man whom that Charge is against but I am as Innocent as a Child concerning the Charge and have never learned any War-Postures And said I do ye think that if I and my Friends had been such Men as the Charge declares that I would have Brought it up my self against my self Or that I should have beed suffered to come up with only one or two of my Friends with me For had I been such a Man as this Charge sets forth I had need have been guarded up with a Troop or two of Horse But the Sheriff and Magistrate of Lancashire had thought fit to let me and my Friends come up with it our selves almost two hundred Miles without any Guard at all which ye may be sure they would not have done if they had looked upon me to be such a Man Then the Judge asked me Whether it should be Filed or what I would do with it I answered Ye are Judges and able I hope to Judge in this matter therefore do with it what ye will for I am the Man these Charges are against and here ye see I have brought them up my self Do ye what ye will with them I leave it to you Then Judge Twisden beginning to speak some angry Words I appealed to Judge Foster and Judge Mallet who had heard me over-night Whereupon they said They did not accuse me for tney had nothing against me Then stood up he that was called Esquire Marsh who was of the King's Bed-Chamber and told the Judges It was the King's Pleasure that I should be set at Liberty seeing no Accuser came up against me 1660. King's Bench-Bar Then they asked me Whether I would put it to the King and Council I said Yes with a good Will Thereupon they sent the Sheriff's Return which he made to the Writ of Habeas Corpus containing the matter charged against me in the Mittimus to the King that he might see for what I was Committed Now the Return of the Sheriff of Lancaster was thus BY Vertue of his Majesty's Writ to me directed and hereunto annexed I certifie that before the Receipt of the said Writ George Fox in the said Writ mentioned was committed to his Majesties Jail at the Castle of Lancaster in my Custody by a Warrant from Henry Porter Esq one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace within the County Palatine aforesaid bearing Date the Fifth of June now last past for that he the said George Fox was generally suspected to be a common Disturber of the Peace of this Nation an Enemy to our Sovereign Lord the King and a chief Vpholder of the Quakers Sect and that he together with others of his Fanatick Opinion have of late endeavoured to make Insurrections in these parts of the Country and to Imbroil the whole Kingdom in Blood And this is the Cause of his taking and detaining Nevertheless the Body of the said George Fox I have ready before Thomas Mallet Knight one of his Majesty's Justices assigned to hold Pleas before his said Majesty at his Chamber in Sergeants Inn in Fleetstreet to do and receive those things which his Majesties said Justice shall determin concerning him in this behalf as by the aforesaid Writ is required GEORGE CHETHAM Esq Sheriff Upon Perusal of this and Consideration of the whole matter the King being satisfied of my Innocency commanded his Secretary to send an Order to Judge Mallet for my Release which the Secretary did thus IT is his Majesty's Pleasure That you give Order for the Releasing and setting at full Liberty the Person of George Fox late a
large and blessed Meetings And in many places we were threatned by the Officers but through the Power of the Lord we escaped their hands So leaving things well settled in Darbyshire we travelled over the Peak-Hills which were very cold Peak-Hills Staffordshire for it was then Frost and Snow and so came into Staffordshire and at Thomas Hammersley's we had a General Mens-Meeting where things were well settled in the Gospel-Order and the Monthly Meetings were established there also But I was so exceeding weak I was hardly able to get on or off my Horse's Back But my Spirit being earnestly engaged in the Work the Lord had concerned me in and sent me forth about I travelled on therein notwithstanding the Weakness of my Body having Confidence in the Lord that he would carry me through as he did by his Power So we came into Cheshire 1667. Cheshire where we had several blessed Meetings and a General Mens Meeting wherein all the Monthly Meetings for that County were settled according to the Gospel-Order in and by the Power of God And after the Meeting was done I passed away But when the Justices heard of it they were very much troubled that they had not come and broken it up and taken me but the Lord prevented them So after I had cleared my self there in the Lord's Service I passed into Lancashire Lancashire Near Warrington to William Barnes's near Warrington where met some of most of the Meetings in that County and there all the Monthly Meetings were established in the Gospel-Order also From thence I sent Papers into Westmorland by Leonard Fell and Robert Widders Westmorland Bishoprick of Durham Cleaveland Northumberland Cumberland SCOTLAND and also into Bishoprick Cleaveland and Northumberland and into Cumberland and Scotland to exhort Friends to settle the Monthly Meetings in the Lord's Power in those places which they did And so the Lord's Power came over all and the Heirs of it came to inherit it For the Authority of our Meetings is the Power of God the Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light that they may see over the Devil that hath darkned them and that all the Heirs of the Gospel might walk according to the Gospel and glorifie God with their Bodies Souls ond Spirits which are the Lord's For the Order of the Glorious Gospel is not of Man nor by Man To this Meeting in Lancashire Margaret Fell Warrington Cheshire being a Prisoner got liberty to come and went with me from thence to Jane Milners in Cheshire where we parted Shropshire And I passed out of Cheshire into Shropshire and from thence into Wales WALES and had a large General Mens-Meeting at Charles Floid's where some Opposers came in but the Lord's Power brought them down Denbyshire Montgomeryshire Meriâ—â—â—â—â—shâ—â—â— Having gone through Denbyshire and Montgomeryshire we passed into Merionethshire where we had several blessed Meetings and then went to the Sea side where also we had a precious Meeting And having passed through several Countries and Friends there being established upon Christ their Foundation we left Wales the Monthly Meetings being settled there in the Power of God and returned into Shropshire Shropshire where the Friends of the Country gathering together the Monthly Meetings were established there also Then coming into Worcestershire Worcestershire after we had had many Meetings up and down amongst Friends in that Country we had a General Mens-Meeting at Henry Gibs's House at Pashur Pashur where also the Monthly Meetings were settled in the Gospel-Order The Sessions were held that day in that Town and some Friends were pretty much concerned lest they should send some Officers to break up our Meeting but the Lord's Power restrained them so that our Meeting was quiet through which Power we had Dominion After the Meeting I passed away and had several Meetings amongst Friends in that Country Worcester till I came to Worcester and it being the Fair-time we had a precious Meeting there There was then in Worcester one Major Wild a persecuting Man and after I was gone out of Town some of his Souldiers inquired after me but I having left the Friends there settled in good Order Draitwich was passed away to Draitwich From thence we passed to Shrewsbury 1667. Shrewsbury where also we had a very precious Meeting But the Mayor hearing that I was in Town got the rest of the Officers together to Consult what to do against me For they said The Great Quaker of England was come to Town But when they were come together the Lord Confounded their Counsels so that when some were for Imprisoning me others of them opposed it and so being divided amongst themselves I escaped their hands We went also into Radnorshire Radnorshire where we had many precious Meetings and the Monthly Meetings were settled in the Lord's Power As we came forth of that Country staying a little at a Market Town a Justice's Clerk and some other Rude Fellows combined together to do us a Mischief upon the Road. Accordingly they followed us out of Town and soon overtook us but there being many Market-People on the way they were some-what hindred from doing what they intended Yet observing that Two of our Company rid at some distance behind they set upon them Two and one of them drew his Sword and cut one of those two Friends whose Name was Richard Moor the Chirurgeon of Shrewsbury Mean while another of these Rude Fellows came galloping after me and the other Friend that was with me and we being to pass over a Bridge that was somewhat of the narrowest for him to pass by us he in his Eagerness to get before us rid into the Brook and plunged his Horse into a deep Hole in the Water I saw the Design and stopt and desired Friends to be patient and give them no occasion and in this time came Richard Moor up to us with the other Friend that was with him who knew the Men and their Names Then we rid on the Road again and a little further we met another Man on foot who was Drunk and had a naked Sword in his hand And not far beyond him in a Bottom we met Two Men and Two Women one of which Men had his Thumb cut off by this Drunken Man that had the Naked Sword for he being in Drink would have Ravished one of the Women and this Man withstanding him and rescuing the Young-Woman from him he whipt out his Sword and cut off the Man's Thumb Now though this Drunken Man was then on foot having alighted to do his Wickedness yet he had a Horse that being loose followed him a pretty way behind Wherefore I rid after the Horse and having caught him I brought him to the Man that had his Thumb cut off and bid him Take the Horse to the next Justice of Peace and by that means they might find out and pursue the Man that had wounded
in the Woods and lay there all Night and it being rainy Weather we got under some thick Trees for Shelter and afterwards dried our selves again by the Fire Chester River Next Day we waded through Chester-River a very broad Water and afterwards passing through many bad Boggs lay that Night also in the Woods by a Fire not having gone by reason of Hindrances in the River and Boggs above Thirty Miles that day But on the day following we travelled hard and though we had some troublesom Boggs in our way we rode about Fifty Miles and got safe that Night but very weary to a Friend's House MARY-LAND M les-River one Robert Harwood at Miles-River in Mary-land This was the Eighteenth Day of the Seventh Month and though we were very weary and much dirtied with getting through the Boggs in our Journey yet hearing of a Meeting next day we went to it and from it to John Edmundson's from whence we went three or four Miles by Water to a Meeting on the First-Day following At this Meeting there was a Judge's Wife who had never been at any of our Meetings before and she was reached and said after the Meeting She had rather hear us once than the Priests a thousand times Many others also of the World's People that were there were very well satisfied For the Power of the Lord was eminently with and amongst us blessed for ever be his holy Name We passed from thence about twenty two Miles Kentish Shore and had a Meeting upon the Kentish Shore to which one of the Judges came and a good Meeting it was Then after we had had another good Meeting hard by there at one Henry Wilcock's House where also we had good Service for the Lord we went by Water about twenty Miles to a very large Meeting where were some Hundreds of the World's People and divers of the Chief Rank both English and Indians For there were four Justices of the Peace and the High Sheriff of Delaware and some others from thence and there was an Indian Emperor or Governour and two others of the Chief Men among the Indians With these Indians I had a good Opportunity the Night before the Meeting and I spake to them by an Interpreter and they heard the Truth attentively and were very loving A blessed Meeting this was and of great Service both for Convincing 1672. Mary-land and Establishing in the Truth them that were convinced of it blessed be the Lord who causeth his blessed Truth to spread After the Meeting a Woman came to me whose Husband was one of the Judges of that part of the Country and a Member of the Parliament or Assembly there and told me Her Husband was sick not like to live and desired me to go home with her to see him It was three Miles to her House and I being just come hot out of the Meeting it was hard for me then to go Yet considering the Service I got an Horse and went with her and visited her Husband and spake what the Lord gave me to him And the Man was much refreshed and finely raised up by the Power of the Lord and he afterwards came to our Meetings I went back again to the Friends that Night and next day we departed thence and went about nineteen or twenty Miles to Tredhaven-Creek to John Edmundson's again from whence Tredhaven Creek on the Third of the Eighth Month we went to the General Meeting for all Maryland-Friends This Meeting held five Days together General Meeting the first three Days we had Meetings for Publick Worship to which People of all sorts came the other two days were spent in the Mens and Womens Meetings To those Publick Meetings came many of the World both Protestants of divers sorts and some Papists and amongst these were several Magistrates and their Wives and other Persons of chief Account in the Country and of the common People there were so many besides Friends that they thought there were sometimes a Thousand People at one of those Meetings So that although they had not long before enlarged their Meeting-place and made it as big again as it was before yet it could not contain the People I went by Boat every Day four or five Miles to the Meeting and there were so many Boats at that time passing upon the River that it was almost like the Thames and People said There were never so many Boats seen there together before And as the Concourse of People was very great so that one of the Justices who was there said He never saw so many People together in that Country before so it was a very Heavenly Meeting wherein the Presence of the Lord was gloriously manifested and Friends were thereby sweetly refreshed and the People generally satisfied and many convinced for the blessed Power of the Lord was over all everlasting Praises to his Holy Name for ever After the Publick Meetings were over the Mens and Womens-Meetings began and were held the other two Days for I had something to impart to them which concerned the Glory of God and the Order of the Gospel and the Government of Christ Jesus So when these Meetings were all over we took our Leaves of Friends in those parts whom we left well established in the Truth which is of good Report amongst the People there and great Enquirings there are after it amongst all sorts of People And upon the Tenth Day of the Eighth Month we went from thence about Thirty Miles by Water passing by Cranes-Island and Swan-Island Cranes Island Swan Island Kent Island and Kent-Island in very foul Weather and much Rain whereby our Boat being open we were not only very much wetted but in great danger of being overset Insomuch that some of the World thought we could not have escaped casting away till they saw us come to Shore next morning But blessed be God we were very well And having got a little House and dried our Cloths by the Fire and refreshed our selves a little we betook us to our Boat again and put off from Land sometimes Sailing and sometimes Rowing but having very foul Weather that day too we could not get above twelve Miles forward that Day At Night we got to Land and made us a Fire and some lay by that and some lay by a Fire at an House a little way off Then next Morning pursuing our Journey Great Bay we passed over the great Bay and sailed about Forty Miles that day and making to Shore at Night we lay there some in the Boat and some at an Ale-house by Next morning it being the First-Day of the Week we went Six or Seven Miles to a Friend's House who was a Justice of the Peace where we had a Meeting that Day and this was a little above the Head of the Great Bay So we were almost four Days upon the Water weary with Rowing yet all was very well blessed and praised be the Lord. We went next Day to
and he would do it And whereas he says We refused to give Sureties He asked only George Fox for Sureties who replied He was an Innocent Man and knew no Law he had broken But he did not ask Tho. Lower for any as if it had been Crime and Cause enough for his Commitment that he came out of Cornwall And if we were at a Meeting as he says in his Mittimus he might have proceeded otherwise than by sending us to Jail to answer the Breach of the Common Laws though yet he shewed us no Breach of any as may be seen in the Mittimus So we thought fit to lay before you the Substance of his Proceedings against us hoping there will more Moderation and Justice appear in you towards us that so we may prosecute our intended Journey George Fox Thomas Lower But no Enlargement did we receive by our Application to the Lord Windsor so called And although Thomas Lower received several Letters from his Brother Dr. Lower who was one of the King's Physicians concerning his Liberty and one by his Procurement from Henry Savil who was one of the King's Bed-Chamber to his Brother called the Lord Windsor to the same Effect yet seeing it related only to his Enlargement not mine so great was his Love and Regard to me that he would not seek his own Liberty singly but kept the Letter by him unsent So we were continued Prisoners 1673. Worcester-General-Quarter-Sessions till the next General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace At which time divers Friends from several places being in Town did speak to the Justices concerning us who spake fair to Friends and said we should be discharged For many of the Justices seemed to dislike the Severity of Parker's Proceedings against us and did declare an Averseness to ensnare us by the Tender of the Oaths Some Friends also had spoken with him that was called the Lord Windsor who likewise spake them fair so that it was the general Discourse that we should be discharged We heard also that Dr. Lower had procured a Letter from one Col. Sands at London to some of the Justices in Favour of us Some of the Justices also spake to some Friends to acquaint us that they would have us speak but little in the Court lest we should provoke any of the Bench and they would warrant we should be discharged We were not called till the last Day of the Sessions which was the Twenty First of the Eleventh Month 1673. And when we came in they were stricken with Paleness in their Faces and it was some time before any thing was spoken insomuch that a Butcher in the Hall said What! are they afraid Dare not the Justices speak to them At length before they spake to us Justice Parker made a long Speech on the Bench much to the same Effect as was contained in the Mittimus often mentioning the Common Laws but not Instancing any that we had broken adding That he thought it a milder Course to send us Two to Jail than to put his Neighbours to the loss of two hundred Pounds which they must have suffered if he had put the Law in Execution against Conventicles But in this he was either very Ignorant or very Deceitful for there being no Meeting when he came nor any to Inform he had no Evidence to Convict us or his Neighbours by When Parker had ended his Speech the Justices spake to us and began with Thomas Lower whom they examined of the Cause of his Coming into that Country of which he gave them a full and plain Account Sometimes I put in a Word while they were Examining him and then they told me They were upon his Examination but that when it came to my turn I should have free Liberty to speak for they would not hinder me but I should have full time and they would not ensnare us When they had done with him they asked me an Account of my Travel which I gave them according as is mentioned before but more largely And whereas Justice Parker to aggravate the Case had made a great Noise of There being some from London some from the North some from Cornwal and some from Bristol at the House when I was taken I told them That this was in a manner all but one Family For there was none from London but my self none from the North but my Wife and her Daughter none from Cornwall but my Son-in-Law Thomas Lower nor any from Bristol but one Friend a Merchant there who met us as it were providentially to assist my Wife and her Daughter in their Journey homewards when by our Imprisonment they were deprived of our Company and Help When I had spoken the Chair-man whose Name was Simpson an Old Presbyterian said Your Relation or Account is very Innocent Then he and Parker whispered a while together and after that the Chair-man stood up and said You Mr. Fox are a Famous Man and all this may be true which you have said but that we may be the better satisfied will you take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy I told them They had said They would not ensnare us but this was a plain Snare for they knew we could not take any Oath However they caused the Oath to be read and when they had done I told them I never took Oath in my Life but I had always been true to the Government That I was cast into the Dungeon at Darby and kept a Prisoner Six Months there because I would not take up Arms against King Charles at Worcester-Fight and for going to Meetings was carried up out of Leicestershire and brought before Oliver Cromwel as a Plotter to bring in King Charles And ye know said I in your own Consciences that we the People called Quakers cannot take an Oath or Swear in any Case because Christ hath forbidden it But as to the Matter or Substance contained in the Oaths this I can and do say that I do own and acknowledge the King of England to be lawful Heir and Successor to the Realm of England and do abhor all Plots and Plotters and Contrivances against him and I have nothing in my Heart but Love and Good-will to him and all Men and desire his and their Prosperity the Lord knows it before whom I stand an Innocent Man And as to the Oath of Supremacy I deny the Pope and his Power and his Religion and abhor it with my Heart While I was speaking to them they cried Give him the Book And I said The Book saith Swear not at all Then they cried Take him away Jailer and I still speaking on they were Vrgent upon the Jailer crying Take him away we shall have a Meeting here Why do you not take him away That Fellow meaning the Jailer loves to hear him preach Then the Jailer drew me away and as I was turning from them I stretched out my Arm and said The Lord forgive you who cast me into Prison for Obeying the Doctrine of Christ