by Thomas Goall Justice upon the Iuformation of Richard Gibson and Thomas Lucas aforesaid Constables and Robert Robinson Warden And the 10th day of the 9th Month came the said Officers and took Goods from Robert Widders worth 9 s. 6 d. And again Robert Widders for having a peaceable Meeting at his House the 26th of the 8th Month 1684. was fined the second time 20 l. for his House by the said Robert Bindless Justice upon the Information of the said Rich. Gibson and George Eskrigge both of Over Kellet which George Eskrigge said it was against his will. And the 20th day of the 10th Month came the said Richard Gibson Black-smith and Thomas Lucas Constables and Robert Robinson Warden by Warrant from the said Justice Bindless and rifled the House of Robert Widders shot back locks and pulled out staples of Doors and Arkes altho they were told what was in them and that it was not according to the Act and then took Goods worth 10 l. 5 s. so let it fall Robert Widders for being at a Meeting at John Bachouse of Yelland the 14th of the 10th Month 1684. was fined 10 s. by the said Justice Bindless upon the Information of John Smith Constable and Thomas Watson Warden both of the said Yelland had Goods taken from him worth 10 s. by the said Richard Gibson Thomas Lucas and Robert Robinson all of Over Kellet aforesaid the 20th day of the 10th Month 1684. Thus the sufferings of Robert Widders that Noble Innocent Sufferer and Faithful Servant and Witness for the Lord God may be seen in short  l. s. d. His Suffering for Tithes 143 11 00 His Sufferings for Sunday Shillings 00 10 00 His Sufferings for Meetings 37 18 02 Total 181 19 02 And likewise his suffering Imprisonment for the Testimony of the Truth and keeping his Couscience clear was once at Carliste and several times at Laneaster which particularly are not here set down And of his going to Steeple-houses and sometimes of his speaking to Priests and People and warning them to repent here is twelve particularly set down besides divers others in the Bishoprick or else where not here inserted Likewise Râ—bert Widders writ many Letters when he was in America and from divers other parts where he was in the Service of the Lord he writ to his Relations and Friends of his Love to them with good Advice and Counsel with seasonable Exhortations To be Faithful and Noble and Valiant for God and his Truth over all Gain-sayers For Truth will stand and Remain when all Hypocrisie and deceit will fail and come to an end Tho all his Writings particularly are not here set down But here are several Writings and Testimonies concerning this true and Noble Man for God in his day Robert Widders And of his Spirit Gists and Service in the Church of God of which Christ Jesus is the holy eternal head from several Friends as may be seen here following The Tâ—stimony of Jane Widders concerning her dear Husband Robert Widders THis Testimony I have to give for my dear and truly loving Husband That his Love was true and sincere to God and for the prosperity of his blessed Truth was zealous He was a man ever since it pleased God to joyn him and me together as Man and Wife that was inclining to seek after the Lord. And in the time of his outward profession was zealous and honest according to what he then knew till it pleased the Lord thorough the Testimony and direction of his faithful Servant and Minister G. F. To turn his mind from Darkness to the Light of Christ within who through believing obeying Christ and the Light of Life and taking up the Cross to self came to witness true peace with God and so receiving the Truth in the Love of it he became a companion of them that suffered for the Truth He was so faithful to God and true for the good of his Soul that he would have been loath to have fled the Cross for any outward advantage Oh the integrity of his Spirit and heart I might speak much of the same But it is known to God and I hope to many faithful Brethren and Sisters in the Lord whom he hath left behind under the exercise of this transitory world Oh! it is the Cry and breathing of my Soul unto God that he would preserve me in faithfulness as he hath done my deat Husband to the end of my daies and finishing my Course here During the time of his weakness of Body he was kept by the Lords Power in a sweet and precious frame of mind and patientness of Spirit as one that had Resigned himself up into the Will of God and many precious Scriptures passed thorow him in that time as one that might in Truth declare what God had done for his Soul as that of the Prophet where he saith The Lord will comfort Zion and repair her decayed places making her Desart as a Paradice and her Wilderness as the Garden of the Lord Mirth and Joy shall be found there Thanksgiving and the voice of Praise And again that of the Prophet where he saith The work or fruit of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever He would often have said his heart was filled with the Love of God and that there was nothing betwixt him and the Lord. Thou hast taught me the way of Life and makest me full of Joy with thy Countenance And seeing it is the will of God to take my dear Husband unto himself to rest with him in eternal Glory who was a dear and tender Husband unto me Oh that I in a holy submission to his blessed will may be given up desiring in all things to be made conformable to his heavenly mind who alone is worthy to be seared served worshipped and bowed unto who is God over all blessed for ever Amen Jane Widders Thomas Widders his Testimony concerning his dear and tender Father Robert Widders THis Testimony I have to bear concerning my dear and Loving Father who is Deceased for whom I ever had a Reverent esteem and that upon a double account First as he was a tender natural Father unto me Secondly as he was an Example of a holy Life and Conversation and good Advice and Counsel to me Also he was sincere and zealous for the propagation of the Name and Truth of God in his Day which I know by true experience was the desire of his heart that all who took upon them the profession of the holy Name of Jesus might walk answerable to the same by taking heed to the manifestation of the Spirit and the appearances of the Grace of God given them for that end that they might live up in obedience to the same He had likewise a large share of the sufferings of the People of God in his Day and Age and did bear his Testimony Faithful for Christ Jesus whom he witnessed to be come the High Priest
with them is and ever will be of blessed Memory having served out his Generation and attained to a good old Age and the honorable Gray Hairs is gathered to Rest in endless Gâ—ory Amen Thomas Camm Cammsgill 6 of 4 Mo. 1687. William Hugginson his Testimony of the Life and Death of that ancient Friend and faithful Brother in the Truth as it is in Jesus Robert Widders I having had good experience and knowledge of him near Forty Years can do no less than give a short account of his Godly Life and holy Conversation he had amongst us surely he was a Man of a noble Spirit indued with a large wisdom in Heavenly things He had also a deep discerning of the Spirits of men so knew right well how to speak to their condition and that in a right Season his words being in the Lise and Power he hath left many living witnesses to speak forth the same And he was a good example in times of Tryals and Sufferings both in Body and Goods amongst us for he had a large share of both as doth appear in his own Testimony of Sufferings before written only this I can say being of the same Meeting with him and very intimate and open hearted in the things of God and well knew his care and diligence both in our quarterly monthly and particular Meetings and more especially in our great suffering time by the Informers His advice was to me and that very tenderly as one said that he became Eyes to the Blind and Legs to the Lame and many precious Exhortations proceeded out of his mouth to the refreshing and comforting of the lowest Member or hindermost of the Flook and Heritage of God. He was so tenderly affectioned that his very Life was given up to serve the Lord in his day to strengthen and to stir up the pure Spirit of God in the very lowest member so that I was and am sensible that he answered the mind and will of God and did that which was right in his Sight and laid down his Head in peace with him And now the remembrance of that great and dear love that he had to our Family often breaks my Heart into tenderenss and refresheth my Soul so that I can say my Family misseth him But to the Almighty God we must all submit to whom be Glory and praise for evermore Amen And now dear Robert thou art gone surely living with the Eternal one in that heavenly mansion of Rest and peace for evermore Amen William Hugginson Thomas Dockrey his Testimony concerning Robert Widders AS for our faithful Friend and Servant of the Lord Robert Widders He was called early of the day of God when it pleased him to visit his Seed in the North of England who in the year 1652. sent his faithful Minister and joyful Ambassadour G. F. with others to declare his Name and his Truth and his Gospel and the way of Peace Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ which indeed was the greatest joy and satisfaction to many a Soul in these parts that ever they met with who had been seeking after the Lord his peace power and presence which now many hath found and lived in and hath finished their time and course here to the laying down of their Heads in peace with God to whom be praise for ever Robert Widders owned the Truth above 34 years he was a Man zealous of mind and fervent in Spirit and true in Heart to serve the Lord God faithfully all his days after he was turned to the Lord and to his eternal Truth He was steadfast in Faith and of a sound judgment and deep discerning who visited many in Sickness of body and them that were in trouble of Conscience and had a true discerning of their spiritual conditions and could have spoken a word in season sutable to them And to those that were innocent and truly desirous after good he was loving and tender and of a chearful Countenance But to the Hypocrites and false in Heart he was sharp and threshing having the Spirit of Judgment so that his Spirit might often have been known by his Countenance But he greatly loved Unity amongst Brethren in the Spirit and power of the Lord God. And he was one that chosed rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of Sin and of this world for a season For as it may be seen before in this little Book he was a great Sufferer both in Imprisonment and spoiling of Goods For his Testimony to the Truth and for keeping his Conscience clear he was freely given up and faithful and true in and thorow them all well knowing that the Doctrine of Jesus was and is true Blessed are these that suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and had rather have suffered much than that the Lord and his holy Truth should be dishonoured or his people evil spoken of And now he hath finished his course and kept the Faith having lived in the Truth and dyed in the Lord Aged about sixty eight years and blessed are such for they Rest from their Labour and their Works follow them And he is gone as to his natural Life but his Spirit and Life spiritually yet remaineth and lives as He that believeth in me said Jesus hath everlasting Life And this is the will of him that sent me That every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last day And he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die And the Saints in the Apostles days had a Life hid with Christ in God who were come to the Spirits of just men made perfect to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose Names are written in Heaven And to God the judge of all to whom all must give account and who is the just rewarder of all according to their deeds done in the Body be they good or evil And we that yet remain in the Body God Almighty keep and preserve us faithful and true to him to his Glory to the end of our days and to our eternal Peace and Felicity Amen Thomas Dockrey Thomas Jackson his Testimony of Robert Widders THis Testimony I have to give concerning our dear and faithful Friend Robert Widders He was a zealous Man and sincere for God in his day and servent in Spirit always ready and willing to serve the Lord wholly resigned thereunto in Spirit and Body and Estate and his Travels Exercises Tryals and Sufferings doth certifie ever since he was called into the work of the Lord and he was called early and indured the heat of the day And after I came into acquaintance and fellowship with him he was a Strength and Comfort to me for which I have cause to magnifie the Lord on his behalf for I was sensible of his labour of Love and care in the Church of God that it must be preserved in Unity as
THE Life Death TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS OF Robert VVidders OF KELLET in LANCASHIRE WHO Was one of the Lords Worthies together with several Testimonies of his Neighbours and Friends concerning him LONDON Printed in the Year 1688. A Short Testimony of the Life Travels Sufferings and Death of that Faithful Servant of the Lord Robert Widders WHo was Born in Vpper-Kellet in Lancashire of honest substantial Parentage who was a Seeker after the Lord and the knowledge of his way and wandred from Mountain to Hill but could find no rest nor satisfaction to my Soul till it pleased the Lord God that in the year 1652. Dear George Fox came into these parts who informed my mind and turned me to the Light of Christ Jesus in my inward parts which was comfort to me that had long sat in darkness and so I was convinced of Gods pure eternal Truth And in the year 1653. I and George Fox and James Lancaster passed into Cumberland where I and James Lancaster went to Emelton Steeple-house (1) Steeple-House and I spoke to the Priest and People in publique and charged them in the presence of God that if any of them could tell what would become of their Souls if they should be cut off that present let them then speak but never a one of them durst open their Mouthes Then the next First Day (2) Steeple-House I was moved to go to Coldbeck Steeple-house where I spoke to Priest Hutton when he was in his High-place And the rude people his Hearers did throw me down among the Seats and dragged and trailed me forth into the Yard and threw me down upon the Ground and punshed and beat me till the blood gushed out at my mouth and I lay for dead some time But a woman took pity and held up my head till my breath and life came to me again as some said that stood by Ever blessed be the Lord God who upheld and strengthened me by his eternal power that I was not dismayed nor discouraged For on the same day in the afternoon I went seven Miles to Ackton Steeple house (3) Steeple-House where I spoke to Priest Nicholls of Ackton in his High-place and said Come down thou Deceiver thou enemy of Christ the hand of the Lord is against thee And one William Brisco of Crofton then present a Justice commanded the Constables to secure me and after examined me in the Priests House and the Priest Nicholls flattered and fawned upon me And I told him The Spirit of Persecution lodged in him he said Nay he was no such man. Then presently after he said to the Justice I had stoln my Horse and that he could find in his heart to be my Executioner with his own hands Then I told him again Did not I say unto thee That the Spirit of Persecution lodged in thee So the said Justice Brisco made a Warrant to send me to Carlile Goal and after he had given the Warrant to the Constable he called me before him again and asked me by what Authority or Power I came to Seduce and bewitch People I told him I came not to Seduce and bewitch People but I came in that Power which shall make thee and all the Powers of the Earth bend and bow before it to wit the mighty Power of God. And as I spake these words from the word the Terrour and Dread of God took hold upon him and smâ—te his heart Then he called for his Warrant again out of the Constables hand and caused the Constable to put me on to a Moor near Night So the Lord delivered me at that time But not long after was I moved of the Lord to go to the said Ackton-Steeple House again where the said Justice Brisco had Power to send me to the Common-Goal at Carlile (1) Prison where I didly in the Dungeon among Thieves a long time and never came out Night nor Day till I was released Then afterwards I went to Lamplough Steeple-House and spoke to the Priest (4) Steeple-House and People and they were very Rude and tore the Hair off my Head and rent my Coat And in the Afternoon the same Day I went to another Steeple House two Miles from thence (5) Steeple-House and spoke to the Priest but he went away and would not stay Afterward I was with G. (6) Steeple-House F. in Scotland and went there to a Steeple-House called New Munckland Likewise as I came back I was at a Steeple House in Northumberland (7) Steeple-House and there spoke to the People And one Henry Harbuttle and his Wife were Convinced that Day And in Bishoprick I was at several Steeple-Houses And in Bishopaukland I speaking thorow the Town Several Steeple-Houses the People stoned me with Stones and bruised my Head very Sore And likewise in York-shire where particularly I was at a Steeple-House near Skipton and spoke to Priest Webster and bid him come down thou Inchanter for he was a false Man for he had been partly convinced and turned back again Simon Magus like I also spoke to the people and to one Justice Coats a moderate man then being present And I directed them to the Word of God in the heart which divided between the precious and the vile And then I went to a Moor side where a few Friends were gathered together and I sat down among them and it was immediately revealed to me that the said Justice Coats would send for me And presently there came many Horse men and Foot and said I must go before the Justice who examined me and said I had broken the Law in disturbing the Minister and People and he might send me to Gaol at York Castle I Answered Send me to York Castle if thou durst for to that of God in thy Conscience am I made manifest Then said he I neither dare nor will So took me by the Hand and told me I might take my own time And so the Lord preserved and delivered me for which I praise his Holy Name And also I was at several Steeple Houses in Lancashire as Warton Halton Kellet and Arkholm Chapel Lancasâ—ire Steeple-House where at Arkholm the People were like to Fight and I standing in the Chapel Door held up my Hand and spoke to the Priest to come forth and take up the People they will needs Fight they being in the Dogs Nature And at the Assize time at Lancaster I went to the Steeple House and spoke to the Priest whilst he was Preaching before the Judges and the Priest was all in a Fright and Smitten and broke Up and the People in a hast hurried out So the Lord God everlastingly Delivered Kept and Preserved me by his Everlasting Power in all my Travels and Exercises of this kind Blessed be his Holy Glorious Name for ever Here followeth a Breviate of the Heads of the great and sore Sufferings of this Faithful follower of the Lord Robert Widders both in Body and
can truly say he was Dear and Pretious unto me one whom I had true comfort in and refreshment by him in our converse together one of the valiants of Israel I may say he was that never turned his back but stood Faithful and Valiant for the living Truth upon the Earth and was a great incourager of all that made profession of the blessed Truth to be Faithful to the Lord and true in their Testimony thereunto as he had time and opportunity Oh! what shall I say my Soul lov'd him dearly he was a true Friend of mine in the time of my Exercise his true care and many tender visits of which I have many times been a partaker the very remembrance hereof makes my heart tender before the Lord and even pray unto him that he would raise up many living Testimony bearers for the Propagation of his ever lasting Truth for which this my entirely beloved Friend and Brother did labour without Weariness and Travel without Fainting in his day Oh! wherewithal shall I take up a Lamentation sufficient for the loss or removal of so near a Friend or amply demonstrate the tender Affection that ever lived in my heart since the time I was first acquainted with him howbeit in this is my Spirit comforted and my Soul hath cause to praise the Lord on his behalf that is to say The true sence and consideration of his unfeigned and innocent life together with his blessed and comfortable departure a few hours before which I was with him and we were truly refreshed together by the same heart-tendring power which hath often consolated our Spirits in the daies that are past And further this Testimony lives in my heart that the Lord hath given him a Mansion in the fulness of Joy and set a Crown of Rejoycing upon his head where all tears are wiped away and sorrow ended where he shall sing praises to the everlasting God who sits upon the Throne and the Lamb who is eternally worthy to be glorified for evermore Amen Anne Camm Cammsgill 30 of 3 Mo. 1687. Thomas Camm his Testimony concerning Robert Widders IT was no doubt the serious Observation of a good man of Old and therefore recommended unto others that is to say to mark the Upright man especially his latter end because it is blessedly accompanied with peace notwithstanding that in his Pilgrimage here he may meet with many troubles and deep exercises yet the Lord his God delivereth out of all of whose faithfulness our dear deceased Friend and Brother was a living witness For tho in his time he met with manifold Troubles and great Sufferings for the Truths sake that he had received in the love thereof and did bear a Faithful Testimony unto being like upright Joseph of Old sorely shot at yet his bow still abode in strength his Arms being made strong by the Mighty God of Jacob in whose power his Faith stood firm unto the end without either â—ainting or wavering a good Example to all that knew him And the Memory thereof will live and be of good savour to Ages to come For the Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance It is not with me to enter into the particulars of his Sufferings but to leave that to others more capable Yet having known him this thirty four years ever since the Lord visited us with his Gospel day that sprung from on high and broke forth as a Morning without Clouds which he with the first in these parts received with great Joy and gladness of heart and in this time have I known most of his Sufferings both by way of Imprisonment and the great spoil of his Goods both for his Noble Testimony against the Antichristian Yoke of Tythes and for Meeting with the Lord 's innocent People to worship the eternal God. I shall in a general way say That his sufferings exceeded most that I know being several times stript of much that was within the reach of the wicked Spoilers But as his Sufferings and Troubles exceeded so also did his Christian Constancy and Valour well may he be called one of the Valiants of God's Israel O the Nobility the Zeal the Courage and resignedness of his Spirit into the Will of God in his greatest exercises which fully demonstrated his love to the Truth and his regard to the blessed Testimony thereof hath often affected my Spirit for I never saw him in the least dejected or concerned when his Cattle Corn and Household Goods was as it were by Wholesale swept away But as one that knew well for what he suffered and enjoyed the sweetness of an eternal Rew 〈…〉 in heavenly I reasure in an hundred sold here together with 〈…〉 of a lassing Crown in Eternity Could and had 〈…〉 to be as chearful and well content in the want of those 〈◊〉 things as in the abounding thereof which he through the 〈…〉 ing of Almighty God had had a large share in yet like upright Job he blessed God that gave and also permitted them to be taken away I cannot but with affection remember his frequent expressions in dircourse of our or other Friends Sufferings as also mention some of them that is to say It is well with all that suffer for Truth 's Cause they are blessed they enjoy peace There is nothing that hath come but there hath been need for it and a service in it for all our Sufferings worketh together for our good and Gods glory and the remainder of the wrath of man will be restrained c. And as his Nobility and Courage was exemplary and of service to many so also was his care and counsel so that many have cause to bless the Lord on the behalf thereof I may also add to the Nobility of his Spirit great Gravity mixed with a Lamb-like innocency which was as a garment of Praise upon him and made him right lovely in the eyes of the upright together with his sound judgment clear discerning and savour whereby a perfect distinction was made betwixt things of contrary natures tho under one name or likeness And as he was tender to cherish every appearance of good yet sharp and piercing was his Testimony against all wickedness and deceit so that it was hard for workers of Iniquity or Hypocrites to stand before him being filled with indignation against all false-heartedness deceit and hypocrisie But his very soul was bound up with the upright in heart and his Joy made full in the Faithful to Truths Testimony And now the Lord whom beloved above all and feared above the wrath of Man and faithfully served in his day hath given him a Crown of Glory and a blessed portion in the rest that remains sure for the People of God where his manifold sufferings are come to an end his sorrows ceased and all tears for ever wiped from his eyes being ascended far above the reach of the wicked one and his Persecutors where his Spirit lives with Just men made perfect in Christ our Lord and