Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
 
 in  2011  with  funding  from 
 
 Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/persecutionexposOOwhit 
 
tr&iK^. 
 
 /  / 
 
/     v 
 
 '< 
 
 AP 
 
 R  26  1927 
 
 PERSECUTION 
 
 EXPOSE^ 
 
 IN     S  0  M 
 
 E 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 RELATING    TO    THE 
 
 SUFFERINGS 
 
 O    F 
 
 JOHN^WHITING, 
 
 AND 
 
 Many  others   of  the  People 
 
 CALLED 
 
 QUAKERS, 
 
 For  Confcience  fake,  in  the  Weft  of  England,  &c. 
 
 With  Memoirs  of  many  eminent  Friends  deceafed,  and  other 
 memorable  Matters  and  Occurrences,  concerning  the  Suf- 
 ferings of  the  faid  People  ;  and  remarkable  Providences  at- 
 tending him  and  them,  during  his  long  Imprifonment  at 
 Ivelchefter,  till  the  general  Releafe,  in  1686;  and  con- 
 tinued down  to  the  Year  1696. 
 
 SECOND    EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED   BY    JAMES    PHILLIPS,    GEORGE-YARD, 
 LOMBARD-STREET. 
 
 U  DCC  XCI. 
 
THE 
 
 P    II   E    F   A   C 
 
 THE  following  Memoirs  being  written, 
 for  the  moil  part,  feveral  years  lince; 
 primarily,  For  a  memorial  to  myfelf,  of  the 
 dealings  of  the  Lord  with  me,  and  eminent 
 prefervations  in  many  difficulties  and  dangers, 
 in  a  thankful  remembrance  of  his  mercies, 
 "  That  I  may  publifh  with  the  voice  of 
 "  thankfgiving,  and  tell  of  his  wondrqus 
 "  works,"  Pfal.  xxvi.  7.  Secondly,  To  give 
 account  of  fome  of  the  perfecutions  which 
 then  raged  in  many  places;  and  the  fuffer- 
 ings  we'  (the  people  called  Quakers)  under- 
 went from  cruel  and  mercilefs  men,  for  our 
 religious  diffent  and  nonconformity.  Thirdly, 
 For  a  warning  againft  perfecution  in  time  to 
 come,  that,  none  may  thereby  prefume  to  cp- 
 prefs  tender  confciences,  to  the  ruin  of  many 
 honeft  and  induftrious  families,  and  them- 
 ielves  too  in  the  end,  as  many  of  thefe  men 
 did.  Fourthly,  For  the  encouragement  of 
 all  that  may  hereafter  fufTer  for  the  tefti- 
 mony  of  truth  and  a  good  confcience,  that 
 they  may  never  be  difcouraged  5  but  truft  in 
 
 a  '    the 
 
ii  PREFACE. 
 
 the  Lord  in  the  greater!  ftraits  and  hardfhips, 
 who  is  able  to  deliver  out  of  them  all.  And 
 Laftly,  To  do  juftice  to  myfelf  and  my 
 friends ;  and  to  commemorate  the  lives,  and 
 noble  acts,  of  many  renowned  worthies,  as 
 well  as  the  lamentable  ends  of  many  pcr- 
 fecutors. 
 
 Which  yet  I  mould  hardly  have  publifhed 
 at  this  time  (having  lain  fo  long  by  me)  or 
 my  letter  to  my  adversary  prieft  Ancketyl, 
 who  is  long  fince  in  his  grave  (and  the  reft  of 
 my  perfecutors,  the  bifhop,  chancellor  and  gaol- 
 keepers  who  pnrfued  me  with  the  utmoft  fe- 
 verity  they  could)  dead  and  gone,  and  their 
 places  hardly  to  be  found :  at  whofe  fall  I 
 never  rejoiced,  or  defired  that  the  evil  day 
 fhould  haften  to  come  upon  them  ;  but  in  the 
 innocency  defired  always  to  be  kept,  knowing 
 <£  their  foot  would  Hide  in  due  time,  (being 
 "  fet  in  fiippery  places ;)  for  the  day  of  their 
 "  calamity  was  at  hand,  and  the  things  which 
 <l  mould  come  upon  them  made  hade,"  Deut, 
 xxxii.  2,3'  Pfel-  lxxiii.  18.  And  the  fufTer- 
 ings  I,  and  many  more  underwent  in  thofe 
 days,  fo  long  (through  the  mercy  of  God) 
 furvived  by  me,  that  I  mould  hardly  now 
 have  publifhed  it,  had  I  not  feen  the  fame 
 fpirit  of  perfecution  ftill  remaining  and  reviv- 
 ing in  fome,  whofe  ringers  itch  to  be  at  their 
 old  work  again,  endeavouring,  in  more  in- 
 ftances  than  one,  to  break  in  upon  the  tole- 
 ration  which   the    government     hath    been 
 
 pleafed 
 
P     R     E     F-   A     C     E.  iii 
 
 pleafed  to  grant  us,  and  which  hath  been  con- 
 tinued with  fuch  good  fuccefs  for  more  than 
 twenty  years,  and  the  ill  effects  of  perfecution 
 fo  obvious  to  the  nation,  that  one  could  hard- 
 ly have  thought  it  could  have  revived  again 
 fo  foon,  but  that  perfecutors  were  always 
 blind,  and  could  never  fee  their  own  intereft  ; 
 for  the  reprehenfion  of  which  this  is  now 
 published,  and  to  record  unto  pofleriiy  the 
 wonderful  dealings  and  providences  of  the 
 Lord  towaids  me  and  others  in  relation  there- 
 unto, which  were  fo  remarkable,  that  its  pity 
 they  mould  be  buried  in  oblivion. 
 
 I  fay  remarkable,  inafmuch  as  few  perhaps  of 
 latter  times,  have  exceeded  them  in  all  refpects, 
 as  I  doubt  not  but  will  appear  by  the  time  I 
 have  done,  if  the  reader  will  be  at  the  pains 
 and  have  the  patience  to  read  it  through;  in 
 which  I  can  aflure  him  I  have  not  aggravated 
 any  thing  beyond  the  truth,  but  rather  for 
 brevity  fake,  omitted  many  things  and  cir- 
 cumftances  that  might  be  mentioned;  though 
 the  nature  of  the  relation  and  thread  of  .my 
 difcourfe,  hath  led  me  to  fpeak  of  many  other 
 things  and  paiTages  in  relation  to  the  perfec- 
 tions of  thofe  times,  befides  what  concerns 
 myfelf;  the  whole  being  intended  to  expofe 
 perfecution  for  confcience,  a  warning  to  per- 
 fecutors, and  to  excite  all  to  that  noble  prin- 
 ciple of  "  Liberty  of  Confcience,"  Mat.  vii. 
 12.  which  is  every  man's  right,  and  that 
 golden  rule  of  "  Doing  to  others  as  they 
 a  2  "  would 
 
iv  PREFACE. 
 
 c  would  be  done  by,"  Luke  vi.  31.  which 
 is  my  defire  might  take  place  in  all  the  king- 
 doms of  the  world  :  and  then  there  would  be 
 an  end  of  all  the  cruelty,  violence  and  op- 
 prefiion  that  is  in  it,  and  the  peaceable  king- 
 dom of  Chrift  would  come  to  be  fet  up, 
 wherein  "  The  wolf  (hall  dwell  with  the 
 "  lamb,  and  the  leopard  mall  lie  down  with 
 "  the  kid,  &c.  They  fhall  not  hurt  nor  de- 
 c<  flory  in  all  the  holy  mountain,"  Ifaiah  xi. 
 6,  7,  8,  9.  However,  I  have  done  my  duty 
 to  God  and  his  truth,  my  native  country,  my- 
 felf  and  my  friends;  especially  fuch  as  fuffered 
 with  me  for  the  truth's  fake,  which  is  dearer 
 to  me  than  all ;  and  have  nothing  in  my  eye 
 but  the  glory  of  God,  the  honour  and  promo- 
 tion of  his  truth,  encouragement  to  the  faith- 
 ful who  may  fuffer  for  the  teftimony  of  a  good 
 confeience,  and  the  admonition  of  fuch  as 
 would  caufe  them  to  fuffer  in  time  to  come, 
 and  that  my  foul  may  have  the  comfort  of 
 well-doing  in  the  end ;  which  is  my  fincere 
 defire  to  the  Lord. 
 
 Some  may  fay,  '  It  is  not  ufual  for  any  to 
 '  publim  journals,  or  memoirs  of  their  lives 
 '  in  their  lifetime.'  To  which  I  anfwer, 
 Neither  is  this  but  in  part ;  and  it  is  ufual 
 to  publim  parts,  fo  far  as  relate  to  fome 
 particular  fufTerings,  trials  or  travels,  as  I 
 could  inftance  in  feveral,  known  to  men  of 
 books,  and  this  is  no  more  than  a  part  at 
 moft,  therefore  called  '  Some  Memoirs :'  lb 
 
 that 
 
PREFACE.  v 
 
 that  objection,  I  hope,  is  eafily  removed.  I 
 know  all  books  are  liable  to  cenfure,  by 
 fome  or  other,  and  fo  perhaps  may  this ; 
 but  that  I  muft  leave  and  take  my  lot, 
 which  I  am  not  much  folicitous  about,  u  For 
 "  Wifdom  is,  and  will  be  j  unified  of  her 
 "  children:"  Mat.  xi.  19.  Truth  will  prevail 
 at  long-run  and  get  the  victory,  though  the 
 witnenes  of  it  may  be  fupprefl  for  a  time, 
 and  their  teflimony  trampled  upon,  it  will 
 rife  again  and  be  heard  hereafter,  if  not  at 
 the  prefent,  as  it  always  was  ;  what  was  per- 
 fecuted  as  error  in  one  age,  has  been  received 
 and  owned  as  truth  in  another,  and  the  fuf- 
 ferers  for  it  commemorated,  as  it  was  faid  of 
 Gad,  '*  A  troop  fhall  overcome  him,  but  he 
 "  fhall  overcome  at  the  laft,"  Gen.  xlix.  19. 
 Perfecution  was  always  exploded  by  the 
 bed  of  men,  kings  and  princes  as  well  as 
 others,  of  which  a  cloud  of  witneffes  might 
 be  produced,  and  only  practifed  by  the  word 
 of  tyrants,  the  Pharaohs,  Nebuchadnezars, 
 Antiochufes,  Herods,  Neroes,  Papifts,  Helde- 
 brands,  Lewifes,  Philips,  &c.  of  Cain's  ge- 
 neration, being  mitigated  by  the  prince  of 
 darknefs,  Lucifer,  the  old  ferpent  and  his  ofF- 
 fpring,  fince  the  enmity  was  placed  between 
 the  two  feeds;  but  I  could  never  find  that 
 any  perfecutors  would  be  fo  dealt  with,  and 
 fo  have  excluded  themfelves  from  being 
 Chriltians,  in  not  "  doing  as  they  would  be 
 *s  done  by,"  and  of  being  Chaff's' difciples  in 
 a  3  not 
 
vi  PREFACE. 
 
 not  "  loving  one  another,"  John  xiii.  $g. 
 Wherefore,  reader,  if  thou  reader!  the  fcrip- 
 tures,  and  turneft  in  thy  mind  to  the  light  of 
 Chrift  in  thy  own  heart,  which  fhews  thee 
 good  and  evil,  that  thou  may  eft  chufe  the  one 
 and  efchew  the  other,  thou  wilt  difcern  be- 
 tween truth  and  error,  the  true  religion  and 
 church,  and  the  falfe,  with  their  fruits  and 
 effedls  ;    for  the  '  true  church  never  perfe- 
 
 *  cuted  any;  me  can  fuffer  her  blood  to  be 
 
 *  Ihed,  but"  never  fried  the  blood  of  others;' 
 as  king  James  I,  faid,  '  It  is  a  pure  rule  in 
 
 *  divinity,  that  God  never  loves  to  plant  his 
 
 *  church  with  violence  and  bloodlhed  ;  and 
 
 *  that  it  was  ufually  the  condition  of  Chrifti- 
 
 *  ans  to  be  perfecuted,  but  not  to  perfecute.' 
 (Speech  to  the  parliament,  1609.)  And  king 
 Charles  I,  in  his  prayer  to  God,  fays,  '  Thou 
 
 *  feeft  how  much  cruelty  among  Chriilians  is 
 
 *  acted  under  the  colour  of  religion,  as  if  we 
 
 *  could  not  be  Chriftians  unlefs  we  crucify 
 
 *  one  another. — Make  them  at  length  fefi- 
 
 *  oufly  to  confider,  that  nothing  violent  and 
 
 *  injurious  can  be  religious:'  (Ikon  Bafilike, 
 printed,  1648,  pages  97.  120.)  With  much 
 more.  And  it  is  never  known  that  a  lamb 
 did  worry  a  wolf,  but  are  worried  by  them. 
 (See  alfo  page  95,  96  of  that  book)  So  to 
 God's  faithful  witnefs  in  the  confeiences  of 
 all  that  read  it,  I  recommend  it,  to  judge  of; 
 whether  fuch  proceedings  and  doings  are  con- 
 fiftent  either  with  Chriftianity  or  humanity ; 
 
 and 
 
PREFACE.  vii 
 
 and  whether  any  would  be  fo  done  by,  as 
 many  of  our  friends  were  in  the  following 
 relation?  Defiring  the  good  and  well-being  of 
 all  people,  "  That  they  may  be  faved,  and 
 "  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  ;  that 
 "  their  moderation  may  be  known  to  all  men, 
 "  for  the  Lord  is  at  hand:"  I  Tim.  ii.  4.  Phil, 
 iv  .5.  To  whom,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace, 
 I  commit  thee,  reader,  with  my  own  foul, 
 and  reft, 
 
 A  friend  to  truth  and  all  men, 
 
 JOHNWHITING. 
 
 The  25  th  of  the  4th 
 month,  17 14. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 EFORE  I  proceed  to  give  account  of  my 
 imprifonment,  &c.  I  think  fit  in  the  firft 
 place,  for  the  reader's  information,  to  premife 
 a  few  words  concerning  my  education,  and 
 how  I  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
 through  the  infinite  love  of  God  to  my  foul, 
 and  for  the  encouragement  of  others  to  feek 
 the  Lord  in  their  young  days. 
 
 I  was  born  at  Naylfey,  in  the  county  of 
 Somerfet,  feven  miles  from  Briftol,  and  four 
 from  Wrington,  where  I  afterwards  dwelt, 
 and  may  fay  I  came  of  honefl  parents,  and  of 
 good  report  in  the  country.  My  father  John 
 Whiting,  and  my  grandfather  alfo,  being  re- 
 putable yeomen,  having  a  competent  eftate  in 
 the  fame  parifh,  where  my  anceftors  lived  for 
 many  generations ;  and  my  mother,  Mary, 
 was  daughter  of  John  Evans,  a  man  of  good 
 repute  alfo,  in  the  fame  parifh,  where  his  fori 
 Edward,  my  uncle,  and  mother's  brother, 
 Fives  to  this  day.  My  father  and  mother  were 
 both  convinced  of  the  blelfed  truth,  in  the  firfl 
 
 Spreading 
 
x       INTRODUCTION, 
 
 fpreading  of  it  in  our  country,   and  received 
 it  in  love,    and    the  meffengers  of  it,  John 
 Audland  and  John  Camm,  and  their  teftimony, 
 in  peace;   when  they  came  firffc  to  Briftol  and 
 Somerietfhire,   in   the   year   1654,    and   kept 
 meetings  at  their  houfe   (which  were  fome  of 
 the  firft  in  that  country)  before  I  was  born,  in 
 1 656,  the  fame  of  whom,  and  others  of  the  firft 
 publifhers  of  truth  I  can  remember,  though 
 not  the  perfons   of  fome  of  them.     And  fo 
 meetings  continued  at  their  houfe  till  the  time 
 of  my  father's   death,  which  was  in  the  4th 
 month,    1658,    while  I  was  very  young,  fo 
 that  I  cannot  remember  him,  but  he  was  an 
 honeft   upright   man,  and  left  a  good  favour 
 behind  him,  leaving  the  tuition  of  me  and  my 
 fifter  to  our  dear  mother,   who  educated  us 
 according  to  truth,  as  much  as  in  her   lay; 
 and  alfo  continued  meetings  at  her  houfe  till 
 the  time  of  the  great  imprifonment,  after  the 
 coming  in  of  king  Charles,    1660,  wrhen  me, 
 and  above  two  hundred  more  were  commit- 
 ted to  Ivelchefter  prifon,  for  meeting  and  re- 
 fuiing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  ;.fo  that  fhe 
 broke  up  houfe-keeping,  leaving  us  with  our 
 grandfather  that  winter  :    but    being  freed, 
 with  many  more,  at  the  next  Spring  aflizes 
 at  Chard,  fhe  returned    and  took  us  home; 
 and  fome  time  after,  in  the  year  1661,  mar- 
 ried again,  to  one  Mofes  Bryant,  a  friend  of  the 
 fame  parifh,  and  kept  meetings  at  their  houfe 
 as  formerly,  and  brought  us  up  according  to 
 
 the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XI 
 
 the  way  of  truth  they  profeft,  till  my  mother 
 died,  in  the  9th  month,  1666,  when  I  was 
 about  ten  years  old,  which  was  a  great 
 trouble  to  me,  me  being  a  tender  mother, 
 and  an  honeit  charitable  woman,  much  be- 
 loved and  lamented :  after  which,  though  the 
 eftate  was  mine,  I  let  my  father-in-law  continue 
 in  it,  to  bring  up  my  three  younger  brothers 
 which  he  had  by  my  mother,  and  dwelt  with 
 him  till  the  time  of  his  deccafe. 
 
 But  though  I  was  educated  under  the  pro- 
 feffion  of  truth,  yet  the  wild  nature  was  apt 
 to  appear  in  me,  till  truth  took  hold  of  me 
 and  opened  in  my  underftanding ;  which 
 through  the  great  love  and  mercy  of  God  in 
 Chrift  Jefus  to  my  poor  foul,  he  was  pleafed 
 to  manifeft  to  me  in  my  early  days,  being  as 
 a  fwift  witnefs  in  me  againft  fin  and  evil; 
 and  by  his  light  and  grace,  which  brings  fal- 
 vation  and  appears  to  all  men,  c  teaching  to 
 *  deny  ungodlinefs,'  &c.  Titus  ii.  1  r.  lhewed 
 me  good  and  evil,  and  fet  life  and  death  be- 
 fore me,  checking  and  reproving  me  when  I 
 faid  or  did  any  thing  amifs,  and  fpeaking 
 peace  to  me  when  I  turned  at  its  reproof; 
 and  if  I  was  at  any  time  light  or  wanton,  I 
 was  reproved  and  judged  for  it,  fo  that  in- 
 expreffible  trouble  would  take  hold  of  me, 
 that  I  have  gone  under  condemnation  for 
 feveral  days,  till  through  the  merciful  for- 
 givenefs  of  God,  I  have  been  reflored  into 
 favour  with  him  again  ;  and  by  the  fecret  re- 
 proofs 
 
xii      INTRODUCTIO  N. 
 
 proofs  of  it,  I  was  taken  off,  at  about  twelve 
 years  old,  from  all  my  vain  fports  and  paf- 
 times ;  for  having  been  on  a  time  with  other 
 boys  at  play,  when  I  came  home  at  night,  I 
 was  fo  exceedingly  troubled  and  condemned 
 in  myfelf  for  my  vanity,  that  I  made  a  cove- 
 nant with  the  Lord,  '  That  if  he  would  for- 
 
 *  give  me,  for  Chrift's  fake,   I  would    never 
 
 *  go  to  fuch  vain  paftimes  again:'  and  praifed 
 be  his  name,  through  his  mercy  I  never  did 
 after,  but  became  more  fober  and  religioufly 
 inclined ;  and  as  I  grew  in  years  the  witnefs 
 of  God  grew  more  and  more  prevalent  in  me, 
 fo  that  no  word  or  action  could  pafs  without 
 due  obfervation.  But  being  fent  to  fchool  to 
 one  that  was  not  a  friend,  I  was  taught  to 
 put  off  my  hat  to  men,  which  I  was  foon 
 convicted  in  myfelf  for,  and  law  the  evil  of, 
 and  was  made  to  deny  it  again ;  and  then  J 
 went  to  another-  who  was  more  moderate, 
 and  left  me  to  my  liberty;  after  which  I 
 went  to  a  friend,  under  whom  I  profited  moft 
 every  way ;  and  in  thofe  days  the  Lord  was 
 near  me,  even  when  I  was  a  fchool  boy. 
 And  the  plain  language  alfo  cofl  me  very  dear, 
 it  was  fo  hard  to  take  up,  that  I  could  have 
 gone  miles  about  rather  than  have  met  fome 
 of  my  relations  to  fpeak  to  them ;  which  how 
 fmall  a  thing  foever  fome  may  count  it,  I 
 could  have  no  peace  till  I  gave  up  and  took 
 up  the  crofs  in  that  refpecT:,  and  then  it  was 
 made  eafy  to  me,  and  I  had  peace  therein. 
 
 And 
 
INTRODUCTION,     xiii 
 
 And  the   Lord   was   alfo   pleafed,    by  his 
 light,  to  difcover  to  me  the  hireling  priefts, 
 their  erroneous  ways  and  worfhips,  and  begot 
 a  teftimony  in  my  heart  againft  them ;  fo  that 
 if  at  any  time  in  my  young  years,  before  I 
 was  taken  off  from  my  vain   ways,  I  went 
 with  other  boys  to  hear  them  at  burials,  or  the 
 like,  I  could  difcern  a  difference  between  them 
 and  friends,  and  I  had  a  teftimony  in  my  heart 
 againft   paying  them  tithes,  believing  it  not 
 agreeable  to  the  minifters  of  Chrift,  or  gof- 
 pel  difpenfation,  obferving  from  the  fcriptures 
 of  truth,  which  I  diligently  read  as  well  as 
 friends  books,  that  the  true  minifters  in  for- 
 mer times,  as  well  as  now,  were  never  fent, 
 or  came  to  people  to  feek  their's,  but  them ; 
 fo  that  the  fame  divine  light  that  convinced 
 me  of  truth,  difcovered  them  and  their  main- 
 tenance  by  tithes  to  be  wrong.     And  if  at 
 any  time   I  faw  a  defect  in  any,  as  to  their 
 teftimony,  in  that   refpect,    I   was   troubled. 
 And  the  Lord  was  near  me  in  thofe  days,  in 
 my  early  zeal  for  his  name  and  truth's  fake, 
 that  I   have  had   no   caufe   to   repent   of  it, 
 bleffed  be  his  name,  though  I  have  fuffered 
 much  for  my  teftimony  fince. 
 
 After  my  father-in-law's  deceafe,  which 
 was  in  the  4th  month,  1672,  I  chofe  Edmond 
 Beaks,  an  eminent  friend  of  Portfhead,  four 
 miles  off,  for  my  guardian,  and  went  thither 
 
 to 
 
xiv      INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to  live ;  and  while  I  dwelt  there,  the  Lord 
 was  pleafed,  in  his  everlafting  love  in  Chrift 
 Jefus,  to  appear  to  me,  and  manifeft  his  blef- 
 fed   truth  more  fully  to   my  understanding, 
 through  the  miniftry  of  dear  George  Coale  (a 
 kinfman  of  Jofiah's)  and  Charles  Marfhall  of 
 Briftol,  who  ufed  to  come  thither,  and  were 
 as  fathers  in  the  truth  to  me,  whom  I  dearly 
 loved  for  its  and  their  teftimony's  fake.     So 
 that  I  came  to  have  a  more  clear  difcerning, 
 and  found  I  had  many  things,  and  idle  words, 
 yet  to  do  away,  which  required  great  watch- 
 fulnefs:  and  as  I  was  brought  into  a  more  in- 
 ward acquaintance  with  the  work  of  truth,  and 
 dole  walking  in  obedience  to  it,  a  fecret  joy 
 arofe  in  me,  and  I  came  more  and  more  to 
 feel  and  enjoy  the  Lord's  prefence  with  me, 
 whom   I  had  fought  and   longed  for  in  my 
 moll  ferious  feafons  from  my  childhood,  and 
 now  had  '  found  him  whom  my  foul  loved,' 
 to'  my  exceeding  joy  and  comfort ;  glory  to 
 him  for  ever :  to  whofe  praife  I  can  fay,  it  was 
 as  a  feal  to  me,  which  left  a  killing  impreffion 
 upon  my  foul,  never  to  be  razed  out;  fo  that 
 I  never  had  any  caufe  fmce  to  queftion  it  to 
 this  day,   but  am  fully  fatisfied  as  to  religion 
 for  ever,  blelfed  be  his  holy  name,   faith  my 
 foul.      Oh  !   the  glory  of  that  day,    wherein 
 the  Lord  fo  eminently  appeared  in  his  ever- 
 lafting love,  which  he  fhed  abroad  abundantly 
 through  Jefus  Chrift  our  Lord ;    and  many 
 ran  to  and  fro  that  knowledge  might  be  en- 
 
 creafedj 
 
INTRODUCTION.       xv 
 
 creafed  ;  and  many  were  gathered  in  his  love, 
 to  become  fons  and  daughters  of  the  Mofl 
 High.  And  in  thofe  days,  and  afterwards, 
 while  I  was  at  liberty,  I  frequented  friends 
 meetings  in  the  city  of  Briftol,  where  the 
 mofl  eminent  friends,  of  this  and  other  na- 
 tions, ufed  to  come,  and  many  heavenly 
 meetings  there  were,  as  well  as  in  our  country, 
 which  were  a  great  help  and  ftrength  to  me, 
 for  which  I  praife  and  magnify  the  worthy 
 name  of  the  Lord,  who  is  known  by  his  go- 
 ings in  his  fanctuary. 
 
 I  dwelt  at  Portfhead  near  three  years,  ex- 
 cept the  winter  half-year,  1 673,  with  my  guar- 
 dian's brother  at  Backwell,  where  I  went 
 through  deep  inward  exercifes,  under  the 
 work  of  truth  in  myfelf,  and  eat  my  bread 
 with  fear  and  trembling ;  but  had  my  Spiritual 
 fupport  and  comforts  alfo,  (the  brook  by  the 
 way)  fo  that  I  was  not  faint  or  weary:  and 
 the  Lord  was  wonderfully  with  me,  and  ap- 
 peared to  me  in  his  great  love,  his  prefence 
 was  my  delight :  the  Lord  was  become  my 
 God,  and  he  was  my  fear:  his  fear  was  placed 
 in  my  heart,  which  keepeth  the  heart  clean : 
 his  image  was  renewed  in  me,  and  I  was  in 
 meafure  made  conformable  to  it.  And  the 
 next  fpring  I  returned  to  Portfhead  again, 
 and  the  Lord  was  ftill  near  me,  to  carry  on 
 his  bleffed  work  in  me,  which  was  not  a  work 
 of  a  day,  or  a  year,  but  gradually  as  I  grew 
 in  the  truth,  and  nothing  was  dear  to  me  for 
 b  his 
 
xvi     INTRODUCTION. 
 
 his  fake  who  was  with  me  ;  I  could  freely 
 have  fullered  for  the  truth's  fake,  and  remein-. 
 ber  when  fome  perfecuting  juftices  came  and 
 broke  up  our  meeting  at  Clareham,  where 
 Charles  Marfnal  was,  in  the  ioth  month  this 
 year,  and  haled  us  out,  Oh !  how  freely  could 
 I  have  gone  to  prifon,  and  rejoiced  that  I  was 
 counted  worthy  to  fuffer  for  his  fake,  in  whom. 
 I  had  believed. 
 
 In  the  i ft  month,   1675,  I  returned  to  my 
 houfe  at  Naylfey,  and  the  Lord,  I   may  fay, 
 went  with  me,  and  continued  to  extend  the 
 visitations  of  his  love  to  me  ;  fo  that  my  days 
 were  delightful,  and  my  nights  pleafant  to  me, 
 becaufe  of  his  prefence  who  was  with  me.  And 
 I    often   thought,   if  people    knew  what   we 
 enjoyed,  they  would  never  follow  the  blind 
 guides,    but   ccme   and   partake  with   us.      I 
 could  favour  the  things  of  God,  and  difcern 
 between   things   that  differed ;    and    not   the 
 leaft  evil  did  appear,  but  I  could  feel  his  pure 
 Spirit  rifmg  to  judge  and  condemn  it :  and  in 
 his  prefence  was,  and  is,  '  life,  and  at  his  right 
 '  hand   pleafiires  for  evermore.'      His  ways 
 were,   and  are,   ways  of  pleafantnefs,  and  ail 
 his  paths  peace,     I  dwelt  there  with  my  lifter 
 for  fome   time  ;    but   ihe   being   raifed   in   a 
 teftimony,  before  my  return,  travelled  in   it. 
 this  fummer,   and  in  the  9th  month  I  went, 
 by  Oxford,  to  her  in   Buckinghamfhire,  and 
 from  thence  to  London  with  her,  where  I  got 
 acquaintance  with  many . friends,  (laying  there 
 
 till 
 
INTRODUCTION      xvil 
 
 till  the  beginning  of  the  nth  month,  and 
 then  returned  home,  fhe  going  northward. 
 And  next  fpring,  at  her  defire,  went  after  her 
 into  the  North,  by  Northampton,  when  it 
 lay  in  aihes,  Leicefter,  Nottingham,  &c.  to 
 Norton  in  the  county  of  Durham;  where  fhe 
 departed  this  life  the  8th  of  the  2d  month, 
 which  was  a  great  exercife  to  me,  but  through 
 Providence  I  came  to  her  fome  time  before 
 fhe  died.  (See  the  account  of  her,  intitled, 
 '  Early  Piety  Exemplified,'  &c.)  After  which 
 I  returned,  lying  ill  by  the  way  at  Mansfield, 
 and  after  at  W.  Wells's,  near  Leicefter;  but 
 at  laft  got  to  D.  Wills's,  at  Northampton,  and 
 fo  by  Aylefbury,  Reading,  &c.  home,  where 
 I  lived  retired,  till  the  prieft  began  to  trouble 
 me.  And  the  Lord  was  with  me,  bleffed  be 
 his  name ;  of  whofe  love  and  mercy  to  me, 
 in  appearing  and  vifiting  me  in  fuch  an  ex- 
 traordinary manner,  I  was  willing  to  make 
 this  fhort  memorial  to  his  praife,  though  but 
 an  abftracl  of  a  larger  account  by  me  ;  which, 
 with  other  memoirs,  I  hope,  one  time  or 
 other  may  fee  the  light,  as  a  firft  part  to 
 what  follows. 
 
 PERSE- 
 
PERSECUTION    EXPOSED 
 
 IN     SOME 
 
 MEMOIRS,    &c. 
 
 IN  the  year  1 676,  after  my  return  out  of  the 
 north  from  the  death  of  my  dear  fifter,  (of 
 whom  and  of  which  I  have  formerly  given  an 
 account  in  a  book  intitled,  Early  Piety  exem- 
 plified in  the  life  and  death  of  Mary  Whiting,) 
 being  then  in  the  20th  year  of  my  age,  and 
 having  fome  of  my  eftate  in  my  hands,  I  ma- 
 nured part  of  it,  and  lowed  it  with  corn  the 
 latter  end  of  this  year,  and  the  next  fpring 
 fome  more  of  it,  of  which  I  had  a  fmall  crop 
 of  about  ten  acres  the  iummer  following. 
 But  I  could  not  for  coillcience  fake,  let 
 forth  the  tenth  part  of  my  corn  for  the  prieft 
 of  the  parifh,  Edward  Ancketyll;  for  that 
 Jems  Chrift  being  come  in  the  flefh,  had  put 
 an  end  to  the  Levitical  law  and  priefthood, 
 which  commanded  and  took  tithes :  "  For 
 "  the  priefthood  being  changed,  there  is  made 
 "  of  neceflity  a  change  alio  of  the  law.  For 
 *'  he  of  whom  thefe  things  are  fpoken,  per- 
 B  "  tuineth 
 
(  2  ) 
 
 "  taineth  to  another  tribe,  of  which  no  man 
 "  gave  attendance  at  the  altar.  For  it  is  evi- 
 "  dent  that  our  Lord  fprang  out  of  Judah,  of 
 *'  which  tribe  Mofes  fpake  nothing  concern- 
 *'  ing  priefthood.  And  it  is  yet  far  more  evi- 
 <c  dent ;  for  that  after  the  limilitude  of  Mel- 
 "  chifedec,  there  arileth  another  prieft  who 
 "  is  made,  not  after  the  law  of  a  carnal  com- 
 "  mandment,  but  after  the  power  of  an  end- 
 "  lefs  life.  For  there  is  verily  a  difannulling 
 *'  of  the  commandment  going  before,  for 
 *'  the  weaknefs  and  unproiitablenefs  thereof. 
 •*  For  the  law  made  nothing  perfect,  but  the 
 "  bringing  in  of  a  better  hope  did;  by  the 
 "  which  we  draw  nigh  unto  God.  Jefus  being 
 *'  made  a  furety  of  a  better  teftament ;  and  be- 
 &t  caufe  he  continueth  ever,  hath  an  unchange- 
 "  able  priefthood.  Wherefore  he  is  able  alfo  to 
 *c  fave  them  to  the  uttermoft  that  come  unto 
 s<  God  by  him,  feeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make 
 "  interceffion  for  them.  For  fuch  an  High 
 44  Prieft  became  ns,  who  is  holy,  harmlefs, 
 "  undefiled,  feparate  from  finners,  &c.  Who 
 "  needeth  not  daily,  as  thofe  high  priefts,  to 
 "  offer  up  facrifice,  lirft  for  his  own  fins,  and 
 "  then  for  the  people's,  having  once  offered 
 "  up  himfelf ;  but  now  hath  he  obtained  a 
 "  more  excellent  miniftry,  being  the  media- 
 a  tor  of  a  better  covenant,  eftablifhed  upon 
 u  better  promifes."  Heb.  vih  12,  13,  14,  15, 
 36,  18,  19,  22,  24,  25,  26,  27.  chap.  viii.  6. 
 1  laving  by  his  offering  up  hiralelf  once  for  all> 
 
 he 
 
(     3     ) 
 
 lie  put  an  end  to  all  the  offerings,  tithes,  &o 
 and  fet  up  a  better  miniftry.  So  that  the  prieft> 
 hood  being  changed,  and  tithes  abrogated  by 
 the  coming  and  fufferings  of  (Thrift,  the  com- 
 mandment is  difannulled,  the  law  fuperfeded 
 by  the  gofpel,  and  the  firit  covenant  by  the 
 fecond.  In  which  difpenfation,  they,  (viz* 
 tithes,  offerings,  &c.)  belonging  to  the  law 
 and  Levitical  priefthood,  are  no  ways  agreea- 
 ble or  fuitable  to  the  gofpel  or  minifters  of 
 Chrift  ;  but  fuch  as  are  called  of  God,  fitted 
 thereto,  and  fent  forth  into  his  vineyard,  hav- 
 ing freely  received  of  Chrift,  are  commanded 
 by  him,  that  they  mould  "  freely  give,"  Mat. 
 x.  8.  or  adminifter  again,  and  depend  on  him 
 for  a  maintenance,  being  content  with  his  ap- 
 pointment ;  "  to  eat  fuch  things  as  are  fet  be- 
 "  fore  them,"  Luke  x.  8.  as  the  Lord  lhall 
 open  peoples  hearts  to  receive  them*  For  the 
 labourer  is  worthy  of  his  meat,  and  needs  not 
 tithes  and  forced  maintenance  to  live  on  ;  for 
 that  would  be,  to  brine;  the  wages  of  the  law 
 to  the  work  of  the  gofpel ;  which  would  be,  in. 
 effed:,  to  deny  Chrift  to  be  come  in  the  flein, 
 and  fo  mix  law  and  gofpel  together ;  and  fo 
 make  the  coming  of  Chrift  of  none  effect. 
 But  we  are  exhorted  by  the  apoftle,  "  ftand 
 "  fall  therefore  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Chrift 
 "  hath  made  us  free,  and  be  not  entangled  a- 
 "  gain  with  the  yoke  of  bondage;"  Gal.  v.  i. 
 which  to  be  fure  is  intended  of  the  Jewifti 
 rites  and  ceremonies. 
 
 B   2  And 
 
(     4     ) 
 
 And  therefore  becaufe  I  could  not  for  thefe 
 reafons,  which  in  fhort  I  thought  fit  in  the 
 firft  place  to  premife,  pay  tithes,  or  put  into 
 the  priefVs  mouth,  he  foon  began  to  prepare 
 war  againft  me,  citing  me  to  appear  at  the 
 bifhop's  court  at  Wells,  the  28th  of  the  3d 
 month,  1678,  which  I  did  accordingly ;  and 
 another  friend,  Chriftopher  Sharp,  of  the  fame 
 parifh  with  me  on  the  fame  account  of  tithes: 
 where  the  chancellor  or  bifhop's  deputy,  John 
 Baylic,  a  proud  imperious  man,  fat  judge  of 
 the  court,  which  was  held  in  an  angle  of  the 
 cathedral ;  who  commanded  our  hats  to  be 
 taken  off,  which  the  other  friend  objected  a- 
 gainft,  faying,  he  was  an  old  man  and  might 
 take  cold  in  his  head.  The  chancellor  told 
 him,  it  was  no  matter  if  his  head  was  off  too 
 (i.  e.  as  well  as  his  hat).  Then  he  aiked  me  why 
 I  did  not  pay  Mr.  Ancketyll,  as  he  called  him, 
 his  tithes.  I  aniwered,  that  I  could  not  for 
 confcience  fake  pay  tithes,  becaufe  Jefus 
 Chrift  being  come  in  the  flefh,  had  changed 
 the  law  and  priefthood,  which  commanded 
 and  took  tithes,  and  put  an  end  to  the  firft 
 covenant  by  eftablifhing  the  fecond ;  in  which 
 he  commanded  his  minifters,  that  as  they  had 
 received  freely,  fo  they  mould  adminifter 
 freely  again :  and  therefore  to  pay  tithes  under 
 this  gofpel  difpenfation,  was  to  deny  Chrift 
 to  be  come  in  the  flefh,  and  to  uphold  the 
 jewifh  rites  and  ceremonies  which  Chrift  had 
 abolifhedj  which  I  could  not  do  whatever  I 
 
 fuffered, 
 
(    s    ) 
 
 fuffered,  or  to  that  purpofe.  To  which  the 
 chancellor,  inftead  of  anfwering  or  offering 
 any  thing  to  convince  me  to  the  contrary, 
 gave  me  very  abufive  language  (being  a  very 
 haughty,  paffionate,  as  well  as  envious  man) 
 ill  becoming  his  place ;  threatening  me  what 
 he  would  do  if  I  did  not  fubmit  and  pay  tithes; 
 admonifhing  me  in  their  formal  way,  once, 
 twice,  and  thrice,  to  pay  my  tithes;  and  fo 
 difmiffed  me  for  that  time, charging  me  to  com£ 
 again  that  day  week,  and  bring  him  an  ac- 
 count that  I  had  agreed  with  Mr.  Ancketyll, 
 and  paid  him  his  tithes ;  but  lent  the  other 
 friend  that  came  with  me,  to  prifon,  by  the 
 affiftance  of  Francis  Paulet,  of  Wells,  a  perfe- 
 cting juftice  of  peace,  fit  for  their  turn,  and 
 always  ready  at  their  fervice  to  help  them  at 
 the  time  of  need;  (the  fame,  who  in  the  10th 
 month,  1674,  pulled  down  Charles  Marfhall, 
 at  a  meeting  at  Clareham,  when  he  was  in 
 prayer,  griping  him  fo  by  the  fide  with  his 
 long  hand,  as  caufed  him  to  fpit  blood,  of 
 which  I  heard  him  complain  many  years  after, 
 but  the  faid  Paulet  was  bereaved  of  his  un- 
 derftanding,  and  became  foolilh  before  he 
 died)  fending  the  laid  Chriltopher  Sharp  to 
 prifon,  at  Ivelchefter,  becaufe  he  fpoke  againll 
 their  worfhip,  calling  it  idolatry  (becaufe  the 
 organs  and  chorifters  played  and  fung  while 
 we  were  there)  and  he  did  not  anfwer  them  fo 
 directly  as  they  expected  to  the  cafe  in  hand; 
 but  he  was  difcharged  again  before  I  was  car- 
 B  3  ried 
 
(    6    ) 
 
 ried  to  prifon.  And  there  were  two  other 
 friends  at  the  bifhop's  court  the  fame  day, 
 viz.  John  Coat  of  Lambrook,  and  Richard 
 Counfell  of  the  Marfh,  on  account  of  tithes  ; 
 but  how  they  came  off,  or  what  became  of  it, 
 I  do  not  now  remember. 
 
 When   I   appeared   the  fecond   time,  they 
 afked  me  if  I  had  agreed  with  Mr.  Ancketyll, 
 as  they  called   him,  and  paid  him  his  tithes, 
 &c.  as  they  had  admonifhed  me ;   I  faid  No ; 
 for   the  reafons  aforefaid.      Then    they   pro- 
 duced a  libel,  as  they  called  it,  againft  me, 
 full  of  lies  indeed  ;   afking  me  if  I  would  fee 
 a  proctor  to  plead  it ;  I  bid  the  proctor  read 
 it,  which  he  did,  but  was  fo  afhamed  of  their 
 own  work,  that  inftead  of  500  bufhels  of  wheat 
 in  an  acre,  &c.  as  they  alledged  in  the  libel, 
 he  read   but  50,  which  yet  I  admired  at,  and 
 when  he  had  read  it,  I  demanded  a  copy  of  it. 
 They  afked  me  if  I  would  anfwer  to  it  on  oath, 
 which   I  refufed;  becaufe  Chrifl  faid,  Swear 
 not  at  all :  they  threatened  that  they  mould  go 
 on  to  excommunication,  if  I  did  not;  at  which 
 I  was  not  terrified,  but  defiring  a  copy  of  the 
 libel,    the  proctor  afked  me   where  I  inned, 
 and  promiled  to  bring  me  one,  which  he  did ; 
 but  when  be  brought  it  demanded  ten  groats, 
 for  it,   which  I  refufed  to  give  him,  telling 
 him  I  thought  it  every  man's  right  to  have  a 
 copy  of  his  charge.   He  afked  me  whether  I 
 thought  they  could  write  for  nothing,   I  told 
 him,  he  that  let  them  to  work,  mult  pay  them : 
 
 he 
 
(    7    ) 
 
 he  faid  I  might  take  it,  but  muft  pay  for  all 
 at  laft.  I  told  him,  when  I  paid  for  the  reft, 
 I  would  for  that,   and  fo  we  parted. 
 
 The  LIBEL  in  Latin,  is  as  follows: 
 
 IN  Dei  nomine,  Amen.  Coram  vobis 
 Venerabili  Viro  Johanne  Baylie  Legum 
 DoBore  Reverendi  in  Chrifo  Patris  ac 
 Domini  Domini  Petri  Permiffwne  Divina 
 Bathonienfs  &  Wcllenfis  Epifcopi  Vicario 
 in  Spiritualities  Generali  Eff  Qfjiciali  Prin- 
 cipal} fiifficienter  &  legitime  conjiituto  no- 
 Jirove  Surrogato  vel  Deputato  vel  alio  Ju- 
 dice  in  hac  parte  competente  quocunque 
 Pars  probi  &  difcreti  Viri  Magijlri  Ed- 
 vardi  Anchetyll  Clerici  Re  Boris  Ec 'defies 
 Parochialis  de  JVraxa/l,  vefrarum  Batho- 
 nienfis &  Welknfs  Diocafs  Eff  jfurifdic- 
 tionis  contra  &  advefus  quendam  J  oh  an  - 
 nem  Whiting  de  eadem  Iff  contra  &  ad- 
 <verfus  quemcunque  aliumfeu  alios  quofcun- 
 que  coram  vobis  pro  eodem  in  fudicio  legi- 
 time intervenientem  .  feu  intervenientcs  in 
 quadam  Caufa  fubtraBionis  Decimarum 
 five  aliorum  jfurium  Ecclefiaficorum  per 
 viam  §>uerelce  ac  vobis  in  hac  parte  quere- 
 lando  dicit  allcgat  &  in  hisfcriptis  in  fure 
 proponit  conjunBini  divifm  &  articulatim 
 prout  jequitur, 
 
 I,  TTNprirms  videlicet,  Quod  praefatus  Magif- 
 JL  ter  Edvardus  Ancketyll  Clericus  fuit  & 
 
 eft  Ecclefiam  Parochialem  &  Re&oriam  de 
 B  4  Wraxall 
 
(     8     ) 
 
 Wraxali  cum  fuis  Juribus  &  Pertinentiis  Uni-. 
 verfis  legitime  &  Canonice  affecutus,  ipfam- 
 que  cum  fuis  Juribus  &  Pertinentiis  Univerfis 
 Menfibus  Martii  Aprilis  Maii  Junii  Julii  Au- 
 gufti  Septembris  Octobris  Novembris  Decem- 
 bris   Januarii   Februarii  Annis  Domini   1676 
 &  1677  ultimo  prseteritis  nee  non  Menfibus 
 Martii  Aprilis  Maii  Anno  Domini  1678  jam 
 currente  eorum  Menfium  &  Annorum  quoli- 
 bet  &  uno  five  aliquo  pacifice  &  quiete  poffe- 
 tlit  prout  falvis  infra  fcriptis  in  prsefenti  pof- 
 fidet  proque  vero  Redtore  &  legitimo  Poffef- 
 fore  ejufdem  fuit  per  tempus  prasdidtum  &  in 
 pracfenti  eft  communiter  dictus  tentus  habitus 
 nominatus  &  reputatus  palam  publice  &  110- 
 torie  ac  ponit  conjunttim  divifnn  de  quolibet. 
 3.   Item,  Quod  tarn  de  Jure  communi  ac  de 
 Statutis  &  Legibus  hujus  Regni  Anglire  quam 
 de  &   ex   antiqua  laudabili  legitimequc  prx- 
 fcripta   confuetudine   a   tempore   &  per  tem- 
 pus cujus  initii  live  contrarii   memoria  homi- 
 num  non  exiftit  hucufque  inviolabiliter  &  in- 
 con  cufTe  ufitata  ac  oblervata  ac  incontradicto- 
 rio  judicio  faspius  feu  ialtem  lemel  obtentum 
 jus  percipiendi  recipiendi  &  habendi  omnes, 
 &  fmgulas  Decimas  Jura  &  Emolumenta  Ec- 
 clefiaitica  quaccunque  tarn  ma j ores  quam  mi- 
 nores  mixtas  &  minutas  cujufcunque  fuerunt 
 generis  aut  quocunque  nomine   habeantur  6c 
 ceiifeantur  &  particulatim  Decimas  in  quadam 
 Schedula  pradentibus  annexa  contentas  &  fpe- 
 ciiicatas  infra  Parochiam  de  Wraxali  prazdi&a. 
 
 finefque 
 
(    9     ) 
 
 fmefque  limites  &  loca  decimabilia  ejufdem 
 quotiefcunque  quandocunque  &  qualitercun-. 
 que  refpective  provenientes  crefcentes  reno- 
 vantes  &  contingentes  ad  Reclorem  ibidem 
 pro  tempore  quemcunque  exiftentem  ejufve 
 Firmarium  &  ad  dictum  Magiftrum  Ancketyll 
 Rectorum  ibidem  modernum  pertinuit  pert!- 
 netque  ac  fie  fpeclare  &  pertinere  debirit  & 
 debet  ac  etiam  in  futurum  debebit.  Ac  pofuit 
 ut  fupra. 
 
 3.  Item,  Quod  a  Decern  Viginti  Triginta 
 Quadraginta  Quinquaginta  6c  Sexaginta  Annis 
 ultimo  elapfis  ultraque  &  citra  nee  non  a  Tem- 
 pore &  per  Tempus  cujus  initii  five  contrarii 
 memoria  hominum  non  exiftit  RecT:ores 
 didta?  Rectorise  de  Wraxall  temporibus  refpec- 
 tive  fuis  fucceffive  exiftentes  di&ufque  MagiC- 
 ter  Ancketyll  Clericus  Rector  ibidem  modernus 
 eorumque  PrsecefTores  &  Prsedece (Tores  omnes 
 &  iinguli  fuis  temporibus  fucceffive  exiftentes 
 in  eadem  fuerunt  prout  effe  debuerunt  in  qui-. 
 eta  &  paciiica  Poffemone  juris  feu  quafi  per-. 
 cipiendi  recipiendi  &  habendi  omnes  &  fmgu- 
 las  decimas  prsdidtas  eafque  per  fe  aut  fuos  per 
 idem  tempus  perceperunt  receperunt  &  habu- 
 erunt  ac  de  6c  cum  eifdem  libere  difpofuerunt 
 ficque  falvis  infra  fcriptis  fuit  idem  Magifter 
 Ancketyll  Rector  ante  di&us  ac  percepit  ac  ha- 
 buit  toto  omni  tempore  Incumbentiae  fuse  in 
 eadem  ufque  ad  tempus  Gravaminum  infra 
 fcriptorum.     Ac  ponit  ut  fupra. 
 
 4^  Item 
 
(     io     ) 
 
 4.  Item,  Quod  prsefatus  Johannes  Whiting 
 Menfibus  &  Annis  prsedictis  eorumve  uno 
 five  aliquo  omnes  &  fingulas  decimas  P^es 
 Fructus  Jura  &  Emolumenta  Ecclefiaftica  in 
 Schedula  prasfentibus  annexa  contenta  6c  fpe- 
 cificata  infra  Parochiam  de  Wraxall  prsdicla 
 finefque  limites  &  loca  decimabilia  ejufdem 
 provenientia  crefcentia  renovantia  &  contin- 
 gentia  prout  in  eadem  Schedula  narrantur  & 
 deducuntur  quam  quidem  Schedulam  pro  his 
 ledam  6c  infertam  haberi  vult  prasdi&us  ifta 
 proponens  quatenus  fibi  expedit  &  non  aliter- 
 neque  alio  modo  habuit  tenuit  poffedit  per- 
 cepit  recepit  &  ad  ufum  fuum  proprium  con- 
 vertebat  &  applicuit  ac  ponit  praedictus  ifta  de 
 quolibet  alio  numero  rerum  refpe&ive  decima- 
 bilium  in  Schedula  prazdicfta  prarfentibus  ut 
 prsefertur  annexa  contentarum  &  fpeciticata- 
 rum  majore  medio  vel  minore  nee  non  de  tali 
 ac  tanto  quales  vel  quantas  per  probationes  le- 
 gitimas  in  eventu  Litis  hujus  plenius  venit 
 comprobandas.     Ac  ponit  ut  fupra. 
 
 5.  Item,  Quod  Johannes  Whiting  fuit  &  eft 
 Parochise  de  Wraxall  Bathonienfis  6c  Wellenfis 
 Dicecefis  veftraeque  Jurifdidtionis  notorie  fub- 
 ditus  &  fubjectus. 
 
 6.  Item.  Quod  prsemifla  omnia  &  fingula 
 fuerunt  &  funt  vera  notoria  publica  manifefta 
 pariter  ac  famofa  ac  de  6c  fuper  eifdem  labora- 
 runt  ac  in  prsefenti  laborant  publica  Vox  6c  Fama. 
 
 Unde  facia  Fide,  ccc, 
 
 The 
 
(     M     ) 
 
 fbe   L  I  B  E  L   in 
 
 Englijlj,  thus. 
 "TN  the  Name  of 
 "  JL  Gocl  A:ncn  a 
 "  Before  you  the 
 "  WorfhipfulbJohn 
 "  Baylie  Dodor  of 
 "  Laws  Vicar  gene- 
 "  ral  in  Spirituals/ 
 "  of  the  Reverend 
 "  Father  in  Chrift 
 "  and  Lord  the 
 "  Lord  Peter d  by 
 u  Divine  permiiii- 
 "  onRifhopofBath 
 '*  and  Yv'ells  and 
 "  principal  Official 
 "  c  fufiiciently  and 
 (i  lawfully  conftitu- 
 "  ted  or  our  Surro- 
 "  gate  f  or  Deputy, 
 "  or  other  compe- 
 "  tent  Judge  in  this 
 K  Caufe  whomib- 
 "  ever.  The  Caie 
 «  of  Mr, s  Edward 
 "  Ancketyll  an  ho- 
 "  neft h  and  difcreet 
 "  Man  Clerk  and 
 *'  Redor  l  of  the 
 "  Parifli  Church k  of 
 *l  Wraxall  of  vour 
 
 REMARKS,  by  way  of  anfwer. 
 
 a  They  begin  in  the  name  of 
 God  in  words,  but  in  works  deny 
 him,  and  go  on  in  the  name  of  him 
 "  who  was  a  liar  from  the  begin  - 
 "  ning,  and  abode  not  in  the 
 "  truth."  Johnviii.  44. 
 
 b  Unfcriptural  titles  to  fuch  as 
 little  deferve  them,efpecially  him 
 who  had  little  worfhip  or  reve- 
 rence in  him,  being  an  irreverent 
 man,  as  his  words  and  actions 
 ihew,  and  will  further  in  the 
 fequel. 
 
 c  This  is  a  Popifh  term. 
 
 d  What !  and  yet  teach  men 
 to  break  ChriiVs  commands,  in 
 urging  them  to  fwear  contrary  to 
 his  command.  If  they  lhall  be 
 counted  the  leaft  in  the  kingdom 
 of  heaven,  who  break  the  leaft  of 
 Chnft's  commands  and  teach 
 men  fo,  what  iiall  they  be  ac- 
 counted, who  would  force  men 
 to  break  fuch  a  great  command 
 as  that,  of  "  Swear  not  at  all ;" 
 or  fend  them  to  priibn  if  they  will 
 not.  Befides,  the  apoftle  Peter 
 was  not  called  the  Lord  Peter, 
 (nor  Paul  neither)  but  it  was  the 
 Gentiles  that  exercifed  lordihip, 
 which  Chrift  exprefly  forbids^ 
 faying,  "  It  mall  not  be  fo  among 
 "  you,'"'  Mark  x.  43. 
 
 e   Another  Popifh  term. 
 
 f  Aa  unfcriptural  term. 
 
 s  Here  they  are  out  of  the 
 doftrine  of  Chrift,  Mat.xxiii.io. 
 
 h  What !  and  yet  fend  men  to 
 prifon  for  confeience  fake? 
 
 1  I  do  not  read  of  fuch  titles 
 in  fcripture. 
 
 k  Nor  of  fuch  a  church  as 
 Pariih  Churchy 
 
 "  Diocefs 
 
(       12 
 
 «<;  REM  ARKS. 
 
 1  What  fcripture  have  ye  for 
 that,  viz.  Diocefs,  &c. 
 
 He  did  not  live  in  the  fame 
 
 parifh. 
 
 *  Which  ye  have  no  fcripture 
 for  in  the  New  Teftament. 
 
 •  Nor  for  fuch  rights  neither. 
 
 P  But  not  in  the  gofpel,  or  ac- 
 cording to  it. 
 
 *  Not  minifter  of  Chrifl. 
 
 ) 
 
 r^LIBEL 
 
 Diocefs '  and  Ju- 
 rifdiction  of  Bath 
 and  Wells,  againft; 
 one  JohnWhiting 
 of  the  fame  m  and 
 againft  whomfo- 
 ever  other  or  o- 
 thers  before  you 
 for  him  in  Judg- 
 ment lawfully  in- 
 tervening inacer- 
 tain  Caufe  of  fub- 
 ftraction  of  Tithes 
 n  or  other  Eccle- 
 fiaftical  Rights  * 
 by  way  of  Com- 
 plaint; andtoyou 
 in  this  Caufe  com- 
 plaining faith  al- 
 legeth  and  in  thefe 
 Writings  in  Law 
 p  fets  forth  jointly 
 feverally  and  Ar- 
 ticle by  Article  as 
 followeth. 
 
 "  i.  "TMprimis,  viz. 
 "  A  That  the  a- 
 "  forefaidMr.Edward 
 "  Ancketyll  Clerk  q 
 "  hath  Lawfully  and 
 "  Canons 
 
(     i3    ) 
 
 The  L  I  B  E  L. 
 
 "  Canonically  r  ob- 
 "  tained  the  Pariih 
 "  Church  and  Redory 
 "  ofWraxall8  with  all 
 "  its  Rights  and  Ap- 
 "  purtenances  and  fo 
 "  obtained  with  all  its 
 "  Rights  and  Appur- 
 "  tenances  in  the 
 **  Months  of  March 
 "  April  May  June 
 "  July  Auguft  Sep- 
 "  tember  OctoberNo- 
 "  vember  December 
 "  January  February 
 "  in  the  Years  of  our 
 "  Lordi676andi677 
 "  laft  paft  and  in  the 
 "  Months  of  March 
 "  April  May  in  the 
 "  Year  of  our  Lord 
 "  1678  now  running 
 "  in  every  one  or  fome 
 "  of  thole  Months  and 
 "  Years  peaceably  and 
 "  quietly  poflefTed  as 
 u  faving  the  hereaf- 
 "  ter  written  he  at 
 "  prefent  poffefTeth 
 "  and  as  the  true  Rec- 
 V  tor  and  Lawful  Pof- 
 
 Tbe  REMARKS. 
 
 r  Not  by  the  law  of  God,  or 
 commiffion  from  Chrift. 
 
 *  Ay,  that  is  the  main  matter 
 and  thing  they  aim  at,  defire,  and 
 feek  after ;  to  get  a  good  fat  bene- 
 fice or  parfonage,  when  they  are 
 out  of  their  time,  to  live  at  eafc 
 in  the  flefh. 
 
 1  We  read  of  no  fuch  months  in 
 fcripture,  but  firir,  fecond,  third,. 
 &c.  Herein  they  follow  the  Hea- 
 thens, (rather  than  the  Chrifti- 
 ans)  in  calling  the  months  after 
 the  names  of  the  Heathen  gods 
 and  goddefles  (as  well  as  the  days 
 of  the  week)  contrary  to  fcrip- 
 ture. "Thus  faith  the  Lord,  learn 
 "  not  the  way  of  the  Heathen," 
 Jer.  x.  2.  "  For  the  Lord  fpake 
 "  thus  to  me  with  a  ftrong  hand, 
 "  and  inftru6led  me  that  I  mould 
 "  not  walk  in  the  way  of  this  peo- 
 "  pie,"  Ifa.  viii,  11. 
 
 fcfTor 
 
(     14     ) 
 
 The  REMARKS. 
 
 ■  But  the  queilion  is,  by  what 
 authority  he  is  fo  pofie -led ;  for  as 
 Chriftians  and  Proteftants,  we 
 want  fcripture  for  thefe  things. 
 And  whatever  he  hath  been  held 
 called  or  reputed,  there  are  many 
 who  never  fo  accounted  of  him, 
 as  a  true  reclor  or  ruler  that  rules 
 well,  and  is  worthy  of  double  ho- 
 nour, or  minirter  of  Chriit. ;  for 
 if  he  was,  he  would  not  receive 
 tithes,  however  he  came  to  be 
 poifefied  of  them. 
 
 w  But  not  by  the  gofpel  or  law 
 of  God  :  and  all  laws  contrary  to 
 that  are,  ipfo  facto,  null  and  void, 
 fays  Doclor  and  Student. 
 
 x  Cuftom  without  lawful  au- 
 thority, is  no  good  ground  for  a 
 minifter  of  Chriit  to  go  upon  or 
 follow,  "  for  the  cuitoms  of  the 
 "  people  and  nations  are  com- 
 "  monly  vain,"  Jer.  x.  3. 
 
 y  Nay,  the  foundation  of  tithes 
 is  fhaken  in  this  nation  fince  the 
 reformation,  and  the  more  glori- 
 ous light  of  truth  lately  broken 
 forth ;  fo  that  they  will  never  fet- 
 tle on  a  gofpel  bottom ;  "  and  the 
 "  Lord  hath  fhaken  his  hand  at 
 "  your  diihoneit  gain,"  Ezek. 
 xxii.  13. 
 
 The  LIBEL* 
 
 "  feffor  of  the  fame  " 
 "  was  for  the  time  a- 
 "  forefaid  and  at  the 
 "  prefent  is  common- 
 "  ly  called  held  had 
 "  named  and  reputed 
 "  openly  publickly 
 "  and  notorioufly  and 
 "  fets  forth  jointly  and 
 "  feverally  of  every 
 "  one. 
 
 "  2.  Item,  That  as 
 "  well  by  the  common 
 "  Law  w  and  Statutes 
 "  and  Laws  of  this 
 "  Kingdom  of  Eng- 
 ct  land  as  of  and  by 
 "  Antient  Laudable 
 "  and  Lawfully  pre- 
 "  fcribed  tCuftom  * 
 "  from  time  and  by 
 "  time  of  whofe  be- 
 "  ginning  or  the  con- 
 "  trary  there  is  no  me- 
 "  mory  of  Men  extant 
 "  hitherto  inviolably 
 a  and  unfhakenly  y 
 "  ufed  and  obferved 
 "  and  in  uncontradic- 
 "  tory Judgment  often 
 "  or  at  leaft  once  ob- 
 "  tained 
 
(     15     ) 
 
 The  LIBEL. 
 
 "  tained  the  Right z  of 
 "  taking  receiving  and 
 "  having  all  and  fin- 
 "  gular  the  Tithes 
 "  Rights  and  Emolu- 
 <c  ments  Eccleliaftical 
 "  whatfoever  as  well 
 "  greateras  lelTer  mixt 
 "  and  minute3  of  what 
 "  kind  foever  they 
 "  have  been,  or  by 
 "  whatfoever  name 
 u  they  may  be  ac- 
 "  counted  and  rec- 
 "  koned b  and  particu- 
 "  larly  the  Tithes  con- 
 "  tained  and  fpecined 
 "  in  a  certain  Schedule 
 "  to  thefe  Prefents  an- 
 "  nexed  c  within  the 
 "  Parifh  of  Wraxall 
 "  aforefaid  and  the 
 "  Bounds  Limits  and 
 "  Tithable  Places  of 
 "  the  fame  as  often  as 
 "  ever  whenfoever  and 
 "  after  what  manner 
 "  foever  d  refpedtively 
 <c  arifing  growing  re- 
 newing and  belong- 
 in-    *~ 
 
 «. 
 
 atfoever 
 
 The  R  E  M  A  R  K  S. 
 
 z  But  by  what  right  hath  he  ob- 
 tained the  receiving  and  having 
 tithes,  &c.  there  being  no  ground 
 for  it  in  the  NewTeftament ;  and 
 human  authority  is  not  fufficient 
 for  a  minifter  of  the  gofpel  ?  but 
 they  will  have  it  right  or  wrong. 
 
 a  Ay,  great  and  fmall,  all  they 
 can  get,  nothing  comes  amifs ;  all 
 is  filh  that  comes  to  net ;  like  the 
 parfonage  barn,  (and  fteeple- 
 houfe  too)  receive  all  that 
 comes. 
 
 b  Whether  Jewifh  or  Popifh, 
 all  is  one  to  them,  fo  as  they  can 
 have  them. 
 
 c  But  there  were  not  all  the 
 tithes  mentioned  in  the  fchedule, 
 and  how  then  could  he  receive  or 
 have  them  ?  For  there  are  fo  ma- 
 ny, and  of  fuch  a  value,  as  I  be- 
 lieve never  any  one  had,  much 
 lefs  John  Whiting. 
 
 d  However  they  come  by  it, 
 right  or  wrong,  it  is  all  a  cafe  to 
 them,  fo  thev  can  but  oet  them. 
 
 tor 
 
(     i6    ) 
 
 RrREMARKS.        The  LIBEL. 
 
 e  Here  again  they  break  the 
 command  of  Chrift,  in  calling 
 men  mailers,  when  one  is  our 
 mailer,  even  Chrift.  And  we  at 
 bell  are  but  brethren. 
 
 f  How  do  they  know  that,  that 
 It  lhall  belong  and  appertain  to 
 him  for  the  future?  did  they  think 
 he  would  always  remain  there, 
 and  never  die  ?  O  unheard  of 
 folly ! 
 
 s  I  never  read  of  any  fuch 
 titles  in  fcripture,  as  reclors  or 
 rectories,  for  minifters  of  Chrift. 
 
 h  Nor  of  clerk :  though  I  have 
 read,  that  "  every  fcribe  which 
 *'  is  inftrudled  unto  the  kingdom 
 "  of  heaven,  is  like  unto  a  man 
 "  that  is  an  houfholder,  which 
 "  bringeth  forth  out  of  his  trea- 
 "  fure  things  new  and  old,"  Mat. 
 xiii.  52.  But  doubt  you  have  not 
 been  fo  inftrufted,  and  have  little 
 to  bring  out  of  the  true  treafury, 
 
 "  Redor  thereof  for 
 "  the  time  being  or  his 
 "  Farmer  and  did  and 
 "  doth  belong  to  the 
 "  laid  Mr.  Ancketyll c 
 "  the  prefent  Re&of 
 "  thereof  and  ought 
 "  and  doth  and  alfb 
 "  for  the  future  fhall 
 "  belong  and  apper- 
 (t  tain  to  him  f  and  he 
 "  fets  forth  as  above. 
 
 "  3.  Item,  That 
 "  from  Ten  Twenty 
 "  Thirty  Forty  Fifty 
 "  Sixty  Years  laft  paft 
 "  more  or  lels  and 
 "  from  time  and  by 
 "  time  of  whofe  be-^ 
 "  ginning  there  is  no 
 "  memory  of  Men  ex- 
 "  tant  the  Re&ors  ox, 
 "  the  faid  Rectory  s 
 "  of  Wraxall  in  their* 
 "  times  refpeclively 
 "  and  fucceihvely  be- 
 "  ing  and  the  faid  Mr. 
 "  Ancketyll  Clerk  h 
 "  the  prefent  Rector 
 "  thereof  and  all  and 
 
 «  f, 
 
 nmru 
 
 lar 
 
 their    Pre- 
 "  ceflbrs 
 
(    if    } 
 
 Tbe  LIBEL. 
 
 *  ccflbrs  and  Prede- 
 "  ceflbrs  in  their  times 
 "  fucceffively  being  in 
 "  the  fame  have  been 
 "  and  ought  to  have 
 "  been  in  quiet  and 
 "  peaceable  Pofleflion 
 "  *  of  the  Right  or  as 
 "  of  taking  receiving 
 "  and  having  all  and 
 "  lingular  the  Tithes 
 "  aforefaid  and  them 
 '*  by  themfelves  or 
 "  theirs  for  the  faid 
 *'  time  have  taken  re- 
 "  ceived  and  had  and 
 "  of  and  with  the 
 "  fame,  have  freely 
 "  difpofetl  k  artd  fo 
 "  faving  the  hereafter 
 "  written  hath  been 
 ""  the  lame  Mr.  Anc- 
 "  ketyll  Rector  afore- 
 u  faid  and  took  and 
 "  had  the  wmole  and 
 u  all  the  time  of  his 
 u  Incumbency  in  the 
 u  lame  unto  the  time 
 of  the  Grievances 
 *'  hereafter   written. l 
 
 the  REMARKS. 
 
 1  How  ought  all  their  prede- 
 cefTors  to  have  been  in  the  quiet 
 and  peaceable  pofleflion  of  the 
 tithes  ?  what  ?  in  the  late  turn  of 
 times,  doth  not  this  juilify  the  late 
 ufurpation,  when  the  church  of 
 England  men  were  turned  out, 
 and  others  put  in  their  places, 
 except  they  turned  with  the  times, 
 to  keep  their  places,  as  many  of 
 them  did. 
 
 k  How  have  they  freely  dif- 
 pofed  of  them  ?  Have  they  fhared 
 them  among  the  poor  according 
 to  their  firft  inrlitution  ?  I  doubt 
 the  poor  have  little  enough  of 
 them  :  for  among  the  Jews,  the 
 poor  were  to  have  a  part  as  well 
 as  the  priefts ;  and  after  the  pri- 
 mitive times,  they  were  counted 
 pure  alms,  even  in  England;  at 
 firlt,  they  might  give  them  to 
 whom  they  would,  and  the  poor 
 were  to  be  maintained  out  of  them 
 as  well  as  the  prielts ;  but  now,  the 
 priefls  go  away  with  all;  the 
 poor  muft  mitt  for  themfelves, 
 and  be  maintained  by  the  pariih 
 befides>  or  flarve  for  them :  fo 
 that  I  doubt,  they  have  no  mere 
 freely  difpofed  of  them  than  they 
 have  freely  received  them. 
 
 1  This  is  falfe,  for  feveral  of 
 the  pariih  of  Naylfey,  refufed  to 
 pay  tithes  before  this  time ;  and 
 one  of  the  defendant's  relations 
 (William  Tucker  of  the  fame 
 pariih)  died  a  prifoner  at  Ivei- 
 chefler,  for  refuling  to  pay  tithes 
 to  one  ofprieft  Ancketyll's  pre- 
 dftceiibrs,  Thomas  George,  in 
 the  year  1656. 
 
 :  "  And 
 
(    i«    ) 
 
 The  REMARKS. 
 
 U 
 
 m  This  is  very  falfe,  for  John; 
 Whiting  can  no  more  receive 
 tithes  than  he  can  pay  tithes, 
 much  lefs,  all  the  tithes  mention 
 en  in  the  Schedule :  a  little  be 
 fore  they  laid,  that  E.  A.  had 
 poflefTed  the  fame,  and  all  the 
 Tights,  &c.  but  now  they  fay 
 John  Whiting  pofTefled  them  all. 
 This  being  contradictory,  they 
 cannot  be  both  true.  Befides,Johnj  « 
 Whiting  had  not  all,  nor  a  tenth 
 part  of  the  tithes  mentioned  in 
 the  Schedule,  as  his  neighbours 
 can  witnefs :  and  how  then  could 
 he  have,  hold,  porTeft,  and  receive 
 aljl  the  tithes,  &c. 
 
 ^LIBEL 
 
 And  he  fets  forth 
 as  above. 
 
 "  4.  Item,  That  the 
 aforefaid  J.  Whiting 
 in  the  Months  and 
 Years  aforefaid  or  in 
 one  or  fome  of  them 
 hath  had  held  pof- 
 feffed taken  received 
 and  converted  and 
 applied  to  his  own 
 proper  ufe  all  and 
 lingular  the  Tithes 
 Things  Fruits  Rights 
 and  Emoluments 
 Ecclefialtical  con- 
 tained and  fpecified 
 in  a  Schedule  to 
 thefe  Prefects  an- 
 nexed m  within  the 
 Parifli  of  Wraxall 
 aforefaid  and  the 
 Bounds  Limits  and 
 Tithabl.e  Places  of 
 the  fame  arilmg 
 growing  renewing 
 and  belonging  as  in 
 the  fame  Schedule 
 they  are  related 
 and  deduced  which 
 Schedule  the  afore- 
 "  fad 
 
C   19   ) 
 
 ^LIBEL 
 
 ^  faid n  will  have  read 
 H  and  inferted  inftead 
 "  of  thefe  propofmg 
 "  them  as  far  as-  is  ex- 
 "  pedient  for  himfelf 
 ei  arid  no  otherwife 
 "  nor  in  any  other 
 "  mariner  and  the  a- 
 tt  forefaid  °  propofmg 
 "  them  of  every  other 
 "  number  of  things 
 "  refpectively  Titha- 
 <c  ble  contained  and 
 ■  fpecified  in  the 
 "  Schedule  to  thefe 
 "  Prefents  annexed  as 
 *;  aforefaidof  a  greater 
 "  or  leffer  fort  and  of 
 fuch  a  Quality  and 
 Quantity  as  and 
 how  much  by  law- 
 "  ful  Proofs  in  the  If- 
 "  fue  of  this  Suit  it 
 "  comes  more  fully  to 
 "  be  proved/  And  he 
 "  lets  forth  as  above. 
 
 "  5.  Item,  That 
 t€  johnWhiting  of  the 
 "  Parifhof  WraxalP 
 u  hath  been  and  is 
 "  known  to  be  a  Sub- 
 C 
 
 The  R  E  M  A  R  K  S. 
 
 n  Who  they  mean  by  the  z- 
 forefaid,  I  know  not :  if  they 
 mean  John  Whiting,  being  laft 
 mentioned,  though  I  confefs  I 
 defired  them  to  read  it  when  the'v 
 produced  it,  and  afked  me  if  I 
 would  anfwer  to  it  on  oath;  vet 
 I  deny  that  I  defired  or  would 
 have  it  inferted,  as  confenting  t& 
 it,  or  allowing  of  it;  and  how 
 they  could  add  it  after,  if  I  had* 
 I  know  not,  when  it  was  inferted 
 before. 
 
 0  Here  they  feem  tb  intend 
 Edward  Ancketyll,  though  he  is 
 not  mentioned  after  the  above 
 [aforefaid]  which  renders  it  fo 
 confufed,  that  there  is  no  know  - 
 ing  what  tlieymean, 
 
 k< 
 
 k< 
 
 P  This  ...  proved  in 
 
 the  ifiue  as  they  fay,  nor  ever 
 can,  to  be  true. 
 
 9  He  was  not  of  the  parim  of 
 Wraxall,  properly  {peaking,  but 
 of  Naylfey,  being  (.whatever  it 
 was  formerly)  now  two  diiiinct 
 pariihes. 
 
 2  Hje£t 
 
(       2°       ) 
 
 The  REMARKS. 
 
 1 1  never  read  of  any  fuch  dio- 
 cefs  or  jurifdi&ion  in  fcripture; 
 and  if  he  was  fubjeft,  why  did 
 they  fend  him  to  prifon?  but  he 
 could  not  be  fubjeft  to  fuch  un- 
 fcriptural  jurifdi&ion,  (though 
 he  was  a  fubjett  of  the  king's) 
 nor  fubmit  to  their  corrupt  wills, 
 and  therefore  they  perfecuted 
 and  imprifoned  him. 
 
 *  This  is  fo  infamous,  that  in- 
 ftead  of  all  the  premifes  being 
 true,  &c.  they  are  known  to  be 
 notorioully  falfe. 
 
 1  What  nonfenfe  is  here,  to  tell 
 ©f  labouring,  public  voice  and 
 fame  ?  But  they  may  labour  long 
 enough,  before  they  make  it 
 good. 
 
 u  Faith  is  the  gift  of  God, 
 which  none  can  give  or  make ; 
 and  they  are  fo  far  from  making 
 faith,  that  they  are  not  to  be  be- 
 lieved, 
 
 |     The  L  I  B  E  L; 
 "  je£t  of  your  Diocefs 
 "  and  Jurifdi&ion r  of 
 "  Bath  and  Wells. 
 
 "  6.  Item,  That  all 
 "  and  every  the  faid 
 "  Premifes  have  been 
 "  and  are  True  Notori- 
 "  ous  Publick  Mani- 
 "  fed  and  Famous  * 
 "  and  of  and  concern- 
 <c  ing  the  fame  have 
 "  laboured  and  at  pre- 
 "  fent  do  labour  pub- 
 "  lick  Voice  and 
 "  Fame  ' 
 
 "  Whereof  Faith  be- 
 "  ing  made,  &c. tt 
 
 The  Schedule  mention* 
 edinthc  Libel. 
 
 Mprimis,  viz. 
 The  faid  John 
 "  Whiting  had  'held 
 "  and  poflefTed  in  the 
 "faidParifhofWiax- 
 "  all  and  TithabJe 
 "  Places  thereof  the 
 "  Years  and  Months 
 "  Libellate  all  or  tome 
 "  of 
 
(      21      ) 
 
 u 
 
 C4 
 
 f^LIBEL. 
 
 **  of  them  7  Acres  of 
 *{  Ground  which  he 
 *c  Sowed  or  caufed  to 
 u  Sown  with  Wheat 
 each  Acre  yielding 
 500  Bufhels  each 
 w  Bufhel  worth  8s. 
 u  and  the  Tithes  after 
 "  that  Rate.  w 
 
 **  Item,  The  faid 
 rt  JohnWhitinghadin 
 "the  faid  Parifh  8 
 "  Acres  of  Ground 
 €t  which  he  Sowed  or 
 "  caufed  to  be  Sown 
 "  with  Oats  each  A- 
 «  cre  yielding  800 
 "  Bufhels  each  Bufhel 
 "  worth  4s.  6d.  and 
 "  the  Tithe  after  that 
 "  Rate.  I 
 
 "  Item,  The  faid 
 "  John  Whiting  had  5 
 "  Acres  of  Ground 
 "  which  he  Sowed 
 "  with  Barley  each 
 u  Acre  yielding  400 
 64  Bufhels  and  each 
 "  Bufhel  worth  5s. y 
 
 "  Item,,   The    faid 
 "  John  Whiting  was 
 C 
 
 ^REMARKS. 
 
 *  This  Is  all  falfe,  for  John 
 Whiting  had  no  wheat  any  of  the 
 faid  years  or  months  mentioned 
 in  the  libel,  much  lefs  500  bufhels 
 in  an  acre ;  which  how  impoffible 
 it  is  to  have  fo  much  in  an  acre, 
 I  leave  to  any  that  know  any  thing 
 of  hufbandry,  to  judge ;  fo  that 
 the  corn  of  this  one  article  for  one 
 year,  at  this  rate,  comes  to  1 400I. 
 (200I.  per  acre)  and  the  tithe  af- 
 ter that  rate  140I. 
 
 x  This  is  faiie  alfo,  for  he  had 
 but  5  acres  of  oats,  and  how  in- 
 credible it  is  to  have  800  bufhels 
 in  an  acre,  let  any  hufbandman 
 judge,  when  there  were  but  about 
 20  bufhels  in  an  acre;  and  the 
 price  they  fet  is  above  treble  the 
 value :  fo  that  the  oats  according 
 to  this  article  for  one  year,  came 
 to  1440I.  (180I.  per  acre)  and 
 the  tithe  after  that  rate  144I. 
 
 f  This  is  likewife  falfe,  for 
 John  Whiting  had  no  barley, 
 much  lefs  400  bufhels  in  an  acre  j 
 the  like  I  believe  was  never  heard. 
 The  tenth  part  of  it,  and  the 
 twentieth  of  the  wheat  and  oats 
 being  an  extraordinary  crop.  So 
 the  barley  for  one  year  according 
 to  this,  came  to  5  ool.  (iool.  per 
 acre)  and  the  tithe  after  that 
 rate,  50I. 
 
 an 
 
 id 
 
(      22      ) 
 
 The  R  E  M  A  R  K  S. 
 
 2  He  did  not  live  in  Wraxall, 
 but  Naylfey. 
 
 *  I  do  not  read  of  facraments 
 in  fcripture. 
 
 b  Ought  we  to  receive  the 
 Lord's  fupper  no  oftener  than 
 once  a  year?  we  ought  to  pray 
 for  daily  bread,  how  elfe  can  we 
 live  thereby  ? 
 
 c  What  ?  can  they-affign  their 
 cower  then?  This  the  apoftle 
 peter  could  not  do  to  Simon 
 Magus. 
 
 d  And  why  ought  he  to  pay 
 6d  ?  What  law  or  gofpel  have 
 they_for  this  ?  The  fcripture  fays 
 no  fuch  thing,  but  on  the  con 
 trary :  £f  Come  ye,  buy  and  eat ; 
 *'  yea,  come  buy  wine  and  milk 
 "  without  money  and  without 
 *«  price,"  Ifa  lv.  I.  See  alfo 
 John  vii.  37.  and  Rev.  xxii.  17 
 
 The  LIBEL, 
 "  and  is  an  Inhabitant 
 "  and  Parifhioner  of 
 "  and  in  Wraxall  a* 
 "  forefaid  P.  and  ought 
 u  to  receive  the  Sacra- 
 "  ment3  of  the  Lord's 
 "  Supper  Yearly  b  at 
 "  Eafler  and  ought  to 
 "  pay  the  Parfon  or 
 "  his  Affignsc  the  Sum 
 "  of  6d.  in  Money  * 
 "  attheFeaft  of  Eafler 
 "  Yearly.'1 
 
 Thus  ends  the  Libel 
 and  Schedule, 
 
 If  any  queftion  the 
 truth  of  this,  I  have 
 the  original  by  me  to 
 mew. 
 
 So  that  the  whole  corn  according  tol  * 
 
 this  libel  for  one  year,  came  to  -J  ***""    ' 
 
 And  the  tithe  after  that  rate  for  one  1  . 
 
 year,  to         — —   y     sfJfT  ' 
 
 But  if  for  two  years  as  they  charge  1 
 in  the  libel,  and  three  months  of  [ 
 another,  then  it  came  to  double,    ?  6680  h 
 (befides  the   three   months    and    j 
 Eafter  offerings)  viz.  J 
 
 And  the  tithe  after  that  rate        — r        668  L 
 
 "Whea4 
 
(      23      ) 
 
 When  all  the  corn  I  had,  was  worth  7  j 
 
 but  about      J      loL 
 
 And  the  tithes  about     ■       1 1. 
 
 Was  ever  the  like  heard  of;  that  men  who 
 pretend  to  be  minifters  of  Chrift,  mould  aflert 
 iuch  notorious  falfhoods  ?  O  ye  priefts,  proc-* 
 tors,  &c.  who  are  guilty  of  thefe  things,  bs 
 afliamed  of  your  lives,  and  repent  of  your 
 injuftice  and  oppreffion;  and  let  people  never 
 believe  or  follow  them  more,  till  they  con- 
 demn thefe  things.  Are  thefe  the  fruits  of  the 
 bifhops  fpiritual  courts,  fo  called  ?  furely  it  is 
 his  fpirit,  who  is  the  father  of  lies,  that  is  the 
 author  of  fuch  falfhoods  ;  and  he  fits  and  rules 
 there  in  the  hearts  of  his  children;  and  his 
 works  they  will  do,  who  will  "  deceive  every 
 "  one  his  neighbour,  and  will  not  fpeak  the 
 **  truth,  but  have  taught  their  tongues  to  fpeak 
 "  lies :"  Jer.  ix.  5.  fo  that  it  may  be  faid  of 
 them,  as  it  was  of  him,  who  was  a  liar  from 
 the  beginning,  *'  that  the  truth  is  not  in  them  ;'* 
 John  viii.  44.  whole  portion  will  be  miferabie 
 except  they  repent. 
 
 And  becaufe  in  obedience  to  (Thrift's  com- 
 mand, who  faid,  "  Swear  not  at  all,"  Matth. 
 v.  34.  I  could  not  anfwer  upon  oath  to  this 
 libel,  they  (as  if  it  was  all  true)  proceeded  to 
 excommunication  againft  me,  for  contempt 
 and  difobedience  (as  they  called  it)  though  I 
 pleaded  the  command  of  Chrift  for  my  refufal 
 £©  fwear,  although  the  tender  of  the  faid  oath, 
 C  4  called 
 
(       24      ) 
 
 called  ex  officio,  or  any  other  oath,  whereby 
 •any  perfon  may  be  charged  or  compelled  to. 
 confefs,  or  accufe,  or  purge  himfelf  j  befides., 
 its  being  contrary  to  (Thrift's  command  as 
 abovefaid;  and  the  apoftle  James's  Exhortation 
 chap.  v.  12.  is  likewiie  contrary  to  the  ftatute 
 of  13  Car.  2.  chap.  12.  which  repeals  the  faid 
 oath;  of  which,  more  hereafter. 
 
 Now  feeing  they  were  proceeding  againft 
 me,  to  imprifon  me  on  the  writ,  de  excommu- 
 nicato 'capiendo,  I  prepared  for  it,  by  fetting 
 things  in  order;  and  while  I  was  at  liberty,  I 
 was  prefTed  in  mind  to  go  and  vifit  a  dear 
 friend  in  Leiceflerfliire  (with  whom  I  had  ac- 
 quaintance as  I  returned  out  of  the  north,  af- 
 ter the  deceafe  of  my  iifler,  in  the  year  1676) 
 which  I  did  the  latter  end  of  this  fummer,  the 
 7th  of  the  8th  month,  by  Briftol,  to  my  coulin 
 Gregory's, at  Puckelchurch,inGloucefterfhire; 
 next  day  went  toGloucefter,and  fo  toEvefham, 
 Warwick,  Coventry,  and  Leicefter;  where,  at 
 a  quarterly  meeting,  at  the  houle  of  Samuel 
 "Wilfon,  the  mayor  and  officers  came  and  broke 
 up  the  meeting,  (which  was  pretty  large,  the 
 men  in  one  room,  and  the  women  in  another) 
 and  turned  us  out  into  the  flreet ;  and  the 
 mayor  taking  notice  of  me  to  be  a  ftranger, 
 afked  me  where  I  dwelt ;  I  told  him  I  did  not 
 dwell  thereabouts;  he  bid  me  go  to  my  home 
 then;  but  after  they  were  gone,  the  meeting 
 gathered  again,  and  held  late;  and  after  fome 
 time.,  I  returned  the  fame  way  I  came  ;  viiit- 
 
 ine 
 
(       =5       ) 
 
 ing  in  my  way,  going  and  coming,  that  an- 
 cient fuffering  fervant  of  God  and  minifter  of 
 Jefus  Chrift,  William  Dewfbury,  prifoner  at 
 Warwick,  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus ;  where 
 he  had  been  a  prifoner  for  the  moft  part  fince 
 1663,  and  was  feveral  years  after;  in  all,  19 
 years  from  firft  to  laft,  in  this  town  of  War- 
 wick. Thomas  Taylor,  an  ancient  fervant  of 
 the  Lord,  and  likewife  a  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
 had  alfo  been  imprifoned  at  Stafford  on  the  fame 
 account  of  pramunire,  though  they  were  both 
 freed  on  King  Charles's  declaration  in  1 672, 
 yet  foon  after  imprifoned  again ;  but  William 
 Dewfbury  then  dwelt  in  his  own  hired  houfe, 
 with  whom  I  had  pretty  much  difcourfe  (in 
 his  garden)  of  many  things,  to  my  great  com- 
 fort  and  fatisfaction ;  for  he  was  very  open 
 and  free  to  me  beyond  what  I  could  expect, 
 being  a  young  man,  and  a  ftranger  outwardly 
 to  him  ;  and  told  me  fome  things  which  I 
 ihall  never  forget.  He  was  an  extraordinary 
 man  many  ways,  and,  I  thought,  as  exact  a 
 pattern  of  a  perfect  man  as  ever  I  knew;  and 
 he  gave  me  an  epiflle  to  carry  to  friends ;  and 
 coming  to  the  door  with  me,  when  I  came 
 away  the  laft  time,  at  taking  leave  of  him  he 
 told  me,  '  The  blefting  of  the  Lord  would  be 
 '  with  me  if  I  was  faithful ;'  which  was  an  en- 
 couragement to  me,  and  through  the  Lord's 
 goodnefs  I  have  found  it  fo  (beyond  my  defert) 
 blefTed  be  his  holy  name  for  ever.  He  lived 
 to  be  difcharged  of   his  imprifonment,    and 
 
 die4 
 
(     26     ) 
 
 died  in  peace  with  the  Lord,  in  the  year  iSSS, 
 of  which  more  in  that  year;  of  whom,  I  could 
 mot  but  make  this  fhort  memorial  here.  So  I 
 returned  home,  and  lived  in  great  peace  and 
 quietnefs  with  my  tenant  that  winter. 
 
 This  year  1 6j8,  died  that  faithful  fervant 
 of  God,  Stephen  Smith,  of  Warplefdon,  in 
 Surry,  a  man  of  account  in  the  world.  He 
 was  born  the  19th  of  the  7th  month,  1623, 
 who  in  his  younger  years,  travelled  into  fe- 
 veral  countries,  and  refided  fometime  at  Scan- 
 deroon,  in  Syria,  (Afia,)  as  a  merchant ; 
 and  afterwards  writ  a  book,  called,  Wholfome 
 Advice  and  Information,  wherein  he  fhews 
 how  much  fome  of  the  Turks  exceeded  fome 
 Chriftians,  in  their  dealings.  He  received  the 
 truth  in  the  year  1 665,  and  gave  up  to  obey 
 it,  and  walk  therein ;  and  truly  loved  the 
 mefTengers  and  faithful  (though  defpifed  and 
 fuffering)  people  of  God ;  and  fuffered  with 
 them  both  in  perfon  and  eftate,  by  imprifon- 
 ment  and  fpoil  of  goods  for  his  tender  confer- 
 ence and  teftimony,  in  behalf  of  Chrift  Jefus; 
 an  honeft  upright  man,  one  that  feared  God 
 and  was  of  good  report  in  his  country,  a 
 preacher  of  righteoufnefs  in  his  converfation  ; 
 kind  and  ready  to  do  good  in  his  day:  and  the 
 Lord  endued  him  with  a  gift  of  the  miniftry 
 and  experimental  teftimony,  to  tell  of  his 
 goodnefs,  and  fpeak  of  his  praife,  to  the  com- 
 fort and  encouragement  of  them  that  heard 
 
 him* 
 
(     ay    ) 
 
 iiim,  He  travelled  in  many  parts  of  this  na- 
 tion, in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  efpecially  m 
 Surry,  SiuTex,  and  Hampshire,  till  this  year, 
 when  he  was  taken  fick,  and  had  many  com- 
 fortable expreffions  on  his  death  bed ;  and  at 
 laft  laid  down  the  body,  dying  in  peace  with 
 the  Lord  at  his  own  houfe  near  Guilford,  ir* 
 Surry,  the  22d  of  the  7th  month,  1678,  en- 
 tering into  the  56th  year  of  his  age.  He 
 wrote  lome  pretty  ferviceable  books  and  pa- 
 pers, which   are  colle&ed  in  8vo.  intituled, 
 
 *  The  True  Light  difcovered  to  all  who  defire 
 
 *  to  walk  in  the  Day.'     Printed,   1 679. 
 
 This  year  alfo  died  that  faithful  minifler  and 
 labourer  in  the  gofpel  Chriftopher  Bacon  of 
 Venice  Sutton,  on  Pollen  Hill,  in  our  county 
 of  Somerfet,  He  was  born  about  the  year 
 1623  :  in  his  youth  he  was  fomewhat  wild ; 
 and  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars,  was  a  fol- 
 dier  in  the  king's  army;  but  after  he  returned 
 home,  about  the  year  1656,  it  pleafmg  the 
 Lord  to  fend  fome  of  his  fervants  into  thofe 
 parts  to  preach  the  everlafting  gofpel,  he  went 
 to  one  of  their  meetings  (to  fetch  home  his 
 wife,  as  I  have  heard,  who  was  convinced  be- 
 fore him)  however  not  with  an  intent  to  re-, 
 ceive  the  truth,  but  rather  to  feoff  and  deride 
 the  Lord's  people ;  but  through  the  Lord's 
 mercy  to  him,  he  was  reached  in  his  confer- 
 ence, and  convinced  of  the  truth,  and  received1 
 it  in  the  love  of  it,  and  became  a  chofen  veffe^ 
 for  th.e  Lord's  ufe,  to  turn  many  to  righte- 
 
 pufueis. 
 
(     28     ) 
 
 ©ufnefs.  And  .not  long  after,  about  1657, 
 going  from  his  own  houfe,  with  intent  to  go 
 to  Puddimoor  meeting  on  a  firft  day,  and  paf- 
 fmg  by  Ivelchefter,  he  had  a  mind  to  go  in  and 
 fee  fome  of  the  Lord's  fervants  who  were  pri- 
 foners  there  (particularly  Thomas  Salthoufe) 
 and  putting  up  his  horfe  in  order  thereto,  he 
 was  taken  up  and  brought  to  the  conftable 
 William  Pullen,  who  required  ten  millings  of 
 him  for  travelling  on  that  day  (according  to 
 the  cuftom  of  thofe  hypocritical  times)  or  elfe 
 he  would  feize  his  horfe.  Chriftopher  not  be- 
 ing confcious  to  himfelf  of  the  breach  of  any 
 law,  refufed  to  pay  it,  fo  the  conftable  let  him 
 go ;  and  after  he  was  gone  to  the  meeting, 
 feized  his  horfe ;  and  when  he  returned  to  Ivel- 
 chefter for  his  horfe,  in  order  to  return  home, 
 the  conftable  required  the  watch  to  keep  him 
 prifoner,  faying,  he  fhould  go  before  a  juftice 
 the  next  day ;  and  after  three  days  reftraint, 
 was  committed  to  Ivelchefter  prifon,  by  Robert 
 Hunt,  John  Cary,  and  John  Harrington,  and 
 was  continued  there  feveral  years,  for  refufing 
 to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration,  which  was  then 
 the  fnare  to  catch  fuch  as  could  not  for  con-* 
 fcience  fake,  fwear  at  all.  And  during  the 
 time  of  his  imprifonment,  the  power  of  the 
 Lord  broke  forth  in  him,  and  a  difpenfation 
 of  the  gofpel  was  committed  to  him ;  and  after 
 his  enlargement,  he  became  a  diligent  labour- 
 er in  the  work  of  the  miniftry,  efpecially  in 
 the  weftern  counties, fromLondon  to  the  land's 
 
 end. 
 
(    *9    ) 
 
 end,  and  divers  other  parts  of  England  and 
 Wales  ;  and  went  feveral  times  into  Ireland  ; 
 and  through  the  blefling  of  the  Lord  on  his 
 labour,  many  were  convinced  of  the  truth  he 
 declared  and  fuffered  greatly  for.  Being  again 
 imprifoned  at  Ivelchefter,  the  18th  of  the  ift 
 month,  i66|,  for  keeping  meetings  at  his 
 houfe,  but  difcharged  at  Wells'  affizes,  in  the 
 6th  month,  1662 ;  and  the  fame  year  at  Exe- 
 ter, where  he  wrote  a  book,  called,  '  ATrum- 
 '  pet  founding  an  Alarm  from  the  Spirit  of 
 1  Life,  through  an  Inhabitant  of  the  City  of 
 
 *  God,  to  all  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Earth,'  &c. 
 in  the  9th  month ;  and  an  '  Epiftle  to  Friends* 
 in  the  10th:  and  was  alfo  imprifoned  at  Brid- 
 port,  in  Dorfetfhire,  for  his  teftimony  in  1 6669 
 and  wrote  an  epiftle  there  in  the  9th  month- 
 He  was  an  able  minifter  of  the  gofpel  of 
 Christ,  in  which  he  laboured  much,  and 
 was  inftrumental  in  turning  many  to  the 
 Lord,   '  and  the  difobedient  to  the  wifdom  of 
 
 *  the  juft.'  A  valiant  man  for  truth ;  and 
 freely  given  up  to  furfer  for  it,  and  to  fpend 
 and  be  fpent  for  the  gathering  of  people  to  it. 
 He  was  afterwards  taken  up  at  a  meeting  at 
 GlafTenbury,  and  had  before  biihop  Mew,  at 
 Wells,  who  reproached  him,  calling  him  rebe!s 
 &c.  for  meeting  contrary  to  the  king's  laws ; 
 Chriitopher  thinking  he  did  not  deferve  that 
 treatment,  having  been  a  foldier  for  the  king, 
 faid  to  him,  *  Doit  thou  call  me  rebel?  I  would 
 
 *  have  thee  to  know,  I  have  jeoparded  my  life 
 
 *  for 
 
(     3°     ) 
 
 4  for  the  king,  in  the  high  places  of  the  fielcL 
 '  when  fuch  as  thou  lay  behind  hedges;'  which 
 Hopped  his  mouthj  and  made  him  willing  td 
 be  quit  of  him.  He  was  after  imprifoned  in 
 Bridgwater,  for  the  tithe  of  three  or  four  acres 
 of  arable  land;  the  tithes  whereof  were  claim- 
 ed by  the  corporation  of  Bridgwater,  which 
 lie  for  confcience  fake  could  not  pay,  and  there- 
 fore was  taken  up  and  imprifoned  four  times 
 In  that  town;  once  by  Thomas Bickham,  in  the 
 year  1669;  and  two  other  times,  of  which 
 there  is  no  certain  account,  but  doubtlefs  for 
 fome  years*  His  laft  imprisonment  was  by 
 William  Macy,  one  of  the  magiftrates  of  that 
 town,  about  the  7th  month,  1678,  where  he 
 was  kept  clofe  in  a  very  cold  room  in  the  com* 
 mon  prifon:  Macy  faying,  '  He  fhould  abide 
 *  there  until  he  eat  the  boards  of  the  loft;'  and 
 through  the  extremity  of  cold  he  fuffered- 
 much,  and  was  taken  very  fick  in  a  fhort 
 time;  and  his  wife  could  fcarce  have  liberty  to 
 go  in  and  out  to  him ;  but  he  grew  fo  weak, 
 that  it  was  thought  he  would  have  died  there, 
 fo  they  put  him  out  of  prifon  the  fame  day 
 month  he  was  put  in ;  and  after  fome  time  he 
 reached  home,  being  fo  weak  that  he  was  like 
 to  die  by  the  way,  being  about  four  miles ; 
 and  after  he  came  home,  he  kept  his  bed  about 
 two  weeks,  but  never  got  over  that  weaknefs, 
 whieh  impaired  his  health  fo  ■much,  that  he 
 complained  of  it  feveral  times,  that  that  im- 
 prifcnment    in    Bridgwater,    was    his   bane* 
 
 though 
 
t  31  ) 
 
 though  he  travelled  abroad  after  in  Ins  tefti- 
 mony, and  went  weftward  into  Cornwall,  and 
 was  taken  up  at  Truro  for  a  popifh  recufant, 
 but  cleared,  yet  (truck  on  the  head  by  an  en- 
 vious man:  he  palTed  on,  though  weak,  fo 
 far  as  Falmouth,  where  he  had  a  meeting,  and 
 the  next  day  took  his  bed,  and  in  the  time  of 
 his  ficknefs,  he  bore  a  living  teftimony  to  the 
 truth,  to  friends  great  fatisfa&ion,  who  were 
 very  careful  and  tender  of  him  ;  and  in  about 
 ten  days,  he  finifhed  his  courfe,  and  was  ga- 
 thered to  his  fathers,  the  fpirits  of  juft  men 
 made  perfect,  laying  down  his  head  in  peace, 
 and  dying  in  the  Lord  the  29th  of  the  icth 
 month  1678,  about  the  55th  year  of  his  age, 
 being  much  fpent  with  hard  labour,  travels, 
 and  fufferings  for  the  gofpel's  fake  and  the  tef- 
 timony of  it ;  but  there  was  a  frefh  appearance 
 of  the  Lord's  power  and  prefence  with  him 
 to  the  laft,  fo  that  he  was  a  good  favour  to 
 them  that  were  about  him.  See  R.  Samble's 
 teftimony  of  him. 
 
 The  next  fpring,  I  being  chofen  one  of  the 
 overfeers  of  the  poor  for  the  parifh  of  Nayl- 
 fey;  when  I  went  to  the  prieft's  houfe  to  col- 
 led: the  poor's  rate,  he  aiked  me  how  I  could 
 come  to  demand  money  of  him,  and  would 
 not  pay  him  his  tithes  which  he  was  rated  to 
 the  poor  for ;  I  told  him,  if  he  would  comr 
 pute  how  much  he  paid  to  the  poor  for  my' 
 tithes,  I  would  deduct  fo  much  of  my  rate  as 
 
 *-?•><■»«- 
 
(    3*    ) 
 
 that  came  to  in  proportion;  which  he  not 
 accepting  of,  it  ftopt  his  mouth  as  to  that 
 pretence. 
 
 About  this  time,  in  the  3d  month,  my 
 tenant,  George  Allen,  and  another  friend, 
 Samuel  Hipiley,  of  Cleve,  in  the  parifh  of 
 Yatton,  were  taken  up  and  carried  to  prifon, 
 to  Ivelchefter,  on  procefs  at  common  law,  at 
 the  fuit  of  the  Lord  Paulet,  for  tithes. 
 
 And  now  my  adverfary  having  proceeded 
 againft  me  in  the  biihop's  court  to  excommu- 
 nication for  the  faid  tithes,  and  refufing  to 
 anfwer  the  libel  on  oath,  as  aforefaid,  on  the 
 28th  of  the  4th  month,  1679,  as  I  was  fitting 
 in  my  hall,  reading  early  in  the  morning, 
 being  but  lately  returned  from  the  quarterly 
 meeting  at  Ivelchefter,  and  not  thinking  of 
 going  thither  again  fo  foon,  there  came  in  a 
 bailiff  and  arreited  me,  on  the  writ  de  excom- 
 municato capiendo,  at  the  fuit  of  the  faid  Ed- 
 ward Ancketyll ;  and  had  he  not  come  when 
 he  did,  T  mould  perhaps  have  been  out  of 
 his  way,  being  upon  removing  to  my  uncle 
 Jeffery  Rumney's,  at  Walton,  fome  four  miles 
 off  by  the  fea  fide;  not  to  avoid  a  prifon,  but 
 for  my  convenience;  but  providence  ordered 
 it  otherwife,  which  I  have  no  caufe  to  repent 
 of,  for  the  Lord  can  make  all  things  to  work 
 together  for  good  to  them  that  fear  him.  So 
 after  I  had  provided  myfelf  with  fome  necef- 
 faries,  he  carried  me  away  fry  Wrington  and 
 
 ■  Wells,  ■ 
 
(     33     ) 
 
 Wells,    to  Ivelchefter,    the  fame  day,    being 
 near  thirty  miles  from  my  own  houfe. 
 
 "  For  my  contempt 
 
 "  and  difobedience,  as 
 
 "  was  alledged  in  the 
 
 ie  writorfheriff'swar- 
 
 "  rant,  in  not  obferv- 
 
 "  ing  certain  honeft  a 
 
 "  and     raoft     lawful 
 
 "  commands  b  of  the 
 
 '*'  bifhop  or  his  depu- 
 
 M  ty,  in  not  taking  his 
 
 "  corporal  oathc  upon 
 
 "  the  holy  evangelifts, 
 
 "  d  faithfully  to  anfwer 
 
 rt  to  certain  pofitions 
 
 "  and  articles,    &c.  e 
 
 "  exhibited  in  a  libel f 
 
 "  on     the     part      of 
 
 "  Edward  Ancketyll, 
 
 "  prieft  of   Wraxall, 
 
 "  for  not  paying   ti- 
 
 "  thes,  &c.s 
 
 a  What !  and  yet  contrary  to 
 Chrift's  command? 
 
 b  What !  more  lawful  than 
 Chrift's  command  to  the  con- 
 trary!  O  unheard  of  preemp- 
 tion ! 
 
 c  That  is  bodily  oath ;  and  yet 
 Chrift  commanded  not  to  fwear 
 by  the  head,  and  confequently, 
 not  with  the  hand  or  body. 
 
 d  This  was  denied  by  feveral 
 of  the  martyrs. 
 
 e  But  very  falfe  ones. 
 
 f  Full  of  lies  indeed. 
 
 s  Which  they  have  no  fcrip- 
 ture  for  but  the  law  of  Mofes, 
 which  is  abolifhed  by  Chrift ;  who 
 commanded  his  difciples,  faying, 
 "  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely 
 "  give," '  Matth.  x.  8.  And, 
 "  Swear  not  at  all,"  Mat.  v.  34. 
 
 And  thus  they  wickedly  prefume  in  their 
 corrupt  wills,  to  fet  up  their  antichriftian  com- 
 mands in  oppofition  to  the  commands  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  faith,  "  Swear 
 "  not  at  all;"  Matth.  v.  34.  but  they  fet  up 
 their  contrary  commands,  above  Chrift's ;  cal- 
 ling theirs  *  honeft  and  mod  lawful  com- 
 D  '  mands  :* 
 
(     34    ) 
 
 c  mands :'  what !  more  lawful  than  Chrifl's  ? 
 O  unheard  of  blafphemy  and  prefumption  ! 
 Was  ever  the  like  heard  of,  that  mortal  man 
 fhould  exalt  himfelf  above  the  fovereign  and 
 immortal  God?  What  are  ye, that  you  mould  go 
 to  fet  yourfelves  againft  your  Maker  ?  Shall 
 any  contend  with  the  Almighty,  and  profper? 
 Surely  nay;  yet  they  will  arrogate  to  themfelves 
 a  fuperiority  above  Chrift, and  entrench  into  his 
 prerogative,  to  thruft  him  out  of  his  throne,  and 
 rule  over  the  confciences  of  men;  fo  that  if  any 
 in  obedience  to  Chrift,  and  not  in  contempt 
 to  any  lawful  authority,  refufe  to  fubmit  to 
 their  corrupt  wills,  and  cannot  obey  their  un- 
 juft  commands,  "  who  teach  for  doctrines  the 
 "  commandments  of  men,"  Matt.  xv.  9.  they 
 excommunicate  them,  and  would  deliver  them 
 to  Satan,  if  it  was  in  their  power,  being  in- 
 deed his  minifters;  and  then  fend  them  to 
 jail  for  their  difobedience,  and  call  their  com- 
 mands honeft  and  moll  lawful,  by  which  they 
 render  Chrifl's  not  honeft  or  lawful ;  for  they 
 being  contrary  one  to  the  other,  they  cannot 
 both  be  honeft  or  lawful;  and  now  whom  we 
 ought  to  obey,  Chrift  or  them,  judge  ye:  if 
 God  commands  one  thing  and  men  another, 
 ought  we  not  to  obey  God  rather  than  man  ? 
 And  if  "  he  that  breaks  the  leaft  of  Chrifl's 
 *'  commands,and  teaches  men  fo,  mail  becount- 
 "  ed  the  leaft  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  Mat. 
 v.  1 9.  what  fhall  they  be  that  break  fuch  great 
 commands  ?  And  not  only  teach  men,   but 
 
 would 
 
(     35     ) 
 
 would  force  men  fo  to  do,  or  punifh  them 
 that  refufe.    Now  Chrift  commands  exprefly, 
 "  but  I  fay  unto  you,  Swear  not  at  all;"  Mat. 
 v.  34.  and  the  apoftle  James  who  abode  in  his 
 doctrine,  fays,  "  above  all  things  my  brethren, 
 "  fwear  not,"  &c.  James  v.    12.     But  the 
 biihop  or  his  deputy,  who  is  gone  from  the 
 doctrine  of  Chrift  and  the  apoftle,  fays,  you 
 lhall  fwear,  or  we'll  fend  you  to  jail,  and  call 
 their  commands  moft  lawful ;  as  if  more  law- 
 ful than  Chrift's  ;  and  "  thus  they  make  the 
 "  commandments  of  God  of  none  effect  by 
 "  their  traditions."  Mat.  xv.  6.    And  fuppofe 
 any  fhould  be  drawn  or  compelled  for  fear  of 
 fufferings,  to  break  the  command  of  Chrift, 
 and  do  the  contrary,  will  the  bifhop  or  his 
 deputy  undertake  to  excufe  them,  or  anfwer 
 for  them  at  the  day  of  judgment,  when  every 
 man  muft  anfwer  for  himfelf,  and  receive  ac- 
 cording to  his  works  ?  O  nay  !   they  will  not 
 be  able  to  deliver  their  own  fouls  in  that  day, 
 except  they  repent,  much  lefs,   ftand  in  the 
 gap  to  anfwer  for  others,  though  the  blood  of 
 thofe  whom  they  have  caufed  to  err,  fhall  lie 
 at  their  doors.      But  in  that  day  fhall  their 
 "  pride  be  brought  down,  and  the  Lord  alone 
 "  exalted  ;  and  the  haughtinefs  of  man  laid 
 "  low,"  Ifa.  ii.  11.  who  now  rule  in  their  cor- 
 rupt wills  over  God's  heritage,  and  ufurp  au- 
 thority over  men's  faith  and  confciences,  and 
 would  force  men  to  break  the  commands  of 
 Chrift,  and  yet  would  be  accounted  minifters  of 
 Chrift,  but  fhew  by  their  works,  whole  minif- 
 D  2  ters 
 
(     36    ) 
 
 ters  and  fervants  they  are,  by  doing  his  works!, 
 Though  the  tender  of  the  faid  oath  in  this  cafe, 
 is  alio  contrarytothe  law  of  the  13th  yearof  king 
 Charles  II.  Stat.  13.  Car.  2.  cap.  12.  in  thefe 
 words:  "  Provided  alfo,  and  it  is  hereby  further 
 ((  enacted,  That  it  fhall  not  be  lawful  for  any 
 te  Archbifhop,  Bifhop,  Vicar-General,  Chan- 
 "  cellor,  Commiifary,  or  any  other  fpiritual 
 *'  or  ecclefiaftical  Judge,  Officer  or  Minifter; 
 *'  or  any  other  perfon,  having  or  exercifmg 
 "  fpiritual  or  ecclefiaftical  jurifdiclion,  to 
 "  tender  or  adminifter  unto  any  perfon  what- 
 <f  foever,  the  oath  ufually  called  the  oath  ex 
 "  officio,  or  any  other  oath  whereby  fuch  per- 
 "  Ion  to  whom  the  fame  is  tendered  or  ad- 
 <f  miniftered,  may  be  charged  or  compelled 
 <c  to  confefs  or  accufe,  or  to  purge  him  or  her- 
 tc  felf  of  any  criminal  matter  or  thing,  where- 
 <c  by  he  or  fhe  may  be  liable  to  any  cenfure 
 *'  or  punifhment;  any  thing  in  this  ftatute,  or 
 tc  any  other  law,  cuftom  or  ufage  heretofore  to 
 "  the  contrary  hereof  in  any  wife  notwithftand- 
 "  ing."  Therefore  it  is  not  honeft  or  moil 
 lawful,  in  refpecl:  to  God  or  the  king  for  the 
 bilhop  or  his  deputy,  to  tender  the  faid  oath, 
 or  fend  men  to  prifon  for  refufmg  it ;  and  yet 
 the  faid  John  Whiting  muft  be  cenfured  for 
 contempt  and  difobedience  for  refufmg  to  take 
 it,  and  fuffer  imprifonment  accordingly. 
 
 Thus  was  I  carried  from  my  father's  houfe, 
 in  the  prime  of  my  days,  to  be  fhut  up  in  a 
 prifon  for  confcience  fake,  and  never  returned 
 
 again 
 
(.  37     ) 
 
 again  to  inhabit  there;  but  the  Lord  was  with 
 me,  and  took  care  of  me,  that  I  had  no  caufe 
 to  be  difcouraged.  When  I  came  to  Ivel- 
 chefter,  I  was  put  in  .the  lheriffs  ward,  for- 
 merly a  nunnery,  by  the  river  fide,  over  a- 
 gamft  the  common  goal ;  where  were  feveral 
 friends  prisoners  on  truth's  account,  but  more 
 in  the  friary,  at  the  other  end  of  the  town  ; 
 in  all,  to  the  number  of  about  thirty-three ; 
 fome  for  not  paying  tithes,  fome  for  not  com- 
 ing to  church,  and  fome  for  not  fwearing. 
 
 A  particular  account  of  whom,  and  for 
 what,  by  whom,  and  when  committed,  is  as 
 fplloweth : 
 
 John  Sage,  of  Chewton  Mendip,  aged"| 
 
 about  80,   for  tithes,   at  the  fuit  of  !     s-s-f- 
 Anne  Kiniinel,  widow,  impropria-  \ 
 trix.      8th  month,  J 
 
 Marmadnke  Coat,  of  Hambridge,  for  ~) 
 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  Robert  Banbury,  >  1 670 
 impropriator.       6th  month,  J 
 
 Arthur    Jeffry,    of  South   Brint,    for^j 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  William  Plumly,  I     ^ 
 Thomas     Brigham,    and    Willoby  [       ' 
 Leyne,  fpinfter.      9th  month,  J 
 
 William  Liddon,  of  Withell,  for  tithes,  ] 
 
 at  the  fuit  of  John  Hillacre,  tithe-  >  1670 
 farmer.      1  ith  month,  J 
 
 Gregory  Ceely,  of  North  Curry,  for  "J 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  Robert  Hill,  ^1673 
 tithe-farmer,     2d  month,  J 
 
 D  3  Thomas 
 
(     38     ) 
 
 Thomas    Browning,    of  Lymington," 
 
 for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  Matthew  \  r  3 
 Brayn,  prieft  of  the  fame.  24th  [  '  + 
 1  ft  month, 
 
 James  Pople,  of  Stawel,  for  tithes,  at  1 
 
 the  fuit  of  Henry  Bull,  impropria-  >  1 674 
 tor.     28th   ill  month,  J 
 
 John  Denny,  of  Wefton-Zoyland,  on  " 
 excommunication  for  tithes,  at  the  •     ~ 
 fuit  of  William  Powel,  impropria-  j       'T 
 tor.      10th   month, 
 
 Jeremiah  Powel,    of  Michal   Creech,  "| 
 on  excommunication  for  tithes,  at  \     r 
 the    fuit    of    John   Gale,      prieft.  f  l074 
 1  ith  month,  J 
 
 William  Ford,  of  Curry-Mallet,    fori 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  Thomas  Beal,  >  1 675 
 prieft.     2d  month,  J 
 
 of  Burnham,  on  juf-*] 
 tice's  warrant,forcon- 
 tempt,  in  not  appear- 
 ing   at   the   bifhop's  ^ 
 court  for  tithes,  at  the  r 
 fuit  of  Robert  Collier, 
 prieft  of  Chard.     2d 
 w  month,  J 
 
 Edward   Silcocks,    of   Wefton-fuper- " 
 Mare,     on     excommunication    for 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  Samuel  Willan,  }  1 675 
 prieft  of  Wefton   and  Kewftoke. 
 2d  month, 
 
 John 
 
 John  Wride, 
 Robert  Tutton, 
 John  Brice, 
 Robert  Stert, 
 
(    39    ) 
 
 John  Parfons,  of  Midlezoy,  on  excom- 
 munication for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  }-  1675 
 William  Powel,  impropriator. 
 
 John  Anderdon,    of  Bridgwater,    on"| 
 praemunire,  for  refufing  to  take  the  I     - 
 oath  of  allegiance,  by  Judge  Rains-  ;       '  •* 
 ford.     3d   6th  month,  J 
 
 John  Chappel,  of  Worle,  on  excomO 
 munication  for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  ',     ^ 
 Samuel  Willan,  prieft  of  Kewftoke.  f      '  ^ 
 1 1  th  month,  J 
 
 Robert  Wills,   of  ChifTelborough,    for  "J 
 tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  prieft  Gauler.  >  1676 
 25th    ill  month,  J 
 
 Thomas  Powel,   of  Grenton,  on  ex-T 
 
 communication  for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  \     -- 
 of  William    Powel,     impropriator.  \       ' 
 5th  month,  J 
 
 Eleanor  Powel,  his  wife,  for  tithes,  at  "J 
 
 the  fuit  of  prieft  Collier,  of  Grenton.  >  1676 
 15th  6th   month,  J 
 
 f  of  Ban  well,  for") 
 
 William  Goodridge,  |  tithes,  at  the  fuit  j 
 
 <[  of  Jacob  Crof-  ^1676 
 
 Samuel  Sayer,  |  man,prieftofthe  j 
 
 (_  fame.     5th  7ber,  J 
 
 Edmund  Chappel,  of  Worle,  for  tithes,  "J 
 at  the  fuit  of  prieft  Willan,  afore-  >  1 676 
 faid.     20th    11th  month,  J 
 
 John  Pople,  of  Edington,  for  tithes,  T 
 at  the  fuit  of  Henry  Bull,  impro-  >  1 677 
 priator,     28th   ift  month,  J 
 
 D  4  Thomas 
 
J 
 
 (  4°  ) 
 
 Thomas  Hurd,  of  Somerton,  for  tithes, 
 at  the  fuit  of  Henry  Crane,  tithe- 
 farmer.      13  cjber, 
 
 Thomas  Martin,  of  Chilthorn  Dormer, 
 for  tithes, at  the  fuit  of  JohnStuckey, 
 prieft.     4th    1 2th  month, 
 
 Henry  Gundry,  of  Street,  for  tithes, 
 on  juftice's  warrant,  for  contempt, 
 in   not   appearing    at    the    bifhop's  J>  1678 
 court,  at  the  fuit  of  Jofeph  Glanvil, 
 prieft  of  Bath,      nth  yber, 
 
 George  Allen,  of  "j  for  tithes,  on  pro- 
 Naylfey,  !  cefs  at  common  law, 
 
 Samuel  Hipiley,  ;  at  the  fuit  of  the  lord 
 of  Yatton,       J  Pawlet.    3d  month, 
 
 Peter  Hutchins,  of  Cheriton,  in  the 
 parifh  of  Horfmgton,  for  at  the 
 
 fuit  of  I  have  forgot  his  cafe, 
 
 on  excommunication 
 for  not  receiving  the 
 eucharift  as  alledged 
 }>  in  the  writ,  at  the  fuit  J»  1 679 
 
 John  Allen,  of  I  of  prieft  bands.    26th 
 Bridginton,       4th  month,  but  2  days 
 J  before  I  came  to  jail. 
 
 1 
 [  1679 
 
 Will.  Beaton,  of 
 Puddimoor, 
 
 After  I  was  brought  to  prifon,  I  was  kept 
 clofe  for  fome  time  in  the  ward,  as  aforefaid; 
 but  though  under  confinement,  it  was  a  fine 
 refrefhing  time  with  me  through  the  goodnefs 
 of  God,  who  was  near  us,  and  many  friends 
 came  to  vifit  us,  which  was  a  great  comfort  to 
 
 us: 
 
(     4'      ) 
 
 us ;  and  glad  I  was  when  I  could  have  the 
 liberty  to  go  to  the  meeting  at  the  friary  where 
 moft  friends  were,  and  where  meetings  were 
 kept.  But  not  long  after  I  came  to  prifon, 
 I  was  taken  ill  of  a  fever,  being  confined  from 
 the  frefh  air  in  the  heat  of  fummer,  fo  that  my 
 life  was  in  danger,  but  the  Lord  was  near  me; 
 and  J.  Anderfon,  a  friend  of  the  miniftry, 
 coming  to  fee  me,  told  me,  *  He  believed  the 
 f  Lord  would  raife  me  up  again,  for  a  further 
 -'  fervice  for  him,  as  accordingly  in  fome  time 
 the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  do,  for  which  my  foul 
 blefTed  and  praifed  his  holy  name,  for  his  love 
 and  mercy  to  me :  and  after  I  was  fomewhat 
 recoveredj  I  afked  the  keeper,  Edward  Davis, 
 for  a  little  liberty  to  go  forth  in  the  country, 
 to  take  the  frefh  air  for  my  health's  fake,  which 
 he  crofsly  denied,  faying,  I  mould  not  ftir  a 
 foot,  fuch  was  the  hardnefs  of  his  heart, 
 though  he  might  have  done  it  without  the  leaf! 
 injury;  fo  I  gave  up  myfelf  to  fuffer,  and  the 
 Lord  was  with  me  to  fupport  me  in  my  inno- 
 cent fuffering  for  his  name's  fake,  under  the 
 wrath  of  man,  fo  that  none  could  hurt  me 
 as  I  kept  my  eye  to  him, 
 
 This  Edward  Davis,  the  keeper,  formerly 
 profefled  truth,  but  apoitatizingfrom  it  through 
 the  corruption  of  his  own  heart,  he  became  ex- 
 ceeding wicked,  as  the  fequel  will  fliew;  in- 
 fomuch,  that  a  friend,  John  Dando,  afking 
 him,  '  what  he  thought  would  become  of  him 
 *  when  he  came  to  die;'  Edward  Davis  told 
 
 him, 
 
(       42       ) 
 
 him,  that  '  he  knew  what  would  become  of 
 c  him  then,  and  therefore  he  would  make  the 
 
 *  bed  of  his  time  now,'  and  that   '  he  knew 
 
 *  where  he  went  out,'   meaning  from  truth, 
 
 *  and  where  he  mull  come  in  again,  if  ever  he 
 
 *  was  faved;  and  if  he  thought  he  mould  never 
 
 *  return  again,  he  would  be  as  wicked  as  he 
 '  could ;'  but  he  never  returned,  but  grew 
 worfe  and  worfe,  and  at  lafl  died  miferable, 
 of  which  hereafter. 
 
 About  this  time,  died  Alice  Curwin,  wife 
 of  Thomas  Curwin,  of  Lancafhire,  a  faithful 
 fervant  and  handmaid  of  the  Lord,  who  tra- 
 velled much  in  the  fervice  of  truth,  and  fuf- 
 fered  for  it.  She  was  born  about  the  year 
 1620;  and  when  me  was  in  the  higheft  form 
 of  profeffion,  fhe  was  very  zealous  in  her  way; 
 but  when  the  truth  came,  fhe  was  ready  to 
 receive  it,  and  did,  with  great  joy  and 
 gladnefs  of  heart,  faying,  "  Now  Ihe  had 
 (i  found  him  whom  her  foul  loved,"  Cant.  iii. 
 3.  and  defired,  which  the  blind  watchmen 
 could  not  fee :  and  when  a  meafure  of  the 
 Spirit  of  Grace  was  manifefted  to  her,  and 
 poured  out  upon  her,  according  to  the  pro- 
 phecy of  Joel,  that  "  the  Lord  would  pour  out 
 "  his  Spirit  upon  all  flefh,"  &c.  Joel  ii.  28.  and 
 felt  the  operation  of  it  in  her  heart,  Ihe  gave  up 
 to  be  led  and  guided  by  it,  and  did  improve 
 her  talent,  fo  that  fhe  received  more,  and  had 
 a  teftimony  to  bear  for  the  Lord,  and  was  not 
 
 afhamed 
 
(     43     ) 
 
 afhamed  to  confefs  his  name  before  men,  being 
 often  brought  before  magistrates  and  rulers ; 
 and  was  call  into  prifon,  and  fet  in  the  ftocks, 
 and  brought  to  the  whipping-pott,  in  New- 
 England,  for  her  teftimony ;  and  had  great 
 exercife  with  the  priefts  of  this  and  other  na- 
 tions and  iflands  beyond  the  leas  ;  and  did  go 
 in  the  fear  and  dread  of  the  Lord,  to  feveral 
 priefts  and  fteeple-houfes  ;  and  the  Lord  was 
 with  her  in  all  her  trials  and  exercifes,  and 
 carried  her  through  all  her  travels  and  fuffer- 
 ings. 
 
 In  the  year  1 660,  hearing  of  the  great  tri- 
 bulations that  the  fervants  of  the  Lord  did 
 fufFer  at   Bofton  in  New-England,    of  cruel 
 whippings,   bonds  and  imprifonments ;    yea, 
 to  the  laying  down  of  their  lives ;  four  friends 
 being  put  to  death  there,viz.  William  Robinfon, 
 Marmaduke  Stevenfon,  William  Leddra,  and 
 Mary  Dyer,  for  their  teftimony  to  God's  blef- 
 fed  truth  againft  that  wicked  generation  :  at 
 the  hearing  of  their  patient  lufferings,    her 
 heart  was  broken  in  a  fenfe  of  the  goodnefs  of 
 the  Lord,  in  bearing  up  the  fpirits  of  them 
 that  truly  fear  him ;  and  it  was  faid,  in  the 
 fecret  of  her  heart,  that  fire  mould  travel   in 
 that  nation,  and  fee  that  bloody  town  of  Bof- 
 ton; at  which  her  heart  was  exceedingly  bro- 
 ken ;  and  fhe  cried  to  the  Lord,  what  fhould 
 become  of  her  little  children  and  her  poor  huf- 
 band,  who  was  then  a  prifoner  for  tithes,  and 
 mourned  many  days  in  a  fenfe  of  her  inability, 
 
 but 
 
(     44     ) 
 
 but  kept  it  to  herfelf,  not  knowing  but  the 
 Lord  might  try  her  whether  fhe  would  give 
 up  or  not ;  and  as  me  was  made  willing,  it 
 was  made  eafy,  and  the  burden  taken  away, 
 fo  that  me  thought  the  Lord  would  accept  her 
 willingneis ;  and  it  was  hid  from  her  for  a 
 feafon  ;  and  fhe  hid  the  word  of  the  Lord  in 
 her  heart,  until  it  was  as  a  fire  in  her  till  fhe 
 had  declared  it ;  and  then  fhe  told  it  to  her 
 hufband ;  and  that  the  Lord  would  deliver 
 him  out  of  prifon ;  and  that  they  mould  travel 
 thither  together,  to  bear  a  teftimony  to  God's 
 bleffed  truth  ;  fo  the  thing  refted  with  her 
 many  months  and  years,  in  which  time,  her 
 children  were  grown  up,  except  the  younger!, 
 which  the  Lord  took  from  her ;  and  her  huf- 
 band was  freed  out  of  prifon  :  and  then  it 
 opened  in  her,  that  the  time  was  come  that 
 me  might  no  longer  hide  it  in  her  heart,  but 
 make  it  known  to  friends  and  laboured  day 
 and  night  with  her  hufband  who  did  not  yet 
 fee  it  required  of  him,  but  gave  her  liberty, 
 which  was  hard,  becauie  it  was  fhewed  her 
 they  mould  go  together,  but  the  Lord  made 
 her  willing  to  leave  all ;  fo  me  went  on  her 
 journey  to  London,  and  after  fome  time,  with 
 friends  there,  made  preparations  to  go  to  fea, 
 and  having  gotten  her  things  on  fhipboard,  it 
 pleafed  the  Lord  to  fend  her  hufband  to  go 
 with  her;  fo  they  took  fhipping  together 
 in  the  year  1675,  and  were  13  weeks  in  their 
 paffage  to  Rhode  Ifland,  belonging  to  New- 
 England, 
 
(    45    ) 
 
 England,  where  all  were  in  an  uproar;  kill- 
 ing, burning,  and  murdering  ;  and  great  dif- 
 treis  was  upon  the  people's  minds;  fo  they  ftaid 
 a  few  days  there,  and  heard  of  a  new  law  made 
 at  Bolton,  againft  friends,   '  That  every  per- 
 '  fon  found  at  a  quaker's  meeting,  mould  be 
 *  fent  to  the  houfe  of  correction,  and  have  the 
 4  difcipline  of  the  houfe,  and  be  kept  to  work 
 '  with  bread  and  water  for  three  days,  &c* 
 Then  it  opened  in  them  that  they  muft  travel 
 thither,  and  break  in  upon  that  law ;  fo  they 
 travelled  through  the  woods  and  places,  where 
 the  devouring  Indians  had  made  great  defola- 
 tion ;  but  the  Lord  preferved  them  :  and  on 
 the  nrft  day,  they  had  a  meeting  with  friends 
 at  Bofton,  which  was  peaceable,  their  law  not 
 being  yet  publifhed;  and  after,  they  travelled 
 eaftward  near  ioo  miles,  and  vifited  friends, 
 and  fought  them  out  where  they  were  fcattered, 
 becaufe  of  the  Indian  wars,  as  far  as  the  Great 
 Ifland,  and  Pifcataway  River  and  Dover,  and 
 feveral  other  places ;  and  to  a  friend's  houfe 
 beyond  the  river,  where  many  people  were 
 <:ome  for  fafety  from  the  bloody  Indians  ;  and 
 had  feveral  meetings  with  them,  who  gladly- 
 received  their  teftimony,  it  being  a  time  of  dii- 
 trefs.    Then  they  returned,  viiiting  friends  all 
 along  till  they  came  to  Bofton  again,  where 
 their  law  being  now  publifhed,  the  conftable, 
 &c.  came  and  drove  them  out  of  their  meet- 
 ing, along  the  ftreet,  to  the  houfe  of  correc- 
 tion, and  thruft  them  in,  where  they  had  good 
 
 fervice 
 
(    46     ) 
 
 fervice  with  many  that  came  to  look  on  them; 
 and  fome  were  convinced,  it  being  a  time  of 
 great  tribulation  ;  their  hearts  failing  for  fear, 
 and  God's  witnefs  was  reached;  and  the  third 
 day  they  brought  them  to  the  whipping-pod, 
 but  the  prelence  of  the  Lord  was  with  them, 
 and  they  could  not  but  magnify  his  name,  and 
 declare  of  his  wondrous  work  at  that  time,  at 
 which  the  heathen  were  aftoniihed  and  fhook 
 their  heads ;  and  next  day  they  were  fet  at  li- 
 berty, and  went  to  meeting  again,  and  took 
 their  leave  of  friends,  and  went  to  Scituate, 
 Dukefbury  and  Sandwich,  vifiting  friends  till 
 they  came  to  Rhode  Ifland,  Shelter   Ifland, 
 Long  Ifland,    Oyfterbay,    Weftchefter,    and 
 Eaftchefter ;  Gravefend,  Jamaica,  IVIatumock, 
 New  York,  and  fome  parts  of  New  Jerfey,  fo 
 far  as  friends  did  inhabit ;  and  at  New  London, 
 Seabrook,  and  Milford,  on  the  main  land,  and 
 returned   to    the   yearly    meeting   at    Rhode 
 Ifland;  and  would  have  gone  to  Bermudas, 
 but  could  not,  but  got  a  palfage  to  Barbadoes; 
 and  after  fome  time  there,  returned  to  Lon- 
 don in  feven  weeks,  the  beginning  of  the  3d 
 month,  1677,  anc^  a^ter  f°me  t^me  there,  tra- 
 velled weftward  to  the  Land's-End,  and  after 
 that,eaftward;  and  at  laft  mefinifhedhercourfe, 
 and  died  fweetly  at  London  the  7th  of  the  6th 
 month,  1679,  about  60  years  of  age;  having 
 been  married  38,  leaving  behind  her,  a  rela- 
 tion of  her  labour,  travel  and  fuffering,  with 
 many  epiftles  and  papers, '  for  the  encourage- 
 ment, 
 
(    47     ) 
 
 merit/  as  me  fays,  '  of  them  that  may  hereaf- 
 ter truft  in  the  Lord.'     To  which  I  refer. 
 
 Not  long  after,  died  that  eminent  friend  and 
 minifter  of  Chrift,  Ifaac  Penington,  of  Buck- 
 inghamfhire,  who  was  well  defcended  as  to 
 worldly  parentage,  being  fon  to  Ifaac  Pen- 
 ington, alderman  of  London  ;  he  was  born 
 about  the  year  1616,  to  a  fair  inheritance,  and 
 had  all  the  advantages  the  fchools  and  univer- 
 fities  of  his  own  country  could  afford  him, 
 joined  with  the  converfation  of  fome  of  the 
 knowingeft  and  confiderableft  men  of  his  own 
 time.     His  father's  ftation  in  public  bufmefs, 
 gave  him  pretence  enough  to  a  fhare  of  the 
 world's  greatnefs;  but  with  Mofes,  he  refufed 
 the  Egyptian  glory  of  the  world,  and  chofe 
 rather  a  life  dedicated  to  an  inquiry  after  God, 
 and  fellovvfhip  with  him  and  his  defpifed  If- 
 rael :  from  his  childhood   he  was  religioufly 
 inclined,  and  fought  the  Lord  in  his  tender 
 years ;  and  very  early  did  the  Lord  vifit  him 
 with  a  more  than  ordinary  manifeftation  of 
 his  love.     His  inward  exercifes  and  enjoy- 
 ments,  being  of  a  very  peculiar  nature,   led 
 him  to  feparate  from  moft  religious  focieties, 
 and  walk  as  one  alone;  in  which  ftate  he  writ 
 feveral  notable  books  before  he  was  called  a 
 Quaker  ;  and  though  the  way  of  truth  was 
 not  then  fo  caft  up  unto  him  as  it  was  after, 
 yet  he   had  fome   touches  and  taftes  of  life, 
 and  great   openings   and   fights   of  heavenly 
 things ;    which  was    fometimes  fo  high  and 
 
 glorious, 
 
(    43     ) 
 
 glorious,  as  to  overcome  his  natural  fpirits,  that 
 he  befought  the  Lord  to  take  that  from  him 
 which  he  was  not  able  to  bear ;  and  give  him 
 fuch  a  portion  of  his  light  and  prefence,  as  was 
 fuitable  to  his  prefent  ftate;  whereupon  it  was 
 prefently  removed  from  him,  yet  a  favour  re- 
 mained with  him;  and  albeit,  at  the  firft  ma- 
 nifestation of  truth  unto  him,  he  was  not 
 without  doubts  and  jealoufies  concerning  it, 
 looking  on  it  as  a  low  appearance,  and  its  fol- 
 lowers, as  defpicable;  yet  when  the  Lord  had 
 broken  in  upon  him,  and  mattered  him  as  to 
 his  former  profeffion  and  attainments,  fo  that 
 he  came  to  fuffer  the  lofs  of  all,  and  was  left 
 in  great  poverty  and  diftrefs  ;  he  then  bowed 
 down  to  receive  the  truth  as  his  chiefeft  joy 
 and  crown,  and  went  under  great  exercife  in- 
 wardly, till  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  relieve 
 him  by  the  miniftry  of  his  defpifed  people, 
 about  the  year  1658,  and  renewed  a  freih 
 vilitation  of  life  in  him,  to  his  great  comfort 
 and  confirmation  in  the  truth ;  and  as  he  grew 
 in  it,  he  came  to  receive  a  teftimony  to  bear  for 
 it,  in  much  zeal  and  tendernefs  for  the  good 
 of  others;  and  wrote  many  ferious,  folid  and 
 experimental  treatifes  for  promoting  the  truth, 
 and  informing  the  minds  of  people,  efpecially 
 profeffors,  whom  he  was  much  drawn  forth 
 towards,  for  the  opening  their  understandings, 
 that  they  might  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
 truth  as  he  had  done,  and  be  faved.  He 
 dwelt  at  Peter's  Chalfont,  in  Buckinghamshire ; 
 
 and 
 
(    49    ) 
 
 and  kept  meetings  at  his  houfe  in  early  times, 
 and  was  very  ferviceable,  and  a  help  and 
 ftrength  to  many;  but  his  father  having  been 
 one  of  king  Charles's  judges,  his  eftate  was 
 taken  from  him,  except  what  he  had  by  his 
 wife,  who  was  Sir  Wm.  Springett's  widow,  and 
 mother  to  Gulielma  Penn.  He  afterwards  dwelt 
 at  Amerfham,  and  after  that  at  Woodfide,  by 
 Amerfham  common,  in  the  fame  parilh. 
 
 He  fuffered  imprifonment  for  his  teftimony, 
 fix  times.     Firft,  at  Aylefbury,  in  1 66 1  and 
 62,  for  meeting  to  worfhip  God  in  his  own 
 houfe  ;  and  was  kept  1 7  weeks,  moft  part  in 
 winter,  in  a  cold  and  incommodious  roomwith- 
 out  a  chimney,  fo  that  he  contracted  fo  great 
 a  cold,  that  he  could  not  turn  in  his  bed  for 
 feveral  weeks  after.    Second,  in  the  year  1 664, 
 being  taken  out  of  a  peaceable  meeting,  and 
 fent.   to  Aylefbury  gaol,  where   he  again  re- 
 mained between  1 7  and  1  8  weeks.     Third,  in 
 the  year  1665;  being  taken  up  with  others  in 
 the  ftreet  at  Amerfham,  as  they  were  carry- 
 ing and  accompanying  the  body  of  a  deceafed 
 friend    to    the    grave,     and    fent    again    to 
 Aylefbury  gaol;  but   this  commitment,  being 
 in  order   to    baniihment,    was    but   about    a 
 month.    Fourth  imprifonment  about  a  month 
 after  his  releafe:  a  rude  foldier  came  to  his 
 houfe,  without  any  warrant  but  his  fword, 
 and  told  him,  he  came  to  fetch  him  before  Sir 
 Philip  Palmer,  one  of  the  deputy  lieutenants 
 pf  the  county;  he  meek.y  went,  and  was  by 
 
 E  him 
 
(     SO     ) 
 
 him  fent  with  a  guard  of  foldiers  to  Aylefbury 
 gaol,  to  be  kept  in  fafe  cuftody,  during  the 
 pleafure  of  the  Earl  of  Bridgwater,  who  had 
 conceived  fuch  difpleafure  againft  him,  that 
 though  the  plague,  it  being  the  ficknefs  year, 
 was  fufpected  to  be  in  the  gaol,  he  would  not 
 be  prevailed  with  at  the  earneft  defire  of  a 
 perfon  of  quality  and  power  in  the  county, 
 to  but  permit  Ifaac  to  be  at  another  houfe  in 
 the  town,  till  the  gaol  was  clear;  but  a  prifoner 
 dying  in  the  gaol  of  the  plague,  the  keeper's 
 wife,  in  her  hufband's  abfence,  permitted  him 
 to  remove  to  another  houfe,  where  he  was 
 fhut  up  fix  weeks,  till  by  the  procurement  of 
 the  Earl  of  Antrim,  a  releafe  was  fent  from 
 the  faid  Philip  Palmer,  after  he  had  fuffered 
 three  quarters  of  a  year  with  hazard  of  his  life. 
 Fifth,  but  by  that  time  he  had  been  at  home 
 about  three  weeks,  a  party  of  foldiers  from  the 
 faid  Philip  Palmer,  by  order  of  the  Earl  of 
 Bridgwater,  as  reported,  came  to  his  houfe 
 and  feizing  him  in  bed,  carried  him  to 
 Aylefbury  gaol  again,  where  without  any  caufe 
 fhewn,  he  was  kept  in  prifon  a  year  and  a  half, 
 In  rooms  fo  cold,  damp,  and  unhealthy,  that  it 
 nearly  coft  him  his  life,  getting  fo  great  a  dif- 
 temper,  that  he  lay  weak  feveral  months :  at 
 laft,  a  relation  of  his  wife's,  by  habeas  corpusy 
 removed  him  to  the  King's  Bench-bar,  where 
 with  wonder  that  he  mould  be  kept  fo  long 
 for  nothing,  he  was  difcharged  in  1 668.  Sixth, 
 in  the  year  1670,  in  Reading  gaol,  whether 
 
 he 
 
(     5i     ) 
 
 he  went  to  vifit  his  friends  who  were  prifoners 
 there  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus ;  of  which 
 William  Armorer,  juftice,  (fo  called)  the  great 
 perfecutor,  having  notice,  forthwith  fent  for 
 him,  and  fent  him  to  gaol,  whereby  he  became 
 a  fufferer  with  the  fufFerers  whom  he  went  to 
 vifit :  here  he  continued  prifoner  a  year  and 
 three  quarters,  and  was  brought  under  the 
 fentence  of  praemunire;  but  at  length  the  Lord 
 delivered  him. 
 
 Thus  through  many  tribulations  did  he  en- 
 ter the  kingdom,  having  been  exercifed,  tried, 
 proved  and  approved  of  the  Lord.  At  laft, 
 going  with  his  wife  into  Kent  among  her 
 tenants,  he  was  taken  ill  at  one  of  her  farms 
 called  Goodneftone  Court,  and  there  died  the 
 8th  of  the  8th  month,  1679,  in  the  63d  year 
 of  his  age.  His  body  was  conveyed  to  Lon- 
 don, thence  to  his  own  houfe  in  Buckingham- 
 mire,  and  fo  to  the  burying-place  at  Jordans, 
 the  meeting  he  belonged  to,  where  he  was 
 interred  ;  leaving  behind  him  a  forrowful 
 widow,  but  a  ferious  folid  woman,  three  fons, 
 and  one  daughter,  fmce  married  to  Daniel 
 Wharley :  much  might  be  faid  of  him,  but 
 there  being  a  large  account  given  of  him  in  the 
 teftimonies  of  feveral  friends  prefixed  to  his 
 works  in  folio,  pr.  1681,  I  refer  thereto. 
 
 About  this  time  friends  were  exercifed  with 
 
 a  dividing  oppofite  fpirit  that  appeared  abroad 
 
 in  fome  libertine  perfons  among  them,  to  op- 
 
 pofe  and  lay  wafte  the  good  order  of  truth 
 
 E  2  eftablifhed 
 
(       S2       ) 
 
 eftabliihed  in  the  church  ;  being  unfaithful  ta 
 the  teftimony  of  truth  in  themfelves  ;  which 
 when  friends  dealt  with  them  and  cenfured 
 them  for,  they  for  a  colour  cried  out  againft 
 forms  and  impofitions,  faying,  '  What    haft 
 
 *  thou  to  do  to  judge  me  ?  Let  me  ftand  or 
 
 *  fall  by  my  own  matter.'  It  began  in  Weft- 
 moreland,  but  fpread  fouthward ;  particularly  in 
 Wiltihire,  but  not  much  in  our  country,  only 
 fome  of  them  would  come  among  us  fome- 
 times,  and  prove  an  exercife  to  friends  in 
 meetings.  Whereupon,  the  id  of  the  12th 
 month  this  year,  being  the  firft  day  of  the 
 week  at  night,  as  I  lay  upon  my  bed,  waiting 
 on  the  Lord  in  my  prifon  chamber,  I  had  an 
 opening  in  my  mind  concerning  them,  and 
 the  nature  and  tendency  of  that  feparate  fpirrt 
 which  was  entering  among  fome  profefling 
 truth,  I  wrote  a  fheet  of  paper  about  it,  to 
 fhew  the  groundlefnefs  of  their  pretences, 
 called,  *  A  fhort  Teftimony  to  all  whom  it  may 
 
 *  concern,'  &c.  fhewing,  that  fome  being  de- 
 parted from  the  fpirit  of  truth  in  their  own 
 particulars,  are  found  in  oppofition  againft  the 
 power  thereof  in  them  in  whom  it  is  made 
 manifeft ;  and  fo  being  gone  from  the  judg- 
 ment of  truth  in  their  own  hearts,  they  are 
 afraid  to  fubmit  unto  it  in  others,  and  therefore 
 will  not  own  or  join  with  the  judgment  of  the 
 Spirit  of  God  in  his  church,  and  among  the 
 faithful  friends  and  brethren.  And  this  is  the 
 caufe  of  the  oppofition  that  hath  of  late  hap- 
 pened, 
 
(    S3     ) 
 
 J>ened  in  fome,  becaufe  they  are  gone  from 
 the  truth  in  their  own  particulars,  in  which 
 the  unity  ftandeth;  for  they  that  keep  to  truth 
 in  their  own  hearts,  will  never  oppofe  it  in 
 others;  for  they  being  in  unity  with  the  Spirit 
 of  truth  in  themfelves,  they  can  never  oppofe 
 the  work  thereof,  but  will  have  unity  with  it, 
 in  whomfoever  it  is  made  manifeft.  And  again^ 
 they  that  own  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  in 
 their  own  hearts^  and  bring  all  their  deeds  to 
 the  light,  that  they  may  be  approved  in  the 
 light  of  God,  and  hide  nothing  in  their  own 
 particulars  that  is  contrary  to  the  truth,  fuch 
 will  never  be  afraid  to  ftand  to  the  judgment 
 which  the  Lord  hath  given  to  his  church  ac- 
 cording to  the  Spirit  of  truth  and  difcerning, 
 that  is  therein  among  the  faithful  brethren  * 
 but  will  own  it,  and  be  ready  to  join  with  it, 
 and  fubmit  unto  it,  whether  it  be  in  judgment, 
 reproof,  admonition,  inftru&ion  or  exhorta- 
 tion; for,  'the  fpirits  of  the  prophets  are  fub- 
 4  ject  to  the  prophets,'  &c« — With  much  more, 
 anfwering  their  objections  againft  judging  one 
 another;  and  their  plea  for  being  left  to  their 
 liberty, &c.  which  I  fhewed  to  Jo.  Anderdon* 
 a  friend  of  the  miniftry,  a  prifoner  at  the  Friary; 
 and  Wm.  Gibfon,  of  London,  coming  to  vilit 
 us,  I  read  it  to  him,  who  both  approved  of  it  t 
 and  I  gave  out  fome  copies  of  it,  but  it  never 
 was  printed. 
 
 E  3  About 
 
(    £4    ) 
 
 About  the  25th  of  the  ift  month  following^ 
 I  was  removed  from  the  ward,  or  Old  Nun- 
 nery, to  the  Friary,  a  great  houfe  at  the  other 
 end  of  the  town,  where  were  many  friends 
 prifoners  as  aforefaid ;  and  a  very  fine  com- 
 fortable time  we  had  together;  and  in  the  great 
 hall  there,  ufed  to  keep  our  meetings,  efpeci- 
 ally  on  firft  days :  and  many  brave  meetings 
 we  had  there;  many  friends  coming  out  of 
 the  country  to  it;  and  mod  publick  friends  that 
 came  that  wTay,  and  fome  on  purpofe,  coming 
 to  vifit  us.  And  after  I  had  the  liberty  of  the 
 town,  I  ufed  often,  and  delighted  much  to  walk 
 in  the  fields,  (which  I  never  knew  the  comfort 
 of  fo  much  before,  not  having  been  debarred 
 the  liberty  of  them)  to  read  and  meditate,  for 
 fome  hours  together,  which  I  was  pretty  much 
 given  to,  and  much  comforted  in ;  and  the 
 Lord  was  pleafed  in  his  infinite  love  to  my 
 foul,  often  to  appear  in  a  wonderful  manner  to 
 me,  and  overfhadow  me  with  his  prefence,  to 
 my  exceeding  joy  and  comfort ;  one  time  ef- 
 pecially,  which  I  ihall  never  forget :  as  I  was 
 walking  in  the  fields  in  a  deep  meditation,  the 
 influence  of  his  divine  prefence  fo  overfhadow- 
 ed  me,  as  if  the  heavens  had  been  open  to  me ; 
 that  I  was,  as  if  I  had  been  almoft  taken  out  of 
 myfelf.  To  God's  glory  I  fpeak  it,  and  for 
 the  encouragement  of  others  to  feek  the  Lord, 
 not  to  exalt  felf,  but  that  all  rlefh  may  be  aba- 
 fed,  and  the  Lord  alone  exalted,  whofe  name 
 I  extol  and  magnify  for  all  his  mercies  and 
 
 wondrous- 
 
I     55     ) 
 
 Wondrous  dealings  towards  me,  beyond  my 
 defert;  who  am  not  worthy  of  the  lead:  of  all 
 his  mercies,  which  I  cannot  but  commemo- 
 rate ;  and  whofe  power  and  goodnefs  I  defire 
 For  ever  to  adore  and  walk  worthy  of:  and 
 which  extraordinary  appearance,  I  took  as  a 
 fpecial  favour,  and  token  of  his  owning  me 
 in  my  innocent  fuffering  for  his  caufe  and 
 name's-fake  ;  fo  that  my  imprifonment  was 
 made  plealant  to  me,  becaufe  of  his  prefence 
 which  was  with  me :  and  as  it  was  a  token  to 
 us  of  falvation,  fo  to  our  adverfaries  of  per- 
 dition ;  for  as  it  was  light  in  our  dwellings, 
 fo  it  was  dark  in  that  of  our  enemies,  that  we 
 had  no  caufe  of  being  difcouraged,  nor  they 
 of  triumphing;  and  furely  may  I  fay,  as  it  was 
 of  old,  "  Ifrael,  was  then  holinefs  unto  the 
 "  Lord,  and  the  firft  fruits  of  his  increafe;"  as 
 it  was  faid  of  outward  Ifrael,  when  the  Lord 
 remembered  him,  "  the  kindnefs  of  his  youth, 
 "  the  love  of  his  efpoufals,  when  he  followed 
 "  the  Lord  in  the  wildernefs,  in  a  land  that 
 "  was  not  fown."  Jer.  ii.  2. 
 
 We  had  alfo,  belonging  to  the  Friary,  a 
 large  orchard  of  about  four  acres,  walled 
 about,  where  we  ufed  to  walk,  and  where 
 I  had  many  a  folitary,  as  well  as  comfortable 
 feafon  of  retirement,  by  myfelf.  And  about 
 this  time  came  abroad  George  Keith's  books 
 of  *  Immediate  Revelation  :  The  Univerfal 
 4  Free  Grace  of  the  Gofpel  alferted :  The  Way 
 8  to  the  City  of  God:  The  Way  call  up,'  &c« 
 E  4  and 
 
(    56    ) 
 
 and  Robert  Barclay's   moft   excellent  c  Apo- 
 
 *  logy  for  the  true  Chriftian  Divinity,'  &c. 
 which  I  was  often  very  much  comforted  in  the 
 reading  of. 
 
 The  beginning  of  the  3d  month  this  year, 
 1680,  one  George  Ruflfel,  of  Burlifcomb,  in 
 Devonfhire,  an  honeft  innocent  man,  died  a 
 prifoner  at  Exeter,  for  his  teftimony  againft 
 tithes,  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age.  See  the 
 teftimony  concerning  him,  by  Robert  Welch 
 another  prifoner. 
 
 This  year  died  our  dear  friend  Richard 
 Samble,  that  faithful  fervant  of  God,  and 
 rninifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  of  whom  I  cannot  but 
 ma'  e  honourable  mention  for  his  teftimony 's 
 fake.  He  was  born  at  Penhall,  in  the  parifh 
 of  Enoder,  in  Cornwall,  and  baptized  accord- 
 ing to  the  manner  of  the  church  of  England, 
 the  24th  of  the  5th  month,  1644,  and  edu- 
 cated according  to  his  degree  in  the  Proteftant 
 religion,  in  which  he  walked  in  the  days  of 
 his  youth,  feeking  the  Lord  with  earneft 
 breathings  and  cries  to  him,  being  fenfible  of 
 fomethlng  in  him  that  manifefted  fin,  and  kept 
 him  from  fome  evils ;  but  knew  not  what  it 
 was,  till  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  call  him  by 
 his  grace,  and  reveal  his  Son  in  him,  and  then 
 he  faw  it  was  the  '  light  of  Lhrift  which  mined 
 
 *  in  darknefs,  though  the  darknefs  compre- 
 
 *  hended  it  not;'  John  i.  5.  and  came  to  the 
 knowledge  of  the  truth,  about  the  year  1666, 
 at  which  time  the  Lord  fent  fome  of  his  mef- 
 
 fengers 
 
(     SI     ) 
 
 fengers  into  thofe  parts,  to  make  known  the 
 way  of  falvation,  and  turn  people  from  dark- 
 nefs  to  light,  &c.  whofe  teftimony  he  received 
 and  clofed  with;  and  like  Ephraim  did  lament 
 his  mif-fpent  time,  under  a  form  of  godlinefs, 
 without  the  power  of  it,  faying,  '  what  have 
 *  I  to  do  any  more  with  idols  ?'  And  did  then 
 join  himfelf  to  the  Lord  and  his  people,  as  in 
 a  perpetual  covenant  never  to  be  broken ;  and 
 in  humility  fat  down  in  filence  in  the  affem- 
 blies  of  God's  people  for  feveral  years,  in 
 tendernefs,  fear  and  trembling;  waiting  upon 
 the  Lord  for  wifdom,  till  his  heart  was  filled 
 with  the  power  of  the  Lord,  like  a  veffel  with 
 new  wine  ;  he  would  break  forth  fome- 
 times  with  a  few  fentences,  which  increafed 
 by  degrees  till  he  had  a  large  and  living  tefti- 
 mony, improving  his  gift  with  great  diligence: 
 and  for  about  fix  or  feven  years,  he  travelled 
 much  in  England  and  Wales,  and  was  well 
 received  from  the  evidence  and  demonftration 
 of  the  Spirit  and  power  of  God  that  attended 
 his  teftimony,  to  the  comfort  and  confirmation 
 of  many  in  the  truth  ;  and  at  his  return,  fell 
 diligently  to  his  trade,  being  that  of  a  taylor, 
 for  the  fupport  of  his  family,  though  he  was 
 much  drawn  forth  to  travel ;  miffing  no  op- 
 portunity, as  he  fays,  where  he  faw  life's  way 
 clearly  open  before  him,  knowing  his  time  was 
 but  fhort;  giving  up  himfelf,  though  fomeUmes 
 in  weakncis,  to  fpend  and  be  ipent  for  the 
 gofpel's  fake  ;  and  was  as  careful  of  his  time, 
 
 as 
 
(     58     ) 
 
 as  if  lie  had  feen  the  fhadows  of  the  evening 
 flretched  out. 
 
 He  writ  many  fweet  epiftles  to  friends  :  in 
 the  firft  of  which,  he  commemorates  the  good- 
 nefs  of  the  Lord  in  vifiting  them  when  they 
 were  in  darknefs,  and  in  a  ftate  of  feparation 
 from  God  ;  in  a  fenfe  of  which,  they  went 
 mourning  without  the  fun  ;  their  candle  did 
 not  mine,  their  day  was  not  dawned,  they 
 were  fhut  up  as  in  the  night  of  apoftacy, 
 where  God  is  forgotten,  and  his  wondrous 
 works  not  known.  '  Can  a  remnant,'  fays  he, 
 forget  the  Lord,  who  appeared  to  their 
 comfort  in  the  time  of  grief  and  defperate 
 forrow,  who  were  like  the  doves  of  the  val- 
 ley, every  one  mourning  for  the  lofs  of  his 
 beloved;  crying  out  in  the  night,  becaufe  of 
 fears,  and  in  the  day  time  very  heavy ;  and 
 the  countenance  and  beauty  paffed  away ; 
 and  the  fun  as  it  were  went  down  at  noon. 
 And  as  we  confidered  the  blelfed  eftate  of  the 
 church  iii  time  paft,  and  the  foul  fatisfacxion 
 which  they  enjoyed,  when  they  did  eat 
 their  bread  with  joy  and  fmglenefs  of  heart. 
 They  were  like  them  of  old,  "that  wept  when 
 they  remembered  Sion,  hanging  their  harps 
 upon  the  willows  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon  ; 
 and  could  not  fing  the  Lord's  fong  in  a 
 ftrange  land;"  and  ready  to  fay,  "  they 
 mould  not  fee  the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord  in 
 the  land  of  the  living."  Pfal.  cxxxvii.  I,  2, 
 &c.  xxvii.  13.  But  the  Lord  cauied  his  day 
 
 to 
 
(    59    ) 
 
 4  to  dawn,  and  the  Son  of  his  eternal  love  to 
 '  arife,'   &c. 
 
 I  knew  him  from  his  nrft  coming  forth, 
 and  was  affected  with  his  miniftry  in  my 
 young  days ;  having  as  fweet  a  teftimony  as 
 any  that  ever  came  out  of  the  weft.  He  was 
 often  in  our  country^  and  came  through  Ivel- 
 chefter  once  after  I  was  a  prifoner:  and  about 
 the  beginning  of  the  ift  month,  1680,  in  his 
 travels  from  meeting  to  meeting,  he  was  taken 
 fick  at  Pool,  in  Dorfetfhire,  from  whence  he 
 wrote  a  confolatory  epiftle  to  friends  in  Corn- 
 wall, to  comfort  them  in  relation  to  his  de- 
 parture; being  likely  as  to  the  outward,  as  he 
 faid,  to  fee  their  faces  no  more,  faying,  '  I  fend 
 
 *  this  falutation  as  though  it  was  my  laft  unto 
 4  you  ;  wherein  I  take  my  leave  of  you  in  the 
 1  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  defiring  you  may  all  obey 
 
 *  the  truth,  and  live  and  die  in  it ;  and  the 
 
 *  many  fweet  and  heavenly  opportunities 
 '  which  my  foul  hath  had  with  you,  is  frelh 
 '  in  my  remembrance:  and  now  dear  friends, 
 c  my  body  grows  very  weak,  but  my  foul  is 
 '  ftrong  in  the   Lord,   who  hath  greatly  re- 
 
 *  newed  the  lafting  feal  of  his  love  unto  my 
 
 *  foul  this  morning.      O  how  could   I  ileep 
 
 *  when  my  heart  was  fo  awakened  into  the 
 4  bleffed  fenfe  of  my  acquaintance  with  the 
 '  Lord,  who  founded  through  my  habitation, 
 ■  that  "  my  name  ihould  not  be  blotted  out 
 "  of  the  book  of  life  and  of  the  holy  city,  the 
 "  heavenly  Jerufaleni,    whofe  foundation   is 
 
 "  rail 
 
(    60    ) 
 
 e  full  of  precious  ftones,  the  river  of  water 
 6  of  life  flows,  where  the  gates  are  not  fhut 
 •  at  all  by  day,  neither  is  any  night  there :" 
 which  when  my  foul  heard,  my  heart  was 
 dilfolved  and  broken  within  me ;  and  my 
 head  was  as  it  were  turned  into  waters,  and 
 mine  eyes  gufhed  out  with  tears,  in  the  con- 
 fideration  of  the  endlefs  love  of  God  to  fuch 
 a  poor  creature  as  I. — The  Lord  hath  been 
 pleafed  to  make  this  fick  bed   unto  me  bet- 
 ter than  a  king's  palace;  and  I  have  great 
 fellowfhip  with  my  laft  day,  and  do  rejoice 
 in  the  Lord,  who  doth  fo  fweetly  vifit  me 
 with  the  glorious  light  of  his  countenance. 
 It  is  with  me  as  with  one  who  has  travelled 
 many  weary  journies,  and  at  laft  hath  come 
 to  the  fight  of  his  defired  end ;  which  when 
 he  fees,  greatly  rejoices  in  a  fenfe  of  a  further 
 fatisfattion  which  he  fhall  after  enjoy. — I 
 know  when  this  comes  to  your  hands,  there 
 will  be  no  want  of  forrow;  but  I  truft  in  my 
 God,  that  both  my  dear  wife  and  you  will 
 be  fo  endued  with  the  power  and  prefence  of 
 the  Lord,  that  if  you  mould  hear  of  my  go- 
 ing hence,   that  you  will  conclude  as  be- 
 comes true  Chriftians,  that  you  muft  come 
 to  me,  and  that  I  cannot  come  to  you.'  With 
 much  more. 
 
 But  after  fix  or  {even  weeks,  having  re- 
 covered a  little  ftrength,  he  was  defirous  to  re- 
 turn home  to  his  wife  and  children,  relations 
 and  friends  in  Cornwall ;  and  in  order  thereto, 
 
 travelled, 
 
(    6x    ) 
 
 travelled,  though  weak,  to  Topfham,  where 
 he  was  kindly  received  and  entertained  ;  and 
 after  a  few  days  reft  there,  travelled  about  ten 
 miles  further  weftward,  to  a  place  called  Clam- 
 pet,  near  Moreton,  in  Devonfhire,  where  he 
 fell  into  a  relapfe.  His  wife  came  to  him,  and 
 the  15th  of  the  3d  month,  1680,  he  finifhed 
 his  teftimony,  and  flept  with  his  fathers  in  the 
 36th  year  of  his  age,  and  is  entered  into  reft 
 from  his  labours,  and  his  works  follow  him, 
 having  left  a  fweet  favour  behind  him.  His 
 body  was  accompanied  by  many  friends,  about 
 24  miles  through  the  country  to  Kingfbridge, 
 and  there  buried  the  1 8th  of  the  fame.  He 
 was  a  man  worthy  of  commendation  many 
 ways;  but  my  bufiuefs  is  not  fo  much  to  write 
 encomiums,  as  to  give  account  of  matters  of 
 fact.  See  his  works  :  '  A  Handful  after  the 
 '  Harveft-man,'  &c.  And  the  Teftimonies 
 concerning  him,  in  410,  1684. 
 
 About  this  time,  I  happened  into  fome  dif- 
 courfe  with  one  Walter  Singer,  a  Prefbyterian 
 in  the  town,  envious  enough  againft  truth, 
 who  oppofed  us  in  feveral  points  of  principles 
 and  practice ;  and  to  confirm  his  oppofition 
 the  more,  produced  John  Faldo's  book,  falfly 
 called  '  Quakerifm  no  Chriftianity ;'  whereas 
 it  mould  have  been, '  Forgery  no  Chriftianity;* 
 which  he  offered  to  lend  me,  I  having  never 
 feen  it  before :  and  though  I  anfwered  all  his 
 objections,  as  it  then  arofe  in  my  mind  accords 
 |ng  to  the  understanding  the  Lord  was  pleafed 
 
(       62       ) 
 
 to  give  me,  as  the  apoftle  advifed,  i  Pet.  iii.  15. 
 yet  afterwards  in  a  fenfe  of  their  oppofition. 
 againft  the  truth,  I  wrote  my  mind  fuller  on 
 each   head,  in  a  book  intitled,  '  A  Threefold 
 
 *  Apology  for  the  People  of  God,  called 
 1  Quakers,  in  vindication  of  their  principles 
 
 *  and  practices,  againft  all  their  oppofers/ 
 directed  to  him  the  faid  W.  S.  The  firft  part, 
 an  account  of  fome  particular  things  that  parted 
 in  cjifcourfe  between  me  and  him,  containing 
 feven  fettions. 
 
 §.  1.  Concerning  Chriftianity;  and  moral-* 
 ity,  as  being  a  part  of  it. 
 
 §.  2.  Concerning  the  fcriptures  being  the 
 word  of  God  and  only  rule, 
 
 §.  3.  Concerning  tithes  under  the  law,  and 
 how  they  came  to  be  introduced  under  the 
 gofpel. 
 
 §.  4.  Concerning  justification  by  Chrift 
 and  his  righteoufnefs,  &c. 
 
 §.  5.  Concerning  good  works,  and  the  ne^ 
 ceffity  thereof  to  falvation,  though  not  meri- 
 torious. 
 
 §.  6.  Concerning  the  infallibility  of  the 
 Spirit's  guidance,  perfection,  or  freedom  from 
 fin  in  this  life. 
 
 §.  7.  The  conclufion, c  concerning  the  light 
 
 *  within,  which   enlightens  every  man  that 
 
 *  cometh  into  the  world.'     John  i.  9. 
 
 The  fecond  part,  by  occafion  of  John 
 Faldo's  book,  '  A  teftimony  for  the  truth  and 
 
 *  and  its  followers,    againft  all  the  oppofers 
 
 *  therepf3* 
 
(  &  ) 
 
 *  thereof/  wherein  the  priefts  and  profeflbrs, 
 particularly  the  Prefbyterians  and  Indepen- 
 dents deceit,  apoftacy,  and  perfecutions  are 
 difcovered ;  who  fought  for,  and  promifed  h% 
 berty  of  confcience,  yet  denied  it  to  others, 
 and  broke  their  oaths  and  engagements ;  their 
 enmity  and  oppofition  againft  the  truth  mani- 
 felled,  the  fufferings  of  the  people  of  God  de- 
 clared, and  their  innocency  cleared  from  all 
 their  enemies,  to  their  confufion,  except  they 
 repent;  in  divers  inftances,  &c. 
 
 The  third  part,  A  brief  anfwer  to  the  heads 
 of  John  Faldo's  book,  though  William  Penn 
 had  anfwered  it  before,  in  a  book  intitled, 
 4  Quakerifm  a  new  nick-name  for  old  Chri- 
 4  ftianity ;'  which  I  had  not  feen,  that  I 
 remember  at  that  time,  to  repel  his  charges, 
 and  refute  his  cavils :  in  which  the  principles 
 of  truth  are  briefly  defended  againft  its  adver- 
 faries  ;  whofe  injuftice  is  therein  Ihewn,  and 
 their  enmity,  againft  the  profperity  thereof, 
 reproved,  and  a  judgment  thereupon  given, 
 according  to  the  underftanding  the  Lord  was 
 pleafed  to  give  me. 
 
 To  which  is  added  an  appendix,  giving  ac- 
 count of  fome  other  things  which  pafted  in 
 fome  further  difcourfe  between  me  and  the 
 aforefaid  perfon  W.  Singer,  viz.  '  Concerning 
 4  perfecution  for  confcience;  the  fcriptures 
 4  of  truth,  and  the  word  of  God;  baptifm; 
 4  Chrift,  and  his  light  and  fpirit  in  the  inward 
 4  parts;  the  refurre&ion,'  &c. 
 
 The- 
 
(    «4     ) 
 
 The  third  fe&ion  of  the  firft  part  concern- 
 ing tithes,  being  fuitable  to  the  prefent  fubject, 
 I  fhould  have  defired  to  infert  here,  but  that 
 the  fubftance  of  it  is  more  at  large  in  my  let- 
 ter to  my  adverfary,  Edward  Ancketyll,  here- 
 after. 
 
 This  year,  1680,  our  friends  Geo.Whitehead 
 and  Thomas  Burr,  being  at  a  meeting  at  Nor- 
 wich, in  the  1  ft  month,  were  taken  out  of  the 
 meeting,  and  committed  to  prifon  there  till  the 
 feflions  in  the  2d  month;  then  tried  and  the 
 oath  of  allegiance  tendered  to  them,  and  for 
 refufing  to  take  it,  were  committed  to  prifon 
 again  till  the  feflions  in  the  5th  month;  and 
 then  none  appearing  againft  them,  they  were 
 difcharged.  There  is  a  large  account  of  the  pro- 
 ceedings againft  them,  and  arguings  of  law  in 
 the  cafe,  in  a  printed  book  intitled,  *  Due 
 *  order  of  law  and  juftice  pleaded,  againft  n> 
 1  regular  and  arbitrary  proceedings/  &c. 
 
 Samuel  Cater,  of  Littleport,  in  the  ifle  of 
 Ely,  profecuted  in  the  bifnop's  court  for  not 
 conforming,  was  excommunicated  and  impri- 
 foned  at  Ely,  in  the  3d  month,  for  not  taking 
 the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the  writ  de  ex- 
 communicato capiendo  was  afterwards  brought 
 againft  him. 
 
 John  Gratton,  of  Moneyafh,  in  Derbyfhire, 
 imprifoned  at  Darby,  on  a  writ  de  excommu- 
 nicato capiendo,  for  not  coming  to  the  parifh 
 church,  fo  called^  the  16th  of  the  6th  month, 
 1680. 
 
 Thomas 
 
(    65    ) 
 
 Thomas  Camm,  of  Camfgill,  in  Weftmore- 
 Iand,  was  imprifoned  at  Appleby,  with  abund- 
 ance more,to  the  number  of  near  190  prifoners, 
 in  the  feveral  gaols  of  England,  about  this 
 time,  on  excommunications  out  of  the  bifhop's 
 courts,  as  by  '  a  particular  accountof  the  late 
 
 *  and  prefent  great  fufferings  and  oppreffions 
 '  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  upon  profecuti- 
 
 *  ons  againft  them  in  the  bifhop's  court,'  print- 
 ed this  year,  may  appear ;  beiides,  on  other 
 procefs  for  tithes  and  the  oath,  and  for  meet- 
 ings, befides  the  fpoil  and  havock  on  the  con- 
 venticle act,  too  numerous  to  recount. 
 
 In  the  6th  month  this  year,  1680, came  down 
 the  duke  of  Monmouth,  in  his  progrefs  in  the 
 weft,  and  came  through  Ivelchefter,  with  fome 
 thoufands  on  horfeback  attending  him ;  the 
 country  nocking  to  him,  and  after  him,  the 
 eyes  of  the  nation  being  towards  him,  as 
 the  hopes  and  head  of  the  proteftant  intereft 
 at  that  time,  in  oppofition  to  the  duke  of 
 York  and  the  Popifh  party ;  fo  that  the  affec- 
 tions of  the  people  run  exceedingly  after  him. 
 We  flood  in  the  Friary-gate  as  he  rode  through 
 the  town;  and  as  he  paffed  by,  taking  notice 
 of  fo  many  Quakers  together  with  their  hats 
 on,  he  flopped  and  put  off  his  hat  to  us,  and 
 our  friend  John  Anderdon  had  a  mind  to 
 fpeak  to  him,  and  tell  him  that  we  were  pri- 
 foners for  confcience  fake,  but  had  a  flop  in 
 his  mind,  left  there  fhOuld  be  an  ill  life  made 
 of  it,  in  applying  to  him,  and  making  him 
 
 F  too 
 
(     66    ) 
 
 too  popular ;  the  court  having  a  watchful  eye 
 over  him  :  However,  we  could  not  but  have 
 a  refpecl:  to  him  for  his  affability,  and  there- 
 fore were  the  more  concerned  for  him  when 
 his  fall  came. 
 
 Our  quarterly-meeting  being  ufually  held 
 at  the  Friary,  (where  we  were  prifoners)  the 
 fifth  day  before  each  quarter-day;  and  now 
 in  the  feventh  month,  againft  the  time  of  it, 
 came  Henry  Walrond,  a  perfecuting  juftice  of 
 peace,  fo  called,  (though  one  of  the  greateft 
 difturbers  of  it)  ofElbrewers,  about  ten  miles 
 weftward,  (and  captain  of  a  troop  of  horfe) 
 with  his  troop  to  town,  to  prevent  and  break 
 up  our  faid  meeting.  So  that  when  the  time 
 came,  and  friends  were  come  to  town,  the 
 keepers  came  and  locked  up  the  doors  of  the 
 Friary,  and  fo  fhut  us  up,  that  we  could  nei- 
 ther go  out,  nor  friends  come  in  to  us ;  fo  that 
 friends  were  forced  to  go  to  their  inn,  at  the 
 George,  being  the  houfe  of  one  Robert  Abbot, 
 an  innkeeper  in  the  town,  |^no  friend,  but  a 
 friendly  man)  and  there  held  their  meeting. 
 In  the  mean  time,  Captain  Walrond,  having 
 been  exercifmg  his  men  in  the  field,  returned 
 with  his  troop  in  great  ftate  into  the  town, 
 by  the  walls  of  the  Friary,  as  we  beheld  him 
 out  of  the  windows,  and  went  and  fell  upon 
 friends  as  they  were  met  at  the  faid  inn,  about 
 the  affairs  of  the  poor,  and  other  fervices  of 
 truth;  the  men  in  one  room,  and  the  women 
 in  another  about  their  own  affairs;  for  which 
 
 he 
 
(    67    ) 
 
 he  fined  the  faid  Robert  Abbot  40 1.  for  two 
 meetings  in  his  houfe,  the  one  of  men,  the 
 other  of  women,  though  there  was  neither 
 preaching  nor  praying  at  that  time;  and  gave 
 forth  a  warrant  to  diftrain  his  goods,  which 
 they  did;  but,  to  prevent  the  carrying  them 
 away,  Robert  Abbot  paid  down  the  money, 
 and  appealed  to  the  quarter-feffions,  but  was 
 caft  according  to  the  iniquity  of  thofe  times, 
 which  coft  him  near  20I.  more;  and  he  being 
 no  friend,  friends  could  not  let  him  naffer  for 
 his  kindnefs  in  entertaining  them,  but  paid 
 him  again,  fo  that  it  coft  friends  about  60 1. 
 
 But  behold  what  followed  :  Giles  Bale,  one 
 of  the  officers  of  the  town,  who  was  thought 
 to  be  the  inftigator  of  this  injuftice,  being  an 
 envious  man,  and  alfo  an  inn-keeper  in  the 
 town,  and  fo  had  a  fpleen  againft  the  faid 
 Robert  Abbot,  and  affifted  in  diftraining  his 
 goods  for  the  faid  meeting.  He  had  fhut  up 
 a  parcel  of  fheep  in  a  houfe,  (as  we  were  in 
 the  Friary)  and  being  fo  bufied  in  this  work 
 to  ruin  his  neighbour,  that  he  had  forgot 
 his  fheep  for  fome  days,  as  I  remember ;  fo 
 that  they  eat  up  a  parcel  of  reed  fheaves  as 
 was  faid,  and  were  moft  of  them  flarved,  and 
 died.  And  this  G.  Bale,  though  he  had  a 
 good  eftate,  and  was  afterwards  keeper  of  the 
 gaol  three  years,  yet  he  grew  fo  poor,  (no- 
 thing profpering  with  him)  that  when  he 
 fallowed  his  land  to  fow  wheat,  he  hath  let  it 
 lie  again  for  want  of  feed  to  fow  it,  and  ran 
 
 F  2  out 
 
(    6S    ) 
 
 out  of  his  eftate,  and  his  family  came  to 
 little.  Another  officer  in  the  town,  R.  Mor- 
 ris, who  was  concerned  in  this  work,  died 
 foon  after  in  a  fad  condition.  And  for  Henry 
 Walrond,  the  perfecuting  juftice,  we  fhall 
 hear  more  of  him  hereafter. 
 
 In  the  eighth  month,  T.  C.  an  eminent 
 friend  of  the  miniftry  formerly,  but  now  join- 
 ing with  the  feparate  party  aforefaid,  coming 
 through  Ivelchefter  out  of  the  weft,  meeting 
 with  J.  Anderdon,  as  he  rode  by,  J.  A.  was 
 fhy  of  him,  becaufe  his  name  was  to  a  paper 
 in  oppoiition  to  friends;  whereupon  T.  C. 
 turned  away  in  difguft,  but  I  went  after  him 
 to  a  friend's  houfe,  and  fpoke  to  him  foberly 
 about  it,  telling  him  the  caufe  of  it,  but  he 
 was  in  a  paffion  with  me,  and  went  away 
 in  a  rage,  which  tended  to  manifeft  him  and 
 that  party  the  more  what  fpirit  they  were  of. 
 
 This  year  (in  the  eighth  month)  was  printed 
 and  presented  to  the  king,  lords  and  commons 
 in  parliament   aflembled,  '  The  cafe  of  the 
 
 *  people  called  Quakers,  ftated  in  relation  to 
 
 *  the  late  and  prelent  fuffering,  efpecially  upon 
 
 *  old  ftatutes  made  againft  Popiih  recufants.' 
 At  the  end  of  which,  is  a  general  abridgment 
 offufferings  (as  to  imprifonment,  &c.)  from 
 1660  to  1 680,  viz. 
 
 1.  There 
 
f  69  ) 
 
 1.  There  have  died  of  our  friends  in 
 prifon,  and  prifoners  for  the  ex- 
 ereife  of  their  faith  and  confci- 
 ence  in  matters  fpiritual,  fome , 
 of  whom  have  been  beaten  and  / 
 bruifed,  being  knocked  down  at 
 their  peaceable  meetings,  and  died 
 of  their  wounds, 
 
 2.  And  there  remains  now  in  prifon  . 
 in  the  feveral  goals  in  England  ) 
 and  Wales,  who  fuffer  alfo  for  the  J 
 teftimony  of  a  good   confcience,f 
 
 many  of  which  are  profecuted  by  \  — 276 
 writs  of  excommunicato    capiendo, 
 and  have  been  divers  of  them  clofely 
 confined  upon  that  account  for  fe- 
 veral years  part, 
 
 3.  And  there  have  fuffered  imprifon- 
 ment  for  meeting  and  refufing  for  i 
 confcience  fake  to  fwear:  fome  of  / 
 whom  have  had  the  fentence  of  a  V 
 
 praemunire  pari  upon  them  ;    and  (      -^"^ ' 
 divers    of  them   have    had    their 
 goods  and  chattels  diftrained,  and 
 taken  from  them, 
 
 4.  The  number  of  our  friends  excom-  \ 
 municated  and  imprifoned  for  not£>   —624 
 conforming  to  the  public  worfhip,  \ 
 
 5*   And  there  have  been   fentenced ") 
 
 for  banifhment,  for  meeting  toge- >  — 198 
 
 ther  to  worfhip  God,  J 
 
 10778 
 F  3  6.  And 
 
(     7°    ) 
 
 6.  And,befides  theprofecution  againft 
 us  upon  the  aforefaid  ftatutes, 
 great  have  been,  and  ftill  are,  the 
 fufferings  we  undergo  by  fpoil 
 and  ruin  made  upon  our  goods 
 and  chattels,  upon  the  laft  act 
 made  againft  conventicles,  in  the 
 2 2d  Car.  II.  for  our  peaceable 
 meetings  to  worfhip  God,  to  the 
 value  of  many  thoufands  of 
 pounds ;  which  fufferings  have 
 been  greatly  encreafed  in  feveral 
 counties,  in  a  way  of  revenge, 
 fince  our  friends  have  appeared 
 in  the  late  elections  for  fuch  mem- 
 bers of  parliament,  as  they  be- 
 lieved would  moft  approve  them-, 
 felves  juft  men  for  the  general 
 good  of  their  country;  which 
 great  oppreflions  have  fallen  heavy 
 upon  poor  tradefmen,  farmers, 
 {hop-keepers,  and  handicrafts ;  and 
 the  widows,  and  fatherlefs  chil- 
 dren, who  have  had  their  very 
 beds  taken  from  under  them,  and 
 nothing  left  but  the  boards  to  lie 
 on.  The  cry  of  which  deftruc- 
 tive  proceedings  is  very  loud  in 
 feveral  counties  of  this  nation  at 
 this  very  moment ;  and  the  land 
 mourns,  becaufe  of  this  oppref- 
 fion:  and  we  hope  this  grievance 
 
 will 
 
(    7*     ) 
 
 will  be  alfo  taken  into  your 
 weighty  confederation.  And  we 
 pray  that  God  may  direct  you, 
 and  make  you  fenfible  of  the  great 
 afflictions  and  calamities  we  lie 
 under,  and  that  for  no  other 
 caufe  but  the  exercife  of  our 
 tender  confidences,  in  the  fight 
 of  God,  towards  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 About  this  time  alfo  the  following  friends, 
 viz.  Richard  Vickris,  Edward  Erbury,  Wil- 
 liam Ithell,  and  Paul  Moon,  were  imprifoned 
 in  Newgate,  Briftol,  in  the  eighth  month, 
 upon  writs  of  excommunicato  capiendo  \  though 
 fome  of  them,  I  think,  were  committed 
 Come  time  before. 
 
 Being  now  a  prifoner  for  tithes,  though  I 
 was  fatisfied  in  myfelf  of  the  truth,  from  the 
 fenfe  which  the  Lord  had  been  pleafed  to 
 give  me;  and  had  a  teftimony  in  my  heart 
 againft  them  and  the  priefts,  from  my  child- 
 hood; and  iaw  that  they  were  wrong  in  the 
 ground,  and  not  compatible  with  the  gofpel 
 difpenfation,  but  only  with  the  law  of  Mofes, 
 which  was  abrogated  by  Christ,  who,  in- 
 ftead  thereof,  inftituted  a  free  miniftry:  Yet  I 
 was  willing  to  inform  myfelf  further  in  the 
 controverfy  about  tithes,  and  in  order  thereto, 
 furnifhed  myfelf  with  books  on  that  fubjecl:, 
 viz,  Selden's  Hiflory  of  Tithes;  Fran.  How- 
 F  4  gill's 
 
(     7>     ) 
 
 gill's  Great  Cafe  of  Tithes;  and  the  Founda- 
 tion of  Tithes  fhaken,  by  Thomas  Ellwood: 
 with  many  more,  by  friends  and  others.  By 
 which  I  more  fully  perceived  their  Popifh 
 original  in  England,  after  the  coming  of  Auftin 
 the  monk,  and  how  they  were  introduced  and 
 fet  up,  in  the  night  of  apoftacy,  by  Popifh 
 kings  and  councils,  upon  very  impious 
 grounds,  and  to  fuperflitious  and  idolatrous 
 ends  and  ufes,  as  may  be  feen  by  what 
 follows. 
 
 For  not  long  after,  I  had  a  concern  upon 
 my  mind  to  write  a  letter  to  my  adveriary, 
 Edward  Ancketyll,  to  fhew  him  his  injuflice 
 and  cruelty  towards  me,  and  to  leave  him 
 without  excufe  as  to  his  pretence  to  tithes  in 
 this  gofpel  day  and  difpenfation,  as,  "  A  tef- 
 '  *  tirnony  againft  the  hireling  priefts  and  their 
 <l  tithing  trade,  who  run,  and  the  Lord  ne- 
 "  ver  fent  them,  and  therefore  cannot  profit 
 "  the  people  at  all;  fpeaking  a  divination 
 te  of  their  own  brains,  and  not  from  the 
 *'  mouth  of  the  Lord :  Teaching  for  hire, 
 <c  and  divining  for  money,  who  are  become 
 "  fuch  brutiih  paftors,  that  they  have  not 
 "  fought  the  Lord,  but  caufe  the  people  to 
 "  err  by  their  lies  and  by  their  lightnefs : 
 "  feeking  their  gain  from  their  quarter,  (but 
 "  never  have  enough)  crying  Peace,  peace, 
 "  to  fuch  as  put  into  their  mouths,  but  againft 
 *'■  them  that  refufe,  they  prepare  war,  whofe 
 t*  end  will  be  definition  except  they  repent." 
 
 Jer. 
 
(     73     ) 
 
 Jer.  xxiii.  21,  32.  xiv.  14.    xxiii.  16.    Mic. 
 iii.  11.    Ter«  x.  21.    Ifa.  Ivi.  1  1.   Mic.  iii.  5. 
 
 For  "  if  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both  lhali 
 "  fall  into  the  ditch."     Matt.  xv.   1 4. 
 
 In  a  letter  to  Edward  Ancketyll,  prieft  of 
 Wraxall  and  Naylfey,  wherein  his  and  his 
 brethrens  deceit  is  difcovered,  and  their  in- 
 juftice  reproved,  by  one  who  believes  "  that 
 "  Jefus  Chrift  is  come  in  the  flefti,"  1  John 
 iv.  2.  and  hath  "  put  an  end  to  the  Levitical 
 "  priefthood,  tithes,  and  ofFerings;"  Heb.  vii. 
 I  o.  and  therefore  cannot  pay  tithes  to  uphold 
 a  changeable  priefthood,  for  which  I  fuffei* 
 bonds  at  Ivelchcfler  by  a  perfecuting  genera- 
 tion, whofe  "  rod  {hall  not  always  reft  on  the 
 "  back  of  the  righteous."    Pfal.  exxv.  3. 
 
 "  Hear  this,  O  ye  priefts,  for  judgment  is 
 "  towards  you:"  Hof.  v.  1. — If  they  mult 
 "  depart  into  everlafting  lire,"  Matt.  xxv.  46. 
 that  do  not  vifit  Chrift's  members  in  prifon, 
 what  will  be  the  portion  of  thofe  that  call 
 them  in  ? 
 
 For  it  is  written,  "  The  devil  mail  call 
 u  fome  of  you  into  prifon  that  ye  may  be 
 "  tried,  and  ye  fhall  have  tribulation  ten 
 "  days;  but  be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and 
 "  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life,"  Rev. 
 ii.    10. 
 
 "  And  the  dragon  wras  wroth  with  the 
 "  woman,  and  went  to  make  war  with  the 
 "  remnant  of  her  feed,  which  keep  the  word 
 
 "  of 
 
(    74    ) 
 
 i4  of  God,    and   the   teftimony    of   Jefus," 
 
 Rev.  xii.   17. 
 
 "  And  they  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of 
 
 "  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word  of  their  tefti- 
 
 "  mony,  who  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the 
 
 death,"   Rev.  xii.    1 1. 
 
 "  For  to  us  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of 
 Chrift,  not  only  to  believe  in  him,  but  alfo 
 to  fufFer  for  his  lake.  Yea,  and  all  that 
 will  live  godly  in  Chrift  Jefus,  muft  fufFer 
 perfecution."  Phil.  i.  29.  2  Tim.  iii.  12. 
 "  But  they  that  fufFer  with  Chrift  fhall 
 
 "  reign   with  him;    for  the  way  to  life   is 
 
 "  through  death,  and  without  the  crofs  there 
 
 w  is  no  crown,"  2  Tim.  ii.  12. 
 
 it 
 
 « 
 
[    75     ) 
 
 To  Edward  Ancketyll,  fnior,  Prieft  of 
 Wraxall  aiu/Naylfey;  and  whom  elfc  of  his 
 Fraternity  it  may  concern^ 
 
 EDWARD  ANCKETYLL, 
 
 T  hath  often  been  in  my  heart  to  write 
 unto  thee,  but  more  efpecially  within  thefe 
 few  days  it  came  upon  me,  and  remains  with 
 me  to  expoftulate  a  little  with  thee,  concern- 
 ing thy  dealings  towards  me,  and  wherefore 
 thou  haft  kept  me  in  prifon  about  1 7  months, 
 without  any  juft  caufe,  to  my  great  fufTering 
 and  lofs  many  ways  ;  of  which  I  fhall  not 
 fay  much  at  prefent,  for  thou  wilt  be  rewarded 
 according  to  thy  works  for  the  evil  done  to 
 me,  and  I  fhall  have  my  reward  for  my  fuf- 
 ferings,  if  I  continue  faithful  to  the  end ;  nei- 
 ther do  I  complain  or  murmur  againft  the 
 Lord,  for  he  is  abundantly  "  good  to  Ifrael 
 "  his  people,  though  the  mercies  of  the 
 "  wicked  are  cruel,"    Prov.  xii.  i  o. 
 
 But  it  may  be  thou  mayfl:  hope  to  weary 
 me  out  by  impriibnment,  to  make  me  fubmit 
 to  thy  corrupt  will;  but  I  truft  thou  wilt  fail 
 in  thy  expectation,  "  for  the  hope  of  the  hy- 
 "  pocrite  fhall  perifh,"  Job  viii.  13.  But  if 
 nothing  will  fatis:ry  thee  but  my  blood,  though 
 the  Lord  fhould  permit  that  thou  fhouldeft 
 Jiave  thy  defire,  yet  thou  wilt  not  then  be 
 
 fatisfied, 
 
(    76    ) 
 
 fatisfied,  no  more  than  the  perfecutors  in  for- 
 mer ages  were,  when  they  had  "  flain  the 
 "  witneffes  of  Jefus,"  Rev.  xi. — And  though 
 the  Lord  may  **  give  them  blood  to  drink," 
 who  have  loved  it,  yet  it  will  not  be  for 
 their  advantage,  for  they  mall  be  drunken 
 therewith,  and  fall  and  never  rife  again. 
 
 But  thou  may  ft  fay,  I  defire  not  thy  blood 
 but  tithes;  which  if  thou  wouldeft  pay,  thou 
 mighteft  not  lie  in  prifon.  To  which  I  an- 
 fwer:  That  if  thou  canft  make  it  appear  by 
 holy  writ,  that  tithes  are  now  due  to  the 
 priefts  of  England,  and  that  I  have  wronged 
 thee,  I  will  honeftly  confefs  my  error,  and  fa- 
 tisfy  thee;  but  till  thou  haft  fo  done,  I  fhall 
 not  count  I  have  wronged  thee,  or  make  thee 
 any  fatisfaclion. 
 
 And  therefore  if  there  is  any  precept,  ex- 
 ample, or  command,  in  the  New  Teftament, 
 wherein  Chrift,  or  any  of  his  apoftles,  en- 
 joined the  payment  of  tithes,  now  under  the 
 difpenfation  of  the  gofpel,  I  challenge  thee, 
 or  any  of  thy  brethren,  to  produce  it  and 
 bring  it  forth,  for  I  muft  have  plain  fcripture 
 for  it,  or  nothing;  and  the  rather,  becaufe 
 ye  pretend  the  fcripture  is  your  rule.  And, 
 therefore,  I  fay  again,  if  ye  can  find  any  pre- 
 cept or  command  in  the  New  Teftament, 
 which  requires  the  payment  of  tithes  to  you 
 at  this  day,  mew  us  where  it  is,  or  elfe  con- 
 fefs that  ye  have  no  rule  for  what  you  do: 
 And  do  not  run  back  to  the  time  of  the  law, 
 
 and 
 
(    77    ) 
 
 and  tell  how  tithes  were  ordained  to  the  Le- 
 vitical  priefthood,  except  ye  can  prove  your- 
 felves  to  be  of  that  priefthood,  and  fo  deny 
 Chrift  to  be  come  in  the  flefh,  and  when  that 
 is  done  ye  muft  prove  that  ye  are  of  the  tribe 
 of  Levi,  and  then  you  muft  have  no  part  of 
 the  land,  Numb,  xviii.  20.  Deut.  x.  9.  but 
 only  the  tithes;  and  befides  the  poor,  the  fa- 
 therlefs,  the  widows,  and  the  ftranger,  Deut. 
 xiv.  29.  xvi.  11,  14.  xvi.  12.  muft  be  main- 
 tained out  of  them  too  as  well  as  you ;  and 
 then  alfo  you  muft  be  circumcifed,  and  offer 
 facrifices  to  God  for  the  fins  of  the  people; 
 and  many  other  things  ye  muft  do,  if  you  will 
 plead  the  law  of  Mofes  in  the  cafe.  For  it  is 
 but  a  folly  to  tell  that  the  fervices  of  the  law 
 are  ended,  and  yet  plead  that  the  wages  which 
 belonged  thereto  remains ;  that  is  but  for  your 
 own  felf-intereft  and  advantage  to  maintain 
 yourfelves,  that  ye  may  live  in  pride  and 
 idlenefs,  upon  the  fweat  of  other  men's 
 brows. 
 
 But  you  object:,  and  fay,  "  that  they  which 
 "  preach  the  gofpel,  ought  to  live  of  the  got- 
 "  pel,"  1  Cor.  ix.  14.  But  why  do  ye  not 
 then?  Why  do  ye  run  to  the  law  fo  much, 
 as  you  do  for  tithes?  which  do  not  belong  to 
 the  gofpel,  but  to  the  law.  We  know,  •*  they 
 "  that  preach  the  gofpel,  ought  to  live  of  the 
 "  gofpel,"  Matt.  x.  10.  and  fo  they  do  (of 
 gofpel  maintenance)  but  what  is  that  to  you, 
 who  neither  u  preach  the  gofpel  nor  live  of 
 
 "the 
 
(    7§     ) 
 
 "  the  gofpel,"  Luke  x.  7.  for  you  are  1106 
 content  with  that,  but  are  running  to  the  law^ 
 and  fuing  men  at  the  law  for  tithes,  and  call 
 men  into  prifon  (fome  till  death)  for  tithes, 
 which  are  no  part  of  the  gofpel,  (nor  belong- 
 ing thereto)  but  of  the  ceremonial  law,  *and 
 belonging  wholly  to  it)  which  is  ended  and 
 abolifhed;  and  the  priefthood  that  took  tithes 
 is  "  changed ;  and  the  commandment  going 
 "  before,  is  difannulled:  For  (Thrift  is  come 
 "  in  the  flefh,  and  hath  offered  up  himfelf 
 <c  once  through  the  eternal  fpirit,  the  one  of- 
 "  fering  for  all  the  offerings,  and  hath  per- 
 <c  fecled  for  ever  them  that  are  fancl:ined : 
 c£  And  he  hath  changed  the  Levitical  prieft- 
 "  hood  that  took  tithes,  and  abolifhed  the 
 "  firft  covenant,  that  he  might  eftablifh  the 
 "  fecond:  and  blotted  out  the  hand-writing 
 <c  of  ordinances  that  was  againft  us,  which 
 "  was  contrary  to  us,  and  took  it  out  of  the 
 "  way,  nailing  it  to  his  crofs:  Having  abo- 
 "  lifhed  in  his  flefh  the  enmity,  even  the  law 
 "  of  commandments  contained  in  ordinances, 
 "  even  the  carnal  ordinances,  (which  made 
 "  not  the  comers  thereunto  perfect)  but  was 
 "  impofed  on  them  until  the  time  of  reform- 
 "  ation,  which  was,  when  the  feed  (Thrift 
 "  came  in  the  flefh  in  the  fulnefs  of  time, 
 u  having  flain  the  enmity  which  flood  be- 
 u  tween  man  and  his  Maker ;  who  came 
 "  not  to  deftroy  the  law  but  to  fulfil  it." 
 Heb.  vii.  12,  18.   1  John  iv.  2,  Heb,  vii.  27. 
 
 ix. 
 
(    79    ) 
 
 ix.  14.  x.  14.  viii.  7.  x.  9.  Col.  ii.  14, 
 Eph.  ii.  15.  Heb,  ix.  10.  x.  1.  Gal.  iii.  19. 
 iv.  4.  Eph.  ii.  16. 
 
 For  though  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees  "  paid 
 "  tithes  of  mint,  annife  and  cummin,"  but,  at 
 the  fame  time,  "  neglected  the  weightier  mat- 
 "  ters  of  the  law,  judgment,  mercy,  and  truth," 
 Matt,  xxiii.  23.  (for  which  he  cried  wo  a- 
 gainft  them)  "  for  thefe  things  ought  they  to 
 V  have  done,  and  not  to  have  left  the  other 
 "  undone,"  Luke  xi.  42.  The  firft  law  and 
 priefthood  yet  Handing,  wherein  the  tithes 
 were  to  be  brought  into  the  ftore-houfes  for 
 the  maintenance  of  the  Levites,  the  poor,  &c. 
 and  they  who  refufed  to  pay  or  bring  in  their 
 tithes  in  thofe  days,  "  robbed  God,  and  were 
 "  curfed  with  a  curfe,"  Mai.  iii.  8,  9,  10. 
 the  outward  ordinances  remaining  yet  in 
 force:  which  (with  other  things)  "  was  fuch 
 "  a  yoke  upon  the  necks  of  the  difciples, 
 "  as  neither  they  nor  their  fathers  were  able 
 "  to  bear,"  Ads  xv.  10.  I  fay,  though  the 
 firft  priefthood,  law,  and  ordinances,  were  yet 
 ftanding  in  force,  wherein  tithes  were  com- 
 manded "  for  the  office  of  the  priefthood, 
 "  for  the  fervice  of  the  tabernacle,"  Heb. 
 vii.  5.  and  was  to  be  kept  and  obferved  by 
 them  who  were  yet  under  it:  yetChrift  fend- 
 ing forth  his  twelve  apoftles  in  order  to  ano- 
 ther difpenfation ; — even  the  difpenfation  of 
 the  gofpel,  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  fal- 
 vation : — He  faid  to  them,  "  freely  ye  have 
 
 "  received, 
 
cc 
 
 (     So     ) 
 
 received,  freely  give,"  Matt.  x.  viii.  and 
 though  one  jot  or  tittle  of  the  law  was  not  to 
 pafs  unfulfilled,  yet  when  Chrift  was  offered 
 up  on  the  crofs,  he  faid,  "  It  is  finifhed," 
 John  xix.  30. 
 
 And  therefore  "  Chrift  being  come  in  the 
 "  flefh,"  1  John  iv.  2.  and  offered  up  him- 
 felf  a  moil  acceptable  facrifice  to  God,  for  the 
 fins  of  the  whole  world,  in  the  fulnefs  of  time 
 appointed  of  the  Father;  and  having  put  an 
 end  to  all  thofe  offerings,  and,  according  to 
 the  will  of  God,  abolifhed  and  changed  the 
 law  and  priefthood  which  commanded  and 
 took  tithes :  He  is  become  "  the  end  of  the 
 "  law  for  righteoufnefs  to  every  one  that 
 "  believeth"  in  him,  Rom.  x.  iv.  I  fay 
 again :  "  Chrift  being  come  in  the  flefh, 
 u  and  offered  up  himfelf  through  the  eter- 
 *  nal  fpirit,  once  for  all,"  2  John  vii.  he 
 hath  put  an  end  to  the  Levitical  priefthood, 
 tithes,  and  offerings,  and  is  become  an  high- 
 prieft  for  ever,  "  not  after  the  order  of  Aa- 
 "  ron,  but  after  the  order  of  Melchifedec," 
 who  is  without  beginning  of  days  or  end  of 
 life:  not  like  thofe  priefts,  who  could  *'  not 
 "  continue  by  reafon  of  death,"  but  liveth 
 and  abideth  a  prieft  for  ever,  to  make  inter- 
 ceflion  for  us;  and  **  fuch  an  high-prieft  be- 
 "  cometh  us,  who  is  holy,  harmlefs,  unde- 
 "  filed,  and  feparate  from  fmners:  who  is 
 "  made  a  prieft,  not  after  the  law  of  a  car- 
 "  nal  commandment,  but  after  the  power  of 
 
 an 
 
 u 
 
(    Si     ) 
 
 u  an  endlefs  life:"  and  is  become  the  "  mi- 
 "  nifter  of  the  fandtuary  and  true  tabernacle 
 "  which  God  hath  pitched,  and  not  man : 
 "  and  dwells  not  in  temples  made  with 
 "  hands,"  Heb.  vii.  1 1,  16,  23,  25,  26. 
 Heb.  viii.  2.  but  is  long  fince  departed  from 
 them. — "  Who,  when  he  afcended  up  on  high, 
 "  led  captivity  captive,  and  gave  gifts  unto 
 "  men;  for  the  perfecting  of  the  faints,  for 
 "  the  work  of  the  miniftry,  for  the  edifying 
 "  of  the  body  of  Chrift;"  Acts  vii.  48.  Eph. 
 iv.  8,  12.  who  faith,  "  freely  ye  have  re- 
 "  ceived,  freely  give,"  Mat*  x.  8.  Of  whom 
 the  Lord  faith,  "  this  is  my  beloved  fon,  hear 
 "  ye  him,"  Mark  ix.  7. 
 
 And  therefore  to  plead  for  the  payment  of 
 tithes  now,  (or  to  fue  for  them,  pay  them, 
 or  receive  them)  in  thefe  evangelical  days, 
 and  under  this  gofpel  difpenfation,  is  antichri- 
 ftian,  and  to  deny  Chriit's  being  come  in  the 
 flefh ;  and  by  the  fame  rule,  all  the  Jewifh 
 rites  and  ceremonies,  as  circumcifion,  purifi- 
 cations, facrifices,  and  offerings,  of  the  blood 
 of  bulls  and  goats,  &c.  may  be  brought  in 
 and  fet  up  as  well  as  tithes,  which  would  be 
 to  introduce  Judaifm  inftead  of  Chriftianity: 
 Yea,  Popery  (as  to  tithes)  in  this  gofpel  day, 
 firft  hatched  and  brought  forth  in  the  apofta- 
 tized  church  of  Rome,  about  the  time  of  Pope 
 Gregory,  called  the  Great  (who  is  faid  to  be 
 the  worft  of  all  the  Roman  bifhops  that  went 
 before  him,  and  the  beft  of  all  that  came  after 
 
 G  him; 
 
(     82     ) 
 
 him;  for  they  grew  worfe  and  worfe)  iri  or 
 towards  the  midnight  of  darknefs  and  igno- 
 rance; when  Satan  drew  men  from  truth  into 
 error,  then  he  fet  up  tithes  to  uphold  his  mini- 
 fters;  and  they  were  introduced  into  this  nation, 
 by  popifh  and  idolatrous  kings,  through  occa- 
 fion  of  murder  and  adultery.  For  Offa,  king 
 of  Mercia,  wrongfully  killing  Ethelbert,  king 
 of  the  Eaft-angles,  gave  for  the  remiffion  of 
 his  fms,  the  tenth  of  his  revenue  or  goods  to 
 holy  church,  fo  called.  And  Ethel  wolf,  king 
 of  the  Weil  Saxons,  becaufe  of  the  Danifh 
 invafion,  to  appeafe  the  wrath  of  God  for  the 
 innocent  blood  he  had  fhed,  and  to  merit  hea- 
 ven, (as  they  thought  to  do  inthofe  fuperftitious 
 times,  by  their  good  works,  falfely  fo  called) 
 gave  the  tenths  of  his  goods  and  lands  to 
 the  church,  in  like  manner.  And  Athelftan, 
 king  of  England,  to  pacify  the  ghoft  of  his 
 murdered  brother  Edwin,  (to  whofe  death,  it 
 is  faid,  he  contented)  did  not  only  undergo 
 feven  years  penance,  but  alfo  built  certain 
 monafteries;  and  made  a  law,  that  people 
 fhould  pay  tithes,  hoping  thereby  to  expiate 
 his  fins.  And  Edgar,  king  of  England,  a 
 moft  vicious  prince,  being  enamoured  with 
 Elfrida,  wife  of  earl  Ethelwood,  to  make  way 
 for  the  fatisfaction  of  his  infatiable  lulls,  join- 
 ed with  her  in  murdering  her  hufband  Ethel- 
 wood:  for  the  fatisfying  of  whofe  death,  to 
 remove  the  guilt,  and  fave  himfelf  from  the 
 Pope's  bull  (which  more  in  love  to  the  gain, 
 
 than 
 
(    83     ) 
 
 than  hatred  to  the  fin)  began  to  roar  againfl 
 -him,  he  confirmed  the  payment  of  tithes, 
 and  built  feveral  monafteries  and  nunneries. 
 And  Elfrida,  his  adulterous  queen,  to  make  fa- 
 tisfaclion  both  for  the  death  of  her  former 
 hufband,  and  for  that  heinous  fin  of  making 
 away  her  hufband's  fon  Edward,  fhe  built  a 
 nunnery  at  Almsbury  in  Wiltfhire,  &c. 
 
 And  thus  were  tithes  dedicated  and  con- 
 firmed (though  not  yet  generally)  upon  fuch 
 grounds,  after  fuch  a  manner,  and  to  fuch  im- 
 pious ends  and  ufes,  (as  ye  may  read  in  the 
 Book  of  Martyrs)  that  it  is  a  fhame  for  any 
 that  pretend  themfelves  Chriftians  and  Pro- 
 teftants  too,  to  plead  for  or  uphold  them,  viz.  to 
 expiate  murders,  adulteries,  and  other  fins; 
 for  the  health  of  their  fouls,  and  their  fathers 
 and  mothers,  and  wives  and  childrens  fouls, 
 and  the  reft  of  their  relations  alive  and  dead; 
 (as  the  words  are  of  many  charters  in  Selden) 
 to  maintain  idolatrous  houfes  and  priefts,  to 
 fay  maffes,  and  pray  for  them  (out  of  purga- 
 tory) when  they  were  dead;  and  to  merit fal- 
 vation  by  fuch  fuperftitious  deeds.  And  here 
 is  the  foundation  of  tithes  in  England.  O  ye 
 priefts !  for  fhame,  never  plead  for  tithes,  ex- 
 cept ye  will  own  the  church  of  Rome  for 
 your  patron,  and  confefs  that  ye  are  beholden 
 to  her  for  a  maintenance. 
 
 But  if  ye  objed:,  and  fay,  "  Is  it  a  great 
 "  matter  for  us  to  reap  your  carnal  things,  to 
 '"  whom  we   have   fown   fpiritual   things  r" 
 
 G  2  I  Cor. 
 
(     »4     ) 
 
 i  Cor.  ix,  1 1.  I  fay,  nay;  it  is  no  great  mat- 
 ter for  them  that  have  fown  fpiritual  things, 
 to  reap  of  our  carnal  things;  but  we  are  free 
 to  adminifter  of  our  carnal  things  to  them  that 
 have  fown  fpiritual  to  us,  where  there  is  occa- 
 fion;  and  "  the  workman  is  wrorthy  of  his 
 "  meat,"  Matt.  x.  10.  But  what  is  this  to 
 you  ?  To  whom  have  ye  fown  fpiritual  things  ? 
 (not  to  me,  I  am  fure).  And  where  do  the 
 fpiritual  fruits  appear  which  the  apoftle  fpeaks 
 of?  which  are  "  love,  joy,  peace,  long-fuffer- 
 u  ing,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  faith,  meeknefs, 
 "  temperance ;"  (patience,  humility,  fobriety, 
 holinefs,  &c.)  "  againfl  which  there  is  no 
 "  law:"  but,  on  the  other  hand,  do  not  the 
 contrary  fruits  appear,  as  "  hatred,  variance, 
 "  emulations,  wrath,  ftrife,  envyings,"  &c. 
 Gal.  v.  20,  21,  22,  23.  high-mindednefs, 
 •wantonnefs,  pride,  idlenefs,  and  fulnefs  of 
 bread?  Are  not  many  of  your  parifh  hearers 
 more  like  heathens  than  fober  chriftians?  Do 
 not  drunkennefs,  whoredom,  fw earing,  lying, 
 cozening,  and  the  like,  abound  amongft 
 them?  Do  ye  not  fee  how  the  nations  are 
 become  like  a  defolate  wildernefs  as  to  the 
 knowledge  of  God?  Wherein  have  ye  pro- 
 fited the  people  at  all?  And  is  it  not  becaufe 
 ye  have  "  run,  and  the  Lord  never  fent 
 "  you?"  Saying,  "  thus  faith  the  Lord, 
 "  when  he  hath  not  fpoken  to  you;  the  pro- 
 "  phets  prophefying  falfely,  and  the  pnefts 
 "  bearing  rule  by  their  means:  commiuing 
 
 "  a  hor- 
 
(    85    ) 
 
 "  a  horrible   and   filthy  thing  in  the  land? 
 "  preaching  for  hire,  and  divining  for  money, 
 "  and  the  people  loving  to  have  it  lb,"    Jer. 
 xxiii.  15,  21,  31.     Not  like  the  apoftles;  for 
 ye  are  not  made  minifters  by  the  will  of  God, 
 as  Paul  was,  but  by  the  will  of  man. — Tor 
 the  younger  fons  of  gentlemen  are  commonly 
 fent  to  the  univerfities  of  Oxford  or  Cam- 
 bridge, to  be  made  priefts:  which  are  places 
 of  fuch  loofenefs  and  prophanenefs,  as  is  be- 
 yond the  bounds  of  modefty  to  relate;  (ftink- 
 ing  fountains  indeed)  as  I  have  in  part  {ten. 
 with   my   eyes,  and  which  may  be  read  in 
 many  books ;  (and  how  can  fuch  as  are  carnal 
 fow  fpiritual  things?)  and  when  they  have  been 
 there,  it  may  be  feven  years,   the  time  of  an 
 apprenticelhip,  and  taken  their  degrees,  &c. 
 then  they  come  abroad  like  locufts  (as  Luther 
 called  them)   and  make  friends  to  feek  for  a 
 parfonage;  and  if  they  cannot  get  one,  to  fet 
 up  for  themfelves,  then  they  muft  be  journey- 
 men for  a  while,  till  they  can  get  a  place ;  ar.d 
 then  whatever  becomes  of  the  leiTer,  they  will 
 be  lure  to  run  to  the  greater  benefice  as  foon 
 as  they  can:   And  thus,  like  tradefmen,  they 
 truck  from  place  to  place  to  fell  their  wares 
 where  they  can  get  moft  gain,  and  turn  with 
 the  times,  as  they  did  in  the  late  times.     The 
 fame  men,  many  of  them,  that  were  firft  for 
 the  king  (Charles  I.),  when  he  could  not  up- 
 hold them  any  longer  then  they  turned  to  the 
 parliament  for  their  own  ends,  and  called  the 
 G  3  Common- 
 
(    86    ) 
 
 Common-prayer  book,  hell,  and  Egyptian 
 bondage;  and  flocked  to  Oliver,  that  he 
 might  provide  for  them  and  protect  them; 
 and  when  he  was  dead,  then  they  petitioned 
 his  fon  Richard,  and  flattered  him,  calling  his 
 father,  the  light  of  their  eyes,  and  the  breath 
 of  their  noftrils;  and  that  he  had  been  their 
 Mofes  to  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt; 
 and  they  hoped,,  that  he  (viz.  his  fon  Richard) 
 would  be  their  Jofhua  to  lead  them  into  the 
 land  of  promife,  which  was  but  a  good  fat 
 benefice  of  tithes  and  augmentations;  and  thus, 
 they  have  daubed  the  powers  of  the  earth, 
 that  they  might  uphold  their  corrupt  intereft, 
 And  then  when  the  king  (Charles  II.)  came 
 in,  they  generally  turned  to  him,  and  fwore 
 to  him;  and  Directory  muft  down,  and  Com- 
 mon-prayer up  again;  and  the  furplice  be  put 
 on,  &c.  And  thus  they  have  turned  to  and 
 fro,  hither  and  thither,  according  to  the  times, 
 to  keep  their  places  and  benefices,  and  enjoy 
 their  tidies-  Sec.  who  ferve  not  the  Lord  Jefus 
 Chrift,  but  their  own  bellies:  And  if  ever 
 Popery  mould  be  brought  in  or  fet  up  again, 
 (which  God  forbid'  it  is  much  if  many  of 
 them  do  not  join  with  it,  if  they  could  get 
 any  thing  by  it,  if  one  may  judge  by  what 
 hath  been;  and  people  begin  to  fee  what  they 
 are,  and  which  way  they  are  affected,  if  time 
 ar>d  opportunity  did  but  ferve;  and  yet  they 
 ufed  to  cry  out  againft  the  Quakers,  (as  the 
 Heathens  and  Papifts  did  againft  the  ancient 
 
 Chnftians, 
 
(     8;    ) 
 
 Chriftians,  Martyrs,  and  firft  Reformers) 
 that  they  will  not  obey  the  king's  laws, 
 though  we  are  fubjecl:,  as  the  apoitles  were, 
 and  fubmit,  as  they  did,  to  every  ordinance 
 of  man,  by  doing  or  fuffering,  for  confcience 
 fake,  Rom.  xiiL  5.    1  Pet.  ii.  13. 
 
 Ye  priefts  would  make  people  believe,  if 
 ye  could,  that  ye  watch  for  their  fouls;  but 
 why  then  are  ye  fo  much  concerned  about 
 their  corn,  and  hay,  and  other  things  ?  You 
 Watch  when  the  corn  is  ripe,  and  grafs  cut; 
 and  when  the  cows  do  calve,  the  fheep  yean, 
 &c.  And  how  many  calves,  lambs,  and  pigs 
 they  have:  And  how  many  hens  and  geefe 
 people  do  keep;  how  many  eggs  they  have, 
 6cc.  Thefe  are  the  things  you  watch  and 
 wait  for,  more  than  for  their  fouls.  And 
 like  EH's  fons,  would  take  it  by  force,  or 
 caft  men  into  prifon  for  tithes;  though  you 
 "  cry  peace,  peace  to  them  that  put  into 
 "  your  mouths,"  1  Sam.  ii.  16.  but  if  any 
 refufe,  you  prepare  war  againfl  them:  and 
 except  they  give  you  fomewhat  to  bite  upon, 
 you  will  bite  them. 
 
 But  you  may  fay  again;  "  Who  goeth  a 
 "  warfare  at  his  own  charge?  He  that  plant- 
 "  eth  a  vineyard,  may  eat  of  the  fruit  there- 
 4v  of;  and  he  that  feedeth  a  flock,  may  eat 
 "  of  the  milk  of  the  flock,"  1  Cor.  ix.  7. 
 all  which  we  grant,  that  they  who  plant  a 
 vineyard,  and  feed  a  flock,  may  eat  thereof. 
 But  what  is  this  to  you?  What  warfare  do 
 G  4  you 
 
(     88     ) 
 
 you  go?  fave  from  one  parifh  or  benefice  to 
 another,  (that  is,  from  the  leffer  to  the  great- 
 er)  which  you  love  fo  well,  that  you  will 
 never  go  far  from  it  if  you  can  help  it.  The 
 Jews,  Turks,  and  Indians,  may  do  what 
 they  will  for  you,  who  love  your  eafe  too 
 well  to  go  far  from  home  to  convert  them, 
 if  you  could,  except  there  was  a  better  fti- 
 pend  fettled.  Yea,  I  fay,  what  is  your  war- 
 fare? What  are  your  weapons?  Who  is  your 
 captain?  And  what  do  you  war  againft?  An- 
 fwer  thefe  things.  And  what  vineyards  have 
 you  planted?  And  where  are  they  or  their 
 fruits?  Are  your  hearers  planted  or  graffed 
 into  the  true  vine?  Are  not  the  nations  ra- 
 ther as  a  wildernefs,  than  the  vineyard  or 
 garden  of  God,  overgrown  with  briars  and 
 thorns,  fcratching  and  tearing  one  another? 
 Doth  not  the  wild  nature  ftill  appear  by  its 
 fruits?  And  what  flocks  have  you  fed?  (not 
 us,  for  we  are  none  of  your  flocks;  and  fo 
 by  your  own  rule,  you  are  not  to  eat  of  our 
 milk,  but  of  the  flock  you  gather  or  feed). 
 And  where  is  the  Lamb's  nature  to  be  {ten 
 among  you  ?  Are  you  not  rather  rough,  more 
 like  the  hands  of  Efau  than  Jacob,  or  a 
 flock  of  goats  than  fheep?  and  more  like 
 wolves  and  lions,  than  lambs?  rending  and 
 devouring  one  another;  and  perfecuting  the 
 lambs  of  Chrift.  And  do  not  your  flocks 
 rather  feed  you,  than  you  them?  And  as  for 
 t}iat  of  the  apoftle;  "  Do  ye  not  know,  that 
 
 *■  they 
 
(    89    ) 
 
 "  they  which  minifter  about  holy  things, 
 "  live  of  the  things  of  the  temple,"  Sec. 
 I  Cor.  ix.  13.  all  which  we  know  as  well 
 as  you,  and  grant  it  was  fo  under  the  law: 
 "  And  they  which  waited  at  the  altar,  wrere 
 '*  partakers  with  the  altar."  But  what  is  that 
 to  you,  who  pretend  to  be  minifters  of  the 
 gofpel,  and  not  of  the  law,  or  temple,  or 
 altar?  For  it  is  plain,  that  as,  under  the  law, 
 the  priefts  lived  of  the  f<  things  of  the  tem- 
 4<  pie  and  altar,"  even  fo,  faith  the  apoftle, 
 "  hath  the  Lord  ordained,  that  they  which 
 "  preach  the  gofpel  mould  live  of  the  gof- 
 "  pel,"  ver.  14.  a  plain  diftinction  between 
 the  law  and  gofpel,  and  their  maintenance. 
 And  befides,  whatever  liberty  Paul,  or  any 
 other  minifter  of  the  gofpel,  had  or  have,  who 
 "  fow  fpiritual  things,  to  reap  carnal,"  &c. 
 yet  Paul  laid,  "  he  had  ufed  none  of  thefe 
 "  things,"  ver.  15.  And  what  holy  things 
 have  you  miniitred  about?  Are  not  your  holy 
 duties  defiled?  Your  belt  performances  fin, 
 according  to  your  own  confeftions?  And  do 
 you  not  plead  for  fin  and  imperfection  all 
 your  days?  (and  fo  uphold  the  devil's  king- 
 dom) and  that  there  is  no  perfection  or  free- 
 dom from  fin  on  this  fide  the  grave?  Tho' 
 God  and  Chrift  fays,  "  Be  ye  holy,  for  I 
 "  am  holy;"  and,  "  be  ye  perfect,  even  as 
 *'  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect," 
 X^ev.  xi.  44.  xx.  7.  Mat.  v.  48.  But  that  ye 
 fay  is  impoflible,  and  fo  would   make  God  a 
 
 liar. 
 
(    9°    ) 
 
 liar,  and  Chritt  a  hard  matter;  as  if  they  com- 
 manded  that  which  is  impoffible  to  be  done, 
 being  minifters  of  fin  and  not  of  righteouf- 
 nefs,  which  is  not  glad  tidings  to  any  weary 
 foul. 
 
 And  if  ye  fay  again,  "  The  ox  is  not  to 
 "  be  muzzled  that  treadeth  out  the  corn," 
 I  Corin.  ix,  9.  I  fay  fo  100.  But  what  corn 
 have  ye  trodden  out  I  And  where  doth  the  feed 
 appear?  If  ye  had  no  more  corn  than  what 
 you  tread  out,  you  might  fiarve  for  want  of 
 bread.  It  is  fit  that  the  ox  mould  be  fed  by 
 him  that  employs  him,  but  not  by  another : 
 But  ye  are  not  fo  honed  as  the  poor  ox  or 
 afs;  for  "  the  ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and 
 *'  the  afs  his  matter's  crib,"  Ifa.  i.  3.  and 
 are  content  to  feed  at  it;  but  you  are  not, 
 but  would  force  them  to  feed  you  for  whom 
 you  have  not  laboured;  and  expect  wages 
 from  them  that  never  hired  you.  And  the 
 moft  you  can  pretend  to  from  thefe  fcrip- 
 tures,  is,  when  you  go  a  warfare,  not  to  go 
 at  your  own  charge:  And  when  you  plant  a 
 vineyard,  to  eat  of  the  fruit  thereof,  and  of 
 the  milk  of  the  flock  you  feed;  and  not  to 
 be  muzzled  when  you  "  tread  out  the  corn:" 
 and,  "  that  he  that  ploweth  mould  plow  in 
 "  hope;  and  that  he  that  threfheth  in  hope, 
 *c  mould  be  partaker  of  his  hope:"  and  they 
 that  "  fow  fpiritual  things,  to  reap  carnal 
 "  things;"  and  they  "  that  preach  the  gofpel, 
 "  to  live  of  the  gofpel,"  1  Cor,  ix.  10.  (that 
 
 is 
 
(    9'     ) 
 
 is,  of  gofpel  maintenance)  which  is  free;  and 
 as  that  opens  peoples  hearts  to  receive  them, 
 and  not  to  force  others  to  maintain  them,  for 
 whom  they  do  none  of  theie  things;  and 
 that  is  the  film  of  the  matter. 
 
 But  what  have  ye  to  do  to  tell  of  Chrift, 
 or  Paul,  who  are  not  content  with  their  ap- 
 pointment or  allowance?  For  though  Chrift 
 laid,  "  the  workman  is  worthy  of  his  meat,' 
 "  and  the  labourer  of  his  hire,"  Mat.  x.  10. 
 Luke  x.  7.  For  whom  have  ye  laboured  or 
 wrought  ?  And  what  is  the  work  ye  have 
 .done?  Have  not  others  rather  laboured  and 
 wrought  hard  for  you,  to  maintain  you  in  pride 
 and  idlenefs  ?  Chrift  laid  to  his  difciples, 
 "  Into  whatfoever  city,  town,  or  houfe,  ye 
 "  enter,  and  they  receive  you,  there  remain, 
 "  eating  and  drinking  fuch  things  as  they 
 "  give,  and  are  fet  before  you;  till  you  go 
 "  thence,"  Luke  x.  5,  7,  8,  But  ye  are  not 
 content  with  this,  viz.  what  they  give  freely,' 
 for  you  will  take  away  the  tenth  of  people's 
 eftates  (or  rather,  the  tenths  of  their  labours 
 and  fruits  of  their  induftry)  by  force,  whether 
 they  receive  you,  or  are  worthy,  or  no:  and 
 fue  men  at  the  law,  and  take  treble  damages, 
 and  fometimes  much  more ;  which  Chrift  and 
 his  apoftles  never  did:  and  if  jr.u  can  find 
 any  precedent  in  all  the  fcriptures,  either  in 
 the  time  of  the  law  or  the  gofpel,  for  theft 
 things,  fhew  us  where  it  is.  Befidcs,  if  y<  u 
 could  prove    yourfelves  to   be   fuch   as   the 
 
 apoftle 
 
C( 
 
 (     92     ) 
 
 apoflle  Paul  fpoke  of:  (which  you  are  never ' 
 able  to  do).  Yet  Paul  laid,  "  he  had  ufed 
 none  of  thefe  things,  (but  laboured  and 
 wrought  with  his  hands,  to  minifter  to 
 "  his  neceffities:  remembering  the  words  of 
 "  the  Lord  Jefus,  how  he  faid,  it  is  more 
 "  bleffed  to  give  than  to  receive)  that  he 
 "  might  not  be  chargeable  to  any,  and  that 
 he  might  make  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  with- 
 out charge.  You  are  more  like  the  Scribes 
 and  Pharifees,  (whom  Chrift  cried  wo 
 againft)  who  laid  heavy  burdens  upon 
 "  other  men's  moulders,  and  devoured  wi- 
 "  dows  houfes,  and  for  a  pretence  made 
 "  long  prayers ;  who  wore  long  robes,  flood 
 "  praying  in  the  fynagogues,  loved  the  up- 
 <c  permoft  rooms  at  feafts,  the  chief  feats  in 
 "  the  aiTemblies,  greetings  in  the  markets, 
 "  and  to  be  called  of  men,  Rabbi,  or  mafter;" 
 which  Chrift  forbad,  and  faid,  "  the  tree  is 
 "  known  by  his  fruits,  and  by  their  fruits 
 "  ye  fhall  know  them,"  I  Cor.  ix.  15,  18. 
 iv.  12.  Ads  xx.  33,  34.  1  Thef.  ii.  9.  2  Thef. 
 iii.  8.  Mat.  xxiii.  4,  14.  vi,  7.  Mark  xii.  38. 
 39,  40.  Luke  xi.  43,  xx.  46,  47.  Prov. 
 xxiii.  23.  And  more,  like  one  of  old,  who 
 offered  to  buy  the  gift  of  God;  yea,  worfe 
 in  fome  refpect;  for  ye  not  only  pretend  to 
 buy  it,  or  purchafe  your  miniitry  at  the 
 univerfity,  but  to  fell  it  again;  for  it  is  bet- 
 ter, if  it  was  poflible,  to  buy  it,  than  to  fell 
 it:   and  if  he  was  rejected  for  offering  to 
 
 buy 
 
(    93    ) 
 
 buy  it,  fo  ought  they  much  more  that  pre- 
 tend to  fell  it;  and  therefore  repent  of  your 
 deceit,  in  deceiving  the  poor  people. 
 
 Another  inftance  of  your  deceit  is,  in  pre- 
 tending to  be  minifters  of  Chrift,    and    yet 
 teach  people  to  break   his   commands;    elfe, 
 why  am  I  excommunicated  and  imprifoned 
 through  thy  occafion,  by  the  bifhop  and  his 
 proud    chancellor,    in    their   illegal    court   at 
 Wells?  and,  as  ye  pretend,  curfed  out  of  the 
 church,  which  I  was  never  in,   or  of;    and 
 in  your  foolifh  conceits  delivered  to  Satan? 
 And,  laftly,  to  the  jailor;  for  no  other  caufe, 
 in  the  firft  place,  than  refufing  to  pay  tithes 
 and   receive   the   facrament    (fo   called)    for 
 which    ye    have    no    fcripture    or    example, 
 from  Chrift  or  his  apoftles.     And,  fecondly, 
 for  refufing  to  fwear,  contrary  to  the  com- 
 mand of  Chrift  and  his  apoftle  James,  in  an- 
 fwer  to  the  libel,  which  is  fo  falfe,  that  one's 
 word  is  fufficient  to  deny  without  fwearing, 
 becaufe  I  am  charged  with  feveral  acres  of 
 corn  which  I  never  had;  and  fo  many  hun- 
 dred bufhels  in   an  acre,    that  the  like  was 
 hardly  ever  heard  of.     Are  thefe  the  fruits  of 
 your  miniftry?  O  ye  priefts,  &c.  be  alhamed 
 of  your  lies  and  deceit!  And  yet   I  am  im- 
 prifoned, as  it  is  alledged  in  the  writ,  for  my 
 contempt  and  difobedience,  in  not  obferving 
 certain   honeft  and  moft    lawful   commands, 
 of  the  bifhop  or  his  deputy,    in  not  taking 
 my  corporal  oath  upon  the  holy  evangelifts, 
 
 faithfully 
 
(     94     ) 
 
 faithfully  to  anfwer  to  certain  pofitions  and 
 articles  exhibited  in  a  libel  on  thy  part;  as  if 
 their  commands  were  morelawful  than  Chrift's. 
 whofe  command  is,  u  Swear  not  at  all,"  Mat. 
 v.  34.  And  whom  ought  we  to  obey,  God  or 
 man?  judge  ye.  O  for  fhame!  never  pre^ 
 tend  to  be  minifters  of  Chrift  till  ye  learn  to 
 keep  his  commands!  u  for  whofoever  mall 
 *'  break  one  of  the  leaft  of  ChrifVs  com- 
 "  mandments,  and  fhall  teach  men  fo,  he 
 "  mail  be  called  the  leaft  in  the  kingdom 
 "  of  heaven,"  Actsiv.  19.  v.  29.  Mat.  v.  19. 
 and  yet  ye  not  only  teach,  but  would  force 
 men  fo  to  do:  And  after  all,  that  the  bifhop 
 mould  fay  in  the  Parliament-Houfe,  as  I 
 have  underftood,  that  there  were  none  in 
 prifon,  in  his  diocefe,  for  confcience,  feems 
 to  me  to  be  the  height  of  obduratenefs ;  as  if 
 he  went  to  fet  himfelf  againft  God,  and  abufe 
 his  poor  people. 
 
 O  ye  perfecuting  priefts,  &c.  read  the  fcrip- 
 tures  and  ecclefiaftical  hiftories;  particularly 
 Eufebius,  and  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments  of 
 the  Church :  and  fee  your  image  in  the  perfe- 
 cutors  of  God's  people  in  all  ages:  and  ob- 
 ferve  how  many  of  the  ancient  Chriflians, 
 and  godly  Proteftant  martyrs,  have  borne  their 
 teftimony  againft  thofe  two  great  oppreffions, 
 of  tithes  and  fwearing;  which,  with  many 
 other  things,  have  been  a  clog  and  a  burthen 
 upon  the  confciences  of  Gcu's  faithful  wit- 
 neffes,  through  many  generations :  ana*  -though 
 
 you 
 
(     95     ) 
 
 you  may  "  garnifh  the  tombs  of  the  righte- 
 "  ous,  and  fay,  if  ye  had  been  in  their  days, 
 *6  ye  would  not  have  perfecuted  them,"  Mat. 
 xxiii.  29,  30.  yet,  if  ye  do  the  fame  things, 
 ye  are  of  the  fame  fpirit  and  generation,  that 
 have  perfecuted  the  juft  and  righteous  feed  of 
 God,  in  all  ages;  and  are  doing  the  fame 
 things  to  your  power.  "  Mourn  and  weep" 
 Jam.  iv.  9.  for  the  mifery  that  is  coming  upon 
 you':  Your  kingdom  is  fhaken  and  failing 
 apace,  and  your  fkirts  fhall  be  difcovered 
 more  and  more ;  and  your  deceit  made  ma- 
 nifeft  to  all  men;  and  people  fhall  fly  from 
 you,  as  for  their  lives,  in  the  day  when  the 
 Lord  fhall  finite  the  "  idol  fhepherds,  and 
 "  all  their  flocks  fhall  be  fcattered,"  Jer.  xiii. 
 26.  x.  21.   Zech.  xi.   17. 
 
 You  fay,  O  ye  prieits,  that  "  God  hath 
 u  ordained  the  tithes  for  you,"  but  how  is 
 it  then  that  the  Lord  doth  not  put  it  into 
 peoples  hearts  to  pay  you  more  freely  than 
 they  do?  Do  ye  not  fee  how  people  be- 
 gin to  decline  from  you?  And  of  whom 
 could  you  affure  yourfelves  of  a  maintenance, 
 did  not  the  laws  of  the  nation  force  them  to 
 uphold  you?  And  if  tithes  were  but  taken 
 away,  or  the  laws  that  uphold  them,  and  you 
 left  to  yourfelves,  then  it  would  foon  be  feen 
 how  long  you  could  fland  of  yourfelves,  and 
 preach  freely;  furely,  not  long:  for  no  penny, 
 no  pater  nofter.  And  were  not  people  kept 
 in  bondage  to  you  fry  a  law,  they  would  foon 
 
 come 
 
(    9<3     ) 
 
 come  out  from  among  you,  ,  if  titnes  were? 
 put  down,  as  no  doubt  they  will  in  the  Lord's 
 time,  "  For  he  hath  fmitten  his  hand  againft 
 "  your  difhoneft  gain,"  Ezek.  xxii.  13.  and 
 put  it  into  the  hearts  of  many,  to  deny  them 
 as  antichriftian  in  thefe  gofpel  days ;  and 
 failed  us  up  to  bear  a  teftimony  againft 
 them ;  and  we  believe  he  will  in  his  own 
 time,  eafe  his  people  of  this  opprefhon:  And 
 was  but  liberty  of  confcience  once  granted, 
 for  all  to  worfhip  God  as  they  are  perfuaded 
 in  their  own  minds,  and  left  free  to  maintain 
 their  own  teachers  as  they  faw  good,  without 
 compulfion,  (which  is  fo  reafonable,  that  one 
 would  think  none  mould  be  againft  it)  then 
 might  the  "  merchants  of  Babylon  lament, 
 "  becaufe  no  man  buyeth  their  merchandize 
 "  any  more,'*  Rev.  xviii.  11.  And  were 
 but  people  "  valiant  for  the  truth  upon  the 
 "  earth,"  Jer.  ix.  3.  and  not  enflaved  in  their 
 minds  for  fear  of  lufFerings,  they  would  have 
 fhook  off  this  antichriftian  yoke  of  bondage 
 long  ago. 
 
 But  are  you  not  rather  ordained  for  the 
 tithes,  than  the  tithes  for  you,  by  being  fent 
 to  the  univerfity,  to  be  made  minifters  for 
 the  fake  of  the  tithes,  to  get  a  maintenance 
 thereby?  And  were  it  not  for  the  profit  and 
 advantage  fake,  to  live  at  eafe  in  the  flefh, 
 becaufe  of  the  tithes,  the  people  might  do 
 what  they  would,  and  go  whither  they  would 
 
 for 
 
(    97    ) 
 
 for  them,  or  any  love  they  have  to,  or 
 concern  for  them.  This  love  of  money  is 
 the  root  of  all  evil,  which  while  ye  fo  much 
 covet  after,  ye  have  erred  from  the  faith, 
 &c.  i  Tim.  vi.  10.  "  For  covetoufnefs  is 
 "  idolatry:  and  they  that  will  be  rich,  fall 
 "  into  temptation  and  a  fnare,  and  into  many 
 *•  foolifh  and  hurtful  lufts,  which  drown  men 
 <c  in  deftruction  and  perdition:  but  the  man 
 "  of  God  ought  to  flee  thefe  things,  and  fol«- 
 "  low  after  righteoufnefs,"  &c.  Col.  iii.  5. 
 I  Tim.  vi.  9,  11.  And  Ifaiah,  that  evange- 
 lical prophet,  making  proclamation  of  the- 
 gofpel,  faid,  "  Ho,  every  one  that  thirfteth, 
 "  come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no 
 "  money,  come  ye,  buy  and  eat;  yea,  come 
 "  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money,  and 
 "  without  price,"  Ifa.  lv.  1.  And  Chrift  the 
 great  Prophet  and  High  Prieft  of  our  profef* 
 fion,  whom  all  are  to  hear,  faith,  <c  freely  ye 
 "  have  received,  freely  give,"  Mat.  x.  8. 
 "  And  the  Spirit  and  the  Bride  fay,  Come; 
 "  and  let  him  that  heareth,  fay,  Come:  and 
 **  let  him  that  is  athirft,  come  :  and  who- 
 "  foever  will,  let  him  take  of  the  water  of 
 "  life  freely,"  Rev.  xxii.  17.  "  And  if  any 
 "  man  bring,  or  preach,  any  other  doctrine 
 <c  than  that  we  have  received,  we  are  not  to: 
 "  receive  him  into  our  houfes,  or  wifh  him 
 "  God  fpeed,"  &c.  Gal.  i.  9.  2  John  so. 
 
 O  ye  priefts  !  take  notice  of  thefe  things, 
 and   leave   off  perfecuting  and  calling  men 
 
 H  into 
 
(    93     ) 
 
 into  prifon  for  tithes.  Is  this  a  time  for: 
 you,  ye  evil  fervants,  to  be  eating  and  drink-.' 
 ing  to  excefs;  and  fmiting  your  fellow-fer- 
 vants  with  the  fift  of  wickednefs?  Your  wea- 
 pons are  not  fpiritual,  like  the  apoftles,  but 
 carnal:  rvreftling  with  flefh  and  blood  againft 
 the  truth,  and  them  that  live  in  it,  Mat.'xxiv. 
 48.  2  Cor.  x.  '4.  Eph.  vi.  1 2.  Know  ye  not, 
 that  the  mafter  of  the  houfe  is  returning  to 
 take  an  account  of  his  fervants,  and  give  to 
 every  one  his  due  reward  ?  O  take  heed  ! 
 left  he  come  upon  you  at  unawares,  and  caft 
 you  into  utter  darknefs,  who  have  hated  the 
 "  light,  and  loved  darknefs  rather,  becaufe 
 **  your  deeds  are  evil,"  John  iii.  19.  Be- 
 hold, the  Judge  ftandeth  at  the  door,  who 
 judgeth  righteoufly,  and  wall  not  acquit  the 
 guilty:  and  if  he  condemn  you,  his  judg- 
 ment is  juft:  "  Who  will  render  to  every 
 "  man  according  to  his  deeds,"   Rom.  ii.  6. 
 
 Therefore  be  warned  in  your  life-time, 
 and  repent  ere  it  be  too  late,  left  your  lat- 
 ter end  be  like  fome  of  the  former  perfecu- 
 tors  of  God's  people,  recorded  in  the  fcrip- 
 tures  of  truth,  &c.  And  the  Lord  is  the 
 fame  that  ever  he  was,  and  changeth  not ; 
 who  though  he  may  bear  long,  yet  "  he 
 ic  will  not  let  the  wicked  go  unpuniihed,'* 
 Prov.  xi.  21.  And  though  judgment  may 
 not  be  fpeedily  executed,  and  therefore  the 
 heart  of  the  wicked  are  wholly  fet  in  them  to. 
 do  evil;  yet,  vengeance  is  the  Lords,  and  he 
 
 will 
 
(( 
 
 (    99    ) 
 
 Will  repay  it  in  due  time,  and  reward  all  men 
 according  to  their  works :  and  it  is  a  righteous 
 thing  with  God,  to  recompence  tribulation  to 
 them  that  trouble  his  people,  and  to  them 
 who  are  troubled,  reft  with  him,  Ecclef.  viii. 
 II.  Rom.  xii.  19.   2  Thef.  i.  6. 
 
 O  ye  perlecuting  tribe  of  men !  how  have 
 ye  made  a  prey  of  the  people  of  God !  "  Feed- 
 "  ing  yourfelves,  but  not  the  flock;  eating 
 "  the  fat,  and  clothing  with  the  wool :  but  he 
 "  will  deliver  his  flock  from  vour  mouths, 
 that  they  may  not  be  meat  for  you,  and 
 they  fhall  no  more  be  a  prey,"  Ezek.  xxxiv. 
 1  to  22  verfe.  But  ye  have  not  turned 
 the  people  from  their  evil  ways,  but  rather 
 encouraged  them  therein  by  your  example: 
 io  that  from  you,  is  "  prophanenefs  gone 
 "  forth  into  all  the  land/'  Jer.  xxiii.  15.  for 
 like  prieft,  like  people, — nay,  you  are  ra- 
 ther like  the  foolilh  prophets  that  follow  their 
 own  fpirits,  and  have  feen  nothing  :  feduc- 
 ing  the  people  for  handfuls  of  barley,  and 
 pieces  of  bread ;  caUfiiig  people  to  err  by  your 
 lies  and  by  your  lightnefs;  making  merchan- 
 dize of  fouls  for  difhoneft  gain:  looking  to 
 your  own  way,  every  one  for  his  gain  from 
 his  quarter,  but  never  have  enough,  running 
 greedily  after  the  error  of  Balaam  for  reward, 
 loving  the  wages  of  unrighteoufnefs  as  he 
 did,  and  will  perifh  in  the  gainfaying  of  Core, 
 except  ye  repent.  Ezek.  xiii.  3  to  19.  Jer. 
 xxiii.  32.    2  Pet.  ii.  3.    Jude  1 1. 
 
 H  2  Well, 
 
{     ioo     ) 
 
 Well,  I  have  proved  what  I  alledged  in  the 
 beginning  of  this  letter,  that  I  am  imprifoned 
 unjuftly,  and  have  ftript  you  from  any  pre- 
 tence, to  tithes  in  fcripture,  or  feeming  ground 
 therefrom;  and  {hewed  the  contrary  in  plain 
 terms,  that  if  tithes  were  now  due,  it  is  not 
 to  you;  not  feeking  to  fhun  or  evade  any  ar- 
 gument that  can  be  drawn  from  fcripture :  I 
 matter  not  what  can  be  urged  otherwife,  of 
 which,  if  ye  defire  to  be  further  fatisfied,  read 
 G  F.  Howgill's  Great  Cafe  of  Tithes,  T.  EH- 
 
 *  wood's  Foundation  of  Tithes  fhaken,  R.  Ri» 
 
 *  chardfon's  Teftimony  againft  Tithing  among 
 
 *  Chriftians,'  &c.  *  which  you  have  not,  nor 
 ever  will  be  able  to  anfwer  or  refute :  But  when 
 you  are  confuted  as  to  any  divine  right,  then  you 
 fly  to  your  lafl  refuge,  faying,  The  law  gives 
 them  us,  and  we  will  have  them ;  which  is  but 
 a  poor  fhift  for  a  gofpel  minifter  to  run  to  the 
 law  for  his  defence,  which  originally  gave  them 
 to  Popifh  priefts ;  and  are  claimed  by  a  Popifh 
 law  to  this  day,  as  due  to  God  and  holy  church; 
 but  till  you  can  prove  them,  and  your  pra&ice 
 In  receiving  them,  by  fcripture  or  divine  inftitu- 
 tion  at  this  day,  you  muft  give  us  leave  to  re- 
 fufe  the  payment  of  them,  (though  we  fuffer 
 for  it)  and  upon  good  ground,  deny  you  to 
 be  minifters  of  Chrift  for  receiving  them,  go- 
 ing to  law  for  them,  and  perfecuting  fuch  as 
 cannot  for  confcience  fake  pay  them. 
 
 *  There  is  another  book  written  on  this  fubie£r,  called 
 c  The  Great  Cafe  of  Tithes,'  by  Anthony  Pearfon,  to 
 which  the  reader  is  alfo  referred. 
 
 And 
 
(     i°i     ) 
 
 And  therefore,  having  acquitted  myfelf  of 
 any  obligation  to  pay  tithes  in  this  golpel-day, 
 I  do  now  as  a  jChriitian  and  Proteftant  demand 
 my  liberty  from  under  this  oppreflive  and- 
 chriftian  yoke  of  bondage. 
 
 And  this  I  have  to  advertife  thee  of,  that 
 fince  my  imprifonment  in  this  place,  I  have 
 often  been  very  ill  as  to  my  health,  through 
 clofe  confinement,  and  want  of  common  con- 
 veniences fo  far  from  home;  not  that  I  con- 
 plain  to  thee,  or  expect  any  thing  of  thee  but 
 my  liberty,  which  is  my  right  in  the  fight  of 
 God  and  men ;  and  if  I  do  otherwife  than 
 well,  my  blood  will  lie  at  thy  door,  and  thou 
 wilt  not  be  guiltlefs:   But  however  it  may  be 
 ordered  as  to  me,  I  hope  I  fhall  be  content 
 in  the  will  of  God,  and  leave  my  caufe  to 
 him  if  I  perifh  through  thy  cruelty.     O !  why 
 fhould  thy  hoary  head  go  down  to  the  grave 
 framed  with  blood?  Repent,  repent,  if  thou 
 canft  find  a  place,  and  turn  to  the  Lord  with 
 all  thy  heart,  that  he  may  {hew  thee  mercy, 
 before  his  fury  break  out    and  there  be  no 
 remedy:   For  furely  the  Lord  will  vifit  for 
 thefe  things,   and  thy  head  will  hardly  go 
 down  to  the  grave  in  peace  except  thcu  re- 
 penteft.     O  that  thy  foul  might  be  faved !  I 
 wifh  well  to  thee,  and  defire  thy  falvation, 
 Whatever  I  fuffer  from  thee.     "  O  that  thou 
 "  mayeft  know  in  this  thy  day  the  things 
 "  that  belong  to  thy  peace,  before  they  be  hid 
 4*  from  thine  eyes,"  Luke  xix.  42.     I  am 
 H  3  concerned 
 
(       102       ) 
 
 concerned  for  thee,  and  can  freely  forgtvet 
 thee  what  thou  haft  done  to  me:  Thou  art 
 already  old,  and  thy  days  will  foan  come  to  an 
 end,  and  an  account  thou  rauft  give  of  thy 
 deeds  done  in  the  body,  and  receive  a  reward 
 according  to  thy  works.  .  I  am  loath  to  treat 
 thee  fo  harfhly  as  thy  dealing  with  me  de- 
 fences: yet  this  I  know,  that  if  thou  wilt  be 
 happy,  and  come  to  know  "  Peace  with  God 
 "  when  time  fhall  be  no  more,"  thou  nvuft; 
 come  to  the  "  light  of  Chrift,"  which  mines 
 in  thy  dark  heart,  to  mew  thee  thy  evil 
 deeds,  even  all  that  ever  thou  haft  done, 
 John  i.  9.  viii.  1 2.  <c  The  grace  of  God  that 
 "  brings  falvation  which  appears  to  all  men, 
 u  teaching  them  (that  learn  of  it)  to  denyun- 
 *'  godlinefs  and  worldly  lulls,  and  to  live  fo- 
 *c  berly,  righteoufly,  and  godly  in  this  pre- 
 "  fent  world,"  Tit.  ii.  11,  12.  Which  light, 
 grace,  and  fpirit  of  God,  will  work  the  falva- 
 tion of  all  that  believe  in  it,  receive  it,  and 
 obey  it,  from  fin  here  and  wrath  to  come. 
 And  thou  muft  repent  from  fin  and  dead 
 works,  even  with  that  repentance  which  is 
 never  to  be  repented  of,  that  thy  fins  may  be, 
 blotted  out  before  thou  goeft  hence  and  feeft 
 man  no  more;  elfe  thou  wilt  "  die  in  thy 
 *'  fins,  and  whither  Chrift  is  gone  thou  canft 
 "  not  come,"  Jo.  viii.  21,  24.  This  is  true, 
 according  to  fcripture;  wherefore  be  wife,  and 
 conlider  thy  latter  end:   and   mind   not  the 
 
 tlungs 
 
(     103     ) 
 
 things  of  this  world  more  than  that  which  is 
 to  come. 
 
 And  as  for  that  miniftry,  religion,  or  wor- 
 fhip,  that  cannot  ftand  or  iubiift  without  force 
 or  violence,  it  cannot  be  the  true  miniftry, 
 for  that  can  fubfift  without  it.  Yea,  I  believe, 
 the  Lord  will  never  want  true  evangelifts  to 
 preach  the  everlafting  gofpel  of  glad  tidings 
 and  falvation  to  the  fons  and  daughters 
 •  of  men :  not  like  the  Pope's  dronilh  di- 
 vines, who,  under  a  pretence  of  ferving 
 Chrift,  have  devoured  the  good  of  many 
 lands  in  the  fervice  of  their  lufts  and  bellies ; 
 having  their  hearts  "  exercifed  with  covetous 
 ,"  practices,"  2  Pet.  ii.  14.  minding  not  hea- 
 venly, but  earthly  things,  and  loving  the 
 creatures  more  than  the  Creator,  whofe  minds 
 are  in  the  earth,  "  feeking  thofe  things  which 
 "  are  here  below,"  Col.  iii.  1,  2.  and  not 
 thofe  which  are  above,  where  Chrift  fitteth, 
 who  have  not  firft  fought  the  "  kingdom  of 
 . "  God,  and  his  righteoufnefs,"  Mat.  vi.  33. 
 where  the  addition  of  other  things  are  known 
 in  feafon;  which  if  ye  had,  things  would  pro- 
 fper  better  with  you  than  they  do;  for  it  is 
 evident,  the  blelling  of  God  doth  not  attend 
 your  ill-gotten  gain,  but  a  cuiTe  follows  it, 
 infpmuch  that  many  men  with  fmall  eftates 
 live  far  better  than  you  do  with  lome  hundreds 
 by  the  year;  fo  that  your  great  incomes  do  not 
 .  make  you  rich,  and  there  is  little  laid  up  in 
 ftore  for  your  children:  For  according  to  the 
 H  4..  proverb^ 
 
(     *°4     ) 
 
 proverb,  ill-gotten  goods  do  not  profper.  But 
 I  mall  fay  little  more  of  thefe  things,  for  people 
 fee  it  plain  enough,  and  are  ready  to  judge 
 accordingly. 
 
 Therefore,  I  fay,  "  Repent,  that  your  fins 
 "  may  be  blotted  out,"  Ads  iii.  19.  and  turn 
 to  the  Lord  with  all  your  hearts,  and  not  only 
 "  confefs,  but  forfake  your  fins,"  Prov.  xxviii, 
 ■13.  that  he  may  hear  your  prayers  and  have 
 mercy  upon  you,  which  is  the  worft  I  defire 
 for  any  of  you,  that  ye  may  come  to  know 
 peace  with  him,  before  ye  go  hence  and  be 
 no  more  feen.  However,  I  fhall  be  fatisfied 
 in  that  I  have  warned  you  of  thefe  things,  and 
 borne  my  teftimony  to  the  truth  in  my  day, 
 both  by  doing  and  fuffering;  and  having 
 cleared  my  confeience  to  you,  and  thee  in 
 particular,  I  fliall  reft  in  the  Lord,  in  whom 
 I  have  peace,  (glory  to  him  for  ever)  which 
 you  cannot  take  away,  being  above  the  wrath 
 of  man; — and  whether  you  hear  or  forbear 
 I  fhall  be  clear  in  the  fight  of  God :  If  you 
 perifli  in  your  gainfaying,  and  if  thou  or  any 
 others,  yet  perfift  in  your  cruelty  againft  me, 
 and  continue  in  hardnefs  of  heart  againft  God 
 and  his  people,  defpifmg  inftruction,  and  hat- 
 ing to  be  reformed,  I  fhall  leave  you  to  the 
 Lord,  and  commit  our  caufe  to  him  who 
 judgeth  righteoufly,  and  will  "  render  to 
 *'  every  man  according  to  his  deeds :  To 
 **  them  who  by  patient  continuance  in,  well-? 
 *'  doing  feek  for  glory,  hpnour,  and  immor- 
 
 «  tality, 
 
(     i  ©'5    ) 
 
 **  tality;  eternal  life.  But  unto  them  that 
 "  are  contentious,  and  do  not  obey  the  truth, 
 *l  but  obey  unrighteoufnefs ;  indignation  and 
 "  wrath,"  Sec,  Rom.  ii.  6,  7,  8,  9.  And  what 
 is  here  written  fhall  (land  as  a  witriefs 
 againft  thee;  and  I  expect  thy  anfwer  here- 
 unto, at  my  prifon  in  Ivelchefter,  where  I 
 remain, 
 
 A  friend  to  thy  foul, 
 
 Afufferer  under  thee  in  out-*)  and  the  fouls  of  all  men: 
 ward  bonds,  for  my  telh-  I        ,      ,  , 
 
 mony  againft  th^t  and- ( and  though  an  enemy 
 chriaian    opprtffiun   of  [to  deceit,  yet  a  friend 
 
 tithes:    the  zgth  of  the  \f     f     th 
 9th  month,  1689.  Jt0  irU    ■' 
 
 JOHN  WHITING* 
 
 A  copy  of  the  aforefatd  letter  (for  fubftance) 
 was  delivered  by  my  kinfman,  William  Rum- 
 ney,  to  Edward  Ancketyll  the  younger,  for 
 the  hands  of  his  father,  at  the  fteeple-houfe 
 at  Naylfey,  the  19th  of  the  10th  month  fol- 
 lowing the  date  thereof,  where  it  was  read 
 openly  among  the  people  by  an  eminent  man 
 of  the  parifh,  who  was  foon  after  convinced 
 of  the  truth,  the  faid  Edward  Ancketyll,  jun, 
 promifing,  on  behalf  of  his  father,  that  they 
 
 would 
 
(     io6     ) 
 
 would  mew  it  to  the  clergy,  and  anfwer  itj 
 but  never  did,  and  afterwards  faid,  they  would 
 not  anfwer  it,  and  fo  were  worie-than  their 
 words;  my  adverfary  being  troubled  that  it 
 was  made  fo  public,  though  his  fon  when 
 he  was  prefTed  not  to  conceal  it,  not  only 
 gave  it  to  his  hearers,  and  confented  to  the 
 reading  of  it  there,  as  aforefaid,  but  faid,  if 
 I  would,  it  fhould  be  read  at  the  high-crofs 
 in  Briftol,  my  defire  being  that  it  mould  be 
 made  public.  And  another  time,  at  the  fprink- 
 ling  of  a  neighbour's  child,  difcourfing  about 
 it,  one  of  their  chief  hearers  faid,  he  did  be- 
 lieve in  his  confcience,  that  it  was  true  every 
 word  of  it.  Whereupon  the  old  prieft  broke 
 out  in  a  rage,  and  faid,  I  was  a  rogue,  and  fo 
 were  they  that  did  take  my  part;  and  called  my 
 letter  railery :  but  I  gave  them  no  fuch  names, 
 for  I  treated  them  in  fcripture  language;  and, 
 to  evade  anfwering  me,  they  faid,  it  was  writ-* 
 ten  by  John  Anderdon,  my  fellow-prifoner, 
 which  is  falfe:  And,  finally,  for  an  excufe, 
 faid,  It  was  not  worth  anfwering;  verifying 
 the  old  proverb,  that  A  bad  fhift  is  better  than, 
 none. 
 
 J3ut  worth  or  not  worth,  fo  it  is  like  to  re- 
 main for  them,  who  feem  refolved,  as  long  as 
 the  law  upholds  them,  to  take  no  notice  of 
 whatever  is  urged  againft  them  and  their  prac- 
 tice, out  of  the  gofpel;  and  therefore,  feeing 
 it  Hands  over  their  heads  unanswered,  I  now 
 ieave  it  to  the  reader's  judgment* 
 
(    i°7    ) 
 
 And  I  appeal  to  all,  who  have  any  meafure 
 pf  honefty,  whether  it  was  j lift  or  reasonable 
 to  perfecute   and   abufe  us   at  their  pleafure, 
 without  giving  account  of  their  fo  doing  ac- 
 cording to  fcripture ;  though  they  pretend  the 
 icripture  is  their  rule,  but  will  not  be  ruled  by 
 it;  and  yet  cry  out  of  Popery,  but  live  in  the 
 fame  fpirit,  and  do  the  fame  things  to  their 
 power,    witnefs  their  delivering  over  to  the 
 lecular    power,    to    be    gaoled,    though    not 
 burnt ;     denying    the    Pope,    but    upholding 
 Popery,  as  I  could  fhew  in  many  things,  if 
 they  would  ftand  the  teft.    But  if  nothing  will 
 prevail  with  them.  "  tp  p!o  juftly,  love  mercy," 
 &c.   Mic.  vi.  8.  we  muft  leave  them  to  the 
 judgment  of  the  great  day,  when  it  will  not 
 be  enough  to  plead  they  had  a  law  for  what 
 they   did,  any  more  than  it  did  excufe  the 
 Jews,  who  faid,  "  Tliey  had  a  law,  and  by 
 "  their  law  Chrift  ought  to  die,"  John  xix.  j. 
 But,   "  Depart  from   me,   I   know   ye    not," 
 Luke  xiii.  27.  will  be  pronounced  to  all  the 
 workers  of  iniquity    (who  inftead  of   "  re- 
 u  ceiving,  viiiting,  or  miniitering"  unto  him, 
 Mat.  xvi.  27.  perfecute  him,  and  impriloniiis 
 members,  "  VV  hen  the  Son  of  man  mail  come 
 "  in  the  glory  of  his  kingdom,  with  his  holy 
 "  angels,  whom  he  will  fend  forth,  and  they 
 "  fhall  gather  out   of  his   kingdom  all  things 
 "  that  offend,  and  them  which  do  iniquity, 
 "  &c,      1  hen  fhall  the  riehteous  fhine  forth 
 
 o 
 
 V  as  the  fun,  in  the  kingdom  of  their  father.; 
 
 "  who 
 
(    toB    ) 
 
 <c  who  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear."  Mat* 
 3txv.  31.  xiii.  41,  43. 
 
 Chrift  faid,  u  Freely  ye  have  received, 
 "  freely  give,'*  Mat.  x.  8.  But  the  priefts 
 of  England  perhaps  will  fay  (as  fome  have 
 "done)  that  they  have  not  received  freely  (be- 
 caufe  it  cofts  them  money  to  be  made  mini- 
 fters) and  therefore  cannot  freely  give.  In 
 which,  though  they  fpeak  truly,  yet  they 
 thereby  prove  themfelves  to  be  no  minifters 
 of  Chrift ;  for  they  receive  freely,  and  fo  mi- 
 nifter  freely  again;  but  thefe  do  not,  having 
 not  received  freely,  but  are  hirelings ;  for  "  the 
 **  gift  of  God  is  not  to  be  bought  and  fold 
 *'  with  money,'*  Ads  viii.  20.  if  it  had,  then 
 Simon  Magus  might  have  bought  it,  but  he 
 could  not;  and  if  he  was  rejected  for  offering 
 to  buy  it,  without  doubt  they  are  as  reprove- 
 able  who  pretend  to  fell  it:  From  which  na- 
 turally arifes  this  argument  againfl  the  priefts 
 and  tithes,  on  Matt.  x.  8. 
 
 They  who  are  minifters  of  Chrift 
 
 Have  received  the  gofpel  freely  of  Chrift: 
 And  therefore  adminifter  it  freely  again. 
 
 But  they  who  do  not  preach  the  gofpel  freely, 
 Becaufe  they  have  not  received  it  freely, 
 They  have  not  received  the  gofpel  of  Chrift; 
 
 And  therefore  are  no  minifters  of  Chrift. 
 
 The  common  Englifh  Proteftants  (fo  called) 
 may  be  compared  to  king  Saul  and  his  army, 
 
 whom 
 
(     *°9     ) 
 
 whom  the  Lord  commanded  by  the  mouth  of 
 his  prophet,  faying,  "  Go  and  deftroy  Ama- 
 "  lek,  and  fpare  none  alive,  but  they  fpared 
 "  the  beft  of  the  fheep  and  oxen,  &c.  under 
 "  pretence  of  facrifice  to  the  Lord;  but  he 
 "  rejected  it,  and  Saul  alfo  from  being  king 
 u  over  Ifrael;  and  rent  the  kingdom  out  of 
 "  his  hands,  and  gave  it  to  a  neighbour  of 
 "  his  who  was  better  than  he,  becaufe  he 
 "  obeyed  not  the  word  of  the  Lord,  in  exe- 
 **  cuting  his  wrath  upon  his  enemies,  but  did 
 <(  fly  upon  the  fpoil,  and  did  evil  in  the  fight 
 "  of  the  Lord;  for  to  obey  is  better  than  fa- 
 "  crifice,  and  to  hearken  than  the  fat  of  rams; 
 **  for  rebellion  is  as  the  fin  of  witchcraft,  and 
 "  ftubbornnefs  as  iniquity  and  idolatry/* 
 I  Sam.  xv.  3,  9,  18,  19,  22,  23,  28* 
 So  thofe  called  Proteftants,  when  they  mould 
 have  deftroyed  Popery,  root  and  branch, 
 only  deftroyed  that  which  was  vile  and  refufe 
 as  Saul  did,  but  fled  on  the  fpoil,  and  fpared 
 the  beft,  as  tithes,  and  other  things  which  were 
 profitable  to  them.  Like  "  Achan,  who  took 
 "  the  accurfed  thing,  when  he  faw  among  the 
 "  fpoils  (in  the  deftruction  of  Jericho)  a  goodly 
 "  Babylonifh  garment,  and  two  hundred  fhe- 
 "  kels  of  lilver,  and  a  wedge  of  gold,  he  co- 
 "  veted  them  and  took  them,  and  hid  them 
 "  in  the  earth  in  his  tent;  becaufe  of  which, 
 "  Ifrael  could  not  ftand  in  the  day  of  battle, 
 "  but  fled  before  their  enemies,  till  Achan  was 
 "  taken  and  ftoned  to  death,  and  the  filver, 
 
 «  and 
 
(      no     ) 
 
 w  and  the  garment,  and  the  wedge  of  gold* 
 "  burnt   with  him  in  the  valley  of  Achor^ 
 "  which  is  the  door  of  hope."  Jofh:  vii.  i; 
 21,24,  25.   Hof.  ii.  15.     O  that  all  concerned 
 herein,  would  lay  thefe  things  to  heart,   and 
 beware  left  the  fame  happen  to  them ;  for  the 
 Lord  will  not  be  mocked,  the  fame  caufe  will 
 produce  the  like  effect.     It  is  in  vain  to  pre- 
 tend to  hate  the  Pope  and  Papifts,  and  love 
 and  uphold  Popery;  that  is  but  like  the  pro- 
 verb, To  hate  the  traitor,  and  love  the  trea- 
 son.    Why  fhould  they  hate  the  perfons  and 
 love  their  practices  ?  Cry  out   againft  Rome, 
 and  hug  the  rags  and  relicks  of  it,  as  if  they 
 had  forgot  whence  they  came  ?  I  fay,  let  none 
 deceive  themfelves,  "  God  will  not  be  mock- 
 "  ed;  fuch  as  every  one  fows,  that  muft  they 
 "  reap,"   Gal.  vi.  7.      And   let  none  think  it 
 enough,  that  they  have  denied  part  of  Po- 
 pery, and  keep  up   the  reft,  becaul'e  it  fiats 
 their  own  intereft;  they  "  cannot  ferve  God 
 tt  and  mammon,  or  be  heirs   of  two  king- 
 <c  doms,"  Luke  xvi.  13.  If  they  will  "  drink 
 "  of  the  whore's  cup,  and  partake  of  her  finsj- 
 "  they  muft  alfo  of  her  plagues,"  Rev.  xviii. 
 4.  The  Lord  will  not  be  mocked,   or  ferved 
 by  halves:  "  His  fervants   ye  are   whom  ye 
 *'  obey,"   Rom.  vi.  16.  and  to  deftroy  fome 
 and  keep  the  reft  alive,  is  but  like  the  children 
 of  Ifrael  fparing  that  which  ihould  have  been 
 deftroyed  or  given  up.      There  muft  not  be  a 
 hoof  left  behind j  all  the  old  leaven  muft  be 
 
 purged 
 
(  III  ) 
 
 purged  out,  and  that  which  Is  for  the  fword, 
 given  up  to  the  fword,  &c.  "  Whofoever  will 
 fave  his  life  mall  lofe  it."  i  Cor.  v.  7.  Jer. 
 xv.  2.  Mat.  xvi.  25.  Mark  viii.  35.  So  that 
 there  muft  be  a  thorough  reformation,  before 
 all  will  be  well,  and  that  is  the  conclufion  of 
 this  matter. 
 
 Note,  foon  after  this,  the  clerk  of  the  pa- 
 rim,  one  George  Gay,  a  young  man,  whofe 
 father  was  the  prieft's  tithe-gatherer,  was  con- 
 vinced of  the  truth,  and  lived  and  died  an  ho- 
 neft  friend. 
 
 :  About  this  time  died  Hugh  Tickell,  an 
 eminent  friend  of  Cumberland,  who  had  a 
 public  teftimony.  He  was  born  about  the 
 year  1609,  or  10;  and  was  an  honeft  man, 
 even  before  he  was  convinced  of  the  truth, 
 which  was  in  the  year  1653,  when  G.  Fox 
 came  firft  into  Cumberland,  and  gave  up  his 
 houfe  for  meetings,  and  was  ready  alio  to 
 entertain  the  Lord's  meftengers,  and  to  "  do 
 "  good  to  all,  efpecially  the  houfhold  of 
 "  faith,"  Gal.  vi.  10.  according  to  the  apoftks 
 exhortation,  u  Forget  not  to  entertain  ftran- 
 gers,"  &c.  Heb.  xiii.  2.  And  the  Lord 
 bleifed  him  in  both  fpirituals  and  temporals. 
 And  as  he  grew  in  the  truth,  he  came  to 
 receive  a  teftimony  to  bear  for  it;  and  was 
 often  concerned  to  bear  teftimony  againft 
 the  hireling  priefts  at  fteeple-houles,  and  in 
 markets;  to  the  people,  as  well  as  friends  in 
 meetings.     And   in  the  year   1656,  he  was 
 
 moved 
 
(       U2       ) 
 
 moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  into  Scotland,  to 
 Douglas,  Heads,  Hamilton,  Glafgow,  Edin- 
 burgh, &c.  and  had  good  fervice  for  the  Lord, 
 and  his  truth;  and  was  alfo  drawn  forth  to 
 vint  friends  in  the  Weft  of  England  and. divers 
 other  places.  He  was  a  man  that  bore  a 
 faithful  teftimony  for  the  truth,  and  fuffered 
 much  for  it,  both  in  the  fpoiling  of  his  goods 
 and  imprifonment  of  his  body  for  tithes :  As 
 in  the  year  1664,  he,  and  four  friends  more, 
 were  caft  into  Carlifle  gaol,  by  Henry  Mar- 
 fhal,  prieft  of  Croftwhait ;  and  though  he  kept 
 him  in  prifon  about  three  years,  yet  he  took 
 tithe  of  his  land.  But  afterwards,  this  prieft 
 Marfhal  fell  down  a  pair  of  ftairs,  and  broke 
 his  fcull,  upon  which  he  died.  He  was  after- 
 wards imprifoned  again  in  the  faid  gaol  of 
 Carlifle,  in  his  old  age,  (being  about  68  years 
 old)  by  Richard  Lowry,  another  prieft  of  the 
 faid  Croftwhait,  becaufe  he  could  not  pay 
 him  tithes,  who  kept  him  prifoner  about  nine 
 months,  part  of  it  in  a  cold  winter,  and  in- 
 a  cold  nafty  place,  not  lit  for  honeft  men  to 
 lie  in,  till  Providence  ordered  his  enlarge- 
 ment. And  this  prieft  Lowry  was  fuddenly 
 ftricken,  and  had  the  ufe  of  one  fide  of  his 
 tongue,  and  his  underftanding  much  taken 
 from  him,  and  fo  continued  a  long  time, — a 
 remarkable  judgment.  The  faid  Hugh  Tickell 
 patiently  bore  all  his  fufferings,  and  willingly 
 endured  thefe  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  and  a 
 good  confcience.   But  in  his  laft  imprifonment 
 
 foe 
 
(     "3     ) 
 
 he  contracted  a  diftemper  of  body,  which  in- 
 creating  upon  him  after  he  came  home,  he 
 grew  weak,  but  continued  in  great  patience; 
 and  being  fentible  his  departure  drew  nigh,  he 
 fet  his  houfe  in  order,  and  taking  his  leave  of 
 friends  and  neighbours,  fweetly  departed 
 this  life,  and  laid  down  the  body  in  peace 
 with  the  Lord,  being  above  70  years  of  age* 
 in  the  year  1680*. 
 
 This  year  alfo  died  that  faithful  fervant  of 
 God  and  minifter  of  Chrift,  Giles  Barnard- 
 ifton,  of  Clare,  in  Suffolk ;  a  man  of  account 
 in  the  world,  as  defcending  of  a  great  family. 
 He  was  born  about  the  year  1624,  and  was 
 brought  up  at  fchools  of  learning,  being  fix 
 years  at  the  univerfity,  his  parents  defigning 
 him  for  the  miniftry,  but  he  had  not  freedom 
 to  take  that  office  upon  him,  which  was  ac- 
 cording to  the  will  of  man,  though  he  had 
 learning  to  render  him  accepted,  and  was 
 promifed  preferment:  but  he  faw  a  want,  in 
 Jiimfelf,  of  that  pure  and  fpiritual  wifdom 
 which  the  fcripture  teflifies  the  Lord  en- 
 dued his  minifters  withal;  fo  that  a  dread 
 and  fear  came  upon  him,  looking  upon  that 
 work  to  be  too  weighty  for  him  in  the  Mate 
 he  was  then  in;  and  faw  that  the  national 
 teachers  did  not  walk  as  became  the  minifters 
 of  Chrift.;  counting  they  had  the  more  to  an- 
 fwer  for  to  God,  in  taking  upon  them  fuch  an 
 office,  and  fo  little  regarded  to  perform  what 
 they  pretended  to,  &c.    fo  that  his  friends 
 
 I  could 
 
(     "4     ^ 
 
 could  not  perfuade  him  to  accept  of  the  place 
 provided  for  him,  whereby  he  rather  expofed 
 himfelf  to  their  difpleafure.  He  had  a  commif- 
 fion  in  the  late  wars,  but  not  having. fatisfa&ion 
 in  it,  feeing  fuch  a  deluge  of  wickednefs,  com- 
 ing in  like  a  flood  upon  the  nation,  he  laid  it 
 down,  and  came  to  Wormingford-Lodge  in 
 Elfex,  applying  his  heart  to  wifdom,  (which 
 Solomon  fays  is  better  than  weapons  of  war) 
 and  betook  himfelf  to  a  more  ftrid:  private  life 
 than  formerly,  which  had  been  much  in 
 worldly  pleafures  and  delights,  (called  paf- 
 time  and  recreation)  in  the  midft  of  which 
 he  had  no  true  content,  finding  a  fling  in 
 the  tail  of  them,  and  their  latter-end  bitter, 
 &c.  deliring  of  the  Lord  to  fhew  him  the 
 way  of  life;  refolving  in  his  heart,  if  he  could 
 find  out  the  people  that  were  truly  feeking  the 
 Lord,  he  would  join  with  them;  and  being 
 inclined  to  try  and  fearch  into  the  principles 
 of  the  people  called  Quakers,  about  the  year 
 1 66 1,  he  invited  fome  of  them  to  his  houfe; 
 and  George  Fox,  jun.  being  then  at  Colchefler, 
 took  George  Wetherly  with  him,  and  went  to 
 give  him  a  vifit,  whom,  when  he  faw,  he  in- 
 vited in;  and  G.  Fox  difcourfing  with  him 
 concerning  the  light  of  Chrifl  Jefus,  who  had 
 tailed  death  for  all  men,  and  lighted  them  that 
 they  might  have  life ;  which  fuiting  with  the 
 fcriptures,  and  Giles  Barnardiflon's  own  expe- 
 rience, he  embraced  the  truth,  and  took  up  the 
 crofs  forfaking  his  former  lovers  and  compa- 
 nions % 
 
(     "5     ) 
 
 nions;  defpifmg  the  fhame,  and  frequented 
 the  meetings  of  the  Lord's  people;  and  be- 
 came a  companion  to  them  that  feared  the 
 Lord;  abandoning  the  glory  and  friendfhip 
 of  the  world  for  the  love  of  Chrift,  and  that 
 at  a  time  of  very  great  danger  and  exercife, 
 when  truth  was  perfecuted  in  the  ftreets  at 
 Colchefter,  by  two  troops  of  armed  foldiers, 
 let  on  by  fome  envious  men  to  break  up  friends 
 meetings  twice  a  week,  in  1663,  and  part  of 
 64,  to  the  hazard  of  their  lives.  He,  like 
 Mofes,  choofing  rather  to  fuffer  with  the 
 people  of  God,  than  enjoy  the  pleafures  of 
 lin  for  a  feafon:  And  fome  years  after,  about 
 1669,  the  Lord  opened  his  mouth,  and  made 
 him  an  able  minifter  of  the  New  Teftament, 
 not  of  the  letter  but  of  the  fpirit,  which  fervice 
 he  faithfully  performed  till  the  day  of  his  death. 
 In  the  faid  year  1 669,  he  removed  to  Clare,  in 
 Suffolk,  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  had -great 
 deiires  that  the  Lord  would  raife  up  a  people 
 in  that  place;  and  the  Lord  anfwered  his  de- 
 iire;  and  he  was  made  inftrumental  to  turn 
 many  from  darknefs  to  light,  &c.  So  that 
 though  he  had  no  children  outwardly,  yet  in 
 the  fpiritual  relation,  he  had  many  ions  and 
 daughters,  to  his  great  rejoicing  in  the  Lord. 
 He  travelled  in  many  parts  of  England,  and 
 alio  beyond  fea,  in  Holland,  with  Thomas 
 Green  and  John  Fttrly;  and  came  to  BriftoL 
 with  his  countryman  William  Bennit,  (of  whom 
 hereafter)  about  1677,  (the  only  time  I  faw 
 I  z  nuTl). 
 
(     "6    ) 
 
 him).  And  at  laft,  after  all  his  trials,  travels* 
 and  exercifes,  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers, 
 being  taken  ill  in  his  return  from  London  to 
 Chelmsford,  in  EiTex,  where  he  had  been  a 
 prifoner  many  years  (but  the  time  of  his  com- 
 mitment I  do  not  find).  His  ficknefs  was  but 
 fhort,  in  which  he  faid  the  Lord  was  his  por- 
 tion, and  he  was  freely  given  up  to  die,  as  he 
 did  the  nth  of  the  11th  month,  ]68o,  being 
 about  56  years  of  age,  and  left  a  fweet  favour 
 behind  him;  a  worthy  example  of  contempt  of 
 the  world's  glory.  Much  might  be  faid  of 
 him,  but  there  are  many  teftimonies  of  friends 
 concerning  him  in  a  book  intitled,  The  Life 
 of  Chrift  magnified  in  his  Minifter,  8vo. 
 printed  in  1681. 
 
 Samuel  Scott,  of  Ivelcheiler,  was  committed 
 to  priion  this  year,  on  a  qui  tarn  writ,  for  not 
 coining  to  church,  fo  called. 
 
 In  the  1  ft  month  following,  I  writ  a  letter 
 of  encouragement  to  my  kinfman  William 
 Rumney,  of  which  I  think  meet  to  infert  part 
 as  follows: 
 
 AND  my  deGre  is,  that  we  may  all 
 walk  in  the  truth,  and  pafs  the  time 
 of  our  fojourning  here  in  fear;  that  when  our 
 daysj  which  are  few  and  troubleiome,  may  be 
 expired,  and  our  teftimony  finifhed,  we  may 
 lay  down  our  heads  in  peace,  and  die  in  the. 
 Lord;  as  we  ihall,  if  we  live  in  his  fear,  that 
 
 in 
 
(    I]7    ) 
 
 In  the  end  we  may  live  with  the  Lord,  and 
 reft  with  the  fpirits  of  juft  men,  made  perfect, 
 where  the  righteous  mall  meet  together  again 
 at  the  General  AfTembly  when  time  fhall  be 
 no  more:  When  they  that  now  fuffer  with 
 Chrift,  fhall  reign  with  him  in  glory  for  ever 
 and  ever,  and  partake  of  the  riches  of  God's 
 houfe  for  evermore,  which  will  be  a  fufficient 
 reward  for  all  thefe  light  afflictions  which  are 
 not  worthy  to  be  compared  to  that  eternal 
 weight  of  glory,  which  is  laid  up  in  ftore  for 
 them  that  have  followed  the  Lamb  in  the  re- 
 generation, through  the  tribulation  of  their 
 time,  and  continue  faithful  to  the  end,  which 
 glory  fhall  be  revealed  in  due  time  to,  and  in, 
 all  thofe  who  love  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
 wait  for  his  appearance,  the  which  as  thou 
 doft  covet  after,  bearing  of  his  crofs,  thou  malt 
 receive  the  crown ; 
 
 As  wifheth  thy  friend, 
 
 iin  a  ~) 
 :8th   £ 
 
 i.  s 
 
 Ivelchefter,  where  I  remain  a  1    And  loving  kinfoian, 
 priioner  or  hope,  the  28th   V  ° 
 
 oftheift  month,  1681.     J  JoiIN  WHITING, 
 
 The  latter  end  of  the  2d  month,  having 
 been  out  in  the  country  a  little,  and  returning 
 towards  Ivelchefter,  as  I  fat  under  an  oak,  in 
 the  heat  of  the  day,  with  my  mind  turned  in- 
 ward to  the  Lord,  and  meditating  in  my 
 heart  the  things  of  God,  I  felt  him  near  me, 
 ftnd  with  me,  in  a  more  than  ordinary  man- 
 
 I  3  ner; 
 
(     n8     ) 
 
 nert  and  reflecting  on  our  fufFering  condition, 
 I  had  an  opening  in  my  mind  concerning 
 tithes  in  the  ground  of  them,  and  how  they 
 came  up  in  the  night,  of  apoftacy,  and  were 
 introduced  into  this  land;  and  what  a  fhame 
 it  was  to  Proteftants  to  receive  or  uphold 
 them,  being  of  Popifh  original,  fomewhat  be- 
 yond what  is  aforefaid,  or  than  I  can  now  ex- 
 prefs,  and  wifhed  afterwards  I  had  taken  it 
 down  in  writing,  but  was  fufneient  at  that 
 time  for  my  own  confirmation,  and  perhaps 
 was  only  for  myfelf.  I  went  to  a  friend's 
 houfe  at  Walton  on  Pollenhill  that  night,  and 
 next  day  to  the  burial  of  an  honeft  young 
 man,  at  Street,  where  I  met  dear  John  Ander- 
 don,  and  Thomas  Powell,  two  fellow-prifon- 
 ers:  we  had  a  fine  opportunity,  and  after- 
 wards returned  to  Ivelchefter,  it  being  an  ex- 
 traordinary time  of  love,  for  which  reafon 
 I  mention  it. 
 
 This  fpring,  Giles  Bale  aforefaid,  being 
 come  in  keeper  of  the  prifon,  who  was  an 
 angry  peevifh  man,  becaufe  I  did  not  go  out 
 of  the  Friary  (which  belonged  to  Davis  the 
 former  keeper,  where  I,  with  others,  were 
 prifoners)  to  his  houfe  at  Bellifpool,  of  my 
 own  accord,  without  any  direction  from  him ; 
 he  fent  one  day,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
 4th  month,  and  fetched  me  out,  (againft  my 
 will  I  cenfefs,  it  being  a  pleafant  prifon  to  me) 
 and  put  me  down  into  the  common-gaol, 
 where  feveral  friends  were  before  me  on  the 
 
 fame 
 
(     H9    ) 
 
 fame  account,  faying,  That  was  my  place, 
 and  there  I  mould  be;  though  I  told  him, 
 if  he  had  fent  the  leaft  child  in  his  houfe  to 
 order  me  whither  I  mould  go,  I  had  gone  ; 
 but  all  was  one,  nothing  would  do,  but  thi- 
 ther I  mufl  go,  and  there  I  mould  lie,  faying, 
 I  mould  never  come  out  again  while  he  was 
 keeper  (the  ufual  threat).  So  down  I  was  had, 
 and  put  into  a  dark  nafty  hole  called  Doctors 
 Commons,  where  they  ufed  to  put  the  con- 
 demned men,  where  I  lay  upon  draw  on  a 
 damp  earthen  floor,  which  feemed  fomewhat 
 hard,  not  having  been  ufed  to  fuch  lodgings. 
 But  one  day,  as  I  was  walking  in  the  court 
 of  the  prifon,  with  my  mind  retired  to  the 
 Lord,  it  arofe  in  my  heart,  Give  up,  which 
 took  impreffion  on  my  mind,  fo  that  I  gave 
 tip  to  fuffer  patiently,  and  leave  my  caufe  to 
 the  Lord,  being  refigned  to  his  will;  and  as 
 I  was  freely  given  up,  there  was  way  ma.de 
 for  my  deliverance  near  about  that  very  time, 
 by  means  of  the  keeper's  wife's  filler,  (a 
 pretty  friendly  woman)  who  fpoke  in  my 
 behalf,  and  wrought  my  enlargement,  either 
 with  him  or  her  lifter,  (for  which  I  hope  me 
 did  not  go  without'  her  reward)  and  fo  in 
 about  a  week's  time  after  I  was  put  in,  I  came 
 out  again,  notwithitanding  the  keeper's  threat- 
 ening. And,  O  the  peace  that  I  had  in  my 
 bofom!  furely,  it  was  as  a  river,  the  glory  of 
 the  Lord  as  a  flowing  ftream:  and  I  faw  it 
 was  good  to  be  faithful,  which  I  mention  for 
 I  4  the 
 
(     i*o     ) 
 
 tlie  good  encouragement  for  all  that  may  come 
 to  fuffer  for  the  teftimony  of  a  good  confci- 
 ence,  that  they  may  never  be  difmayed,  but 
 truft  in  the  Lord  Jehovah,  in  whom  is  ever- 
 lafting  flrength;  and  the  Lord  was  wonder- 
 fully with  me,  and  gave  me,  as  it  were,  a 
 fong  in  the  night,  in  my  faithful  fuflfering  for 
 his  name's  fake,  that  I  could  often  even  fmg, 
 though  in  the  prifon-houfe,  as  Paul  and  Silas 
 did  in  the  ltocks;  and  could  fay  with  the 
 pfalmift,  "  His  ftatutes  were  my  fongs  in  the 
 *•   houfe  of  my  pilgrimage,"  Pfal.  cxix.  54. 
 
 But  not  long  after,  having  been  out  of  town 
 at  a  meeting  on  a  firft  day,  it  was  noifed  about 
 town  at  my  return,  that  I  fhould  be  put  down 
 into  the  lower  gaol  again,  which  feemed  a 
 little  hard  to  look  at ;  the  enemy  purfued 
 fo  clofe,  that  I  was  ready  to  lay  with 
 David,  "  I  mall  one  day  fall  by  the  hand 
 *'  of  mine  enemy,"  1  Sam.  xxvii.  1.  but  as 
 I  retired  in  my  mind  to  the  Lord,  and  was 
 given  up  to  fuffer  for  his  fake,  the  thing 
 paffed  over.  And  thus  hath  the  Lord  pre- 
 served me  many  a  time,  as  I  have  flood  faiths 
 ful  unto  him. 
 
 About  this  time,  being  much  retired,  it 
 arofe  in  my  heart  to  write  a  teftimony  con- 
 cerning my  dear  lifter,  Mary  Whiting,  who 
 travelled  in  the  fervice  of  truth,  and  died  in 
 the  2 2d  year  of  her  age,  at  Norton,  in  the 
 county  of  Durham,  the  8th  of  the  2d  month, 
 jn    the  year    16765    which    was    afterwards 
 
 printed 
 
(      Ml      ) 
 
 printed  under  trie  title  of  c  Early  Piety  exem- 
 
 *  plified  in  the  Life  and  Death  of  Mary  Whit-? 
 
 *  ing,'  in  4to.  and  lince  in  8vo.  And  foon 
 after,  I  began  to  write  my  own  memoirs  of 
 the  mod  material  palTages  of  my  life,  as  to 
 things  both  civil  and  religious,  chiefly  for  a 
 memorial  to  myfelf  of  the  dealings  of  the 
 Lord  with  me  from  my  childhood,  of  which 
 thefe  (at  leaft  fo  far  as  relates  to  my  pro- 
 fecution  and  imprifonment,  &c.)  are  apart. 
 
 The  10th  of  the  9th  month  this  year,  i68r, 
 my  adverfary,  Edward  Ancketyll,  lent  another 
 friend,  Robert  Bullock  of  Clapton,  a  pretty  in- 
 nocent man,  to  prifon  for  tithes:  for  this  £dw, 
 Ancketyll  had  four  parishes  under  him,  viz. 
 Wraxall,  Nayliey,  Burton,  and  Clapton,  and 
 the  great  tithes  of  them  all;  and  yet  all  would 
 not  do,  of  which  more  anon:  and  at  the  fame 
 time  he  was  proceeding  againft  my  kinfman, 
 William  Rumney,  of  Naylfey,  (who  lived  in 
 my  houfe,  and  looked  after  my  ePcate  and  af- 
 fairs in  my  abfence)  for  the  tithes  of  his  own 
 eftate  at  common-law,  hoping  perhaps  to  get 
 more  that  way  of  him,  than  he  had  of  me  in 
 the  bifhop's  court:  but  he  was  difappointed 
 as  to  him  alfo ;  for  he  dropt  his  fuit,  or  fome 
 way  or  other  miffed  his  mark,  that  the  profe- 
 cution  fell  and  came  to  nothing,  which  indeed 
 was  very  providential  to  me  as  well  as  to  him ; 
 for  had  he  been  brought  to  prifon  alio,  as  was 
 expected,  it  would  have  been  very  prejudi-f 
 gial  to  me,  efpeciaUy  at  tliat  time,  I  having 
 
 non§ 
 
(       122       ) 
 
 none  elfe  to  confide  in,  as  to  the  manage- 
 ment  of  my  affairs  in  the  time  of  my  im- 
 prisonment, but  him,  who  was  very  fervice- 
 able  to  me :  I  pray  God  he  may  not  mifs 
 of  his  reward.  But  our  adverfary  the  prieft 
 grew  poor,  though  he  had  three  or  four  bene- 
 fices, worth  2  or  300I.  per  ann.  he  could  hard- 
 ly rub  round,  his  corn  being  ufually  all  fold 
 and  gone  before  more  came,  lb  that  he  was 
 glad  to  buy  again  for  his  own  ufe,  long  be- 
 fore harveft;  fo  that  I  think  the  proverb  was 
 iufficiently  verified  in  him  (as  I  told  him  in 
 my  letter)  that  ill-gotten  goods  do  not  pro- 
 fper ;  and  at  lafl  he  died  poor,  (of  which,  more 
 in  its  place,  1685), 
 
 At  this  time,  1681,  my  houfe  at  Naylfey 
 being  vacant,  my  tenant  G.  A.  having  left 
 my  eflate,  only  my  kinfman  William  Rumney, 
 above-mentioned,  living  in  it,  to  look  after  it, 
 I  gave  it  up  for  friends'  ufe  to  meet  in  as  for- 
 merly; and  many  brave  meetings  there  were 
 in  my  abfence;  and  fome  were  convinced  of 
 the  truth,  particularly  the  clerk  of  the  parifli, 
 and  another  eminent  man  as  aforefaid.  But 
 perfecution  being  like  to.  rife  upon  it,  for  the 
 word's  fake,  I  not  only  gave  up  my  houfe, 
 but  goods  alfo  in  it  to  be  fpoiled  on  that  ac- 
 count, if  fufferings  had  come,  as  threatened 
 and  expected  at  that  time,  though  I  was  pre- 
 ferred from  it  in  that  refpecl:,  being  freely 
 given  up  for  the  truth's  fake,  in  doing  or  fuf-* 
 fering  according  to  the  will  of  God. 
 
 Part 
 
(     *23     ) 
 
 Part  of  the  letter  I  writ  to  my  kinfman,  Wm» 
 Rumney,  about  it,  is  as  follows: 
 
 ■A 
 
 S  for  the  perfecution  that  is  riling, 
 I  am  grieved  to  hear  of  it,  but  it  is 
 like  to  be  generally  fo  in  moft  places;  but  let 
 none  be  troubled,  it  will  not  laft  long:  And  as 
 to  my  own  part,  I  am  not  at  all  concerned, 
 whatever  may  be  the  iifue,  not  fearing  the 
 lois  of  any  thing  for  the  truth's  fake;  and  let 
 friends  meet  there  as  they  ufed  to  do ;  and  tell 
 them  from  me,  that  they  {hall  never  want  a 
 houfe  to  meet  in  as  long  as  I  have  one,  what- 
 ever comes  of  it,  I  leave  it  to  the  Lord,  whofe 
 will  be  done  in  heaven  and  earth,  believing 
 he  will  never  fail  them  that  put  their  truit  in 
 him,  for  his  mercies  endure  for  ever,  and  the 
 righteous  he  will  never  forfake;  butthejuft 
 fhall  live  by  faith,  and  all  things  fhall  work 
 together  for  good  to  them  that  fear  the  Lord, 
 and  wait  upon  him ;  and  whatfoever  fuch  may 
 lofe  for  the  truth's  fake,  and  the  exercife  of  a 
 good  confcience  towards  God,  of  him  they 
 fhall  receive  an  hundred  fold,  as  they  are  kept 
 faithful  to  the  Lord,  who  is  worthy  to  be  feared 
 and  waited  upon,  faith  my  foul  for  evermore. 
 And  feeing  the  day  of  great  exercife  is  at 
 hand,  we  had  need  be  very  careful  and  dili- 
 gent, that  we  may  be  prepared  to  ftand  in  the 
 day  of  trial ;  that  keeping  the  word  of  his  pa- 
 tience, we  alfo  may  be  kept  in  the  hour  of 
 
 temptation, 
 
(     "4     ) 
 
 temptation,  which  is  coming  upon  all  the 
 world,  to  try  every  man's  work,  that  none 
 may  fuffer  as  an  evil  doer,  but  truly  for  well- 
 doing, and  then  fhall  we  not  mifs  of  a  reward 
 in  the  end ;  that  none,  while  they  fuffer  out- 
 wardly by  others,  may  caufe  the  feed  of  God 
 to  fuffer  in  themfelves.  O  William  !  I  truly 
 defire  thy  profperity  in  the  truth,  as  I  do  my 
 own,  that  above  all  things  thou  mayft  come 
 to  feel  and  witnefs  the  work  and  operation  of 
 God's  power  in  thy  own  heart,  which  will  be 
 a  gladnefs  to  me,  who  am  thy  real  friend  in 
 the  truth:  in  which,  with  my  true  and  un- 
 feigned love  to  thee,  and  friends  in  general,  as 
 if  I  named  them  in  particular, 
 
 I  bid  thee  farewell, 
 
 Xvelchefter,  the  20th  of  the  7 
 
 12th month,  1681.         J  JOHN   WHITING. 
 
 But  though,  through  the  mercy  and  provi- 
 dence of  God,  fufferings  were  prevented  there, 
 as  I  faid,  (and  which  is  remarkable,  I  do  not 
 remember  that  ever  a  meeting  was  troubled  on 
 the  conventicle-act  in  that  parifh  of  Naylfey, 
 where  I  was  born)  yet  it  fell  feverely  elfe-* 
 where,  as  will  appear  by  what  follows: — >. 
 
 And  firft,  to  begin  with  Bristol: 
 
 The  latter  part  of  this  year,  1 68 1,  there  was 
 a  great  perfecution  raifed  in  Briftol,  by  John 
 Knight,  fheriff;  Ralph  Oliffe,  alderman ;  John 
 Hclliar,.  attorney  5    and    feveral    conftablea 
 
 and 
 
(     t*5     ) 
 
 and  informers,  their  afliftants;  which  being  a 
 neighbouring  city  in  the  confines  of  our  coun- 
 ty, I  cannot  but  take  fome  notice  of  it.  There 
 have  been  three  great  perfecutions  in  this  city : 
 Firft,  by  the  Prefbyterians,  in  the  year  1 654 
 and  5$,  on  the  rife  of  the  people  called  Qua- 
 kers in  that  city,  under  the  mayoralty  of  John 
 Gunning;  fee  '  The  Cry  of  Blood.'     Second, 
 after   the    coming   in    of  the   King,  in  the 
 year   1663  and  64,   on   the   account  of  ba- 
 nifhment,  by  old  Sir  John  Knight;  fee  the 
 relation  of  '  The   Inhuman    and    Barbarous 
 4  Sufferings  of  the  People  called  Quakers,  in 
 c  the  faid  city.'     And  Third,  this  laft,  which, 
 like  the  third  blaft  of  wind  or  wave  of  the  fea, 
 was  the  moil  violent  of  all.     It  began  in  the 
 10th    month,    by   dismantling   the    meeting- 
 houfes,  particularly  that  at  the  Friars,  under 
 pretence  of  a  fine  of  5 1.  impofed  on  the  houfe, 
 for  not  fending  out  a  man  in  arms,  though  it 
 was  never  affelfed  before,  to  the  trained  bands. 
 They  began  by  breaking  the  forms,  benches, 
 glafs-windows,  &c.  tearing  down  the  galle- 
 ries, which  with  the  forms,  &c.  they  burnt  or 
 carried  away.     Then  going   up  flairs,  they 
 rifled  the  widow  Batho's  tenement,  throwing 
 down  her  goods  into  the  meeting-houfe,  even 
 her  very  bed,  which  Ralph  Oliffe  would  have 
 burnt,  if  he  had  not  been  prevented;  breaking 
 down  her  clofets,  cupboards,  wainfcots,  parti- 
 tions, glafs  windows,  &c.   making  great  fpoilt 
 and  carrying   away  her  goods ;    fei'zing  the 
 
 houfe 
 
(       ti6       ) 
 
 houfe  for  the  king;  clofing  up  the  doors,  and 
 fet  a  watch  to  keep  friends  out:  after  which, 
 they  went  and  made  the  like  fpoil  on  the  meet- 
 ing-houfe  in  Temple-ftreet,  though  there  was 
 no  fine  pretended  there,  (which  mews  that 
 that  was  but  a  pretence  to  begin  their  work) 
 infomuch,  that  a  fober  woman  of  their  own 
 church  cried  out  upon  them  to  leave  off  for 
 fhame,  forthefe  things  would  bring  the  plague 
 of  God  upon  them;  and  it  had  been  well  if 
 they  had  took  her  advice.  The  damage  done 
 at  thofe  two  meeting-houfes  amounted  to  150]. 
 Then  falling  upon,  and  following  friends 
 meetings  from  time  to  time,  fometimes  taking 
 names  to  make  conventicles  of  them,  and  fo 
 difperfing  them;  for  which  they  made  great 
 fpoil  of  goods,particularly  on  Thomas  Goldney, 
 Thomas  Jordan,  Thomas  Callowhill,  Richard 
 Marfh,  Richard  Snead,  John  Love,  Charles 
 Harford,  Charles  Jones,  Richard  Vickris,  &c. 
 to  the  value  of  fome  hundreds  of  pounds,  tak- 
 ing commonly  double  the  fines :  Hannah  Mar- 
 fhall  being  at  prayer,  they  fined  fome,  20 1.  for 
 her,  which  was  conceived  to  be  contrary  to  law. 
 At  other  times,  fending  them  to  prifon  for 
 pretending  riots,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  thirty, 
 forty,  &c.  at  a  time;  (driving  them  fometimes 
 like  cattle,  and  faying,  they  were  worfe  than 
 beads,  becaufe  they  would  not  go  a  drove)  the 
 men  moftly  to  Newgate,  and  the  women  to 
 Bridewell;  as  John  Moon,  on  the  Oxford  act; 
 Griffith  Jones,  a  merchant  of  London,  coming 
 
 thither 
 
(     I27    ) 
 thither  about  his  lawful  occafions,  and  feveral 
 others,  to  Newgate ;  and  eighteen  to  Bridewell 
 at  one  time,  feveral  whereof  were  women ;  as 
 Katharine  Evans,  Joan  Haly,  Elizabeth  Har- 
 ford,  Margaret  Thomas,  &C.  till  they  were 
 flowed  fo  full,    (fometimes  eighty,  ninety,  or 
 a  hundred,  and  upwards,  at  a  time)  efpecially 
 in  Newgate,  a  clofe,  nafty  prifon,  that  Sir  Ro- 
 bert Cann  laid,  he  would  not  put  a  dog  there 
 he  loved ;  and  which,  Sheriff  Lane  and  others 
 would  have  enlarged,  but  that  Sheriff  Knight 
 obftrucled  it,  with  defign,  no  doubt,  to  deitroy 
 the  lives  of  the  prifoners,  they  often  complain- 
 ed to  the  mayor,  Sir  Thomas  Earle,  &c.  of 
 the  ftraitnefs  of  the  prifon,    and  how  they 
 were  crouded  like  the  exchange  at  full  time, 
 that  there  was   not  room  for  them  to  lodge 
 or  lie  down  one  by  the  other,  but  they  were 
 forced  to  fit  up,   (efpecially  one  night)  or  lie 
 on  the  floor,  table-board,  and  under  the  table, 
 where  the  great  dog  ufed  to  lie,   the  frame 
 ferving  for  their  pillow  to  take  a  little   reft; 
 and  when  they  got  in  beds  and  mats  to  lie  on, 
 there  was  not  room  enough  to  fpread  them ;  but 
 fome  lay  on  the  floor,  and  fome  in  hammocks 
 over  head ;  and  in  the  morning  were  forced  to 
 take  up  their  beds,  and  pile  them  up  to  make 
 room  to  walk.  ^ 
 
 And,  befides  their  thus  committing  and 
 crouding  them  in  prifon,  beating  them  with 
 ftaves,  and  abufmg  friends  at  their  meetings 
 very  much,  even  women,  yea  with  child  too, 
 
 offering 
 
(       "«       ) 
 
 offering  incivilities  to  old  and  young,  thrown 
 ing  down  ancient  men  and  women  in  the 
 ftreets,  like  to  fpoil  them;  haling,  dragging 
 by  the  arms,  and  forcing  along  fafter  than  they 
 were  well  able  to  go  to  prifon;  punching  in 
 the  back,  and  pinching  their  arms  till  they 
 were  black  and  blue ;  pulling  off  and  throwing 
 away  hats;  tearing  the  womens'  hoods  and 
 fcarfs,  which  Helliar  ufed  to  give  a  fignal  for 
 to  the  boys,  by  bidding  the  women  have  a  care 
 of  their  hoods  and  fcarfs ;  fo  fetting  on  the 
 rude  boys  that  generally  followed  him,  and 
 teaching  them  how  to  do  it.  Others  encou- 
 raging them  to  throw  dirt  at  them ;  threaten-* 
 ing  to  thru  ft  his  cane  down  their  throats,  and 
 offering  to  punch  it  in  their  faces;  abufing 
 not  only  women,  but  girls  and  children;  beat- 
 ing, making,  and  pulling  by  the  hair;  and  if 
 any  fpoke  to  them  by  way  of  reproof,  fending 
 them  to  prifon ;  as  they  did  a  young  woman^ 
 as  a  rioter,  for  giving  a  rude  boy  a  box  on  the 
 ear  (which  he  well  deferved)  for  offering  an 
 incivility  to  her,  endeavouring  to  wrench 
 their  arms  and  hands,  as  if  they  would  break 
 them  off;  and  fo  roughly  handled  one  young 
 woman,  tearing  her  fcarf  off  her  back,  making, 
 thrufting,  and  throwing  her  againft  others,  as 
 much  disordered  her;  calling  the  women  abu- 
 five  names,  and  fetting  on  the  boys  to  abufe 
 them,  by  tearing  their  fcarfs,  and  throwing 
 dirt  at  them,  &c.  Helliar,  ftriking  at  John 
 Dole,  ftruck  a  woman  in  the  face  with  his 
 
 cane, 
 
(     I29     ) 
 
 cane,  which  hurt  her  much.  It  would  be 
 tedious  to  tell  of  all  their  abufes. 
 
 And,  befides  all  their  imprifonments  and 
 fpoils  of  goods*  they  profecuted  fifty  friends, 
 on  the  ftatute  made  againft  Popifh  recufants 
 for  20 1.  a  month,  and  threatened  others 
 (knowing  they  could  not  fwear)  to  tender 
 them  the  oath  of  allegiance,  to  ruin  them,  as 
 they  did  to  fome.  And  in  the  prifon  kept 
 them  fo  ftrait,  that  when  fome  were  danger- 
 oufly  ill,  they  would  not  let  them  go  home, 
 fo  much  as  to  get  a  little  health,  though  they 
 promifed  to  return,  or  to  be  returned,  alive  or 
 dead:  and  one  friend's  wife  was  brought  to 
 bed,  and  they  would  not  fuffer  him  to 
 go  and  fee  her.  Another's  father  was  fick, 
 and  died,  and  he  could  not  be  admitted  to  go 
 and  fee  him  before  he  died,  or  go  to  his 
 burial,  though  much  defired ;  and  would 
 have  paid  one  for  going  with  him  ;  fo 
 inhuman  were  they.  And  fheriif  Knight, 
 being  about  this  time  knighted  for  his  fer- 
 vices,  was  fo  imperious  afterwards,  both  at 
 meetings  and  in  the  prifon,  that  there  was  no 
 doing  with  him  and  his  accomplices,  who 
 vaunted  and  boafted  much  of  his  encourage- 
 ment, and  that  he  was  called  at  Newmarket 
 the  pillar  of  Briftol,  (to  the  fhame  of  the  city) 
 and  that  they  Ihould  have  a  troop  of  horfe 
 and  a  company  of  foot  down,  to  break  the 
 meetings, — of  which  more  next  year. 
 
 This  year,  »-6£i ,  died  that  ancient  fuffering 
 fervant  of  God,  and  faithful  minifter  of  Jelus 
 
 K  Chrift, 
 
(     '3°     ) 
 
 Chrlft,  Thomas  Taylor,  whom  I  well  knew, 
 and  therefore  cannot  but  give  fome  account  of 
 him.     He  was   born  at  or  near   Skipton  in 
 Yorkfhire,    about    the   year    16(6,    and  was 
 brought  up  a  fcholar  at  the  univerfity  of  Ox- 
 ford; and  came  to  be  a  national  teacher,  and 
 had  a  place  in  Weumoreland,  where  he  ufed 
 to   let  John  Audland  and   Francis  Howgill, 
 fometimes  preach   in  his  pulpit  before  they 
 were    convinced.      His   hearers   were    called 
 Round-heads    and   Puritans;    and  he   was  a 
 lecturer  at  Richmond  in  Yorkshire.     He  re- 
 fuled  to  baptife  children   at  the  font,   or  fign 
 them  with  the  fign  of  the  crofs,  before  he  was 
 convinced;  and  had  a  difpute  with  the  priefts 
 at  Kendal,  in  1 650,  about  it,  and  was  too  hard 
 for  them:    And  in  the  year  1652,  when  G. 
 Fox  came  into  Lancafhire,  he  and  fome  other 
 priefts  went  to  Swarthmore,  and  difcourfed 
 with  him,  and  Thomas  Taylor  was  convinced, 
 but  the  reft   oppofed.      Thomas   went  with 
 C  F.  to  a  meeting  next  day,  where  truth 
 i'pringing  up  in  him,  he  declared  it  to  the  peo- 
 ple,  and  fo  left  his  pariih  fleeple-houfe  and 
 preaching  for  hire    (though  he  had  been  a 
 noted  prieft)  and  came  to  preach  Chrift  freely, 
 as  he  had  received  him;  and  travelled  up  and 
 down  in  many  parts  of  England;  and  not  long 
 after  was  imprifoned  at  Appleby  in  Weftmore- 
 land,  in  the  6th  month,  1657,  for  fpeaking  in 
 the  fteeple-houfe  there,  where  he  continued 
 till  1659:    and  was  alio  imprifoned  at  York, 
 .^eicefler,  and  Coventry;  but  the  exact  times, 
 
(     W    ) 
 
 br  how  long,  I  cannot  fet  down ;  but  about  the1 
 year  1661,  he  was  imprifoned  at  Stafford, 
 and  tried  at  the  affizes  there ;  aiid  prsemunired 
 for  refuting  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  in 
 1662,  where  he  continued  till  king  Charles  the 
 Second's  Declaration  of  Indulgence;  on  which, 
 he  and  many  more  were  releafed  in  1672. 
 But  he  was  afterwards  imprifoned  there  again 
 for  a  time,  and  charged  for  a  j  emit,  but  finally 
 cleared  and  difcharged  about  1 679.  He  had  a 
 difpute  with  Dr.  Owen,  at  Oxford,  but  the  time 
 when  I  am  not  certain,  and  the  very  fcholars 
 could  fay,  that  Thomas  was  too  hard  for  him, 
 for  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and  upheld  him- 
 by  his  mighty  power,  in  all  the  fufferings, 
 hardfhips,  and  oppofition  he  met  with  for  the 
 truth's  fake.  He  ufed  to  come  to  Briftol,  and 
 was  once  at  Ivelchefter  after  I  was  a  prifoner 
 there.  And  at  laft,  after  all  his  labours,  tra- 
 vels, and  fufferings,  died  in  peace,  at  Stafford, 
 the  1 8th  of  the  ill  month,  1681,  refting  from 
 his  labours,  being  about  fixty-five  years  of  age, 
 and  was  there  buried;  and  left  a  good  report 
 and  favour  behind  him  in  the  town;  his 
 wife  dying  about  a  year  before  him.  He 
 wrote  many  ferviceable  books  and  papers, 
 chiefly  by  way  of  warning  to  the  rulers, 
 priefts,  and  people,  and  one  book,  in  anfwer 
 to  Richard  Baxter's  Cure  of  Church  Divilions, 
 Which  are  fince  collected  in  4to. 
 
 The  latter  end  of  this  year,  168  i,  there  were 
 ten  friends  fent  to  prifon,  viz. 
 Robert   Bullock    aforefaid,    by  my  adversary 
 Edward  Ancketyll,  for  tithes^ 
 
 K.  2  John 
 
John  Wride, 
 Robert  Tutton, 
 
 Rufus  Coram, 
 Elizabeth  Smith, 
 
 (    '3>    } 
 
 ")  of  Burnham,  two  old  pri- 
 ioners,  imprifoned  again 
 for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  of 
 Thos.  MumperTon,  im- 
 propriator, ioth  m.  1 68  r. 
 of  Crewkerne,  for  meeting 
 there  the  8th  ofiftm.i  68  £, 
 committed  the  I  ith  do.  and 
 Rufus  Coram,  for  refufing 
 to  take  the  oath  of  allegi- 
 ance, was  praemunired  at 
 Ivelchefterfeffions3  in  the 
 2d  month,  1682. 
 for  meeting  at  Gregory 
 Stoke,  were  committed  by- 
 Henry  Walrondjin  the  faid 
 ift  month,  168  f.  and  Ri- 
 chard Grabham,  for  refu- 
 fing to  take  the  oath  of  al- 
 legiance, was  prsemunired 
 at  the  laid  feflions  at  Ivel- 
 chefter,inthe2dmo.i682. 
 Thomas  Hymans,  of  Bridgwater,  was  com- 
 mitted toprifon,for  refufing  to  give  evidence  on 
 oath  againft  one  that  had  robbed  him  on  the 
 high-way,  by  judge  North,  at  the  affizes,  the 
 5th  of  the  2d  month,  1682;  and  fo  the  inno- 
 cent fufFered,  and  the  guilty  was  let  go  free. 
 
 The  laft  1  ft  day  of  the  2d  month  came  Henry 
 Walrond,  juftice,  to  Ilminfter  meeting,  where 
 was  our  friend  Elias  Ofborn  of  Chard,  who 
 having  been  at  the  affizes  the  latter  end  of  the. 
 laft  month,  to  affift  Robert  Abbot,  the  inn- 
 keeper of  Ivelchefter,  in  his  trial  on  the  ap- 
 
 .  peal, 
 
 Vincent  Boldy, 
 Richard  Grabham 
 Jof.  Hemberry, 
 Gilbert  Willicom, 
 George  Godfry, 
 
 > 
 
 J 
 
(     133     ) 
 
 peal,  upon  liis  being  fined  40 1.  by  the  faid 
 Henry  Walrond,  for  two  quakers  meetings  in 
 his  houfe,  when  indeed  there  was  not  one 
 within  the  conventicle-a£t,  only  the  quar- 
 terly meeting  aforefaid ;  the  faid  Walrond  up- 
 braided him,  the  faid  Elias  Ofborn,  with  it, 
 and  ftruek  him  feveral  blows  with  his  cane, 
 and  committed  him  and  fixty-eight  friends 
 more  to  the  conftable,  to  have  them  before 
 Colonel  Edward  Phillips,  next  day;  and  then 
 committed  fix  of  them  to  prifon,  viz.  Elias 
 Ofborn,  John  Alloway,  Walter  Bult,  Tho- 
 mas Smith,  and  two  more,  to  Bridewell ; 
 leaving  the  reft  till  next  month. 
 
 They  were  had  to  Bath  feflions  in  the  8th 
 month  following,  and  there  difcharged,  except 
 Elias  Ofborn,  who  was  returned  to  Ivelchefter 
 fe-ffions  in  the  2d  month,  1683,  and  then  re- 
 leafed  by  Sir  Ed.  Phillips,  judge  of  the  feffions. 
 
 Chriftopher  Holder  of  Winterburn  in  Glou- 
 cefterihire,  who  formerly  fuffered  in  New-Eng- 
 land, and  had  his  ears  cut  offthere)  coming  over, 
 and  fuffering  the  fpoiling  of  his  goods  for  meet- 
 ing in  Gloucefterfhire:  and  was  committed  to 
 Ivelchefter  prifon,  for  refufmg  to  take  the 
 oath  of  allegiance,  the  2 2d  of  the  3d  month, 
 1682. 
 
 The  28th  of  the  3d  month,  came  Henry 
 Walrond  to  Ilminfter  meeting  again,  and  took 
 the  following  friends,  and  next  day  committed 
 them  to  prifon,  viz. 
 
 K  3  William 
 
(     *34    ) 
 
 William  Rock,  of  Ilminfter,       1 
 
 Water  Giles,  ditto, 
 
 Robert  Giles,  ditto, 
 
 John  Crofs,  ditto, 
 
 John  Chozley,  ditto, 
 
 Alexander  Key,  ditto, 
 
 John  Mead,  ditto, 
 
 Jof.  Paul,  ditto, 
 
 Francis  Wilkins,  of  Chard, 
 
 Matthew  Page,  ditto, 
 
 William  Wafeby,  of  Buckland, 
 
 Bartholomew  Alford,  ditto, 
 
 Francis  Wilkins,  of  Chillington, 
 
 Jof.  Garland,  of  Comb, 
 
 John  Tucker,  ditto, 
 
 John  Lumbard,  of  Thorncomb,    V 
 
 Joiiah  Limberry,  ditto, 
 
 John  Porter,  ditto, 
 
 Jof.  Hemberry,  of  G.  Stoke, 
 
 Nathaniel  Blawden,  ditto, 
 
 Henry  Alio  way,  of  N.  Curry, 
 
 Gilbert  Willicom,  of  Ling, 
 
 John  Voak,  of  Fifehead, 
 
 Daniel  Wyat,  of  Dumot, 
 
 John  Farthing  ditto, 
 
 Robert  Wills,  of  ChifTelborough, 
 
 Giles  Knight,  ditto, 
 
 Richard  Slade,  of  Limington, 
 
 Jo.  Forfe,  of  HafTelborough, 
 
 Ste.  Harsford,  of  S.  Petherton, 
 
 Philip  Paul,  of  Stoke-Linch. 
 
 Thirty- 
 one    for 
 meeting 
 atllmin- 
 minfter, 
 on     firft 
 day,  the 
 28th    of 
 the  third, 
 month, 
 1682, 
 commit- 
 ted   by 
 Henry 
 Walrondj 
 the  29  th, 
 ditto,  ' 
 
 of 
 
(     *35     ) 
 
 Of  which  feventeen  were  fent  the  3d  of 
 the  4th  month,  and  put  into  Bridewell- 
 Chamber  over  the  common-gaol. 
 
 And  the  1 2th  of  the  4th  month,  there  were 
 nineteen  friends  more  committed  from  Gre- 
 gory-Stoke meeting,  the  nth  inftant,  by  the 
 laid  Henry  Walrond,  who  beat  and  abufed 
 friends  very  much  at  the  faid  meeting,  par- 
 ticularly John  Wall  of  Edington,  (who  fome 
 time  after  died  a  prilbner)  detaining  thirty, 
 or  upwards,  prifoners  all  night;  and  next 
 day,  becaufe  they  would  not  give  him  money, 
 fent  thefe  following  to  prifon,  viz. 
 
 John  Charley, 
 
 John  Dinning, 
 
 Henry  Chappel, 
 
 Nicholas  Bidwell, 
 
 Ifaac  Small, 
 
 Thomas  Burrow, 
 
 Jonathan  Allen, 
 
 Elizabeth  Shattock,  ►  In  all  17* 
 
 Thomas  Stone, 
 
 Anne  Ballam, 
 
 George  Godfry, 
 
 John  Wall, 
 
 Richard  Pleas, 
 
 Robert  Clark, 
 
 William  Waftly, 
 
 And  two  more, 
 
 K4 
 
 There 
 
(     «36    ) 
 
 There  being  now  about  30  friends  prifoners 
 in  Bridewell-Chamber,  a  large  room  that  run 
 all  over  the  common  gaol,  friends  ufed  to 
 meet  there  on  firft-days,  and  the  1 8th  of  the 
 4th  month,  there  being  a  large  meeting  of 
 prifoners,  and  other  friends  and  relations  of 
 the  prifoners  that  came  out  of  the  country 
 to  vifit  them,  Giles  Bale,  the  keeper,  fhut 
 us  all  up  prifoners  for  fome  hours  after  the 
 meeting  was  done,  about  100  in  the  room, 
 though  he  had  promifed  C.  Holder  that  we 
 ihould  have  the  privilege  of  meeting  there, 
 not  being  furfered  to  meet  elfewhere  in  the 
 town,  except  apart  by  ourfelves  at  our  feve-> 
 ral  lodgings;  and  the  under-keeper  came  and 
 took  the  names  of  fome ;  and  them  that  gave 
 their  names  he  let  go  out,  and  the  reft  he 
 kept  in,  both  men  and  women  together,  till 
 the  evening,  and  then  we  were  all  let  out 
 again,  except  thofe  that  lodged  there,  and  fuf-. 
 fered  to  go  to  our  feveral  lodgings  ;  which 
 is  another  inftance  of  the  laid  G.  Bale's  arbi- 
 trarinefs,  contrary  to  law  and  juftice. 
 
 This  year,  1682,  died  that  faithful  fervant 
 and  minifter  of  the  Lord  Je.fus  Chrift,  William 
 Wilfon,  of  Langdal-Chappel-Steel,  in  Weft- 
 moreland,  an  honeft  and  upright  man.  The 
 time  of  his  birth  and  convincement  I  do  not 
 find;  but,  before  he  was  convinced  of  the 
 truth,  he  fought  the  Lord  to  the  utmoft  of 
 his  underftanding ;  and  for  difputing  about 
 the  things  of  God,  and  the  fcriptures,  he  was 
 
 behind 
 
(     *37     ) 
 
 behind  few  of  the  profeflbrs  of  thofe  days: 
 though  his  education  was  but  mean,  and  he 
 had  little  outward  learning;  being  zealous  in  his 
 way :  yet  fomething  there  was  in  him  unfatis- 
 fied,  which  the  Lord  in  his  due  time  did  fa- 
 tisfy,  and,  by  his  living  and  eternal  power, 
 raifed  him  to  bear  a  teftiinony,  unto  which 
 he  was  obedient,  and  willing  to  be  led  and 
 guided ;  which  led  him  in  the  way  of  God, 
 which  is  light,  in  which  he  came  to  fee  that 
 a  profeffion  of  the  truth  made  not  a  Chriitian, 
 but  a  poffeflion  of  it;  and  alfo  came  to  fee  the 
 deceit  of  both  priefts  and  profeifors,  and  was 
 often  concerned  to  bear  teftimony  againil 
 them,  and  was  cruelly  handled  at  fteeple- 
 houfes:  for,  foon  after  his  converfion,  he  was 
 moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  to  the  fteeple-houfe 
 at  Efhdal,  in  Cumberland,  to  exhort  the  peo- 
 ple to  mind  that  of  God  in  their  own  confer- 
 ences, &c.  for  which  the  prieft, Parker, 
 
 did  beat  and  wound  him,  and  with  one  of  his 
 crutches  broke  his  head,  which  cauled  the 
 blood  to  run  down  his  moulders;  and  being 
 lame,  caufed  his  horfe  to  be  brought,  and  get- 
 ting up,  did  in  the  fight  of  the  people  break 
 his  ftaff  in  three  pieces  on  William's  bare 
 head,  which  made  the  people  cry  out  againft 
 him;  and  when  he  had  done,  he  rode  away; 
 but  before  he  got  home  he  met  with  a  reproof 
 for  his  cruelty,  being  ftruck  lick,  fo  that  he 
 never  came  more  to  the  fteeple-houfe;  and 
 during  the   time   of  his   fjgknefs   was   very 
 
 loathfome, 
 
(    138    ) 
 
 ioathfome,  (linking  above  ground,  and  was 
 made  a  fad  example,  A  few  weeks  after,  Wm. 
 Wilfonwas  moved  to  go  tothefaid  fteeple-houfe 
 again,  and  prieft  Fogo  being  there,  when  he 
 had  done,  William  fpoke  a  few  words  to  fhe 
 people,  which  made  the  prieft  rage,  and  fome 
 of  his  hearers  would  have  put  him  out ;  but 
 the  prieft  bid  them  let  him  alone,  and  coming 
 to  him,  took  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head  and 
 pulled  him  to  the  ground,  and  drew  him  out 
 of  the  fteeple-houfe ;  and  his  brother  Michael 
 bid  the  people  mind  the  fruits  of  their  prieft, 
 &c.  which  the  prieft  hearing,  came  and  cru- 
 elly abufed  him:  in  beholding  of  which  cru- 
 elty done  to  them,  many  of  the  people  were 
 fet  againft  the  prieft,  which  he  perceiving  got 
 away,  and  within  a  few  months  after  met 
 with  a  reproof  alfo  for  his  cruelty;  for  riding 
 over  fome  fands,  with  feveral  others,  he  fell 
 into  a  quick-fand,  and  was  immediately 
 drowned.  One  time,  William  being  at  work 
 at  a  houfe,  being  a  taylor,  one  Charles  Crow, 
 a  prieft,  came  into  the-  room,  and  walked  to 
 and  fro  with  a  book  in  his  hand,  bigger  than 
 a  pocket  bible;  William  mildly  faid,  Charles,* 
 Thou  haft  a  great  toil  in  getting  thy  leffon : 
 at  which  the  prieft  being  in  a  rage,  came  and 
 took  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  pulled 
 him  off  his  feat  down  to  the  ground,  punching 
 him  with  his  feet,  and  knocking  him  on  the 
 head  with  the  book,  that  fome  women  in 
 another  room  hearing  it,  came  in  and  pre-. 
 
 vented 
 
(     139    ) 
 
 vented  the  prieft   from   doing   him  further 
 mifchief. 
 
 He  travelled  in  the  miniftry  in  many  parts 
 of  England,  and  feveral  times  in  Scotland,  as 
 in  1673,  &c.  The  laft  time,  to  the  remoter! 
 parts  of  it;  and  alfo  in  Germany,  (but  I  do 
 not  find  the  time)  to  bear  a  teftimony  againfl 
 the  wickednefs  of  the  wicked;  for  which  he 
 furfered  great  hardfhips  in  the  city  of  Ham-> 
 burgh,  and  in  Germany  and  other  places 
 there-away,  both  by  fea  and  land.  He  fuf- 
 fered  imprifqnment  feveral  times  after  the 
 refl oration  of  king  Charles  II.  viz.  in  1660. 
 He  was  arrefted,  by  warrant  from  juftice 
 Braithwait,  of  Amblefide,  on  the  informa- 
 tion of  John  Tomfon,  prieft  of  Grafmire, 
 for  fpeaking  fome  words  to  the  people; 
 and  at  the  lemons  he  was  fined  by  juftice 
 Fleming,  &c.  100  marks,  and  committed  to 
 Kendal  gaol  till  payment;  and  the  next  fef- 
 fions  the  fame  juftices  fent  for  him,  and  ten-, 
 tiered  him  the  oath  of  allegiance ;  and  becaufe 
 for  conference  fake  he  could  not  fwear,  he  was 
 fent  to  prifon  again,  to  remain  till  he  took  the 
 oath  and  paid  the  line;  (though,  in  1648,  he 
 furfered  the  lofs  of  all  he  had,  but  his  life,  for 
 the  king,  as  he  made  appear)  yet  he  remained 
 in  prifon  above  half  a  year,  and  then  was  fet 
 free  by  the  king's  Act  of  Indulgence.  In  the 
 joth  month,  1662,  he  was  committed  to  Lan- 
 cafter  caftle,  with  many  more,  by  warrant 
 from  juftice  Fleming  and  W.  Kirby,  for  meet- 
 ing 
 
(     H°     ) 
 
 ing  together  to  worfhip  God  in  fpirit  and 
 truth;  and  at  the  next  feffions  had  the  oath 
 tendered  to  him  again  by  the  faid  juftice, 
 and  becaufe  he  durft  not  fwear,  was  re-com- 
 mitted, where  he  remained  20  weeks.  In 
 the  year  1665,  he  was  arrefled  again,  by  war- 
 rant from  juftices  Fleming  and  Braithwait  afore- 
 faid,  for  meeting  on  the  5th  of  November;  for 
 which  he  was  imprifoned  a  month  in  Kendal. 
 In  the  year  1670,  he  was  fined  20I.  on  the 
 conventicle  act,  by  juftice  Fleming  and  juftice 
 Phillipfon,  for  fpeaking  in  a  meeting;  for 
 which  he  had  taken  from  him  two  cows,  a 
 horfe,  &c.  worth  7I.  10s.  And  again,  for 
 fpeaking  in  a  meeting  at  Fieldhead,  he  was 
 fined  20I.  for  which  his  goods  were  fpoiled 
 by  W.  Satterthwait,  conftable,  and  others. 
 And  in  the  year  1673,  for  not  paying  6d.  or 
 7d.  a  year,  to  John  Ambros,  prieft  of  Graf- 
 mire,  for  tithes,  he  was  arrefted  on  a  Com- 
 miflion  of  rebellion  out  of  the  Exchequer, 
 and  caft  into  prifon  at  Kendal,  where  he  con- 
 tinued 1 6  weeks,  and  then  was  fet  free  by  the 
 gaoler,  after  the  writ  was  out  of  date. 
 
 But  thefe  were  but  fmall  matters  to  what  he 
 went  through  fince  he  received  the  truth,  be- 
 fore the  king  came  in,viz.  Mockings,  ftockings, 
 ftonings,  buffetings,  beatings,  &c.  by  the  hire- 
 ling priefts;  and  all  for  defiring  the  good  of 
 their  fouls,  and  that  they  might  turn  to  the 
 Lord,  and  from  darknefs  to  light,  &c.  And 
 in  the  year  1682,   prieft   Ambros  abovefaid 
 
 exhibited 
 
(     Hi    ) 
 
 exhibited  a  bill  in  the  Exchequer  againfr. 
 him  and  feveral  other  friends,  becaufe  they 
 could  not  give  him  tithes:  but  the  Lord  pro- 
 vided a  better  place  for  him,  than  the  faid 
 priefl  intended  for  him;  for  having  been  a 
 long  journey,  he  returned  from  London  very- 
 much  fpent,  and  died  in  peace  with  the  Lord, 
 the  third  day  after  he  came  home,  the  i  oth  of 
 the  5th  month,  1682,  I  fuppofe  not  lefs  than 
 60  years  of  age,  leaving  behind  him  a  widow 
 and  two  daughters;  and  feveral  epiftles,  let* 
 ters,  and  papers,  which  are  collected  in  a  book 
 in  4to,  intitled,  '  The  Memorial  of  the  Juft;' 
 with  feveral  teftimonies  concerning  him. 
 Printed   1684. 
 
 The  friends  abovefaid  from  Ilminfter  and 
 Stoke  meetings,  were  had  to  Bridgewater 
 feffions  in  the  5th  month  following,  and 
 indi&ed  for  a  riot,  by  the  faid  H.  Walrond, 
 tried  without  a  jury,  and  fined  6s.  8d.  a- 
 piece,  and  committed  to  gaol  till  payment; 
 where  they  remained  till  the  12th  month, 
 1683,  (in  which  time  John  Wall  died  a  pri- 
 soner) and  then  they  were  releafed,  as  here- 
 after in  that  year  will  appear. 
 
 Soon  after  the  feffions,  I  writ  the  following 
 letter  to  a  friend  in  Briftol;  which,  becaufe  it 
 gives  a  further  account  of  fome  things,  I  think 
 meet  to  infert. 
 
 Loving 
 
(       '42       ) 
 
 loving  Friend,  M.  J, 
 
 MY  love  to  thee  in  the  truth:  I  have  long 
 waited  an  opportunity  to  write  unto 
 thee,  in  anfwer  to  thy  defire,  when  thou  waft 
 laft  here,  to  give  thee  an  account  how  things 
 are  with  us  ;  and  the  feffions  being  novV 
 ended,  I  thought  fit  to  fignify  unto  thee, 
 that  there  were  near  40  friends  committed 
 fince  the  laft  feffions,  for  meetings,  who  went 
 hence  to  Bridgewater  feffions,  where  they  were 
 called ;  and  fome  had  the  oath  tendered  to  them, 
 and  an  indictment  drawn  againft  them  by  their 
 adverfary,  Henry Walrond,  or  by  his  order,  for 
 a  riot,  though  he  had  committed  them  for  a 
 conventicle;  and  the  council  pleaded  much 
 againft  it  in  friends  behalf,  but  it  would  not 
 prevail;  but  they  were  fined  a  noble  a-piece, 
 and  fent  to  prifon  again. — We  long  to  hear 
 how  things  go  with  friends  there  at  your 
 feffions:  I  deiire  thee  to  give  me  fome  ac- 
 count by  letter,  if  thou  haft  an  opportunity. 
 We  hear,  to  our  grief,  that  fome  draw  back 
 among  you  in  this  time  of  trial.  O  that 
 ever  it  mould  be  faid  of  any — that,  like  "  the 
 **  children  of  Ephraim,  they  mould  carry 
 11  bows,  and  turn  back  in  the  day  of  battle* 
 "  Certainly,  it  is  the  willing  and  obedient 
 M  that  ihall  eat  the  good  of  the  land;   but 
 
 if 
 
(  m  ) 
 
 u  if  any  draw  back,  God's  foul  will  have  no 
 "  pleafure  in  them:  and  it  is  the  willing  in 
 "  Ifrael  that  fhall  obtain  the  vi&ory  and  the 
 "  bleffing;  for  the  inhabitants  of  Meroz  were 
 "  curled  bitterly,  becaufe  they  came  not  up 
 "  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  againft  the  migh- 
 "  ty;"  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  9.  Ifa.  i.  19.  Heb.  x. 
 38.  Judg.  v.  23.  no,  it  is  like  they  would  lie 
 behind,  whilft  others  jeoparded  their  lives 
 in  the  high  places  of  the  field,  hoping  to 
 enjoy  the  benefit  of  Ifrael's  warfare,  and 
 partake  of  their  peace  and  bleffing;  but  in- 
 ftead  thereof,  they  incurred  a  curie.  O  that 
 all  would  confider  the  fame!  for,  certainly, 
 if  any  mould  draw  back  in  the  time  of  trial* 
 and  think  to  renew  their  diligence  again 
 when  the  ftorm  is  over,  they  may  not  then 
 have  an  opportunity:  but  I  hope  better  things 
 of  thee,  and  many  more;  and  ihould  be  glad 
 to  hear  from  thee,  how  it  is  among  you.- 
 Friends  here  are  generally  pretty  well ;  and 
 truth  profpers  over  all,  and  gains  a  good  re- 
 port. Remember  my  kind  love  to  thy  fa- 
 ther and  mother,  or  any  other  friends,  as  if 
 I  named  them:  I  hope  you  are  all  well,  as  I 
 am  at  prelent,  through  the  mercy  of  the  Lord,, 
 who  never  fails  them  that  put  their  truft  in. 
 him. — I  have  little  elfe  to  write  at  prefent, 
 but  that  I  am, 
 
 Ivelchefter  prifon,  the  16th  1       ^hy  friend,     - 
 
 ofthe5th?noathi.i682.    |  jaHx    WlUTINO, 
 
 Thomas 
 
(     144     ) 
 
 Thomas  Comb,  of  Gregory  Stoke,  Was 
 committed  to  prifon  on  a  lignificavit  out  of 
 the  bifhop's  court,  for  tithes,  by  Sir  Edward 
 Phillips,  and  Henry  Walrond,  the  4th  of  the 
 6th  month,  1682. 
 
 Sometime  after  this,  having  a  little  li- 
 berty, (at  leaft  by  connivance)  I  went  home 
 to  my  houfe  at  Naylfey,  to  fee  how 
 things  were;  and  on  the  firft  day,  I  had 
 a  mind  to  go  to  Portfhead  meeting,  and 
 fee  my  former  guardian,  Edmund  Beaks ; 
 When  I  came  there,  friends  were  kept 
 out  of  their  meeting-houle,  it  being  per- 
 fection time  almoft  every  where  :  fo  I  put 
 up  my  horfe,  and  went  and  flood  with 
 them  in  the  ftreet,  and  a  conftable  fat  on 
 a  ftile,  aloof  off,  either  to  fee  if  any 
 preached,  or  elfe  to  keep  the  peace  if  any 
 difturbed  them.  But  my  friend,  Edmund 
 Beaks,  was  afraid  of  me,  left  I  mould  be 
 taken  up,  being  a  prifoner ;  but  I  was 
 not  very  apt  to  be  fearful.  After  meeting, 
 I  went  to  his  houfe,  and  lodged  there 
 that  night ;  and  next  day  I  had  a  mind 
 to  go  and  fee  friends  at  Briftol,  being  but 
 feven  miles  off,  there  being  many  in  pri- 
 fon; but  my  friend  Edmund,  in  his  wont- 
 ed care,  being  ftill  tender  of  me,  was  fear- 
 ful, left  my  adverfary,  living  but  five  miles 
 from  it,  fhould  have  laid  any  fnare  to 
 take  me  up,  and  keep  me  in  prifon  there, 
 and  fo  the  keeper  of  Ivelchefter  might  come 
 
 to 
 
(     145    ) 
 
 to  blame;  but  I  was  not  apprehenfive  of 
 any  fuch  thing,  nor  afraid  of  it,  fo  went 
 thither.  But  mark  what  followed!  When 
 I  came  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  on  Lye- 
 down,  above  Afhton  Park,  in  fight  of  the 
 city,  I  had  a  weight  came  over  my  mind, 
 and  then  I  remembered  what  E.  Beaks  had 
 faid  to  me,  yet  could  not  think  there  was  any 
 danger;  fo  I  rode  on  very  penfive  and  heavy 
 all  the  way,  pondering  in  my  mind  what  the 
 matter  might  be,  till  I  came  to  the  city;  and 
 riding  along  Redclift-ilreet,  who  fhould  I  meet 
 with  but  G.  Bale,  the  keeper,  (landing  in  a 
 ihop-door,  fo  that  there  was  no  miffing 
 him;  when  I  faw  him  I  was  fomewhat  fur- 
 prized,  and  he  as  much  admired  to  fee  me 
 there,  yet  fpoke  pretcy  pleafantly  to  me;  afted 
 me  whence  I  came;  and  whither  I  was  rid- 
 ing; I  told  him  I  had  been  to  fee  fome  of  my 
 friends  in  the  country,  but  had  kept  myfelf 
 pretty  private,  fo  that  I  hoped  he  would  have 
 no  blame;  and  had  a  mind,  when  I  was  fo 
 near,  to  come  and  fee  my  friends  in  Briflol. 
 He  afked  me  how  long  I  intended  to  flay, 
 and  when  I  would  return;  I  told  him  I  in- 
 tended to  flay  but  a  night  or  two,  and  fhould 
 return  fpeedily;  he  faid  well>  and  bid  me 
 make  haile  home,  fo  turned  away,  and  then 
 my  burden  was  gone.  I  went  and  faw  friends 
 in  Newgate,  which  was  very  full;  fo  returned 
 to  Ivelchefter,  where  G.  Bale  had  made  a  noife 
 how  he  had  been  at  Briilol:  and  who  fhould 
 L  lie 
 
(     i46     ^ 
 
 he  meet  there,  but  John  Whiting,  threatening 
 what  he  would  do  when  I  came  home;  but  I 
 went  quietly  to  my  lodging,  and  fo  heard  no 
 more  of  it. 
 
 This  Giles  Bale,  though  often  chained,  that 
 he  could  not.  do  what  he  would  or  intended, 
 was  a  very  envious,  peevifh  man,  and  apt  to 
 take  occafion  againft  me  in  difcourfe,  in  which 
 we  could  feldom  agree;  and  told  a  friend, 
 John  Dan  do,  once,  on  occafion,  when  he 
 {'poke  to  him  about  me,  that  I  had  fpoken 
 words  againft  the  government,  viz.  That  the 
 laws  of  England  were  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
 God;  when  I  only  put  it  by  way  of  queftion, 
 in  difcourfe  about  tithes  and  fwearing,  as  the 
 apoftle  did :  "  If  God  command  one  thing, 
 "  and  man  another,  whether  we  ought  not 
 "  to  obey  God  rather  than  man?"  Acts  iv. 
 19.  as  I  afterwards  made  it  appear  to  his 
 face.  And  another  time  happening  into  fome 
 difcourfe  with  one Clark,  a  Baptift  teach- 
 er in  the  ward,  at  G.  B's  houfe,  who  affirmed, 
 That  none  were  ever  free  from  fm,  though 
 I  gave  him  ieveral  inftances  out  of  fcrip- 
 ture  of  fuch  who  were;  and  G.  Bale  coming 
 in  juft  at  the  time,  took  up  the  difcourfe, 
 faying,  It  was  impdffible  to  live  without  fm. 
 I  told  him;  1  did  believe  it  was  pofiible,  by 
 tho  grace  of'  God,  to  live  without  fin,  which 
 he  iaid  was  blafphemy;  for  if  people  could 
 live  without  fin,  what  need  was  there  of 
 Chrift  ?    I   told   him,    that    it    was    through 
 
 Chrift, 
 
(     H7     ) 
 
 thrift,  and  by  virtue  of  his  death  and  fuf- 
 ferimrs,  that  we  were  enabled  fo  to  do:  But 
 he  faid,  It  was  blafphemy,  and  the  higheft 
 blafphemy  that  ever  he  heard  ;  and  that  I 
 deferved  to  be  hanged  for  it;  and  that  I  was 
 not  fit  to  live;  and  that  he  did  not  defire  I 
 fhould  trouble  his  houfe;  which  I  told  him 
 I  did  not  deiire:  and  he  faid,  Kc  did  believe 
 he  had  the  more  to  anfwer  for,  for  giving  the 
 Quakers  fo  much  liberty  as  he  had  done;  and 
 that  he  would  never  do  it  again,"  if  he  was 
 keeper  ever  fo  long.  I  told  him,  if  he  did 
 make  it  matter  of  confcience,  he  might  keep 
 us  as  clofe  as  lie  would;  for  my  part  I  hoped 
 I  mould  be  content,  put  me  where  he  would. 
 He  faid,  We  might  pray  that  he  might  not 
 be  keeper  another  year,  for  if  he  was,  there 
 fhould  none  of  us  be  out  of  common-gaol, 
 or  Bridewell,  while  he  was  Jceeper,  (but  was 
 not  fo  bad  as  his  word).  I  told  him,  I  did 
 hope  we  fhould  be  content  in  our  places, 
 wherever  he  did  put  us;  and  fo  left  him  in 
 much  bitternefs  and  hardnefs  of  heart;  but 
 was  not  terrified  at  his  threatening,  knowing 
 that  the  hearts  of  all  men  are  in  the  hand  of 
 the  Lord,  and  he  could  turn  them,  at  his  plea- 
 hire,  as  I  had  experience.  And  yet  not  long 
 after,  though  he  had  reviled  me  lb,  he  com- 
 mended me  to  a  friend  on  iome  occalion, 
 laying,  I  was  a  very  civil  young  man:  God's 
 witneis,  no  doubt,  pleaded  my  cauie  in  his 
 eonlcience;    convicting  him  of  his   abufe  of 
 
 L  2  me, 
 
(     h8     ) 
 
 me,  and  anfwering  to  my  innocency.  Thus 
 through  good  report  and  evil  report  we  rnurt 
 pafs;  which,  knowing  my  own  innocence, 
 was  all  alike  to  me:  nor  mould  I  have  menti- 
 oned it  here,  were  it  not  to  fhew  the  incon- 
 ftancy  of  this  generation,  and  how  like  they 
 are  to  fome  of  old;  Condemn  to-day  and 
 magnify  to-morrow. 
 
 But  having  been  lately  at  Briftol,  I  fhall 
 give  account  how  it  was  with  friends  in  that 
 city.  The  perfecution  continued  and  increafed 
 there  this  year.  The  priibners  were  crowded, 
 and  more  fent  daily.  Sheriff  Knight's  firft  fa- 
 lute  to  the  women  after  he  was  knighted,  as  he 
 met  them  coming  from  meeting,  was,  That 
 the  next  time  they  were  at  meeting,  he  would 
 lay  them  fait,  and  fend  them  to  their  hufbands, 
 i.  e.  in  gaol,  boafting  of  his  authority;  and 
 going  into  Newgate,  as  a  friend  was  fpeak- 
 ing,  he  threatened  to  fine  the  keeper  20L 
 and  would  have  friends  confined  to  their 
 rooms.  And  at  their  meeting  in  the  chapel- 
 chamber,  he  (Helliar)  and  the  keeper  came  in 
 a  rude  manner,  and  laid  violent  hands  on  them 
 to  pull,  hale,  and  thruft  them  out  of  their 
 room;  threatening  to  iron  them  if  they  did 
 not  depart:  commanding  one  to  be  ironed, 
 and  put  into  the  pit.  Pulled  off  and  threw 
 away  another  friend's  hat ;  and  offered  to 
 punch  the  point  of  his  cane  in  his  face  :  Of 
 which  abufes  they  complained  to  the  mayor, 
 but  he  could  not  relieve  them,  being  over- 
 borne. 
 
{     H9     ) 
 
 borne.    And  at  their  meeting  in  the  common- 
 hall,   being  feparated  from  the  reft  of  friends, 
 Knight   came   and   demanded  what  they  did 
 there  ?  and,  without  flaying  for  their  anfwer, 
 began  to  be  in  a  great  rage ;  and  becaufe  they 
 did  not  prefently  depart,  threatened   to  draw 
 upon  them;  and  laying  hold  of  one,   dragged 
 him  to  the  ftairs,  and  threw  him  down  head- 
 Jong,  to   the   endangering   his   life,   but  that, 
 through    Providence,    he    was    preferved    by 
 lighting  on  another;  and  afterwards  put  him 
 in  the  dungeon  called  the  Weft-houfe;   feized 
 another,  and  had  like  to  have  thrown  him  all 
 along  againft  a  wall.     Pulled  R.  Vickris  off  a 
 table,  where  he  fat,  and  threw  him  on  the 
 floor.     Helliar   bid   his  company  ftrike  ano- 
 ther's teeth  out,  which  none  doing,  he  offered 
 to  punch  his  cane  in  his  face :  of  which  abufes 
 they  once  more  complained  to  the  magiftrates 
 not    to    fuffer   them    to   be    thus   inhumanly 
 ufed  in  prifon,  to  the  danger  of  their  lives ; 
 but  inftead  of  juftice,  behold  oppreflion.     At 
 meeting  they  took  D.  Dole,  and  had  her  away 
 to  Bridewell,  one  by  one  arm,  and  another  by 
 another,  as  if  they  would  have  pulled   her  to 
 pieces;  punching  her  in  the  back  to  force  her 
 along;    threatening    to    throw   her    over    the 
 bridge  into  the  water,  and,  lifting  her  up,  of- 
 fered to  do  it.     Knight  got  an  order  above, 
 to  reverfe  the  order  of  feiiions,  for  enlarging 
 the  gaol,  which  greatly  heightened  him  in  his 
 infolences;  following  meetings,  and  fending 
 ii  3  many 
 
(     *5°     ) 
 
 many  to  prifon;  violently  punching  and  thruft-*. 
 ing  along  to  prifon;  among  others,  a  tender 
 woman  with  child,  falter  than  Ihe  was  well 
 able  to  go,  not  regarding  her  tender  intreaties 
 to  the  contrary;  threatening  the  women,  that 
 in  a  fortnight's  time  he  would  make  them 
 fqueak;  pretending,  that  he  knew  not  but 
 they  were  plotting  to  get  their  hufbands  out 
 of  prifon. 
 
 And  befides  all  their  abufes  at  meetings, 
 and  in  prifon,  laying  extravagant  fines  on 
 feveral  friends ;  their  manner  being,  when 
 they  came  to  the  meeting,  to  afk  friends  what 
 they  did  there,  on  purpofe  to  enfnare  them; 
 and  if  they  anfwered,  to  wait  upon  and  wor- 
 ihip  God,  which  they  were  not  backward 
 to  confefs.,  then  they  made  a  conventicle  of 
 it;  and  when  friends  afked  them,  if  that  was 
 a  crime,  i.  e.  to  wait  upon  God;  they  faid, 
 Yes,  it  was,  and  fined  them  accordingly;  and 
 were  as  fevere  in  levying  of  it,  taking  com- 
 monly double;  breaking  open  chefts,  coun- 
 ters, &c.  for  money;  and  took  one  man's 
 coat  off  his  back,  and  iol.  odd  money  out. 
 of  his  pocket;  fearching  and  ranfadking  of 
 lioufes,  as  they  did  a  merchant's  (€.  Jones, 
 jun.)  in  the  Caftle-Green,  from  top  to  bot- 
 tom, after  they  had'  been  rioting,  on  a  firit  day, 
 in  the  great  meeting-houfe,  and  would  have 
 haled  in  fome  young  women,  who  were  fo- 
 berly  met,  to  dance  with  them,  but  that, 
 fearing  to  be  abufed  by  lb  lewd  a  company, 
 
 they 
 
(    i5i    ; 
 
 they  held  by  the  'ancient  women,  for  which, 
 they  fent  both  elder  and  younger  to  prifon  ; 
 on  which  a  woman  friend  faid,  .Well,  fheriflE 
 Knight,  I  fee,  though  we  cannot  be  iufiered 
 to  ferve  God,  thefe  may,  to  ferve  the  devil : 
 Our  peaceable  meetings  you  feek  to  make 
 riots,  but  here  you  are  rioting  and  revelling 
 to  a  great  excels,  &c.  {idling,  drinking,  and 
 carouiing,  till  three  in  the  afternoon:  When 
 their  heads  beginning  to  lwim,  they  went  up 
 to  the  upper  tenement,  and  from  the  top  or 
 turret  of  the  houfe  feeing  the  faid  merchant's 
 houfe,  they  fancied  a  conventicle  there  ;  fa 
 away  they  went  and  befet  the  houfe,  when 
 he  and  his  wife  were  not  at  home,  but  only 
 their  children  and  fervants,  who  being  afraid 
 to  open  the  gate  to  fuch  a  rude  company, 
 one  of  them  got  over  the  wall  into  the  gar- 
 den, and  let  in  the  reft,  who  ran  over  the 
 houfe,  fearching  every  room,  clofet,  and  cor- 
 ner, for  the  fpleen  they  had  to  him,  he  being 
 one  that  went  to  Whitehall  to  complain  of  their 
 former  illegal  proceedings;  fo  that  his  family, 
 father,  and  two  brothers,  fared  the  worfe  for 
 his  lake;  taking  from  them,  in  a  few  days,  to 
 the  value  of  Sol.  and  from  C.  Harford,  J, 
 Love,,  and  W.  Dawfon,  near  as  much  more; 
 and  they  had  warrants  for  many  hundreds* 
 And  fo  they  did  to  Rich.  Marfh,  another  con- 
 fiderable  merchant  in  Small-ftreet,  for  iol.  ran- 
 ging .his  houfe,  (even  his  wife's,  chamber* 
 h  4  whejrs 
 
(     W     ) 
 
 where  fhe  then  lay  in)  counters,  dofets,  &c 
 carrying  away  his  merchant  books  of  accounts 
 to  the  number  of  thirty ;  befides  papers,  of  no 
 ufe  but  to  make  fpoil;  feizing  not  only  his 
 houftiold  goods,  but  even  provifions,  which 
 they  either  eat,  (rioting  there  for  three  hours) 
 or  carried  away,  terrifying  the  fervants,  &c. 
 afking  them  how  they  dared  to  touch  any 
 thing  now  they  were  there,  fo  infolent  were 
 they ;  and  a  butcher  and  a  butter-woman 
 coming  with  provifions,  were  forced  to  carry 
 it  away  again,  and  glad  they  could  efcape  fo. 
 The  faid  R.  M.  had  taken  from  him  before  a 
 tun  of  wine  worth  20I.  which  they  fold  for 
 4I.  and  to  make  it  up  10I.  forced  into  his 
 man's  counting-houfe,  and  took  from  him  in, 
 cafh  61.  odd  money. 
 
 At  the  feffions,  in  the  2d  month,  all  things 
 feemed  prepared  to  ruin  them;  and  though 
 feveral  were  difcharged  out  of  prifon,  it  was 
 not  through  the  favour  of  the  court,  which 
 Knight,  OlifFe,  &c.  over-ruled ;  for  there 
 they  were  indicted,  and  becaule  they  re- 
 fufed  to  fubmit  to  the  favour  of  the  court, 
 were  fent  back  to  prifon;  others  tried  and 
 convicted,  and  when  the  jury  (though  of 
 their  own  packing)  brought  them  in,  not 
 guilty,  they  were  made  to  go  out  again, 
 and  bring  them  in  guilty,  and  lb  were  fined ;, 
 and  becaufe  they  could  not  pay  their  lines,  they 
 were  fent  to  prifon  again;  but  the  mayor,  a 
 few  days  after,  fent  for  all,  except  fuch  as  were 
 
 fined* 
 
(     151     ) 
 
 imed,  and  taking  their  words  for  their  ap- 
 pearance the  next  feffions,  fet  them  at  li- 
 berty. And  foon  after  Knight,  &c.  came 
 and  nailed  up  eighty-feven  women,  and 
 fourteen  men,  in  the  meeting-houfe  at  Tem- 
 ple-ilreet,  five  or  fix  hours  together,  til} 
 three  in  the  afternoon ;  having  firft  fent  fe- 
 ven  men  to  Newgate.  And  in  the  afternoon 
 the  fame  day,  at  the  Friars,  they  kept  friends 
 in  the  open  court  in  the  rain,  till  about  live, 
 without  regard  to  age,  lex,  or  condition, 
 though  fome  of  them  were  considerable,  as 
 Sir  Robert  Cann's  two  fillers,  one,  viz.  Mar- 
 tha, the  widow  of  the  late  IheriffLane,  and 
 Sarah  Cann  her  filler,  Mary  Gouldney,  Mary 
 Wall,  &c.  A  conftable  griped  and  pinched 
 an  ancient  woman's  (Hannah  Jordan)  arm, 
 which  made  it  black,  (as  fheriff  Knight  had 
 done  her  other  before^  then  had  them  to  the 
 Tolzey,  but  let  them  go  home  till  next  day ; 
 then  impannelled  a  jury  to  find  a  riot;  Patrick, 
 the  informer,  and  one  more,  fwearing  that 
 about  thirty  of  the  women  forced  open  the 
 door,  and  would  have  refcued  themfelves; 
 which  the  jullices  did  not  credit,  but  gave  the 
 women  liberty  to  anfwer  for  themfelves, 
 which  they  did  fo  handfomly,  giving  the 
 jullices  the  particulars  of  their  confinement 
 and  ufage,  to  fo  good  effect,  that  the  jullices 
 were  divided,  and  fome  pleaded  for  them; 
 and  the  jury  brought  in  their  verdict,   JNq 
 
 Riot; 
 
(     154     ) 
 
 Riot ;  which  fo  difpleafed  fheriff  Knight,  that 
 Be  threatened  the  jury  to  have  them  up  to 
 London,  faying,  If  he  could  not  have  juftice 
 here,  he  would  have  it  there.  His  and  Hel- 
 liar's  inhumanity  and  bafenefs  being  much 
 cried  out  againft,  particularly  for  bringing 
 nails  and  a  hammer,  to  nail  up  friends  at  the 
 morning  meeting-houfe,  as  aforefaid;  conti- 
 nuing very  rude  and  abufive  at  meetings, 
 calling  names,  beating,  pulling  off  hats,  &c. 
 arrefting  in  the  king's  name,  if  friends  would 
 not  depart  at  their  command,  and  fending  to 
 prifon  at  their  pleafure. 
 
 At  one  meeting  they  fent  ninety  to  prifon, 
 moftly  women  and  maids,  to  Bridewell,  fay- 
 ing, They  would  fend  them  in  dozens,  thir- 
 teen to  the  dozen,  driving  them  along  like 
 cattle,  as  they  called  them;  or  rather  like 
 iheep  to  the  flaughter,  where  they  were 
 forced  to  fit  or  lie  on  the  itones,  floor, 
 benches,  and  table,  all  night,  (having  but 
 three  beds)  and  next  day  were  had  before 
 the  mayor,  where,  after  lb  ill  a  night's  lodg-* 
 ing,  they  were  locked  up  in  the  council-houie. 
 nine  hours,  till  the  magiitrates  could  agree 
 what  to  do  with  them;  by  which,  with  long 
 {landing,  in  the  heat  of  fummer,  feveral  were 
 fick  and  faint:  and  at  laft  they  committed  fe^ 
 venry-three,  the  men  to  Newgate,  and  the 
 women  to  Bridewell,  where  they  were  fadly 
 thronged  together j  lying  on  the  floor,  feven, 
 
 eighty 
 
(     155    ) 
 
 pight,  and  nine  beds  in  a  room,  by  mittimua 
 from  Thomas  Earl,  mayor ;  Ralph  Oliffe, 
 Robert  Yeamans,  and  Richard  Crump,  al- 
 dermen, on  pretence  of  breach  of  the  peace. 
 Poor  innocent  lambs  !  being  moftly  young 
 women,  whofe  names  for  brevity  I  omit, 
 though  their  firit-fruits,  as  they  were  holi- 
 nefs  to  the  Lord,  and  accepted  of  him,  fo 
 were  they  a  fweet  favour  to  his  people.  Hel- 
 liar  at  the  faitl  meetings  abiding  a  child  very 
 much,  by  taking  it  violently  from  its  mother, 
 Rebecca  Ithell,  lifting  it  up  by  the  arms,  and 
 letting  it  fall  feveral  times  in  a  rough  man- 
 ner, which  hun  and  frighted  it  much,  fo  that 
 people  cried,  fhame  of  him;  and  when  the 
 mother  fnoke  to  him,  he  threatened  to  thrufl 
 his  cane  down  her  throat,  and  fent  her  to  pri- 
 fon  with  the  relt.  Thus  continuing  to  fend 
 to  prifon,  even  children:  making  it  a  light 
 matter  to  commit  mailers  and  miflreiTes, 
 fervants,  and  children;  the  hufbands  to  one 
 prifon,  and  the  wives  to  another,  who  were 
 miferably  thronged  in  both  prifons,  to  the 
 number  of  an  hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 Sheriff  Knight,  J.  Helliar,  R.  Oliffe,  Lug, 
 Tilly,  and  others,  coming  to  the  meeting  in 
 Temple-itreet,  afkeci  T.  Callowhill,  What  was 
 their  bufinefs  there?  T.  C.  anfwered,  To  wait 
 upon  God,  as  it  had  been  their  accnltomed 
 manner:  And  going  to  take  names  to  make  a 
 conventicle,   one   of  their  company  faid,  T. 
 
 Callowhill 
 
(     155     ) 
 
 Callowhill  now,  and  T.  Jordan  at  the  former 
 meeting,  were  great  faints,  that  muft  pay  for 
 all,  T.  C.  afking  fherifF  Knight,  Whether 
 it  was  a  tranfgreflion  of  our  law  to  wait  up- 
 on the  Lord?  He  anfwered,  Yes,  that  it  is. 
 And  advifmg  Helliar  not  to  extend  the  laws 
 beyond  the  intent  of  them ;  he  told  him,  He 
 fhould  go  to  the  flocks  for  that ;  and  laying 
 hold  of  him,  faid,  he  arrefled  him,  and  that 
 he  ihould  go  to  Bridewell ;  telling  Mary 
 Gouldney,  that  they  Ihould  have  been  at 
 home  at  their  fpindles  and  diflaff  a  fpinning ; 
 though  it  was  firfl  day,  putting  them  out  and 
 difperfing  the  meeting,  bidding  his  company 
 take  the  boys  and  girls,  and  put  them  in  the 
 flocks.  And,  as  he  went  on,  obferving  a 
 little  girl  about  ten  years  of  age,  who  had 
 been  at  meeting,  he  bid  them  take  her  and 
 put  her  in  the  flocks  with  the  reft;  and  M. 
 Gouldney  telling  her  fhe  need  not  fear  the 
 flocks,  Helliar  took  hold  of  her  alfo,  and  faid 
 he  did  arrefl  her,  and  that  fhe  fhould  go  to 
 Bridewell,  for  encouraging  the  girl  in  her  rebel- 
 lion; fo  he  had  T.  Callowhill  and  M.  Gould- 
 ney to  Bridewell.  And  in  the  way,  at  the 
 high-crofs  flocks,  he  put  in  fix  lads  which  they 
 brought  from  the  meeting,  not  being  of  age,  to 
 come  under  the  conventicle  act,  (under  16) 
 viz.  B.  Wall,  E.  Ofborn,  J.  Boucher,  J.  James, 
 S.  Gibbons— keeping  them  there  an  hour. 
 When  they  came  to  Bridewell  withT,  Callow- 
 hill and  M,  Gouldney,  fuppofing  they  heard 
 
 fomebody 
 
(    157    ) 
 
 fomebody  fpeaking,  they  ran  up,  and  finding 
 D.  Dole  at  prayer,  rudely  haled  her  to  pull 
 her  off  her  knees,  and  with  fuch  violence 
 ftrained  againft  a  large  table,  as  nearly  overfet 
 it;  and  penned  her  up  in  a  dark  low  pen, 
 damp  and  noifome,  until,  with  the  dampnefs 
 of  it,  fhe  fainted;  and  when  they  took  her 
 out,  fhe  could  not  fpeak  nor  fee,  till  fometime 
 that  fhe  recovered. 
 
 And  in  the   afternoon,   friends  being  met 
 near  their  meeting-place  at  the  Friars,  Helliar, 
 Tilly,  Lug,  and  others,  came  and  commanded 
 them  to  depart;  taking  hold  of  feveral,  pull- 
 ing off  the  boys  hats,  and  hurling  them  away; 
 particularly  a  good  new  hat  of  B.  Wall's,  and 
 gave  it  to  a  poor  boy,  putting  his  old  dirty  hat 
 on  B.  Wall's  head ;  threatening  to  beat  him  be- 
 caufe  he  would  not  accept  of  it:  pulling  offnot 
 only  boys', but  womens',and  their  head-cloaths 
 too,  and  carrying  them  away  by  dozens ;  fend- 
 ing five  women  to  Bridewell,  and  three  men 
 to  Newgate;  one  of  which,  Richard  Lindly, 
 a  poor  blind  man,   of  83  years  of  age;   and 
 caufed  the  boys  to  be  penned  up  in  the  open 
 court,  bare-headed,  five  hours;  fo  continued 
 fending  to  prifon:  And  Helliar  going  to  Lon- 
 don, gave  the  keeper  charge  to  prevent  preach- 
 ing; on  which  D.  Dole  was  taken  out  of  the 
 meeting  in  prifon,  and  put  into  a  dark  place, 
 and  threatened   to   be  gagged   for  fpeaking; 
 and  John  Moon,  though   he  was  not  fpeak- 
 
(     i5§     ) 
 
 Ing:  there  being  now  about  eight  fcore  hi 
 both  prifons,  and  one  hundred  threatened  to 
 be  fummoned  to  ieffions,  on  20I,  a  month 
 breach  of  peace,  allegiance,  Oxford  act,  &c. 
 
 At  the  feihons,  friends  were  nioftly  brought 
 forth,  tried,  and  lined  two  or  three  times  over,- 
 for  feveral  offences,  as  breach  of  the  peace,  &c; 
 (as  their  peaceable  meetings  were  accounted, 
 though  the  witneffes  faid,  they  neither  did  or 
 laid  any  thirjg,  only  would  not  depart  when 
 commanded)  and  committed  till  payment;  fo 
 that  not  many  lefs  than  eight  fcore  remained; 
 ibme  lick,  carried  out  in  a  fever  like  to  die. 
 In  the  hot  feafon  much  thronged,  efpecially  in 
 Bridewell,  where  feveral  were  iick  alfo;  and 
 Margaret  Thomas  was  had  out  very  iick. 
 And  though  moft  of  them  were  young  wo- 
 men, yet  neither  frowns  nor  flattery  could  draw 
 them  from  their  teitirnony  in  the  time  of  trial, 
 even  before  a  bench  of  juftices  at  Guildhall; 
 They  forced  one  woman  into  the  flee;  le- 
 houfe,  but  fhe  would  not  {lay  there.  [Foice 
 will  never  do.] 
 
 Now  after  the  men  and  women  were  moftly 
 taken  up  and  imprifoned,  the  meetings  were 
 moftly  kept  up  by  children,  their  parents 
 being  in  prUbn,  whom  they  abufed  very 
 much,  often  throwing  away  the  boys  hats; 
 threatening  to-break  their  heads;  putting  them 
 in  the  flocks  feveral  times.  Helliar  beating 
 the  children  with  a  twirled  whale-bone  flick; 
 
 that 
 
(     *59     ) 
 
 that  cut  almoft  through  a  new  hat;  heating 
 them  fo  on  the  head,  back,  and  forehead,  as 
 railed  bunches.      A  girl  was  fo  furioufly  beat 
 on  the  neck,  that  it  left  a  great  fear   as  long 
 as  a  man's  finger:   Another  had  feveral  blows 
 on  the  moulders,  which  made  them  black  and 
 blue;  and  another  on  the  head,   that  made  it 
 very  fore:  Another,   on   the  fhoulder,  till   it 
 was   very   red:    Another,   by  a  blow   on   the 
 neck  and  eye-lid,   had  like  to  have  her  eye 
 {truck  out,  and  received  a  fear:   Another  beat 
 fo  extremely  about  the  head,  as  to   make,  it 
 very  fore:   (O  inhuman !)     In  fine,  moll  were 
 beaten  by  him,  but  truth  taught  them  to  for- 
 give,    Another  time,  Tilly  (inhuman  wretch) 
 beat  them  with  a  faggot-ftick,  which  they  bore 
 patiently;    the   Lord,    no   doubt,    fupporting 
 them,    and    accepting   the   kindnefs  of  their 
 youth;  another  time  with  a  whale-bone  Hick. 
 He    lent,  feveral    to    Bridewell,    and,    when 
 difcharged,   threatened   them   if  they   did   fo 
 (that   is,    go    to    meeting)    any    more,    they 
 fhould  be  whipped  in  Bridewell.     Thus  fol- 
 lowing  meetings,    taking   names   to  d  fine  for 
 conventicles;  abuiing  friends,  particularlv  R. 
 Vickris;  fending  to  prifon,   beating   the  chil- 
 dren; one,  fo  extremely  about  the  head,  that 
 almoft  made  him  fwoon,  and  he  continued  bad 
 fome  time;  throwing   in   the   kennel,   calling 
 names,  fending  feveral  boys  and  girls  to  Bricle- 
 .  well;  endeavouring  to  make  them  promife  to 
 go  no   more   to   meeting,  but   in  vain;   and 
 fioifed   about,  as  if  they  were  preparing  to 
 
 whip 
 
(     i6o     ) 
 
 whip  tliem:  Helliar  charging  the  keeper  of* 
 Bridewell  to  get  a  new  cat-o'-nine  tails  againft 
 the  morrow,  to  terrify  them;  and  urged  the 
 juftices    to   have    them    corrected*       Sheriff 
 Knight  committing  to  prifon  at  his  pleafure, 
 faying,    Some   did   their   bufinefs  by  halves, 
 but  he  would  have  it   done  throughly.   They 
 kept   friends   at   Bridewell  more    ftrait  than 
 ufual,  the  poor  being  hindered  from  labour, 
 and  thruft  into  rooms  on  heaps,  to  make  them 
 pay  fees.      And  next   firft-day   meeting,   R. 
 Oliffe  arrefled  R.  Vickris,  for  breach  of  the 
 peace,  though  he  acknowledged  the   end  of 
 their  meeting  was  to  worfhip  God,  (to  pre- 
 vent it) ;  fo  making  their  own  wills  the  law, 
 as  they  did  to  others,  fending  them  to  prifon, 
 without  being  fuffered  to  appear  before  a  magi- 
 Urate  to  hear  the  information,  or  to  fpeak  for 
 themfelves;  worfe  than  they  did  by  felons,  hal- 
 ing and  beating  the  children;   they  fcofFed  an 
 old  blind  man,  R.  Lindly,  near  90  years  of  age, 
 and  afterwards  fent  him  to  prifon,  where  he 
 was  forced  to  fit  up  three   nights  in  a  chair, 
 for  want  of  a  bed.      A  friend    fpeaking  at 
 meeting,  they  made  a  conventicle  of  it,   and 
 fined  five  friends,  viz.  Robert  Lux,  Daniel 
 Gibbons,   C.   Jones,    fen.    Edward   Hackett, 
 and   Elizabeth    Dowel,    9I.   each,    and    took 
 from  them  goods  to  the  value  of  1  o  1 1.      A  n- 
 other  time  lent  thirty-one  to  prifon,  without 
 having  them  before  a  magistrate.     One  hun- 
 dred and  forty  now,  in  both  prifons :    One 
 
 near 
 
(    i6i     ) 
 
 feear  his  end,  not  fufFered  to  be  had  out.1 
 James  Pickton,  coming  out  of  Wales  to  the 
 city  about  trade,  going  to  fee  the  prifoners, 
 was  kept  a  prifoner  himfelf.  L.  Steel  im- 
 prifoned  for  meeting;  and  foon  after,  on  the 
 Oxford  act,  for  fix  months.  R.  Gibbons's 
 wife  was  had  out  fick,  and  died.  Thomas 
 Lugg,  at  one  meeting,  calling  for  a  pot  of 
 holy  water,  by  force  crofled  feveral  boys  and 
 girls  in  the  forehead,  and  fent  19  to  Bride- 
 well ;  and  when  difcharged,  threatened  to 
 whip  them  if  they  came  again.  One  hun- 
 dred and  fixty  were  prifoners,  many  children, 
 of  which  a  lad  but  eight  years  old:  thus  conti- 
 nuing their  abufes,  and  fending  to  prifon 
 men,  women,  and  children,  till  the  13th  of 
 the  nth  month* 
 
 After  which  their  fuflferings  Were  moftly  in 
 Newgate,  (as  they  had  partly  been  before) 
 by  the  abufes  of  the  keeper,  Ifaac  Dennis,  his 
 wife,  and  fervants,  inftigated  by  the  perfecu- 
 tors;  to  which  he  added  his  own  cruelty  and 
 wickednefs  ;  crowding  them  inhumanly  toge- 
 ther, in  clofe  nafty  places,  disturbing  them  in 
 their  meetings;  haling  and  pulling  them  out 
 of  their  rooms;  calling  J.  Pinnell  excommu- 
 nicated rogue,  and  that  he  would  break  his 
 neck  down  itairs,  endeavouring  to  do  it;  and 
 did  throw  down  fome  in  his  rage  and  mad- 
 nefs,  bidding  them  complain ;  throwing  their 
 goods,  beds,  and  victuals,  down  flairs  in  the 
 
 M  dirt; 
 
(       1 62       ) 
 
 dirt ;  turning  them  out  of  their,  lodgings  j 
 thrufting  fourteen,  with  feven  debtors,  into  a 
 dark  dungeon,  called  the  Weft-houfe,  (where 
 they  uled  to  put  condemned  criminals)  and 
 where  they  were  forced  to  burn  candles  day 
 and  night,  which  the  keeper  alfo  commanded 
 his  man  to  take  away  and  break,  and  the 
 place  fo  little,  being  but  1 9  feet  diameter,  that 
 they  were  forced  to  lie  three,  one  over  ano- 
 ther, or  elfe  had  not  room  to  lie  down;  and 
 when  they  complained,  he  faid,  if  there  was 
 but  room  to  ihut  the  door,  it  was  enough, 
 and  fo  locked  them  up:  fometimes  locking 
 up  friends  upon  the  leads,  fa  that  they  could 
 not  have  up  their  meat  and  drink,  but  as  they 
 drew  it  up  by  a  line  over  the  gate.  At  other 
 times,  fhutting  them  down  from  the  leads, 
 where  poor  friends  ufed  to  work,  and  keeping 
 their  tools  from  them,  not  fuffering  any  thing 
 to  be  brought  in  but  victuals;  not  any  work, 
 or  working  tools,  to  get  a  livelihood  for  them- 
 felves  or  families ;  and  fetting  on  the  prifoners 
 to  abufe  them,  bidding  the  fellows  beat  Maria- 
 bella  Farmborough  (being  a  prifoner)  out  of 
 her  room;  threatening  to  fend  the  women  to 
 Bridewell,  from  their  hufbands.  The  turn- 
 key haling  friends  out  of  the  meeting  that 
 did  not  lodge  in  the  room;  tearing  J.  Popes's 
 coat;  pulling  J.  Gainer  by  the  heels,  in  dan- 
 ger of  breaking  his  neck ;  throwing  Jabez 
 White  down,  backwards,  over  the  threlhold  of 
 
 a  door, 
 
(     *«3 
 
 i  nobr,  raid  then  taking  him  by  the  legs  to 
 turn  him  over  headlong,  which  might  have 
 killed  him;  commanding  one  to  be  put  into 
 the  Wefb-houfe,  for  afking  why  they  mould 
 hot  have  the  privilege  of  the  common-hall,  as 
 other  prifoners  had.  Charles  Harford  telling 
 the  keeper,  on  his  putting  his  wife  out  of  the 
 room,  the  day  of  his  torment  was  begun; 
 he  faid,  he  djd  think  the  devil  had  fent  them 
 to  be  a  torment  to  him,  and  locked  them  up 
 afunder  night  and  day,  faying,  the  felons  were 
 fionefter  men  than  they.  A  fober  man  com- 
 ing to  fee  how  the  poor  men  were  ufed  in  the 
 Weft-houfe,  faying,  it  was  hard  for  fo  many 
 to  lodge  in  fuch  a  place ;  the  keeper  replied, 
 Hang  them,  there  is  room  enough  for  more. 
 Coming  into  the  meeting  with  three  confta- 
 blcs,  bidding  them  keep  the  peace,  though  no 
 body  difturbed  it  but  himfelf:  the  conftables 
 ftandirig  ftill,  he  haled  feveral  out  of  the 
 room,  threatening  to  keep  them  locked  in. 
 their  rooms,  that  they  mould  not  go  forth  for 
 their  natural  eafement;  thrufting  and  abufmg 
 feveral;  and  {truck  fome  of  them  on  the  head 
 with  one  of  the  conftable's  naves,  none  refill- 
 ing them;  and  Margaret  Heal  fpeaking  to 
 him,  he  laid  hands  on  her;  and  foon  after 
 being  taken  lick,  and  near  her  departure,  L. 
 Steel  and  P.  Moon  defired  to  go  and  vifit  her 
 before  fhe  died,  but  could  not  be  admitted  (a 
 barbarous  piece  of  cruelty!)  and  behaved 
 themlelves  fo  violent  to  friends  in  the  Weft- 
 M  2  houfe, 
 
(    164    ) 
 
 houfe,  as  if  they  would  have  murdered  them ; 
 wickedly  beating  J.  White,  whofe  neck  the 
 turnkey  had  like  to  have  broken  once  before, 
 by  throwing  him  down  backwards,  and  faid, 
 It  was  not  two  farthings  odds  if  he  had,  (fo 
 wicked  were  they):  haling  them  out,  locked 
 the  door,  and  would  not  let  them  have  their 
 vi&uals ;  and  next  day  hurled  them,  with 
 others,  into  the  Weft-houfe,  and  locked  them 
 there  eight  hours,  without  cofiveniency  to 
 eafe  themfelves  (as  friends  in  the  chapel- 
 chamber  were  alfo  denied)  or  to  have  their 
 food  brought  in,  and  two  days  after  locked 
 them  in  the  dungeon  called  the  Weft-houfe, 
 from  eight  at  night  to  twelve  next  day;  and 
 in  the  morning  fome  of  them  defiring  to  go 
 forth,  as  nature  required,  promifing  to  come 
 again,  could  not  be  admitted,  but  told  them 
 they  muft  do  it  in  the  fame  room,  (fo  inhu- 
 man were  they)  though  nineteen  lodged  there, 
 and  but  little  air;  of  which  cruelties  of  the 
 keeper,  friends  complained  to  the  juftices  at 
 the  feffions.  I .  Of  the  deprival  of  poor  friends 
 of  their  place  of  work,  and  taking  away  their 
 work  and  materials,  and  denying  work  to  be 
 brought  in,  contrary  to  19.  Char.  ii.  chap.  4. 
 2.  Of  the  want  of  conveniency  of  room  for 
 lodging,  and  air  to  breath  in,  being  fo  thronged 
 and  crowded,  as  aforefaid,  in  danger  of  being 
 itifled  and  fmothered  to  death.  3.  Of  lodg- 
 ing feveral  of  them  with  felons,  contrary  to 
 22  Char,  ii,  chap.  20*    4.  Under  pretence  of 
 
 keeping 
 
(     i6j     ) 
 
 keeping  them  from  meeting,  locked  up  in  fe- 
 veral  rooms,  for  eight  and  fixteen  hours  at  a 
 time;  not  fuffered  to  go  out  on  any  occafion, 
 not  fo  much  as  to  fee  their  fellow-prifoner, 
 M.  Heal,  near  her  end,  as  aforefaid,  to  the 
 endangering  their  lives.  Defiring  them  to  in- 
 terpole  their  authority,  and  allow  them  necef- 
 fary  accommodation,  &c.  which  had  little  ef- 
 fect, at  lead  on  the  gaoler;  who  afked  a  friend 
 after,  if  he  would  go  home,  and  draw  up  an- 
 other petition;  continuing  his  cruelty;  taking 
 away  friends  work,  and  other  things;  break- 
 ing an  iron  fcrew-candleftick  about  the  head 
 and  moulders  of  T.  Dimock,  and  threw  him 
 backwards  again  ft  the  corner  of  a  chert, 
 
 The  new  fheriff  coming  to  view  the  gaol, 
 friends  laid  their  complaint  before  him,  and 
 fhewed  him  the  ftatute,  who  promifed  them 
 they  fhould  have  what  benefit  the  law  pre- 
 fcribed ;  yet  the  gaoler  went  on,  denying 
 friends  work.  Friends  then  made  their  ad- 
 drefs  to  the  recorder,  Sir  J.  Churchill,  hoping 
 he  would  have  redreffed  their  abufes ;  but  con- 
 trarywife,  the  gaoler  returning  from  accom- 
 panying him  out  of  town,  began,  according 
 to  his  tyrannical  cuftom,  to  threaten  friends 
 they  ihould  not  work,  faying,  the  recorder 
 and  mayor  ordered  him  fo  to  do;  and  foon 
 after,  he  and  his  men,  Welchman  and  Wo- 
 luin,  came  into  the  Weft-houfe,  and  com- 
 manded friends  out,  though  he  had  thruft 
 M  3  them 
 
(     1 66     ) 
 
 them-  in  there;  and  becaufe  they  did  not  come 
 fo  foon  as  he  expected,  being  then  at  their 
 labour,  he  began  to  hale  and  pull  them,  and 
 commanded  the  turnkey  to  fetch  hand-bolts ; 
 and  having  haled  cut  one,  locked  the  door 
 upon  five  others,  and  denied  their  food  to  be 
 brought  in.  Thus  he  continued  his  cruelties, 
 for  which  he  had  a  fad  account  to  give  ;  of 
 which  next  year.  And  thus  were  they  flow- 
 ed in  prifon,  when  I  was  there  to  vifit  them, 
 as  aforefaid,  which  taking  notice  of  to  them, 
 how  full  they  were;  Margaret  Heal  (fitting  by 
 in  a  chair)  anfwered  me,  Aye,  faid  fhe,  w$ 
 are  full  fraught,  ready  to  fet  fail  the  firft  fair 
 wind:  as  fhe  and  fome  others  did,  into  the 
 ocean  of  eternity  not  long  after,  as  aforefaid  ; 
 hnifhing  her  tefdmony  for  God,  and  his 
 truth,  the  28th  of  the  11th  month,  being 
 faithful  unto  death,  and  now  enjoy  the  crown 
 cf  life:  and  alfo  four  more,  two  men  and  two 
 women,  dying  prifoners,  being  fuffbeated  for 
 want  of  air  and  room,  and  other  convex 
 niences. 
 
 This  year,  1682,  John  Whitehead,  an  an- 
 cient and  eminent  friend  of  the  miniftry ,  late 
 of  Swine,  in  the  eaft-ricling  of  Yorkfhire,  was 
 committed  prifoner  to  Lincoln  cattle,  by  juf- 
 tice  Burril,  the  2 2d  of  the  3d  month,  being 
 accufed  as  a  Jefuit,  for  preaching  at  a  meet- 
 ing, and  tried  at  the  afhzes  at  Lincoln,  the 
 latter  end  of  the  5th,  and  beginning  of  the 
 
 6th 
 
i  167  ) 
 
 6th  month,  1682,  before  baron  Street,  who 
 tendered  him  the  oath  of  allegiance;  for  re- 
 filling which,  he  was  indicted;  and  though 
 he  pleaded  excellently  againft  it,  he  was  re- 
 turned to  lie  in  gaol,  being  convicted  of  a 
 praemunire,  and  tried  at  the  aflizes  in  the  ill 
 month  after,  before  baron  Gregory :  the  oath 
 was  tendered  to  him  again,  and  he  returned 
 as  before  pramiunired.  How  long  he  conti- 
 nued in  prifon  I  am  not  certain,  but  fuppofe, 
 till  the  general  releafe,  the  beginning  of  1686, 
 He  wrote  an  excellent  apology  to  the  king's 
 juftices,  worthy  to  be  read  of  all  the  juftices 
 of  England. 
 
 This  year  alfo,  1682,  our  dear  friend, 
 Charles  Marfhall,  of  Tetherton,  in  Wiltfhire, 
 being  profecuted  by  John  Townfend,  the 
 prieft  of  the  parifh,  for  tithes,  was  taken  up, 
 and  removed  to  London,  before  the  barons 
 of  the  exchequer,  and  committed  to  the 
 Fleet  prifon,  the  4th  of  the  10th  month,  1682, 
 fo  that  I  did  not  fee  him  for  leveral  years, 
 which  was  a  great  exercife  to  me,  becaufe 
 of  his  abfence  at  fuch  a  diftance,  that  he 
 could  not  come  to  fee  us,  nor  I  go  to  fee 
 him  whom  I  loved  fo  well,  and  owed  much 
 to,  as  a  father  in  the  truth:  but  after  two 
 years,  the  prieft  went  to  the  prifon,  and 
 caufed  the  doors  to  be  opened,  and  brought 
 him  out,  and  fome  time  after  died;  and  then 
 Charles  Marfhall  fettled  with  his  family  in 
 London  5  but  afterwards  came  toBriftol  again, 
 M  4  and 
 
{     168     ) 
 
 and  was  frequent  in  meetings  there,  and  coun- 
 tries adjacent,  to  our  great  fatisfaction,  as  in 
 times  paft. 
 
 This  year,  1682,  died  that  faithful  fervant 
 of  God,  and  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  George 
 Coale,  fon  of  Robert  Coale,  (brother  to  the 
 famous  Joiiah  Coale)  of  Winterburn  in  Glou- 
 cefterfhire,  near  Briftol,  of  whom  I  cannot 
 but  make  honourable  mention,  in  comme- 
 moration  of  him  and  his  miniitry ;  being 
 very  instrumental  to  me  in  my  younger 
 years.  He  defcended  of  a  family  of  good 
 repute,  as  aforefaid,  and  was  born  about  the 
 year  1 648 ;  and  his  parents  being  friends,  he 
 was,  no  doubt,  educated  according  to  truth,  in 
 Jiis  youthful  days:  and  as  he  grew  up,  and 
 came  to  feel  the  work  and  operation  of  it  in 
 himfelf,  he  received  a  gift  of  the  miniitry,  and 
 power  from  on  high,  to  preach  the  everlaiting 
 gofpel,  which  he  did  in  life  and  power,  and 
 in  the  evidence  and  demonftration  of  the  fpirit 
 of  God,  (of  which  I  was  a  living  witnels  in 
 my  early  days)  though  he  was  then  but  young 
 in  years,  coming  forth  in  a  teitimony  about 
 the  20th  year  of  his  age,  or  not  long  after. 
 He  ufed  to  come  often  to  Portlhead  meeting, 
 in  Somerfetlhire,  when  he  was  in  England,' 
 and  lodged  at  my  guardian's,  Edm.  Beakes's, 
 when  1  dwelt  there  in  the  years  1672,  73,' 
 and  74;  by  which  means  I  had  the  more 
 perfect  knowledge  of  him,  and  acquaintance 
 with  him,  though  then  but  young*  about  the 
 
 1 6th 
 
(     i«9    ) 
 
 ^6th  year  of  my  age,  and  received  much  be- 
 nefit by  him  and  his  teftimony  in  meetings; 
 not  only  there,  but  at  Briftol,  and  Kingweftorx 
 mGloucefterfhire,he  being  inftrumental  to  me, 
 as  I  faid,  in  opening  my  understanding,  and 
 bringing  me  to  a  nearer  fenfe  of  truth  in  my- 
 felf.  He  travelled  much  beyond  lea  into 
 America,  as  his  uncle  Jonah  did;  particularly 
 to  Jamaica,  where  he  moltly  redded  as  a  factor 
 for  fome  Briftol  merchants  at  flrft,  but  was 
 afterwards  a  merchant  himfelf,  and  had  pretty 
 much  fubftance  there.  He  married  in  Briftol, 
 pne  Griftable  Jennings,  daughter  of  Wm.  Jen- 
 nings of  the  fame  place,  the  beginning  of  1673, 
 but  went  over  again  to  America,  feveral  times 
 after  he  was  married;  particularly  in  1674 
 or  75,  as  I  remember,  biit  returned  to  Briftol 
 again  afterwards,  and  fetched  his  wife,  carry- 
 ing her  over  with  him  to  Jamaica,  in  1678, 
 where  fhe  died  about  a  month  after  fhe  came 
 thither;  but  he  continued  there  about  four 
 years,  and  then  came  over  to  England:  and, 
 in  about  three  months  after  his  arrival  in 
 London,  he  died  there  the  17th  of  the  10th 
 month,  1682,  about  34  years  of  age,  one  year 
 younger  than  his  uncle  Jofiah  was  when  he 
 died  in  London  alio,  in  1668;  laying  down 
 his  head  in  peace  with  the  Lord;  receiving 
 the  fruit  of  his  labours,  and  entering  into 
 his  reft.  He  was  buried  at  Bunhill-Fields, 
 leaving  a  good  favour  and  memorial  behind 
 liim,  I  doubt  not,  in  the  hearts  of  many,  as 
 
 he 
 
(     '7°    ) 
 
 he  did  in  mine.  He  had  intended  to  have 
 fettled  in  England  if  he  had  lived;  and  glad 
 fhould  I  have  heen  to  have  feen  him,  if  it 
 had  pleafed  God  to  lengthen  his  days;  not 
 feeing  him,  as  I  remember,  after  the  year 
 1675,  that  I  faw  him  at  Portfhead  before 
 he  went  beyond  fea,  and  loved  him  fo  well, 
 that  I  could  have  gone  to  America  with  him. 
 He  was  a  proper  comely  perfon,  and  had  a 
 very  fine  refreihing  teftimony,  like  the  dew 
 upon  the  tender  grais,  to  the  convincing,  com-? 
 forting,  and  confirming  many  in  the  truth ; 
 and  was  well  accepted  and  received  wherever 
 he  came  in  our  country,  both  as  a  man  and  a 
 minifter;  being  pleafant  in  his  life,  and  in  his 
 death.  He  was  grave,  folid,  and  weighty  in 
 his  carriage  and  deportment ;  mixed  with 
 courtefy,  love,  and  affability  in  his  converfa-^ 
 tion,  which  carried  both  awe  and  refpect.  I 
 could  fay  much  concerning  him,  but  would 
 not  exceed  through  affection ;  knowing  he 
 is  above  my  encomiums,  and  needs  no  ap- 
 plaufe;  being  Hated  in  his  eternal  manfion  in 
 the  heavenly  kingdom,  with  the  fpirits  of 
 juft  men  made  perfect.  He  left  one  daugh-, 
 ter  behind  him  in  Briftol,  of  his  wife's  name, 
 fince  married  to  Robert  Ingram,  of  London, 
 merchant. 
 
 But  now  to  return  to  Ivelchefter  :  hear* 
 ing  that  my  friend,  J.  M.  of  Briftol  (who  was 
 a  prifoner  in  Newgate,  with  many  more,  for 
 
 meeting) 
 
(  m  ) 
 
 meeting)  had  accepted  of  his  liberty  to  go  .to 
 Pennfylvania,  I  writ  a  letter  to  him,  to  dif~ 
 iuade  him  from  it  at  that  time,  which  I 
 fhould  not  have  taken  notice  of  here,  had 
 \t  not  been  for  a  paiTage  in  it,  which  feems 
 fomewhat  remarkable  as  to  him:  The  letter  is 
 as  follows,  viz. 
 
 My  anciently  beloved  friend,  J.  M. 
 
 MY  dear  love  to  thee  in  the  truth,  which 
 never  changes,  but  abides  the  fame  to 
 all  generations;  neither  do  they  that  abide  in 
 it,  in  which  I  have  often  had,  and  ftill  have, 
 a  reverend  refpecl  for  thee,  and  many  other 
 fervants  of  the  Lord,  as  elders  of  the  flock  over 
 which  the  Lord  hath  made  you  overfeers,  to 
 walk  before  them  in  a  holy  and  godly  con- 
 vcrfation,  blamelefs  before  God,  as  good  ex- 
 amples unto  them;  among  whom  they  have 
 laboured  in  the  word  and  doctrine,  to  the 
 ftrengthening  and  encouraging  of  the  upright 
 and  faithful  in  the  way  of  the  Lord ;  and 
 to  the  convincing  and  confounding  of  all  op- 
 pofers  and  gainfayers;  and  anfwering  God's. 
 witnefs  in  all  people,  as  a  good  favour  in  their 
 places,  even  of  life  to  them  that  are  faved, 
 and  of  death  to  them  that  perifh. 
 
 O  you  ancients  of  Ifrael,   how  weighty  is 
 your  calling!  who  are  called  to  follow  the 
 
 Lamb 
 
(     i72    ) 
 
 Lamb  in  the  regeneration,  and  through  pati- 
 ence to  overcome;  as  the  Lord's  worthies, 
 who  never  turned  their  backs  in  the  day  of 
 battle;  neither  did  their  fwords  return  in  vain, 
 but  their  weapons  and  bows  abode  in  ftrength, 
 and  were  and  are  renewed  in  their  hands,  who 
 are  bold  and  valiant ;  and  victory  is  with 
 them,  Thefe  are  they  that  have  followed  the 
 Lamb  in  the  many  tribulations;  whofe  gar- 
 ments are  warned  and  made  white  in  his 
 blood;  who  loved  not  their  lives  to  the  death, 
 for  his  fake  who  is  gone  before;  and  was 
 made  perfect  through  fufferings,  whom  they 
 are  following  through  perfecutions  and  re- 
 proaches; life  and  death,  as  feeing  him  who 
 is  invifible. 
 
 O  my  friend!  what  fhall  I  fay  unto  thee, 
 that  thou  knoweft  not  already,  even  much 
 more  than  I  can  write  or  fpeak  ?  yet  my  heart 
 is  ftirred  up  to  write  unto  thee,  efpecially  at 
 this  time,  when  I  hear  thou  art  even  quitting 
 the  field  in  this  day  of  battle  and  fore  exercife, 
 wherein  many  fuffer  deeply  for  the  tenimony 
 of  a  good  confcience.  O  that  ever  it  mould 
 be  faid  of  thee,  that  thou  fhouldefl  turn  thy 
 back  in  the  day  of  trial!  I  am  grieved  to  hear 
 thereof.  Why  wilt  thou  go  away  and  leave 
 thy  friends  in  holes  and  prifons,  in  danger  of 
 their  lives,  behind  thee  ?  Many  are  apt  to 
 judge  hardly  of  it,  that  thou  fhouldeft  offer  to 
 go  away  at  fuch  a  time  as  this,  when  many 
 
 fuffer 
 
(     *73    ) 
 
 fufYer  fo  deeply  for  the  truth's  fake.  I  hear 
 thou  haft  obtained  thy  liberty  out  of  prifon, 
 upon  that  account,  to  go  away. 
 
 O  my  ancient  friend,  why  wilt  thou  leave 
 us?  My  heart  is  fad,  with  many  more,  to  hear 
 thereof.  I  did  not  think  thou  wouldeft  have 
 accepted  of  thy  liberty  upon  anyfuch  account. 
 Remember  how  thou  haft  blamed  John  Perrot 
 in  times  paft,  for  going  out  of  prifon  on  that 
 account,  when  fo  many  fufTered  in  Newgate, 
 London,  in  the  year  1 662 ;  and  their  perfe- 
 cutors  offered  them,  that  if  they  would  ac- 
 cept of  their  liberty,  and  go  out  of  the  na- 
 tion of  their  own  accord,  [into  voluntary 
 exile*]  they  mould  have  their  liberty,  which 
 he  accepted  of,  and  never  profpered  after. 
 And  wilt  thou  do  the  fame?  I  hope  and  ex- 
 pect better  things  of  thee,  and  many  more- 
 Why  wilt  thou  go  away,  and  leave  a  clog 
 behind  thee,  to  follow  after  thee  as  a  bur- 
 then? I  know  thou  waft  formerly  very  much 
 againft  going  to  New-Jerfey,  and  ready  to 
 difcourage  any  that  were  inclined  that  way; 
 and  how  is  it  that  thou  art  now  fo  much 
 for  going  to  Pennfylvania  at  this  time?  Not 
 that  I  am  againft  any  one  going  thither,  fo 
 they  go  clearly,  but  only  at  fuch  a  time  as 
 this,  for  any  to  go  to  mun  perfecution,  be- 
 lieving the  blefling  of  God  will  not  attend  any 
 fuch   therein ;    whatever   pretence  any  may 
 
 ?  This  was  before  the  a&  of  banifhment. 
 
 make- 
 
(     >  74    ) 
 
 make,  people  will  take  it  rid  otherwife;  wnicrl 
 will  ftrengthen  the  hands  of  the  evil-doe1-?,, 
 and  weaken  them  that  are  faithful;  and  there- 
 fore I  could  not  be  clear,  but  lay  it  before 
 thee,  as  my  ancient  loving  friend;  and  if  thou 
 goeft,  take  this  as  my  [aft  farewell,  if  I  fee; 
 thee  no  more.  Who  am, 
 
 Thy  true  and 
 
 From  my  prifon-houfc  at  1  Loving    friend. 
 
 Ivelchelter,  the  1 3th  of  i  to  » 
 
 the  8th  month,  1682.  J  JoHN  WhITING* 
 
 But  he  rejected  it,  telling  a  friend,  that 
 ipoke  to  him  about  it,  that  I  was  a  forward 
 lad,  and  that  he  threw  my  letter  into  the 
 fire;  and  fo  went  away,  (though  not  till  next 
 year — of  which  more  in  its  place)  but  never 
 profpered  after,  (nor  feveral  others  that  went 
 away  to  fhim  perfecution)  but  fell  from  truth, 
 and  fo  it  was  fulfilled  on  him. 
 
 John  Cuff,  of  Aifhill,  was  brought  to  pri- 
 fon  for  tithes,  the  1 6th  of  the  10th  month, 
 at  the  fuit  of  John  Teep,  vicar  of  the  laid 
 parifh:  J.  Cuff"  having  been  a  very  great  fuf- 
 ferer  for  meetings  before  by  Henry  Walrond,- 
 being  a  plain  innocent  man,  and  having  fome 
 fubfiance  about  him,  the  faid  Henry  Wal- 
 rond  had  an  eye  upon  him,  to  make  a  prey* 
 of  him  almofl  to  his  undoing. 
 
 Wra.  Laurence,  of  Axbridge,  was  brought 
 
 to  prifon  the   16th  of  the  nth  month,  being 
 
 cited  to  the  archdeacon's  court  at  Wells,  for 
 
 ">  abfence- 
 
(     «75    ) 
 
 abfence  from  church  (fo  called)  where  he  ap- 
 peared before  the  archdeacon  Thurlby,  who 
 treated  him  very  fcoffingly;  not  like  a  grave 
 church  man,  but  like  a  light  vain  man  and 
 proud    prelate ;   threatening    to   fend  him  to 
 gaol;  William  reproving  his   fcoffing   beha- 
 viour, telling  him,    it  did  not  become  him 
 that  fat  judge,  to  feoff  and  deride  fuch  as  came 
 before  him:  the  proud  prieft  was  angry,  and 
 afked   him   when   he  received  the  facrament* 
 William  afked,  What  was  that;   for  he  knew 
 no  fuch  word  in  fcripture:  Thurlby  faid,   it 
 was  the  Lord's  fupper:  William   queflioned 
 whether    he  knew  what   the  Lord's   fupper 
 was:  on  which,  Thurlby  being  enraged,  faid, 
 What!  had   he  been  at  the  univeriity,  and 
 ftudied  the  fcriptures  forty  years,   and  mould 
 fuch    a    fellow   as   he   queftion   whether    he 
 knew  the  Lord's  Supper?  and  bid  call  for  a 
 juftice    of  peace:  and  Colonel   Berkly,  who 
 was  always  ready  to  help  them  at  a  dead  lift, 
 (one,  by  the  way,  who,  when  he  would  pre- 
 tend to  pray  with  his  troop,  would  curfe  or 
 fwear  on  any  provocation,  before  he  was  off" 
 his   knees)  being  prefent  with  others,  came 
 and  violently  thruft  him  out  of  the  cathedral, 
 and  hurried  him  along  to  the  houfe  of  J.  Bay- 
 lie,    (bifLop  Mew's   proud   chancellor^    who 
 alfo  treated  him  ill,   and  tendered    him   the 
 oath  of  allegiance;   which   William   refufing 
 to  take  for  confeience  lake,  they  lent  him  to 
 
 piifvjuj 
 
(    i-fi    5 
 
 jpnfon;  where,  though  he  was  brought  fefta 
 at  Ivelchefter  fefhons  in  the  2d  month  fbl-* 
 lowing,  and  alio  at  Bridgwater  feffions  in 
 the  5th  month,  yet  he  was  continued  pri-» 
 foner  till  Bath  feffions,  the  2d  of  the.  8th 
 month,  1683,  and  then  difcharged. 
 
 Joan  Comb,  of  Gregory  Stoke,  an  ancient 
 widow  of  73  years  of  age,  for  not  coming 
 to  church,  (fo  called)  was,  by  warrant  from 
 J.  P.  and  Henry  Sherburn,  dated  the 
 22d  of  the  1  ith  month,  committed  to  priibn 
 the  14th  of  the  ifl  month  following,  and 
 had  to  Taunton  affizes  the  24th  ditto;  and 
 died  on  her  return  the  ift  of  the  2d  month, 
 1683,  to  which  I  am  now  arrived* 
 
 Richard  Lincoln,  of  Crewkerne,  was  com- 
 mitted to  prifon  the  4th  of  the  2d  month, 
 1683,  for  being  at  a  meeting  in  that  town, 
 (where  were  feveral  public  friends)  by  Sir 
 Edward  Phillips,  of  Montague,  who,  coming 
 to  the  town  that  day,  fent  for  the  officers* 
 and  fent  them  to  the  meeting;  ordering  them 
 to  fet  a  guard  on  it,  and  bring  fome  of  the 
 friends  before  him :  the  faid  officers  came, 
 though  unwilling,  and  defired  friends  to  de- 
 part; which  they  not  doing,  the  officers  went 
 away,  and  came  again,  deiiring  that  two  or 
 three  friends  would  go  and  fpeak  with  Sir 
 Edward;  whereupon  R.  Lincoln,  being  ac- 
 quainted with  him,  went  of  his  own  accord 
 to  him,  who,  after  fome  difcourfe,  fent  him. 
 
 to 
 
I     i/7    ) 
 
 to  prifon,  and  fo  was  made  a  fufTerer  for 
 the  meeting,  which  ended  peaceably.  He 
 was  brought  forth  to  Ivelcheiter  feffions  the 
 19th  of  the  2d  month,  and  without  any- 
 thing faid  about  the  meeting;  the  oath  ten- 
 dered to  him,  and  fo  continued  prifoner  till 
 the  next  feffions  at  Bridgewater,  in  the  fifth 
 month,  with  William  Lawrence  aforefaid ; 
 and,  without  much  faid  to  them,  continued 
 till  Bath  feffions,  the  2d  of  the  8th  month; 
 and  then,  there  being  no  further  proceedings 
 againft  them,  they  were  both  difcharged. 
 
 John  Clothier  ofEaft  Lidford,wasfent  to  pri- 
 fon the  1 7th  of  the  5th  month,  by  the  Lord  Sta- 
 well  and  Sir  Edw.  Phillips,  juitices,  for  refufing 
 the  oath  of  allegiance,  at  the  mitigation  of  priefl 
 Horfey,  of  Lidford,  an  old  perfecutor. 
 
 John  Hopkins,  of  Ivelcheiter,  was  com- 
 mitted to  prifon  the  fame  day,  for  not  going 
 to  church,  fo  called,  by  Sir  Edward  Phillips, 
 and  had  to Midfummer feffions  at  Bridgewater; 
 where  the  oath  was  tendered  to  him,  and  he 
 was  remanded  to  prifon. 
 
 The  1 2th  of  the  6th  month,  1683,  there 
 were  twelve  more  committed  to  prifon,  from 
 Gregory  Stoke  meeting,  by  Henry  Walrond, 
 who  with  his  affiftants,  whofe  names  were 
 Brooms,  (who  ufed  to  fweep  all  away)  broke 
 the  windows,  benches,  gallery,  &c.  of  the 
 meeting-houfe ;  and  carried  out  the  materials, 
 with  the  windows,  leaves,  doors,  forms,  &c 
 pn  the  green,  and  there  burnt  them;  caroufing 
 and  drinking  about  the  fire  the  mean-while  : 
 
 N  and 
 
(     178    ) 
 
 and  fined  feveral  friends  for  the  faid  meeting, 
 particularly  William  Calbreth  of  North  Curry, 
 whofe  houfe  they  broke  open  to  feize  his 
 goods,  contrary  to  law,  and  committed  12 
 friends. 
 
 And  the  fourteenth  of  the  fame,  1683, 
 thefe  feven  of  the  twelve  were  brought  to 
 prifon,  viz. 
 
 John  Nutt,  of  Michael  Creech,*}     Wh°  wer« 
 John  Shoobroke,  ditto,  tor°BSatn  f°ffi~ 
 
 Hugh  Durborough,of  N.Curry,  |  ons,inthe8th 
 ?.^Fd  Warner,  of  Midlezoy,  j>  ™(,  ^"l! 
 
 ance  was  ten- 
 dered to  them, 
 and  they  were 
 remanded  to 
 prifon. 
 
 William  Elliot,  of  Greg.  Stoke, 
 Robert  Button,  of  Taunton, 
 Thomas  Parfons,  of  Middlefoy, 
 
 The  other  five  were  difcharged  by  Captain 
 Walrond,  upon  fome  giving  money  for  them 
 without  their  confent,  viz.  George  FackreJ, 
 William  Fowler,  William  Chaed,  (father  and 
 fon)  and  David  Ballam. 
 
 Of  which  imprifonments  and  other  abufes- 
 I  gave  a  large  account  in  a  letter  to  a  friend 
 (then  in  London)  the  21ft  of  the  6th  month; 
 which  being  long,  and  in  the  record,  the  fub~ 
 fiance  of  it  being  before,  is  here  omitted ;  but 
 the  conclufion  I  cannot  well  pafs  by,  being 
 fomewhat  remarkable,  viz. 
 
 »     *  What  the  end  of  thefe  things  will  be  we 
 4  mull  leave  to  the  Lord  5  but  they  at  pre- 
 
 4  fent 
 
(     179    ) 
 
 fent  feem.  refolved  to  be  exceeding  wick- 
 ed, if  the  Lord  do  not  put  a  flop  to  them: 
 My  deiire  is,  that  in  thefe  days  of  trial, 
 and  deep  exercife,  the  faith  of  none  of  his 
 people  may  fail,  but  that,  bold  and  vali- 
 ant for  the  truth  on  earth,  they  may  be 
 made,  and  in  the  innocency  may  be  kept, 
 that  an  heart  of  unbelief  may  never  enter 
 any  towards  God;  nor  a  fpirit  of  revenge 
 towards  their  enemies,  but  that  they  may 
 be  enabled  to  undergo  the  wrath  of  man, 
 until  the  Lord  is  pleafed  to  reftrain  it. 
 Our  keeper  alfo  hath  been  very  wicked  a- 
 gainft  friends  lately,  keeping  a  great  many 
 in  the  common-gaol,  a^  even  ftirring  up 
 our  adverfaries  to  be  worfe  aeainft  us  than 
 
 o 
 
 fome  of  them  would  be/  6cc. 
 
 The  29th  ditto,  1683,  ten  friends  were 
 fent  to  prifon  from  Glaftenbury  meeting,  by 
 John  Baylie,  chancellor  of  the  bifhop's  court 
 at  Wells,  who,  though  called  reverend,  was 
 fo  irreverend,  as  (like  Walrond  at  btoke)  to 
 fet  the  boys  to  break  the  windows  and  forms 
 not  long  before,  ^though  in  the  abbey  kit- 
 chen, which  king  Henry  VIII.  could  not 
 burn,  being  built  all  of  itone)  and  the  forms 
 &c.  were  afterwards  carried  out  and  burnt 
 on  a  thankfgiving  day,  above  Chamgate.  The 
 faid  Baylie,  and  Col.  Berkley  of  Pill,  coming 
 now  to  the  meeting,  turned  out  the  wromen 
 N  2  and 
 
(     180     ) 
 
 and  children ;  tendered  the  oath  to  the  men  5 
 and,  for  their  refilling  to  take  it,  fent  thefe 
 ten  friends  to  prifon,  viz. 
 
 John  Metford,  of  Glafton,     " 
 
 John  Mabfon,  ditto, 
 
 Richard  Cooper,   and  7  ,. 
 
 Thomas,  his  brother,  ^  ' 
 
 Ab.  Clothier,  of  Shepton  Mallet, 
 
 John  Turner,  of  Mear,  f  der!d5°  them 
 
 again  in  court, 
 and  fo  conti- 
 nued till  next 
 feffions. 
 
 Where  they 
 continued  till 
 Bath  feffions, 
 and  then  had 
 the  oath  ten- 
 
 Rich.  Grabham,  of  Edington, 
 William  Hewlet,  of  Street, 
 Abraham  Gundry,  ditto, 
 James  Clothier,  ditto. 
 
 From  Glaftenbury  let  us  go  to  Chew  Magna 
 near  Briftol:  Wheie,  for  being  at  a  meetings 
 twenty-feven  friends  were  committed  the  2d 
 of  September,  by  John  Helliar,  one  of  the 
 great  perfecutors  of  Briftol,  under- fherirF  of 
 the  county:  Captain  Twyfordv  and  William 
 Higgins,  of  Briftol,  who  came  to  the  meet- 
 ing with  a  company  of  bailiffs,  in  a  very 
 rude  manner;  beating  and  abufing  friends  (as 
 they  ufed  to  do  at  Briftol)  very  much;  Hel- 
 liar charging  the  bailiffs  to  keep  them  while 
 he  went  to  prieft  CroftVs  to  dinner,  after 
 which  he  came  again,  and  brought  faggots 
 with  him,  and  throwing  them  down  at  the 
 meeting-houfe  door,  bid  them  fire  the  houfe, 
 which  the  neighbours  feeing,  cried  out,  for 
 
 fear 
 
(     i8i     ) 
 
 fear  their  houfes  (being  contiguous)  fhould 
 be  burnt;  whereupon  he  went  into  the  meet- 
 ing in  a  great  rage,  and  commanded  the  friends 
 to  rife  up,  which  they  not  prefently  doing,  he 
 bid  his  company  cut  off  the  legs  of  the  forms  : 
 ftruck  and  pulled  one  friend  by  the  hair  of  his 
 head;  ftruck  another,  and  cut  his  coat;  pulled 
 another  backward  to  the  ground,  and  then 
 carried  out  the  forms,  and  burnt  them  with 
 the  priefl's  faggots;  then  went  in,  and  made 
 a  mittimus  for  twenty-feven,  (though  he  was 
 no  juftice)  and  bid  the  officers  drive  them  along 
 like  hogs.  The  names  of  the  friends  com- 
 mitted were  as  follows,  viz. 
 
 John  Hipfley, 
 Joan,  his  wife, 
 Jofeph  Taylor, 
 Anne,  his  wife, 
 John  Spear, 
 Nicholas  Allen, 
 Daniel  Holbrook, 
 Hugh  Croad, 
 John  Watts, 
 James  Stirredge, 
 Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
 Jofeph  Wade, 
 Richard  Greethead, 
 Margery,  his  wife, 
 Joan,  their  daughter, 
 Jofeph  Little, 
 
 N  3  James 
 
(       182       ) 
 
 James  Little, 
 Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
 James  Ford, 
 Richard  Walter, 
 Mary  Cotten, 
 Mary  Page, 
 Elizabeth  Harvey, 
 Joan  Hanham, 
 Hefter  Vickris,* 
 Elizabeth  Vickris, 
 Barbara  Blagdon. 
 
 The  fixteen  who  were  brought  to  prifon, 
 were  put  into  the  common  gaol  among  fe- 
 lons: the  keeper,  G.  Bale,  and  his  wife,  being 
 very  wicked  againft  them,  (being  pretty  much 
 under  the  influence  of  Helliar)  his  wife  abu- 
 fing  them  much  in  words,  calling  them  ill 
 names,  and  refufmg  them  necefTaries,  not  fuf- 
 fering  them  to  have  beds,  nor  hardly  ftraw  to 
 lie  on,  but  what  was  put  in  through  the  door; 
 fo  that  I  heard  Elizabeth  Stirredge  (who  was 
 a  weakly  tender  woman)  complain,  that  the 
 worft  night's  lodging  that  ever  fhe  had  in, 
 Newgate  (Briftol)  was  not  fo  bad  as  fhe  had 
 that  night  in  the  common  gaol  at  Ivelchef- 
 
 *  The  three  lafl  from  Briftol,  and  fome  other?,  were 
 not  brought  to  prifon  nor  fcffions,  the  officers  being  more 
 favourable  to  them  than  the  prieft  and  perfecutors  were ; 
 let  them  continue  at  home :  So  that  there  were  but  fixteen 
 fent  to  prifon. 
 
 ter: 
 
(     <33     ) 
 
 ter:  but  afterwards  the  keeper,  when  his 
 wrath  was  a  little  over,  was  more  kind  to 
 them,  and  let  them  have  the  liberty  of  the 
 town,  to  get  lodgings  elfewhere.  They  were 
 had  to  Bath  feflions  in  the  8th  month  (ex- 
 cept Jofeph  Wade,  who  being  taken  fick, 
 died  about  the  beginning  of  the  feflions,  leav- 
 ing his  blood  upon  their  heads)  where  they 
 were  indicted,  and  malicioufly  profecuted  by 
 the  faid  Helliar,  for  a  riot  (to  excufe  himfelf 
 as  was  thought  of  his  own  riotous  practices) 
 and  fo  returned  to  prifon  till  next  feflions. 
 
 Note,  This  prieft  Crofs,  of  Chew,  an  old 
 perfecutor,  who  was  the  inftigator  of  this  per- 
 secution, and  invited  over  the  faid  Helliar  to 
 dinner,  on  purpofe,  as  was  thought,  to  break 
 the  meeting  there,  and  fend  the  faid  friends 
 to  prifon;  faying  before,  If  he  could  but  live 
 to  fee  Elizabeth  Stirredge  (who  had  a  public 
 teftimony)  and  her  hufband  ruined,  he  cared 
 not  if  he  died  next  day;  fo  malicious  was  he. 
 And  when  they  came  and  told  him  what  they 
 had  done,  he  put  off  his  hat  and  thanked 
 them,  faying,  He  fhould  live  four  years  the 
 longer  for  it:  But  foon  after,  (even  before  the 
 friends  were  carried  to  prifon)  as  he  was  walk- 
 ing in  the  fteeple-houfe  yard,  looking  on  the 
 boys  at  play,  he  fell  down  as  dead;  as  he  did 
 once  before  in  the  pulpit,  and  was  carried  in 
 and  was  never  feniible  after,  but  died  in  a 
 fad  condition.  And  Helliar,  not  long  after, 
 when  he  had  filled  up  his  meafure  of  perfe- 
 N  4*  cution, 
 
(     1 84     ) 
 
 cutlon  at  Briftol,  died  in  a  frightful  manner, 
 under  fuch  terror  of  mind  for  the  wicked- 
 nefs  he  had  perpetrated,  both  here  and  at 
 Briftol,  that,  as  was  reported,  he  kept  candles 
 burning,  and  men  to  watch  with  him  night 
 and  day,  left  the  wicked  one  mould  fetch  him 
 away,  and  fo  died  miferably.  O  that  men 
 would  take  warning,  and  fear  the  Lord,  for 
 our  God  is  a  confuming  fire. 
 
 From  Chew  I  mult  take  a  ftep  to  Briftol,  on 
 this  occafion,  being  one  of  the  weightier!  that 
 ever  I  went  about,  which  I  cannot  omit  men- 
 tioning, becaufe  of  the  connection  it  hath 
 with  the  remaining  part  of  thefe  Memoirs, 
 in  relation  to  myfelf,  which  was  this:  I  had 
 drawings  in  my  mind  for  fome  time  towards 
 a  young  woman  of  good  repute,  in  relation  to 
 marriage,  whofe  name  was  Sarah  Hurd,  of 
 Long  Sutton,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hurd,  of 
 Somerton,  who  was  a  prifoner  with  me,  for 
 tithes.  It  opened  firft  in  my  heart,  as  I  was 
 waiting  upon  the  Lord  in  great  humility  and 
 lowlinefs  of  mind,  according  to  what  role  in 
 my  heart  near  fix  years  before  (in  1677,  as 
 I  was  walking,  pondering  in  my  heart  the 
 things  of  God,  and  fomething  in  relation  to 
 marriage)  that  I  mould  not  look  out,  but 
 keep  my  eye  to  the  Lord,  and  he  would 
 provide  well  enough  for  me;  at  which  I  was 
 much  broken,  and  tendered  in  my  fpirjt  be- 
 fore the  Lord,  in  a  fenfe  of  his  love  and  mercy 
 to  me;  often  deiiring  of  the  Lord,  when  I 
 
 have 
 
(    is*    ) 
 
 have  been  alone,  that  I  might  rather  never 
 alter  my  condition,    except    it    was    for    his 
 glory  and  my  good;  and  which    yet  I  was 
 not  hafty  in,  but  retained  in  my  heart  near 
 half  a  year  before  I  difclofed  it  to  her.     But 
 now,  in  the  7th  month,  fhe  having  two  fit- 
 ters going  to  Pennfylvania,  and  accompany- 
 ing them   to  Briftol,    I,    having    acquainted 
 her    father   with   it,    and    had    his    confent, 
 went  after  them,  where  I  found  my  old  friend 
 J.  M.  to  whom  I  writ  the  former  letter,  pre- 
 paring to  go,  with  feveral  others,    and   had 
 fome  difcourfe  with  him  about  it.      I  accom- 
 panied   my    friend   and  her  fillers   on    fhip- 
 board,  in  King's-Road,  where  we  took  leave 
 of  them  and  the  reft,  and  returned  with  her 
 to  the  city  j  and  next  day  went  homeward  with 
 her,  and  by  the  way  laid   the  thing  before 
 her,    which   fhe    in    due   time    received    and 
 clofed  with,    (of  which  more  in  its  place) ; 
 and  when  I  advifed  with  John  Anderdon  about 
 it,  whom  we  counted  as  a  feer,   he  told  me, 
 he  did  not  fee    any   thing   in   truth   againfl 
 it;  which  was  a  confirmation  to  me. 
 
 Before  I  leave  Briftol,  it  is  requilite  I  fhould 
 give  account  of  the  remaining  part  of  the  per- 
 fection there;  and  here  I  muft  give  account 
 of  the  fevere  profecution  of  Richard  Vickris, 
 of  Briftol,  whofe  cafe  was  unufual  and  extra- 
 ordinary, being  for  his  life,  who,  for  the  rela- 
 tion he  bore  to  our  county,  I  cannot  but  men- 
 tion ; 
 
(     186    ) 
 
 tion ;  he  being  a  particular  friend  and  neigh- 
 bour of  mine  afterwards.  He  was  fon  to  Robert 
 Vickris,  merchant  and  alderman  of  Briftol, 
 but  afterwards  of  Chew-Magna,  in  the  county 
 of  Somerfet.  He  was  well  educated,  and  was 
 convinced  of  the  truth  in  his  young  years; 
 to  divert  him  from  which,  and  from  being  a 
 Quaker,  his  father  fent  him  abroad  to  travel 
 in  France;  where  beholding  the  fuperftition 
 and  idolatry  of  the  Papifts,  and  feeing  the 
 errors  of  Popery,  (reading  Mallebranche's  Search 
 after  Truth)  he  was  the  more  confirmed  in 
 the  belief  of  the  truth,  and  when  he  came 
 home  embraced  it  openly.  He  married  Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter  of  George  Bifhop,  of  Briftol, 
 where  he  dwelt,  and  followed  merchandizing 
 till  he  came  to  live  at  Chew;  of  whofe  fuffer- 
 ings,  imprisonment,  and  abufe  in  Newgate, 
 we  have  often  touched  before;  being  impri- 
 foned  there  on  excommunication,  in  the  year 
 1680,  and  after  the  great  perfecution  began 
 there,  in  1681,  as  aforefaid.  He  was  often 
 fined  and  diftrained  for  meetings,  imprifoned 
 and  abufed,  as  before-mentioned:  But,  as  if  all 
 that  was  not  fufficient,  he  was  brought  under 
 a  fevere  profecution  for  his  life,  on  the  ftatute 
 of  the  35th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  at  the  ferlions, 
 the  28th  of  the  1  ith  month,i682.  He  pleaded 
 againft  the  jurifdiclion  of  the  court  offeflions, 
 on  that  ftatute;  which  plea  being  over-ruled, 
 he  was  at  the  laid  feffion  committed  to  prifon 
 
 for 
 
(    rt7    ) 
 
 for  refufmg  to  plead  the  general  ifTue,  of 
 guilty  or  not  guilty,  to  the  indictment.  But 
 in  Eafter  fellions,  in  the  2d  month,  1683,  he 
 was  admitted  to  bail,  obliging  himfelf  to 
 plead  and  traverfe  with  effect.  Between  that 
 and  midfummer,  he  procured  an  habeas  corpus 
 from  the  king's  bench,  to  remove  himfelf  and 
 caufe  out  of  the  court  of  feffions.  At  Mid- 
 fummer fefhons  he  was  continued  upon  his 
 recognizance,  to  the  20th  of  the  5th  month, 
 being  the  adjournment  of  the  feffions ;  at 
 which  time,  after  the  gaol  delivery,  he  ap- 
 peared and  preferred  his  habeas  corpus,  defir- 
 ing  his  recognizance  might  be  difcharged, 
 which  was  done,  and  he  delivered  a  prifoner 
 into  the  cuftody  of  the  fheriff,  till  the  23d; 
 at  which  time,  after  the  feffions  was  adjourned, 
 and  all  the  other  bufmefs  of  the  gaol  delivery 
 over,  he  was,  by  the  inftigation  of  Sir  John 
 Knight,  fent  for  into  court,  and  immediately 
 forced  to  a  trial.  He  defired  the  court  would 
 not  furprize  him,  and  precipitate  him  thus  to  a 
 trial,  and  therefore  defired  time,  his  counfel  be- 
 ing abfent ;  which  being  refufed,  he  craved  the 
 favour  of  the  court  to  grant  him  a  fpecial 
 venire  facias,  as  is  ufual  in  fuch  cafes,  and 
 was  lately  granted  to  one  under  the  like  pro- 
 fecution :  But  this  being  alib  refufed,  they 
 went  on  to  a  trial,  without  requiring  him 
 to  plead;  but  took  it  for  granted  that  he  had 
 pleaded,  though  he  had  not;  and  a  jury  was 
 
 immediately 
 
(     i'S8     ) 
 
 immediately  impannelled  in  court,  moftly 
 men  of  mean  occupation,  though  he  was  a 
 gentleman  bred:  after  fome  time  his  counfel 
 came  into  court.  John  Helliar  undertook  to 
 open  the  cafe ;  but  varying  from  the  matter 
 in  the  indictment,  recourfe  was  had  to  the 
 file  for  the  original :  His  counfel  mewed,  that 
 the  indictment  did  not  bring  him  in  guilty 
 upon,  or  without,  the  ftatute ;  and  then  lhew- 
 ed,  in  particular,  that  the  flatute  fays,  '  If  a 
 man  obftinately  refufe  to  come  to  fome 
 church,  chapel,  or  ufual  place  of  common- 
 prayer,  to  hear  divine  fervice,  &c.  and  fhall 
 forbear  fo  to  do  for  the  fpace  of  a  month, 
 next  after  his  faid  obftinate  refufal,'  &c.  But 
 the  indictment  charged  him  with  forbearance 
 a  month  before  any  obftinate  refufal,  which 
 forbearance  a  month  before  is  not  the  crime 
 in  law,  but  a  month  after;  befides,  this  dif- 
 ference removes  the  reafon  in  law  of  the  fe- 
 verity,  viz.  the  obftinacy  of  the  fact.  Now 
 this  obftinate  refufal  is  the  tcmpus  a  quo,  and 
 implies  a  day  of  affignment  and  admonition 
 to  that  practice  the  law  requires,  which  in  the 
 indictment  is  faid  to  be  the  30th  of  December, 
 1 68 1,  which  was  no  red  letter  or  feftival  day, 
 on  which  the  law  fhould  be  fuppofed  to  oblige 
 to  that  practice ;  neither  was  there  any  admo- 
 nition given,  nor  could  be  proved,  to  render 
 the  refufal  obftinate,  which  rauft  be  the  legal 
 fenfe  of  the  word  ohjlinatc,  viz.,  a  refufal  on  a 
 premonition,  as  is  evident,  being  compared 
 
 with 
 
(     i89     ) 
 
 with  the  former  ftatutes  of  recufancy,  where 
 the  abfence  from  church  for  eleven  months 
 exceeds  not  20I.  per  menfem :  Whereas,  by  this 
 ftatute  of  the  35th  of  Elizabeth,  the  obftinate 
 refuial  and  forbearance,  though  but  for  one 
 month  after,  incurs  fo  much  heavier  punifh- 
 ment.  Befides,  the  cenfure  and  procedure  in 
 all  ecclefiaftical  courts,  manifeft,  that  obftinacy 
 is  a  refufal  after  admonition.  Thefe  things 
 were  argued,  and  earneftly  prefled  by  his 
 counfel,  and  by  himfelf,  as  evidence  of  his 
 not  being  guilty  within  the  ftatute,  as  to 
 that  part  of  the  fact  laid  in  the  indictment ; 
 but  were  over-ruled. 
 
 And  as  to  the  other  part  of  the  fact:,  viz. 
 joining  in  a  conventicle,  the  witneffes  fwore 
 that  he  was  at  a  meeting  the  day  mentioned 
 in  the  indictment,  at  a  place  where  they  ufed 
 to  meet  on  the  fcore  of  religious  worfhip,  in 
 company  of  about  a  hundred  and  twenty  per- 
 fons ;  but  gave  no  evidence  of  any  preaching, 
 praying,  or  the  like  overt  act  of  religious 
 worlhip  performed  at  that  time,  neither  is  it 
 mentioned  in  the  commitment  or  record ;  only 
 one  of  the  witneffes  feemed  to  fay,  that  he 
 ufed  to  alk  what  their  (friends)  bufinefs  was 
 there,  and  that  unlefs  fome  or  other  of  them 
 con  ft  fled  they  were  there  to  worfhip  God,  or 
 to  the  like  effect,  he  did  not  ufe  to  fwear  the 
 meeting  a  religious  conventicle;  and  he  be- 
 lieved he  had  that  anfwer  from  fome  of  that 
 
 meeting, 
 
(       ICjO       )         . 
 
 meeting,  but  knew  not  from  whom;  nor  did 
 he  fay  it  was  from  R.  Vickris;  as  certainly  it. 
 was  not.  Upon  which  it  was  argued,  this 
 could  not  be  a  religious  conventicle  within 
 the  ftatute,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  ftatutes, 
 &c.  becaufe  no  overt  act  was  affigned  to  ren- 
 der it  fuch;  neither  was  there  any  diftinction 
 in  this'  meeting,  by  any  evidence  that  appear- 
 ed from  other  meetings,  which  almoft  ever 
 fmce  have  been  rendered  unlawful  afTemblies, 
 at  common  law;  and  now  to  retrovert  and 
 make  this  meeting  a  religious  conventicle, 
 to  bring  him  within  this  ftatute,  was  very 
 hard  and  contradictory.  They  then  infilled 
 upon  his  being  punifhed  already  by  the  con- 
 venticle act,  for  the  fame  meeting  laid  in  his 
 indictment,  and  pleaded  that  claule  in  the  fta- 
 tute of  the  2 2d  of  king  Charles  II.  where  it 
 is  faid,  c  That  no  perfon  punifhed  for  any 
 
 *  offence,  by  virtue  of  this  act,  fhall  be  pu- 
 c  nifhed  for  the  fame  offence    by   virtue   of 
 
 *  any  other  law  or  ftatute  whatfoever.'  Shew- 
 ing, if  this  was  not  allowed,  he  was  doubly 
 punifhed  for  one  and  the  fame  offence,  viz. 
 by  the  2 2d  of  Charles  II.  and  35th  of  Eliza- 
 beth, according  to  counfellor  Ward's  opinion 
 in  this  cafe:  but  all  was  over-ruled,  fo  arbi- 
 trary were  they;  the  jury  was  fent  for,  who 
 foon  returned  and  brought  him  in  guilty. 
 
 Then  they  moved  for  an  arreft  of  judg- 
 ment, but  could  not  prevail ;   their  motion 
 
 being 
 
(     i9i     ) 
 
 being  rejected  by  the  court,   (who  were  re~ 
 folved   in  the   cafe);  fo  the  recorder  of  the 
 city,  Sir  John   Churchill,  of  Churchill,  two 
 miles  from  Wrington,  in  Somerfetfhire,  (who 
 died  not  long  after,  and  his  houie  became 
 defolate)  proceeded  to  read  the  judgment  up- 
 on the  ftatute  againft  him,  viz.  That  he  mould 
 conform,  or  abjure  the  realm  in  three  months, 
 or  fuffer  death  as  a  felon,  without  benefit  of 
 clergy:  And  admonifhed  him  to  conform.    R. 
 Vickris  anlwered,  He  prefumed  he  would  not 
 defire  his  conformity,  unlefs  he  was  fatisfied 
 in  his  confcience  fo  to  do ;  for  to  play  the  hy- 
 pocrite with  man  was  hateful,  much   more 
 with  God.     He  had  opportunity  to  fpeak  his 
 mind  fully  in  fome  points,  and  came  away 
 eafy  and  fatisfied;  being  carried  to  prifon  to 
 Newgate,   where  he   remained,   for  the  tefti- 
 mony  of  truth,  till  next  year  under  the  laid 
 fentence,  becaufe  he  could  not  for  confcience 
 fake  conform  nor  abjure;  and  the  time  of  ab- 
 juring the  realm,   which  he  confcientiouily 
 refufed  to  do,  being  elapfed,  he  lay  liable  to 
 the  execution   of  the  law,  which  was  death. 
 Of  which,  and  how  he  came  to  be  delivered, 
 I  muft  refer  the  further  account  till  next  year. 
 And  now,  as  to  Briftol  in  general,  the  per- 
 fection (till  continued,  though  it  was  abated 
 as  to  meetings;  for  at  this  time  of  my  be- 
 ing at  Briftol,  as  I  remember,  going  to  the 
 meeting  at  the  Friars,  6th  day  in  the  after- 
 noon, there  was  William   Bingley    ftanding 
 
 oa 
 
(     *92     ) 
 
 on  the  floor,  in  the  middle  of  the  meeting, 
 declaring  to  friends,  there  being  a  pretty 
 full  meeting  for  an  evening  meeting,  the 
 galleries  being  all  broke  down,  and  not 
 then  repaired:  but  the  meeting  was  quiet  at 
 that  time.  Yet  in  the  prifon  of  Newgate, 
 were  forty-five  remaining  prifoners,  and  in 
 Bridewell  about  feventy,  the  greater!  part 
 women,  long  and  clofe  confined,  enduring 
 great  hardfhips;  beiides  the  great  violence 
 and  abufes  many  underwent  in  the  ftreets,  as 
 well  as  in  prifon ;  efpecially  in  Newgate, 
 where  friends  fuffered  very  much,  through 
 the  wickednefs  of  the  keeper,  Ifaac  Dennis, 
 whofe  rage  and  fury  growing  higher  and 
 higher,  friends  thought  it  neceffary  once  more 
 to  lay  it  before  the  magiftrates,  the  25th  of 
 the  2d  month,  viz.  his  thronging  fo  many 
 together  in  one  room,  that  had  not  the  mercy 
 of  God  prevented,  they  might  have  been 
 ftined:  His  keeping  them  from  their  lawful 
 employments,  for  the  maintenance  of  them- 
 felves  and  families,  &c.  A  friend,  C.  Oli- 
 ver, being  very  fick  in  the  dungeon,  came 
 and  fat  by  friends  fire  in  the  chapel-chamber, 
 becaufe  of  the  dampnefs  of  the  place,  hoping 
 to  get  a  little  fuccour  by  the  fire;  but  fuch, 
 was  the  keeper's  inhumanity,  as  to  command 
 him  from  thence,  fo  he  was  forced  to  go  (the 
 firfl  time  that  ever  I  faw  him)  into  the 
 noifome  place  again;  and  Jabez  White  bring- 
 ing fomething  for  him,  while  in  the  chapel- 
 chamber, 
 
(     193     ) 
 
 chamber,  the  keeper  afked  him,  Whither  he 
 was  going?  He  laid,  To  the  lick  man;  afk- 
 ing,  if  he  might  not  go  from  one  room  to  an- 
 other; the  keeper  faid,  he  mould  not:  the 
 friend  faid,  the  man  was  very  ill,  and  that  he 
 mould  confider  the  fick,  for  he  might  be  fick 
 himfelf:  for  which  faying,  he  and  his  man 
 endeavoured  to  throw  him  down  flairs;  but 
 not  doing  it  there,  he  and  his  wife  took  hold 
 of  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  threw 
 him  down  the  other  flairs  below;  and  when 
 he  had  fo  done,  he  and  his  man  took  him  and 
 put  him  in  the  Weft-houfe.  After  this,  Tho- 
 mas Hayes,  a  very  innocent  man,  falling  fick, 
 delired  fome  liberty  to  be  out  of  the  noife  of 
 the  fwearers  and  drunkards;  upon  which  the 
 new  fheriff  fent  his  man  with  an  order  to 
 do  it;  but  the  keeper  would  not  perform  it, 
 having  an  enmity  againft  the  friend,  without 
 any  jufl  caufe,  and  fo  detained  him  till  he 
 died,  the  3d  of  the  8th  month,  who  ended  his 
 days  fweetly  in  the  love  of  God,  who  bore 
 up  his  fpirit  over  all  his  fufferings.  After 
 him,  a  friend,  Thomas  Arnold,  being  veiy 
 ill,  three  or  four  days  before  his  death,  delired 
 friends  company  in  the  room,  to  wait  upon 
 the  Lord;  and  D.  Dole  fpeaking  to  friends 
 by  way  of  exhortation,  Welchman,  the  un- 
 der-keeper,  came  in  a  rude  and  wicked  man- 
 ner, and  haled  her  out  of  the  room ;  and  after 
 fome  time  fhe  came  in  again,  and  being  in 
 prayer  to  the  Lord,  on  her  knees,  he  came  in 
 
 O  again, 
 
(     194     ) 
 
 again,  and  rudely  haled  her  forth :  And  the 
 keeper's  wife,  according  to  her  former  cuf- 
 tom,  abufed  friends,  throwing  them  down, 
 and  haling  them  in  a  fhameful  manner ; — 
 kicked  one  woman,  and  made  fwellings  in  her 
 flefh  ;  haled  another,  and  threw  her  down  in 
 fuch  a  violent  manner  over  the  threfhold  of 
 a  door,  that  me  fpit  blood  three  days  after: 
 A  friend,  ftanding  by,  flopped  fome  of  her 
 malicious  endeavours,  which  Was,  to  have 
 thrown  her  down  ftairs,  for  which  me  haled 
 him  by  the  hair  of  his  head :  The  keeper 
 calling  friends  rogues,  whores,  cheats,  papiits, 
 and  the  like.  And  to  mew  that  his  malice 
 towards  them  lafted  as  long  as  he  was  able 
 to  acT:  it,  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  vifit  fome 
 in  the  prifon  with  the  fpotted  fever,  whereof 
 three  died,  and  two  more  fell  fick;  where- 
 upon friends  defired  leave  of  Ifaac  Dennis 
 that  they  might  go  forth  in  order  to  their  re- 
 covery, and  they  would  engage  that  they 
 mould  be  returned  alive  or  dead.  He  pre- 
 tended he  was  willing,  only  would  have  them 
 write  to  the  magiftrates  and  fheriffs  for  their 
 confent,  promiling  he  would  further  it;  which 
 accordingly  they  did,  and  were  informed  that 
 fome  of  the  magiftrates  were  willing ;  but 
 Ifaac  Dennis,  contrary  to  his  promife,  to  hin- 
 der it,  told  them,  there  was  no  fuch  diftemper 
 as  the  fpotted  fever  in  the  prifon:  and  whereas, 
 they  complained  that  fo  many  lodged  in  one 
 room  where  one  of  the  fick  perfons  was,  he 
 
 told 
 
(     *95     ) 
 
 told  them,  he  had  rooms  enough  in  the  pri- 
 fon  for  them,  that  they  need  not  lodge  above 
 four  in  a  room;  which  fhewed  the  greater 
 hardnefs  and  cruelty  in  him,  not  only  to  the 
 lick,  but  to  them  that  were  confined,  fo  many 
 in  a  room,  in  pretending  he  had  room  enough, 
 and  yet  would  not  let  them  have  the  benefit 
 of  it;  and  fo  by  his  means,  their  requeft  to 
 the  magiftrates  was  frudrated,  to  their  no 
 fmall  detriment. 
 
 But  now  at  length,  he  having  filled  up  his 
 meafure,  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  vifit  this  poor 
 man,  Ifaac  Dennis,  the  cruel  keeper  of  New- 
 gate, who  had  been  fo  inhuman  to  friends, 
 for  though  the  Lord  bears  long,  yet  he  will 
 not  let  the  wicked  go  unpunifhed,  or  fufFer 
 their  rod  always  to  reft  on  the  back  of  the 
 righteous;  vifiting  him  with  his  judgments 
 in  a  very  dreadful  manner  about  the  mid- 
 dle of  the  8th  month,  which  was  fo  terrible 
 to  him,  that  he  could  eat  and  fleep  but 
 very  little,  and  yet  by  day  he  would  drive 
 againd  it,  by  drinking,  and  keeping  vain 
 company,  endeavouring  to  get  eafe  to  his 
 troubled  confcience;  and  while  the  ftrength 
 of  the  liquor  was  in  him  by  day,  he  would 
 feem  as  if  nothing  was  amifs;  but  at  night 
 was  in  a  woful  agony,  fo  that  he  would  fhake 
 and  tremble,  and  fweat  cold  fweats:  Then  he 
 would  defire  friends  to  pray  for  him,  and 
 wifli  he  had  never  {een   the    infide   of  the 
 
 O   2  gaol, 
 
(     '9<5    ) 
 
 gaol,  faying,  It  had  undone  him.  He  de- 
 fired  feveral  friends  to  forgive  him  for  what 
 he  had  done.  To  which  they  anfwered,  That 
 lie  fhould  afk  forgivenefs  of  God,  for  they 
 did  forgive  him.  But  ftill  his  anguifh  and 
 torment  encreafed,  fo  that  it  was  feared  he 
 would  be  diftradled.  Then  doclors  were  fent 
 for  to  let  him  blood;  but  he  told  them,  no 
 phyfic  would  do  him  good,  his  diftemper 
 being  another  thing;  and  that  no  man  could 
 do  him  good,  his  day  was  over,  and  there 
 were  no  hopes  of  mercy  from  God  for  him. 
 Friends  feeing  him  in  this  fad  condition,  pi- 
 tied him,  and  defired,  if  it  was  the  will  of 
 God,  he  might  find  a  place  of  repentance ; 
 and  foine  fpoke  to  him,  and  found  he  had 
 his  fenfes,  and  ufed  fuch  arguments  as  they 
 thought  beft,  to  perfuade  him  out  of  his  hard- 
 nefs  and  unbelief,  faying,  they  hoped  his  day 
 was  not  over,  becaufe  he  had  a  fenfe  of  his 
 condition.  He  thanked  them  for  their  good 
 hope;  but  faid,  he  had  no  faith  to  believe,  and 
 that  faith  was  the  gift  of  God.  So  nothing 
 would  enter  him,  but  that  his  day  was  over, 
 and  there  were  no  hopes  of  mercy  for  him ; 
 and  in  this  miferable  ftate  he  continued  till 
 the  30th  of  the  9th  month,  and  then  ended 
 his  miferable  life.  O  that  others  would  take 
 warning  while  they  have  a  day  left !  and  fear 
 the  living  God,  who  is  a  confuming  fire  to  all 
 the  workers  of  iniquity,  and  not  reiift  his  re- 
 proofs 
 
(     i97    ) 
 
 proofs  in  their  conferences;  or,  to  pleafe  and 
 gratify  others,  do  that  which  will  bring  mi- 
 iery  upon  themfelves  in  the  latter  end. 
 
 And  for  the  reft:  As  to  Helliar,  that  wicked 
 perfecutor,  we  have  heard  of  his  dreadful 
 end,  as  before-mentioned.  And  R.  Oliffe, 
 alderman,  who  committed  fo  many  to  prifon, 
 and  made  fuch  fpoil  on  friends  goods,  the 
 Lord  met  with  him,  and  fmote  him  in  his 
 confeience,  that  he  could  not  efcape,  but 
 cried  out  in  his  extremity,  as  I  have  heard, 
 that  he  was  not  fick,  but  damned:  and  that 
 they,  viz.  the  perfecutors,  fhould  make  refti- 
 tution;  meaning,  to  fuch  as  he  and  they  had 
 wronged,  which  neither  he  nor  they  were 
 ever  able  to  do,  and  fo  died  in  a  fad  condition : 
 and  feveral  of  the  underling  perfecutors,  con- 
 flables,  and  informers,  as  I  have  heard,  came 
 to  ill  ends,  or  fome  other  judgments  (as  one 
 broke  his  leg,  another  had  his  houfe  burnt) 
 though  I  cannot  be  pofitive  in  the  particu- 
 lars, yet  have  heard  of  feveral;  and  would 
 only  afk  any  perfecutor  now,  what  they  got 
 by  it? 
 
 And  as  for  Sir  John  Knight,  that  grand 
 perfecuting  fheriff,  though  he  furvived  mod 
 of  the  reft,  and  is  yet  living  at  the  writing 
 hereof;  who  though  he  hindered  the  enlarg- 
 ing of  Newgate,  while  friends  were  prifoners 
 there,  left  they  fhould  have  too  much  con- 
 veniency,  and  not  be  kept  clofe  enough;  yet 
 
 O  3  he 
 
(     198    ) 
 
 he  afterwards  rebuilt  it  when  he  was  mayor, 
 before  he  went  thither  himfelf;  for  though 
 he  turned  againft  king  James,  for  difpenfing 
 with  the  penal  laws,  that  they  could  not  per- 
 fecute  as  they  had  done,  and  joined  with  the 
 prince  of  Orange;  yet  when  he  came  to  be 
 king,  and  confirmed  liberty  of  conscience, 
 the  faid  Knight  turned  mal-conrent ;  and  af- 
 terwards, on  fome  difguft  or  offence  to  the 
 government,  he  was  put  in  prifon  in  Newgate 
 himfelf,  (where  he  had  imprifoned  fo  many 
 friends)  which  was  fomewhat  remarkable ; 
 and  I  was  an  eye-witnefs  of  his  going  thi- 
 ther with  another  perfon,  and  could  not 
 but  take  notice  of  it:  and  though  he  is  yet 
 living,  he  is  reduced  to  a  fmall  eftate  (for  a 
 knight)  at  Congrefbury  in  Somerfetfhire,  near 
 the  author's.  Thus  I  have  given  a  fhort  ac- 
 count of  this  perfecution,  for  the  whole  would 
 fill  a  volume;    [See   '  The  Diftreffed   Cafe/ 
 
 *  The  further  Account,'  and  '  The  Narrative 
 
 *  of  the  Cruelties  and  Abufes  in  Newgate,' 
 &c]  in  which  I  have  not  pretended  to  give 
 an  exadt  or  full  diary  of  all  pafTages,  only 
 fome  brief  hints ;  but  have  it,  and  much 
 more,  drawn  up  by  me,  to  vouch  every  par- 
 ticular. 
 
 There  were  alfo  in  this  city  about  500  re- 
 turned into  the  Exchequer,  on  the  ftatute  of 
 the  31ft  of  Elizabeth,  for  20I.  a  month;  and 
 warrants  in  the  officers  hands  to  make  diflrefs 
 
 on 
 
(     J99     ) 
 
 on  38  men,  for  eleven  months,  at  20I.  a  month, 
 which  amounts  to  8360I. 
 
 And  for  two  of  their  wives,  for 
 
 1 1  months,  came  to     -  -       440 
 
 And  for  1 1 1  men  for  3  months, 
 
 at  20I.  a  month  -  -     6660 
 
 And  for  40  of  their  wives,  for 
 
 three  months  -  -      1200 
 
 Friends  1 91 — which  comes  to, 
 
 in  the  whole,  £.16660 
 
 Their  names  and  fines  are  on  record,  and 
 feveral  were  feized;  but  how  many,  or  how 
 much,  I  cannot  give  account. 
 
 And  the  diftreifes  on  fundry  friends  in  this 
 city,  for  meetings,  (of  which  fome  are  before- 
 mentioned)  came  to,  fmce  1681,  as  on  re- 
 cord, -  -  -     619I, 
 
 But  by  my  account  it  is 
 1  o  1  J.  more  on  five 
 friends  -  10 1 
 
 And  for  not  bearing  arms     150   14s.  6d. 
 
 Total     £.  870   14s.  6d. 
 
 I  cannot  but  obferve,  how  Satan  about  this 
 time  prevailed  to  fill  the  hearts  of  his  inftru- 
 ments  with  enmity,  againft  all  that  could  not 
 fall  down  to  worfhip  his  image,  or  receive  his 
 mark;  and  to  ftir  up  in  them  a  general  fpirit 
 of  periecution,  which  reigned  and  raged  al- 
 moft  every  where,  not  only  in  our  county 
 O  4  and 
 
(       200       ) 
 
 and  Briftol,  but  London  alio,  and  mod  parts 
 of  England;  and  not  only  here  in  this  nation, 
 but  about  this  time,  or  not  long  after,  the 
 perfecution  began  (or  was  revived)  in  France 
 alfo,  on  the  Proteftants  there,  by  the  French 
 king's  revoking  the  edict  of  Nantz;  which 
 fhews,  that  perfecution  is  the  fame  in  all 
 countries,  and  aded  by  the  fame  fpirit,  whe- 
 ther among  Papiils  or  Proteftants,  fo  called, 
 though  therein  unworthy  of  that  name;  for, 
 let  them  pretend  what  they  will,  a  perfecuting 
 church  can  never  be  a  true  church  of  Chrift, 
 nor  a  perfecutor  a  true  chriftian:  for  it  is  a 
 folly  for  any  to  pretend  to  be  Chriftians  and 
 persecutors ;  forafmuch  as  the  great  Author  of 
 the  Chriftian  religion  hath  laid  down  this  pre- 
 cept for  the  rule  of  our  actions  one  towards 
 another:  "  Whatfoever  ye  would  that  men 
 "  mould  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  fo  to  them:" 
 Matt.  vii.  12.  And  there  is  no  man  would, 
 that  another  fhould  periecute  him  for  his  re- 
 ligion or  confcience,  and  therefore  he  ought 
 not  to  perfecute  another  for  his:  and  to  be 
 fure,  he  that  does,  is  the  fartheft  from  the. 
 divine  Being,  "  Who  caufeth  his  fun  to  lliine, 
 "  and  his  rain  to  defcend  both  on  the  evil 
 "  and  on  the  good;"  Mat.  v.  45.  fo  that 
 even  the  very  fun  in  the  firmament  may  teach 
 that  man  wifdom :  befides,  the  Lord  hath 
 commanded,  to  let  the  tares  (if  they  were 
 fo)  and  "  the  wheat  to  grow  together  till 
 "  the  time  of  the  harveft/'  Matt.   xiii.  30. 
 
 and 
 
(     soi     ) 
 
 and  then  they  are  to  be  feparated  (not  be- 
 fore) and  they  that  are  for  "  calling  for  fire 
 "  from  heaven  to  confume  them,  thai  do  not 
 "  receive  them,"  Luke  ix.  54.  or  join  with 
 them,  "  know  not  what  fpirits  they  are  of;  for 
 "  the  Son  of  Man  came  not  to  deftroy  men's 
 "  lives,  but  to  fave  them/'  $$,  56.  though 
 they  may  "  think  they  do  God  fervice,  in 
 "  killing  his  fervants,"  John  xvi.  2.  but  as  then, 
 "  He  that  was  born  after  the  flefb,  perfecuted 
 "  him  that  was  born  after  the  fpirit,  even  fo 
 "  it  is  now,"  Gal.  iv.  29.  and  it  was  the 
 whore  (the  falfe  church)  that  drank  the  blood 
 of  the  faints  and  martyrs  of  Jems,  Rev.  xvii. 
 6.  whereas,  "  every  man  is  to  be  fully  per- 
 "  fuaded  in  his  own  mind;  and  whatibever 
 <c  is  not  of  faith,  is  fin,"  Rom.  xiv.  5,  23. 
 and  "  Faith  is  the  gift  of  God,"  Eph.  ii.  8. 
 not  of  man;  and  "  without  faith  it  is  impof- 
 "  fible  to  pleafe  God,"  Heb.  xi.  6.  fo  all 
 force  is  excluded.  And  many  fuch  invincible 
 arguments  might  be  produced  from  fcripture, 
 reafon,  and  authorities,  againft  perfecution, 
 were  it  my  prefent  bulinefs,  (which  is  moftly 
 matter  of  facl:).  Perfecution,  oppreffion,  and 
 cruelty,  being  the  characteriitics  of  tyrants ; 
 as  liberty,  property,  and  tendernefs,  are  of  juft 
 governments. 
 
 Now  to  return  to  Ivelchefter:  I  found  feve- 
 ral  friends  committed  to  priibn  in  my  abfence, 
 as  alfo  after  my  return,  as  follows,  viz.  Wra. 
 
 Bond, 
 
(       202       ) 
 
 Bond,  Henry  Mattock,  Chr.  Devonfhire,  and 
 Sufannah,  wife  of  William  Alloway,  all  of 
 Minehead,  for  abfence  from  church  (lb  called) 
 who  were  had  before  Wm.  Lacey,  juftice,  who 
 tendered  them  the  oath  of  allegiance ;  and  for 
 their  refufing  to  take  it,  fen t  them  to  prifon,  by 
 warrant,  dated  the  27th  of  September;  and 
 being  had  to  Bath  feffions,  in  the  8th  month 
 following,  they  were  continued  till  the  next 
 feffions,  at  Brewton,  for  refufmg  to  fwear. 
 
 Edward  Blinman,  fen.  of  Shepton  Mallet, 
 was  brought  to  prifon  the  29th  of  the  fame, 
 for  not  paying  three  (hillings  for  three  Sun^ 
 days  abfence  from  church  (fo  called)  by  war- 
 rant from  Francis  Paulet,  the  perfecuting  juf- 
 tice of  Wells, 
 
 Richard  Warr,  of  Wivelfcomb,  a  pretty  in? 
 nocent  young  man,  was  committed  to  prifon 
 for  refufing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and 
 fupremacy,  by  John  Sandford  and  Ferrers 
 Grifly,  the  26th  ditto;  but  came  not  till  the 
 30th  inftant:  He  was  had  to  Bath  feffions  in 
 the  8th  month,  and  was  tendered  the  oath, 
 again,  andv  for  refufing  to  take  it,  continued 
 prifoner  till  the  next  feffions. 
 
 John  Greedy,  of  the  fame,  was  fent  to  pri- 
 fon the  27th  of  Oclober,  on  an  attachment  at 
 the  fuit  of  John  Wyne,  counfellor  at  law; 
 being  a  malicious  profecution,  becaufe  the  faid 
 J.  Greedy's  wife  could  not  nurfe  his  child, 
 which  died. 
 
 John 
 
(     203     ) 
 
 John  Tucker,  of  Mucheny,  was  committee] 
 to  prifon,  the  30th  of  the  fame,  by  the  lord 
 Stawel,  and  fir  Edward  Phillips,  for  reiuiing 
 to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
 
 Henry  Maber,  and  Margaret  Board  and 
 Editha  Samways,  two  fpinfiers,  of  Somerton, 
 were  fent  to  prifon  for  meeting,  with  many 
 others,  to  wait  upon  God,  and  worihip  him  in 
 fpirit  and  truth,  at  Long-Sutton,  the  14th  of 
 October,  by  the  lord  Stawel  and  iir  Edward 
 Phillips,  the  26th,  and  brought  to  prifon  the 
 30th  of  the  fame. 
 
 John  Peddle,  of  the  fame,  was  brought  to 
 prifon  the  fame  day,  for  3  s.  for  three  Sundays 
 (fo  called)  aofence  from  church,  and  continued 
 prifoner  till  after  Brcwton  fefTions,  in  the  1  <th 
 month,  and  was  then  difcharged  by  a  neigh- 
 bour's paying  the  3  s.  for  him. 
 
 The  1 2th  of  the  9th  month,  1683,  there 
 were  thirteen  more  committed  to  prifon,  for 
 meeting  at  Gregory-Stoke,  in  the  fame  place 
 and  manner  as  they  had  for  many  years  ufed 
 to  do,  to  wait  upon  and  worihip  God  in  fpirit 
 and  truth,  as  in  duty  bound ;  where  came 
 Philip  Broom,  called  lieutenant;  and  Laurence 
 Broom,  cornet  to  capt.Aft  alrond's  troop;  Fran- 
 cis Broom,  and  others;  '  Jalv  r  Batt  being  de- 
 claring) and  took  friends  names,  men  and 
 women,  but  let  the  women  go,  and  delivered 
 fixteen  men  to  the  conftabhs,  who  had  them 
 next  day  to  the  laid  W  alrond's;  and  for  re- 
 ftffing  to  find  fureties  for  their  appearance  at 
 
 the 
 
(     2o4     ) 
 
 the  next  quarter  feffions,  or  to  give  the  Brooms 
 i os.  a-piece  (for  that  was  what  they  wanted). 
 He  committed  thirteen  of  them  to  prifon,  three 
 being  freed,  and  two  who,  at  the  requeft  of 
 another,  had  their  liberty  till  feffions;  lb  that 
 but  eleven  came  to  prifon,  whofe  names  were; 
 
 Jafper  Batt,  of  North-Over,  by  Ivelchefter, 
 
 William  Fowles,  of  N.  Curry, 
 
 William  Combs,  of  Gregory-Stoke, 
 
 Philip  Allen,  of  Taunton, 
 
 John  Triftram,  of  Wefl-Monkton, 
 
 John  England,  of  the  fame, 
 
 Thomas  Taylor,  of  Fifehead, 
 
 John  Cattle,  of  the  fame, 
 
 Thomas  Wolfry,  of  Taunton, 
 
 Walter  Bult,  of  Broadway, 
 
 Marmaduke  Coat,  of  Hambridge, 
 
 And  the  faid  Walrond,  as  if  nothing  but 
 the  ruin  of  the  faid  Walter  Bult  would  fatisfy 
 him,  alfo  granted  a  warrant  to  diftrain  on 
 him  for  iol.  ios.  lines,  for  others,  as  pre- 
 tended, according  to  the  injuftice  of  thofe 
 times,  though  he  was  a  prifoner;  for  which 
 they  broke  his  doors,  and  feized  and  carried 
 away  his  goods,  to  the  value  of  17I.  13s. 
 committing  great  wafte  and  fpoil,  efpecially  of 
 his  cyder;  making  themfelves  drunk;  fitting 
 at  it,  drinking  night  and  day,  worfe  than 
 fwine. 
 
 The  26th  of  the  fame,  there  were  feven- 
 
 teen 
 
(     205     ) 
 
 teen  friends  more  fent  to  prifon  in  a  drove  from 
 Ilminfter  meeting  (the  25th)  being  met  in  their 
 ufual  manner,  as  they  had  done  there  for  many- 
 years,  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and  worfhip 
 him  in  fpirit  and  in  truth,  according  to  his 
 own  appointment  and  their  bounden  duty  (and 
 where  there  was  nothing  faid  or  done  againft 
 the  law  of  God  or  the  king)  they  were  ta- 
 ken by  captain  Walrond's  men,  the  Brooms, 
 and  their  afliftants;  and  committed  to  the  of- 
 ficers, who  brought  them  the  next  day  before 
 the  faid  Walrond;   and  becaufe  they  would 
 not  be  bound  to  appear  at  the  feffions,  by 
 which  Broom  his  clerk  would  have  got  3s.  4c!. 
 a-piece;  nor  give  them  money   (which  was 
 what  they  wanted)  where  none  was  due,  be- 
 ing not  guilty  of  any  tranfgreffion ;  he  lent 
 them    to    prifon,    where   they   were   put  in 
 the  common-gaol,  with  others,  by  Giles  Bale 
 the  keeper,  till  the  next  feffions;  whofe  names 
 follow,  viz. 
 
 Robert  French, 
 John  Lumbard, 
 John  Lacy, 
 Walter  Giles, 
 William  Stacy, 
 John  Rich, 
 
 Daniel  How, 
 Giles  Knight, 
 William  Watts, 
 Sarah  Ofborn, 
 Anne  Collier, 
 Sufanna  Garland, 
 
 Editha  Coat,  daughter  of  Marm.  Coat: 
 mod  of  Thorncomb  and  Ilminfter 
 fide. 
 
 Marmaduke 
 
(       200       ) 
 
 Marmaduke  Coat,  fen.  of  Hambridge,  an 
 honeft,  faithful,  and  upright,  but  furfering, 
 man,  being  moftly  a  prifoner  for  tithes,  &c. 
 and  his  goods  often  fpoiled  by  Henry  Wal- 
 rond,  for  meeting.  And  being  now  a  pri- 
 foner, (but  having  a  little  liberty  to  be  at 
 home)  was  committed  again  (to  make  fure  of 
 him)  by  the  faid  Henry  Walrond,  on  fefhons 
 procefs,  for  not  coming  to  church,  fo  called, 
 though  he  was  a  prifoner  before. 
 
 This  being  the  laft  time  I  fhall  have  occa- 
 fion  on  this  account  to  mention  this  Henry 
 Walrond,  the  greateft  perfecutor  in  the  county 
 of  Somerfet;  though  there  were  feveral  others 
 very  great;  yet  none  fold  themfelves  to  work 
 wickednefs  (as  it  was  faid  of  Ahab)  like  him, 
 In  fending  fo  many  to  prifon,  and  making 
 fuch  fpoil  of  goods,  for  meetings,  &c.  (except 
 Francis  Paulet,  and  John  Bailey,  of  Wells, 
 and  that  wicked  Helliar  of  Briftol)  as  he  did, 
 at  leaft  for  the  time,  though  fome  were  of 
 longer  {landing.  I  cannot  but  add  a  few 
 words  concerning  him  and  his  end.  He 
 dwelt  at  Elbruers,  about  ten  miles  weftward 
 of  Ivelchefter;  a  comely  proper  man:  had  a 
 fair  eftate,  a  fine  houfe  and  park;  but  after  he 
 took  up  this  work  of  perfecution,  (being  made 
 a  juftice  in  1670,  as  a  fit  tool  to  put  the  con- 
 venticle act  in  execution)  nothing  profpered 
 with  him;  of  which  he  had  fome  check  in 
 the  very  beginning,  as  he  confefled  to  Mar- 
 maduke   Coat   abovefaid,    and   promifed   he 
 
 would 
 
(     207    ) 
 
 would  never  do  fo  again;  but  afterwards  fell 
 to  it  with  more  violence  than  before;  and  was 
 very  malicious  and  troublefome  to  the  faid 
 Marmaduke  and  his  family  in  particular,  byim- 
 prifonment  and  fpoil  of  goods,  he  being  a  man 
 of  fubftance,  and  living  near  him,  and  kept  the 
 gang  of  Brooms  aforefaid  about  him,  who 
 helped  to  devour  his  eftate  as  they  had  done 
 others;  feveral  of  whom  came  to  fad  ends:  and 
 to  recover  his  finking  ftate,  he  and  fir  Edward 
 Phillips  took  away  a  twin  child,  or  children, 
 that  grew  together,  from  a  poor  woman,  to 
 make  a  fhow  of  them  for  money;  and  kept 
 them  till  they  died,  to  their  great  fhame  and 
 difhonour,  in  the  country,  for  which  they 
 were  profecuted  in  the  Crown  office :  but 
 might,  I  fuppofe,  overcame  right.  And  about 
 the  fame  time,  or  not  long  after,  the  faid  Wal- 
 rond  was  fent  fcr  by  a  ferjeant  at  arms,  or 
 mefTenger  from  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  to 
 anfwer  to  feveral  matters  charged  againft  him; 
 being  an  anti-petitioner  againft  fome  of  the 
 fitting  members,  viz.  George  Speke,  John 
 Speke,  and  John  Trencher,  Efq;  (fince,  Sir 
 John  Trencher)  but  was  rather  willing  to 
 keep  his  bed,  feigning  himfelf  fick,  than  ap- 
 pear. But  when  he  was  at  London,  whether 
 this  time  or  another  I  am  not  certain,  it  was 
 credibly  reported,  that  a  great  man  at  court, 
 whofe  name  I  forbear  to  mention,  took  him 
 by  the  hand,  and  led  him  in  before  the  king^ 
 and  told  him,  there  was  one  of  his  beft  iub- 
 
 jects 
 
(    2°8    ) 
 
 jects  in  all  the  weft  of  England,  in  commen- 
 dation of  his  perfecutions;  which,  no  doubt, 
 encouraged  him  in  it  the  more  to  his  own 
 undoing,  as  well  as  others,  for  he  ran  out  his 
 eftate ;  all  his  ill-gotten  goods  not  profper- 
 ing  with  him,  for  he  made  much  fpoil  and 
 havock  on  many  friends  and  meetings,  though 
 it  was  not  fo  much  my  prefent  purpoie  to  give 
 account  of  lines  and  diftrefTes  on  account  of 
 meetings  (which  would  make  another  book) 
 as  of  impriibnments,  which  was  more  imme- 
 diately under  my  obfervation,  during  my 
 imprifonment ;  (though  I  may  give  a  hint  of 
 the  fpoils  too,  before  I  have  done).  I  fay  it 
 did  not  at  all  make  him  rich,  but  rather  the 
 poorer;  for  he  became  fo  poor,  that  it  was 
 reported  he  could  not  be  trufted  for  a  fix- 
 penny  loaf,  and  that  he  did  fpin  for  his  living 
 before  he  died.  Such  a  thrifty  trade  (fays 
 one)  is  perfecution,  that  it  leaves  men  never 
 a  friend  in  heaven  or  on  earth.  And  his 
 houfe  dropped  through  ;  and  the  weather 
 rotted  a  good  cheft  of  linen  of  great  value; 
 and  he  at  laft  died  miferably  poor,  as  well 
 as  miferable  otherwife;  of  whom  I  may  fay, 
 as  fir  Walter  Raleigh  did  in  the  like  cafe, 
 1  Thefe  are  the  men  that  fought  the  mifery  of 
 *  others,  and  mifery  found  them  out ;'  and  as 
 he  had  even  furpafled  the*  deeds  of  the  wicked, 
 fo  there  was  not  the  like  example  of  him  in 
 all  refpects,  though  there  were  feveral  others 
 
 bad 
 
(       209       ) 
 
 bad  enough,  in  all  the  county  of  Somerfef, 
 His  wickednefs  was  fo  great,  and  all  under 
 colour  of  an  unrighteous  law,  pretended 
 againft  feditious  conventicles,  but  really  againft 
 meeting  to  worihip  God ;  as  Sir  William 
 Windham  faid,when  lome  confefTed  they  were 
 there  to  worfhip  God,  that  was  enough;  but 
 it  had  been  well  for  the  makers,  and  executors 
 too,  of  that  law,  as  Ghrift  laid  of  them  by 
 whom  offences  come,  that  they  had  not  been 
 born,  than  to  be  the  occafion  of  the  ruin  of 
 fo  many  families  for  their  religious  perfuafi- 
 ons;  it  being  like  the  "  iniquity  of  Eli's  houfe> 
 "  that  ihouid  not  be  purged  with  facrifice 
 "  and  offering  for  ever,"  i  Sam.  iii.  14.  And 
 indeed,  coniidering  the  many  examples  on, 
 and  unprofperoufnefs  of,  perfecutors,  and  that 
 they  never  obtain  their  ends  to  extinguish, 
 diffenters,  but  rather  make  them  to  grow  the 
 more,  ;the  blood  of  the  martvrs  being  ftill,  as 
 ever,  the  feed  of  the  church)  I  have  often  ad- 
 mired, that  any  nan  mould  ever  be  a  perfe- 
 cutor,  but  that  they  are  always  blind,  there 
 hardly  ever  having  been  any  who  have  en- 
 gaged in  that  work,  that  have  gone  out  of  the 
 world,  without  fome  particular  mark  or  other 
 upon  them.  There  is  a  divine  Nemefis,  fays 
 my  former  author;  a  divine  vengeance,  the 
 Heathens  could  fay,  that  purfues  bloody  and 
 cruel  men — they  ihall  not  live  out  half  their 
 days,     I  never  read,  fays  he,  of  a  perfecutor, 
 
 P  though 
 
(     ltd     ) 
 
 though  never  fo  great,  but  came  to  an  ill  end : 
 at  the  beft,  fay  I,  it  makes  work  for  deep  re- 
 pentance, if  it  pleafe  God  they  can  find  a 
 place  for  it,  which,  it  is  to  be  feared,  few 
 of  them  ever  do:  and,  therefore,  O  that  they 
 might  take  warning  betimes ! 
 
 But  to  return  to  the  prifons:  The  gaols 
 being  now  full,  both  common  gaol  and  Bride- 
 well chamber,  we  had  our  meetings  three 
 times  a  week,  in  the  common  gaol,  as  we  had 
 before  in  Bridewell;  friends  in  the  Bridewell 
 chamber  having  the  liberty  to  come  into  the 
 common  gaol ;  but  friends  in  the  common 
 gaol  could  not  go  into  the  Bridewell  chamber, 
 being  kept  ftrict  while  the  friends  of  Chew, 
 and  the  laft  from  Ilminfter,  were  there:  and 
 many  friends  and  relations  of  the  prifoners- 
 coming  in  out  of  the  country  to  vifit  them, 
 we  had  large  meetings  there,  (being  a  large 
 but  nafty  place)  which  was  alfo  of  good 
 iervice  among  the  poor  common  prifoners. 
 
 And  now  the  quarter  feffions  at  Brewton 
 (where  many  friends  were  to  appear)  draw- 
 ing nigh,  friends  drew  up  the  following  pa-- 
 per,  as  a  reprefentation  of  their  cafe ;  and 
 delivered  feveral  copies  of  it  to  the  juftices, 
 the  firft  day  of  the  feffions,  viz. 
 
 To 
 
(  frit  ) 
 
 To  the  Juftices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County 
 of  Somerfet,  at  the  general  Quarter-SeiFions 
 at  Brewton,  the  15th  of  the  1  ith  month 
 called  January,  1683,  the  Reprefentation 
 of  divers  of  the  People  of  God)  called 
 Quakers^  in  humility  iheweth, 
 
 THAT  we  are  more  than  a  hundred  of 
 us  fufferers;  above  foiirfcore  being  con-* 
 Cerned  to  appear  at  this  feffions,   as  criminals* 
 charged  for   the   breach  of  our  duty  to  God 
 and  the  king*     In  relation  to  God,  our  peace- 
 able meetings,  to  worfnip  him  in  fpirit  and 
 truth,  are  accufed  to  be  riotous   aflemblies, 
 and  ieditious  conventicles;  and  our  not  con- 
 forming to  thofe  worfhips  that  we  have  no 
 faith  in,  (and  therefore  were  finful  for  us  to 
 frequent)  wilful  and  obftinate   tranfgreflion ; 
 and  if  we  mould,  for  fear  of  fufferingSj  con-» 
 form,  we  muft  incur  the   cenfure    of  grofs 
 hypocrites,  from  God  and  man.     And  in  re- 
 lation to  the  king,  becaufe  we  cannot  fwear 
 allegiance;  all  which  is,  only  for   confcience 
 fake,  in  obedience  to  the  Command  of  Chrift 
 Jems ;  for  we  own  king  Charles  II.  to  be  king 
 and  chief  magiftrate  of  this,  and  all  other  his 
 kingdoms  and  dominions ;  that  he  was  fo  emi- 
 nently preferred  and  delivered  in  many  perils 
 and   troubles,   and,  by  the   mighty  hand  of 
 God,  reftored  to  his  government,  as  former 
 ages  can  hardly  parallel;  and  alio  from  the 
 P  3  feveral 
 
(       212       ) 
 
 feveral  plots  and  contrivances  againfl  him 
 fince.  That  we  have,  and  do  refolve,  in  the 
 Lord's  fear,  to  perform  faithful  allegiance  to 
 him,  as  becomes  true  Proteftant  fubje&s:  that 
 we  utterly  deny  the  Pope,  with  all  his  falfe 
 doctrines  and  retinue,  root  and  branch. 
 
 And  though  the  king  was  pleafed  to  de- 
 clare a  liberty  to  tender  confciences,  to  fuch 
 as  difturbed  not  the  peace  of  the  kingdom ; 
 and  promifed  the  fame  on  the  word  of  a  king ; 
 yet  are  we  daily  thus  expofed  to  fuffer:  Seve- 
 ral of  our  wives  and  children,  being  left  as 
 widows  and  fatherlefs,  whole  fubfiftence  de- 
 pended much  on  their  hufbands  and  fathers 
 labour,  of  which,  in  great  meafure,  they  are 
 deprived;  and  many  of  us  alfo,  our  goods  ex- 
 tremely wafted  and  fpoiled  by  fome  perfons, 
 as  we  have  juft  caufe  to  think,  who  more  re- 
 gard their  own  avarice,  indigency,  or  envy, 
 than  God,  the  king,  the  law,  or  the  poor:  by 
 all  which,  the  everlafting  God,  the  king,  and 
 magiftracy  in  general,  are  greatly  difhonoured ; 
 and  many  honeft  and  induftrious  families  in 
 danger  to  be  ruined;  and  all  this,  becaufe  we 
 dare  not  fin  againft  God.  So  that  we  cannot 
 enjoy  our  liberty  and  eftates,  unlefs  we  make 
 ihipwreck  of  a  good  confcience,  and  lofe  our 
 peace  with  God,  and  the  evidence  of  ever- 
 lafting life  hereafter,  which  is  of  more  value 
 than  all  the  world. 
 
 Thefe  things  in  brief  we  have  laid  before 
 you:  and  the  Lord  incline  your  hearts  to  love 
 
 and 
 
(    2I3    ) 
 
 and  fhew  mercy ;  to  relieve  the  opprefled ; 
 and,  according  to  your  power,  fet  the  captives 
 at  liberty:  And  in  this  God,  who  delights  in 
 mercy,  will  be  honoured,  and  ye  from  him 
 receive  a  bleffing;  for  the  merciful  fhall  ob- 
 tain mercy;  which  is  the  earneft  defire  and 
 prayer  of  the  people  abovefaid,  who  are, 
 The  Lord's  afflicted  people, 
 The  king's  faithful  fubjecls, 
 
 And  real  well-wifhers  to  your  prefent 
 and  future  happinefs. 
 
 This  paper  was  read  in  open  court,  and 
 many  of  the  Lord's  people  who  were  prifon- 
 ers,  and  fome  on  obligations,  appeared ;  and 
 the  court  being  pretty  moderate,  the  Lord  in- 
 clining the  hearts  of  the  juftices  to  fet  friends 
 at  liberty,  the  lord  Fitz-Harding  (to  whom 
 fir  Edward  Phillips  was  deputy  judge  of  the 
 feffions)  being  of  the  moderate  part;  and  the 
 cry  of  the  poor  in  feveral  places,  whom 
 friends  had  employed,  being  gone  forth  that 
 they  were  like  to  periih  for  want,  fo  many 
 good  tradefmen  of  the  people  called  Quakers 
 being  fhut  up  in  prifon,  and  they  thereby  ex- 
 pofed  to  hardships;  though  biihop  Mew  fat 
 on  the  bench,  and  endeavoured  to  influence 
 the  juftices  againft  friends  what  he  could, 
 {hewing  himfelf  very  envious  againft  them; 
 and  John  Brangwell,  one  of  captain  Walrond's 
 troop,  and  one  ready  to  do  all  kinds  of  vio- 
 P  3  lence 
 
(     2i4     ) 
 
 lence  and  mifchief  againft  the  people  called 
 Quakers,  as  he  hath  often  manifefted  by  his 
 words  and  actions,  having  made  much  fpoil 
 on  friends,  came  on  purpofe  to  indict  and 
 fwear  againft  many  of  the  prisoners;  but  was 
 prevented  by  the  moderation  of  fome  ofthejuf- 
 tices,  fo  that  he  could  not  accomplish  what  he 
 defigned.  Firft,  the  friends  from  Chew,  though 
 Henry  Bull,  the  high-iherirT,  had  returned  a 
 jury  of  the  neighbourhood ;  they  were  put  by, 
 and  another  jury  called,  who  yet  brought 
 them  in,  not  guilty  :  But  hifhop  Mew  got 
 them  put  back  again,  (what  juftice  was  here!) 
 and  Helliar,  the  profecutor  and  perfecutor, 
 and  his  man,  witnefled  againft  them,  So  the 
 jury  brought  them  in  guilty  of  an  unlawful 
 affembiy,  but  not  of  a  riot;  yet  they  were  re- 
 turned on  the  calendar,  fined  5s.  a-piece,  and 
 difcharged  of  their  imprifonment,  viz.  twenty 
 five  of  them;  John  Hiplley  being  returned 
 for  refufmg  to  take  the  oath,  and  Joleph  Wade 
 died  before. 
 
 The  reft  of  friends  were  haftily  called 
 over,  hardly  taking  notice  whether  they  an- 
 fwered  or  no,  viz.  the  ten  from  Glaftenbury 
 meeting  aforefaid,  and  difcharged. 
 
 The  feven  from  Gregory-Stoke,  the  14th 
 of  the  6th  month;  and  twelve  of  them  from 
 the  laid  meeting,  the  12th  of  the  9th  month, 
 d iic barged:  Jafper  Batt  being  returned  on  the 
 oath. 
 
 And 
 
(     2*5     ) 
 
 And  the  feventeen  from  Ilminfter  meet- 
 ing, the  25th  of  November,  were  all  dis- 
 charged. 
 
 John  Clothier,  of  Eaft-Lidford,  prifoner  on 
 the  oath,  being  unable,  by  reafon  of  ficknefs, 
 to  appear,  and  there  being  no  further  proceed- 
 ings againft  him,  was  difcharged. 
 
 Richard  Warr,  of  Wivelfcomb,  committed 
 on  the  oath,  was  alfo  difcharged. 
 
 And  thoie  who  were  engaged  to  appear  at 
 the  feffions,  but  not  prifoners,  viz.  Francis 
 Brayn  and  Francis  Hand,  of  Wivelfcomb, 
 committed,  though  not  fent  to  prifon,  but  had 
 liberty  till  feflions,  were  freed  without  being 
 called. 
 
 Mary,  wife  of  Jonathan  Allen,  of  Creech, 
 taken  upon  feflions  procefs,  for  abfence  from 
 church,  fo  called,  and  brought  before  Richard 
 Crofs,  juilice,  who  took  her  word  for  her  ap- 
 pearance at  Brewton.  feflions;  where  fhe  at- 
 tended till  the  end  of  it,  and  was  never  called. 
 Her  hufband  alfo,  being  a  prifoner  before, 
 and  fhe  having  a  child  with  her,  twenty-four 
 miles  from  home,  was  difcharged. 
 
 John  White  and  John  Hyot,  of  Chepton- 
 Mallet,  taken  on  fefhons  procefs,  appeared  on 
 recognizance,  and  were  difcharged. 
 
 Robert  Banton,  Robert  Gee,  John  Bull, 
 and  Jofeph  Gaylard,  of  LongrrSutton,  were 
 taken  up  by  warrant  from  the  lord  Stawel, 
 lome  time  before  the  fefhons,  for  meeting  to 
 
 P  4  wait 
 
(      216      ) 
 
 wait  upon  God,  which  he  called  a  riotous 
 meeting ;  but  Andrew  Oufly  engaging  for 
 their  appearance,  they  had  their  liberty  till 
 fef  lions,  where  they  all  appeared  and  were 
 difcharged. 
 
 So  that  there  were  difcharged  in  all  this  (ci- 
 fions  at  Brewton,  eighty-three;  of  which  I  foon 
 after  gave  an  account,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend 
 in  London;  which,  becaufe  I  would  be  juft 
 to  all,  in  giving  them  their  due  commen- 
 dation as  well  as  cenfure,  when  they  deferve 
 it,  I  {hall  here  infert  an  abnract  of  it. 
 
 Jvekhejier^  the  2ld  of  the  llth  msntb,  1683. 
 
 OST  friends  that  were  for  the  feffions 
 are  cleared;  fome  hardly  called,  and 
 others  ilightly  paffed  over,  without  much  laid 
 to  them;  only  about  feven  or  eight  returned 
 of  about  ninety,  two  for  refufing  to  fwear, 
 three  on  20I.  a  month,  and  two  fined  5I.  a- 
 piece,  to  be  imprifoned  till  payment;  and  this 
 is  the  Lord's  doings,  in  whole  hand  the  hearts 
 of  all  men  are,  and  who  can  turn  them  in  a 
 moment,  which  we  may  truly  fay,  is  marvel- 
 lous in  our  eyes.  So  that  the  gaols,  which 
 before  were  too  little  to  hold  the  Quakers, 
 they  were  crowded  in  fo  fall,  are  now  in  a 
 manner  left  defolate;  which  has  gratified  the 
 country  fo  much,  in  the  freeing  friends,  that 
 
 it 
 
(       2»7      ) 
 
 it  Is  thought  if  fir  Edward  Phillips,  who  was 
 judge  of  the  feffions,  did  put  in  to  be  parlia- 
 ment-man, the  cry  of  the  country  would  be 
 for  him  almoft  on  that  account,  efpecially 
 Taunton ;  for  there  was  a  fad  cry  in  the 
 country  before,  about  fending  fo  many  friends 
 to  prifon,  who  kept  fo  many  at  work,  that 
 the  poor  were  like  to  he  ftarved  for  lack  of  it. 
 We  are  now  about  fixty  belonging  to  the  pri- 
 fon yet,  old  and  young. 
 
 John  Whiting. 
 
 But  thefe  eight  were  returned  to  prifon,  as 
 above  hinted,  viz.  Jafper  Batt,  Chriftopher 
 Devonfhire,  Henry  Mattock,  Marmaduke 
 Coat,  fen.  John  Hipfley,  William  Bond,  Su- 
 fannah  Alloway,  and  John  Tucker.  But  the 
 laid  John  Tucker,  of  Mucheny,  though  he 
 was  not  kept  clofe,  yet,  through  the  deceit- 
 fulnefs  of  his  own  heart,  on  the  6th  of  the 
 i  2th  month  following  went  to  the  lord  Sta- 
 well,  and  took  the  oath,  and  promifed  to 
 conform;  which  was  looked  upon  fo  ftrange 
 and  unexpected,  that  the  keeper,  G.  Bale, 
 (though  fo  bad  himfelf)  wiihed  he  might 
 not  break  his  neck  before  he  came  home ; 
 meaning  as  a  judgment  on  him  for  what  he 
 had  done;  which  fhews  how  little  accounted 
 hich  are,  as  prove  falfe  to  their  profeflion, 
 even  among  churchmen  themfelves. 
 
 Chriitopher  Moor,  of  Yeovel,  being  bound 
 over  to  the  feffions  by  Wm.  Helliar,  juilice, 
 
 on 
 
(     aiS     ) 
 
 on  the  oath  of  one  Dyer,  an  informer,  for  being 
 at  a  meeting  at  Berwick-Mill  (when  he  was 
 not  there) ;  appeared  at  the  feffions  above- 
 faid,  and  was  there  indicted,  with  feveral 
 others,  by  one  Dr.  Dodfwrorth,  a  doctor  of 
 phyfic,  a  loofe  debauched  man.  The  faid 
 Dyer  fwore  to  the  indictment,  and,  for  re- 
 fufing  to  give  bail  to  traverfe,  the  laid  Chri- 
 ftopher  was  committed  to  prifon. 
 
 And  in  the  12th  month  following,  Giles 
 Bale  being  to  go  out  from  being  keeper, 
 and  Davis  and  Newberry  to  come  in  again 
 in  his  place:  He,  being  rather  willing  to  do 
 friends  a  kindnefs,  or  in  expectation  of  kind- 
 nefs  from  them,  than  to  leave  them  to  the 
 new  keepers,  gave  thirty-two  more  of  them 
 their  liberty,  who  were  formerly  committed 
 from  Ilminfter  and  Gregory-Stoke  meetings, 
 in  the  4th  month,  1682,  and  indicted  and 
 fined  6  s.  8d.  a-piece  at  Bridgewater  feffions, 
 in  the  5th  month  following,  and  committed 
 till  payment:  John  Wall  dying  a  prlibner, 
 as  aforefaid,  the  reft  were  now  difcharged. 
 So  that  there  were  releafed  at  the  laft  fef- 
 fions, and  now  towards  the  latter  end  of  this 
 year,  in  all,  a  hundred  and  fifteen;  befides 
 what  died  prifoners  this  year,  viz.  Joan  Comb, 
 Jofeph  Wade,  and  Jeremy  Powel  (the  laft  for 
 tithes)  prifoners  at  Ivelchefter,  for  the  tefti- 
 mony  of  a  good  confcience. 
 
 And  there  now  remained  prifoners  about 
 thirty ;  which  number  was  foon  after  en- 
 creafed  again,  viz. 
 
 I.  John 
 
(       2*9       ) 
 
 1.  John  Peddle,  of  Somerton,  (who  had 
 been  a  prifoner  in  October  laft,  till  after 
 Brewton  feffions)  was  again  brought  to  pri- 
 fon,  on  an  attachment  out  of  the  F  xchequer, 
 for  tithes,  at  the  fuit  of  prieft  Weft*  erdale,  of 
 the  fame;  but  was  difcharged  on  putting  in 
 an  appearance. 
 
 2.  Edmund  Chappel,  of  Worle,  imprifoned 
 before  by  Samuel  Willan,  prieft  of  Wefton 
 and  Kewftoke;  but,  after  feveral  years  impri- 
 fonment,  difcharged  on  a  mifnomer  of  Ed- 
 ward for  Edmund ;  yet  the  faid  prieft,  be- 
 ing never  weary  of  perfecution,  imprifoned 
 him  again  on  the  old  account,  for  tithes,  the 
 7th  of  the  1 2th  month,  1683.  Telling  the  faid 
 Edmund  once  in  difcourfe  about  tithes,  when 
 he  could  not  arifwer  the  faid  Edmund,  that 
 he  would  anfwer  him  with  a  gaol.  Which 
 now  he  did. 
 
 3  and  4.  Marmaduke  Coat  and  Francis 
 Scott,  of  Hambridge,  brought  to  prifon  again, 
 the  26th  of  the  12th  month,  on  an  attach- 
 ment out  of  the  Exchequer,  for  tithes,  at  the 
 fuit  of  Robert  Banbury,  impropriator.  But 
 Francis  Scott  was  foon  after  difcharged,  by 
 giving  appearance.  This  being  the  third  time 
 pf  Marmaduke  Coat's  imprifonment,  while  I 
 was  a  prifoner. 
 
 5  and  6.  Vincent  Boldy  and  Anne  his 
 wife,  of  Lamport,   were  brought   to  prifon 
 
 the 
 
(       220       ) 
 
 the  13th  of  the  ift  month,  i68|,  for  not 
 fwearing,  on  the  profecution  or  promotion  of 
 her  brother  Bennet,  and  one  Ball,  who  got 
 the  oath  tendered  to  them,  as  a  fnare  to  dif- 
 able  them  from  defending  themlelves  in  a  fuit 
 at  common  law  againfl  the  faid  Bennet.  Anne 
 was  difcharged  at  Ivelchefter  feffions,  in  the 
 2d  month  following,  and  Vincent  at  Bridge- 
 water  feffions,  in  the  5th  month  after. 
 
 7.  John  Clothier,  of  E.  Lidford,  brought 
 to  prifon  again  the  1 8th  of  the  1  ft  month, 
 1683,  on  feffions  or  peace  procefs,  being  in- 
 dicted with  feveral  others  for  ten  months  ab- 
 fence  from  church,  fo  called,  by  prieft  Horfey 
 (an  old  envious  perfecutor,  often  mentioned 
 in  the  record)  who  yet  had  a  fon  a  friend, 
 John  Horfey,  who  died  a  prifoner  in  New- 
 gate, London,  under  fentence  of  banifhment, 
 in  the  time  of  the  contagion  there  in  the  year 
 1 66$ :  and  the  faid  J.  Clothier,  being  brought 
 forth  at  Ivelchefter  feffions,  in  the  2d  month, 
 was,  without  any  thing  faid  to  him,  returned 
 to  prifon  till  Bath  feffions,  in  the  8th  month 
 following,  and  then  difcharged. 
 
 But  now  as  to  myfelf :  The  latter  end  of 
 G.  Bale's  time,  I  had  the  liberty  to  take  a 
 room  for  my  better  accommodation,  at  a 
 friend's  (the  widow  Scott's)  houfe  in  the 
 town,  which  had  a  fine  garden,  and  good 
 conveniences;  fo  that  meetings,  efpecially  the 
 mens'  monthly,  were  fometimes  held  at-  my 
 chamber,  for  friends  conveniency;  which  was 
 
 the 
 
(       221       ) 
 
 the  bell:  prifon,  except  the  Friary,  that  ever  I 
 had ;  till  I  was  deprived  of  it,  of  which  here- 
 after. 
 
 And  the  2d  of  the  2d  month,  my  dear 
 friend  Sarah  Hurd,  and  two  other  friends  of 
 Long-Sutton,  viz.  John  Bull  and  John  Bal- 
 lam,  were  brought  to  prifon,  being  arretted 
 on  a  writ  of  qui  tarn,  at  the  fuit  of  William 
 Sutton,  a  perfon  unknown,  but  fuppofed  to 
 be  one  John  Stocker,  of  the  fame,  an  envi- 
 ous attorney,  for  20 1.  a  month,  for  not  com- 
 ing to  church,  fo  called. 
 
 Now  the  quarter-feffions  at  Ivelchefter  be- 
 ginning the  8th  of  the  2d  month,  friends 
 delivered  copies  of  the  following  paper,  di- 
 rected 
 
 To  the  Juftices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County 
 of  Somerfet,  at  the  Quarter-Seflions  at  Ivel- 
 chefter, 1684. 
 
 Divers  of  the  People  of  God  called  Quakers, 
 in  humility  >  fjeiv, 
 
 *TpHAT  in  fincerity  we  own  your  mode- 
 •*•  ration  the  laft  quarter-feffions,  in  re- 
 lieving many  of  the  people  aforefaid,  and 
 do  truly  delire  the  Lord  to  reward  you  for 
 the  fame:  That  many  of  us  are  yet  expofed 
 to  great  fufferings,  only  concerning  the  law 
 
 of 
 
(       222       ) 
 
 of  our  God,  becaufe  we  cannot  conform  td 
 thofe  worships  we  have  no  faith  in,  and  for 
 not  fwearing  allegiance  to  king  Charles  II. 
 which  we  muft  ftill  afiert,  is  in  obedience  to 
 Chrift  Jefus,  whom  we  for  ever  own  as  the 
 head  and  lawgiver  of  his  church,  and  there- 
 fore ought  to  worfhip  in  fpirit  and  in  truth, 
 as  he  hath  ordained,  an-:1  he  is  King  of  kings, 
 by  whom  kigs  reign,  and  all  power  in  hea- 
 ven and  earvh  ir  given  to  him,  who  is  able 
 to  fkve  md  to  deft:  oy,  and  cafl  body  and  foul 
 into  heU:  '  Lerefore  we  fear  to  difobey  him* 
 Yet  iVli  w;  own.  as  always  we  have,  king 
 Charles  II.  to  be  king  of  this,  and  other  his 
 king.oms;  that  he  was  even  miraculoully 
 preserved,  reftored,  and  delivered;  and  that 
 we  are  obliged,  and  do  refolve,  in  the  power 
 of  God,  to  perform  faithful  allegiance  to  him 
 accordingly:  And  yet  if  we  ihould  fwear-,  to 
 avoid  fufferings,  we  believe,  that  ye  yourfelves 
 would  judge  us  but  hypocrites  therein,  and  fo 
 have  the  more  caufe  to  fufpecl:  us. 
 
 We  therefore  entreat  you,  let  it  not  be  a 
 light  thing  unto  you,  to  require  that  of  us, 
 and  punifh  us  for  not  obeying;  wherein,  fo 
 doing,  we  muil  make  fhip wreck  of  faith  and 
 a  good  confeience,  and  fo  lofe  our  peace 
 with  God.  And  what  good  then  will  our 
 lives  do  us?  Or  what  benefit  to  the  king,  or 
 any  of  thofe  in  authority  under  him,  to  fee 
 our  ruin?  We  ever  defire  to  live  in  a-fenfe 
 
 that 
 
(     223     ) 
 
 that  you  and  we  mud  die  and  come  to 
 judgment,  before  that  God  who  is  no  re- 
 fpe&er  of  perfons,  to  whom  we  commit  our 
 caufe,  ourfelves,  and  all  we  have;  ever  re- 
 folving,  by  his  grace,  to  continue  faithful  to 
 him,  the  king,  and  all  men;  defiring  to  lead 
 the  remainder  of  our  lives  in  all  godlinefs  and 
 honefty,  really  wifhing  your  welfare  and  pro- 
 fperity  every  way. 
 
 Chriftopher  Moor,  of  Yeovl,  committed 
 from  the  laft  feffions  at  Brewton,  for  not  tra- 
 verfing,  was  brought  forth  this  feffions  at 
 Ivelchefter,  and  tried  by  a  jury,  and  ac- 
 quitted; and  Dyer,  the  informer,  that  fwore 
 againft  him,  for  being  at  a  meeting  that  he 
 wasjiot  at,  as  aforefaid,  was  indicted  for  per- 
 jury; but  by  the  falie  laying  of  the  indict- 
 ment, by  Philip  Bennett,  clerk  of  the  peace, 
 who  hath  manifefted  his  malice  and  envy 
 againft  truth  and  friends,  the  grand  jury, 
 whereof  George  Prowfe,  of  Yeovil,  was  fore- 
 man, brought  it  in  ignoramus. 
 
 Marmaduke  Coat  of  Hambridge,  committed 
 on  feffions  procefs,  a  little  before  Brewton 
 feffions  laft,  and  returned  for  refufing  to  tra- 
 verfe  till  this;  and  imprifoned  again  for  tithes 
 as  aforefaid,  was  brought  forth  to  this  feflions, 
 and  indicted  for  three  Sundays  abfence  from 
 
 church, 
 
(       224       ) 
 
 church,  fo  called,  and  fined  3  s.  for  the  lame, 
 though  he  was  a  prifoner  for  tithes  at  the 
 fame  time;  which  when  Marmaduke  plead- 
 ed, fir  Edward  Phillips,  judge  of  the  feffions, 
 pleaded  againft  him  to  the  jury,  becaufe  he 
 was  not  kept  clofe;  as  if  he  was  only  a  pri- 
 foner at  large,  whereas  the  judge  ought  to 
 have  been  counfel  for  the  prifoner. 
 
 Jafper  Batt,  John  Hipfley,  and  Chriito- 
 pher  Devonihire,  being  brought  forth  at  this 
 feffions,  and  the  oath  of  allegiance  read  to 
 them,  and  they  required  to  take  it,  which 
 they  refufmg,  Dav;d  Trim,  the  county  clerk, 
 was  fworn,  and  teftiried  that  he  tendered 
 the  oath  to  them  at  Brewton  feffions,  though 
 it  was  not  read  to  them  there,  and  then  read 
 an  indictment  againft  them  to  this  efFect  : 
 That  the  faid  oath  had  been  formerly  ten- 
 dered to  them,  and  now  again;  and  that  they 
 had  wilfully  and  maliciouily  refufed  to  Jake 
 it,  in  contempt  of  the  king  and  government, 
 to  the  bad  example  of  others,  and  contrary  to 
 the  ftatute,  &c. 
 
 And,  firit,  the  court  afked  J.  Batt,  Whe- 
 ther he  was  guilty,  or  not  guilty? 
 
 To  which  jafper  anfwered,  that  he  did  re- 
 fufe  to  fwear,  only  in  obedience  to  the  com- 
 mand of  Chrift  Jefus;  that  he  owned  king 
 Charles  to  be  king,  and  did  refolve  to  per- 
 form allegiance  to  him  accordingly;  and  was 
 not  guilty  in  manner  and  form  as  indicted; 
 
 for 
 
(     225     ) 
 
 for  he  did  not  refufe  to  take  the  oath  ma- 
 iicioufly,  or  contemptuously,  but  confcien- 
 tiouily. 
 
 The  court  faid,  the  law  required  him  to 
 fwear:  and  iir  Edward  Phillips,  who  fat  as 
 judge,  advifed  him  to  confider  the  danger  of 
 refilling ;  he  would  incur  a  p?~<zmimire,  be 
 committed  to  prilbn  during  life*  forfeit  his 
 'eftate  to  the  king,  and  be  out  of  his  pro- 
 tection; or  to  that  effect. 
 
 Jafper  anfwered,  that  he  had  counted  the 
 coft,  that  he  had  a  foul  that  was  of  more 
 value  than  all  that,  and  was  refolved  not  to 
 make  fhipwreck  of  that,  nor  to  lofe  his 
 peace  with  God;  the  will  of  the  Lord  be 
 done. 
 
 Then  the  court  afked  John  Hipiley,  and 
 Chriftopher  Devonfhire,  whether  they  were 
 guilty  or  not  guilty : 
 
 They  anfwered,  that  they  were  tried  at 
 Brewton  fefhons,  and  were  there  fentenced  to 
 be  committed  to  the  houfe  of  correction  fol* 
 three  months,  or  to  pay  5I.  and,  according  to 
 that  fentence,  that  time  being  the  next  day,  or 
 very  nearly  expired,  they  might  expe£t  their 
 liberty. 
 
 The  court  faid,  they  did  not  proceed  on 
 that  law  now,  and  would  know  whether  they 
 .  were  guilty  or  not  guilty. 
 
 They  anfwered,  thefe  proceedings"  feemed 
 hard,  but  they  did  own  allegiance  to  the  king, 
 
(       226       ) 
 
 and  refolved  to  perform  it,  but  did  refufe  to* 
 fwear,  not  malicioufly,  but  confcientioufly, 
 and  to  the  fame  effect  as  J.  Batt  anfwered. 
 
 And  C.  Devonfhire  further  faid,  that  he 
 was  aifured  he  had  been  a  greater  benefac- 
 tor, and  brought  much  more  advantage  to 
 the  king,  than  many  of  them  that  accufed 
 him  did.     [He  being  a  merchant]. 
 
 So  the  matter  was  left  to  the  grand  jury, 
 and  they  foon  returned  the  bill,  with  billa 
 vera,  and  the  prifoners  were  had  away,  and 
 no  judgment  given  againft  them  in  court,  nor 
 tried  by  any  petty  jury;  yet  recorded  on  the 
 calendar. 
 
 Jafper  Batt,  John  Hipfley,  Chriftopher 
 Devonfhire,  pramunired. 
 
 And,  indeed,  J.  Batt  could  expecl  no  other,, 
 having  been  a  public  labourer,  and  travelled 
 in  the  fervice  of  truth  about  26  years;  and  his 
 name  well  known,  and  envied,  efpecially  by 
 the  bifhops  of  Bath  and  Wells,  who  formerly 
 told  him,  that  he  was  the  greater!  feducer  in 
 all  the  weft,  and  the  moil  feditious  perfon  in 
 the  county;  and  that  he  would  make  Somer- 
 fetfhire  too  hot  for  him:  and  feveral  warrants 
 were  lent  out,  where  he  ufed  to  come,  to  take 
 him ;  and  a  mittimus  fent  by  captain  Walrond 
 to  the  keeper  of  Ivelchefter  gaol,  to  keep  him 
 if  he  came  there ;  however,  he  efcaped  it,  and 
 had  his  liberty,  till  now  he  was  taken  at 
 Stoke. 
 
 And 
 
(     227     ) 
 
 And  for  J.  Hipfley,  and  C.  Devonfhire, 
 they  were  ufed  more  feverely  at  the  mitigation 
 of  bifhop  Mew,  becaufe  of  the  paper  delivered 
 to  the  juftices  at  Brewton  feffions,  which 
 crofTed  the  bifhop's  defign :  and  alfo  at  the  in- 
 ftigation  of  that  wicked  Helliar,  the  perfecutor 
 of  friends  at  Chew  and  Briftol,  the  more  to 
 juftifyhis  illegal  and  unrighteous  aclions;  but 
 to  the  Lord  they  committed  their  caufe,  being 
 well  fatisfied  to  fuffer  with  their  brethren,  for 
 righteoufnefs  fake. 
 
 And  we  were  the  better  fatisfied,  in  that 
 we  had  manifeiled  the  truth  and  innocency  of 
 our  hearts  unto  them;  and  laid  the  greatnefs 
 and  caufe  of  our  fufferings,  in  the  aforefaid 
 papers,  before  them,  and  fo  cleared  ourfelves, 
 and  left  the  weight  thereof  upon  their  own 
 heads ;  having  neglected  nothing  to  have  pre- 
 vented the  evil  they  therein  brought  upon 
 themfelves,  and  enjoyed  the  greater  content 
 and  iatisfa&ion  in  our  fuffering  bonds,  being 
 only  for  the  teftimony  of  truth,  and  a  good 
 confcience. 
 
 Not  long  after  the  feffions,  Edward  Davis, 
 the  new  keeper,  took  occaiion  againft  the 
 friends  of  Long-Sutton,  on  J.  Jialiam's  un- 
 advifedly  fpeaking  to  him  about  their  liberty, 
 to  put  them  down  into  the  lower  gaol,  and 
 my  friend,  S.  Hurd,  with  the  reft;  though 
 me  was  dangeroufiy  ill  at  that  time,  being 
 flowed  up  among  others  in  a  clofe  houfe,  and 
 
 Q2  wanted 
 
(       228       ) 
 
 wanted  rather  a  better  place,  than  a  worfe, 
 which  was  a  fpecimen  of  what  we  might  ex- 
 pect from  him  ;  and  that,  though  he  had 
 been  out  of  the  place  three  years,  he  was  no 
 changeling,  or  better  than  before :  which 
 hearing  of,  I  went  down  to  fee  them,  and 
 meeting  Davis  coming  up  on  the  bridge,  I 
 afked  him,  why  he  was  fo  fevere  to  put  our 
 friends  down  in  the  common  gaol;  he  faid, 
 he  was  not  fevere;  I  told  him,  I  thought  he 
 was,  fo  pail  on;  but  he  went  into  the  town, 
 and  reported  that  I  met  him  on  the  bridge, 
 and  took  him  up  fo,  in  fpeaking  to  him,  that 
 ,he  was  afraid  I  would  have  thrown  him  over 
 the  bridge;  affirming  it  fo  poiitively,  and  made 
 fo  much  ado  about  it,  that  he  made  himfelf 
 ridiculous,  and  the  fport  of  the  town ;  whereas 
 I  only  fpoke  foberly  to  him,  as  aforefaid,  no£ 
 offering  the  lead  violence  to  him,  fo  that  he 
 had  no  caufe  to  fear,  but  his  own  guilty  con- 
 fcience;  and  if  he  had,  he  might  have  been 
 afhamed  to  tell  of  it,  he  being  a  great  heavy 
 man  in  companion  of  me,  and  the  bridge  a 
 great  ftone  bridge,  with  free-done  battlements, 
 which  yet  he  aggravated  fo  much,  faying, 
 that  if  he  had  been  of  a  fearful  fpirit  (and  yet 
 by  his  own  words  was  afraid)  he  ihould  have 
 leaped  over  the  bridge  for  fear  of  me.  Poor 
 man  !  "  The  wicked  fear  where  no  fear  is, 
 "  and  flee  when  none  purfue,"  Prov.  xxviii. 
 i .  Threatening  whai  he  would  do  to  me  when 
 
 X  came 
 
(       229       > 
 
 I  came  into  his  cuftody,  which  I  was  not  at 
 that  time.  And  a  little  after,  we  being  had 
 down  to  the  lower  gaol,  in  order  to  be  turned 
 over  from  the  old  fheriff,  and  keepers  to  the 
 new,  which  was  not  then  done :  he  threatened 
 me  again  at  the  gaol  door,  as  we  came  out, 
 that  if  I  was  not  married  before  I  came  into 
 his  hands,  I  mould  not  all  his  year,  faying, 
 He  would  lay  me  fail  enough ;  but  I  was  not 
 terrified  at  it,  knowing  my  own  innocency, 
 and  that  I  had  done  him  no  harm:  and  ac- 
 cordingly, after  the  turn-over,  going  one  day, 
 as  at  other  times,  to  fee  friends  in  the  fhe- 
 riff's  ward,  which  was  over  againft  my  cham- 
 ber, he  had  left  orders  with  the  under-keeper, 
 that  when  I  came  there,  he  mould  keep  me 
 in;  fo  he  came  to  me  into  Chriftopher  Hol- 
 der's room,  and  told  me  of  it;  and  that  if  I 
 would  not  promife  to  flay  in,  he  muft  put  me 
 under  lock,  I  told  him,  if  it  muil  be  fo,  I 
 muft  fubmit;  fo  he  put  me  to  lodge  at  night 
 in  an  old  difmal  room,  at  the  further  end  of 
 the  ward  backward,  called  Black-Friars,  which 
 I  went  down  into  by  a  ladder,  and  was  locked 
 down  at  night,  with  a  trap-door  over  my 
 head,  as  Daniel  was  in  the  den,  only  there 
 were  no  lions  here;  but  the  Lord  was  with 
 me,  and  made  all  things  eafy  to  me,  though 
 my  dear  friend  and  I  were  feparated,  one 
 at  one  end  of  the  town,  and  the  other  at  the 
 other,  and  both  under  locks  and  bolts ;  the 
 
 Q  3  &id 
 
(       23°       ) 
 
 £ud  Davis  fwearing  defperately,  as  his  manner 
 was,  that  we  mould  never  come  out,  or  fee 
 one  another  again,  all  his  time ;  but  I  had  been 
 too  much  ufed  to  fuch  threats,  to  value  them 
 much:  and  yet  in  two  weeks  time,  after  his 
 wrath  was  over,  he  let  me  out  again,  and 
 her  alfo,  both  in  one  day,  the  17th  of  the 
 3d  month,  after  me  had  been  in  Egypt,  the 
 room  fo  called,  five  weeks;  where  Sufannah 
 Alio  way,  wife  of  William  Alloway,  a  mer- 
 chant of  Minehead,  was  her  companion  ; 
 though  me  had  her  liberty  to  go  forth,  yet 
 continued  with  her  to  bear  her  company, 
 till  fhe  had  her  liberty  alfo;  which  I  men- 
 tion as  a  memorial  of  her,  and  her  Chriftian 
 fpirit ;  the  Lord  reward  her  for  it ;  who, 
 though  fhe  might  have  gone  forth  when  fhe 
 would,  and  whither  fhe  would,  yet  would 
 not  leave  her,  till  the  Lord  made  way  for 
 her  alfo :  and  not  long  after,  fhe  was  dif- 
 charged  by  him  that  put  her  in  prifon,  the 
 4th  of  the  4th  month,  on  her  brother  GlifTon 
 (who  married  her  eldeft  filter)  giving  him 
 fome  money,  as  was  thought,  he  not  being  a 
 friend:  and  J.  Bull  was  diicharged  in  the  7th 
 month,  and  J.  Ballam,  the  12th  of  the  9th 
 month  following. 
 
 So  I  returned  to  my  chamber  again  in 
 great  peace  and  fatisfaclion,  in  confideration 
 of  the  Lord's  mercy,  and  tender  dealing  with 
 me:  Davis,  the  keeper,  bidding  me,  when  he 
 
 met 
 
<     23i     ) 
 
 met  me,  have  a  care  how  I  did  go  to  eat  folks 
 again.  I  told  him,  he  need  not  fear  as  to  me;  I 
 had  no  evil  thought  concerning  him.  And  in 
 the  5th  month  my  friend  had  her  goods  dif- 
 trained  by  one  Hodder,  by  warrant  from  the 
 lord  Stawell,  for  being  at  a  meeting  in  Long-Sut- 
 ton,thefame  month;  the  faid  Hodder  breaking 
 open  her  door  with  a  fmith's  fledge,  and  took 
 of  fhop  goods  to  the  value  of  5 1.  me  keeping 
 a  (hop  of  linen  and  other  wares;  but  fome  of 
 the  goods  were  returned. 
 
 And  fome  time  after  I  was  taken  out  of  that 
 dungeon-like  place,  that  part  of  the  houfe 
 where  I  lodged  fell  down;  which  I  cannot 
 but  take  notice  of  as  a  great  providence,  that 
 it  did  not  fill  while  I  was  there,  which,  if  it 
 had,  muft  in  all  likelihood  have  killed  me,  or 
 buried  me  in  the  rubbilh;  but,  through  the 
 Lord's  mercy,  I  was  preferved,  and  hope,  in 
 his  mercy,  ihall  to  the  end :  which  I  mention 
 in  commemoration  of  his  fatherly  care  over 
 me,  who  maketh  his  to  lie  down  in  fafety, 
 though  in  the  prifon-houfe ;  which,  with  all 
 other  his  favours  and  mercies,  I  defire  never 
 to  forget,  but  have  in  remembrance  as  long 
 as  I  live. 
 
 But  now  I  muft  look  back  a  little,  to  give 
 account  of  fome  more  prifoners :  And  firft,  I 
 muft  give  account  of  the  imprifonment  of  our 
 ancient  friend,  John  Banks,  who  was  this  year, 
 1  634,inthebeginningofthe  2d  month, commit- 
 ted to  prifon  in  Carliile,  in  Cumberland,  at  the 
 
 Qj.  fuit 
 
(       232       ) 
 
 fuit  of  George  Fletcher,  of  Hutton-Hall,  im- 
 propriator, a  juftice  of  peace,  fo  called,  but  a 
 great  persecutor;  becauie,  for  confcience  fake, 
 the  faid  J.  Banks  could  not  pay  tithes,  but 
 bear  his  teftimony  againft  that  great  oppreffion, 
 being  fubpcena'd  into  the  exchequer;  and  after 
 arreiied  on  contempt,  becaufe,  in  obedience 
 to  Chrifi's  command,  he  could  not  put  in  his 
 anfwer  upon  oath  to  the  adverfary's  bill  :  and 
 the  fame  day  and  hour  he  was  taken  to  pri- 
 fon,  there  came  twelve  men  with  a  warrant 
 from  the  faid  G.  Fletcher,  and  diftrained  and 
 took  away  j\.  ios.  worth  of  goods,  for  part 
 of  a  fine  of  20I.  for  a  friend  of  the  miniftry, 
 who  fpoke  in  the  meeting-houfe  at  Pardfay- 
 Cragg,  in  the  time  of  the  act  againft  conven- 
 ticles, which  was  fold,  and  fo  much  more 
 goods  from  other  friends,  for  the  faid  fine,  as 
 came  to  35 1.  in  all  42 1.  ios.  (22L  ios.  more 
 than  the  rigour  of  the  act.).  He  continued 
 prifoner  fix  years  and  nine  months,  about  as 
 long  as  I  was;  and  was  for  the  moft  part  kept 
 clofe,  and  very  much  abufed  by  the  gaoler, 
 till  he  was  freed,  not  by  king  James,  but  by 
 king  William's  act  of  grace,  about  the  nth 
 month,  1690.  And  now  to  return  to  Ivel- 
 chefter. 
 
 John  Alloway  and  Francis  Hand,  of  Wi- 
 velfcomb,  were  brought  to  prifon  to  Ivel- 
 chefter,  the  2 2d  of  the  2d  month.  Francis 
 Hand  was  difcharged  at  Taunton  affizes  the 
 next  fpring. 
 
 Philip 
 
(     233     ) 
 
 Philip  Allen  and  Francis  Shepherd,  of 
 Taunton,  lent  to  prifon  by  Stephen  Time- 
 well,  for  meeting,  and  not  fwearing  allegi- 
 ance, the  3d  of  the  3d  month ;  and  kept 
 clofe  prifoners  three  weeks,  and  then  dif- 
 charged  on  engaging  to  appear  at  feffions. 
 
 Ghriftopher.  Lodge,  of  Chard,  committed 
 for  not  going  to  church,  fo  called,  by  one 
 Darby,  town-clerk,  promoter,  the  13th  of  the 
 3d  month. 
 
 Jonathan  Allen,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  H. 
 Chappel,  of  Creech,  committed  on  feffions 
 procefs  by  R.  Crofs,  the  5th  of  the  5th  month ; 
 difcharged  at  Bridgewater  feffions  the  15th  of 
 the  fame. 
 
 PriicillaWarr,  a  fervant  maid ;  James  Salter, 
 an  apprentice,  under  16  years  of  age;  Jofeph 
 Pearce  and  Tho.  Langwell,two  very  poor  men, 
 having  wives  and  children  ;  John  Greedy,  of 
 Wivelfcomb,  carpenter,  a  poor  man  alio, 
 being  met  together  at  Milverton,  the  6th  of 
 the  5th  month  early,  before  the  reft  of  friends 
 came,  were  ihut  up  in  the  meeting-houfe  un- 
 der a  guard,  and  next  day  committed  to  pri- 
 ion  by  Ferrars  Grifly,  who  was  very  rude,  and 
 threatened  to  hand-bolt  them,  there  being  but 
 four  of  age,  and  fo  not  contrary  to  the  act. 
 John  Greedy  put  in  bail  to  appear  at  feffions; 
 the  reft  brought  to  prifon  the  9th,  and  had  to 
 Bridgewater  feffions  the  15th  inft.  and  there 
 difcharged. 
 
 Giles 
 
(     *34     ) 
 
 'Giles  Knight,  of  ChirTelborough,  committed 
 for  refufing  the  oath  by  Edward  Beikly  and 
 John  Baylie,  the  14th  of  the  5th  month;  dis- 
 charged at  Taunton  affizes  the  next  fpring. 
 
 Thomas  Sibly,  Anne  King,  Joan  Coggan, 
 and  Hannah  Seawood,  of  Crewkerne,  com- 
 mitted to  prifon  for  meeting,  by  William 
 Helliar,  of  Coker,  juftice,  the  14th  of  the  5th 
 month,  and  difcharged  at  Taunton  affizes  by 
 judge  Montague,  as  will  appear  in  the  hrfl 
 month  next. 
 
 This  year,  1684,  died  our  dear  friend, 
 William  Bennit,  a  public  friend,  of  Wood- 
 bridge  in  Suffolk.  He  was  born  at  or  near 
 Kirtly,  about  the  year  1634  or  1635.  In  his 
 young  years  he  was  religioufly  inclined,  and 
 fought  the  Lord  often  in  private,  with  ftrong 
 cries  and  breathings  to  him,  that  he  would 
 give  him  the  knowledge  of  his  ways;  being 
 ienfible  of  fomething  that  inwardly  checked 
 and  reproved  him  for  fin  and  vanity,  though 
 he  knew  not  then  that  it  was  the  light  of 
 Chrift  that  fhewed  him  his  evil  ways.  And 
 when  he  wras  an  apprentice,  the  Lord  vifited 
 him  more  and  more,  and  ftrove  with  him 
 by  his  good  fpirit,  which  preferved  him  from 
 many  evils  that  others  run  into.  And  in 
 thofe  days,  he  frequented  the  meetings  of 
 the  Independents,  viz.  William  Bridges's  con- 
 gregation at  Great-Yarmouth,  whom  he  then 
 thought  the  people  of  God,  but  was  not  fa- 
 
 tisliecl 
 
(     n~35     ) 
 
 tisfied  in  fome  things ;  and  when  they  fung, 
 he  mourned  and  wept,  and  trembled,  before 
 he  was  called  a  Quaker,  or  had  feen  any  of 
 that  people;  yet  kept  his  trouble  to  himicif, 
 not  difclofing  it  to  any;  after  which  he  got 
 at  eaie  from  under  this  e  rcife,  and  grew 
 carelefs  and  wanton;  delighting  in  muiic  and 
 dancing,  fports  and  gaming;  making  merry 
 over  the  witnefs,  as  many  did  and  do,  till  he 
 was  afraid  the  Loi,  wc  Id  leave  ftriving  with 
 him.  But  after  this,  the  Lord  was  pleaied  to 
 vifit  him  again;  and  coming  to  1  :ar  the  truth 
 declared  by  the  people  called  Quakers,  he  was 
 convinced  of  the  truth,  and  received  it  in  love, 
 and  joined  with  the  faid  people:  and  as  he 
 came  into  obedience  to  it,  the  fame  light  of 
 Chrift,  which  had  judged  and  condemned  him 
 for  his  fins,  miniftered  peace  and  comfort  to 
 him,  and  in  due  time  he  came  to  receive  a 
 teftimony  to  bear  for  it;  and  travelled  in  many 
 parts  of  England,  but  I  do  not  find  he  travelled 
 beyond  fea.  He  was  of  an  innocent  life  and 
 converfation,  to  the  honour  of  truth  where  he 
 dwelt,  ashis  very  enemies  confelfed ;  and  though 
 often  weak  and  infirm,  as  to  his  health,  was 
 carried  forth  in  meetings  in  a  more  than  ordi- 
 nary manner;  and  was  a  bleffed  inftrument  to 
 many,  in  turning  them  to  God.  He  often 
 lufFered  imprifonment  for  his  teftimony;  as  at 
 Bliborough,  in  1661;  Yarmouth  and  Nor- 
 wich Caltle,  1664;  and  Edmunfbury,  1665, 
 
 where 
 
(     236    ) 
 
 ■where  he  lay  amongft  the  felons  near  eight 
 years,  till  discharged  by  the  king's  declaration, 
 as  I  take  it,  in  1672,  and  was  kept  clofe  pri- 
 ibner,  hardly  going  over  the  threfhold  for 
 five  years  time:  and  was  feveral  times  a  pri- 
 foner  in  Melton  gaol,  and  in  the  county  gaol 
 at  Ipfwich,  where  at  laft  he  died  ;  though 
 the  times  when,  and  how  long  in  each,  or 
 the  particular  caules,  are  not  fet  down.  He 
 was  at  Briftol  with  his  countryman,  Giles  Bar- 
 nardifton,  about  the  year  1677,  the  only  time 
 I  faw  either  of  them.  His  laft  imprifonment 
 was,  in  this  laft  great  perfecution,  in  1683, 
 which  began  by  Richard  Brume,  prieft  •  of 
 Woodbridge,  who  had  been  the  occafion  of 
 his  commitment  once  before,  by  juftice  Ba- 
 con and  juftice  Bohon,  for  refilling  to  take 
 the  oath,  where  he  remained  about  half  a 
 year;  but  after  fome  time  of  breathing,  the 
 laid  Brume  began  afrefh  to  breath  out  threat- 
 enings,  (for  what  perfecutions  have  there  been 
 that  the  priefts  have  not  had  a  hand  in?)  and 
 having  got  a  juftice  for  his  turn,  he  ftirred 
 up  the  officers  of  the  town  to  difturb  friends 
 meetings  at  Woodbridge,  who  came  the  12th 
 of  the  6th  month,  1  683,  where  our  friend  W- 
 Bennit  was  on  his  knees  in  prayer  to  God, 
 and  violently  haled  away  by  Robert  Chap- 
 man, conftable  (fet  on  by  John  Firman,  church- 
 warden) with  feveral  other  friends;  and  had 
 before  Edm.  Jenny,  juftice,   who  committed 
 
 them. 
 
(   ^1   ) 
 
 them  to  Melton  gaol,  for  being  at  the  faid 
 meeting,  where  he  was  kept  clofe  till  the 
 feffions  at  Woodbridge  ;  then  brought  into 
 court,  and  indicted  for  being  riotoufly  affem- 
 bled  with  many  others,  &c.  to  which,  after 
 many  found  arguments  to  prove  our  meet- 
 ings were  not  riotous,  but  purely  to  wait  upon 
 and  worfhip  God,  he  pleaded  not  guilty ; 
 and  was  demanded,  whether  he  would  give 
 bail  for  his  appearance  next  quarter-feffions, 
 and  to  be  of  the  good  behaviour;  which  he 
 refufing  to  do,  knowing  he  had  not  mifbe- 
 haved  himfelf,  he  was  returned  to  prifon, 
 and  kept  clofe  till  next  feffions,  at  Wood- 
 bridge;  and  being  again  brought  into  court, 
 where  Chriftopher  Melton  was  chairman, 
 and  with  other  friends  put  on  to  trial:  after 
 a  great  deal  of  arguing  between  the  prifoners 
 and  the  court,  the  jury  went  out,  and  after 
 fome  time  returned,  and  brought  them  in, 
 not  guilty;  at  which  the  chairman  was  highly 
 difpleafed,  and  perfuaded  them  to  alter  their 
 verdict:,  that  they  were  guilty  of  an  unlawful 
 afiembly  (which  how  juft,  let  any  judge); 
 and,  as  if  that  was  not  enough,  contrived 
 to  fend  him  to  Ipfwich,  to  be  lined;  which 
 they  did  in  a  very  cold  day,  in  the  fharpeft 
 time  of  that  winter,  which  was  the  hardefb 
 that  had  been  known  for  many  years,  late  in 
 the  day,  and  fnowing  all  the  way,  though  he 
 tvra.s  fo  weakly,  that  he  would  not  have  un- 
 dertook 
 
(   s3s    ) 
 
 dertook  fuch  a  journey  for  any  thing,  but  for 
 the  truth's  fake;  and  when  he  came  there, 
 it  being  late,  and  many  friends  prifoners,  for 
 want  of  beds,  he  was  forced  to  fit  up  all 
 night  in  that  wet  cold  condition,  (the  ready 
 way  to  kill  him)  which  impaired  his  health 
 fo,  that  he  never  got  over  it.  He  was  called 
 at  feffions,  and  fined  20I.  and  returned  to 
 prifon  till  payment;  where  he  met  with  hard 
 ufage  from  the  gaoler,  for  not  anfwering  his 
 unreafonable  demands.  He  remained  clofe 
 priioner  till  the  next  feffions  at  Ipfwich, 
 where  he  was  called  into  court;  and  nothing 
 faid  of  the  fine,  but  told  by  Thomas  Cowel, 
 clerk  of  the  peace,  that  they  had  a  particu- 
 lar order  from  the  king  to  deal  with  him,  feem- 
 ing  refoived  to  have  his  blood;  fo  they  ten- 
 dered hii  the  oath  of  allegiance,  which  he 
 refilling,  was  reurned  to  prifon,  where  he 
 grew  ill;  which  increafmg  upon  him,  he  de- 
 fired  to  fee  friends  before  his  departure,  grow- 
 ing weaker  and  weaker  till  he  died,  the  23d 
 of  the  4th  month,  1684,  about  the  fiftieth 
 year  of  his  age;  an  innocent  man,  and  left  a 
 iweet  favour  behind  him.  He  writ  feveral 
 experimental  treatiies,  viz.  i  God  only  exalted 
 
 *  in  his  works,'   '  Some  Prifon  Meditations  of 
 
 *  an  humble  Heart,'  and,  *  The  Work  and 
 4  Mercy  of  God  conducing  to  his  Praife ;' 
 which  laft  was  very  helpful  to  me  in  my 
 young  days;  and  feveral  others,  which  are 
 collected  in  one  volume  quarto. 
 
 la 
 
i    239    ) 
 
 In  the  fifth  month  after  mine  and  my 
 dear  friend's  S.  H's  enlargement  from  our 
 dole  confinement,  as  aforefaid,  having  a  little 
 more  liberty,  after  Davis  the  keeper  had  vent- 
 ed his  fpleen  againft  me,  I  rode  with  her,  and 
 her  brother  and  filler  GlifTon,  of  Yeovill,  to 
 Bath,  and  fo  to  Briftol,  at  the  time  of  the 
 fair,  whither  fhe  ufed  to  go  to  buy  goods ; 
 and  from  thence  to  my  houfe  at  Naylfey,  to 
 fee  it,  though  we  never  went  to  dwell  there, 
 and  fo  back  to  Briftol  again,  till  after  the  fair, 
 we  returned.  I  did  not  find,  but  meetings 
 were  generally  quiet  there,  friends  having 
 wearied  out  their  perfecutors;  but  many  were 
 in  prifon  ftill,  fince  the  death  of  the  former 
 keeper,  I.  Dennis,  the  eminent  hand  of  God 
 on  whom,  (as  related  lafl  year,  1683)  one 
 would  think,  had  been  enough  to  deter  any,, 
 efpecially  that  ihould  come  into  the  fame 
 place,  from  acting  the  like  barbarities  and  cru- 
 elties on  friends,  as  he  had  done;  and  his 
 dreadful  defpair  for  it,  that  if  they  had  not 
 difcharged  them,  at  leaft  to  have  treated  them 
 better,  and  more  humanely  (not  to  fay  chrif- 
 tianly,  for  that  could  not  be  in  prifon);  but 
 fome  men  will  never  take  warning,  "  though 
 **  the  Lord  bringeth  his  judgments  to  light 
 M  every  morning,  yet  the  unjuft  knoweth  no 
 "  fhame,"  Zeph.  iii.  5.  for  fo  it  was,  that  the 
 Litter  end  of  the  3d  month,  friends  who  had 
 been  long  prisoners  in  Bridewell,  beqaule  they 
 
 could 
 
(     24°     ) 
 
 could  not  anfwer  the  keeper's  unfeafonabltf 
 demands  of  money,  he  removed  them  to 
 Newgate,  where  they  were  now  about  a 
 hundred  crowded  for  lodgings,  in  dark  damp 
 dungeon-like  holes;  many  in  a  place  called 
 Pauls,  where  never  any  before  were  put  to 
 lodge,  that  ever  they  knew  or  heard  of; 
 which  cruelty  cried  aloud,  but  many  hearts 
 were  hard,  and  thofe  who  might  have  re- 
 medied it,  would  not  hear,  or  at  leaft  not 
 regard,  though  none  could  plead  ignorance, 
 who  were  any  ways  concerned  to  eafe  the 
 oppreiTed ;  fo  that  friends  and  truth  were  clear, 
 fo  far  as  they  were  able  to  let  them  under- 
 ftand:  but  many  were  fo  void  of  compaffion, 
 that  they  imputed  it  to  friends  obftinacy ; 
 and  fome  counted  they  were  uied  too  well; 
 which  they  mentioned  for  information,  rather 
 than  complaint;  for  the  Lord  was  fo  good  to 
 them,  that  it  out-balanced  all  their  light  afflic- 
 tions; who  gave  health,  and  preferved  them 
 in  feveral  appearances  of  great  danger,  even 
 to  a  wonder;  and  gave  them  comfort,  con- 
 tent, unity,  &c.  and  by  his  fatherly  care,  fo 
 provided  for  them,  that  they  had  no  want. 
 But  after  they  were  pulled  and  haled  out, 
 and  not  fuffered  to  meet  together  as  they 
 ufed  to  do,'  though  all  in  one  gaol ;  the 
 keeper  treading  in  I.  Dennis's  fteps,  faying, 
 he  had  an  order  for  it  from  his  mailers, 
 and  fo  they  were  thruft  and  locked   up   in 
 
 feveral 
 
(     241     ) 
 
 feveral  places,  but  got  no  conquer!  or  honour 
 by  it,  thus  to  opprefs  the  innocent  in  prifon, 
 where  they  thrufl  them  in  heaps,  but  could 
 not  keep  them  from  the  Lord,  by  whole 
 power  they  were  kept  in  patience  to  fuffer 
 from  the  hands  of  men,  to  whom  they  never 
 did  any  harm ;  and  to  whom  they  delired 
 God  to  grant  repentance,  before  his  anger 
 break  forth  as  an  overflowing  fcourge,  and 
 there  be  no  remedy. 
 
 But  now  to  return  to  Ivelcheiter,  where  I 
 found  in  my  abfence,  Jofeph  Pearce  of  Mil- 
 verton,  formerly  committed  by  Ferrars  Grifly, 
 committed  again  by  the  fame  for  abfence 
 from  church,  fo  called,  the  31ft  of  the  5th 
 month;  difcharged  at  Taunton  affizes  in  the 
 firft  month  following. 
 
 Edith  Standerwick,  and  Joan  her  daughter, 
 wife  of  John  Farding,  of  Buckland  St.  Mary, 
 brought  to  prifon  for  refilling  to  anfwer  upon 
 oath  to  a  bill  in  chancery,  at  the  fuit  of  John 
 Penny,  the  18th  of  the  8th  month;  difcharged 
 in  the  9th  month  following  by  the  faid  Penny* 
 
 About  this  time,  our  dear  friend,  Lawrence 
 Steel,  of  Briftol,  died,  though  not  in  prifon  ; 
 yet  not  long  after  he  was  releafed.  In  a  fenfe 
 of  the  lofs  of  whom,  being  one  I  dearly  loved, 
 and  was  well  acquainted  with,  I  writ  a  few 
 lines  as  a  teftimony  concerning  him,  which  I 
 ikall  now  fomewhat  enlarge,  for  the  refpecl  I 
 had  to  him,  chiefly  out  of  his  own  account. 
 
 R  He 
 
(       242       ) 
 
 He  was  born  in  London  about  the  year 
 1644,  and  devoted  to  the  miniflry  from  his 
 birth,  by  his  parents,  who  were  zealous  pro- 
 feffors  of  the  independent  way;  who  fpared 
 no  pains  to  inrtruct  him  in  the  principles  of 
 that  religion,  nor  any  coft  for  the  educating 
 him  in  the  knowledge  of  that  learning  which 
 was  eiteemed  requifite  for  that  work.  So  that 
 about  the  1 2th  year  of  his  age  he  was  placed 
 abroad  at  fchool  with  other  children,  by  whofe 
 importunity  and  example  he  was  drawn  to 
 fpend  his  leifure  hours  in  fports  and  paftimes, 
 and  neglected  the  motions  of  the  Spirit  of 
 God,  (which,  from  the  lixth  or  feventh  year 
 of  his  age,  he  had  been  fenfible  of,  and  often 
 left  his  companions  and  recreations,  to  feek 
 fome  place  to  pray  and  eafe  his  heart  to  the 
 Lord)  which  now  by  his  diibbedience  he 
 quenched,  until  he  thought  it  ceafed  to  ftrive 
 with  him;  fo  that  when  he  went  to  pray  or 
 feek  the  Lord,  his  heart  was  fhut  up,  and 
 his  words  returned  to  him  again,  and  he  flood 
 as  one  fmitten  before  the  Lord,  in  a  fenfe  of 
 the  guilt  and  condemnation  that  was  upon 
 him,  which  continued  fome  years;  infomuch 
 that  he  was  afraid  he  had  finned  out  the  day 
 of  his  \ifitation;  fo  that  the  exercife  he  went 
 under, '  brought  a  wafting  or  confumption 
 upon  his  body,  which  he  never  fully  reco- 
 vered, till  it  pleafed  the  Lord  by  his  word  of 
 power,  to  give  him  fome  hopes  of  mercy ; 
 
 which 
 
(     243     ) 
 
 which  glad  tidings  to  his  foul  were  more  pre- 
 cious to  him  than  the  gain  of  the  whole 
 world;  though  his  body  was  weak,  which  in 
 due  time  was  by  the  fame  word  reftored,  to 
 the  admiration  of  his  relations  and  acquaint- 
 ance, which  drew  him  into  great  watchful- 
 nefs  over  his  thoughts,  words,  and  actions ; 
 and  to  abftain  from  the  pleafures  and  de- 
 lights of  this  world;  and  was  made  often  to 
 reprove  others  for  their  vanity,  before  he  was 
 fettled  in  any  form  of  profeffion :  after  which, 
 he  was  ftirred  up  to  feek  a  people  with  whom 
 he  might  have  unity  in  the  fame  life  and  ex- 
 perience which  he  had  parTed  through  ;  and 
 neglected  no  opportunity  to  hear  fuch  as  were 
 efteemed  the  moft  lively  preachers.  Firft,  of 
 •the  Prefbyterians,  and  then  of  the  Independ- 
 ents, to  whom  he  joined  himfelf  a  member; 
 among  whom  he  felt  fome  ftirrings  of  the 
 power  of  God,  which  brought  terror  upon 
 the  ungodly,  and  begot  hungrings  and  thirft- 
 ings  after  righteoufnefs  in  many,  who  cried 
 to  the  Lord  for  deliverance,  &c.  (which  he 
 liked)  in  the  day  of  their  tendernefs.  After 
 which,  they  came  to  fettle  in  a  form,  and  to 
 flint  and  limit  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  fo  died 
 to  the  life  that  moved,  and  bubbled  up  in 
 them  formerly.  And  for  want  of  thofe  liv- 
 ing breathings,  which  once  they  felt,  he  came 
 to  a  lofs,  and  was  ready  to  judge  himfelf, 
 though  he  knew  no  neglect  by  himfelf,  until 
 
 R  2  the 
 
(     244     ) 
 
 the  Lord  mewed  him  the  true  reafon ;  be- 
 caufe  of  the  fhortnefs  of  what  they  declared^ 
 of  any  power  to  free  from  fin  in  this  life, 
 or  faith  in  the  manifeftation  of  Chrift  with- 
 in; but  inftead  thereof,  they  declared  of  a 
 j  unification  and  falvation  by  Chrift,  though 
 in  their  fins,  v/hich  they  did  not  expect  to  be 
 freed  from  to  their  lives  end. 
 
 In  afenfe  of  which,  and  their  earthly  mind- 
 ednefs,  and  fafhioning  themfelves  according 
 to  the  world,  he  took  an  opportunity  in 
 London  to  eafe  himfelf  to  them,  from  the 
 words  of  Paul ;  "  All  feek  their  oryn,  not  the 
 "  things  which  are  Jefus  Chrift's,"  Phil.  ii. 
 21.  And  another  time  at  a  faft,  from  the  tes- 
 timony of  Jeremiah;  "  Though  Mofes  and 
 "  Samuel  ftood  before  me,  yet  my  mind 
 "  could  not  be  toward  this  people ;  caft  them 
 "  out  of  my  fight  and  let  them  go  forth," 
 Jer.  xv.  i.  and  fo  withdrew  from  them;  and 
 in  refufal  of  more  public  employment,  he  ac- 
 cepted of  a  private  place  in  Dorfetfhire,  to 
 tutor  children,  and  pray  and  preach  in  the 
 family,  for  a  yearly  ftipend,  which  when  it 
 came  to  be  paid,  he  could  not  take  for  preach- 
 ing or  praying  (which  alfo  he  had  refuled  in 
 London)  but  kept  up  the  family  worfhip  for 
 fome  time,  till  he  came  to  preach  on  thofe 
 words,  "  For  the  word  of  God  is  quick  and 
 "  powerful,  and  fharper  than  any  two-edged 
 "  iword,"  &c.  Hcb.  iv.  12.  which  after  he 
 
 had 
 
(    245     ) 
 
 had  done,  and  retired  to  his  chamber,  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him,  faying,  Bring 
 no  more  vain  oblations  before  me,  but  wait 
 upon  the  living  motion  of  my  Spirit,  to  bring 
 forth  that  facririce  which  is  accepted  by  me  ; 
 and  withal,  reminding  him  of  what  he  had 
 formerly  felt  of  the  quicknefs  and  fharpnefs 
 of  this  word,  to  cut  him  down  from  all  his 
 vain  pleaiures,  Sec.  which  was  the  fame  that 
 was  now  come,  to  cut  him  down  from  his 
 vain  oblations,  &c.  which  he  declared  to  one 
 of  the  family,  defiring  that  the  prayer  bell 
 might  not  be  rung  for  him,  for  that  he  now 
 felt  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  be  really  as  he 
 had  preached  it,  as  a  fword  to  cut  him  down 
 as  above;  not  in  any  difrefpect  to  that  fpiri- 
 tual  prayer  and  fupplication  which  was  ex- 
 horted to  in  fcripture,  which  he  did  the  more 
 earneftly  watch  unto,  but  for  fear  of  offend- 
 ing God  by  offering  in  his  own  will:  nei- 
 ther did  he  act  from  any  counfel  or  prece- 
 dent of  any  of  the  people  called  Quakers, 
 from  whole  converfe  he  had  kept  himfelf  fo, 
 as  not  to  be  acquainted  with  any  of  them ; 
 as  alio  from  reading  their  books,  or  going 
 to  their  meetings  for  fear  of  infection,  as  was 
 reported  of  them  in  thofe  days;  and  when  a 
 fervant  that  lived  in  the  family  was  inclined 
 to  go  among  them,  he  diffuaded  her  from  it; 
 but  now  having  laid  down  all  at  the  feet  of 
 the  Lamb,  in  a  readinefs  to  follow  him  whi- 
 
 R  3  therfoever 
 
(    246    ) 
 
 therfoever  he  would  lead  him,  and  inquiring 
 of  the  Lord  what  was  the  way  and  people 
 and  foundation  which  he  would  eftablifh  and 
 fet  up  in   the  room   of  what  he  had  pulled 
 down,  the  Lord  fhewed  himv  and  caufed  him 
 to  declare  the   fubftance  of  it  to  the  family, 
 according  to  the  vifion  of  Ifaiah,  chap.  ii.  and 
 the  fix  firft  verfes;  and  an  excellent  difcourfe 
 he  made  on  it,  which  fee  in  his  book,  4  Jacob 
 *  the  plain  Man,'   p.  14,  15,   16,   17,  18,  &c. 
 Having  this  plain  manifeftation  of  truth  and 
 friends,  he  fought  out  fome   of  them  ;    and 
 meeting  with  one   (a  woman)  and  difcourfmg 
 with  her  about  the  light  of  Chrift,   her  tefti- 
 mony  fo  fuited  with  what  the  Lord  had  be- 
 fore fhewed  unto  him,  that  he  could  not  but 
 confefs  to  the  wifdom  fhe  was   guided   by  ; 
 and   was   afterwards   confirmed   by   difcourfe 
 with  her  hufband,   (poor   plain   people)  and 
 refolved  to  take  up  his  lot  with  them ;   and 
 when  he  returned  home  to  the  counfellor  and 
 his  wife,  with  his  ufual  language  and  deport- 
 ment out  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift,  which  he  knew 
 was  unlike  the  plain  language  of  the  fcrip- 
 tures,  and  behaviour  of  Chrift  and  his  apoftles, 
 he  was  reproved  for  it,  and  loft  his  peace,  and 
 fo  went  to  bed  under  judgment,  crying  to  the 
 Lord,  not  to  withhold  his  peace  and  comfort 
 from  him,  nor  to  let  it  hinder  the  work  which 
 he  had  begun,  promifing  to  obey  him  if  he 
 would  fpare  him  till  the  morning;  which  when 
 
 he 
 
I  247  ) 
 
 he  was  rifen,  the  counfellor's  wife  came  into 
 the  chamber,  unto  whom  he  ufed  that  plain 
 language  and  deportment  which  he  was  con- 
 vinced of,  in  which,  though  it  may  feem  a 
 fmall  thing,  he  had  great  joy  and  peace:  and 
 when  fhe  afked  him  the  occafion  of  that 
 change,  he  told  her  that  he  was  now  con- 
 firmed by  converfation,  that  the  people  he 
 had  preached  of  were  come,  &c.  after  which 
 it  was  reported  in  the  family  and  country, 
 that  he  was  become  a  Quaker;  and  the  next 
 firft-day  he  was  required  to  go  to  the  place 
 where  he  firft  fpoke  with  the  woman,  and  to 
 feek  out  their  meeting,  which  he  did;  and 
 when  he  came,  he  found  them  met  together 
 in  a  ferious  manner,  waiting  upon  the  Lord; 
 among  whom,  though  few  if  any  words  were 
 fpoken,  he  felt  that  prelence  and  power  of 
 God,  in  which  he  had  more  fatisfadHon  than 
 in  his  own  preaching  and  praying:  and  the 
 more  he  was  acquainted  with  them,  the  more 
 he  was  united  to  them;  efpecially  after  he  had 
 heard  their  teftimonies  or  declarations,  though 
 from  mean  illiterate  perfons.  One  of  the  firft 
 he  heard,  was  Henry  Macy,  of  Frefhford,  a  little 
 above  Bath  in  Somerfetfhire,  a  faithful  mini- 
 fter  till  his  death.  Soon  after  which,  becaufe 
 he  could  not  perform  the  office  of  a  chaplain, 
 he  left  that  family;  though  hard  to  part,  for 
 the  love  that  was  between  them,  who  would 
 have  paid  him  according  to  agreement  for  the 
 
 R  4  time 
 
(     243     ) 
 
 time  he  had  been  there,  viz.  for  preaching 
 and  tutoring  their  children.  For  the  laft,  he 
 was  free  to  take  confideration;  but  for  preach- 
 ing, he  was  forbidden  of  the  Lord  to  take 
 any  thing,  though  urged  to  it:  But  to  clear 
 the  family  of  any  fufpicion,  as  to  the  ground 
 of  his  leaving  them,  he  left  a  certificate,  that 
 it  was  on  account  of  fome  higher  difcovery 
 of  truth  on  his  part,  &c.  and  lo  in  love  left 
 them  about  the  7th  month,  1673,  and  went 
 to  his  relations,  who  received  him,  though 
 they  were  not  friends;  and  he  kept  to  friends 
 meetings,  waiting  in  filence  for  about  twelve 
 months,  and  then  broke  forth  fometimes  in 
 a  few  words  of  prayer,  and  fometimes  of  ex- 
 hortation (fee  his  own  book,  *  Jacob  the  plain 
 Man  wreftling  with  God'):  and  fo  grew  and 
 increafed  in  his  gift,  till  he  had  an  eminent 
 teftimony,  and  well  accepted.  He  came  af- 
 terwards and  fettled  in  Briftol,  and  kept  fchool 
 in  the  great  meeting-houfe  at  the  Friars,  and 
 was  very  ferviceable  in  that  city  and  the  coun- 
 try adjacent.  He  had  meetings  at  my  houfe  at 
 Naylfey,  after  I  was  a  prifoner,  and  came 
 once  to  Ivelchcfter,  with  Samuel  Jennings,  to 
 vifit  us,  after  I  was  carried  thither.  He  was 
 afterwards  imprifoned  in  Newgate,  Briftol,  for 
 meeting;  and  on  the  Oxford  act  for  fix  months, 
 as  aforefaid.  He  was  a  comely  perfon,  but 
 pale  complexioned,  being  inclined  to  a  dropfy, 
 and  infirm  as  to  his  health  5   which  no  doubt 
 
 was 
 
(     249    ) 
 
 was  heightened,  and  his  health  impaired,  by 
 his  clofe  confinement  in  Newgate ;  and  he  did 
 not  live  long  after  his  releafement,  (at  the 
 end  of  the  fix  months^  but  died  of  a  diabetes, 
 about  the  tenth  (being  buried  the  1 2th)  of  the 
 eighth  month,  1684;  laying  down  his  head 
 in  peace  with  the  Lord,  according  to  an 
 anagram  he  made  on  a  child  of  Richard 
 Snead's,  viz, 
 
 ANAGRAM. 
 Bridget  Sneade,  Reft,  being  dead. 
 
 IF  we  believe  what  fcriptures  do  atteft, 
 'Tis  only  fin  that  doth  deprive  of  reft; 
 And  fuch  as  fin  commit,  to  fin  muft  die, 
 Before  their  fouls  can  live  eternally. 
 And  fuch  as  are  made  pure,  fnares  will  attend, 
 Until  that  by  the  grave  they  have  an  end. 
 What  then  of  harmlefs  infants  fhall  we  fay? 
 Who  are  no  fo  ner  born  but  pafs  away: 
 Since  Chrift  faith,  c  For  the  kingdom  none  are  fit, 
 '  But  fuch  as  like  a  child  do  come  to  it.' 
 This  lhews  that  harmlefs  infants  go  to  reft. 
 And  who  fhall  fuch  condemn  whom  Chrift  hath  bleft  ? 
 Since  then,  dear  babe,  thou  canft  not  come  to  me, 
 Let  me  fo  live  that  I  may  go  to  thee; 
 Where,  being  dead  to  fin,  and  free  from  fear, 
 We  may  for  ever  live  with  Chrift  moft  dear. 
 
 1679.  L.  S. 
 
 He 
 
(     25°    ) 
 
 He  was  a  man  of  a  grave,  folic!,  ferious 
 deportment ;  of  a  fweet  even  temper  and  di£- 
 poiition ;  of  a  fedate  retired  life ;  and  very  ex- 
 emplary in  his  converlation :  a  preacher  of 
 righteoufnefs  in  that  great  city,  in  which  he 
 walked  as  a  ftranger  and  pilgrim  on  earth; 
 but  hath  finifhed  his  courfe,  and  kept  the 
 faith,  and  received  the  crown  of  life;  and  hath 
 left  a  good  favour  behind  him,  of  whofe  fin- 
 cerity  and  integrity  to  God  and  his  truth,  I 
 could  write  much;  but  his  innocent  life  and 
 teftimony  is  the  beft  memorial  of  him,  and 
 his  memory  is  bleffed. 
 
 And  now  as  to  my  dear  friend,  Richard 
 Vickris,  who  lay  under  the  fentence  of  death 
 in  Newgate,  Briftol,  fince  laft  year,  becaufe  he 
 could  not  conform  or  abjure  the  realm  ;  and 
 the  time  being  elapfed,  as  mentioned  laft,  and 
 the  time  of  execution  drawing  nigh,  his  ene- 
 mies having  blackened  him  with  an  infamous 
 character,  as  a  difaffected  perfon,  (to  render 
 him  unpitied)  his  wife  went  to  London,  to 
 intercede  for  his  life,  and  mitigation  of  the 
 fentence;  and  with  friends  help  there,  made 
 application  to  the  duke  of  York,  the  chief  man 
 at  court  that  could  work  his  deliverance;  who 
 having  received  a  better  character  of  him  thaa 
 his  enemies  gave  him,  was  pleafed  to  declare, 
 That  neither  his  royal  brother,  nor  himfelf, 
 defired  that  any  of  his  fubjects  fhould  fuffer 
 for  the  exercife    of  their    confciences,   who 
 
 were 
 
(   m   ) 
 
 were  of  a  peaceable  behaviour  under  his  go- 
 vernment; and  thereupon  gave  fuch  direc- 
 tions, as  were  foon  made  effectual  for  his 
 deliverance:  And  being,  by  habeas  corpus  and 
 writ  of  error,  removed  from  Newgate,  Briftol, 
 to  London;  and  brought  to  the  King's-bench 
 bar,  upon  the  errors  affigned  by  counfellor 
 Pollexfen,  and  others.  He  was  cleared  of 
 the  fentence  on  the  35th  of  Elizabeth,  by 
 fir  George  JefFerys,  lord  chief  juftice,  though 
 fo  fevere  a  judge  otherwife,  (few  fo  bad  but 
 they  may  do  iome  good  acts)  and  fo  was  le- 
 gally difcharged  in  Michaelmas  term,  in  the 
 9th  month  this  year,  to  the  great  joy  of  his 
 aged  father,  his  diftrerTed  wife  and  family, 
 and  his  friends  throughout  the  nation.  His 
 father  lived  to  fee  him  after  his  difcharge,  but 
 did  not  long  furvive  it,  living  but  three  days 
 after  he  came  home;  by  whofe  death  and  will 
 his  houfe  and  eftate  at  Chew,  where  he  dwelt 
 and  deceafed,  fell  to  Richard,  being  his  only 
 fon;  who  foon  after  came  with  his  family, 
 and  fettled  there  in  our  county,  to  friends 
 comfort  and  fatisfa&ion ;  where  he  was  very 
 ferviceable  to  truth  and  friends  many  ways, 
 and  no  fmall  ornament  in  his  place,  having 
 ten  children  at  the  date  hereof,  1684. 
 
 About  this  time  died  that  eminent  mini- 
 fter  and  fervant  of  Chrift,  William  Gibfon, 
 of  London.  He  was  born  in  Caton  near  Lan- 
 cafter,  about  the  year  1629;  and  being  a  fol- 
 
 dier 
 
(     2J2     ; 
 
 dier  at  Carlifle,  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars, 
 he   and  three  others  hearing  that  a  Quaker 
 had  appointed  a  meeting  in  that   city,  they 
 agreed  to  go  to  the  meeting,  with  an  intent 
 to  abufe  the  faid  friend,  being  Tho.  Holms; 
 but   William    coming    to   the    meeting,    and 
 hearing   him   powerfully   declare    the   truth, 
 was  fo  affected  and  reached  by  his  teftimony, 
 that  he  ftept  into  the  meeting  near  Thomas 
 to  defend  him,  and  bid  any  that  durft,  offer 
 to  abufe  him.     After   which    he  frequented 
 friends  meetings,  and  quitted  his  place  in  the 
 garrifon,  and  employed  himfelf  in  moe-mak- 
 ingj  waiting  upon  God  in  filence,  under  the 
 exercife  of  his  power,  for  about  three  years. 
 He  afterwards  received  a  difpenfation  of  the 
 gofpel ;    became    very    ferviceable   in    divers 
 places  of  the  country.     He   was   a  prifoner 
 at  Shrewsbury  for  the  teftimony  of  truth,  in 
 1 66 1,  where  he  writ  '  A   Salutation  of  the 
 '  Father's  Love,'  printed  in  1663.     The  22d 
 of  the  6th  month,  1662,  he  married  Eliza- 
 beth,   daughter   of  William    Thompfon,    of 
 Crofmore  in  Lancafhire,  and  fettled  in  San- 
 key  meeting,  near  Warrington,  for  fome  years ; 
 and  fome  were  convinced    of   truth    by   his 
 miniftry,  who  continued  faithful ;  and  many 
 others  confirmed  in  the  bleffed  truth,  fo  that 
 his  memorial  is  of  good  favour  in  thofe  parts. 
 He  afterwards  travelled  fouthward,  in  the  work 
 of  the  gofpel  j  and  was  imprifoned  at  Maid^ 
 
 {lone^ 
 
(     *5i     ) 
 
 {tone,  in  Kent,  in  1671,  which  imprisonment 
 lafted  long ;  where  he  writ  an  epiftle,  inti- 
 tled  '  Univerfal  Love.'  After  he  was  dis- 
 charged, he  went  to  London,  and  removed 
 his  wife  and  family  thither,  where  his  fer- 
 vice  was  great,  and  in  divers  other  parts  of 
 the  nation;  and  was  concerned  in  fome  con- 
 troversies, particularly  about  tithes,  in  his  book 
 *  Tithes  ended  by  ChriSt,'  in  1 673 ;  and  with 
 an  adverfary  under  a  feigned  name,  1674, 
 which  was  afterwards  condemned  by  the  au- 
 thor, John  Danks,  of  Colcheiter.  And  in 
 anfwer  to  feveral  books  of  one  J.  Cheny,  a 
 prieft,  about  Warrington  in  Lancafhire,  1677, 
 a  great  oppofer  of  friends;  who  afterwards  fled 
 his  country,  and  came  to  Crewkerne  in  Somer- 
 fetfhire,  where  I  faw  him  in  the  time  of  my 
 imprifonment;  but  what  became  of  him  after- 
 wards I  know  not:  and  alfo  in  relation  to  the 
 Separatifts,  in  reference  to  whom  Wm.  Gibfon 
 writ  a  General  EpiStle,  &c.  He  came  often  to 
 Briftol  and  to  Clareham,  and  once  to  Ivelchefter 
 while  I  was  a  prifoner  at  the  Friary;  and  had 
 a  meeting  in  the  Friary-hall  in  the  year  1680. 
 And  in  the  3d  month,  1684,  he  travelled  into 
 his  native  country,  Lancashire,  though  he  had 
 been  out  of  health;  and  in  his  return  home 
 he  was  taken  lick  of  an  ague  and  fever,  at. 
 Coventry;  but  got  to  .London,  and  continued 
 ill  three  months,  and  died  the  20th  of  the 
 9th  month,  1684,  aged  55  years,  and  a  mini- 
 ster 
 
(     254     ) 
 
 fter,  20.  He  left  two  fons  and  one  daup-h- 
 ter,  to  whom  he  gave  good  advice,  (Abra- 
 ham like)  charging  them  to  walk  in  the 
 way  of  the  Lord.  He  writ  feveral  fervice- 
 able  treatifes,  befides  the  above-faid ;  parti- 
 cularly, '  The  everlafting   Rule  born  witnefs 
 
 *  unto,'  1667;  and,  c  Election  and  Repro- 
 c  bation  fcripturally  and  experimentally  wit- 
 
 *  nelTed  unto'  in  1678,  and  his  '  General 
 c  Epiftle,'  above,  in  1682,  which  are  not  yet 
 collected. 
 
 This  year  alfo,  1684,  died  Thomas  Stordy, 
 an  eminent  friend  of  Cumberland,  who  was 
 defcended  of  honeft  parentage,  being  a  family 
 of  good  deportment  in  the  parifh  of  Brough, 
 in  the  fame  county:  When  he  was  about 
 thirty  years  of  age,  he  began  to  abftain  from 
 many  grofs  evils  and  the  vanities  of  the  world: 
 and  the  Lord  begat  deiires  in  him,  after  the 
 knowledge  of  Jefus  Chrift,  that  he  might 
 pleafe  him;  and  afterwards  he  joined  with  the 
 Independents,  and  was  one  accounted  emi- 
 nent in  their  meetings,  in  exhortation,  &c. 
 among  whom  he  continued  for  a  confiderable 
 time,  having  ftill  a  true  defire  after  the  Lord, 
 and  the  knowledge  of  his  ways,  which  gives 
 peace  and  reft  to  thofe  who  are  weary  and 
 heavy  laden,  though  their  labour  and  travel 
 may  be  long,  and  their  fufferings  and  hard 
 ufages  many ;  fo  that  in  time  he  came  to 
 join  with  the  people  called,  in  fcorn,  Qua- 
 kers; 
 
(     *55     ) 
 
 fcers ;  and  was  a  very  upright,  fincere  hearted 
 man  to  the  Lord,  and  of  good  behaviour  to- 
 wards his  neighbours :  A  man  of  fobriety, 
 temperance,  mercy,  and  hofpitality;  ready  to 
 entertain  the  Lord's  fervants,  and  helpful  to 
 the  poor  and  needy ;  yet,  notwithftanding, 
 the  then  powers  did  evilly  intreat  him  with 
 hard  ufage  and  imprifonment,  for  his  obedi- 
 ence to  the  command  of  Chrift,  "  Swear  not 
 "  at  all,"  Mat.  v.  34.  And  foon  after  he 
 was  difcharged,  being  a  freeholder,  and  going 
 to  the  aflizes  at  Carlille,  to  do  fervice  for  God, 
 the  king,  and  his  country,  he  was  by  the  in- 
 ftigation  of  fome  wicked  envious  perfons,  then 
 in  authority,  molt  illegally  apprehended  by 
 the  gaoler,  and  carried  before  judge  Turner, 
 who  prefently  tendered  him  the  oath  of  alle- 
 giance, and  becaufe,  in  obedience  to  Chrift's 
 command,  he  refufed  to  fwear,  the  judge 
 pafled  the  fentence  of  prcemunire  upon  him, 
 1662,  for  which  the  fherirT,  John  Lowther, 
 feized  his  eftate,  real  and  perfonal,  for  the 
 ufe  of  the  king;  and  kept  him  prifoner  from 
 his  wife  and  children  in  this  diftrefTed  con- 
 dition 11  or  12  years,  till  difcharged  by  the 
 king's  declaration  in  1672  or  1673  ;  and  his 
 real  eftate  reftored,  (but  his  perfonal,  corn, 
 pewter,  brafs,  &c.  gone)  and  his  perfecutors 
 came  to  miferable  ends.  After  which  he  had 
 great  fines  impofed,  and  fpoil  made  on  him, 
 for  meeting;  and  after  that,   one  Launcelot 
 
 Simfon, 
 
(     2s6    \ 
 
 Simfon,  an  attorney,  brought  a  writ  of  qui 
 tarn  againft  him,  for  20I.  a  month,  for  not 
 coming  to  their  worfhip,  (on  the  information 
 of  John  Clark,  who  came  to  an  ill  end  alfo, 
 being  drowned;)  on  which  he  continued  pri- 
 foner  feveral  years,  till  he  died,  the  2 2d  of 
 the  10th  month,  1684.  He  could  neither 
 (fays  he  in  his  teftimony)  pay  tithes,  nor  re- 
 ceive thofe  that  became  due  to  him,  as  being 
 an  impropriator  from  his  father  and  grand- 
 father, which  was  both  corn,  hay,  &c.  amount- 
 ing to  iol.  per  annum,  and  upward;  but  bore 
 his  teftimony  for  the  Lord  againfl  them,  as  a 
 grand  oppreffion,  and  properly  due  to  the  own- 
 ers thereof,  to  whom  he  gave  them  tithes,  being 
 all  done  away  in  Chrift,  who  made  him  will- 
 ing, in  the  day  of  his  power,  to  deny  them, 
 and  gave  a  releafe  of  them,  wherein  he  re- 
 mitted, and  for  ever  quit  claimed  them  from 
 him,  his  heirs  and  aifigns,  to  the  particular 
 owners  of  them  by  name,  to  have  and  to  hold 
 to  them,  and  their  heirs  for  ever,  under  his 
 hand  and  feal,  the  firft  of  the  fourth  month, 
 1682  ;  which  fee  in  the  memory  of  that 
 faithful  man  of  God,  Thomas  Stordy,  re- 
 vived 1692. 
 
 But  now  to  return  to  Ivelchefter:  Thomas 
 Martin,  of  Chilthorn  Domer,  a  prifoner  long 
 for  tithes  as  aforelaid,  was  committed  again 
 for  refufing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  by 
 fir  Edw.  Phillips,  the  29th  of  the  nth  month. 
 
 Ths 
 
(     *57     ) 
 
 The  latter  ~end  of  this  year,  1684,  the  fixth 
 of  the  1 2th  month,  king  Charles  II.  died. 
 I  was  at  my  guardian's,  Edmund  Beakes's,  at 
 Portfhead,  when  the  news  of  it  came,  at 
 which  I  was  forry,  in  conlideration  of  the 
 ftate  he  died  in,  and  the  perfecutions  that  had 
 been  acted  in  his  reign.  I  went  next  morning 
 to  viiit  a  fellow  prilbner,  Robert  Bullock,  at 
 the  fuit  of  my  adverfary,  then  at  his  houfe  at 
 Clapton  very  penfive,  and  perhaps  more  for- 
 rowful  for  the  king,  than  the  mourners,  (as 
 Abraham  Cowley  laid  of  Oliver  Cromwell) 
 confidering  the  ftate  of  things,  and  the  fuf- 
 fering  condition  he  had  left  us  in.  There 
 had  been  fix  great  perfecutions  in  his  reign 
 efpecially,  beiides  all  the  reft  between  while. 
 Firft,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1660, 
 after  his  coming  in,  (to  fay  nothing  of  the 
 abufes  on  his  coming)  chiefly  for  meeting, 
 and  refufing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
 which  was  ufed  as  a  fnare  to  friends  all  his 
 reign,  when  there  were  about  eleven  fcore 
 friends  prifoners  at  Ivelchefter,  in  Somerfet- 
 ihire,  amongft  whom  my  mother,  Mary 
 Whiting,  was  one,  being  then  a  widow ; 
 befides  what  were  in  other  counties,  propor- 
 tionably  of  which,  500  in  Yorkshire,  and 
 above  5000  in  England.  Notwithua.nding 
 his  declaration  from  Breda,  the  14th  of  April, 
 before  he  came  in,  '  Declaring  a  liberty  to 
 6  tender  confciences ;  and  that  no  man  mould 
 
 S  '  be 
 
(     253    ) 
 
 *  be  difquieted,  or  called  in  queflion  for  dif- 
 
 *  ferences  of  opinion  in  matters  of  religion, 
 
 *  which  do  not  difturb  the  peace  of  the  king- 
 Adom;'  and  though  he  had  promifed  us,  in 
 particular,  liberty  of  confcience  on  the  word 
 of  a  king,  of  which  more  by  and  by;  yet  he 
 fufFered  us  to  be  fo  feverely  fallen  upon  foon 
 after,  which  was  heightened  by  the  riling  of 
 the  fifth-monarchy-men  in  the  nth  month, 
 the  faid  year  1660,  though  we  had  no  hand 
 in  it,  only  it  was  made  a  handle  to  abufe  us; 
 but  friends  were  moftly,  though  not  all,  dis- 
 charged at  the  next  fpring  affizes. 
 
 Secondly,  in  the  year  1662,  on  the  act  of 
 the  13th  and  14th  of  his  reign,  made  againft 
 us  in  particular,  or  fuch  as  maintained  the 
 taking  an  oath  is  unlawful;  or  if  any  five, 
 or  more,  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  fhould 
 meet  together  for  religious  worfhip,  (mark) 
 the  firft  offence,  5I.  or  three  months  impri- 
 fonment;  the  fecond  iol.  or  fix  months  im- 
 prilbnment;  and  the  third  offence,  to  abjure 
 the  realm,  or  be  tranfported:  on  which  abund- 
 ance of  friends  were  taken  up  at  meetings  and 
 imprifoned,  as  well  as  for  refilling  to  fwear.  In 
 Newgate, London,  about  300,  belides  the  other 
 prifons ;  and  many  died  in  prifon,  as  Richard 
 Hubberthorn,  a  faithful  minifter  of  Chrift,even 
 he,  to  whom  the  king  had  promifed,  in 
 the  4th  month,  1660,  (on  his  delivering  Geo. 
 Fox   the  younger,    his    noble    falutation    to 
 
 him) 
 
(    259    ) 
 
 him)    That  we   might    be    allured   that   we 
 fhould  none  of  us  fuffer  for  our  opinions  or 
 religion,  fo  long  as  we  lived  peaceably;  (as 
 we  always  did,  even  our  enemies  themfelves 
 being  judges)  and  that  we  had  the  word  of 
 a  king  for  it;  and  that  he  had  given  forth 
 a  declaration   (meaning  that  from   Breda,   I 
 fuppofe)  to  the  fame  purpofe,  that  none  fhould 
 wrong   us    or   abufe   us ;   and   yet  we  were 
 abufed  and  haled  to  prifon,  (as  this  Richard 
 Hubberthorn  in  particular)  by  Richard  Brown, 
 general  of  the  trained  bands.  As  alfo,  Edward 
 Burrough,   a  faithful    labourer  and    minifter 
 of  Jefus   Chrift,  being  taken,  as  he  was  de- 
 claring   the  truth,  at  the   Bull  and   Mouth, 
 London,    by  fome  of  Richard  Brown's  fol- 
 diers,  and  violently  pulled  down,  and  haled 
 away  to  the  guard,  was  committed  to   New* 
 gate  by  the  faid  Brown,  tried  at  the  feflions, 
 and  fined  a  hundred  marks,  which  at  laft  was 
 reduced  to  twenty,   and  he  was  committed 
 till  payment;  and  though,  after  he  grew  weak 
 through  dole  confinement,  being  fuffocated 
 for  want  of  air,  the  king  fent  an  order  to  the 
 fheriffs  for  the  releafement  of  him  and  the 
 reft,  yet  R.  Brown  obftructed  it,  fo  that  he 
 died  a  prifoner  in  the  twelve  months.     Alio 
 John  Giles,  another  faithful  minifter  of  Chrift, 
 and  near  thirty  more,  died  in  Newgate,  moftiy 
 through  R.  Brown's  cruelty;  and  there  were 
 
 S  2  great 
 
(        2DO       ) 
 
 great  fufferings   alio  at   Colchefter,  in  1663, 
 &c. 
 
 Thirdly,  on  the  act  of  banifhment(more  par- 
 ticularly or  efpeciallyfo  called)  made  in  1664, to 
 fupprefsfeditious  conventicles,  though  our  meet- 
 ings were  no  way  feditious,  enacting,  '  That 
 any  perfon  above  fixteen  years  of  age  prefent 
 at  any  meeting,  under  pretence  of  exercife 
 of  religion,  in  other  manner  than  is  allowed 
 by  the  liturgy  or  practice  of  the  church  of 
 England,  where  five  perfons  above  the  houfe- 
 hold  are  prefent,  the  firft  and  fecond  offence 
 as  in  the  former;  the  third,  to  be  fent  to 
 jail,  or  houfe  of  correction,  till  the  feffions 
 or  afhzes;  then  indicted,  and  if  found  guil- 
 ty, the  court  to  enter  judgment  of  tranfpor- 
 tation  to  fome  of  the  foreign  plantations  for 
 feven  years;  the  profits  of  their  lands  to  be 
 fequeflered,  or  to  diftrain  and  fell  their  goods 
 to  defray  the  charges  of  tranfportation,  or 
 for  want  of  that,  to  be  fold  as  fervants  for 
 five  years,  but  upon  paying  one  hundred 
 pounds,  to  be  difcharged;  and  if  any  efcape 
 or  return,  to  fuffer  death  as  felons,  without 
 benefit  of  clergy;  only  a  woman  not  to  be 
 tranfported  without  her  hulband,  but  to 
 fuffer  twelve  months  imprisonment,  unlef3 
 her  hufband  pay  a  mm  of  money  not  ex- 
 ceeding forty  pounds:  To  refufe  to  take  an 
 oath,  incurs  the  like  penalty  of  tranfporta- 
 tion.'    On  which  abundance  of  our  friends 
 
 were 
 
(      26.       ) 
 
 were  taken  up  at  meetings,  and  imprifoned  in 
 London,  Briftol,  and  Hertford,  this  and  the 
 next  year  1665;  and  many  tried  and  fentenced 
 to  banilhment,  and  fent  away ;  though  fome 
 were  fet  a-fhore  again  by  the  fhip-mafters, 
 with  a  certificate  that  they  were  afraid  to  carry 
 them  away :  And  others  were  tranfported ; 
 and  many  died  in  Newgate,  London,  and  on 
 fhip-board,  in  order  to  transportation,  to  the 
 number  of  122  in  London,  Weftminfter,  and 
 Southwark;  particularly  Samuel  Fifher,  Jof. 
 Fuce,  and  John  Shield,  faithful  minifters  and 
 labourers  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  taken  at 
 meetings,  died  in  the  White-Lion  prifon  in 
 Southwark,  1665,  in  the  time  of  the  pefti- 
 lence,  which  began  in  the  time  of  their  per- 
 fection of  friends  on  the  faid  act,  as  a  fignal 
 token  of  the  Lord's  difpleafure  againft  them 
 and  their  work,  if  they  would  have  taken 
 warning;  and  broke  out  at  firft  at  a  meal- 
 man's  houfe  in  Beerbinder-Lane,  next  houfe 
 to  the  firft  man  that  was  banifhed,  viz.  Edw. 
 Brufh,  who  lived  to  return  to  London,  and 
 died  of  late  years  at  a  great  age.  There 
 was  alio  great  perfecution  of  friends  at  Read- 
 ing, by  William. Armorer,  in  thofe  years,  even 
 to  the  year  1667. 
 
 The  fourth  great  perfecution  in  this  king's 
 time,  began  in  the  year  1670,  on  the  new 
 act  to  prevent  and  fupprefs  ieditious  conven- 
 ticles.    That  any  juftice  or  chief  magiftrate 
 
 S  3  mould,, 
 
(    262    ) 
 
 mould,  on  the  oath  of  two  witneffes,  make 
 a  record  of  a  conventicle,  where  any  five, 
 above  fixteen  years  of  age,  befides  thofe  of 
 the  houfhold,  mould  be  affembled  for  exer- 
 cife  of  religion  in  any  other  manner,  5cc.  (as 
 in  the  former  act  of  banifhment ;  for  as  that 
 confirmed  the  act  of  1662,  as  to  banifhment, 
 fo  this  ftrengthened  that  of  1664,  againft  con- 
 venticles) which  record  fhall  be  a  conviction; 
 and  thereupon  a  fine  of  5  s.  to  be  impofed 
 on  every  offender,  to  be  certified  to  the  next 
 quarter-feffions:  and  for  the  fecond,  and  every 
 other  offence,  ios.  a-piece;  which,  in  cafe  of 
 poverty,  might  be  levied  on  any  other  per- 
 fon's  goods,  prefent  at  the  fame  conventicle. 
 The  preacher  to  forfeit  for  the  firft  offence, 
 20I.  and  40 1.  afterwards,  to  be  levied  on  any 
 of  the  hearers;  and  20I.  for  the  houfe,  to  be 
 levied  on  any  prefent,  provided  that  no  per- 
 fon  pay  above  10L  for  any  one  meeting,  in 
 regard  of  the  poverty  of  others:  a  third  part 
 of  the  fines  to  the  king,  another  third  to  the 
 informers,  and  the  other  third  to  the  poor 
 of  the  parifh:  But  the  juftices  and  informers, 
 being  often  poor  themfelves,  (as  a  juftice  faid 
 he  was  poor)  commonly  kept  the  poor's  part 
 and  king's  too,  fo  that  they  cheated  the  king 
 and  poor, keeping  moft  to  themfelves;  fo  that 
 the  king  and  poor  got  little  by  it:  And  this 
 act  was  to  be  conftrued  moft  beneficially  for 
 the   informers ;  fo  that  a  great  many  loofe, 
 
 prophane^ 
 
(    *«3     ) 
 
 prcphane,  lewd  fellows  of  the  bafer  fort,  of 
 indigent  fortunes,  having  fpent  their  own 
 eftates,  or  what  they  had,  were  thereby  en- 
 couraged to  ruin  their  neighbours ;  and  abund- 
 ance of  havock  and  fpoil  was  made  on  friends 
 goods,  for  meeting  together  to  wait  upon  and 
 worfhip  God  in  fpirit  and  truth,  according  to 
 Chrift's  appointment,  and  their  bounden  duty, 
 in  moft,  if  not  all,  the  counties  in  England ; 
 though  friends  were  the  leaft  concerned  in 
 that  ac~t,  nay,  not  at  all,  our  meeting  being  no 
 way  feditious,  as  aforefaid ;  of  which  we  have 
 a  witnefs  in  the  confciences  of  our  perfecutors, 
 as  well  as  among  our  neighbours,  and  yet  it 
 fell  heavieil  on  our  friends;  other  profeflbrs 
 often  flying,  abfconding,  and  hiding  them- 
 felves,  or  meeting  privately,  which  encouraged 
 the  perfecutors  to  fall  the  more  feverely  upon 
 friends,  who  Handing  boldly  to  their  teiti- 
 mony,  they  took  the  advantage  of  their  pub- 
 lic meetings  to  make  exorbitant  diftreiTes;  for 
 which  little  redrefs  could  be  had  by  appeals, 
 even  though  the  informers  often  fwore  falfly 
 againft  them :  fometimes,  that  there  was  a 
 meeting  when  there  was  none  that  day;  fome- 
 times, that  there  was  preaching  when  there 
 was  none ;  and  fometimes,  againft  fuch  as 
 were  not  at  the  meeting ;  and  fome  fined  twice 
 for  the  fame  meeting;  and  not  only  fo,  but 
 vifiting  the  fick  or  friends  in  prifon,  and  giv- 
 ing thanks  before  meat,  were  made  conven- 
 S  4  tides, 
 
(     264    ) 
 
 tides,  and  friends  were  fined  on  that  account; 
 but  all  was  one,  the  cure  often  proved  worfe 
 than  the  diieafe,  they  were  for  what  they 
 could  get;  it  was  fpoil  they  wanted,  and  that 
 they  would  have,  right  or  wrong,  which  made 
 to  the  ruin  of  many  families;  particularly  at 
 and  about  Portfhead,  in  our  county,  though 
 there  were  feveral  examples  of  God's  dif- 
 pleafure  on  fome  of  them,  and  in  divers 
 other  places ;  breaking  open  gates,  doors, 
 and  chefts ;  diftraining  the  goods  within 
 doors  and  without,  till  a  bed  hath  not  been 
 left  to  lie  on,  or  blanket  for  covering,  or 
 flool  to  fit  on:  fome  had  their  beds  taken  from 
 under  them,  when  fick  or  lying-in ;  yea,  the 
 child  taken  out  and  laid  on  the  floor  to  take 
 the  bed ;  and  the  aged  turned  out  in  cold 
 frofty  weather,  and  left  to  fhift  for  them- 
 felves  and  lie  on  ftraw  a  considerable  time; 
 nay,  the  child's  milk  over  the  fire  thrown 
 out,  to  carry  away  the  fkillet;  not  fo  much  as 
 a  dim  or  fpoon  left.  A  juftice  bidding  the 
 officers  feize  all,  and  that  which  was  not  worth 
 carrying  away,  to  burn :  Others  charging 
 them  to  be  fure  and  take  enough,  and  fell 
 it  at  any  rate,  if  but  the  thirtieth  part  of  the 
 value.  Barns  full  of  corn  feized,  and  flocks 
 of  cattle  driven  away  for  a  prey.  It  would 
 be  tedious  to  mention  the  hundredth  part  of 
 the  injuftice  and  fpoil  of  thofe  days,  of  which 
 a  volume  might  be  written;  which  yet  there 
 
 was.. 
 
(    **S    ) 
 
 was  fome  refpite  of  by  the  king's  declaration 
 of  indulgence,  in  1672,  by  which  alio  many 
 were  freed  out  of  prifori,  about  four  or  live 
 hundred,  who  were  chiefly  in  on  praemunire ;  till 
 the  parliament  recalled  it  the  latter  end  of  the 
 fame  year ;  of  which  more  hereafter. 
 
 And  fo,  fifthly,  perfecution  was  renewed 
 and  continued  on  meetings,  with  as  great 
 rigour  and  violence  as  before,  in  mod  places, 
 efpecially  in  1675  and  1676,  as  the  books  of 
 fufferings  published  in  thofe  times  will  ihew; 
 particularly  the  nrft  and  fecond  part  of  '  The 
 '  continued  Cry  of  the  OpprefTed  for  Juftice,' 
 which  continued  even  to  the  year  1680.  See 
 the  book  called,  '  A  brief  Account,'  &c. 
 
 And,  fixthly,  again  (though  it  never  ceafed 
 yet)  more  vigouroufly  revived,  and  carried  on 
 in  the  years  1682,  1683,  and  1684,  even  till 
 the  time  of  the  king's  death,  and  fome  time 
 after,  of  which  the  county  of  Somerfet  afore- 
 faid  was  an  ample  fpecimen;  as  alfo  London, 
 Briftol,  and  divers  other  places,  (of  which  a 
 more  particular  account  may  be  given  in  our 
 general  hiftory,  if  it  pleafe  God  to  give  op- 
 portunity to  finilh  and  publifh  it,  this  being 
 but  a  breviate  of  it;  and  the  lpoils  that  were 
 made  on  our  friends,  which  on  die  conven- 
 ticle act,  came  to  in  our  county,  from  the 
 year  1670  to  this  time  (1684)  aD0Ut  three 
 thoufand  pounds;  and,  confequently,  in  Eng- 
 land 
 
(    266    ) 
 
 land  and  Wales,  at  a  moderate  computation, 
 about  one  hundred  thoufand. 
 
 Some  of  the  chief  inftruments  of  which, 
 or  perfecuting  juftices,  were  fuch  as  Armorer 
 of  Reading,  and  Hide  of  Berkfhire;  Char- 
 nock  of  Bedfordfhire;  Knight,  Helliar,  and 
 Olliffe,  of  Briftol;  Pool,  Shackerly,  and  Da- 
 niell,  of  Chefhire ;  Dent  and  Mufgrove  of 
 Cumberland;  Clark,  Gladwin,  and  Low,  of 
 Derbyfhire ;  W.  Walrond  and  Stainthill,  of 
 Devonshire;  Morland  in  Durham;  Mafters, 
 Merideth,  Fane,  and  chancellor  Parfons,  in 
 Gloucefterfhire  ;  Cole,  in  Leicefterfhire  ; 
 Thorrald  and  Nevell  in  Lincolnfhire ;  Wood- 
 houfe  and  Hellyard  in  Norfolk  ;  Cart- 
 wright,  Whaley,  and  Thoroton,  in  Notting- 
 hamfhire ;  Gregory  in  Oxfordfhire ;  Smith, 
 George,  Windham  (who  faid,  when  friends 
 were  at  meeting  to  worfhip  God,  that  was 
 enough)  F.  Pawlet,  Baylie  the  chancellor, 
 Phillips,  W.  Helliar  (who,  when  he  had  fined 
 Jane  Whitehead  for  preaching,  and  the  act 
 would  not  bear  him  out,  faid,  if  the  letter 
 of  the  acl:  would  not  do,  he  would  take  the 
 fpirit  of  it)  and  H.  Walrond  (one  of  the  worft 
 of  all,  who  made  a  conventicle  of  a  meeting, 
 to  take  care  of  the  poor,  and  got  40 1.  for  it; 
 and  yet  all  would  not  make  him  rich,  as  afore- 
 faid)  all  of  Somerfetfhire;  Cobbs,  Theap,  and 
 Burwell,  in  Suffolk;  the  Gorings  in  Suflex ; 
 Fleming,  Rigby,  and  Wilfon,  in  Weftmore- 
 
 land  j 
 
(     267     ) 
 
 land ;  Cradock  and  Metcalfe  in  Yorkshire, 
 with  abundance  more;  and  Thornaby  the  in- 
 former. But  it  would  be  tedious  to  mention 
 the  informers,  nor  is  it  worth  while;  for  as 
 their  names  ret,  fo  their  memory  ftinks,  and 
 their  ill-gotten  gains  are  perifhed  with  them, 
 that  their  places  are  hardly  to  be  found. 
 
 This  laft  perfecution  continued,  as  above- 
 faid,  till  king  Charles's  death,  with  more  vi- 
 gour than  ordinary,  as  if  it  was  the  laft  effort. 
 For  as  the  children  of  I frael's  deliverance  drew 
 nigh,  fo  their  bondage  was  encreafed ;  it  being 
 commonly  darken:  before  day,  and  fo  it  was 
 with  us  at  Ivelchefter ;  for  a  black  cloud  hung 
 yet  over  our  heads,  as  will  appear  hereafter: 
 for  though  it  was  generally  thought  that, 
 upon  the  king's  death,  we  mould  have  been 
 freed,  many  of  us  being  the  king's  prifon- 
 ers,  as  on  pramunire,  ex  communications,  &c. 
 yet  we  were  not  releaie  !  thereby,  but  conti- 
 nued prifoners  above  a  year  longer. 
 
 But  now  the  duke  of  York  coming  to  the 
 crown,  (though  many  were  under  dreadful 
 appiclieniions  of  what  would  follow)  it  was, 
 however,  generally  expected  we  mould  be  fet 
 at  liberty;  and  we  went  feveral  of  us  to  the 
 affizes  at  Taunton,  which  began  the  16th  of 
 the  firft  month,  1684,  in  order  thereto.  I 
 being  at  my  own  houfe  at  Naylfey,  newly 
 come  home  (as  I  did  fometimes,  as  I  could 
 have  liberty  to  fee  how  things  were)  had  a 
 
 meflage 
 
(     268     ) 
 
 mefiage  fent  me  the  day  before  the  afTizes  be- 
 gan, to  come  to  Taunton  the  next  day ;  and 
 accordingly  I  went  away  before  day,  and 
 travelled  on  foot  about  thirty  miles,  refting  a 
 little  at  Bridgewater  by  the  way,  and  fo  came 
 to  Taunton  before  night,  quite  weary,  being 
 the  hardeft  day's  journey  that  ever  I  went  on 
 foot,  having  no  horfe  at  command,  nor  know- 
 ing when  I  mould  return  if  I  had  borrowed 
 one;  but  when  I  came  there,  we  were  not 
 called  nor  cleared,  though  we  delivered  copies 
 of  the  following  paper  to  the  judges,  as  we 
 ufed  to  do  to  the  juftices  at  the  quarter-feffi- 
 ons,  viz. 
 
 To  the  Judges  affigned  to  hold  Aflizes  and 
 Gaol-Delivery,  in  the  Weftern  Circuit  at 
 Taunton,  the  16th  of  the  month  called 
 March,  16S4. 
 
 Divers  of  the  People  called  Quakers,  in  the 
 County  ofSomerfet,  on  the  behalf  of  them- 
 felves  and  others  of  the  faid  People^  in 
 humility  and  fine  erity  >  fhew^ 
 
 *TpHAT  we  have  always  exercifed  ourfelves 
 -"-  to  have  and  keep  our  confeiences  void  of 
 offence  in  the  fight  of  God  and  man:  that  we 
 are  obliged,  and  do  refolve  accordingly,  to 
 ferve  and  worihip  the  great  God,  the  Creator 
 
 of 
 
(     269     ) 
 
 of  all  things  and  Judge  of  all  men,  in  the  fpifit 
 and  in  the  truth ;  he  having  given  us  a  mea- 
 fure  of  his  Spirit  for  that  purpofe:  that  we 
 owe,  and  do  refolve  to  yield  accordingly,  due 
 fubjedtion  to  fuch  magistrates  as  God  hath 
 fet  over  us ;  to  the  king  as  fupreme,  and  thofe 
 in  authority  under  him;  praying  for  them 
 that  they  may  fo  rule,  as  God  may  be  ho- 
 noured, they  be  everlaftingly  happy,  and  we 
 under  them  may  lead  our  lives  in  all  godli- 
 nefs  and  honefty,  according  as  God  hath  or- 
 dained, and  as  it  hath  been  the  practice  of  the 
 ancient  Chriftians. 
 
 That  neverthelefs,  we  have  been  expofed 
 to  great  fufferings  in  our  perfons,  liberties, 
 and  eftates,  under  the  fevere  penalties  of  feve- 
 ral  laws  never  made  againft  us,  nor  that  wor- 
 fhip  which  we  profefs;  and  for  not  practiiing 
 that  worfhip  which  we  have  no  faith  in,  and 
 fo  was  fin  for  us  to  do,  feveral  thoufands  of 
 pounds  will  not  balance  the  lofTes  by  us  fuf- 
 tained,  by  the  act  made  againft  feditious  con- 
 venticles; though  we  never  frequented  any, 
 but  always  have,  and  ftill  do,  deny  fuch  aflem- 
 blies.  We  have  alfo  fuffered  long  and  tedious 
 imprifonments  for  riotous  and  feditious  meet- 
 ings, which  we  alfo  teftify  againft,  and  our 
 peaceable  deportment  hath  always  manifefted 
 the  fame:  And  for  not  fwearing  allegiance, 
 which  we  have  refufed  to  fwear,  only  in 
 obedience  to  Chrift  Jefus,  the  King  of  kings ; 
 
 vet 
 
(       270       ) 
 
 yet  we  have  been,  and  flill  are,  ready  to  per- 
 form the  fame,  and  to  give  unto  Cssfar  his 
 due,  as  well  as  to  give  unto  God  his.  And  if 
 we  ihould  break  the  command  of  Chrift  Jefus, 
 and  fo  lofe  our  peace  with  God,  what  good 
 would  our  lives  do  us;  well  knowing  that 
 we,  and  all  men,  mud  give  an  account,  and 
 be  fubject  to  the  judgment  of  the  eternal  God. 
 
 We  therefore  pray  you  to  take  thefe  things 
 into  your  grave  confideration,  and  ex- 
 tend your  power  to  relieve  the  opprelfed, 
 and  let  the  captives  at  liberty,  who  fuffer 
 only  for  the  teftimony  of  a  good  confer- 
 ence; and  this  being  a  fervice  required 
 by  and  acceptable  unto  God,  his  blefling 
 and  reward  will  be  with  you  therein  ; 
 and  we  mall  be  further  obliged  to  pray  for 
 your  welfare  and  profpeiity  here,  andever- 
 lafting  happinefs  hereafter. 
 
 To  which  was  added  about  thirty  of  our 
 names,  who  were  prelent  prifoners  for  good 
 confeience  fake,  and  for  what,  viz.  praemu- 
 nire, excommunication,  abfence  from  church 
 (fo  called)  for  meeting  together,  and  for  re- 
 filling to  fwear,  &c.  and  how  long  we  had 
 been  prifoners;  which,  being  before  fpecined, 
 I  omit  to  infert  again  here. 
 
 A  copy  of  the  aboveiaid  paper  was  prefented 
 by  fome  women  friends  to  judge  Montague, 
 who  fat  on  the  crown-bench,  and  was  fa- 
 vourably 
 
(      2?I       ) 
 
 vourably  received  by  him;  and  though  we, 
 who  were  old  prifoners,  were  not  called  or 
 cleared,  yet  at  the  end  of  the  affizes,  eleven  of 
 the  late  prifoners  before-mentioned  were  dis- 
 charged, viz. 
 
 Francis  Hand, 
 Giles  Knight, 
 Thomas  Sibly, 
 Anne  King, 
 Joan  Coggan, 
 Hannah  Seawood, 
 Jofeph  Pearce, 
 Chriftopher  Devonfhire, 
 William  Bond, 
 Henry  Mattock, 
 Sufanna  Alloway, 
 
 As  alfo, 
 Edward  Pole  and  his  wife, 
 And  Thomas  Upham,  of  Wivelfcomb.* 
 
 So  that  there  were  difcharged  in  all  at  this 
 affizes,  fourteen. 
 
 And  fo  I  returned  (being  a  prifoner  ftill  till 
 the  next  fpring)  by  the  quarterly-meeting  at 
 Grenton,  and  from  thence  to  my  friends  at 
 
 *  Who  appeared  on  recognizance,   upon  feffions  procefs, 
 and  were  all  difcharged. 
 
 Long- 
 
(     iT1     ) 
 
 Long-Sutton,  where  I  heard  of  the  death  of 
 our  dear  friend,  John  Anderdon,  who  died  a 
 prifoner  at  Ivelchefter,  a  little  before  my  re- 
 turn thither  from  the  aflizes,  for  the  teftimony 
 of  Jems;  of  whom  I  cannot  in  gratitude  but 
 fpeak  a  few  words,  for  the  refpecl:  I  had  to 
 him,  being  intimately  acquainted  with  him, 
 and  knew  fome  things  from  his  own  mouth, 
 which  perhaps  few  now  living  know  of,  or 
 can  remember. 
 
 He  was  born  of  a  good  family,  at  or  near 
 Bradford,  in  the  north-weft  parts  of  Devon- 
 fhire,  about  the  year  1624;  and  well  educated, 
 being  bred  a  fcholar,  and  to  the  practice  of  the 
 law,  and  was  afterwards  fecretary  to  general 
 Defborough,  of  the  weft.  Afterwards  he  mar- 
 ried and  kept  a  goldfmith's  iliop  in  Bridge- 
 water,  Somerfet;  and  pra£tifing  the  law,  he 
 was  under  fome  convictions  of  truth  in  his 
 mind,  as  to  his  practice.  He  went  to  London 
 in  term  time,  having  fome  important  bufinefs 
 to  manage;  and  as  he  lodged  at  Marlborough 
 by  the  way,  he  had  fome  tokens  or  warnings 
 of  death,  as  he  apprehended,  at  which  he  was 
 much  furprifed,  and  defired  the  Lord  to  fpare 
 him  till  he  had  accomplished  the  bufinefs  he 
 went  about,  promifmg  he  would  difentangle 
 himfelf  as  to  that  courfe  of  life,  in  which 
 he  had  not  fatisfaction  ;  and  foon  after  his 
 return  home,  his  wife  died,  who  had  been 
 fome  obftacle  in  his  way  as  to  his  receiving 
 the  truth:  and  fome  time  afterwards  going  to 
 
 London 
 
{    Vi     ) 
 
 London  again  onfome  occafion,  all  in  mourn- 
 ing for  his  wife,  and  being  under  great  exer- 
 cile  in  his  mind,  in  relation  to  his  condition, 
 he  went  to  a  Quaker's  meeting;  and  when  he 
 came  in,  there  was  a  friend  declaring,  whom 
 he  underftood  afterwards  to  be  Francis  How- 
 gil,  and  fome  of  the  rirft  words  he  heard  him 
 fpeak,  were,  '  The  light  of  Chrift  in  thy  ccn- 
 '  fcience  which  fhews  thee  thy  fin,  is  that 
 c  which  will  fave  thee  from  thy  fin:'  At 
 "which  he  was  much  broken  and  tendered, 
 in,  confideration  that  he  had  overlooked  the 
 light  of  Chrift  in  his  confcience  fo  long, 
 which  had  fhewed  him  and  checked  him  for 
 fin  and  evil;  and  was  fully  reached  and  con- 
 vinced of  the  truth  about  the  year  1658;  and 
 coming  to  fee  and  look  on  him  whom  he 
 had  pierced,  he  mourned  for  him,  as  one  that 
 mourned  for  his  only  fon.  And  one  day  go- 
 ing to  the  parliament-houfe  (being  acquainted 
 among  great  men,  particularly  with  one  Au- 
 guftine  Wingfield,  who  writ  a  book  againft 
 tithes,  intitled,  '  Tithes  totally  routed  by 
 '  Magna  Charta')  and  coming  down  flairs 
 from  the  houle  of  commons,  there  wras  a 
 woman  that  fold  books  and  pamphlets, 
 that  came  out  new,  whom  he  uied  to  buy 
 of;  and  going,  as  at  other  times,  to  fee 
 what  new  things  ihe  had,  and  taking  up  a 
 book  to  look  on  it,  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 rofe  in  his  heart,  faying,  This  is  no  more  for 
 
 T  thee, 
 
(     274     ) 
 
 thee,  I  have  chofen  thee  to  be  a  minifter  of  the 
 everlafting  gofpel.  So  he  laid  down  the  book 
 and  went  his  way,  in  great  contrition  and 
 bowednefs  of  mind,  and  giving  up  to  the 
 workings  of  the  fpirit  of  truth  in  his  heart, 
 which  wrought  effectually  in  him,  to  fit  and 
 prepare  him  for  the  miniftry ;  he  came  to 
 receive  a  difpenfation  of  the  gofpel,  and  was 
 endued  with  power  from  on  high  to  preach 
 it  to  others,  to  the  turning  of  many  from 
 darknefs  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
 Satan  unto  God,  that  they  might  receive  re- 
 miflion  of  fins,  and  an  inheritance  among 
 them  that  are  fancYified  in  Chrift  Jefus.  In 
 the  year  1659,  going  to  the  fleeple-houfe  in 
 Bridgewater,  to  bear  his  teftimony  againft 
 the  falfe  worfhip  there  performed,  he  was 
 pufhed  out,  abufed  and  reproached;  particu- 
 larly by  one  Androfs's  wife,  a  zealous  Preiby- 
 terian,  who  faid,  John  Anderdon  was  turned 
 from  God  to  the  devil;  but  fhe  was  obferved 
 to  pine  away  ever  after  till  fhe  died,  which 
 feemed  very  remarkable  on  her  for  blafphem- 
 ing  the  power  of  God.  In  the  fame  year  he 
 •writ  a  paper  to  thofe  that  fit  in  council  for 
 ordering  the  affairs  of  the  nation.  And  ano- 
 ther, to  the  parliament  of  the  commonwealth 
 of  England;  byway  of  warning.  And  juft 
 as  the  parliament  was  broken  up,  the  form  of 
 the  prefs  broke  with  his  paper,  fo  that  there 
 was  but  one  meet  printed  off.     And  after  the 
 
 king 
 
(   vs    ) 
 
 king  came  in,  in  the  year  1660,  he  writ  a 
 book  againft  Babylon  and  her  merchants  ; 
 '  One  Groan  more  from  under  the  Altar;' 
 which  they  would  have  made  treafon  of  if 
 they  could,  but  could  not.  And  feveral  other 
 books  and  papers  he  writ,  being  eminent  for 
 reproof  and  warning,  as  a  prophet,  to  the 
 rulers  and  people  of  divers  forts. 
 
 He  afterwards  married  a  fecond  wife,  one 
 Jane  Bicknell,  a  fober  religious  woman,  who 
 iurvived  him.  He  was  a  great  fufferer  for 
 his  teftimony  to  the  truth,  through  occafion 
 of  the  envious  priefts  and  j unices  in  thofe 
 days,  being  a  man  of  note  in  the  world, 
 and  as  a  friend,  and  therefore  envied  the 
 more;  and  was  a  prifoner  in  all,  from  firft 
 to  laft,  near  twenty  years :  FirrT,  in  the  great 
 imprifonment  at  Ivelchefter,  after  the  king 
 came  in,  being  committed  by  John  Warr, 
 the  13th  of  the  nth  month,  1660,  for  meet- 
 ing, and  refilling  to  take  the  oath  of  allegi- 
 ance ;  and  though  there  were  about  two  hun- 
 dred friends  free  at  Chard  aiTizes,  the  30th  of 
 the  firft  month,  1661,  yet  he  and  thirteen 
 more  were  continued  on  the  oath,  till  dif- 
 charged  by  the  king's  proclamation,  the  28th 
 of  the  3d  month  following,  ^nd  the  3d  of 
 the  5th  month,  1662,  for  going  to  the  ftee- 
 ple-houfe  in  Bridgewater,  and  afking  prieft 
 Norman  a  queftion,  How  people  living  in 
 their  fins  are  reconciled  to  God?  The  prieft 
 T   2  having 
 
(    ??6    ) 
 
 having  faid,  That  men's  perfons  muft  be  firfc, 
 reconciled  to  God,  before  their  fervices  or 
 facrifices  could  be  accepted.  On  which  John 
 Anderdon  faid,  That  all  they  that  offer  fa- 
 criflce  in  their  fins,  are  abomination  in  the 
 fight  of  God,  and  not  accepted  by  him.  For 
 which  he  was  committed  to  prifon  in  Cock- 
 moyle,  in  Bridgewater,  by  Edward  Sealy, 
 mayor,  for  five  weeks,  and  then  unjuftly  fent 
 to  Ivelchefter  prifon,  for  refilling  to  fwear; 
 and  from  thence  had  to  the  aflizes  at  Wells 
 in  the  6th  month  following,  before  judge 
 Archer  and  Fofter,  who  both  treated  him 
 very  abufively  about  his  hat;  and  at  lair,  af- 
 ter pretty  much  difcourfe  pro  and  con  about 
 it,  &c.  fined  him  61.  13s.  4d.  to  remain 
 prifoner  till  paid;  and  during  his  imprifon- 
 ment  at  Ivelchefter,  which  began  by  the"  Pref- 
 byterians,  he  was  alfo  excommunicated  in 
 the  bifhop's  court  at  Wells.  He  continued 
 prifoner  till  'the  king's  declaration  of  indul- 
 gence, 1672:  from  whence,  to  the  year  1675, 
 he  was  moftly  at  liberty;  when  he  was  fined 
 (for  being  at  the  burial  of  Philip  Tyler  of  Wal- 
 ton, the  2d  of  the  4th  month)  by  Francis  Pau- 
 let,  of  Wells,  though  he  had  fined  feveral 
 others  24I.  for  a  preacher  unknown  at  the 
 faid  burial,  and  caufed  to  be  diftrained  on  fe- 
 veral friends,  for  that  and  their  own  offence, 
 fo  called;  and  the  houfe  of  Henry  Gundry,  of 
 Street    (at   the  back  of  which    the    burying 
 
 ground 
 
(   ^11   ) 
 
 ground  was)  82 1.  18  s.  from  H.  Gundry,  in 
 particular,  40 1.  yet  fent  a  warrant  to  the 
 mayor  of  Bridgewater,  to  diftrain  J.  Ander- 
 don's  goods  for  20I.  as  the  preacher  well 
 known ;  fo  that  they  would  have  had  44 1, 
 for  a  preacher  at  this  burial,  as  unknown ; 
 and  yet  on  J.  Anderdon,  as  well  known, 
 which  was  24I.  more  than  the  rigour  of  the 
 a£t  required,  according  to  the  juftice  of  thofe 
 days,  beiides  the  other  fines;  in  all,  102I.  18s. 
 when  there  was  none  fpoke  at  the  burial  but 
 J.  Anderdon,  who  chriftianly  exhorted  the 
 people  to  confider  their  latter  end. 
 
 And  not  long  after,  he  was  imprifoned 
 again,  the  3d  of  the  6th  month,  1675,  which 
 was  his  laft  imprifonment,  of  near  ten  years, 
 upon  the  falfe  fwearing  of  wicked  informers, 
 who  coming  to  difturb  a  meeting  where  J. 
 Anderdon  was  declaring  the  truth  to  the  peo- 
 ple, and  commanding  him  away,  or  to  come 
 down  and  be  filent;  he  afkcd  them  in  whofe 
 name  or  authority :  they  faid,  the  king's.  J. 
 Anderdon  faid,  the  devil's  more  like :  Upon 
 wdiich  they  fwcre  he  called  the  king  a  devil, 
 when  his  words  were  plain  to  the  contrary, 
 (for  more  like  another  cannot  be  the  fame) 
 intending  to  have  made  treafon  of  it,  but  that 
 would  not  do  (though  to  have  faid  the  king 
 was  a  Papift  would) ;  fo  they  miffed  their 
 mark,  and  their  wicked  accufation  came  to 
 nothing,  the  chief  of  them  having  flood  in 
 T  3  the 
 
(    2?s    ) 
 
 the  pilory  for  perjury.  He  was  had  to  Taun- 
 ton  allizes  in  the  lfl  month  following,  and 
 tendered  the  oath  of  allegiance;  and,  for  re- 
 filling to  fwear,  was  returned  on  the  calen- 
 der prsemunired,  by  judge  Rainsford,  though 
 J.  Anderdon  had  pleaded  as  to  matter  of  fact 
 for  refuting  the  oath,  and  no  jury  had  palled 
 upon  him,  nor  fentence  given  in  court  accord- 
 ing to  law.  And  during  his  imprifonment, 
 Sir  Thomas  Warr,  a  cruel  covetous  man  when 
 he  was  high  fherifTof  the  county  about  1682, 
 threatened  to  feize  his  eftate  for  the  king,  on 
 the  praemunire;  but  was  prevented  fome  way 
 or  other  (no  doubt  by  an  over-ruling  hand) 
 that  he  did  not ;  though  the  faid  J.  Anderdon 
 was  continued  a  prifoner  at  Ivelchefter  till 
 his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  repute;  a  good 
 fcholar  and  fcribe,  inftrudted  unto  the  king- 
 dom, bringing  forth  of  the  treafury  things 
 new  and  old.  He  was  well  Ikilled  in  the 
 languages,  efpecially  Greek  and  Latin  ;  and 
 tmderftood  the  law,  fo  that  many  came  to  him 
 for  advice,  but  freely;  for  I  have  heard  him 
 fay,  that  he  hath  had  handfuls  of  money  of- 
 fered him  by  fuch  as  he  had  ferved,  or  been 
 helpful  to,  before  he  was  a  friend ;  and  I  am 
 well  fatisfied  he  never  took  it  of  any  after, 
 though  he  was  often  helpful  to  friends  and 
 others,  efpecially  in  the  perfecution  time  dur- 
 ing his  imprifonment;  and  often  made  writ- 
 ings of  conveyances,  &c.     He  had  good  fer- 
 
 vicq 
 
<    279    ) 
 
 vice  for  the  Lord  in  meetings,  not  only  in  pri- 
 fon,  but  other  places  abroad,  as  he  had  liberty 
 and  opportunity,  efpeeially,  thereaway.     He 
 refided    at    the   friar/,   where   many  friends 
 were  prifon?rs,   and  where   he  had    a   good 
 apartment  till  he  died.      About  half  a  year 
 before  his  death,   he  was  taken  ill  of  a  quar- 
 tan-ague or  fever,  i'o  that  he  declined  as  to  his 
 health,   and  grew  weaker  and  weaker  till  he 
 died,  the  20th  of  the  ift  month,  1684;  finiih- 
 ing  his  courfe  about  the  60th  year  of  his  age, 
 laying  down  his  head  in  peace,  a  little  before 
 the  troubles  broke  out  in  the  weft;  as  Auguf- 
 tine,  whom  he  often  mentioned,  did,  accord- 
 ing to  his  own  defire,  a  Iktle  before  the  tak- 
 ing of  Hippo:   eying  a  priibner  for  the  tefti- 
 mony  of  Jefus  againft  fwearing,  and  was  car- 
 ried, with  an  honourable  attendance,  to  Bridge- 
 water  to   be   buried.     He   left  a  widow    (as 
 aforefaid)    and    one    daughter    behind    him  ; 
 fince  married  to  William  Alloway,  of  Mine- 
 head,  now  of  Biidgewater.     He  had  feveral 
 brothers  and  filters,  three  of  his  lifters  being 
 friends ;  and  one  of  them,  viz.    Mary,  had  a 
 public  teftimony,  and  died  before  him.      He 
 was  an  able  minifter  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift; 
 of  a  found  judgment,  folid  weighty  teftimo- 
 ny, and  grave  deportment;  and  left  a  good 
 report  and  favour  behind  him  in  the  town, 
 and  among  all  that   knew  him.      Of  whofe 
 iincerity,  zeal  for  God,  fervice  for  his  truth, 
 T  4  and 
 
(     23o     ) 
 
 and  faithfulncfs  in  his  day,  a  volume  might 
 be  written. 
 
 Not  long  after,  in  the  beginning  of  1685, 
 died  that  ancient  fervant  of  God,  and  mi- 
 nifter  of  Chrift,  Thomas  Briggs,  of  Cheihire, 
 who  was  born  about  the  year  1 6 1  o ;  and  in  his 
 youth  fought  after  the  Lord  with  weeping,  that 
 he  might  know  the  wray  to  everlafting  peace 
 and  falvation;  and  ran  up  and  down  among 
 the  minifters  of  thofe  called  Puritans,  for  two 
 years  together;  but  they  could  not  direct  him 
 to  his  teacher  within,  which  was  the  caufe  of 
 his  wanting  peace  and  fatisfadtion  to  his  im- 
 mortal foul ;  he  went  under  many  heavy 
 burthens,  becaufe  of  lin  and  iniquity  which 
 feparated  him  from  the  Lord:  but  in  an  ac- 
 ceptable time,  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  fend  his 
 fervant,  George  Fox,  into  the  north-country, 
 who  directed  him  and  others  to  the  light  of 
 Jefus  Chrift;  and  he,  with  many,  received  his 
 mefiage,  and  the  mighty  power  of  the  Lord 
 appeared,  and  was  manifeft  in  him,  which  did 
 lhake  terribly  the  earthly  part  that  was  above 
 the  feed,  in  which  he  held  a  profefhon  of  God 
 and  Chrift,  but  did  not  know  him,  and  in  that 
 power  believed,  and  waited  on  the  Lord  in 
 the  way  of  his  judgments,  till  he  had  brought 
 down  all  that  was  for  judgment;  and  his  un- 
 derftanding  was  opened  by  the  light  of  Chrift, 
 and  faw  ail  the  teachers   of  the  world  to  be 
 
 wrong 
 
(     a8i     ) 
 
 wrong;  and  was  moved  to  bear  a  teflimony 
 againit.  them ;  and  go  to  fteeple  •  houfes  to  cry 
 againfl  them,  and  exhort  people  to  turn  from 
 them  to  the  light  of  Chrift.  And  was  com- 
 manded to  go  to.  Manchefter,  to  preach  re- 
 pentance, and  through  many  towns  and  cities 
 in  England;  and  the  Lord's  power  and  pre- 
 fence  did  wonderfully  accompany  him;  and 
 he  went  through  the  ftreets  of  Cambridge. 
 In  Manchefter,  he  was  moved  to  go  to  the 
 fteeple-houfe,  to  declare  againft  the  prieft, 
 and  they  haled  him  out,  and  put  him  in  a 
 dungeon  on  the  bridge ;  but  the  Lord  was 
 fo  with  him,  that  he  lung  for  joy:  and  next 
 day  he  was  had  before  a  juftice,  and  dif- 
 courfed  with  him  fo,  that  fome  of  his  fer- 
 vants  were  convinced ;  but  the  juftice,  to 
 pleafe  the  people,  fent  him  out  of  the  town, 
 but  he  returned  again,  and  got  a  meeting 
 fettled  there.  And  in  Warrington  he  was 
 moved  to  go  to  the  fteeple-houfe  with  ano- 
 ther friend;  but  the  people  fell  on  them,  and 
 beat  them  fo,  that  had  not  the  Lord's  power 
 fupported  them,  they  had  been  deftroyed : 
 And  as  he  was  going  into  Chemire,  fpeaking 
 to  a  prieft  who  was  full  of  wrath,  one  of  his 
 hearers  came  behind  him,  and  with  a  blow 
 felled  him  to  the  ground ;  but  he  got  up, 
 and  turned  his  face  to  him  to  finite,  and  he 
 Imote  him  on  the  teeth,  that  they  gufhed 
 out  blood,  that  fome  people  cried  out  ihame 
 
 on 
 
(       232       > 
 
 on  the  man !  and  foon  after  he  fell  fick,  and 
 died;  and  on  his  death-bed  faid,  Oh  that  I 
 had  not  fmitten  the  Quaker !  And  in  Salifbury 
 he  was  moved  to  declare  the  terrible  and 
 mighty  day  of  the  Lord,  that  they  might  re- 
 pent; and  was  had  before  the  juftices,  who 
 tendered  him  the  oath  :  He  told  them  he 
 could  not  fwear,  becaufe  Chrift  had  com- 
 manded not  to  fwear  at  all ;  fo  they  made 
 a  mittimus  to  fend  him  to  prifon.  And  his 
 companion,  John  Braithwait,  being  fpeaking 
 without,  they  brought  him  alfo,  and  com- 
 mitted them  to  prifon  a  month,  and  then 
 let  them  go ;  but  many  were  convinced  there- 
 about. 
 
 In  Yarmouth,  he  was  moved  of  the  Lord 
 to  go  through  the  town  to  proclaim  the  mighty 
 terrible  day  of  the  Lord,  that  all  might  repent 
 and  fear  him  that  made  heaven  and  earth,  &c. 
 And  a  great  multitude  of  rude  people  followed 
 him;  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
 him,  and  he  turned  his  face  to  them,  and  fear 
 fmote  them,  that  they  ran  away ;  after  which 
 an  officer  took  him,  and  had  him  before  a 
 magiftrate,  who  ordered  him  to  be  put  out  of 
 the  town;  but  he  returned  another  way,  and 
 had  a  meeting  among  friends,  and  went  away 
 in  peace :  and  in  feveral  towns  and  markets  he 
 declared  the  fame;  and  the  Lord  was  with  him 
 and  upheld  him,  and  many  times  delivered 
 him  out  of  the  hands  of  them  that  would  have 
 
 deitroyed 
 
(     283     ) 
 
 deftroyed   him.      Tor   at   Lim,   as  he  went 
 through  the  ftreets  to  warn  people  to  repent 
 and  turn  to  the  Lord,   they  fet  a  great  dog 
 upon  him;  but  the  dog  fawned  on  him  as  if 
 he   had  been  his   m.ifter,    and    did    him    no 
 harm.     And  as  he  was  declaring,  going  over 
 a  bridge,  they  combined  together  to  throw 
 him  into  the  water;  but  the  Lord  who  fent 
 him,  put  it  into  the  heart  of  aft  officer  to  pre- 
 vent them,  fo  that  he  went  on  in  peace.    And 
 thus  in  Oliver's  days  he  hath  gone  through 
 four  or  five  towns  in  a  day;  and  fometimes 
 fwords  have  been  drawn,  and  axes  lifted  up 
 againft  him,  but  the  people  could  not  do  what 
 they  intended.     He  went  through  moft  part 
 of  Wales ;  and  at  one  place,  as  he  was  declaring, 
 and  people   attentive,  a  conftable  came  forth 
 and  cried,  Kill  him,  kill  him  !   and  they  threw 
 great  ftones  upon  him  and  friends,  enough  to 
 kill  them,  but  through  the  mercy  of  God  did 
 little  harm:  and  the  conftable  took  hold  of  his 
 coat  to  pull  him  down,  but  it  rent,  and  he  got 
 one  half;  and  he  turned  on  the  conftable  in  the 
 dread  of  the  Lord,  faying,  that  they  rauft  give 
 account    for    that    day's    work ;    and   a   man 
 brought  him  the  half   of   his    coat,    but   he 
 put  off  the  other  part,  and  left  it  with  them 
 as  a  witnefs  againft  them,  but  they  fewed  it 
 together,  and  fent  it  to  a  friend's  houfe.     He 
 went  through  Cardiff,  as  a  fign,  and  through 
 a  fteeple-houfe ;  and  the  people  were  fo  fmit- 
 ten,  that  they  did  not  fpeak  a  word  againft 
 
 him : 
 
(     *H     ) 
 
 him:  and  in  feveral  places  in  Wales  did  he 
 declare   the  fame  meffage.     And  in  Windfor 
 he  declared   the   day   of  the  Lord;  and  they 
 were  very  wicked,  and  threw  ftones  and  dirt 
 at   them ;    and    Ifaac   Pennington's  coat  was 
 much    dirted.      And    after    Oliver,    he    was 
 moved  to  go  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to 
 tell  them  what  the  Lord  would  have  them  do, 
 but  the  door-keeper  kept  him  out;  fo  that  to 
 clear  himfelf  he  went  to  them  one  by  one,  as 
 he   could   find  them,    to   declare    the   Lord's 
 meffage  to  them,  viz.  That  if  they  would  take 
 away  the  law  which  upheld  tithes,  by  which 
 the  people  of  God  fuffered,  as  they  had  pro- 
 mifed,  they  might  go  on  and  profper;  if  not, 
 they  fhould  be  turned  out;  which  they  were 
 foon  after.      And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 to  him,  that  he  mull  go  through  the  ftreets  of 
 London,    and  preach  repentance ;   which   he 
 did,  and  received  no  hurt :  and  as  he  came 
 back   through    Cheapfule,    the   word   of  the 
 Lord  came  to  him,  that  except  London  re- 
 pent as  Nineveh  did,  God  would  deftroy  it, 
 And  as  he  was  travelling  in   the  fouth  parts, 
 going  by  a  houfe,  it  rofe  in  him  the  prieft  was 
 in  that  houfe,  and  he  went  and  knocked  at 
 the  door,  and  the  man  of  the  houfe  came  and 
 let  him  in;  and  he  found  the  prieft  fitting  by 
 the  fire,  and  charged  him  to  give  over  deceiv- 
 ing the  people   for  difhoneft  gain;    at  which 
 the  man  of  the  houfe  was  troubled,  and  would 
 have  put  him  out,  but  the  power  of  the  Lord 
 
 was 
 
(     285     ) 
 
 Was  upon  him;  and  he  rung  the  gofpel  bell, 
 and  many  people  came ;  fo  he  bore  his  tefti- 
 mony  againft  the  prieft,  and  directed  the  peo- 
 ple to  their  inward  teacher,  and  fo  went  on 
 his  journey  in  peace.  He  was  moved  to  go 
 and  bear  his  teftimony  againft  Jonathan  Clap- 
 ham,  a  prieft  in  Norfolk,  at  his  houfe:  he  came 
 out,  and  would  not  fpeak,  but  fet  his  dog  at 
 him,  which  would  not  bite  him ;  and  the  prieft 
 turned  in  again  as  a  man  grieved,  and  fled  like 
 an  hireling. 
 
 At  Shrewsbury,  as  he  was  coming  out  of 
 Wales,  about  the  time  the  fifth-monarchy-meii 
 rofe  in  London,  he  was  taken  by  the  foldiers 
 and  brought  before  a  juftice,  who  profered 
 him  the  oath;  and  becauie  he  could  not  fwear, 
 contrary  to  the  command  of  Chrift,  they  fent 
 him  and  another  friend  to  prifon;  and  the 
 gaoler  being  very  wicked,  put  them  in  a  dun- 
 geon where  they  put  condemned  men ;  and 
 they  could  get  nothing  to  lie  on  but  a  little 
 peafe-ftraw;  there  he  remained  ten  weeks,  but 
 the  Lord  was  with  them;  and  though  they 
 kept  them  very  clofe,  and  would  hardly  let  any 
 come  to  fee  them,  it  rofe  in  him  that  he 
 ftiould  be  delivered;  and  at  ten  weeks  end, 
 before  the  releafement  came  for  all  friends 
 from  the  king,  the  juftice  that  committed 
 them  afked  him,  if  he  would  promife  never 
 to  take  up  arms  againft  the  king :  Thomas 
 declared  how  he  was  come  to  the  end  of  wars' 
 
 according 
 
(     286     ) 
 
 according  to  the  prophet  Ifaiah's  teftimony  t 
 the  juftice  bid  him  go,  and  get  as  many  into 
 that  mind  as  he  could;  he  and  his  wife  be- 
 ing friendly.  And  when  a  turn-coat  juftice 
 would  have  fent  friends  to  prifon,  this  would 
 take  their  words  to  appear,  when  fent  for : 
 his  name  was  Thorn.  So  he  travelled  up 
 and  down  Staffordlhire  among  friends,  as  he 
 was  moved  of  the  Lord,  and  then  turned 
 again  towards  Wales ;,  and  at  a  meeting  in 
 Herefordfhire,  the  prieft  got  the  lieutenant 
 and  his  foldiers  to  come  and  break  it  up,  who 
 came  in  when  he  was  at  prayer,  and  com- 
 manding him  to  give  over,  let  a  piftol  to  his 
 breaft;  but  the  Lord  prevented  them  of  do- 
 ing what  they  intended :  and  he  continued 
 in  prayer  till  they  {topped  his  mouth  with  a 
 pair  of  gloves,  fo  haled  them  out,  and  car- 
 ried the  n  to  Hereford  before  a  juftice,  who 
 fent  twelve  of  them  to  prifon,  where  they 
 remained  twelve  weeks,  till  the  affizes ;  and 
 the  gaoler  was  very  wicked  againft  them  at 
 firft,  but  was  tormented,  and  confefTed  he 
 could  have  no  peace,  and  then  let  them  have 
 more  liberty:  and  his  wife  and  daughter  was 
 convinced,  and  he  became  loving.  And  at 
 the  aflizes  they  were  called  before  the  judge, 
 and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  fo  with  them, 
 that  when  he  examined  them,  he  would  turn 
 his  face  away,  and  fet  all  friends  at  liberty  ex- 
 cept Thomas  Briggs  j  but  he  writ  to  the  juf- 
 tice 
 
(      2S7      ) 
 
 tice  that  committed  him;  and  at  three  weeks 
 end  he  fent  for  him,  and  took  his  word  to  ap- 
 pear at  the  next  affizes,  which  he  did,  and 
 lent  to  the  juftice  that  he  was  come  to  anfwer 
 what  was  laid  againft  him :  he  fent  him  word 
 there  was  nothing  laid  againft  him,  he  might 
 go  whither  he  would  ;  lo  he  went  to  the 
 gaoler,  who  defired  him  when  he  came  to 
 town  to  call  and  fee  him,  and  was  ever  after 
 loving  to  friends. 
 
 He,  with  J.  Moon,  appointed  a  meeting 
 near  the  Devifes  in  Wiltihire,  where  many 
 friends  and  people  came ;  and  two  juftices 
 hearing  of  it,  came  and  broke  it  up,  and 
 took  the  names  of  mofl  friends,  and  let  them 
 go;  but  J.  Moon,  himfelf,  and  three  more, 
 they  fent  to  the  houfe  of  correction  for  three 
 months:  and  the  mailer  of  it,  in  a  little  time, 
 became  very  loving,  and  they  had  many  pre- 
 cious meetings  while  they  were  there,  in 
 which  time  the  turn-coat  juftice  going  to 
 London,  as  he  returned  he  died,  that  he  ne- 
 ver faw  him  more :  he  underftood  they  did 
 intend  to  tender  them  the  oath  at  the  three 
 months  end,  but  the  Lord  prevented  them, 
 and  fo  they  were  fet  free.  Thus  he  travelled 
 in  moft  parts  of  England  and  Wales,  and 
 ufed  to  come  to  my  father's  houfe  in  Somer- 
 fetfhire,  and  had  meetings  there  in  early 
 times.  He  alfo  travelled  in  Ireland  and  in 
 tke Well-Indies,  Barbadoes,  with  George  Fox; 
 
 and 
 
(     288     ) 
 
 and  Antego  with  W.  Edmundfon,  where 
 many  received  their  teftimony,  and  went  to 
 Nevis  to  vifit  friends;  but  an  old  perfecutor 
 fent  eight  foldiers  aboard  to  ftop  them  from 
 coming  on  more,  but  many  friends  came  to 
 vifit  them,  and  were  refreihed:  fo  they  re- 
 turned to  Antego,  and  fo  to  Barbadoes,  where 
 he  was  very  fick;  but  the  Lord  fhewed  him 
 he  mould  not  die  there,  but  return  to  his  own 
 nation,  and  there  lay  down  his  head  in  peace, 
 which  he  did.  He  was  convinced  in  the  vear 
 1653,  and  43d  of  his  age:  A  minifter  of  the 
 gofpel  32  years.  His  houfe  was  fined  five 
 times  by  John  Daniel,  called  juftice,  on  the 
 conventicle  act;  and  goods  taken  to  the  value 
 of  50 1.  He  died  at  his  daughter's,  near  Nant- 
 wich,  in  Chefhire.  He  bore  a  large  tefti- 
 mony the  firft-day  before,  and  died  the  third 
 day  after,  the  beginning  of  this  year  1685, 
 about  75  years  of  age. 
 
 The  beginning  of  this  year,  1685,  was  Pre" 
 fented  to  the  king,  and  both  houfes  of  parlia- 
 ment, '  The  fuffering  condition  of  the  peaceable 
 *  people  called  Quakers;'  fhewing,  that  of  late 
 above  1500  of  the  faid  people,  both  men  and 
 women,  have  been  detained  prifoners  in  Eng- 
 land and  Wales,  fome  of  which  being  fince 
 difcharged  by  the  judges,  and  others  freed  by 
 death  through  their  long  and  tedious  impri- 
 sonment, there  remained,  according  to  late 
 accounts,  about    1383,  above    200  of  them 
 
 women 
 
(      2S9       ) 
 
 Women;  many  under  fentence  of  pramis- 
 nire,  both  men  and  women;  and  more  than 
 300  near  it,  not  for  denying  the  duty,  or  re- 
 fufmg  the  fubftance  of  allegiance,  but  only 
 becaufe  they  dare  not  fwear:  Many  on  writs 
 of  excommunication  and  fines  to  the  king, 
 and  upon  the  acl:  of  banifnment :  Befides, 
 above  320  have  died  in  prifon  and  prifoners, 
 fmce  the  year  1 660 ;  near  1 00  whereof,  by 
 means  of  this  long  impriibnment,  as  it  is. 
 judged,  fmce  the  account  delivered  to  the 
 late  king  and  parliament  in  1680,  whereby 
 many  widows  and  fatherlefs  are  left  in  di- 
 ftrefs  and  forrow.  The  two  laft  hard  winters 
 reftraint,  and  the  clofe  confinement  of  great 
 numbers  in  divers  gaols,  unavoidably  tending 
 towards  their  deftru£tion,  their  healths  being 
 evidently  impaired  thereby. 
 
 And  in  London,  the  gaol  of  Newgate  hath 
 been  from  time  to  time  crowded  within  thefe 
 two  years,  fometimes  near  twenty  in  one 
 room,  to  the  prejudice  of  their  healths ;  and 
 feveral  poor  tradefmen  of  late  have  been  fo 
 fufFocated  by  the  clofenefs  of  the  prifon,  that 
 they  have  been  taken  out  fick  of  a  malignant 
 fever,  and  died  in  a  few  days  after. 
 
 Befides  thofe  long-continued  and  deftruc- 
 tive  hardfhips  upon  the  perfons  of  men  and 
 women,  as  aforefaid,  great  violences,  outra- 
 geous diftrefTes,  and  woful  havock  and  fpoil, 
 have   been,    and   ftill   are,    frequently  made 
 
 U  upon 
 
(    290   ) 
 
 upon  their  goods  and  eftates,  both  in  and 
 about  the  city  of  London,  and  other  parts 
 of  the  nation,  by  a  company  of  idle,  ex- 
 travagant, and  mercilefs  informers,  and  other 
 profecutions  upon  the  conventicle  act ;  many 
 being  convicted  and  lined,  unlummoned 
 and  unheard  in  their  own  defence.  As  alfo 
 on  qui  lam  writs,  at  the  fuit  of  informers, 
 who  profecute  for  one-third  part  for  them- 
 felves,  and  on  other  procefles  for  20 1.  a 
 month,  and  two -thirds  of  eftates  feized  for 
 the  king ;  all  tending  to  the  ruin  of  trade, 
 husbandry,  and  farmers;  and  the  impover- 
 ifhing  many  induftrious  families,  without 
 companion  fhewn  to  widows,  fatherlefs,  or 
 defolate.  To  fome,  not  a  bed  left  to  reft 
 on;  to  others,  no  cattle  to  till  their  ground, 
 nor  corn  for  bread  or  feed;  no  tools  to  work 
 with.  The  faid  informers,  and  fherifF's  bai- 
 liffs, in  fome  places  being  outrageous,  and 
 exceffive  in  their  diftrefies  and  feizures ; 
 breaking  into  houfes,  and  making  great 
 wafte  and  fpoil :  and  all  thefe  and  other  fe- 
 verities  done  againft  us  by  them,  under  pre- 
 tence of  ferving  the  king  and  the  church, 
 thereby  to  force  us  to  a  conformity,  with- 
 out inward  conviction  or  fatisfaction  of  our 
 tender  confciences,  wherein  our  peace  with 
 God  is  concerned,  which  we  are  very  ten- 
 der of. 
 
 The 
 
(     291     ) 
 
 The  ftatutes  on  which  the  faid  people  fuf- 
 fered  imprifonment,  diftreis  and  fpoii  of  goods, 
 are  as  followeth : 
 
 The  i  ft  of  Elizabeth,  chap.  ii.  for  twelve- 
 pence  a  Sunday,  fo  called. 
 
 The  5th  of  Elizabeth,  chap,  xxiii.  de  ex- 
 communicato capiendo. 
 
 The  23d  of  Elizabeth,  chap.  i.  for  twenty 
 pounds  per  month. 
 
 The  29th  of  Elizabeth,  chap.  vi.  for  con- 
 tinuadon. 
 
 The  35th  of  Elizabeth,  chap.  i.  for  abjur- 
 ing the  realm  on  pain  of  death. 
 
 The  ^d  of  king  James  I.  chap.  iv.  for  prae- 
 munire. Impriionment  during  life,  and  for- 
 feiture of  eftates. 
 
 The  13th  and  14th  of  king  Charles  IL 
 againft  Quakers,  &c.      Tranfportation. 
 
 The  17th  of  king  Charles  II.  ch.  ii.  againft 
 Non-conformifts. 
 
 The  2 2d  of  king  Charles  II.  ch.  i.  againft 
 feditious  conventicles. 
 
 The  27th  of  Henry  VIII.  chap,  xx,  fome 
 few  fuflered  thereupon. 
 
 See  the  remainder  of  the  faid  meet  to  the 
 king,  of  the  \arious  proceedings  againft  our 
 friends  on  the  faid  ftatutes,  and  the  great 
 fufterings  and  imprifonments  thereupon. 
 
 And  another  Iheet  to  the  bifhops  and  clergy 
 
 of  England  and  Wales,  the  Hate  of  the  cruel 
 
 U  2  perfecution, 
 
(  292   y 
 
 perfecution,  imprifonment,  (many  to  death) 
 and  fpoil  of  goods,  inflicted  upon  the  people 
 called  Quakers,  only  for  their  religious  meet- 
 ings, 6cc.  wherein,  after  inferting  the  account 
 of  prifoners  prefented  to  the  king  (Charles  II.) 
 and  his  parliament  in  1680,  (as  aforefaid  in 
 that  year)  they  add,  that  this  inftant  year, 
 1685,  there  was  prefented  to  king  James  II. 
 the  account  of  prefent  prifoners  for  the  tefti- 
 jnony  of  a  good  confcience,  &c.  as  aforefaid, 
 to  the  number  of  1460;  with  account  of  pri- 
 foners, that  died  for  their  faith  and  worfhip, 
 fmce  the  account  in  1680  —  78 
 
 The  number  of  all  the  faid  fuf- 
 ferers  that  is  come  to  hand, 
 amounting  to         —  —     12,316 
 
 Note,  That  fome  of  the  prefent  prifoners 
 are  ftill  continued  upon  the  aforefaid  ac- 
 count, in  1680. 
 And  fince,  we  have  had  account  of  feveral 
 more  that  are  fent  to  prifon,  and  fome  more 
 have  died  prifoners. 
 
 Befides  many  that  have  fuffered  imprifonment 
 fince  the  year  1680;  and  a  great  number  di- 
 ftrained  upon,  and  their  goods  fpoiled,  and 
 made  ha^ock  of  by  informers,  (and  fome 
 priefts  have  been  informers)  for  their  religi- 
 ous peaceable  meetings,  and  not  coming  to 
 the  parifh-worfhip,  to  the  ruin  of  many  in 
 their  hufbandry  and  trade;  fome  not  having 
 a  bed  left  to  lie  upon,  nor  a  (tool  to  fit  on,  nor 
 
 a- cow 
 
(    293    ) 
 
 &  cow  to  give  milk  for  their  poor  children  ; 
 nor  corn  for  bread,  or  feed,  or  drink ;  nor 
 tools  to  work  withal,  &c.  The  value  of 
 which  goods  fo  taken,  and  made  havock  of, 
 as  well  as  the  number  of  fufferers  upon  the 
 faid  accounts,  and  by  imprifonments,  is  con- 
 fiderable  (not  here  inferted).  And  though 
 I  repeat  the  fame  again,  it  is  to  fhew  how 
 they  laid  their  furferings  before  the  bifhops 
 alfo,  as  well  as  the  king,  that  they  might 
 have  fhewn  mercy,  in  whofe  power  it  was  to 
 have  mitigated  thofe  fevere  fufferings,  if  they 
 would  ;  and  expoftulating  the  matter  with 
 them  in  this  paper,  with  refpeet  to  the  obli- 
 gation of  religion,  chriftianity,  reafon  and  au- 
 thorities of  their  own,  againft  perfecution,  to 
 excite  them  to  moderation,  and  do  their  en- 
 deavour to  relieve  us.  What  good  effect  it 
 had  with  them  I  cannot  fay,  but  hope  it  was 
 not  in  vain. 
 
 But  now  to  return.  It  being  hull  expected 
 we  mould  be  cleared  of  our  imprifonment,  the 
 keepers  grew  carelefs  of  us,  and  gave  us  pretty 
 much  liberty,  in  hopes  to  get  money  by  us. 
 It  being  reported  that  liberty  of  confcience 
 was  in  the  prefs  fo  long,  that  it  became  a  pro- 
 verb, that  '  Liberty  of  Confcience  was  in  the 
 '  Prefs,'  it  was  fo  long  a  coming  out;  till  at 
 laft  an  infurrection  broke  out  in  the  weft,  and 
 a  cloud  fell  in  our  way  that  oyercaft  all,  which 
 I  cannot  pafs  without  taking  fome  notice  of  5 
 jiot  as  concerned  in  it,  but  as  it  affected  us  as 
 it  -  tp 
 
(     ^94     ) 
 
 to  our  liberty,  fo  that  as  our  deliverance  grew 
 nearer,  our  fufferings  were  increafed :  and 
 had  liberty  of  confeience  been  granted  fooner, 
 as  one  wifely  obierved,  there  might  have  been 
 no  rebellion  in  the  weft,  but  the  mifguided 
 duke  of  Monmouth  might  have  had  his  fhare 
 at  Euda,  and  the  unhappy  people  of  his  train 
 been  alive  at  their  vocations ;  for  the  general- 
 ity of  the  nation  were  weary  and  fick  of  perfe- 
 ction, and  longed,  and  were  big  with  expecta- 
 tion of  liberty  of  confeience,  as  the  king  had 
 promifed ;  who  obftrucled  its  coming  out 
 fooner,  they  can  beft  tell  who  were  the  oc- 
 cafion  of  it;  I  wifh  the  blood  of  that  rebellion 
 do  not  lie  at  their  doors.  I  will  not  atteft 
 what  was  reported,  that  fome  offered  him,  if 
 he  would  continue  the  penal  laws  againft  Pro- 
 teftant  diflenters,  they  would  come  into,  or 
 confent  to  a  toleration  for  Papifts,  exclufive  of 
 Proteftant  diflenters :  their  own  confeiences 
 know  whether  it  was  true  or  not. 
 
 I  had  intended  this  fpring,  1 68  ^,  to  have 
 proceeded  in  marriage  with  my  dear  friend, 
 $.  Hurd,  having  propofed  it  to  the  monthly 
 meeting  fhe  belonged  to,  which  was  then  held 
 at  my  chamber,  as  aforefaid;  and  went  to  my 
 own  monthly  meeting,  on  the  north  fide  of 
 Mendip,  which  was  then  held  at  John  Dando's 
 at  Hollotrow,  the  29th  of  the  3d  month,  for 
 a  certificate,  which  I  afterwards  had  ;  but  the 
 troubles  breaking  out,  prevented  it  one  year 
 longer.     We  heard  there  of  the  earl  of  Ar- 
 
 gyle's 
 
t    295    ) 
 
 gyle's  landing  in  Scotland.  1  went  from  Hoi- 
 lotrow  home  to  Naylfey,  and  was  at  my  own 
 houfe  when  the  duke  of  Monmouth  landed 
 at  Lime  in  Dorfetfhire,  the  nth  of  the  4th 
 month ;  and  had  the  news  of  it  from  Briilol 
 the  5th  day  following  (where  by  the  way,  now 
 I  mention  Briftol,  friends  continued  priibners 
 in  Newgate  mortly  as  laft  year,  till  the  next, 
 when  the  general  releaie  was).  I  had  intended 
 to  return  to  Ivelchefter  foon  after,  and  accord- 
 ingly the  next  fecond-dayl  fat  out  thitherward; 
 and  as  I  rode  into  Wrington,  a  market-to wa 
 four  miles  from  my  houfe,  there  was  a  watch 
 fet  at  the  crofs;  and  as  I  came  towards  them, 
 I  heard  one  of  them  fay  to  another,  Go 
 forth  and  flop  him,  and  afk  him  whither  he 
 is  riding.  So  he  came  and  flood  with  a  hal- 
 bert  in  my  way,  and  bid  me  fland:  Well, 
 faid  I,  and  what  then.  He  afked  me  whither 
 I  was  riding:  I  told  him,  fouthward ;  which, 
 though  directly  towards  the  duke,  without 
 afking  me  any  further  queftions,  he  wifhed 
 me  a  good  journey,  and  fo  let  me  pafs  ;  at 
 which  I  could  not  but  fmile  to  myfeif,  to  fee 
 how  eafy  they  were  to  let  any  pafs  that  way, 
 for  indeed  the  hearts  of  the  people  were  to- 
 wards him,  if  they  durfl  have  fhewed  it :  but 
 that  he  might  not  think  I  was  going  to  the 
 duke,  I  told  him  there  was  a  fair  at  Somerton 
 that  day,  and  thither  I  was  riding :  So  to  So- 
 merton I  went  very  quietly,  (and  met  with 
 U  4  no 
 
(     296     ) 
 
 no  watch  or  let  in  my  way  after)  where  I  met 
 with  my  dear  friend,  Sarah  Hurd,  at  her  fa-, 
 ther's,  who  dwelt  there;  and  heard  how  fome 
 of  the  duke's  men  had  been  at  Ivelchefter,  to 
 free  fome  of  the  duke's  friends,  who  came 
 down  from  London  to  meet  him,  and  were 
 taken  up  on  fufpicion,  and  impriibned  there ; 
 and  withal,  freed  all  they  found  prifoners  there 
 on  account  of  confcience;  and,  among  the 
 reft,  fome  of  our  friends^  but  they  took  little 
 notice  or  advantage  of  it,  but  went  in  and  out 
 as  at  other  times. 
 
 I  ftaid  at  Somerton  till  the  fifth  day  fol- 
 lowing, and  then  being  our  quarterly  meet- 
 ing at  Gregory-Stoke,  I  went  thither,  where 
 We  heard  how  the  duke  was  come  with  his 
 army  to  Taunton,  but  fix  miles  off,  and  how 
 the  country  flocked  in  to  him.  After  meet- 
 ing, I  went  to  a  friend's  houfe,  where  I  met 
 with  my  friend  Sarah  Hurd's  fifter  Scott,  who 
 looked  exceeding  fad  and  forrowful ;  I  afked 
 her  what  the  matter  was  :  She  told  me,  that 
 her  hufband  was  gone  out  with  his  horfes  to 
 the  duke,  (he  being  one  that  dealt  in  horfes, 
 expecting  to  make  advantage  of  them,  which 
 proved  a  fnare  to  him)  and  fhe  was  afraid 
 they  mould  be  ruined,  defiring  me  to  go  home 
 with  her  that  night,  and  go  with  her  next 
 day  to  Taunton,  to  fee  to  get  him  home ; 
 which  accordingly  I  did,  calling  by  the  way 
 at  the  lady  Jenning's,  efcmire  Spekes's  daugh- 
 ter, 
 
(    297    ) 
 
 ter,  who  was  all  afloat  about  the  duke,  think- 
 ing the  day  was  their  own ;  and  next  day 
 went  to  Taunton  with  her:  We  put  up  at  the 
 Three-Cups  Inn,  and  loon  met  with  her  huf- 
 band,  and  reafoned  with  him  about  it ;  but  he 
 had  appeared  before  the  duke,  and  involved 
 himfelf  fo  about  his  horfes,  that  we  could  not 
 get  him  home  with  us.  It  happened  that  the 
 duke  and  the  lord  Grey  were  then  at  dinner 
 at  capt.  Hucker's,  over  againft  the  faid  inn ; 
 and  fhe,  with  her  lifter  Roman,  went  over  to 
 fpeak  with  the  duke,  to  defire  him  not  to  take 
 it  amifs  if  her  huiband  went  home,  for  it  was 
 contrary  to  our  perfuafion  tc  appear  in  arms, 
 becaufe  we  could  not  fight;  and  fhe  had  a 
 pretty  deal  of  difcourfe  with  him,  for  fhe  was 
 a  woman  that  could  ufe  her  tongue  as  well 
 as  moft.  The  duke  feemed  to  take  it  well 
 enough,  and  told  her,  he  did  not  defire  that 
 any  Ihould  appear  with  him  againft  their 
 confciences.  So  they  left  him  and  came 
 away,  I  ftanding  all  the  while  before  the 
 inn-gate,  obferving  paifages;  but  I  did  not  go 
 out  of  my  way  to  fee  the  army,  which  lay  in  a 
 field  hard  by  the  town,  which  I  account  a  great 
 prefervation ;  and  foon  after,  the  duke  and  lord 
 Grey  came  forth  and  took  horfe,  their  horfes 
 being  held  in  the  ftreet  all  the  time,  and  rode 
 down  the  ftreet  the  fame  way  as  we  were 
 to  go  home  :  and  two  great  guns  were  haled 
 <Jown  before  them,  to  plant,  as  they  faid,  at 
 
 the 
 
(      29«      ) 
 
 the  town's  end,  it  being  reported,  that  the 
 duke  of  Albemarle  (lord -lieutenant  of  the 
 county  of  Devon)  was  coming  againft  them. 
 So  we  took  horfe,  and  rode  down  after ;  and 
 when  we  came  to  the  town's  end,  the  ftreet 
 was  fo  full  of  people,  that  I  thought  it  impof- 
 fible  to  get  through  the  crowd ;  but  afking 
 one  if  we  could  ride  by,  he  faid  we  might  on 
 one  fide;  fo  I  put  forward  till  I  was  got  into 
 the  middle  of  them:  looking  about  me  to  fee 
 the  duke, I  afked  fomebody  which  was  he,  he 
 ihewed  me  him  juft  at  my  right  hand ;  fo  I 
 Hopped  a  little  to  take  a  view  of  him,  and 
 thought  he  looked  very  thoughtful  and  de- 
 jected in  his  countenance,  and  thinner  than 
 when  I  faw  him  four  years  before,  as  he 
 palled  through  Ivelchefter  in  his  progrefs  as 
 aforefaid,  fo  that  I  hardly  knew  him  again,  and 
 wTas  forry  for  him  as  I  looked  at  him.  I  fpoke 
 a  few  words  to  him,  which  I  do  not  mention 
 out  of  vanity,  but  to  mow  how  narrowly 
 .1  efcaped  a  ihare  at  that  time,  to  the  Lord's 
 protecting  hand  of  providence  I  afcribe  it  in 
 my  prefervation.  So  we  palled  on,  and  had 
 not  rode  above  a  mile  or  two,  but  we  met 
 two  men  coming  riding  on  a  gallop,  as  fall  as 
 their  horfes  could  go  ;  as  they  paft  by, 
 I  knew  one  of.them,  who  faid,  turn  out  of  the 
 road,  the  duke  of  Albermarle  is  at  hand  (but 
 it  was  a  falfe  alarm,  for  he  came  not  near); 
 fo  we  turned  off  a  bye- way,  and  came  fafe 
 
 homo 
 
(     299     > 
 
 home -to  Hambrklge;  and  never  heard  any 
 tiling  of  my  being  at  Taunton,  or  that  there 
 was  any  notice  taken  of  it,  though  I  faw  fe- 
 deral that  I  knew,  till  a  pretty  while  after  the 
 defeat  and  affizes,  I  think.  As  I  was  walking 
 one  day  in  the  back-kitchen,  in  the  ward  at 
 Iveichefter,  there  came  to  me  John  Cordelion, 
 the  turnkey  ,  (an  old  apoftate  Quaker  too;  for 
 one  rer  ;ado  is  commonly  worie  than  three 
 Turks)  and  fays  to  me,  John,  waft  not  thee 
 at  Traunt<  n?  At  which,  being  fomewhat  fur- 
 prifed,  my  fpirit  turned  againft  him,  feeing 
 his  bafenefs  that  would  have  intrapped  me, 
 I  faid,  and  what  then,  what  is  that  to  thee? 
 I  heard,  faid  he,  thou  waft  with  the  duke : 
 Said  I,  if  I  was  there,  I  can  give  a  good 
 account  of  my  buimefs,  but  that  is  no  bufi- 
 nefs  of  thine.  So  1  flood  over  him ;  and 
 feeing  he  could  get  nothing  out  of  me, 
 he  flunk  away,  and  I  heard  no  more  of  him 
 or  it. 
 
 Next  day  I  went  to  my  friend's  at  Long- 
 Sutton,  where,  and  at  Somerton,  I  moltly 
 ftaid,  till  after  the  duke's  defeat  at  Sedgemoor; 
 being  a  time  of  great  exercife  with  her,  hav- 
 ing feveral  relations  (not  friends)  out  in  the 
 duke's  army;  as  three  brothers-in-law,  an  un- 
 cle, and  feveral  kinfmen ;  and  her  brother 
 Gliffon  a  Baptift  came,  and  would  have  had 
 me  gone  out  alfo,  and  take  up  the  fword  till 
 £he  work  was  over;  which  if  I  had,  I  might 
 
 have 
 
(     3°°     ) 
 
 have  fufFered  as  he  did :  but  through  the 
 mercy  of  God,  whofe  holy  name  I  magnify 
 and  adore  in  my  prefervation,  I  knew  my 
 place  and  principles  better  than  {o.  And 
 there  came  down  the  queen's  guards,  as  they 
 faid,  under  the  lord  Churchill,  into  the  pa- 
 rifh,  and  terror  marched  before  them  ;  for 
 we  could  hear  their  horfes  grind  the  ground 
 under  their  feet,  almoft  a  mile  before  they 
 came.  And  it  was  reported  there  were  fix 
 houfes  to  be  burnt,  of  which  my  friend  S. 
 Hurd's  was  one;  there  being  a  Papift  in  the 
 parifh,  a  bafe  wicked  fellow,  who  owed  her 
 money,  and  was  thought  to  be  a  very  ill  in- 
 ftrument  by  informing,  fo  that  me  was  in 
 great  danger;  but,  through  the  Lord's  mercy, 
 was  preferved.  For  when  they  came  to  the 
 crofs  near  her  houfe,  they  inquired  for  capt. 
 Tucker's,  who  was  out  with  the  duke,  and 
 went  and  ranfacked  his  houfe,  cutting  and 
 tearing  the  beds,  hangings,  and  furniture,  to 
 pieces;  making  out  the  feathers,  and  carrying 
 away  the  bed-fiicks  and  what  elfe  they  could; 
 letting  out  the  beer,  wine,  and  cyder,  about 
 the  cellar;  fetting  fire  to  a  barn  that  joined 
 to  the  dwelling-houfe,  to  fet  that  on  fire  alfo, 
 but  being  a  ftone  tiled  houfe,  it  did  not  burn 
 that;  and  fo  making  what  fpoil  and  carrying 
 away  what  they  would,  or  could,  they  re- 
 turned to  Somerton,  where  the  earl  of  Fe- 
 veriham  lay  with  the  king's  army,  but  two 
 
 nrileg 
 
(     3QI     ) 
 
 miles  off.  And  the  7th  day  before  the  fightv 
 came  down  the  earl  of  Pembroke,  with  the 
 Wiltfhire  troops  of  horfe,  and  made  dreadful 
 work  in  the  parifh,  taking  feveral  prifoners, 
 and  threatening  to  hang  fome,  to  the  terror 
 and  affrighting  of  the  inhabitants.  Four  of 
 the  troopers  lay  at  my  friend's  houfe,  and 
 were  pretty  civil;  but  there  was  one  of  the 
 reft,  an  enfign,  who  was  exceeding  wicked, 
 threatening  and  terrifying  the  poor  people  in 
 a  dreadful  manner;  and  would  have  queftion- 
 ed  me  who  I  was,  and  what  I  did  there ;  but 
 I  anfwered  him  fo  boldly  that  he  grew  quiet, 
 and  at  laft,  after  he  had  wearied  himfelf, 
 called  for  a  cufhion  to  lay  under  his  head, 
 and  fo  went  to  fleep  on  one  of  the  fhop 
 counters  all  night,  as  if  he  could  truft  him- 
 felf no  where  fo  fafe  as  there ;  and  next  morn- 
 ing they  went  away  towards  Bridgewater, 
 where  the  duke  with  his  army  was. 
 
 And  the  next  day  after  the  defeat  of  the 
 duke's  army  at  Sedgemoor,  nearWefton-Zoy- 
 land,  many  being  killed  and  the  reft  fcattered, 
 flying  for  their  lives,  feveral  of  the  country 
 gentlemen,  who  hardly  dared  appear  before, 
 came  about  in  purfuit  of  the  duke  of  Mon- 
 mouth's men;  and  fir  Edward  Phillips,  judge 
 of  the  feffibns  as  aforefaid,  came  to  my  friend's 
 houfe  at  Long-Sutton,  and  fat  and  ilept  in  her 
 chair,  while  his  men  went  a  hunting  about 
 the   fields  to  take   men  j    and  feveral  were 
 
 brought 
 
(    5°*    ) 
 
 brought  to  my  friend's  door  and  fent  to 
 prifon  in  droves,  as  if  it  had  been  to  get 
 their  horfes,  for  which  fome  of  them,  paid 
 dear  after  king  William  came  in.  As  to 
 brother  Scott  in  particular,  he  was  won- 
 derfully preferved,  being  taken  and  put  in- 
 to Wefton  fteeple-houfe,  with  many  more, 
 the  night  after  the  fight,  in  order  to  be  hanged 
 next  day,  as  many  were;  but  he  got  out  at. 
 the  little  north-dcor,  while  the  watch  was 
 afleep,  and  fo  :ri  td  with  his  life;  lying  in 
 corn-fields  by  day,  and  going  by  night  till  he 
 got  home,  and  fo  lay  about  till  after  the  ge- 
 neral pardon.  But  many  were  hanged  in 
 cold  blood,  by  that  cruel,  inhuman,  bloody 
 wretch,  colonel  Kirk,  the  fhame  of  mankind; 
 and  fome  were  hung  in  chains  naked,  to  the 
 terror  and  fhame  of  the  country. 
 
 But  to  return  to  myfelf:  I  lay  innocently 
 out  in  the  garde n,  while  fir  Edward  Phillips 
 was  within,  being  unwilling  to  be  feen,  be-  • 
 caufe  I  was  a  priioner;  but  wifhed  afterwards 
 I  had  appeared,  or  fhewed  myfelf  to  him : 
 though  perhaps  he  would  have  fent  me  to 
 prifon,  although  in  my  friend's  houfe;  as  they 
 did  another  friend,  Thomas  Comb,  who  was 
 a  priioner  before,  whom  they  took  walking 
 in  the  fields,  as  a  Monmouth's  man,  though 
 unconcerned;  fo  that  it  was  dangerous  meet- 
 ing any  of  them,  they  were  fo  rampant  after 
 the  duke's  defeat. 
 
 And 
 
(     3°5    ) 
 
 And  foon  after  feeing  our  bondage  return- 
 ing, and  that  I  muft  fubmit  to  a  prifon  a- 
 gain,  and  that  it  was  the  fafeft  place  as  things 
 were,  I  thought  it  better  to  go  than  be  fent 
 thither,  or  fent  for ;  and  fo  returned  to  Ivel- 
 chefter,  where  the  keepers  began  to  look  after 
 their  prifoners  again,  and  to  inquire  for  us,  and 
 to  be  very  wicked  to  us  when  we  came,  calling 
 us  rebels,  rogues,  &c.  though  we  were  ever  fo 
 clear.     The  firft  greeting  I  had  after  I  came, 
 was  from  Jofeph  Newberry,  one  of  the  keep- 
 ers,  and  indeed   the  firft  time  that  ever  he 
 {hewed  himfelf  fo  to  me;  being  a  man,  though 
 deceitful  enough,  who  would  commonly  carry 
 it  fair  outwardly;  and  that  was  on  this  occa- 
 fion,  I  had  a  parcel  of  friends  books,  &c.  came 
 down  from  London,  as  I  ufed  to  have,  and  he 
 knew  it  well  enough,  therefore  no  new  thing 
 now  ;  and  the  carrier  left  them,  as   he  ufed 
 to  do  for  me,  at  Newberry-inn :  fo  I  went 
 for  them,  but  he  refufed  to  let  me  have  them, 
 faying,  He  did  not  know  but  there    might 
 be  treafon  in  them,   and  then   I   mould   be 
 hanged  for  it,  which  yet  would  have  been 
 hard  for  what  I  never  faw,   nor  knew  any 
 thing  of.     Next  they  fhut  us  up  in  the  ward, 
 where  we  lay  fourteen   of  us  in  one  room, 
 moftly  on  the  floor,   as  clofe  as  we  could  lie 
 one  by  another,  a  row   of  each  fide,  feet  to 
 feet,  yet  they  demanded  rent  of  us  before-hand  5 
 and  after  four  days  and  nights  they  came,  viz. 
 
 the. 
 
(     3°4    ) 
 
 tlie  25th  of  the  5th  month,  and  began  to  quar- 
 rel with  us  about  the  rent,  having  mifchief  in 
 their  minds,  telling  us,  that  we  fhould  go  up 
 into  the  garrets,  the  rooms  being  full  below, 
 and  there  we  fhould  abide  not  to  go  forth, 
 and  yet  they  would  have  the  fame  rent  of  us 
 as  when  we  dwelt  in  their  hired  houfes,  and 
 had  the  liberty  of  the  town;  which  though 
 we  were  not  willing  to  do,  fome  told  them, 
 we  were  their  prifoners,  and  they  might  put 
 us  where  they  would.  But  they  wanting  an 
 anfwer  as  to  the  rent,  (hectoring  and  vapour- 
 ing about  for  an  anfwer)  at  laft  I  told  them, 
 that  I  thought  it  was  our  minds  not  to  pay 
 any  rent  while  we  were  kept  under  lock.  At 
 which  they  were  in  fuch  a  rage,  having  broke 
 their  defign,  that,  without  anfwer ing  me  a 
 word,  Davis  flew  out  of  the  room  and  called 
 for  hand-bolts,  and  Newberry  the  mean-while 
 calline;  me  all  the  ill  names  he  could  devife ; 
 and  making  his  cane  over  my  head  as  if  he 
 would  have  broke  it,  but  had  not  power  to 
 ftrike  me.  The  irons  being  brought  in, 
 which  I  offered  my  hand  to  receive,  John 
 Hiplley,  my  fellow-prifoner,  faid,  It  was  hard 
 to  prefs  us  fo  for  an  anfwer,  and  when  they 
 had  it  to  ufe  us  at  that  rate.  Said  Davis, 
 hand-bolt  them  together;  wmich  they  did, 
 and  fo  put  us  out  into  the  inward  ward 
 amongft  Monmouth's  men,  where  at  night, 
 when  we  came  to  lodge,  there  was  no  room 
 
 for 
 
(    3°S     ) 
 
 for  us  to  lie  down,  when  the  beds  were  fpread 
 over  the  room,  but  the  room  the  door  turned 
 in,  where  we  lay  on  ftraw;  not  fuffering  me 
 to  lie  on  my  own  bed-ftead,  which  was  there 
 ever  fmce  I  lay  in  Black-Friars  laft  year,  be- 
 cauie  others  would  pay  for  lying  on  it,  as  they 
 faid ;  but  I  would  not,  nor  was  there  any  realon 
 I  ihould  pay  for  lying  on  my  own.  Threaten- 
 ing to  fend  the  Tangier  foldiers  to  my  lodg- 
 ing to  lie  on  my  bed,  becaufe  I  would  not 
 have  it  in  for  them  to  make  a  prey  of;  and 
 that  they  would  take  away  our  clothes  at  the 
 week's  end  for  chamber-rent,  3  s.  6  d.  a  week 
 each;  and  that  they  would  take  away  friends 
 beds  within,  for  their  rent :  Davis  fwearing 
 defperately,  as  he  ufed  to  do,  that  we  mould 
 never  come  out  while  he  was  keeper.  And 
 Newberry  coming  in  next  day,  and  fomebody 
 telling  him  that  our  hands  did  fwell  with  the 
 irons,  he  faid,  he  did  not  care  if  our  hearts 
 did  fwell:  Nay,  they  would  not  let  them  be 
 taken  off  fo  much  as  to  change,  in  three  weeks 
 time.  Newberry  faying,  We  muft  rip  up  our 
 ihirt  fleeves:  and  Davis  faying,  They  ihould 
 not  be  taken  off,  if  the  lice  did  eat  us  up. 
 And  Chriftopher  Serle,  the  uncler-keeper,  faid, 
 They  mould  rot  off  our  backs  flrit,  except 
 we  confeffed  we  had  done  him  wrong;  only 
 for  fpeaking  to  him  when  he  was  going  to 
 put  a  bolt  on  a  man's  arm  that  was  too  little. 
 »So  that  every  one  could  tyrannize  then ;  but 
 
 X  they 
 
(    3°6    ) 
 
 they  all  paid  dear  for  their  wickednefs,  as  will- 
 appear  hereafter.  Nor  could  we  put  off  our 
 clothes  at  night,  but  from  one  arm,  and  let 
 them  hang  on  the  other;  fo  that  we  could  not 
 turn,  but  lay  moflly  on  one  fide,  being  linked 
 together,  which  was  very  tedious  in  the  heat 
 of  fummer:  and  that  which  troubled  us  much 
 alio  was,  to  anfwer  people  that  came  into  the 
 prifon,  what  we  were  put  in  or  hand-bolted 
 for,  thinking  it  was  on  the  duke  of  Mon- 
 mouth's account,  till  we  informed  them  of 
 the  caufe  of  it. 
 
 But  at  three  weeks  end  came  Jofeph  New- 
 berry, and  fpoke  to  me  about  my  books,  which 
 by  this  time,  I  fuppofe,  was  become  a  burthen 
 to  him;  pretending  I  mould  go  up  in  town 
 along  with  him.  However  that  the  irons  fhould 
 be  taken  off  to  change,  which  they  only 
 were,  and  put  on  again  on  the  other  hands; 
 fo  fulfilling  that  fcripture,  "  The  tender  mer- 
 "  cies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel,"  Prov.  xii.  10. 
 But  underftanding  the  under-keeper,  Serle, 
 had  obftru6ted  my  going  up  with  Newberry, 
 I  writ  a  few  lines  to  him,  to  remind  him 
 of  his  promife ;  whereupon  he  fent  for  me, 
 and  ordered  the  irons  to  be  taken  off.  When 
 I  came  to  his  houfe,  he  fetched  my  books 
 and  opened  them,  but  could  find  no  treafon 
 in  them;  fo  gave  them  me,  only  kept  one  o£ 
 two  for  his  own  reading.  I  carried  them  to 
 my  chamber,  and  going  over  to  t,he  ward  again 
 
 (as 
 
(     307     ) 
 
 (as  Newberry  advifed  me,  upon  my  afking 
 him  whether  I  mull  or  no,  though  he  con- 
 fented  that  the  irons  mould  be  left  off)  I  met 
 Davis  in  the  entry,  who  admired  to  fee  me 
 without  the  irons,  and  called  the  under-keeper 
 to  know  how  my  irons  came  off.  He  faid, 
 his  uncle  ordered  it.  So  he  commanded  them 
 to  b  -  put  on  again ;  and  fo  we  remained, 
 linked  together  as  before,  about  two  weeks 
 longer,  in  all  five  weeks  and  three  days,  in 
 the  heat  of  fiimmer,  which  in  that  time  galled 
 both  my  hand-wrifts  that  the  Ikin  ftripped 
 off;  but  after  a-whiie  they  hardened,  fo  that 
 it  grew  mere  eafy.  And  through  the  good- 
 nefs  and  mercy  cf  God  (who  was  near  us, 
 and  fuftained  us  with  the  comfort  of  his  holy 
 Spirit)  we  enjoyed  our  health  very  well  alio, 
 though  thronged  up  fo  clofe  in  hot  weather; 
 and  one  fick  of  a  fever  juft  by  us  in  the  fame 
 room,  and  in  danger  of  the  finall-pox,  and 
 lay  on  ftraw  all  that  time,  being  loath  to  have 
 in  our  beds  to  gratify  them,  by  reafon  Davis 
 watched  to  make  a  prey  on  us,  becaufe  we 
 could  not  give  him  money  while  we  were 
 under  reftraint:  yea,  fo  wicked  was  he,  that 
 after  the  irons  had  been  on  five  weeks,  when 
 one  intreated  him  to  take  them  off,  he  faid, 
 Iffelme.  ne  had  e'er  a  drop  i  :c  blood  in  his 
 body  that  Lad  any  pity  for  us,  he  would  take 
 1  -=-fe  and  let  it  out.  Yea,  but  the  day  be- 
 fore they  were  taken  off,  he  could  by  no  means 
 
 X  2  be 
 
(     3°S     ) 
 
 be  perfuaded  to  it,   though  he  could  alledge 
 nothing  againft  us  ;  yet  the  next  day,  having 
 wearied  out  his  cruelty  by  our  patient  iuf- 
 fering,    when    he   could   hold  us  no  longer, 
 he  ordered  them  to  be  taken  off,  and  we  to 
 be  let  up   among    the   reft    of  friends.     To 
 God  alone  be  the  glory  of  it  afcribed,  who 
 forgets   not  his  people   in   their    low    eftate, 
 nor  leaves  them  in  the  deepeft  fuffering,  but 
 brings  deliverance  in  its  feafon;  for  he  it  is 
 that  bounds  the  fea,  that   it   cannot  pafs  its 
 limits;  fo  that  the  "  wrath  of  man  mall  praife 
 *'  him,  and  the  remainder  he  will  reftrain," 
 Pfal.  lxxvi.  10.  and  make  "  all  things  work 
 *'  together  for  good,  to  them  that  love  him," 
 Rom.  viii.  28.     For  though  we  had  not  re- 
 ceived   any    fuch    ufage     before    for    many 
 years,    (only    two    friends,    John    Anderdon 
 and  R.  Lincoln,  were  ironed  together  in  the 
 great  perfecution  after  the  king  came  in)  yet 
 ,  I  hope  there  might  be  a  fervice  in  it  to  us 
 and  others ;  for  we   (landing  it  cut,  and  not 
 bowing  to  their  corrupt  wills,  in  giving  them 
 money  when  they  did  not  deferve  any,  made 
 the  Prefbyterians  wifh  they  could  do  fo  too ; 
 but  "  their  rock  was  not  as   our  rock,   even 
 "  our    enemies    themfelves    being    judges," 
 Deut.  xxxii.  31.     After  our  irons  were  taken 
 off,   Newberry  called  to  me   one   day,    as   I 
 was   walking  in   the   court,    and    afked    me 
 pleaiantly,  if  I  had  got  Ned  Davis's   good- 
 will 
 
(    3°9    ) 
 
 •will  at  laft,  as  if  I  had  his  before;  and  in- 
 deed, to  give  him  his  due,  I  believe  he  had 
 as  lief  they  had  been  off  fooner ;  for  when 
 he  eame  and  law  them  on  again,  (after  I 
 had  been  at  his  houfe)  he  afked  me  how  it 
 happened,  faying,  He  ordered  them  to  be 
 kept  off.  I  told  him,  It  was  no  occafion 
 of  ours,  and  that  he  had  as  much  power  to 
 order  it  ftill;  yet  it  would  not  do  till  Davis 
 did  it,  who  over-topped  him  :  and  when  they 
 were,  we  remained  clofe  prifoners  ftill  in  the 
 ward,  Davis  continuing  very  high  and  wick- 
 ed againft  friends,  threatening  what  he  would 
 do,  becaufe  he  had  not  his  will  of  them  ; 
 and  would  fain  have  done  fome  of  us  a  mif- 
 chief  upon  the  duke's  account,  if  he  could  j 
 but  the  Lord  preferved  and  covered  friends 
 from  the  enemy  and  the  avenger,  Pfal.  viii. 
 2.  And  though  we  were  *'  numbered  a- 
 "  mong  tranfgrefTors,"  and  made  as  a  re- 
 proach to  others,  yet  we  had  no  caufe  to 
 complain,  having  the  reward  of  peace  in  our 
 own  bofoms,  it  being  not  for  evil-doing ; 
 committing  our  caufe  to  the  Lord  in  well-* 
 doing,  who  knows  the  hearts  of  all,  and  will 
 reward  every  one  accordingly,  and  "  recom- 
 "  pence  tribulation  to  them  that  trouble  us ; 
 "  and  to  them  who  are  troubled,  reft  with 
 '*  him,"  2  Theff.  i.  6,  7.  To  whom  I  dedi- 
 cate the  remainder  of  my  days,  clearing  I 
 may  be  freely  given  up  to  do  his  will,  and  an- 
 X  3  fwer 
 
(     3IQ     ) 
 
 fwer  his  requirings  in  all  things,  and  ferve 
 him  in  my  generation,  fo  as  to  live  in  hi3 
 fear,  and  die  in  his  favour ;  and  that  I  may 
 walk  worthy  of  all  his  mercies,  and  mani- 
 fold loving-kindneiTes  towards  me,  who  hath 
 been  fo  gracious  in  preferving  me  in  many 
 dangers  and  difficulties,  and  carrying  me 
 through  many  exercifes  and  cloudy  days,  for 
 which  I  render  him  the  praife,  who  is  wor- 
 thy of  all  honour,  glory,  and  renown,  from 
 them  that  know  him,  and  his  fatherly  deal- 
 ings with  them,  for  evermore.  Amen,  faith 
 my  foul. 
 
 John  Whiting, 
 
 Ivelchefter-Ward,  the  place 
 of  my  clofe,  but  caufeiefs, 
 confinement, the  3<iof  the 
 7th  month,  1685. 
 
 Some 
 
{     3ii     ) 
 
 Some    PRISON    MEDITATIONS, 
 
 Written  in  the  Time  of  my  clofe  Confinement 
 in  the  Ward. 
 
 I. 
 
 /~vH  !  thou  blefs'd  power, 
 ^^  How  wonderful  art  thou  ! 
 All  in  heaven  and  earth 
 To  thee  muft  truly  bow. 
 
 II. 
 
 Thy  power  is  over  all, 
 
 Thy  prefence  fills  all  things ; 
 
 Thy  life  thofe  never  fail, 
 
 "Who  know  the  living  fprings. 
 
 III. 
 
 Thy  power  hath  conftrain'd  me 
 To  turn,  Lord,  unto  theej 
 
 Thy  love  hath  o'ercome  me, 
 To  whom  I  bow  the  knee, 
 
 IV. 
 
 All  power's  in  thy  hand, 
 
 Who  doll  whate'er  thou  pleafes 
 
 Amongft  the  fons  of  men, 
 And  can'fl   heal  ail  difeafes. 
 
 X  4  V.  Of 
 
(      312       ) 
 
 V. 
 
 Of  body  and  of  mind, 
 
 And  whatfoe'er  is  wrong, 
 Thou  foon  can'ft  rectify, 
 
 And  make  the  feeble  ftrong„ 
 
 VI. 
 
 Thy  mercies  never  fail 
 
 Thofe  that  do  truft  in  thee  °, 
 
 Thy  grace  appears  to  all. 
 Even  as  it  did  to  me. 
 
 VII. 
 
 To  fave  them  from  their  fins, 
 And  cleanfe  them  from  the  fame,, 
 
 That  in  thy  love  may  flow, 
 And  they  may  praife  thy  name, 
 
 vm. 
 
 Even  thou  alone  art  he, 
 
 Who  didft  my  ways  amends 
 "Who  vifitedfl  me  betimes, 
 
 And  made  me  to  thee  bend. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Thou  hah1:  preferved  me 
 
 In  many  dangers  great, 
 That  I  might  never  fall, 
 
 But  to  thy  mercy  feat. 
 
 X.  When 
 
(     3*3     5 
 
 X. 
 
 When  in  the  prifon-houfe 
 
 I  have  been  clofe  confin'd, 
 And  had  no  comfort  elfe, 
 
 Thou  haft  refrefh'd  my  mind. 
 
 XI. 
 
 When  I  have  cry'd  to  thee 
 
 In  time  of  deep  diftrefs, 
 Even  then  thou  heardeft  me, 
 
 And  fendedft  in  redrefs. 
 
 XII. 
 
 When  keepers  curfe  and  (wear, 
 
 And  threaten  very  fore, 
 That  there  I  lhould  abide, 
 
 And  lhould  come  forth  no  more. 
 
 XIII. 
 Then  1  have  figh'd  to  thee 
 
 To  help  and  fuccour  me, 
 Who  opes*  the  prifon  doors 
 
 And  fet'fl:  the  captives  free. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 When  prifoners  fing  and  roar, 
 
 Which  grieveth  me  to  hear, 
 My  foul  retires  to  thee, 
 
 To  feel  thy  prefence  near. 
 
 XV.  For 
 
I    3*4    ) 
 
 XV. 
 For  thou  alone  fupport'ft, 
 
 And  carried  over  all, 
 Whatever  thine  meet  with, 
 
 That  they  may  never  fall. 
 
 XVI. 
 Therefore  I'll  fing  of  thee, 
 
 Who  'n  time  of  need  haft  been 
 Above  all  earthly  things, 
 
 E'en  as  I've  clearly  feen. 
 
 XVII. 
 Wherefore  I'll  lowly  dwell, 
 
 While  others  foar  on  high 
 Vain  glory  to  obtain; 
 
 Let  me  in  private  lie. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Out  of  the  view  of  others, 
 
 And  of  the  world,  uafoen 
 And  unconcern'd  therein, 
 
 As  though  I  ne'er  had  been. 
 
 XIX. 
 And  fo  in  fweet  repofe 
 
 And  quiet  pafs  my  days, 
 Retiring  flill  to  thee, 
 
 To  whom  be  all  the  praife. 
 
 XX.  Lord 
 
(    vs    ) 
 
 XX. 
 
 Lord,  keep  me  in  thy  fear, 
 
 From  ev'ry  evil  way, 
 That  I  may  reft  in  peace 
 
 For  evermore,  I  pray. 
 
 j-  m 
 
 To  which  I  added  on  Pfalm  cxxvi.  5,  6. 
 
 Though  we  may  go  forth  weeping, 
 Bearing  precious  feed, 
 
 And  fowing  it  with  tears; 
 Yet  fhall  we  return  reaping 
 An  hundred  fold,  indeed, 
 In  everlafting  years. 
 
 And  thofe  words  of  David  were  often  a 
 comfort  to  me. 
 
 '*  If  it  had  not  been  the  Lord,  who  was 
 <c  on  our  fide,  now  may  Ifrael  fay,  If  it  had 
 "  not  been  the  Lord,  who  was  on  our  fide, 
 "  when  men  rofe  up  againft  us,  then  they 
 "  had  fwallowed  us  up  quick,  when  their 
 **  wrath  was  kindled  againft  us  :  then  the 
 "  waters  had  overwhelmed  us,  the  ftream 
 "  had  gone  over  our  foul,"  &c.  Pf.  cxxiv. 
 l>  2,  3,  4. 
 
 Not 
 
(    3'6    ) 
 
 Not  long  after  this,  while  I  was  yet  con- 
 fined in  the  ward,  my  adverfary,  Edward 
 Ancketyll,  died  the  27th  of  September,  being 
 taken  in  a  fit  of  an  apoplexy,  as  was  thought ; 
 and  being  frightened  by  his  children  to  bring 
 him  out  of  it,  he  lived  in  a  kind  of  difcom- 
 pofed  condition  till  next  day,  and  then  died ; 
 i'o  fulfilling  what  I  writ  to  him  in  my  letter 
 aforefaid,  That  the  Lord  would  vifit  for 
 thefe  things,  and  that  his  head  would  hardly 
 go  down  to  the  grave  in  peace,  except  he 
 repented;  which  did  not  appear  that  he  did, 
 but  continued  in  hardnefs  towards  me  to  the 
 laft,  as  far  as  ever  I  heard,  notwithstanding 
 my  long  and  deep  fuffering  on  his  account, 
 which  he  could  not  be  ignorant  of,  and  which 
 one  would  think  might  have  made  him  relent 
 a  little :  but  fince  he  did  not,  I  cannot  but  re- 
 mark the  Lord's  fignal  dealing  with  him,  and 
 other  of  my  adverfaries,  (of  which  there  were 
 not  a  few  inftances,  as  will  further  appear) 
 though  I  never  rejoiced  at  their  fall,  but  rather 
 was  lorry  for  it,  being  kept  in  the  innocency 
 towards  them ;  and  defired  their  repentance, 
 rather  than  that  the  evil  day  fhould  overtake 
 them,  though  aiTu redly  the  "  wicked  ftand  in 
 "  flippery  places,  and  their  foot  will  Hide  in 
 "  due  time,  for  the  day  of  their  calamity  is 
 "  at  hand,  and  the  things  that  Ihall  come 
 "  upon  them  make  hafte,"  Pfal.  Ixxiii.  18. 
 Deut.  xxxii.  35.  and   I  only  mention  it  for  a 
 
 warning 
 
(    317    ) 
 
 warning  to  others,  that  they  might  not  hard- 
 en their  hearts,  and  "  becaufe  judgment  is 
 "  not  executed  fpeedily,"  Ecclef.  viii.  n.  do 
 the  more  wickedly,  as  I  doubt  many  have 
 done  to  their  own  undoing;  for  though  the 
 Lord  (who  is  a  "  God,  gracious  and  merciful, 
 "  flow  to  anger  and  of  great  kindnefs,"  Joel 
 ii.  13.)  may  bear  long,  yet  he  will  not  "  let 
 "  the  wicked  go  unpunifhed,"  Prov.  xi.  21. 
 And  this  Edward  Ancketyll,  though  he  had, 
 as  I  hinted  before,  feveral  benefices  or  places, 
 to  the  value  of  about  300 1.  per  annum,  yet  he 
 could  hardly  live  on  this  income,  though  fo 
 great;  and  at  laft  died  poor,  and  left  little  to 
 his  children,  who  came  to  little  alfo.  His 
 eldeft  fon,  Nicholas,  (who  was  my  fchool- 
 fellow)  whom  he  defigned  to  make  a  prieft, 
 afterwards,  on  fome  occafion  or  other,  fell  di- 
 ffracted, as  I  heard;  and  after  that  went  to 
 fea  (I  think)  and  was  never  heard  of  fince, 
 that  I  remember.  His  fecond  fon,  Edward, 
 a  pretty  lad,  who  alfo  went  to  fchool  with  me 
 to  learn  grammar,  was  afterwards  fent  to  the 
 univerfity  to  be  bred  a  prieft ;  and  then  wTas 
 put  into  the  prieft's  office  at  Clapton,  one  of 
 his  father's  benefices,  which  he  gave  him  for 
 want  of  a  better,  or  at  lead  he  was  curate  there; 
 grew  fo  poor,  that,  as  it  was  reported,  he  had 
 hardly  clothes  fit  to  go  into  the  pulpit :  to  be 
 fure  he  was  very  poor,  and  it  is  well  if  he  did 
 not  want  bread;  which  I  do  not  write  in  any 
 
 ill-will 
 
(    3»8    ) 
 
 ill-will  to  him,  for  I  always  loved  him  and 
 pitied  him,  but  only  to  mew  how  ill  they 
 thrive,  and  wifh  they  (/.  e.  the  priefts)  would 
 leave  off  the  gain  of  oppreffion,  and  be  con- 
 tent with  what  people  would  give  them,  or 
 pay  them  freely  that  hear  them,  and  not  force 
 others  that  cannot.  I  believe  they  would 
 thrive  never  the  worfe,  and  that  it  would  fit 
 ealier  upon  their  confciences,  and  they  would 
 have  lefs  to  anfwer  for  in  the  day  or  account. 
 
 Then  for  prieft  Still,  who  married  one  of 
 the  old  man's  daughters,  and  was  curate  under 
 him  in  his  life-time,  who  was  thought  to  be 
 a  chief  promoter  of  my  profecution  in  the  bi- 
 ihop's  court  and  imprifonment  thereupon ; 
 being  an  envious  proud  man,  which  I  never 
 took  the  old  man  to  be  naturally,  but  as  ftirred 
 up  by  others.  This  Samuel  Still,  being  prieft 
 of  Wraxall  after  him  fome  years  after,  having 
 been  at  Briftol,  in  order  to  profecute  fome 
 friends  in  the  exchequer  for  tithes,  (of  whom 
 my  brother  Bryant  was  one,  and  two  or  Lhree 
 more)  coming  home,  having  been  drinking 
 and  fporting  at  Faylan's-Inn  by  the  way,  very 
 unlike  a  minifter  of  Chrift:  coming  down  the 
 hill  near  his  houfe,  which  lay  juft  under  it, 
 his  horfe  flipped  or  (tumbled  with  him,  lb 
 that  he  fell  and  broke  his  neck,  as  was 
 thought,  for  he  died  with  it,  which  was  fo 
 remarkable,    that  it  was  much   taken  notice 
 
 pf. 
 
 But 
 
(    3^9    ) 
 
 But  though  my  adverfary  was  dead,  I  was 
 not  yet  difcharged,  but  continued  on  the  bi- 
 fhop's  excommunication  (till  (being  the  king's 
 prifoner)  clofe  confined  in  the  ward,  as  I  faid; 
 though  I  thought,  after  our  irons  were  taken 
 off,  and  we  let  up  among  the  reft  of  friends, 
 we  ihould  have  had  liberty  to  go  out  without 
 much  more  ado;  but  the  waters  were  yet  too 
 high,  for  as  our  refufing  to  give  the  keepers 
 money,  was  the  occafion  of  our  being  fhut 
 up  and  ironed  ;  fo  becaufe  we  ftill  refuied  to 
 gratify  them  in  that  refpect,  while  we  were 
 kept  under  reftraint,  left  it  fhould  be  an  ill 
 precedent  in  time  to  come ;  which  I  and  my 
 late  yoke-fellow,  John  Hipfley,  refufing  to- 
 do,  confiderlng  the  late  ufage  we  had,  Davis 
 grew  wroth  with  us,  threatening  to  put  us 
 down  in  the  common-gaol,  or  into  the  ward 
 again,  among  them  that  were  fick  of  the 
 fmall-pox  ;  and  to  iron  us  again,  fetching  the 
 irons  in  order  to  do  it,  or  to  terrify  us;  which 
 ftruck  the  unaer-keeper,  Chriftopher  Serle, 
 v  .ofe  heart  was  fomewhat  bowed,  that  he 
 came  running  up  flairs  to  me,  begging  me  to 
 comply,  faying,  It  was  as  bad  ac  murder,  to 
 put  us  frefti  men  in  among  the  fick  men,  and 
 I  at  he  had  rather  give  20  s.  out  of  his  own 
 pocket,  I  told  him,  if  they  left  us  to  our  li- 
 berty, we  fhould  net  be  ungrateful;  but  while 
 we  were  kept  there  under  lock,  we  could  not 
 do  it.     So  he  went  down,  and,  as  we  under- 
 
 ftood 
 
(     32°     ) 
 
 flood  after,  gave  Davis  money  without  any 
 confent  of  ours,  as  he  confelTed ;  fo  we  were 
 not  put  into  the  ward,  but  kept  where  we 
 were  after  others  were  let  out,  till  the  fmall- 
 pox  broke  out  amongft  us  alfo;  yet  ftilltruft- 
 ing  in  the  Lord  to  preferve  us  :  out  my  com- 
 panion not  having  had  it,  had  a  mind  to  fpeak 
 to  Davis ;  which  he  did  one  night,  and  he  let 
 him  out:  but  I  and  fome  others  ftill remained, 
 (one  of  which  had  the  fmall-pox  as  aforefaid) 
 but  the  Lord  kept  me  in  patience,  if  it  was  his 
 will  that  I  mould  lay  down  my  life  there;  but 
 my  friend,  J.  Hipiley,  was  defirous  I  Ihould 
 fpeak  to  Davis  alfo,  thinking  if  I  did,  he  would 
 let  me  out  too;  which,  to  leave  him  without 
 excufe,  I  did  the  next  evening:  but  he  was 
 ftill  very  crofs  and  untoward  to  me,  and  would 
 not  confent  to  my  going  out,  but  feemed  re- 
 iblved  to  keep  me  there,  faying,  That  we 
 would  be  fingular  above  the  reft,  and  that  I 
 was  too  proud  to  fpeak  to  him.  I  told  him 
 we  had  but  little  encouragement,  for  when  we 
 did,  it  was  to  little  purpofe,  having  nothing 
 but  ill  names  and  language  from  him,  that  we 
 could  not  have  any  fober  difcourfe  with  him. 
 So  I  faw  little  likelihood  of  my  going  out, 
 but  committed  my  caufe  to  the  Lord,  and 
 gave  up  myfelf  to  fuffer,  believing  it  would 
 not  be  long;  and  as  I  was  freely  given  up, 
 and  refigned  to  the  will  of  God,  it  was  fo  or- 
 dered by  the  Great  Difpofer,  who  can  turn 
 
 the 
 
(       3^1       ) 
 
 the  hearts  of  men  in  a  moment,  that  the  next 
 day  they  agreed  to  let  me  out  alfo,  feeing  they 
 could  get  nothing  of  me  there ;  and  fo  fent 
 for  me  down,  and  ordered  me  to  go  forth 
 after  two  months  more;  in  all,  about  thirteen 
 weeks  from  our  fir  ft  confinement;  and  fo  was 
 admitted  to  my  former  liberty  of  the  town, 
 and  went  to  my  chamber  again  in  great  peace, 
 without  giving  them  a  farthing  (though  I  did 
 the  under-keeper  after)  and  faw  it  was  good 
 to  be  faithful.  To  God  alone  I  afcribe  it, 
 who  hath  hitherto  helped,  and  thus  far  pre- 
 ferved  me,  and  given  me  peace;  bleifed  and 
 magnified  be  his  holy  name  for   ever. 
 
 But  now  to  look  a  little  back,  the  dread- 
 ful fcene  follows :  The  affizes  began  in  the 
 feventh  month,  both  at  Taunton  and  Wells, 
 by  fpecial  commiffion  to  that  tyrannical  judge, 
 George  Jefferys,  lord  chief  jufcice,  &c.  for 
 the  trying  the  duke  of  Monmouth's  men, 
 (for  the  duke  they  had  taken  and  beheaded 
 before)  where  there  were  above  500  prifon- 
 ers  from  the  feveral  gaols  of  the  county;  and 
 many  were  had  in  carts  from  Ivelchefter  to 
 Wells;  molt  of  them  were  condemned,  even 
 by  wholefale,  Jefferys  making  what  hafte  he 
 could,  not  regarding  how  he  threw  away 
 mens  lives,  or  run  over  them  to  haften  home 
 to  the  king  at  Windfor,  to  be  made  lord 
 chancellor;  having  done  the  work  he  was 
 fent  about,  of  which  he  was  admonifhed,  as 
 I  have  heard,   by  a  fober   man,    before    he 
 
 J  went 
 
(     3*2     ) 
 
 went  the  circuit,  to  fhew  mercy  as  he  ex- 
 pected it  another  day;  which  he  then  flight- 
 ed, but  wifhed  afterwards,  in  his  agonies, 
 that  he  had  taken  his  advice.  Many  were 
 executed,  and  their  heads  and  quarters  fet 
 up  on  trees,  poles,  5cc.  in  moft  of  the  high- 
 ways in  this  county,  Dorfet,  and  Devonfhire, 
 to  the  terror  of  travelleis,  being  dreadful  to 
 behold  ;  and  many  were  tranfported  :  Some 
 wheedled  out  of  their  lives,  and  others  terri- 
 fied to  confefs  in  hopes  of  pardon,  and  then 
 hanged,  whom  otherwile  they  could  have 
 had  little  againft;  in  relation  to  which  I  can- 
 not forbear  to  mention  what  I  obferved  paMed 
 at  Ivelchefter,  while  I  was  a  prifoner  in  the 
 ward:  There  came  David  Trimm,  of  Wells, 
 and  took  account  of  the  prifoners,  (which 
 perhaps  was  his  place,  as  county-clerk,  to  do) 
 with  the  caufes  of  their  commitment;  but  not 
 only  fo,  but  wheedled  them  to  confefs  how 
 far  they  were  concerned;  pretending,  if  they 
 would  confefs,  they  would  do  them  all  the 
 ktndnefs  they  could  at  the  affizes ;  fo  drew 
 out  of  them  what  they  could,  under  hopes  of 
 favour,  and  then  went  in  and  writ  down  their 
 examinations;  which  I  was  an  eye-witnefs  of, 
 and  which,  if  they  had  denied  at  the  affizes,  or 
 pleaded  not  guilty,  would  have  been  pro- 
 duced as  evidence  againrt  them;  and,  as  re- 
 ported, was.  The  like  they  did  at  the  com- 
 mon gaol ;  and  though  fome  endeavoured  to 
 excufe  themielves  of  the  guilt  of  the  poor 
 
 mens 
 
(   r-3   ) 
 
 mens  blood,  when  they  faw  it  fall  fo  heavy, 
 (fome  hanged  for  a  little  hay,  or  letting  them 
 have  a  little  victuals,  which  perhaps  was  not 
 in  their  power  to  hinder)  and  afterwards  lay 
 the  blame  on  king  James  and  JefFerys;  yet  it 
 was  fuch  a  piece  of  treachery  to  betray  them 
 out  of  their  lives,  that  I  know  not  how  they 
 can  acquit  themfelves  of,  or  who  could  force 
 them  to  it,  if  they  had  not  been  as  willing 
 and  forward  as  their  mafters,  which  I  men- 
 tion to  fhew  how  much  better  it  is  to  mew 
 mercy  than  feverity.  There  were  eight  exe- 
 cuted, quartered,  and  their  bowels  burnt  on 
 the  market-place  before  our  prifon  window. 
 I  went  out  of  the  way  becaufe  I  would  not 
 fee  it,  but  the  fire  was  not  out  when  I  return- 
 ed; and  they  forced  poor  men  to  hale  about 
 mens  quarters,  like  horfe-flefh  or  carrion,  to 
 boil  and  hang  them  up  as  monuments  of 
 their  cruelty  and  inhumanity,  for  the  terror  of 
 others,  which  loft  king  James  the  hearts  of 
 many;  and  it  had  been  well  he  had  lhewed 
 mercy  when  it  was  in  his  power;  or  made 
 examples  of  thofe  inhuman  wretches,  JefFerys 
 and  Kirk,  who  hanged  men  in  cold  blood ; 
 though  he  pardoned  a  great  many  afterwards, 
 of  which  hereafter. 
 
 Now  as  to  the  keepers,  Jofeph  Newberry 
 aforefaid,  whom  I  never  counted  the  wOrft  of 
 them,  though  he  was  bad  enough,  but  his  an- 
 ger would  be  fooner  over  than  Davis's.     He 
 
 Y  2  had 
 
(     3H    ) 
 
 Davis  had  a  pretended  Quaker,  but  botli 
 apoftatized  to  that  degree  from  their  religion 
 (if  they  had  ever  any,  which,  by  the  latter 
 part  of  their  lives,  it  would  make  one  ques- 
 tion whether  they  had  or  no)  that  Newberry, 
 after  he  came  to  be  keeper,  grew  very  de- 
 bauched and  wicked,  as  well  as  Davis,  and 
 was  acceflary  to  our  ironing  as  aforefaid,  but 
 was  not  long  after  ironed  himfelf  at  Well's 
 affizes,  about  Monmouth's  men  as  they  faid  ; 
 and  was  now  made  Davis's  drudge,  to  go 
 about  with  the  condemned  men  to  the  feve- 
 ral  towns  over  the  county,  where  they  were 
 to  be  executed,  to  fee  it  done ;  and  foon 
 after  he  had  done  his  work,  and  returned 
 home,  he  was  taken  fick,  and  died  in  a  fid 
 condition;  being  taken  with  an  extreme  palfy 
 all  over  his  body,  that  he  ihook  like  an  afpin 
 leaf;  curling,  fwearing,  and  telling  of  the 
 devil,  in  a  dreadful  manner;  the  fiefh  of  his 
 back  rotting  as  he  lay,  they  faid  :  and  he, 
 that  when  he  was  told  our  hands  fwelled  with 
 the  irons,  faid,  if  our  hearts  did  fwell  he  did 
 not  care;  now  his  tongue  fwelled  in  (if  not  out 
 of)  his  mouth,  and  was  black,  and  fo  he  died 
 milerably  the  ioth  of  the  ioth  month.  "The 
 "  Lord  is  juft  in  all  his  ways,  and  righteous 
 "  in  all  his  judgments ;  who  would  not  fear 
 "  before  thee,  O  thou  King  of  Saints !  be- 
 Ci  caufe  thy  judgments  are  made  manifeft;" 
 
 had 
 
(    r-s    ) 
 
 had  been  a  baptift  and  a  preacher  too,  as 
 Rev.  xv.  3,  4.  and  yet  the  wicked  will  know 
 no  ihame. 
 
 And  for  Edward  Davis,  whofe  wickednefs 
 is  fo  often  before  mentioned,  that  it  is  need- 
 lefs  to  rehearfe  it,  or  what  he  was,  his  deeds 
 declared  him.  He  was  one  of  the  wickedeft 
 men  that  ever  I  knew,  and  even  gloried  in  his 
 wickednefs ;  and  though  he  furvived  New- 
 berry, yet  afterwards  he  was  turned  out  of  the 
 gaol,  which  was  foon  after.  He  grew  very 
 poor,  though  he  ufed  to  boaft  of  his  giving  two 
 hundred  guineas  for  the  gaol,  and  then  op- 
 prefs  the  poor  prifoners  to  get  it  out  of  them 
 again:  it  all  wafted  away:  and  after  his  wife 
 died,  (who  was  an  honefh  friend,  and  fo  were 
 fome  of  his  daughters,  though  he  almoft  di- 
 ilracled  them  with  his  wickednefs)  he  dwelt 
 alone,  for  his  daughters  could  not  live  with 
 him,  only  one  of  his  baftards,  that  ufed  to  break 
 hedge  and  fteal  wood  for  him  for  fire ;  but 
 what  they  did  for  vidtuals,  I  cannot  tell.  He 
 kept  his  houfe  as  his  caftle,  and  flood  on  his 
 guard  for  fear  of  being  arrefted  for  debt ;  and 
 I  heard  he  was  cafl  into  gaol  for  debt,  and 
 afterwards  died  poor  and  miferable.  The 
 Lord  knows  how  to  deliver  the  righteous 
 in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  referve  the  wick- 
 ed unto  the  day  of  deftrudtion  to  be  pu- 
 niflied. 
 
 Y  x  And 
 
(     326    ) 
 
 And  as  to  Chriitopher  Serle,  the  under- 
 keeper,  his  inftrument  in  ironing  us,  and 
 other  wickednefs  as  aforefaid,  notwithftand- 
 ing  all  his  ill  gettings  alfo,  and  tyrannizing 
 over  poor  prifoners,  was  caft  into  prifon  for 
 debt,  within  a  year  I  think  after  he  was  out 
 of  his  place;  and  kept  a  whore  with  him  in 
 the  ward  where  we  were  prifoners;  and  was 
 fo  poor  and  milerable,  that,  as  I  was  told,  he 
 wanted  bread,  or  had  not  victuals  to  eat;  and 
 he  that  was  once  fo  proud  and  fcornful,  that 
 hardly  any  thing  was  good  enough  for  him, 
 would  now  have  been  glad  with  that  which 
 he  had  defpifed  :  fo  juft  is  the  Lord  to  render 
 to  every  man  according  to  his  works.  Oh 
 that  others  would  take  warning. 
 
 Now  to  come  to  fomething  better;  as  I  be- 
 gun this  year,  1685,  with  the  death  of  an  an- 
 cient man-friend,  fo  I  muft  end  it  with  that 
 of  a  young  woman,  who  was  as  extraordinary 
 of  her  age  as  moil  in  her  time,  and  that  is, 
 that  faithful  fervant  and  choice  handmaid  of 
 the  Lord,  Elizabeth  Bathurft,  daughter  of 
 Charles  Bathurft  of  London;  who  was  con- 
 vinced of  the  bleffed  truth,  and  brought  off, 
 with  her  brother  and  lifter  alfo,  from  among 
 the  Prefbyterians,  (among  whom  fhe  was* 
 though  young,  a  zealous  profefTor)  in  a  more 
 than  ordinary  manner,  about  the  year  1678; 
 though  fhe  had  feveral  opportunities  before  to 
 hear  truth's  teftimony,  yet  that  eye  was  not 
 yet  opened  in  her,  that  faw  between  things 
 
 that 
 
(     3^7    ) 
 
 that  differed :  but  on  a  time,  fome  friends  com- 
 ing in  the  love  of  God  to  vifit  her  father  and  mo- 
 ther, who  were  friends,  and  fitting  with  them 
 and  their  children,  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  was 
 manifefted  among  them,  and  a  vifitation  of 
 his  living  power  was  extended  to  them  ;  the 
 word  of  life  was  opened,  the  ancient  path  of 
 the  juft;  and  a  teftimony,  that  the  fet  time 
 was  come,  for  their  being  turned  from  dark- 
 nefs  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  to 
 the  power  of  the  living  God  :  and  as  the 
 way  of  life  was  opening  to  them,  the  power 
 of  the  Lord  fell  on  them,  the  youngeft  being 
 much  broken  and  trembled.  Elizabeth  was 
 about  to  make  fome  reply  to  Charles  Marfhal, 
 but  he  told  her,  The  day  of  the  Lord's  vifita- 
 tion was  upon  her,  it  was  hard  for  her  to 
 kick  againft  the  pricks :  me  burn:  out  into 
 abundance  of  tears,  and  all  of  them  were 
 greatly  bowed  down  before  the  Lord,  in  a 
 ienfe  of  the  Majefty  of  his  divine  power. 
 After  fome  time,  they  retired  to  their  cham- 
 bers, where  they  fpent  their  time  in  bowed- 
 nefs  of  foul,  feeking  after  favour  with  God ; 
 and  gave  up  in  obedience  to  the  teachings 
 of  the  heavenly  grace  of  God.  And  fweetly 
 did  this  handmaid  of  the  Lord  walk,  and  the 
 work  of  redemption  and  falvation  profpered; 
 and  was  cut  fhort  in  righteouihefs,  fo  that  ihe 
 became  one  of  the  wife  virgins,  and  had  oil 
 poured  into  her  lamp  that  ihined  bright;  and 
 an  increafe    of  wifdom    was    given    her    to 
 
 Y  4  fpeak 
 
(     3^3     ) 
 
 fpeak  a  word  in  due    feafon,  and  tell  what 
 God    had    done    for   her  foul.      And  in  the 
 8  th  month  the  fame  year,  in  obedience  to  the 
 Lord  in  fear  and  much  trembling,  fhe  went 
 with  a  meffage  to  Samuel  Anfley's   congre- 
 gation,   with  whom   fhe   had   been   in  com- 
 munion,  to   proclaim    his    univerfal   love   to 
 them,  in  oppofition   to   their  doctrine  of  re- 
 probation; and  to  invite  them  to  the  feafl  of 
 in-gathering,  that  fo  they  might  be  allured  to 
 turn  in  unto  him,  and  be  gathered  by  him  in 
 the  day  of  his  mercy,  &c.     After  which  Ihe 
 writ  an  expoftulatory  appeal  to  them  ;    and, 
 growing  in  the  truth,  Ihe  afterwards  writ  and 
 publifhed  the  next  year,  1679,  that  excellent 
 treatife,   entitled   *   Truth's   Vindication,'    in 
 three  parts  :   The  firft,  in  anfwer  to  fome  con- 
 troverted   points,    ranked    under    ten    heads. 
 The  fecond  treats  of  the  principle  of  truth, 
 viz.  the  light,  grace,  and  fpirit  of  God  within, 
 what  it  is,  from  whence  it  comes,  and  where- 
 to it  leads.     The   third,   is   a  confutation  of 
 peoples  falfe  opinions,  concerning  the  manner 
 how  we  have  been  convinced  of  the  principle 
 of  true  religion,  with   '  An  Epiftle  to  fuch  of 
 *  the  Friends  of  Chrift,   as  have  lately  been 
 c  convinced  of  the  Truth.'    This  treatife  was 
 fo  extraordinary,   both  for  depth   of  matter 
 and  expreffion,    that   fome  would  not  believe 
 that  it  was  written  by  her,  being  but  a  weakly 
 maid,  though  it  was  known  to  be  her  own 
 
 writing. 
 
(    3*9    ) 
 
 writing.  c  Not  in  affectation  to  be  popular 
 i  (fays  ine,  in  the  epiftle  dedicatory  to  her 
 1  five  friends}  for  that  I  do  not  defire,  but  in 
 
 *  obedience   to   Chrift   Jefus,    my  Lord  and 
 
 *  Matter,  have  I  penned  this  matter,  that  fo 
 1  the  innocency  of  his  truth  and  people  may 
 c  more  confpicuoufly  appear.  Neither  have 
 1  I  fondly  defired  to  get  my  name  in  print ; 
 '  for  it  is  not  inky  characters   can   make  a 
 
 *  faint;  fuch  muft  be  fanctified  and   cleanfed 
 
 *  in  body,  foul,  and  fpirit,  through  which  they 
 8  come  to  be  prepared  God's  kingdom  to  in- 
 '  herit.' 
 
 And  in  the  conclufion  of  the  fecond  part, 
 concerning  the  principle  of  truth,  fhe  fays, 
 '  Here  is  free  grace  indeed !  free  love  indeed ! 
 
 *  Oh  do  you  but  yield  yourfelves  the  fubjedts 
 
 *  of  his  love,  and  he  will  fet  your  fouls  at  li- 
 '  berty,  that  fin  fhall  not  have  dominion  over 
 '  you ;  only  obey  his  voice,  and  he  will  foon 
 '  fubdue  your  enemies  for  you,    and  remove 
 
 *  that  which  letteth  out  of  your  way ;  and 
 '  that  you  may  know  when  the  time  of  vifi- 
 '  tation  is  upon  you,  I'll  leave  this  mark  with 
 4  you,  even  then  when  you  feel  the  Son  of 
 '  God  knocking  at  the  door  of  your  hearts, 
 '  that  he  may  come  in  and  fup  with  you,  then 
 4  I  fay  is  the  time,  when  the  year  of  jubilee  is 
 
 *  approaching  to  you;  when  thofe  who  are  in 
 '  bondage  may  be  fet  at  liberty ;  which  if  you 
 '  refufe  to  accept  of,  and  will  not  be  fet  free, 
 
 *  when 
 
(     33°     ) 
 
 when  the  year  of  God's  releafe  is  proclaimed 
 unto  you,  how  can  you  expect  any  other, 
 but  that  your  fpiritual  tafk-mafter  will  ob- 
 tain leave  to  bore  your  ears  to  the  polls  of 
 his  doors,  and  make  you  his  fervants  for 
 ever;  therefore  bow  down  to  God's  power 
 in  you,  that  he  may  come  in  and  fet  up  his 
 judgment-feat  in  every  heart;  fo  fhall  you 
 feel  your  fouls  redeemed  out  of  the  earth, 
 and  earthly  nature;  after  which  you  will 
 feel  the  peace  of  God  to  be  extended  to- 
 wards you,  like  a  river;  but  if  you  rebel 
 againft  him,  you  fhall  dwell  in  a  dry  land, 
 and  fhall  not  fee  when  good  comes  :  how- 
 beit,  when  calamity  overtakes  you,  then 
 fhall  you  know  that  you  had  a  time,  you 
 had  a  feafon,  you  had  a  day  of  vilitation,  in 
 which  you  might  have  obtained  mercy; 
 would  you  have  turned  unto  God,  he 
 would  have  turned  unto  you,  and  put  his 
 fear  into  your  hearts,  and  blotted  out  your 
 tranfgreflions  for  his  own  name's  fake;  and 
 become  a  father  to  you,  and  you  mould 
 have  become  the  fons  and  daughters  of  the 
 Almighty.  O  come!  come  away,  hafte  out 
 of  Babylon,  while  the  deliverer  is  near  you, 
 fo  will  he  turn  back  your  captivity  like 
 rivers  in  the  fouth,  and  conduct  you  to  Ca- 
 naan, the  land  of  everlafting  reft,  where 
 praiies  fhall  fpring  up  in  your  fouls,  to  the 
 glory  of  his  name,  even  to  all  eternity;  and 
 with  tliis  I'll  leave  you/ 
 
 She 
 
(     33l     ) 
 
 She  afterwards  travelled  to  Briflol,  in  the 
 time  of  the  hotteft  perfecution  there  (1682)  ; 
 how  flie  efcaped  the  mouth  of  the  lion  and 
 paw  of  the  bear,  I  know  not,  but  by  the  pre- 
 ferring arm  of  the  Lord  that  carried  her  thi- 
 ther, to  bear  a  public  teftimony  for  his  name 
 and  truth;  as  alfo  in  her  journey  thither,  and 
 back  again  :  at  Windfor,  Reading,  Newberry, 
 Marlborough,  Oxford,  &c.  her  father  accom- 
 panying her.  After  which,  ihe  was  impri- 
 foned  in  the  Marfhalfea,  South wark;  but  the 
 Lord  gave  her  a  mouth  and  wifdom  to  anfwer 
 her  oppofers,  that  the  juftice  who  committed 
 her  thought  her  to  be  a  perfon  of  great  learn- 
 ing and  education.  Her  race  was  but  fliort 
 after  ihe  received  the  truth,  which  was  not 
 above  feven  years,  before  the  Lord  was  pleafed 
 to  take  her  to  himfelf.  She  ran  her  courfe  in 
 life's  way,  and  then  laid  down  her  head  in 
 peace  with  the  Lord,  enjoying  an  immortal 
 fabbath,  with  the  virtuous  "  King's  daughter, 
 "  who  is  all  glorious  within,  whofe  cloth- 
 "  ing  is  of  wrought  gold,"  Pfal.  xlv.  13. 
 tried  in  the  fire;  who  "  rejoice  in  God  their 
 "  Saviour,"  Luke  i.  47.  and  magnify  his 
 great  and  glorious  name,  wrho  is  worthy  for 
 ever.  She  died  in  the  Lord,  the  9th  of  the 
 10th  month,  1685,  and  left  a  fweet  favour 
 behind  her :  See  her  works,  entitled,  "  Truth 
 "  vindicated,"  and  "  Teflimonies  concerning 
 "  her,"  8vo. 
 
 But 
 
(     332     ) 
 
 But  as  for  us,  we  remained  prifoners  all 
 the  winter;  and  the  10th  of  the  firft  month, 
 1687,  king  James  put  forth  his  proclama- 
 tion of  general  pardon ;  which  though  it 
 had  many  exceptions  iri  it,  yet  it  reached 
 the  cafe  of  moft  of  us,  and  freed  abundance 
 of  Monmouth's  men,  who  had  lain  about  at 
 hide,  in  woods  and  places,  till  they  were 
 almoft  ftarved  many  of  them,  and  might  as 
 well  have  been  pardoned  before  winter,  if 
 fome  had  endeavoured  it,  as  much  as  they 
 did  to  take  away  their  lives.  And  the  af- 
 fizes  beginning  at  Wells,  the  30th  of  the 
 faid  firft  month,  (the  judges  being  entruft- 
 ed  to  put  the  faid  proclamation  in  execu- 
 tion) we  drew  up  a  paper  to  the  judges, 
 to  reprefent  our  cafe  to  them,  as  we  ufed 
 to  do  to  the  juftices  at  the  quarter-fefhons, 
 and  as  we  did  to  the  judges  at  the  lafl 
 fpring  affizes,  (though  it  had  not  then  the 
 defired  efFecl:  in  the  main,  as  this  now  had) 
 which  was  delivered  to  the  judges  as  fol- 
 lows : 
 
 To 
 
(     333     ) 
 
 To  Chief  Juftice  Herbert  and  Judge  Wright, 
 affigned  to  hold  Aflizes  and  Gaol-Delivery 
 for  the  Weftern  Circuit,  at  Wells,  for  the 
 County  of  Somerfet,  the  thirtieth  of  the 
 month  called  March,    1686. 
 
 Several  of  the  People  called  Quakers,  nozv 
 Prifoners   to   the  Gaol  at  Ivelchefer,    in 
 the  County  of  Somerfet,  on  behalf  of  them- 
 felves  and  many  others  of  the  fame  Peo- 
 ple, in  humility,  fezv, 
 
 "Xs HAT  fince  the  Wife  Difpofer  of  all 
 -■*  things  hath  ordered  your  employment 
 in  this  honourable  fervice,  to  relieve  the  op- 
 preffed  and  deliver  the  captives;  and  fince 
 king  James  II.  that  now  is,  hath  committed 
 part  of  his  clemency  to  your  cuflody,  to  di- 
 stribute the  fame,  according  as  the  Lord  hath 
 inclined  his  heart;  and  having  taken  particu- 
 lar notice  of  our  fufferings,  and  fignified  his 
 will  and  pleafure,  that  we,  the  people  com- 
 monly called  Quakers,  fhould  receive  the  full 
 benefit  of  his  general  pardon,  with  all  poffible 
 eafe :  which  grace  and  favour  we,  with  all 
 thankfulnefs,  acknowledge  to  God  as  the  chief 
 author,  who  hath  the  hearts  of  kings  at  his 
 dilpofal;  and  to  the  king,  as  being  ready  herein 
 to  mind  that  which  the  Lord  inclined  his 
 heart  unto;  and  not  without  hope,  to  find  the 
 
 like 
 
(     334     ) 
 
 like  opportunity  to  render  to  you  our  hearty 
 thanks,  for  the  full  accomplifhment  of  that 
 which  our  God  allows,  and  the  king  fo  rea- 
 dily grants  us.  And  alfo  hearing  the  report 
 of  your  nobility  and  moderation,  in  managing 
 this  weighty  truft  committed  to  you,  we  are 
 emboldened  thus  to  addrefs  ourfelves,  though 
 in  plainnefs  of  fpeech,  yet  in  fmcerity  of 
 heart ;  to  lay  before  you,  that  we  have  for 
 feveral  years  been  prifoners  to  the  gaol  afore- 
 faid;  not  for  any  plotting  againft  the  king  or 
 government,  or  harm  done  to  his  fubjects, 
 (our  peaceable  lives  have  manifefted  our  fide- 
 lity to  the  king,  and  love  to  our  neighbours, 
 it  being  contrary  to  our  principles  to  do  other- 
 wife^  but  only  for  confcience  fake,  becaufe, 
 in  obedience  to  Chrift  Jefus,  we  dare  not 
 fwear  at  all ;  or  forbear  to  worfhip  God,  as 
 he  hath  ordained,  nor  conform  to  thofe  wor- 
 {hips  which  we  have  no  faith  in;  which  to 
 omit  the  one,  or  pra&ife  the  other,  we  mould 
 therein  fin,  and  fo  wound  our  confciences,  and 
 break  our  peace  with  God;  and  what  good 
 then  mould  our  lives  do  us,  if  we  might 
 enjoy  never  fo  much  of  the  world's  favour 
 and  friendfhip  ? 
 
 Our  humble  requeft  therefore  to  you  is, 
 to  confider  and  companionate  our  fuf- 
 fering  condition,  and  improve  the  power 
 and  authority  that  God   and   the  king 
 
 hath 
 
(    335    ) 
 
 hath    entrufted    you    withal,    for    our 
 relief   and   liberty ;    we    ftill    refolving, 
 and   hoping,    through    God's   affiftance, 
 to   manifeft   our   fear    to   God,    honour 
 to    the    king,    and    honefty    to    all   his 
 fubjects,    by    our    godly,    humble,    and 
 peaceable  converfation.     The  particular 
 caufes   of  our   imprifonments  are  here- 
 with attefted,  under  our  keeper's  hand. 
 And   we   further  pray,   that   mercenary 
 informers  and  envious  profecutors  againfl 
 us,   only  for  confcience  fake,  may,  ac- 
 cording to  your  wifdom  and  prudence, 
 be    difcouraged    from    profecuting    fuch 
 actions,  by  which  many  induftrious  and 
 confcientious  families,  and  perfons,  are 
 in  danger  of  being  ruined ;    and  we  en- 
 couraged in  our  diligence  in  our  refpec- 
 tive  callings,    and  may  enjoy  the  benefit 
 of  our  induftry;  and  fo  fhall  we  be  the 
 better  enabled  to  perform  with  chearful- 
 nefs  the  duties  we  owe  to  God,  the  king, 
 and  all  men.     The  Lord  guide  you  in 
 judgment,   and  more  and   more  incline 
 your  hearts  to  love  mercy,  and  do  juftice, 
 and  grant  you  the  reward  thereof ;  which 
 is  truly  our  defire  and  prayer. 
 
 To  which  were  added  our  names,  with 
 the  caufes  and  time  of  oijr  imprifonment, 
 viz. 
 
 Chriflopher 
 
(     33^     ) 
 
 Chriitopher  Holder,  a  prifoner  4  years  and 
 9  months;  Richard  Grabham,  4  years;  Rufus 
 Coram,  4  years ;  John  Hipfley,  2  years  and 
 6  months;  and  Jafper  Batt,  2  years  and  4 
 months  :   on  praemunire. 
 
 John  Parfons,  10  years  and  4  months;  John 
 Chappel,  10  years  and  2  months;  Thomas 
 Powell,  9  years  and  7  months;  John  Whiting, 
 6  years  and  nine  months;  John  Allen,  6  years 
 and  9  months;  Thomas  Comb,  3  years  and 
 8  months;  and  Edmund  Chappel,  (laft  im- 
 prifonedj   2  years :  on  excommunication. 
 
 Marmaduke  Coat  (in  all)  15  years  and  5 
 months;  Wm.  Liddon,  15  years  and  2  months; 
 Thomas  Martin,  5  years  and  4  months ;  and 
 Vincent  Boldy,  above  1  year:  on  attachment, 
 &c.  for  tithes.* 
 
 The  abovefaid  paper  being  delivered  as  di- 
 rected, was  well  accepted  by  the  judges  ;  and 
 thereupon  we,  the  abovefaid  prifoners,  whofe 
 names  were  to  it,  were  difcharged  out  of  pri- 
 fon  by  chief  juftice  Herbert,  at  the  affizes  at 
 Wells  aforefaid,  and  recorded  on  the  calendar 
 difcharged.  Several  of  us  having  been  long 
 prifoners  for  the  teftimony  of  a  good  confci- 
 ence,  and  well  content  to  fill  up  the  meafure 
 of  our  fufferings,  whom  the  Lord  hath  now 
 fet  at  liberty;  glory  to  his  name  for  ever. 
 
 *  Several  being  difcharged  laft  fpring  affizes  at  Taunton, 
 and  others  by  death:  \Ve  were  now  reduced  to  a  lefier 
 number  than  we  had  been, 
 
 And 
 
(    337    ) 
 
 And  there  were  difcharged  at  Briftol  about 
 a  hundred,  raid  in  the  feveral  gaols  in  Eng- 
 land and  Wales;  in  all,  as  I  take  it,  about  i  ;oo 
 or  1400,  which,  though  I  have  not  the  par- 
 ticular account  from  each  county,  I  compute 
 it  thus.  There  was  prefented  to  the  king, 
 the  beginning  of  the  laft  year,  an  account 
 of  about  1383  preient  prifoners,  and  in  the 
 paper  to  the  biihops  1460,  with  fome  more 
 lately  added;  fo  that  allowing  100  might  now 
 remain  prifoners,  undifcharged,  in  the  feveral 
 counties;  being  on  procels  at  common  law, 
 or  other  procels  or  caufe  not  within  the  king's 
 proclamation,  and  fo  not  reached  by  it  (as 
 there  were  three  in  our  county)  :  the  number 
 difcharged  muft  be  about  1360,  or  1350,  I 
 fuppofe,  at  leaft.  So  that  we  may  fay  with 
 the  pfalmift, 
 
 "  When  the  Lord  bringeth  back  the  cap- 
 *'  tivity  of  his  people,  Jacob  mail  rejoice, 
 "  and  Ifrael  mall  be  glad,"  Pfal.  xiv.  7. 
 liii.  6. 
 
 "  When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  capti- 
 *'  vity  of  Zion,  we  were  like  them  that 
 "  dream.  Then  was  our  mouth  filled  with 
 "  laughter,  and  our  tongue  with  fmging ;  then 
 "  faid  they  among  the  heathen,  The  Lord  hath 
 **  done  great  things  for  them.  The  Lord 
 "  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we 
 "  are  glad."    cxxvi.    1,  2,  3. 
 
 Z  "  The 
 
(     333    ) 
 
 "  The  Lord  is  righteous,  he  hath  cut  afun- 
 "  der  the  cords  of  the  wicked,"  cxxix.  4. 
 
 "  Let  them  all  be  confounded  and  turned 
 "  back,  that,  hate  Zion,"  &c.  5.  Read  the 
 whole  pfalm. 
 
 There  now  remained  only  three  friends 
 priioners  at  Ivelchefter  for  confcience  fake, 
 viz.  Thomas  Hurd,  of  Somerton;  and  John 
 Wride  and  Robert.  Tutton,  of  Burnham ;  all 
 for  not  paying  tithes.  How  their  names  came 
 to  be  left  out  of  the  aforefaid  paper  to  the 
 judges,  or  of  being  difcharged,  I  am  not  cer- 
 tain, but  fuppofe  on  fome  procefs  which  the 
 proclamation  did  not  reach. 
 
 We  were  not  at  the  affizes  ourfelves,  being 
 twelve  miles  from  Ivelchefter;  but  our  names 
 and  caufes  were  in  the  callendar,  and  feveral 
 friends  were  appointed  to  attend  that  fervice 
 on  our  behalf. 
 
 And  fo  I  was  difcharged  at  the  fame  place 
 where  my  profecution  firft  began,  almoft  8 
 years  before,  after  I  had  been  a  prifoner  ieveii 
 years,  not  wanting  a  quarter. 
 
 I  mail  fhut  up  the  account  of  my  imprifon- 
 ment  with  an  account  of  friends  that  died 
 prifoners  for  the  teftimony  of  truth,  during 
 the  time  of  my  imprifonment,  viz. 
 
 John  Pople,  of  Edington,  for  tithes,  by 
 Henry  Bull;  imprifoned  the  28th  of  the 
 I  ft  month,  1677;  died  tb&  I^tli  of  the  12th 
 nionth,  1679* 
 
 William 
 
(    339     ) 
 
 William  Beaton,  of  Puddimoor,  on  excom- 
 munication, by  prieft  Sands,  the  26th  of  the 
 4th  month,  1679;  died  the  9th  of  the  7th. 
 month,  1 68 1. 
 
 John  Wall,  of  Edington,  for  meeting,  by 
 Henry  Walrond,  the  1  ith  of  the  4th  month, 
 1682;  died  the  7th  of  the  9th  month,  1682. 
 
 Henry  Gundry,  of  Street,  for  tithes,  by 
 Jofeph  Glanvil,  prieft,  the  1  ith'  of  the  7th 
 month,  1678  ;  died  the  21ft  of  the  9th  month, 
 1682. 
 
 Gregory  Ceely,  of  North  Curry,  for  tithes, 
 by  Robert  Hill,  farmer,  in  the  2d  month, 
 1673;  died  the  10th  of  the  10th  month, 
 1682. 
 
 Samuel  Sayer,  of  Banwell,  for  tithes,  by 
 James  Crofs,  prieft,  the  5th  of  the  7th  month, 
 167U  ;  died  the  12th  of  the  10th  month, 
 1682. 
 
 Joan  Comb,  of  Gregory-Stoke,  on  fefTions 
 procels,  by  H.  Sher  and  another,  the  14th  of 
 the  1  ft  month,  168-J-;  died  the  lit  of  the  2d 
 month,  1683. 
 
 Jofeph  Wade,  of  Pensford,  for  meeting,  by 
 John  Helliar,  the  2d  of  the  7th  month,  1683; 
 died  the  8th  month,  1683. 
 
 Jerem.  Powel,  of  Michael  Creech,  for  tithes, 
 by  John  Gale,  prieft,  in  the  nth  month, 
 1074;  died  the  29th  of  the  nth  month,  1683. 
 
 James  Pople,    of   Stawell,    for   tithes,    by 
 
 Henry  Bull,  impropriator,  the  28th  of  the  4th 
 
 Z  2  month, 
 
{     34°     ) 
 
 month,  1674:  died  the  21ft  of  the  9th  month,, 
 1684. 
 
 John  Anderdon,  of  Bridgewater,  on  prae- 
 munire, by  J.  Rainsford,  the  14th  of  the  5th 
 month,  1675;  died  the  20th  of  the  ift  month, 
 268^. 
 
 Chriftopher  Lodge,  of  Chard,  for  abfence 
 from  church,  the  13th  of  the  3d  month,  1684; 
 died  the  16th   of  the  4th  month,  1685. 
 
 John  Brice,  of  Burnham,  for  tithes,  by  T. 
 Mumpeffon,  impropriator,  the  5th  of  the  7th 
 month,  1675;  died  the  6th  of  the  10th  month, 
 
 1 685. 
 
 There  were  two  more  of  the  old  prifoners* 
 who  died  fome  time  after,  viz. 
 
 John  Wride,  of  Burnham,  for  tithes,  by 
 T.  Mumpeffbn,  impropriator,  the  5th  of  the 
 7th  month,  1675;  died  the  6th  of  the  12th 
 month,  1688. 
 
 Francis  Scott,  of  Hambridge,  for  tithes,  by 
 James  Strong,  prieft,  in  the  1  oth  month,  1 690 ; 
 died  the  12th  of  the  9th  month,  1693. 
 Which  is  as  far  as  I  pretend  to  go  at 
 
 prefent.     In  all       15 
 
 And  there  died  prifoners  upon  truth's 
 
 account,  before  I  came  to  prifon,  21 
 
 Of  which  the  nrft,  W.  Tucker,  of 
 Naylfey,  in  1658,  was  a  near  rela- 
 tion, of  mine,     In  all     —       — — -     36 
 
 Being 
 
(     341     ) 
 
 T>EING  now  at  liberty,  I  proceeded  to  mar- 
 "*-'  riage  with  my  dear  friend,  Sarah  Hurd, 
 which  was  accomplifhed  by  taking  each  other 
 as  hufband  and  wife,  in  a  public  meeting  ap- 
 pointed on  purpofe,  the  20th  of  the  3d  month, 
 1686.  We  lived  at  Long-Sutton,  and  kept 
 on  her  trade  for  fome  time;  and  the  Lord 
 bleffed  us  together,  and  made  us  a  comfort 
 one  to  another;  and  a  bl effing  fhe  was  and 
 hath  been  to  me  many  ways,  according  to  his 
 promife  to  me  before,  bleffed  be  his  name  for 
 all  his  mercies.  And  the  Lord  was  wonder- 
 fully good  to  me  this  fummer,  after  my  en- 
 largement and  marriage;  and  often  appeared 
 to  me  in  meetings,  and  out  of  meetings  in 
 the  fields,  &c.  which  was  very  fweet  and 
 comfortable  to  me ;  now  I  had  the  liberty 
 to  walk  and  meditate  in  them,  which  engaged 
 my  foul  to  the  Lord,  to  feel  his  everlafting 
 love  and  prefence,  fo  to  me  and  with  me, 
 in  a  married  ftate  as  well  as  in  a  fmgle,  it 
 was  my  great  defire  before  I  was  married, 
 that  nothing  might  divert  or  hinder  me  from 
 the  enjoyment  of  the  Lord's  prefence,  which 
 had  been  fo  with  me  in  a  fmgle  itate;  and 
 in  my  imprifonment,  to  fweeten  every  bitter 
 cup,  and  make  hard  things  eafy,  and  which 
 therefore  I  valued  and  prized  above  my  chiefs 
 eft  joy,  and  hope  I  mall  to  my  dying  day. 
 
 Z  3  NOW 
 
(     34^     ) 
 
 NOW  having  given  fome  account  of  king 
 James's  freeing  us  out  of  prilbn,  I  ihall  pro- 
 ceed a  little  further  to  give  account  of  his 
 granting  liberty  of  confcience,  and  the  ifliie 
 of  it,  or  what  followed  thereupon ;  and  how 
 afterwards  it  came  to  be  confirmed  in  par- 
 liament; any  fome  other  fubfequent  paflages 
 and  things,  I  hope,  not  unneceflary  or  un- 
 worthy of  the  reader's  perufal. 
 
 But  firft,  as  I  have  in  the  foregoing  rela- 
 tion given  account  of  the  death  of  feveral 
 eminent  public  friends,  with  fome  fhort  me- 
 moirs of  their  lives,  fo  I  fhali  proceed ; 
 there,  being  feveral  deceafed  this  year ;  as 
 Robert  Widders,  Chriftopher  Taylor,  and 
 Thomas  Zachary,  &c.  which  I  fhall  mention 
 in  courfe,  beginning  with  the  laft. 
 
 I.   Thomas  Zachary,  of  London,  was  born 
 in  the  year  1622;   and  from  his  childhood, 
 felt  the  feed  of  God  working  in  him,  which 
 put  him  upon  feeking   the  Lord  -,    and  was 
 very  much  preferved  thereby  from  commit- 
 ting grofs  fins,  and  reproved  for  all  fin:  and 
 in  this  beginning,  had  much  refreshing  from 
 the  witnels  of  life  in  him;  but  when  he  en-, 
 tered  upon  worldly  affairs,  a  cloud  of  dark- 
 nefs  compaifed  him  about,   and   the    earthly 
 fpirit  began  to  work  and  vail  the  life  for  a 
 time.     But  after  a  while,  the  feed  began  to 
 fpring  up  again,    and  the  earthly   fire  to  a- 
 bate,  as  that  moved;    fo  his  warfare   began 
 
 as 
 
(    343     ) 
 
 as  the  light  encreafed,  and  the  earthly  ap- 
 peared, which  was  ftrong,  but  the  light  judg- 
 ed and  condemned  the  evil ;  fo  that  he  often 
 cried  out  of  his  burthen,  to  be  delivered 
 from  the  worldly  fpirit,  and  the  occafion  and 
 temptations  that  drew  out  his  mind,  and 
 wiihed  himfelf  in  a  wood,  or  fome  retired 
 place,  where  he  might  have  but  little  con- 
 verfe  with  men,  being  fenfible  of  much  weak- 
 nefs  in  him,  in  commerce  and  trading  with 
 them:  and  being  under  a  law  of  juilice  in 
 himfeif,  found,  that  moft  he  dealt  with  were 
 generally  too  hard  for  him,  and  oft  deceived 
 him,  and  therefore  had  as  little  to  do  with 
 them  as  he  could,  though  he  fufFered  in  his 
 eftate  by  it;  and  feeing  the  higheft  profeffors 
 get  into  ofllces,  he  was  tempted  to  defire  the 
 fame ;  but  when  he  went  about  it,  was  afham- 
 ed  to  bow  and  court  great  men's  favour,  and 
 felt  judgment  for  it;  and  could  not  but  re- 
 joice, when  he  faw  others  fall  thereby,  that 
 he  was  preferved. 
 
 After  fome  years  following  of  public  preach- 
 ers and  ordinances,  he  found  a  death  upon 
 him  to  them;  obferving  pride  and  loftinefs  in 
 minifters,  bearing  too  much  authority  over 
 their  hearers ;  and  their  taking  tithes  or  other 
 wages,  did  weaken  his  refpe£t  to  them.  Arid 
 baptizing  of  children  he  faw  to  be  a  foolifli 
 and  groundlefs  thing;  and  that  called  the  Sa- 
 crament of  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  faw  idola- 
 
 Z  4  try 
 
(     344     > 
 
 try  in  the  receivers,  in  putting  off  their  hats, 
 or  holding  them  hefore  their  faces  while  they 
 eat  the  bread,  which  he  thought  too  much 
 honour  to  the  elements  and  lhadows ;  and 
 that  the  faith  of  mod  profeflbrs  was  too  much 
 in  the  outward,  and  reached  not  to  Chrift  the 
 Saviour,  the  life,  the  arm  and  power  of  God ; 
 not  to  Chrift  in  fpirit,  but  only  in  flefh;  and 
 here  was  the  downfal  of  all  his  religion,  as 
 it  lay  in  the  outward.  After  this  he  entered 
 into  a  wildernefs  condition,  being  dead  to  all 
 outward  means,  and  yet  had  little  of  inward 
 life  to  fuftain  him;  yet  had  fo  much  ftrength 
 given,  as  to  hold  him  in  expectation  of  fur- 
 ther life;  and  therefore  followed  fuch  asfpoke 
 of  further  difcoveries,  who  were  high,  and 
 fpoke  of  glorious  things,  but  faw  a  corrupt 
 ground  in  them:  and  that  the  fruit  of  their 
 miniftry  was  not  fo  much  for  purgation,  as 
 elevation;  and  fo  many  unclean  ipirits  got 
 into  the  height,  and  fpoke  excellent  words, 
 but  lived  in  the  unclean  nature:  and  thefe 
 were  foon  manifefted  to  him  not  to  be  the 
 people  of  God. 
 
 After  this,  he  heard  of  a  people  in  the 
 north  called  Quakers,  who  trembled  at  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  in  their  meetings:  An  hum- 
 ble people,  that  did  leave  off  all  fuperfluity  in 
 diet  and  habit,  and  whofe  converfations  were 
 honeft  and  ftridt ;  and  thought  in  himfelf, 
 thefe  were  the  people  of  God.     And  hearing 
 
 of 
 
(     345     ) 
 
 cf  their  way  of  fpeaking,  he  was  the  more 
 confirmed  in  that  they  did  not  go  after  the 
 old  road  of  taking  a  text  formally,  and  ileal 
 the  words  of  the  prophets,  Chrift,  or  his  apof- 
 tles,  but  fpoke  as  they  were  moved  of  the 
 Lord:  yet  notwithstanding  his  general  affent 
 to  them  when  they  came  to  London,  in  1654, 
 he  feared  to  hear  them ;  till  through  fome  out- 
 ward trouble,  his  mind  was  fomewhat  broken, 
 and  he  went  to  the  Bull  and  Mouth ;  but  his  ex- 
 pectation being  to  hear  fome  high  matter,  was 
 difappointed,  and  the  man  that  fpoke  feemed 
 to  him  like  a  ruiliing  wind  that  pafled  by, 
 and  he  law  little  in  it ;  and  fo  forbore  for  a 
 while,  and  then  went  and  heard  them  again, 
 and  felt  an  inward  ground  in  them,  which 
 wras  fafe  and  lure;  and  found  much  life  in 
 them,  and  was  thereby  conftrained  to  follow 
 them,  being  convinced  of  the  power  and  truth 
 of  that  fpirit  which  guided  them;  and  did 
 conform  in  many  things,  as  to  habit  and  re- 
 fpect  of  perfons,  and  had  the  peace  of  it;  but 
 could  not  forbear  the  hat  and  common  fpeech 
 to  his  friends  and  acquaintance,  till  further 
 convincement  as  to  the  evil  of  thele  things  ; 
 and  then  would  have  reafoned  as  to  their  in- 
 difference, and  lb  fhunned  the  crofs;  but  felt 
 a  greater  of  inward  trouble  and  judgment, 
 and  loft  his  peace  and  comfort,  till  he  bowed 
 down  to  take  up  the  crofs  in  thofe  things, 
 though  counted  foolilh ;  which  in  his  own  wif- 
 $om  he  ftumbled  at,  and  made  flight  of,  as  yea 
 
 and 
 
(    346    ) 
 
 and  na)\  than  and  thee,  to  a  fingle  perfon; 
 titles  of  honour,  and  the  hat,  though  lit- 
 tle things  in  themfelves,  yet  hard  to  him : 
 and  as  he  became  obedient  herein,  he  felt 
 more  flrength  and  power,  and  real  content 
 fprung  up  in  him.  And  in  the  light  and  power 
 of  that  fpirit  that  had  thus  vifited  him,  he 
 waited  to  know  the  mind  thereof  farther ; 
 feeling  himfelf  not  his  own,  but  the  Lord's, 
 to  do  with  him  what  he  pleafed,  and  to  re- 
 quire what  fervice  he  would,  he  mould  be 
 willing  to  obey  him;  and  if  the  Lord  never 
 mewed  more  of  himfelf  to  him,  or  required 
 more  of  him,  he  felt  contentment  in  his 
 will.*  But  as  he  grew  in  the  truth,  he  came 
 to  receive  a  teftimony  for  it  in  life  and  pow- 
 er ;  and  was  imprifoned  in  Newgate,  for 
 meeting  at  Wheeler-ftreet,  the  24th  of  the 
 5th  month,  1664;  and  again,  from  the  fame 
 place,  the  7th  of  the  6th  month,  ditto ;  and 
 the  28th  of  the  fame,  was  committed  from 
 the  Bull-and-Mouth,  with  many  more,  to 
 Newgate  :  fo  he  was  three  times  imprifoned 
 in  little  more  than  a  month's  time. 
 
 He  had  a  country-hcufe  at  Beaconsfield,  in 
 Buckinghamihire,  where  he  fometime  dwelt. 
 And  in  the  year  1670,  after  the  conventicle 
 act  came  in  force,  he  was  fworn  againfl  by 
 Lacy  and  Aris,  two  informers,  before  Sir 
 Thomas  Clayton,  that  he  and  his  wife  were 
 
 *  See  his  book,  *  A  Word  to  thofe  who  have  been  con- 
 vinced of  the  Truth,'  &c. 
 
 at 
 
(     347     ) 
 
 at  a  meeting  the  2 1  ft  of the  6th  month,  at  Jour- 
 dans,  when  they  were  hoth  in  London  at  the 
 fame  time,  on  which  the  juftice  fined  him  iol. 
 and  iol.  for  his  wife,  and  iol.  for  a  pretend- 
 ed preacher,  though  there  was  none  there  that 
 day;  and  iilued   out   his  warrant  for  levying 
 the  fame  on  his  goods.      T.  Zachary,  on  his 
 return,  was  adviied  to  appeal  to  the  quarter- 
 feffions,  which  he  did  ;  but  the  juftice  being 
 unwilling  to   lofe   the   fines,    and   the  future 
 fervice   of  the   informers,    (if  they  fhould  be 
 convicted  of  perjury)  to  protect  them,  charged 
 Thomas  that  he  iuffered  juftly,  who  diicourf- 
 ing  the  juftice  in  defence  of  his  innocency,  he 
 watching  advantage,   took   occaiion  of  fome 
 exprefiion,  as  if  he  laid,  the  righteous  are  op- 
 preffed,  and  the  wicked  go  unpunifhed  (which 
 was  too  true  if  he  had)    pretending   it   wag  a 
 reflection   on   the   government,    and    a    high 
 mifdemeanor ;  required  fureties  of  him,  to  an- 
 fwer  it   the  next  quarter-feftions;  which  he, 
 knowing  his  innocency,  refilling,  was  fent  to 
 Aylefbury  gaol,  the  juftice  hoping  thereby  to 
 prevent  the  prcfecution   of  the   appeal :    but 
 friends,  particularly  T.  Ell  wood,  took  care  of  it; 
 and  at  the  next  feffions  at  Wickham,  got  four 
 witneiTes  to  come  from  London,  who  proved 
 T.  Zachary  and  his  wife  to  be  in  London  all 
 that  day  :  the  informers  had  fworn  they  were 
 at   the   meeting   above   twenty  miles   diftant. 
 So  that,  notwithstanding  all  endeavours  ufed 
 
 to 
 
(     34*     ) 
 
 to  the  contrary,  the  jury  found  them  not 
 guilty,  on  which  the  money  depofited  for 
 the  lines  at  entering  the  appeal,  ought  to  have 
 been  returned;  but  they  could  never  get  but 
 iol.  of  it,  the  clerk  of  the  peace  keeping  the 
 reft.  T.  Zachary  was  alfo  brought  from 
 Aylefbury  to  Wickham,  to  receive  his  trial ; 
 and  though  no  evil  could  be  charged  upon 
 him,  yet  juftice  Clayton,  who  committed  him, 
 being  diipleafed  to  fee  the  appeal  go  againft 
 them,  and  the  conviction  he  made  fet  afide, 
 importuned  the  bench  to  remand  him  to  pri- 
 fon  till  next  fefhons  (Was  not  this  a  rare  juf- 
 tice). In  the  mean-time,  T.  Ellwood  got  an 
 indictment  drawn  up  againft  Aris  and  Lacy, 
 for  perjury,  and  delivered  it  to  the  grand  jury, 
 who  found  the  bill;  and  on  trial  forced  them 
 to  enter  a  traverfe  to  avoid  going  to  gaol, 
 (which  would  have  fpoiled  their  informing 
 trade)  and  was  bound  one  for  another,  that 
 they  might  do  what  mifchief  they  could  till 
 next  feihons,  which  was  at  Aylefbury,  where 
 they  were  call  for  wilful  perjury,  and  had 
 been  taken  up,  had  they  not  fled  from  juf- 
 tice; but  an  order  was  directed  to  all  mayors, 
 bailiffs,  conftables,  &c.  to  take  them  up,  which 
 fo  terrified  them,  dreading  a  gaol,  that  being 
 hopelels  of  carrying  on  their  trade,  they 
 parted.  Aris  fled,  and  appeared  no  more  in 
 that  country ;  and  Lacy,  lurked  privily  a^ 
 while,  till  hunger  and  want  forced  him  out, 
 
 and 
 
(    349    ) 
 
 and  put  him  on  an  adventure,  the  heft  he 
 could  take.  He  went  to  the  gaol,  where  the 
 innocent  man  fuffered  by  his  means,  and  caft 
 himielf  at  his  feet,  confefling  his  fault,  and 
 begging  forgivenefs ;  which  wrought  fo  on  the 
 tender  nature  of  the  good  man,  as  not  only 
 to  forgive  him,  but  to  be  his  advocate  to  miti- 
 gate the  proiecution,  which  was  confented  to 
 as  he  behaved  himielf;  at  which  the  poor 
 fellow  was  fo  overjoyed,  that  he  returned  to 
 his  family  and  labour  with  more  induftry 
 than  before :  but  (o  angry  was  the  convicting 
 juftice  at  the  profecution  and  lofs  of  the  fer- 
 vice  of  thofe  honed  men,  (as  the  attorney 
 Hitchcock  of  Aylefbury,  their  advocate,  faid 
 a  great  lord  called  them,  in  a  letter  recom- 
 mending to  him  the  care  and  defence  of  them 
 and  their  caufe)  that  he  got  the  oath  of  alle- 
 giance tendered  in  court  to  T.  Zachary,  which 
 he  knew  he  would  not  take,  becauie  he  could 
 not  fwear  at  all ;  by  which  mare  he  was  kept 
 in  prifon  a  long  time,  I  iuppofe  till  the  king's 
 indulgence  in  1672. 
 
 I  knew  him,  and  heard  him  in  meetings 
 in  London,  in  1675;  after  which  I  do  not 
 find  much  to  remark  on  him,  but  that  he 
 held  his  integrity  to  the  laft,  and  died  in  unity 
 with  friends,  and  peace  with  the  Lord,  the 
 20th  of  the  4th  month,  1686,  about  fixty-four 
 years  of  age. 
 
 2.  In  the  5th  month,  1686,  died  that  faith- 
 ful fervant  and  handmaid  of  the  Lord,  Anne 
 
 Whitehead, 
 
(     35°     ) 
 
 Whitehead,  wife  of  Geo.  Whitehead,  of  Lon- 
 don; her  maiden  name  was  Anne  Downer, 
 and  fhe  was  born  about  the  year  1623.  She 
 was  religioufly  inclined,  and  fought  the  Lord 
 from  her  youth ;  following  the  beft  of  men, 
 and  beft  of  means,  according  to  the  difpen- 
 fation  of  thoie  times  ;  and  when  it  pleaied 
 the  Lord  to  vifit  this  nation  with  the  ma- 
 nifeftation  of  his  glorious  truth,  llie  was. 
 called  in  the  morning  of  that  bleifed  day, 
 and  followed  the  Lord  fully,  through  many 
 fufferings  and  exercifes ;  cafting  away  thofe 
 things  to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats  that,  were 
 as  idols  in  her  way.  And  growing  in  the 
 truth,  fhe  wras  foon  raifed  to  bear  a  teftimony 
 to  it ;  and  travelled  on  foot  in  the  fervice  of 
 it  above  200  miles  into  the  weft,  when  George 
 Fox  was  a  prifoner  at  Launcefton  in  Corn- 
 wail,  in  the  year  1656  :  and  in  that  journey 
 was  inftrumental  in  convincing  many  of  the 
 truth,  (fome  of  account  in  the  world)  and  in 
 her  return,  did  confirm  and  eftablifh  feveral 
 who  were  newly  convinced.  And  about  the 
 year  1658,  travelled  fouthward,  and  in  the 
 lile  of  Wight.  In  1662,  fhe  married  Benj. 
 Greenwell,  a  grocer  in  Biihopfgate-ftreet, 
 London ;  who  dying,  George  Whitehead 
 married  her,  the  13th  of  the  3d  month,  1669. 
 She  was  a  faithful  woman,  and  very  iervice- 
 able  in  the  church,  not  only  in  refped:  to  her 
 miniftry,  but  in  taking  care  o  the  poor,  wi- 
 dows, and  orphans,   that  nothing  might  be 
 
 lacking ; 
 
(    35*     } 
 
 Jacking ;  vifitlng  the  Tick,  fatherlefs,  and  wi- 
 dows, in  their  afflictions ;  a  lively  pattern  of 
 pure  religion ;  a  true  nurling  mother,  a  mo- 
 ther in  Iirael  indeed  ;  being  helpful  to  many, 
 tender  to  all,  and  ready  to  communicate ; 
 laying  out  herfelf  for  the  good  of  others, 
 in  which  fhe  had  few  equals  j  fo  that  it  might 
 be  faid  of  her,  "  though  many  daughters  have 
 ?'  done  virtuoufly,  fhe  (in  fome  refpects)  ex- 
 "  ceeded  them  all,"  Prov.  xxxi.  29.  and  was 
 indeed  an  extraordinary  woman.  I  have  feea 
 her  in  meetings  in  London,  in  1675,  and,  by 
 what  I  then  heard  of  her,  thought  her  an  or- 
 nament to  religion ;  and  that  her  converfationv 
 adorned  the  gofpel  and  doctrine  of  God  our 
 Saviour,  which  fhe  not  only  preached,  but 
 was  a  chearful  fufferer  for,  when  it  fell  ta 
 her  lGt.  Thus  fhe  continued,  holding  her 
 integrity  to  the  laft ;  and  bore  a  living  tefti- 
 mony  to  the  truth,  at  the  Bull-and-Mouth, 
 but  a  few  weeks  before  fhe  died  ;  and  againfl: 
 the  pride  and  vanity  of  fome  profefling  truth, 
 efpecially  young  people  :  and  being  taken  ill, 
 fhe  removed  to  Bridget  AuftnTs  at  South- 
 flreet,  about  fix  miles  out  of  London,  where 
 feveral  friends  going  to  vifit  her,  fhe  had  many 
 fweet  exprefhons  on  her  death- bed,  and  there 
 departed  this  life  in  peace  with  the  Lord,  the 
 27th  of  the  5th  month,  1686,  about  63  years 
 cf  age,  leaving  a  fweet  memorial  behind  her 
 in  the  hearts  of  many  whom  fhe  had  been 
 
 helpful 
 
(     351     ) 
 
 helpful  to  in  counfel,  exhortations,  &zc.  of 
 whom  much  might  be  faid ;  but  I  refer  to  the 
 testimonies  given  forth  by  many  friends  con- 
 cerning her,  in  the  book  entitled,  '  Piety  pro- 
 *  moted  by  Faithfulnefs,'  printed  the  fame 
 year  in  8vo. 
 
 3.  This  year  (1686)  alfo  died,  Chriftopher 
 Taylor,  brother  of  T.  Taylor  afore-mentioned. 
 He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  I  fuppofe,  as  his  bro- 
 ther was  about  Skipton,  and  was  bred  a  fcholar 
 and  a  minifter;  being  a  preacher  among  the  bet- 
 ter fort  in  thofe  days,  as  his  brother  was,  till  they 
 both  received  the  truth,  and  then  witneffed 
 the  true  call  to  the  miniftry,  and  were  mini- 
 iters  indeed,  not  by  the  will  of  man,  but  by 
 the  will  of  God.  He  was  convinced  of  the 
 bleffed  truth  about  the  fame  time  as  his  bro- 
 ther was,  by  George  Fox,  when  he  came  into 
 Weftmoreland  in  the  year  1652;  and  coming 
 into  obedience  to  it,  he,  with  his  brother,  was 
 foon  railed  up  to  bear  a  tefiimony  to  it;  and 
 fent  forth,  with  many  others,  about  this  time, 
 to  declare  it.  And  travelled  in  many  places 
 of  the  nation;  but  was  foon  after  impriibned 
 at  Appleby  in  Weftmoreland,  for  his  tefti- 
 mony  to  truth,  in  the  year  1654,  being  com- 
 mitted by  Thomas  Burton,  called  a  juitice, 
 for  fpeaking  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  his 
 prieft,  in  the  fteeple-houfe  yard,  as  he  was 
 commanded;  where  he  remained  under  c  uel 
 
 fufferings 
 
(    353    ) 
 
 fufferings  and  inhuman  ufage,  about  two  years, 
 and  writ  a  book,  dated  the  30th  of  the  5th 
 month,  1655,  wherein  he  faid  he  had  then  re- 
 mained a  prifoner  aoove  one  whole  year,  and 
 do  not  find  but  he  did  till  1656,  when  his 
 book  was  printed,  entitled,  '  The  Whirlwind 
 
 *  of  the  Lord  gone  forth   as   a   fiery   flying 
 
 *  Roll,  with  an  Alarm  founded  againft  the 
 4  Inhabitants  of  the  North  Country ;  being  a 
 '  Forewarning  to  all  the  Rulers  in  England, 
 '  of  the  mighty  and  terrible  Day  of  the  Lord, 
 
 *  which  (hall  overtake  the  Wicked ;  but  efpe- 
 '  cially  to  the  perfecuting  Rulers,  Priefts,  and 
 
 *  People,  in  the  County  of  Weftmorelandj* 
 and  to  many  of  them  in  particular  by  name,, 
 and  to  the  town  of  Appleby.  And  by  fome 
 other  papers,  which  I  find  of  his  in  print,  as 
 
 *  A  Warning  from  the  Lord  to  this  Nation  j* 
 and  another,  '  Warning  to  the  Town  of  Ap- 
 '  pleby;'  I  am  made  to  think  he  was  a  pri- 
 foner longer  there.  He  afterwards  kept  a 
 noted  boarding-fchool  for  children,  boys  and 
 girls,  at  Waltham- Abbey,  in  Effexv  about 
 twelve  miles  from  London,  where  he  writ? 
 c  A  Faithful  and  True  Witnefs  to  the  I  ight 
 '  of  Jefus  Chrift,'  and  'An  Epilile  to  Friends,* 
 1675  5  and  was  at  Briftol  about  1678. 
 There  was  a  wonderful  appearance  of  God, 
 and  breakings  forth  of  his  power  among 
 his  fcholars  in  the  year  1679,  of  which  he, 
 
 A  a  and 
 
(     354     ) 
 
 and  others  of  the  teachers,  6tc.  published  £  A 
 
 *  Teftimony  of  the  Lord's  Power  and  blefled 
 
 *  Appearance  in  and  amongft  Children,'  that 
 year :  His  wife,  Frances,  having  alfo  a  pub- 
 lic teftimony.  He  afterwards  removed  with 
 his  fchool  to  Edmonton,  in  Middlefex,  where 
 his  chief  amftant,  or  ufher,  John  Matern  died; 
 a  faithful  man,  in  1680.  And  in  the  year 
 1681,  he  wrote  'An  Epiftle   of  Caution  to 
 
 *  Friends,'  in  relation  to  W.  Rogers,  &c. 
 And  in  1682,  fomething  in  anfwer  to  two- 
 malicious  libels  of  \V.  Rogers,  &c.  But  af- 
 terwards leaving  his  fchool  to  George  Keith, 
 he  removed  from  thence  about  the  year  1683, 
 with  his  wife  to  Pennfylvania;  where  fhe  died 
 a  faithful  woman  in  the  year  1685,  and  he  a 
 faithful  man  the  next  year,  1686,  and  were 
 both  buried  at  Philadelphia. 
 
 4.  William  Carter,  of  Cumberland,  died 
 alfo  this  year ;  he  was  a  very  honeft  innocent 
 man,  both  before  and  after  he  received  the 
 truth,  (though  that  much  improved  him)  for 
 he  was  inclined  to  feek  after  the  Lord  from 
 his  ycung  years,  and  in  the  time  of  his  former 
 profeffion  of  God  and  Chrift.  Before  he  came 
 to  receive  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  he  was 
 zealous  and  honeft  according  to  what  he  knew, 
 and  did  exceed  many  profeffing  people  at  that 
 time,  in  an  honeft  life  and  godly  converfa- 
 tion  j  yet  could  not  find  durable  fatisfadioa 
 
 to 
 
(     355     ) 
 
 to  his  foul  in  a  bare  profeflion ;  faying, 
 There  was  a  narrower  way  to  the  kingdom 
 of  heaven  than  that.  And  it  pleafed  the 
 Lord  to  mew  him  that  way,  and  to  vifit  him 
 in  his  tender  age,  even  in  an  acceptable  day, 
 which  by  him  was  never  to  be  forgotten ; 
 wherein  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  fet  the  way 
 of  life  and  death  before  him;  and,  through 
 the  goodnefs  of  God,  he,  with  Mary,  chofe 
 the  better  part,  which  was  never  to  be  taken 
 from  him :  For  being  at  Pardfhaw  meeting, 
 as  he  returned  home  with  another  man,  he 
 alked  him,  How  he  liked  this  people,  in  fcorn 
 called  Quakers  ?  The  other  anfwered,  very 
 well.  William  replied,  He  was  then  fatisfied 
 for  religion  for  ever ;  for,  faid  he,  it  is  the 
 light  of  Chrift  within,  that  muft  be  our 
 teacher  and  leader ;  for  they  who  believe 
 in,  and  obey  Chrift,  the  light  of  life,  taking 
 up  the  crofs  to  felf,  come  to  witnefs  true 
 peace  with  God.  And  the  Lord  was  pleafed 
 to  call  him  forth  into  the  work  of  the  mini- 
 ftry  ;  and  it  was  a  great  mercy  and  blerTmg  to 
 many,  when  the  Lord  raifed  him  up  to  bear 
 a  faithful  teftimony  for  the  Lord  and  his 
 truth  among  friends  in  that  dark  corner  where 
 he  lived,  the  weft  fide  of  Cumberland;  be- 
 ing one  of  the  firft  that  was  convinced  of 
 truth  in  that  part,  and  gave  up  his  houfe  for 
 friends  to  meet  in;  and  was  inftrumental  to 
 A  a  2  the 
 
(     2tf    ) 
 
 the  convincing  and  bringing  forth  many  about 
 that  place ;  and  did  bear  a  faithful  teftimony 
 for  God  in  many  parts  of  England,  where  the 
 Lord  was  pleafed  to  order  him  :  And  alfo  in 
 Scotland  and  Ireland  ;  in  the  laft  of  which  he 
 travelled  with  Peter  Fearon,  and  had  good 
 fervice,  being  made  inftrumental  for  good  to 
 many;  but  contracted  a  diftemper  there,  which 
 he  returned  with  in  the  5th  month  this  year ; 
 and  not  long  after  had  a  defire  to  go  to  Tho- 
 mas Lower's,  at  Marfh-Grange  in  Lancashire, 
 about  20  miles  from  his  own  home,  to  take 
 foine  phyfic  of  the  doctor.  But  he  not  being  re- 
 leafed  from  his  long  imprifonment  in  Cornwall, 
 William  delayed  it  for  fome  time,  till  he  heard 
 of  his  return  home,  and  then  went  in  great 
 weaknefs  and  difficulty  over  the  fands,  where 
 he  was  kindly  received;  and  Margaret  Fox, 
 James  Lancafter,  and  feveral  other  friends, 
 came  to  fee  him :  but  in  about  a  week  after 
 he  came  thither,  he  nnilhed  his  courfe,  and 
 breathed  his  laft ;  laying  down  his  head  in 
 .peace  with  the  Lord,  and  entering  into  his 
 reft,  the  14th  of  the  9th  month,  1686.  See 
 *  The  Memory  of  William  Carter  revived.' 
 
 5.  I  mall  conclude  this  year,  1685,  with 
 the  death  of  another  faithful  fervant  of  God, 
 and  none  of  the  leaft  in  travels  and  fufFer- 
 ings,  viz.  Robert  Widders,  of  Kellet,  in  Lan- 
 cashire. He  was  born  in  Upper-Kellet,  in 
 the  faid  county,  of  houeft  fubfta&tial  parent- 
 age 
 
(    357    ) 
 
 n-ge,  about  the  year  1618,  and  was  a  feeker 
 after  the  Lord,  and  the  knowledge  of  his  way, 
 but  wandered  from  mountain  to  hill,  and 
 could  find  no  reft  nor  fatisfaction  to  his  foul, 
 till  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  fend  his  fervant, 
 George  Fox,  into  thofe  pans,  who  informed 
 his  mind,  and  turned  him  to  the  light  of 
 Chrift  Jefus  in  his  inward  parts,  which  was 
 comfort  to  him  who  had  long  fat  in  darknefs; 
 and  fo  he  was  convinced  of  God's  pure  eter- 
 nal truth,  in  the  year  1652.  And  in  the  year 
 1653,  he,  and  George  Fox,  and  James  Lan- 
 cafter,  went  into  Cumberland  ;  and  he  and  J. 
 Lancafter  went  to  Emelton  fteeple-houfe,  and 
 fpoke  to  the  prieft  and  people  :  and  next  firft- 
 day  he  was  moved  to  go  to  Coldbeck  fteeple- 
 houfe,  and  fpoke  to  prieft  Hutton  ;  and  the 
 rude  people,  his  hearers,  threw  him  down, 
 and  dragged  him  out  into  the  yard,  and 
 threw  him  on  the  ground,  and  punched  and 
 beat  him  till  the  blood  guihed  out  of  his 
 mouth,  and  he  lay  for  dead  fome  time;  but  a 
 woman  took  pity  on  him,  and  held  up  his 
 head  till  his  breath  and  life  came  again.  And 
 the  Lord  upheld  and  ftrengthened  him,  that 
 the  fame  day  in  the  afternoon  he  went  itven 
 miles  to  Ackton  fteeple-houfe,  and  fpoke  to 
 prieft  Nichols,  bidding  him  come  down,  for 
 the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  againft  him  :  and 
 one  William  Brifco,  a  juftice,  being  prefent, 
 commanded  the  conftable  to  fecure  him;  and 
 A  a  3  afterwards 
 
(    358     ) 
 
 afterwards  examined  him  in  the  prieft's  houfes 
 who  feemed  to  flatter  and   fawn   on  Robert ; 
 but   he  told    him    the    fpirit    of  persecution 
 lodged  in  him  *•  the  prieft  faid  nay,  he  was  no 
 fuch  man;  but  prefently  told  the  juftice  (falily) 
 that  Robert  had  ftole  his  horfe,   and  that  he 
 could  find  in  his  heart   to  be   his  executioner 
 with  his   own  hands.     Did  I   not   tell   thee, 
 faid  Robert,  the  fpirit  of  perfecution  lodged 
 in  thee  ?      So  the  juftice  made  a  warrant  to 
 fend  him  to  Carlifle  gaol ;  and   after  he  had 
 given  it  to  the  conftable,  he  called  Robert  be- 
 fore him  again,  and  afked  by  what  power  he 
 came  to  feduce  and  bewitch  people.     He  told 
 him,    he  came    not    to    feduce   and   bewitch 
 people,    but    in    the    power  of  God,    which 
 fhould  make  him  and  all  the  powers  of  the 
 earth  bend   and  bow  before  it.     And  as  he 
 fpoke,  the  dread  and  terror  of  the  Lord  took 
 hold  on  the  juftice,  that  he  called  for  the  warrant 
 again,  and  caufed  the  conftable  to  fet  Robert 
 on  a  moor,  near  night ;  and  fo  the  Lord  de- 
 livered him  at  that  time.     But  not  long  after- 
 wards he  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  to  the 
 faid   Ackton  fteeple-houfe    again,  where  the 
 faid  juftice  Brifco  had  power  to  fend  him  to 
 the  common  gaol   at    Carlifle  ;  where  he  lay 
 in  the  dungeon   among   thieves  a  long  time, 
 and  never  came  out  night  nor  day,  till  he  was 
 releaied.     Then  he  went  to  Lamplough  ftee- 
 ple-houfe, and  fpoke  to  the  prieft  and  people ; 
 
 an4 
 
(     359     ) 
 
 and  they  were  very  rude,  and  tore  the  hair 
 off  his  head,  and  rent  his  coat.  And  in  the 
 afternoon,  the  fame  day,  he  went  to  another 
 fteeple-houfe  two  miles  from  thence,  and 
 fpoke  to  the  prieft,  but  he  went  away,  and 
 would  not  ftay. 
 
 In  the  year  1654,  he  was  fued  to  an  out- 
 lawry by  prieft  Schoolcraft,  of  Caton  in  Lan- 
 cashire, for  tithes ;  and  by  a  writ  caft  into 
 Lancafter  caftle,  where  he  remained  a  prifoner 
 a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  was  freed  by  fu- 
 perfedeas,  and  the  farmer  of  the  outlawry  came 
 and  made  diftrefs  for  a  fine.  He  was  out- 
 lawed a  fecond  time,  but  the  prieft  died  ;  fo 
 that  came  to  nothing.  And  after  that,  one 
 William  Atkinfon,  tithe-farmer,  fued  him  at 
 common  law,  for  feveral  years  tithes,  and  had 
 judgment  for  iol.  and  took  goods  to  the  va- 
 lue of  12I. 
 
 In  the  year  1657,  he  travelled  with  George 
 Fox  into  Scotland,  and  went  to  the  fteeple- 
 houfe  in  New  Muckland,  and  was  banifhed 
 out  of  Johnfton  with  George  Fox :  and  as  he 
 came  back,  was  at  a  fteeple-houfe  in  Northum- 
 berland, and  fpoke  to  the  people ;  and  one 
 Henry  Harbuttle  and  his  wife  were  con- 
 vinced. And  in  Bifhoprick  he  was  at  feveral 
 fteeple-houfes.  And  in  Bifhop-Aukland,  fpeak- 
 ing  in  the  town,  the  people  ftoned  him,  and 
 bruifed  his  head  very  fore.  And  likewife  in 
 Yorkihire  was  at  a  fteeple-houfe  near  Skipton, 
 A  a  4  and 
 
(    3<5o    > 
 
 and  fpoke  to  prieft  Webfter,  who  had  been 
 partly  convinced  of  truth,  but  proved  falfe  to 
 it :  he  alfo  fpoke  to  the  people,  and  to  one 
 juftice  Coats,  a  moderate  man  then  prefent, 
 and  directed  them  to  the  word  of  God  in  the 
 heart ;  and  then  went  to  a  moor- fide,  where 
 a  few  friends  were  gathered  together,  and 
 fat  down  among  them ;  and  immediately  it 
 rofe  in  him,  that  juftice  Coats  would  fend  for 
 him:  and  prefently  came  many  horfemen  and 
 foot,  and  faid  he  muft  go  before  the  juftice, 
 who  told  him,  he  had  broken  the  law,  in  di- 
 fturbing  the  minifter,  and  he  might  fend  him 
 to  gaol.  Robert  anfwered,  Send  me  if  thou 
 dareft ;  to  that  of  God  in  thy  confcience  am  I 
 made  manifeft.  The  juftice  faid,  I  neither 
 dare  nor  will ;  fo  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
 told  him,  he  might  take  his  own  time.  He 
 was  alfo  at  feveral  fteeple-houfes  in  Lanca- 
 fhire,  as  Warton,  Halton,  Kellet,  and  Ark- 
 holm  chapel,  where  the  people  were  like  to 
 light ;  and  he  called  to  the  prieft  to  come  and 
 take  them  up,  for  they  were  in  the  dogs  na- 
 ture. And  in  the  affize  time,  at  Lancafter, 
 he  went  and  fpoke  to  the  prieft,  as  he  was 
 preaching  before  the  judges  j  and  he  was 
 fmitten,  and  they  broke  up,  and  the  people 
 hurried  out. 
 
 He  was  feveral  times  a  prifoner  at  Lan- 
 cafter for  his  teftimony ;  and  travelled  pretty 
 much  with  Miles  Halhead,  in  Cumberland, 
 
 Northumberland. 
 
(    36'     ) 
 
 Northumberland,  Bifhoprick,  and  Yorkfhire : 
 and  alio  with  J.  Lancafter,  (who  was  alfo  afaith- 
 ful  minifter)  in  thofe  countries,  and  Scotland, 
 and  feveral  other  parts  of  England,  and  to  the 
 city  of  London.  And  alfo  with  the  faid  J. 
 Lancafter  and  G.  Fox  in  America,  about  the 
 year  1670;  arriving  at  Barbadoes,  and  from 
 thence  palled  to  Jamaica ;  thence  to  Virginia 
 and  Maryland,  and  fo  through  the  wildernefs 
 to  Eaft  and  Weft  Jerfey,  Long-Ifland,  New- 
 York,  and  fo  by  feveral  iflands  to  Rhode-Illand 
 and  New-England,  where  they  had  many  pre- 
 cious meetings;  and  after  that,  with  much  dif- 
 ficulty returned  through  the  wildernefs,  lodg- 
 ing among  the  Indians,  and  lavage  creatures, 
 who  made  a  hideous  noife  at  them  when  they 
 kindled  fires  in  the  night;  and  paffed  through 
 fome  part  of  Pennfylvania,  as  now  called, 
 where  were  fome  Danes  and  Swedes,  who 
 entertained  them  civilly ;  and  fo  to  Maryland 
 and  Virginia  again,  and  had  good  fervice 
 there,  where  many  were  turned  from  their 
 dumb  idol  fhepherds  to  the  living  God  :  and 
 after  they  had  dene  their  fervice,  returned 
 from  thence  to  England. 
 
 And  in  the  year  1678,  and  1683,  he  was 
 fued  for  tithe-corn  and  hay,  by  James  Green- 
 wood of  Bolton,  who  got  treble  damage  on 
 him;  and  took  goods  from  him,  at  three  fe- 
 veral times,  to  the  value  of  132I.  lis.  fo  that 
 }ie  fuffered  in  all  for  tithes,  with  the  above- 
 
 faid, 
 
■(     3^      ) 
 
 laid,  1 44I.  I  is.  He  fuffered  alfo  in  the  years 
 1683  and  1684,  for  Sundays  fhillings,  (fo 
 called,)  for  abfence  from  church,  10s.  And 
 on  the  conventicle  act,  in  the  year  1684,  he 
 having  a  peaceable  meeting  at  his  own  houfe, 
 juftice  Bindlefs  fent  the  officers  of  Over-Kellet 
 with  a  warrant,  requiring  friends  to  go  before 
 him,  which  they  did;  who  fined  Robert  20I. 
 for  his  houfe,  and  himfelf  and  wife,  5s.  each, 
 for  being  at  the  meeting;  for  which  the  laid 
 officers,  Richard  Gibfon,  &c.  came  with  a 
 warrant  from  the  faid  juftice,  the  26th  of  the 
 yth  month,  and  demanded  the  faid  fines  of 
 Robert ;  which  he  refufmg  to  pay,  they  made 
 diftrefs  of  his  goods,  to  the  value  of  22 1.  7s. 
 And  for  feveral  other  meetings  the  fame  year, 
 he  was  fined  by  the  faid  juftice,  &c.  and  di- 
 ftrained,  moftly  by  the  fame  officers,  of  goods 
 to  the  value  of  15I.  1  is.  odd  money.  In  all,  for 
 meetings,  upwards  of  37I.  18  s.  which  with 
 the  tithes,  6cc.  amounted  to  about  183I. 
 
 Many  fufferings,  trials,  and  exercifes,  he 
 went  through,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  being 
 a  valiant  man  for  God  and  his  truth;  a  grave 
 folid  man,  and  had  a  great  difcerning  of  fpi- 
 rits,  and  was  fharp  againft  deceit  and  hypo- 
 crify.  He  was  very  ferviceable  in  the  church 
 and  amongft  friends,  and  much  beloved  by 
 them  (as  appeared  by  the  many  teftimonies 
 concerning  him)  for  his  uprightnefs  and  inte- 
 grity, which  he  held  faft  to  the   end  of  his 
 
 days, 
 
(     3^3     ) 
 
 days,  dying  in  peace  with  the  Lord,  at  his 
 own  houfe  in  Over-Kellet,  the  20th  of  the 
 firft  month,  1686,  or  -i,  about  68  years  old. 
 
 But  now  to  come  to  the  time  of  liberty 
 .of  confcience,  and  how  it  was  firft  granted. 
 The  4th  of  the  2d  month,  1687,  king  James 
 put  forth  his  long-looked  for  and  long-talked 
 of  declaration  to  all  his  loving  fubjects,  for 
 liberty  of  confcience  :  *  That  from  henceforth 
 4  the  execution  of  all,  and  all  manner  of  pe- 
 *  nah  laws,  in  matters  ecclefiaftical,  for  not 
 4  coming  to  church,  or  not  receiving  the  fa* 
 f  crament,  or  for  any  other  non-conformity 
 1  to  the  religion  eftabliihed  ;  or  for,  or  by 
 1  reafon  of,  the  exercife  of  religion  in  any 
 '  manner  whatfoever,  be  immediately  fuf- 
 4  pended,'  &c.  Whereby  we,  and  other  dif- 
 fenters,  were  freed  from  perfecution  for  our 
 non-conformity  ;  and  had  liberty  to  meet  to- 
 gejfe*  to  worihip  God  in  fpirit  and  truth, 
 according  to  Chrift's  direction,  and  our  own 
 perfuallons,  without  incurring  the  fines  and 
 penalties  for  the  fame,  as  we  had  done  ;  and 
 for  which  we  had  fuffered  fo  much,  by  fines  and 
 imprifonments,  in  king  Charles  lid's  reign, 
 by  envious  juftices  and  wicked  informers, 
 and  therefore  were  glad  to  be  eafed  in  that 
 refpect ;  though  it  did  not  come  forth  in  the 
 way  we  could  have  wiflied  for,  viz.  by  king 
 and  parliament,  which  would  have  been  more 
 acceptable  than  the  granting  it  by  virtue  of 
 the   prerogative.     But    the    parliament   from 
 
 the 
 
(    3^4    ) 
 
 the  beginning  of  king  Charles's  time,  would 
 never  confent  to  liberty  of  confcience,  but 
 declared  pofitively  againft  it  in  1662,  and 
 alfo  recalled  the  king's  declaration  of  in- 
 dulgence in  1672,  and  voted  it  illegal;  and 
 for  a  dozen  years  fince  could  never  agree 
 on  it  in  parliament :  though  I  have  heard 
 there  was  once  a  bill  in  the  houfe  for  it, 
 but  loft  I  know  not  how.  And  there- 
 fore we  could  do  no  lefs  than  accept  of  it 
 now,  and  be  thankful  to  God  and  the  king 
 for  it,  however  granted,  as  that  which  was 
 right  in  itfelf,  and  made  way  for  the  eftabliih- 
 ing  it  in  parliament  when  king  William  came ; 
 and  in  the  mean  time  we  generally  enjoyed 
 our  meetings  peaceably ;  and  if  it  was  more 
 in  favour  to  his  own  party  than  us,  we,  and 
 other  diffenters,  had  the  benefit  of  it.  But 
 the  old  perfecuting  party,  whofe  hands  were 
 thereby  tied  up,  that  they  could  not  fpoil  their 
 neighbours  as  heretofore,  and  ride,  whip,  and 
 fpur  over  diffenters  as  they  ufed  to  do,  were 
 difgufted  at  it,  and  fome  writ  againft  it ;  but 
 the  more  moderate  part,  even  of  the  church 
 of  England,  favoured  it,  and  wifhed  it  con- 
 firmed in  parliament.  And  many  books  and 
 pamphlets  were  written  and  publifhed  againft 
 the  penal  laws  and  tefts,  in  vindication  of  the 
 repealing  them,  and  the  king's  difpenfmg  pow- 
 er; which  I  hope  had  fome  good  effect  for  pro- 
 moting liberty  of  confcience,  and  allaying  the 
 
 fpirii 
 
(    3%    ) 
 
 fpirit  of  perfecution,  which  could  never  re- 
 vive again  to  its  former  height,  though  fome 
 had  endeavoured  it  fince.  But  the  difguft  in- 
 creafed  againft  the  king  thereupon,  of  which 
 hereafter. 
 
 In  the  5th  month  this  year,  1687,  I  and 
 my  wife  going  to  Briftol  fair  as  ufual,  our 
 friend  William  Penn  being  there,  where  were 
 mighty  meetings,  notwithftanding  the  late 
 perfecution  in  that  city:  I  never  knew  greater 
 though  I  had  been  acquainted  with  them,, 
 and  frequented  them  at  times,  when  at  liber- 
 ty, for  about  fixteen  years,  even  from  the 
 time  of  the  building  the  great  meeting-houfe 
 there.  People  flocked  to  them  like  doves  to> 
 the  windows;  which  I  note  to  fhew  the  inef- 
 feclualnefs  of  perfecution,  and  that  it  never 
 attains  its  end.  And  as  we  returned,  he  and 
 Francis  Stamper  had  a  great  meeting  at  Chew, 
 under  Richard  Vickris's  great  oak  in  his  clofe; 
 a  large  and  heavenly  meeting  it  was,  many 
 fiiends  and  others  of  the  country  round  being 
 there,  and  the  more,  for  that  it  was  the  firft. 
 time,  as  I  remember,  that  ever  William  Penn 
 was  in  our  country.  So  we  returned  home  to 
 L  )ng-Suttori,  and  lived  in  much  peace  and  love 
 together;  and  the  Lord  was  wonderfully  good 
 to  me  as  in  times  palt,  and  often  appeared  to 
 me  in  his  everlaiting  love ;  and  his  living  pre- 
 fence  was  with  me  in  meetings  and  out  of 
 meetings,   as  I  waited  in  faithfulnefs    upon 
 
 him, 
 
(     266     ) 
 
 him,  whofe  love  conftrained  me  to  walk  be- 
 fore him  in  great  nearnefs,  humility,  and 
 circumfpection ;  and  engaged  my  foul  to  praife 
 and  adore  his  great  name,  in  return  of  all  his 
 mercies  ;  and  I  witnefled  the  words  of  the 
 pialmift  made  good,  "  Thy  people  mail  be 
 "  willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power,  they  fhall 
 "  worfhip  thee  in  the  beauty  of  holinefs, 
 <c  from  the  womb  of  the  morning,"  Pf.  ex.  3. 
 and  without  boafling,  could  lay,  thou  haft  the 
 dew  of  thy  youth  ;  for  which,  let  my  foul 
 blefs  and  praife  his  holy  name  for  ever. 
 
 This  year,  1687,  died,  Amariah  Drewet, 
 of  Cirencefter  in  Gloucefterihire,  who  bore 
 a  faithful  teftimony  for  the  Lord,  and  was 
 valiant  for  the  truth  ;  and  a  man  of  account 
 amongft  friends,  who  after  he  knew  the  truth, 
 was  a  lover  of  it,  and  all  the  upright  heart- 
 ed who  lived  in  it :  A  preacher  of  righte- 
 oufnefs  in  his  life  and  converfation  where  he 
 lived ;  being  faithful  in  his  day,  and  turned 
 not  his  back  in  the  time  of  fuffering,  but 
 chearfully  -was  given  up  ;  and  rather  blefTed 
 the  Lord  that  he  was  found  worthy  to  be 
 one  of  that  number,  to  have  his  faith  tried 
 before  the  Lord  and  his  perfecutors ;  often 
 defiring  the  Lord  to  forgive  them,  that  they 
 might  fee  the  evil  of  their  ways  and  repent, 
 that  they  might  find  favour  with  him.  He 
 was  a  plain-hearted  man,  and  hated  all  de- 
 ceit and  pride ;  but  loved  thofe  that  kept  in 
 
 the 
 
(    3<*7    ) 
 
 the  true  plainnefs  and  fimplicity  of  the  truth* 
 He  was  a  tender  hufband  and  father,  even  to 
 thofe  who  were  not  his  own  children ;  and 
 was  open-hearted,  kind,  courteous,  and  ten- 
 der to  all.  His  heart  and  houfe  were  open 
 to  receive  the  Lord's  meffengers  and  mini- 
 flers,  who  travelled  in  his  work  and  fervice ; 
 defiring  much  their  company,  and  entertain- 
 ing them  chearfully.  He  was  attended  with 
 great  fufferings  in  the  laft  perfecution,  which 
 was  very  hot  and  violent  in  the  town  of 
 Cirencefter,  the  place  of  his  abode :  but  he 
 flood  ftedfaft  in  his  teftimony,  and  was  bold 
 for  the  truth,  notwithfianding  the  rage  and  fury 
 of  their  periecutors,  which  was  great  againft 
 friends  there  for  feveral  years,  of  which  he 
 had  his  fhare,  both  by  imprifonment  and  lofs 
 of  goods.  He  had  his  doors  broke,  and  his 
 goods  feized  feveral  times,  till  they  had  taken 
 all  that  was  in  the  houfe :  and  the  officers 
 returned  anfwerto  the  juftice,that  there  was  no- 
 thing more  to  be  had :  but  he  bore  all  with  pa- 
 tience, and  kept  conltantly  to  meetings.  And 
 when  the  meeting-houfe  doors  were  nailed 
 up,  and  friends  kept  out  in  the  yard,  he  was 
 not  flack  in  coming  to  affemble  with  them : 
 and  fometimes  kept  meetings  in  his  houfe ; 
 though  the  juftices  themfelves  did  frequently 
 vifit  their  meetings  for  feveral  years  toge- 
 ther. But  thefe  fufTerings  which  he  under-- 
 went  did  not  ftartle  him  j  but  with  boldncfs 
 
 and 
 
(     3<53     ) 
 
 and  holy  confidence  he  bore  his  testimony  fbf 
 the  truth,  and  againft  his  persecutors  unchrif- 
 tian  proceedings ;  and  often  advifed  them  to 
 ceafe  from  perfecution.  And  fo  cleared  him- 
 felf  to  them,  and  left  it  at  their  doors,  and  the 
 ifTue  to  the  Lord.  And  by  the  mighty  power 
 of  God,  he  was  preferved  through  all  his  fuf- 
 ferings  of  imprifonment  and  fpoil  of  goods, 
 though  great,  which  he  bore  with  much  chear- 
 fulnefs ;  and  flood  ftedfaft  without  wavering 
 to  the  end.  On  the  i  th  of  the  7th  month 
 this  year  (1687)  he  was  taken  ill  of  a  fever, 
 and  had  many  good  and  comfortable  expres- 
 sions in  the  time  of  his  ficknefs,  of  his  peace 
 and  Satisfaction :  and  on  the.  25th  of  the  lame, 
 departed  this  life.  See  fome  teftimonies  of 
 his  life,  death,  and  Sufferings,  printed  the  Same 
 year. 
 
 This  year  (1687)  alfo  died  thoSe  two  faith- 
 ful labourers  in  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  Roger 
 Longworth  and  James  Harrifon,  both  0SB0I- 
 ton-in-Moors,  in  Lancashire  ;  and  both  great 
 travellers  at  home  and  abroad  in  the  fervice 
 oS  truth,  and  for  the  Spreading  and  propaga- 
 tion of  it.  I  knew  them  both,  but  cannot  fay 
 much  of  them  for  want  of  memoirs,  only  that 
 they  were  able  minifters  of  the  gofpel  ;  and 
 laboured  much  in  it  for  the  gathering  people 
 to  it,  and  building  up  of  friends  in  the  moil 
 holy  faith  to  the  laft.  They  both  died  in 
 Pennsylvania :  Roger  came  thither  from  Bar- 
 
 badoes 
 
(    3^9    ) 
 
 badoes  in  the  3d  month  this  year,  and  there 
 died,  and  was  buried  the  8th  of  the  6th 
 month  ;  and  James  arrived  there  in  the  year 
 168  r,  or  1682,  and  died  in  the  8th  month, 
 being  buried  there  the  8th  of  the  fame,  1687. 
 And  the  fame  day  alfo  was  buried,  Thomas 
 Langhorne  of  Weftmoreland,  a  faithful  fer- 
 vant  and  labourer  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ; 
 of  whom  I  cannot  fay  much  neither,  for  the 
 reafon  abovefaid,  though  I  knew  him  (feeing 
 and  hearing  him  once  at  Briftol,  about  the 
 year  1676  or  1677).  He  was  a  powerful  mi- 
 nifter  of  the  gofpel  ;  and  had  a  very  found 
 living  and  effectual  teftimony  for  convincing 
 people  of  the  truth,  and  ftrengthening  them 
 that  had  believed  in  it.  He  and  Thomas 
 Carleton,  another  faithful  friend,  of  Cumber- 
 land, who  fuffered  many  years  imprifonment 
 at  Carlille,  for  his  teitimony  againft  tithes : 
 and  wrote  a  notable  book,  entitled,  '  The 
 '  Captive's  Complaint,  or  the  Prifoner's  Plea 
 4  againft  the  burthenfome  and  contentious 
 '  Title  of  Tithes:'  printed,  1668.  I  fay,  T. 
 Langhorne  and  he  writ  a  brave  lively  tef- 
 timony in  verfe,  concerning  Francis  Howgill, 
 who  died  a  prifoner  on  praemunire,  at  Ap- 
 pleby, in  1668:  which  is  prefixed  to  his  works 
 in  folio,  printed  16765  which  poem  begins 
 thus : 
 
 Bb  May 
 
(     3?o     ) 
 
 May  we  lament  for  the  death  of  any  man, 
 "Whofe  days,  and  years,  and  life,  is  as  a  fpan : 
 Then  fure  for  this,   our  friend  that's  now  re- 
 
 mov'd, 
 Who  was  fo  univerfally  belov'd,  &c. 
 
 The  faid  Tho.  Langhorne  afterwards  wrent 
 to  Pennfylvania,  (which  bereaved  England 
 of  a  great  many  good  friends)  where  he  ar- 
 rived about  the  year  1686;  and  fo  was  there 
 but  about  a  year  before  he  died,  being  buried 
 the  8th  of  the  8th  month,  1687. 
 
 The  27th  of  the  2d  month  called  April, 
 1688,  king  James  republished  his  declaration 
 for  liberty  of  confeience,  to  fhew,  that  he  was 
 firm  and  conftant  in  his  refolutions,  and  that 
 his  intentions  were  not  changed  fince  he  if- 
 fued  it  out ;  to  excite  his  fubjecls  to  join  in  it, 
 and  to  choofe  fuch  members  of  parliament,  as 
 might  do  their  part,  to  iinifh  (/'.  e.  confirm) 
 what  he  had  begun ;  fignifying  he  refolved  to 
 call  a  parliament  to  meet  in  November  next 
 at  fartheft,  with  an  order  of  council  annexed 
 of  the  4th  of  May,  for  reading  his  declara- 
 tion in  all  churches  and  chapels  (fo  called) 
 throughout  this  kingdom :  and  ordering  the 
 bifhops  to  fend  and  diftribute  the  declaration 
 throughout  their  feveral  diocenes,  to  be  read 
 accordingly ;  which  they  generally  refufed  to 
 do,  alledging  it   was   illegal,   though   others 
 
 thought 
 
(    371     ) 
 
 thought  it  was  becaufe  they  were  againfl  li- 
 berty of  confcience  :  and  feven  of  them  peti- 
 tioned the  king,  not  to  infift  on  the  diflribu- 
 tion  and  reading  his  declaration,  alledging, 
 that  their  great  averfenefs  to  the  diftribution 
 and  publication  of  it  in  their  churches,  pro- 
 ceeded neither  from  any  want  of  duty  and 
 obedience  to  his  Majefty,  nor  yet  from  any 
 want  of  due  tendernefs  to  diifenters,  but  be- 
 caufe it  was  founded  upon  fuch  a  difpenfing 
 power,  as  had  been  often  declared  illegal  in 
 parliament  ;  and  particularly  in  the  years 
 1662,  1672,  Sec,  Which  the  king  refented, 
 and  lent  them  to  the  tower  for  refufmg  to 
 obey  his  order;  and  caufed  them  to  be  tried 
 on  it  in  Werlminfter-Hall ;  which  exafperated 
 the  church  party  the  more  againfl:  the  king, 
 though  they  were  acquitted.  And  many  books 
 and  pamphlets  were  writ,  pro  and  con.  about 
 it,  as  well  as  concerning  the  penal  laws  and 
 tefts :  to  one  of  which,  called  '  A  New  Tefb 
 
 *  in  lieu  of  the  Old  One  ;'  propofing  an  oath 
 or  oaths,  inilead  of  the  teft,  for  parliament- 
 men,  &c.  I  writ  an  anfwer,  entitled,  '  The 
 '  Altar  of  Baal  thrown  down,  and  an  Ephod 
 
 *  fet  up,  become  a  Snare,'  to  fhew  the  ill  con- 
 fequence  of  pulling  down  one,  and  fetting  up 
 another  as  bad ;  not  againfl  the  repeal,  efpe- 
 cially  of  the  penal  laws,  but  what  he  would 
 fet  up  in  lieu  of  the  tefts.  I  fent  it  to  a  book- 
 feller  in  London  to   print  it  \    but  it  being 
 
 Bb  2  againfl 
 
(    372    ) 
 
 'againft  the  current  of  the  times,  it  was  nol 
 printed. 
 
 About  this  time  died  that  faithful  fervant 
 and  handmaid  of  the  Lord,  Rebecca  Travers, 
 of  London  ;  a  woman  of  account,  who  had  a 
 public  teftimony.  She  was  born  about  the  year 
 1 609,  and  had  a  religious  education  ;  and  had 
 been  a  zealous  profeffor  among  the  Baptifts, 
 as  appears  by  the  fequel :  and  was  convinced 
 of  the  truth  by  James  Naylor;  being  invited 
 by  her  fifter  (M.  Booth,  I  fuppofe)  to  hear 
 him  difpute  with  the  Baptifts,  at  the  Glafs- 
 houfe  in  Broad-ftreet,  in  the  year  1654,  the 
 firft  year  that  he  and  others  came  to  the  city; 
 when  there  was  much  running  to  and  fro, 
 and  an  increafe  of  knowledge,  and  a  thirft- 
 ing  in  many  thoufands,  for  the  breaking 
 forth  of  the  day  of  falvation,  and  fulfilling 
 of  the  promifes.  She  had  heard  of  a  people 
 in  the  north,  called  Quakers ;  and  that  they 
 differed  from  all  people  in  their  cuftoms,  man- 
 ners, and  carriage ;  and  appeared  very  un- 
 comely in  their  behaviour  and  expreffions,  to 
 thofe  who  were  in  love  with  the  honour  and 
 riches  of  this  world ;  fo  that  they  feemed 
 worthlefs,  uncivil,  and  unwife  at  that  day  to 
 her,  and  all  that  counted  themfelves  faints, 
 but  fought  the  world  and  the  glory  of  it ; 
 and  would  fain  have  been  thought  the  only 
 Chriftians,  and  would  have  enjoyed  this  world 
 as  long  as  they  could,  and  the  kingdom  of 
 
 heaven 
 
(    373     ) 
 
 heaven  afterwards.     And  they  underftood  the 
 Quakers  did  not  only  ftrike  at  their  outward 
 glory,  and  called   to   a  denial  of  the  lulls  of 
 the  fiefh,  &c.  but  denied  their  worfhip,  teach- 
 ers, &c.   which   made   not   only  the  rich  and 
 high,  but  the  religious  to  fly  from  them.    And 
 fome  prophefied,  how  fuddenly  in  one  year 
 their  name  would  ceafe  ;  fo  there  was  little  to 
 encourage  any  to  go  to  hear  fuch  a  people,  to 
 whom  none  could  join.     But  who  could  give 
 up  all  this,  and  be  content  to  furTer  affliction, 
 reproaches,   and  fhame,  for  the  hope  which 
 was  not  feen  ?  yet  the  power  which  defcended 
 and  vifited  many,  made  willing  thereto,  and 
 brought  to  a  thirfting  and  longing  after  the 
 bread  of  life,  and  to  inquire  after  him  whom 
 their  fouls  loved.      And  in  this  defire,  or  cu- 
 riofity,   fhe   went  to   hear   J.  Naylor   difpute 
 with  the  Baptifts,  and  would  have  been  glad 
 to  have  heard  the  Baptifts  get  the  victory : 
 but  when  me  came,  it  proved  quite  contrary, 
 for  the  countryman  ftood  up  on  a  form   over 
 againft  the  Baptifts ;  and  they  were  fo  far  from 
 getting  the  victory,    that  me  could  feel  his 
 words  fmote  them  :  that  one  or  two  of  them 
 confelfed  they  were  fick,  and  could  hold  it  no 
 longer ;  and  the  third   befet   him   with   fuch 
 confidence,  as  if  he  would  have  carried  all  be- 
 fore  him,    but    mamed   himfelf  in   bringing 
 fcriptures   that  turned  againft  him.     And  ibe 
 was  confounded  and  afhamed,  that  a  Quaker 
 B  b  3  fhould 
 
(     374    ) 
 
 mould    exceed  the  learned   Baptifls  ;    which 
 Drought  her  low,  and  made  her  deiire  to  hear 
 him,  which  fhe  did  foon  after,  at  the  Buli-and- 
 Mouth  :  and  was  fo  convinced,  that  when  fhe 
 came  home,  fhe  could  not  but  declare,  that  if 
 fhe  had  lived  in  the  apoftles  days,  fhe  could 
 not  have   heard   truth   more   plainly,  nor  in 
 greater  power  and  demonftration  of  the  fpirit, 
 than   fhe  had  that  day;  and  from  that  time 
 kept  to  meetings,  though  not  a  Quaker  in  a 
 day  or  a  month,  being  not  fo  eafy  an  attain- 
 ment,  finding  many  things   to  be  removed : 
 but  a  friend  of  her's  invited   her  to   dinner 
 with  J.   Naylor,   and   others.      One   called   a 
 gentleman,   who  had  run  through  all  profef- 
 lions,  and  had  high  notions,   put  many  cu- 
 rious queftions  to  J.  Naylor,  which  he  anfwer- 
 ed  with  great  wifdom ;  but  not  fo  plainly,   as 
 fhe  would  have  had  him,  becaufe  fhe  coveted 
 to  know  hidden  things  :   on  which  J.  Naylor, 
 putting  his   hand   over  the  table,    and  taking 
 her  by  the  hand,  faid,  Feed  not  on  knowledge, 
 it  is  as  truly  forbidden  to  thee,   as  ever  it  was 
 to  Eve :   it  is  good  to  look  upon,   but  not  to 
 feed  on  ;  for  who  feeds   on   knowledge,    dies 
 to  the  innocent  life  :    which  he  fpoke  in  pow- 
 er,  and  was  received  by  her   as   the   word  of 
 truth ;  and  fhe  found  it  fo  in  the  deepeft  trials. 
 Her  accefs  to  the  throne  of  grace  was,  as  in 
 the  innocency  fhe   could   approach;    and  the 
 more  fhe  came  to  be  emptied  of  her  felf-know- 
 
 ledge, 
 
(     375     ) 
 
 ledge,  &c.  the  more  me  came  to  feel  that  in- 
 nocent pure  life,  that  was  before  tranfgreflion 
 was ;  and  this,  with  the  power  and  holy  felf- 
 denial,  fhe  beheld  in  J.  Naylor  in  thofe  days, 
 made  her  value  him,  and  attend  on  him  in  his 
 greateft  fufFerings ;  and  fhe  came  to  receive  a 
 teftimony  to  bear  for  the  truth. 
 
 And  in  the  year  1659,  fhe  was  moved  of 
 the  Lord  to  go  to  the  ileeple-houfe,  called  St. 
 John  Evangelift's,  where  flie  had  attended  ma- 
 ny years ;  and  afking  the  priefl  a  queftion  (after 
 he  had  ended)  in  moderation  and  fear;  not  to 
 difturb,  as  lhe  told  him,   but  for  edification, 
 viz.   Whether  the   fcripture  more  plentifully 
 declares  of  any  one  thing,  than  that  for  ido- 
 latry God  brings  wrath  and  vengeance  upon 
 nations,  people,  and  perfons  :    but  he  hading 
 away,  (as  hirelings  ufed  to  do)  his  people  fell 
 on  her  as  fo  many  devouring  wolves,  railing, 
 tearing,    thrufling,   haling,    and   puming   her 
 down  feveral  times,  and  no  hand  to  help  the 
 innocent,  or  tongue  to  plead  her  caufe ;  though 
 fome  nearly  related  to  her  flood  by.     And  fhe 
 afterwards  writ  a  book,  for  thofe  that  met  to 
 worfhip  at  the  faid  fteeple-houfe,  wherein  fhe 
 declares,  That  though  fhe  had  been  a  reader 
 of  the  fcriptures  from  a  child  of  fix  years  old, 
 as  conflantly  as  moft;  yet  when,  by  the  power 
 of  the   eternal   gofpel,   fhe  was   turned  from 
 darknefs   to    light,   fhe    faw   things    unutter- 
 able j    and    the   fcriptures,   that  in  her   dark 
 B  b  4  mind 
 
(    375    ) 
 
 mind  {he  had  fo  often  turned,  was  now 
 another  thing  in  her  eye,  and  plain,  as 
 fhe  came  to  learn  of  that  fpirit  which  gave 
 them  forth.  And  fome  other  books  and  pa- 
 pers fhe  writ;  as,  '  A  Teftimony  concerning 
 
 *  the  Light  and  Life  of  Jefus  the  true  Foun- 
 
 *  dation,'  in  1663;  and,  '  A  Teftimony  for 
 '  God's  everlafting  Truth,'  &c.  1669,  She 
 was  committed  to  prifon  (Newgate)  with  ma- 
 ny more,  for  meeting  at  the  Bull-and-Mouth, 
 the  21ft  of  the  6th  month,  1664,  by  Richard 
 Brown,  &c.  alfo  the  1  ith  of  the  10th  month, 
 from  the  Bull-and-Mouth  to  Newgate,  by  John 
 Lawrence,  mayor,  &c.  And  again,  the  1 2th 
 of  the  1 2th  month,  for  declaring  the  truth  at 
 the  Bull-and-Mouth,  three  times  in  one  year; 
 and  the  12th  of  the  4th  month,  1670,  for  de- 
 claring at  the  Peel;  committed  with  others  to 
 Newgate,  fined  5  s.  a-piece,  and  difcharged. 
 I  knew  her,  and  heard  her  at  the  Bull-and- 
 Mouth,  in  1675;  and  fhe  continued  a  faithful 
 woman  to  the  truth  afterward  to  the  laft,  as 
 far  as  ever  I  heard,  though  fhe  met  with  fome 
 exercifes  in  her  latter  days.  She  lived  to  a 
 great  age,  and  died  in  peace,  the  15th  of  the 
 4th  month  1688,  aged  about  79  years. 
 
 Two  days  after  died  that  ancient  fuffering 
 fervant  of  God,  and  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
 William  Dewfbury  of  whom,  though  I  have 
 mentioned  fomewhat  in  the  beginning  of  this 
 treatile,   in  relation  to  his  imprifonment   at 
 
 Warwick. 
 
(     377    ) 
 
 Warwick,  yet  I  cannot  but  give  fome  further 
 account  of  him,  being  fo  eminent  in  his  day. 
 He  was  born  in   the  Eaft-Riding  of  York- 
 ihire,   and   bred  moftly  to  keeping   of  fheep, 
 till  he  was  about  thirteen  years   of  age,  and 
 then  was  put   an  apprentice  to  a  clothier  at 
 Holdbeck,  near  Leeds ;  and  was  a  zealous  fol- 
 lower of  the  priefts,  but   had  not  fatisfaction 
 in  himfelf,  frill  wanting  peace  with  God;  un- 
 der the  exercife  of  which  he  was  brought  fo 
 low,  that  he  could  hardly  perform  his  bufmefs, 
 till  the  wars  broke  out,  and  then  he  joined 
 with  them  that  faid  they  fought  for  the  gof- 
 pel ;  but  found  them   as  ignorant  as  others, 
 what  the  gofpel  was.     Then   he  heard  there 
 was  a  reformed  church  in  Scotland,   and  tra- 
 velled to  Edinburgh,  but  found  little  but  for- 
 mality there.      Then  he  returned  into   Eng- 
 land again,  and  went  amongft  the  Independ- 
 ents and  Anabaptifts,  but  could  not  join  with 
 them,  for  his  foul  wanted  the  teitimony  of 
 God's  love,  which  the  Lord  fhewed  him  could 
 not  be  obtained  in  outward  obfervations.  Then 
 his  mind  was  turned  within  by  the  power  of 
 the  Lord,  and  the  word   of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  him,  faying,  "  Put  up  thy  fword  into  thy 
 fcabbard  ;  if  my  kingdom  were  of  this  world, 
 then  would  my  fervants  fight ;"  and  faw  that 
 his  enemies  were  within,  and  fpiritual ;  and  that 
 his  weapons  againft  them  mult  be  fpiritual,  to 
 wit,  the  power  of  God.     Then  he  could  no 
 
 longer 
 
(     373     ) 
 
 longer  fight  with  a  carnal  weapon,  fo  he  put 
 up  his  fword,  and  left  the  army.  Then  he 
 returned  to  his  outward  habitation  and  call- 
 ing, labouring  with  his  hands ;  his  mind  be- 
 ing turned  within  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  in 
 the  way  of  his  judgments;  crying  to  the  Lord 
 under  condemnation,  till  it  pleafed  the  Lord 
 to  give  him  fome  hope  of  comfort,  about  the 
 year  1 645  :  yet  he  underwent  fore  travail  and 
 exercife  under  the  burthen  of  fin,  (as  the 
 apoflle  Paul  once  did)  and  cried  to  the  Lord 
 to  free  him  from  the  body  of  fin  and  death, 
 which  he  groaned  under.  And  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  came  to  him,  faying,  "  My  grace  is  fuf- 
 ficient  foi  thee,  I  will  deliver  thee ;"  and  by 
 the  power  of  it,  he  was  armed  with  patience 
 to  wait  in  his  counfel,  until  it  pleafed  the 
 Lord  to  manifeft  his  power  to  free  him,  which 
 was  in  the  year  1 65 1 .      For 
 
 In  the  faid  year,  George  Fox  coming  into 
 Yorkfhire  about  Balby,  where  Richard  Farn- 
 worth,  Thomas  Aldam,  James  Naylor,  Tho- 
 mas Goodair,  and  others,  were  convinced. 
 He  had  a  meeting  one  evening  at  Lieutenant 
 Roper's,  where  W.  Dewfbury,  and  his  wife 
 Anne,  came  and  were  convinced  of  the  truth. 
 And  foon  after  (being  prepared  of  the  Lord 
 before)  he  was  raifed  up  to  bear  a  public  tes- 
 timony to  the  fame,  and  became  a  very  emi- 
 nent minifter  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  ;  and  la- 
 boured, and  travelled  greatly  in  it,   for  the 
 
 turning 
 
(     379    ) 
 
 turning  of  people  to  it,   and  fufFered  much 
 for  it. 
 
 In  the  year  1653,  he  travelled  into  Weft- 
 moreland,  Cumberland,  and  Lancashire,   de- 
 claring the   truth    in    meetings    and   fteeple- 
 houfes  ;  and  underwent  great  fufTerings,  beat- 
 ings, &c.  with  the  reft  of  friends  in  thofe  days 
 for  the  truth's  fake.      And  in  the  year  1 654, 
 on  the  information  of  Edward  Bowles,  prieft 
 of  York,   againft  him,   as  a  ringleader  of  the 
 Quakers,   &c  ;    Judge  Windham  granted  his 
 warrant  to  apprehend  him  ;  and  at  a  meeting 
 at  Crake  he  was,  on  a  warrant  from  Thomas 
 Dickefon,   taken   the   27th  of  the  2d  month, 
 by  John  Lockwoord,  conftable,  who  confent- 
 ed  to  his  Haying  there  till  next  day  ;  but  in 
 the  night,  the  inhabitants  of  Crake  came  like 
 the  wicked  Sodomites,  niihing   at   the   door, 
 and  had  him  out  in  the  ftreet ;  fhouting  with 
 a  loud  voice,  as  they  had  him  from  place  to 
 place ;  and  fo  kept  him  till  next  day,  and  then 
 had  him  before  the  faid  juftice,   who,  though 
 on  examination  he  could  find  nothing  againft 
 him,  fent  him  to  York-Caftle,  where  he  was 
 kept  till  the  afilzes  in  the  fifth  month;  where 
 the   faid  Kugh   Windham,  who  granted  the 
 warrant,    fit   judge.      W.   Dewilimry   deiired 
 his  accufers  might  appear  face  to  face,  that  he 
 might  fuller  according  to  law,  if  he  had  tranf- 
 grelfed,  or  elfe  be  cleared:  the  judge  promifed 
 him  he  ihould  have  a  fair  trial,  but  was  fo  far 
 
 from 
 
(     3So     ) 
 
 from  giving  him  a  fair  trial,  that  he  did  not 
 grant  him  any,  but  at   the  end  of  the  affizes 
 cleared  him  by  proclamation.     And  after  he 
 was  by  the  arm  of  the  Lord  fet   at  liberty, 
 he  journeyed  into  Cleveland  and  other  parts 
 of    Yorkfhire,    Nottinghammire,    and   fo   to 
 Derby ;  and  as  he  was  declaring  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  to  the  inhabitants  of  that  town,  there 
 came  two  men  and  laid  hold  on  him,  and  had 
 himbefore  the  juftices, then  fitting  at  thegeneral 
 feffions,  who  examined  him,  and  fent  him  to 
 prifon  the  24th  of  the  6th  month ;  but  the  next 
 day  he  was  taken  out  again,  and  put  out  of  the 
 town,  and  ordered  to  depart  their  coafts,  they 
 threatening  what  they  would  do  to  him  if  he 
 returned  :  but  return  he  did,  flaying  there  till 
 he  was  free   to    depart ;    and  then  he  jour- 
 neyed to  LeicerVr,  and  had  a  meeting  there 
 the  3d  of  the  7th  month.     And  after  he  had 
 fmifhed  his  teftimony,  went  to  the  fteeple- 
 houfe ;  and  after  the  prieft  had  done,  he  de- 
 clared the  truth  to  the  people,  till  he  was  taken 
 and  had  before  the  mayor,  Edm.  Johnfon,  who 
 commanded  his  officers  to  put  him  in  prifon ; 
 and  next  day  he  was  had  before  the  mayor,  who 
 with  another  ruler  examined  him;  and  finding 
 nothing  againft  him,  commanded  the  keeper  to 
 put  him   out  of  the  town,  charging  him  to 
 depart,  as  at  Derby :  but  he  not  regarding  it, 
 returned  into  the  town,  in   obedience  to  the 
 Lord,  to  flnim  his  teftimony  to  the  inhabi- 
 tants 
 
(     3»»     ) 
 
 tants  of  that  town.   Then  being  led  of  the  Spi- 
 rit, he  journeyed  into  Northamptonfhire,  and 
 to  Wellingborough  ;  where,  and  thereaway, 
 many  were  convinced :  and  as  he  was  going 
 in  the  ftreet,  Thomas  Andrews,  prieft  of  that 
 town,  bid  him  give  over  deceiving  the  peo- 
 ple; William  bid  him  make  it  appear  wherein 
 he  deceived  them  :  he  faid,  Thou  telleft  them 
 there  is  no  original  fin :  William    afked  him, 
 if  he  heard  him  fay  fo  ?    But  the  prieft  fled 
 away  and  made  no  anfwer :  but  afterwards, 
 William  going  to   the   fteeple-houfe,    where 
 the  prieft  was  who  had  falfely  accufed  him, 
 and  ftanding  filent  till  he  had  done,  he  then, 
 declared    to    the    people,    and    fpoke    to    the 
 prieft,  to   prove  what  he  had  falfely  accufed 
 him  of;  but  he  fled   away   again,   and   made 
 no  anfwer.      Then  W.  Dewfbury  was  haled 
 out  into  the    yard,    where   he    declared    the 
 truth  to  the  people,  till  a  conftable  had  him. 
 away  into  the  market-place,  but  at  laft  let  him 
 go:    and   next  day,    being    the    28th  of  the 
 10th  month,  Richard  Dennit,  conftable,  came 
 to  the  friend's  houfe  where  he  was,  and  took 
 him    by    virtue   of  a   warrant    that    had    no 
 name,  but  for  one  called  a  Quaker;  and  had 
 him  before  Thomas  Pentlow,  juftice  atWilby, 
 who  examined  him,  but  would  not  read  him 
 any  law  he  had  tranfgrefled ;  but  made  a  mit- 
 timus,  and  fent  him  to  the  common-gaol  at 
 Northampton    the    next    day ;    the    keeper 
 
 denied 
 
(     382     ) 
 
 denied  him  a  copy  of  the  mittimus,  as  clicl 
 alio  the  juftices  at  the  general  feffions  at 
 Northampton,  in  the  i  ith  month;  where  he 
 was  had  before  Jo.  Clark,  Jo.  Parker,  &c. 
 who  fat  to  judge  the  caufe:  but  when  the 
 charge  was  read  which  he  was  committed 
 on,  none  appeared  to  prove  it,  but  inftead 
 thereof,  they  committed  him  again  to  prifon 
 till  the  affizes  in  the  ift  month,  1654;  and 
 there  was  brought  three  times  before  Mat- 
 thew Hale,  who  fat  judge  of  life  and  death, 
 to  anfwer  what  might  be  objected  againft  him. 
 And  the  laft  time,  Hugh  Windham  fat  with 
 him,  in  commiffion  to  have  judged  between 
 him  and  his  accufers ;  and  though  no  accufer 
 appeared  to  prove  the  tranfgreffion  of  any 
 law;  (neither  would  thofe  that  fat  to  judge  his 
 caufe,  read  any  to  him)  yet  he  was  committed 
 to  prifon,  where  he  had  been  amongft  thofe 
 arraigned  for  felony  and  murder.  He  was 
 afterwards  had  to  the  affizes  in  the  5th  month 
 (1655)  and  tried  with  others,  viz.  Jof.  Storr, 
 H.  Yvilihmfon,  J.  Whitehead,  Mar.  Storr, 
 Tho.  Cocket,  and  F.  Ellington,  before  Edw. 
 Atkins,  judge ;  who,  though  he  could  not 
 gainfay  the  truth  declared  by  them,  nor  read 
 them  a  law  they  had  tranfgreffed,  yet  they 
 were  not  fuffered  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  law 
 that  murderers  and  felons  had,  that  their  ac- 
 cufers might  appear  face  to  face,  and  have  a 
 fair  trial,  and  fpeak  for  themfelves  to  clear  the 
 
 truth 
 
(    3§3     ) 
 
 truth  from  falfe  accufations ;  but  were  again 
 committed  to  prifon:  (the  trials  at  thofe  af- 
 fizes  are  too  large  to  infert  here,  but  may  be 
 feen  in  feveral  books  *).  He  was  continued 
 prifoner  till  about  the  latter  end  of  this  year, 
 or  the  beginning  of  the  next :  for  I  find  him 
 at  a  meeting  in  the  3d  month,  1  656,  at  Wm. 
 Lovel's  at  Hardingftone,  in  the  faid  county 
 of  Northampton,  where  he  and  John  Crook, 
 J.  Samm,  Thomas  Stubbs,  and  the  faid  Wm. 
 Lovel,  were,  after  much  abufe  and  threaten- 
 ings  at  the  meeting,  taken  prifoners;  but  W. 
 Dewfbury  was  afterwards  let  go,  and  the  reft 
 had  to  Northampton  gaol,  where  they  were 
 kept  fome  time,  twelve  fleps  under  ground. 
 He  came  up  to  London  in  the  2d  month,  1 6^yy 
 and  went  into  Kent  in  the  3d  month,  and 
 travelled  down  the  fouth  coalls  weftward  to 
 the  Lands-end  in  Cornwall,  in  the  7th  month; 
 and  the  27th  of  the  fame  had  a  meeting  at 
 Hum.  Lower's,  who  had  been  a  juftice,  and 
 the  high  fheriff  being  wicked  againft  the  truth, 
 threatened  to  break  up  the  meeting,  but  was 
 chained.  And  the  29th  he  was  at  a  meeting 
 at  Launcefton;  after  which  he  journeyed  into 
 Devonfhire,  and  the  Lord  let  him  fee  he  mould 
 
 *  A  Difcovery  of  the  Ground  from  whence  the  Perfe- 
 cution  didarife;  and  a  true  Teftimony  of  what  was  done 
 to  the  Servants  of  the  Lord,  at  the  General  Aflizes  holdea 
 at  Northampton. 
 
 meet 
 
(    3*54    ) 
 
 meet  with  a  florin  in  that  county ;  and  ac- 
 cordingly he  was  flopped  at  Torrington,  a 
 guard  fet  over  him,  and  brought  before  the 
 mayor  and  other  juftices ;  fome  of  whom 
 were  very  cruel  and  wicked  againfl  the  truth, 
 and  dealt  rudely  with  him,  taking  off  his  hat 
 in  great  rage,  and  threw  it  on  the  ground; 
 and  committed  him  to  prifon  for  fome  days : 
 And  he  was  many  times  brought  before  them, 
 who  charged  him  with  being  a  Jefuit  come 
 from  beyond  fea,  and  read  him  feveral  new 
 laws  to  proceed  againfl  him  as  a  vagabond ;  but 
 the  Lord  over-ruled  them,  that  he  was  freed 
 as  to  that.  Then  they  read  the  oath  of  abju- 
 ration, and  faid,  he  muft  take  that;  which  he 
 denied ;  but  declared  the  truth  againfl  the 
 Pope  and  all  idolatry.  After  which  they  would 
 know  how  he  came  to  be  a  minifter  of  Chrift, 
 and  of  his  leaving  his  wife  and  children  to 
 preach  the  word  of  eternal  life,  through  the 
 counties  into  Cornwall ;  which  he  anfwered, 
 and  was  free  to  declare  the  truth  to  them, 
 which  cut  them  to  the  heart ;  and  one  juf- 
 tice  wept :  but  fome  of  them  llormed  againfl 
 him  for  his  hat,  and  fent  him  to  prifon  a- 
 gain;  fending  for  him  often,  to  fee  if  they 
 could  enfnare  him,  but  in  the  wifdom  of  God 
 he  was  preferved.  They  made  a  mittimus 
 to  fend  him  to  the  common  gaol  at  Exon ; 
 fome  oppofed  it ;  but  he  that  had  the  chief 
 rule  faid,  he  mould  not  fee  his  face  any  more 
 
 till 
 
(    3*5    ) 
 
 till  he  was  before  the  judge  at  the  aflizes. 
 W.  Dewfbury  told  him,  he  might  do  what 
 he  had  power,  his  innocence  would  plead 
 for  him.  So  he  was  had  again  to  prlfon, 
 where  he  lay  on  the  floor,  without  draw  or 
 any  thing:  but  on  the  2d  of  the  8th  month, 
 he  was  brought  before  them  again;  the  Lord 
 had  pleaded  his  caufe,  and  turned  the  heart 
 of  him  that  threatened  he  mould  fee  his  face 
 no  more,  that  he  pulled  the  mittimus  in  pieces 
 before  his  face,  and  told  him  he  was  free.  So 
 the  Lord  delivered  him  out  of  the  hands  of 
 unreafonable  men,  according  to  his  promife. 
 The  firft-day  after,  he  was  at  a  meeting  in 
 Somerfetfhire ;  and  4th  day,  the  7th  inftaiit, 
 at  a  meeting,  where  was  thought  to  be  near 
 a  thoufand  people.  The  next  day  he  vifited 
 Thomas  Salthoufe,  and  the  reft  of  friends, 
 in  prifon  at  Ivelchefler  :  and  next  day  was  at  a 
 meeting  in  Wiltmire.  And  the  nth,  being 
 firft-day,  at  a  meeting  where  it  was  faid  were 
 two  thoufand,  the  Lord  being  mightily  with 
 him  :  and  fo  to  Nathaniel  Crifp's  in  Gloucef- 
 terfhire  ;  to  Slattenford,  and  Briftol.  And  in 
 1658,  he  travelled  into  Scotland;  and  to  Lon- 
 don again,  1659:  and  was  imprifoned  for 
 his  teftimony  in  the  tower  at  York,  in  1660 
 and  1661  :  and  the  fame  year  was  a  prifoner 
 in  Newgate,  London ;  and  in  York  caftle, 
 1662  and  1663.  And  the  fame  year  was  im- 
 prifoned  at  Warwick,  and  prsemunired  for  re- 
 C  c  filling 
 
{    386    } 
 
 sfufmg  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance :  where 
 he  was  a  prifoner  in  all  about  nineteen  years 
 (as  aforefaid)  and  four  of  them  kept  clofe  pri- 
 ibners ;  but  being  freed  by  the  king's  declara- 
 tion of  indulgence,  in  1672,  while  he  had  a 
 little  refpite  he  travelled  pretty  much ;  as  to 
 Briftol  in  the  3d  month,  1673,  and  divers 
 other  places ;  having  much  upon  him  (as  he 
 writ)  while  the  door  was  open ;  and  not 
 only  weftward,  but  through  feveral  counties 
 in  the  north ;  as,  particularly,  Cumberland, 
 Northumberland,  Bifhoprick,  Yorkihire,  Der- 
 bymire,  Nottinghamshire,  Leicefterfhire,  &c. 
 and  came  up  to  London  when  I  was  there,  in 
 the  10th  month,  1675,  from  whence  he  writ 
 a  general  epiftie,  (which  is  in  his  works) 
 and  afterwards  came  into  the  weft  again, 
 to  Briftol  and  Fortfhead  in  Somerfetfhire ; 
 but  was  afterwards  imprifoned  again  at  War- 
 wick: and  about  1678  (the  time  of  the 
 Popifh  plot)  I  was  with  him  at  Warwick  j 
 being  abroad,  he  was  taken  up  at  Leicefter, 
 as  I  remember,  being  accufed  of  being  a 
 Jefuit ;  but  Titus  Oates  gave  a  certificate  un- 
 der his  hand,  to  clear  him  :  fo  he  continuedi 
 a  prifoner,  as  I  take  it,  till  king  James's  ge- 
 neral diicharge;  and  did  not  travel  much  af- 
 ter that  I  find,  his  health  being  much  im- 
 paired, as  he  fays,  through  the  fharp  perfe- 
 ctions which  he  pafied  through  in  the  heat 
 of  the  day  j  and  many  long  ijtnprifonments, 
 
 heatings, 
 
(     3§7    ) 
 
 beatings,  bruifings,  &c.  that  he  was  many 
 times  forced  to  reft  two  or  three  times  in 
 going  to  the  meeting  in  the  fame  town,  not 
 being  of  ability  to  travel  as  in  years  pari.  In 
 the  third  month,  1688,  he  came  up  to  Lon- 
 don to  vifit  friends,  and  bore  a  faithful  tefti- 
 mony  to  the  truth,  intending  to  have  ftaid 
 the  yearly-meeting ;  but  being  taken  ill  of  his, 
 old  diitemper  which  he  had  contracted  in  pri- 
 fon,  he  returned  home,  and  died  in  peace  with 
 the  Lord  at  Warwick,  the  1 7th  of  the  fourth 
 month,  1688,  leaving  a  heavenly  teftimony 
 behind  him,  exprefled  about  a  week  before* 
 he  died.     See  his  works  in  410. 
 
 About  this  time,   I  having  had  thoughts  o£ 
 removing  from  Long-Sutton  (though  in  fome 
 refpecl:  it  had  been  a  pleafant  place  to  me)  to 
 Wrington,  a  market-town  in  the  north-  fide 
 of  the   county,   nearer  my  own  eftate  ;    ac- 
 cordingly fought  a  houie,  which  this  fpring 
 I  hired,  though  with   fome   difficulty,   fome 
 of  the  tradefmen  endeavouring  to  foreftal  me 
 in  hiring  a  houfe,  to  prevent  my  coming  into 
 the  town.     And  as  foon  as  I  could  order  my 
 bufinefs,  and  put  off  my  fhop,  I  removed  with 
 my   wife    and    family    thither,    in    the    fifth 
 month  this  year,  1688,  (a  little  before  Briftol 
 fair)    after    I    had  been  out  of  the    country 
 above   nine  years ;  where,  upon  my  coming, 
 one  of  them,  a  draper,  who  had  endeavoured 
 to  prevent  my  coming,  immediately  fell  before 
 Cc  2  mq 
 
(    3§S     } 
 
 .me,  by  breaking  during  that  very  fair,  fo  that 
 a  considerable  trade  fell  into  my  hands,  and  I 
 witnefTed  thefcripture  fulfilled,  Gen.  xxii.  17. 
 and  the  Lord  bleiTed  us,  fo  that  we  lived  com- 
 fortably, and  our  removing  proved  to  our  fatis- 
 fatlion,  through  the  mercy  of  God  ;  efpecially 
 finding  his  ancient  love  and  prefence  with  me, 
 and  attending  me  in  all  places  whitherfoever 
 I  went  in  his  fear ;  as  I  faithfully  attended 
 upon  the  Lord,  (let  me  for  ever  remember  it 
 with  reverence,  and  mention  it  to  his  praife) 
 who  often  appeared  to  me,  and  with  me,  in 
 this  town  of  Wrington,  (though  I  met  with 
 fome  exercifes  in  it,  of  which  hereafter)  and 
 vifited  my  foul  with  his  everlafting  loving- 
 Idndnefs,  for  the  drawing  me  nearer  and 
 nearer  unto  himfelf,  and  carrying  on  his 
 jbleffed  work  which  he  had  begun  in  me, 
 praifed  be  his  holy  name  for  ever.  I  cannot 
 exprefs  the  largenefs  of  his  love  to  my  foul, 
 and  the  obligation  I  am  under  to  him  for  the 
 fame ;  fo  that  in  the  living  fenfe  of  his  ex- 
 ceeding love,  and  never-failing  mercy  to  me, 
 both  inward  and  outward,  my  heart  is  often 
 broken  and  tendered  before  him,  in  meetings, 
 and  at  other  times,  through  the  renewed  vi- 
 fitations  of  his  love  to  my  foul,  times  with- 
 out number ;  inceflant  praifes  be  rendered 
 unto  him  for  ever. 
 
 Things  were  now  grown  ripe  for  a  revo- 
 lution in  the  nation,  through  the  cjifguft  a- 
 
 gaiaft 
 
(    389    ) 
 
 gainft  king  James,  and  the  fear  of  popery ; 
 many  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  having  fent 
 a  memorial  of  their  grievances  to  the  prince  of 
 Orange,  inviting  him  over,   though  the  king 
 had  promifed  to  call  a  parliament,  to  fit  in 
 November  following,  and  writs  were  iffued 
 out,  but  afterwards  recalled.    The  prince  em- 
 barked and  landed  at  Torbay,  in  Devonfhire, 
 the  4th  of  November  ;  publifhes  his   declara- 
 tion of  the   ground   of  his   coming,  and  ad- 
 vances   forward    to   Exeter,  &c.    the  nation 
 generally  turning  to  him,  fo  that  the  king 
 could  not  trull  his  own  foldiers.  though  many 
 of  them  were  Papifts,  there  was  iuch  a  defer- 
 tion  ;  and,  indeed,  considering  what  a  gene- 
 ral  defection   there   was,    it   wras    enough   to 
 make   one   think  there   was   fomething  in  it 
 more  than  ordinary;  at  laft  he  ordered  them 
 to  be  difbanded,  and  went  out  of  the  nation, 
 leaving  the  throne  vacant ;  which  made  way 
 for  king  William   and  queen  Mary,   who  be- 
 ing proclaimed    and    fettled   on   the   throne, 
 confirmed  liberty    of  confcience :    of  which 
 next  year. 
 
 But  firft  I  muft  give  account  of  the  death 
 of  two  or  three  eminent  friends  of  the  mini- 
 ftry,  who  died  this  year,  1688.  Firft,  John 
 Songhurft,  of  Coneyhurft  in  Suffex  ;  a  brave 
 eminent  man,  as  well  as  minifter,  who  had  a 
 very  fine  teftimony.  His  birth,  convince- 
 C  c  3  meut, 
 
(     39°     ) 
 
 merit,  coming  forth  in  a  teftimony,  or  hi£ 
 travels,  I  cannot  be  particular  in  ;  but  re- 
 member I  iaw  him  once  at  Briftol,  about 
 the  year  167&.  He  writ  a  very  notable  book, 
 in  the  year  1680,  entitled,  *  A  Teftimony  of 
 
 *  Love    and   Good-will  unto   all  them  who 
 
 *  defire  to  come  to  enjoy  an  everlafting  being 
 
 *  with  the  Lord,   when  days   in  this  world 
 
 *  will  have  an  end;'  which  fhews  he  was  full 
 of  the  love  of  God,  and  had  a  large  and  liv- 
 ing teftimony  to  bear  for  the  good  of  others. 
 As   alfo,   '  An   Epiftle  of  Love    and   tender 
 
 *  Good-will  to  the  called  of  God,  that  have 
 
 *  in  any  Meafure  anfwered  their  Call;'  writ- 
 ten the  year  before,  though  printed  the  year 
 after  the  other,  viz.  1681.  Both  which  be- 
 fpeak  him  a  man  truly  concerned  for  the  good 
 of  all ;  and  being  Wm,  Penn's  countryman, 
 he  afterwards  removed  to  Pennfylvania  the 
 fame  year,  1682,  that  he  did;  and  at  laft 
 died  in  Weft  -  Jerfey  ;  but  was  buried  at 
 Philadelphia,  the  25th  of  the  eleventh  month, 
 3688. 
 
 2.  Alexander  Parker,  an  ancient  and  emi- 
 nent fervant  of  God,  and  minifter  of  Jefus 
 Chrift,  was  born  in  Yorkfhire,  near  Bolton 
 in  Lancafliire  ;  and  was  well  educated,  and 
 had  a  gentleman-like  carriage  and  deportment 
 as  well  as  perfon,  for  I  knew  him  well.  He 
 V\Tas  convinced  early,  but  the  exa£t  time  when 
 
 and 
 
(     39*     ) 
 
 and  where,  I  do  not  find.  He  came  up  to 
 London  with  George  Fox,  when  he  was 
 brought  up  out  of  Leicefterfhire  by  Colonel 
 Hacker,  to  Oliver  Cromwell,  in  1654,  and 
 ftaid  with  him  in  London,  and  thereabouts, 
 for  fome  time,  and  afterwards  went  with  him 
 to  a  general  meeting  at  John  Crook's,  in  Bed- 
 fordihire,  in  1655  ;  after  which  he  travelled 
 with  him  in  Huntingdonfhire,  Cambridge, 
 and  Lincolnihire,  1656:  and  the  fame  year 
 went  into  Wales,  and  had  fome  controverfy 
 with  Vavafor  Powel,  and  alfo  with  a  Baptift 
 at  Shrewfbury  :    fee   his  book,  entitled,  c  A 
 
 *  Teftimony  of  God,  and  his  Way  and  Wor- 
 
 *  fhip,'  printed  in  1656.  He  came  into  the 
 weft,  and  went  into  Cornwall,  where  he  had 
 pretty  much  fervice  with  priefts  and  people, 
 and  had  difputes  and  controveriies  with  fome 
 of  the  priefts;  and  writ  fome  books  there  this 
 year,  particularly,  '  A  Call  out  of  Egypt, 
 '  where  Death  and  Darknefs  is,  into  the  glo- 
 
 *  rious   Light   and    Liberty  of  the  Sons   of 
 
 *  God,*  printed  in  1656:  and,  '  A  Tefti- 
 c  mony    of   the    Light    within ;    a  Glorious 
 
 *  Truth,'  &c.  printed  1657.  And  the  fame 
 year,  he  went  into  Scotland  with  Geo.  Fox, 
 and  had  good  fervice  there,  being  baniihed 
 from  Johnfton's  to  another  town,  where  A. 
 Parker,  on  a  market-day,  went  up  and  flood 
 upon  the  market-crofs  with  a  bible  in   his 
 
 C  c  4  .hand, 
 
(    39^     ) 
 
 liand,  and  declared  the  truth  amongft  the 
 foldiers  and  market  people  ;  and  writ  a  book 
 there,  dated  at  Leith,  in  the  ninth  month,  in 
 anfwer  to   one  James  Brown,   entitled,  '  A 
 
 *  Difcovery  of  Satan's  Wiles   and   his  fubtle 
 
 *  Devices,'  &c.  After  which,  returning  into 
 England,  he  travelled  up  and  down  in  the 
 fervice  of  truth  many  years.  And  in  the  year 
 1662,  he  travelled  with  George  Fox  and  John 
 Stubbs,  from  London,  through  the  countries, 
 vifiting  friends  till  they  came  to  Briftol,  where, 
 at  the  meeting  in  Broad-Mead,  he  was  taken 
 away  by  the  officers,  whilft  he  was  declaring 
 the  truth.  And  after  he  returned  to  London, 
 he  was  taken  at  a  meeting  at  Mile-End,  the 
 17th  of  the  fifth  month,  1664,  and  committed 
 to  Newgate  by  W.  Rider  and  G.  Marfh :  and 
 on  the  i  8th  of  the  tenth  month,  was  asrain  com- 
 mitted  to  Newgate  for  meeting.  He  came 
 again  to  Briftol  with  George  Fox,  in  1667, 
 with  whom  he  travelled  pretty  much  in  thofe 
 days,  from  whence  they  travelled  through 
 Wiltshire,  &c.  to  London.  He  married  Pru- 
 dence Wager,  of  Stepney,  widow,  the  8th  of 
 the  fecond  month,  1669.  And  tne  I^t^1  °^ 
 the  third  month,  1 670,  after  the  conventicle  acl: 
 came  forth,  he  was  pulled  down  as  he  was 
 declaring  the  truth  at  Gracechurch-ftreet  meet- 
 ing (where  they  began  to  put  it  in  execution, 
 and  fell  foul  on  many)   and  fined   20I.   for 
 
 preaching. 
 
(     393     ) 
 
 preaching.  He  afterwards,  the  fame  year, 
 went  into  Kent  with  George  Fox  and  feveral 
 other  friends,  from  whence  he  returned  to 
 London ;  where,  after  he  was  married,  he 
 fettled  and  dwelt  of  late  years,  but  travelled 
 pretty  much  in  divers  places,  and  came  often 
 into  the  weft  to  Briftol,  and  into  Somerfetfhire, 
 where  I  have  often  heard  him  in  meetings,  at 
 Naylfey,  &c.  In  the  year  1684,  he  went  into 
 Holland  and  Friezland,  with  George  Fox  and 
 others,  and  returned  by  Harwich;  vilited 
 friends  at  Ipfwich  in  Suffolk,  and  fo  came 
 back  to  London.  His  wife  died  in  the  fifth, 
 month,  1688.  After  all  his  travels  and 
 fervices,  he  died  in  peace  with  the  Lord 
 there,  the  8th  of  the  firlt  month,  i68|-;  reft- 
 ing  from  his  labours,  and  his  works  follow 
 him ;  though  his  written  ones,  with  many 
 others,  were  never  yet  collected  though  they 
 deferve  to  be.  He  writ  many  ferviceable 
 books  and  epiftles  to  friends,  which  are  wor- 
 thy perilling,  in  which,  though  being  dead, 
 he  yet  fpeaketh. 
 
 3.  And  laft  for  this  year,  1688,  William 
 Peachy,  of  London,  who  had  a  public  tefti- 
 mony,  with  whom  I  was  acquainted  when  I 
 was  there  with  my  filler,  in  1 675  ;  an  honeft 
 upright  man,  who  ufed  to  come  to  Briftol 
 fairs.  He  afterwards  went  to  New-Jerfey, 
 -where  he  arrived  in  1677,   and  there  died, 
 
 and 
 
(    394    ) 
 
 #nd  was  burled  at  Burlington,  the  20th  of  the 
 firft  month,  1688,  or  1684. 
 
 Now  to  refume  the  thread  of  my  difcourfe: 
 King  William  being  fettled  on  the  throne,  as 
 aforefaid,  and  being  inclined  to  eafe  all  his 
 fubjects  in  their  civil  and  religious  properties; 
 notwithstanding  the  ftruggling  and  oppofition 
 that  had  been  againft  liberty  of  confcience,  a 
 bill  was  brought  into  the  houfe  of  commons, 
 to  exempt  Proteftant  diffenters  from  the  pe- 
 nalties of  the  laws  made  againft  them,  &c. 
 which  paffed  both  houfes  of  parliament,  and 
 received  the  royal  affent,  the  24th  of  the  third 
 month,  this  year,  1689,  entitled,  l  An  Act 
 
 *  for   exempting   their    Majefties    Proteftant 
 
 *  Subjects,    diflenting   from    the   Church    of 
 
 *  England,  from  the  penalties  of  certain  laws, 
 
 *  viz.    That   upon   entering   their    meeting- 
 
 *  houfes  with  the  bilhop   or  archdeacon   of 
 
 *  the  diocefe,  or  at  the  quarter-feffions ;  and 
 
 *  qualifying  themfelves  by  taking  the  oaths,' 
 &c.  But  we  (the  people  called  Quakers,  who 
 fcruple  the  taking  of  any  oath)  on  fubfcribing 
 the  tefts  againft  popery,  the  declaration  of 
 fidelity  to  the  king  and  queen,  and  a  profef- 
 fion  of  our  Chriftian  faith,  in  thefe  words :  I 
 A.  B.  profefs  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in 
 Jefus  Chrift  his  eternal  Son,  the  true  God, 
 and  in  the  holy  Spirit,  one  God  blefled  for 
 evermore  j  and  do  acknowledge  the  holy  1  crip- 
 
 tures 
 
(    395     ) 
 
 tures  of  the  old  and  new  teftament  to  be  given 
 by  divine  inspiration,  (which  was  offered  by 
 our  friends,  and  accepted  by  the  parliament, 
 and  which  we  truly  own)  to  be  entered  on 
 record  at  the  general  quarter-ferlions,  &c. 
 ihall  be  exempted  from  all  the  pains  and  pe- 
 nalties of  all  and  every  the  faid  ftatutes,  to  the 
 number  of  about  thirteen  mentioned,  made 
 againft  Popifh  recufants  and  Proteftant  non- 
 conforming. Thus  was  liberty  of  <:onfcience 
 for  all  to  worfhip  God  according  to  their  own 
 perfuafions,  eftablifhed,  and  a  toleration,  or 
 indulgence,  to  tender  confciences  granted  and 
 confirmed;  for  which  favour  of  the  govern- 
 ment we  were  truly  thankful,  as  we  had  been 
 to  king  James;  inaimuch,  as  "  The  moll  High 
 "  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth 
 "  it  to  whomfoever  he  will;"  Dan.  iv.  17,  25. 
 who  "  putteth  down  one,  and  fetteth  up  an- 
 "  other,"  Pfal.  lxxv.  7.  had  been  pleafed  to 
 fet  king  William  on  the  throne. 
 
 This  fummer  alfo,  1689,  the  Lord  was  ex- 
 ceeding good  to  me,  and  often  appeared  to 
 me  in  an  abundant  manner,  in  the  renewings 
 of  his  everlafting  love  to  my  foul,  which 
 greatly  engaged  me  to  walk  in  humility  and 
 faithfulnefs  before  him,  in  what  he  was  pleafed 
 to  make  known  to  me,  in  confideration  of  his 
 inexprefhble  love  to  me,  that  he  mould  be  fo 
 mindful  of  me,  to  vifit  me  from  feafon  to  fea- 
 
 fon 
 
C  39^  ) 
 
 fon  for  the  renewing  of  my  ftrength :  if  at 
 any  time  I  had  been  remifs ;  fpeaking  to  me 
 in  his  fmall  ftill  voice,  as  a  word  behind  me, 
 faying,  This  is  the  way,  walk  in  it ;  if  I  turn- 
 ed to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  who  fpeak- 
 eth  peace  to  his  people,  and  to  his  faints,  that 
 •they  turn  not  again  to  folly :  watching  over 
 me  continually  for  good,  as  I  have  often  ex- 
 perienced ;  fo  that  my  heart  hath  often  been 
 broken  and  tendered  in  a  fenfe  of  his  love,  to 
 my  exceeding  comfort,  and  the  ftrengthening 
 my  faith  and  hope  ;  which  I  prize  as  a  fmgu- 
 lar  favour  and  mercy  of  God,  that  his  love 
 ihould  be  fo  extended  to  me,  and  continued 
 with  me,  in  a  married  ftate  as  well  as  fingle, 
 in  bonds  and  at  liberty ;  which  is  my  ever- 
 lafting  rejoicing,  and  which  I  cannot  but  com- 
 memorate as  the  beft  part  of  thefe  memoirs, 
 and  mention  it  for  the  encouragement  of  others 
 to  wait  upon  the  Lord  in  faithfulnefs,  to  feel 
 his  prefence  near  them.  And  when  I  have 
 been  walking  in  the  fields,  and  in  my  mop 
 and  bufinefs ;  yea,  on  the  highway,  and  on 
 my  bed,  as  I  have  retired  to  the  Lord,  Oh  ! 
 how  hath  my  heart  been  broken  and  tenderec] 
 before  him  in  a  fenfe  of  his  love  many  a  time  j 
 and  I  cannot  but  recommend  filence  and  retire- 
 ment, whether  in  meetings  or  out  of  meetings, 
 to  wait  upon  the  Lord  and  enjoy  his  prefence, 
 as  the  greatefl  good  and  higheft  attainment  wq 
 
 are 
 
(    397    ) 
 
 are  capable  of  in  this  life  ;  and  which  I  hope, 
 through  the  everlafting  mercy  of  my  God,  L 
 fhall  never  forget,  but  prize  above  my  chief- 
 eft  joy.  And  if  at  any  time  I  have  been  de- 
 prived of  it,  I  have  been  like  them  that  "  hung 
 "  their  harps  upon  the  willows,  and  wept 
 u  when  they  remembered  Sion  :  and  if  I 
 "  forget  thee,  O  Jerufalem !  let  my  right 
 <c  hand  forget  her  cunning,  &c.  if  I  do  not 
 "  prefer  thee  before  my  chiefeft  joy,"  PfaL. 
 cxxxvii.  And  wrhat  the  Lord  hath  been  to 
 me  in  many  a  needful  time,  beyond  what  I. 
 can  exprefs,  is  never  to  be  forgotten  by  me  ; 
 let  my  foul  praife  his  holy  name,  wmilft  I  have 
 a  being  among  the  fons  of  men,  in  a  fenfe  of 
 his  love,  which  brings  his  mercies  into  re- 
 membrance. When  fad  or  folitary,  he  com- 
 forts me ;  when  weak,  he  ftrengthens  me ; 
 when  weary,  refrefb.es  me ;  when  alone,  is 
 with  me ;  and  when  in  company,  preferves 
 me  :  my  joy  in  tribulation,  ftay  in  profperity, 
 fupport  in  adveriity,  guide  in  diftrefs,  and 
 help  in  time  of  need ;  thus  to  have  bread, 
 in  one's  own  houfe,  and  water  in  one*s 
 own  ciftern  ;  the  rejoicing  in  one's  felf,  and 
 not  in  another,  is  more  to  be  defired  than  all 
 that  this  world  can  afford,  being  that  joy 
 which  the  ftranger  cannot  intermeddle  with  j 
 the  white  (tone,  and  new  name,  which  none 
 knows,  fave  he  that  hath  it. 
 
 O  thou 
 
(    39S    ) 
 
 G  thou  preferver  of  men,  Who  would  not 
 fear  before  thee,  and  be  faithful  to  thee  !  thy 
 love  conftrams  obedience  to  thyfelf.  O  Lord, 
 keep  me  in  thy  fear  that  I  may  never  fin 
 againft  thee,  to  caufe  thee  to  withdraw  thy 
 Holy  Spirit  from  me,  or  withhold  the  light 
 of  thy  countenance  from  mining  upon  me ; 
 but  vifit  me  more  and  more  in  thy  everlaft- 
 ing  loving-kindnefs,  till  every  thing  that  is 
 contrary  to  thy  pure  mind  and  will,  be  purged 
 out  and  done  away;  that  I  may  be  made  a  fit 
 habitation  for  thee  to  dwell  and  walk  in ; 
 wholly  redeemed  and  laved  from  fin,  and 
 every  evil  way,  that  I  may  ferve  thee  in  my 
 generation  ;  and  in  a  fenfe  of  thy  love,  blefs 
 and  praife  thy  holy  name,  for  thou  art  worthy 
 for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 Here  I  thought  to  fhut  up  my  difcourfe  at 
 prefent,  being  arrived  at  the  mark  I  aimed  at, 
 viz.  the  eftablifhment  of  liberty  of  confcience, 
 at  leaft  as  to  meetings :  but  for  the  fake  of  two 
 or  three  remarkable  paffages  more,  and  to 
 give  account  of  the  death  of  fome  more  emi- 
 nent public  friends,  which  I  think  meet  to  add, 
 I  fhall  proceed. 
 
 But  firft,  I  cannot  but  take  notice  of  a  re- 
 markable pafiage  about  this  time,  rather  as  a 
 warning  to  others  not  to  do  fo  wickedly,  than 
 to  arrogate  any  thing  to  myfelf,  only  cannot 
 but  note  the  providence  of  God  towards  me 
 in  my  prefervation,  and  that  was  this :  When 
 
 I  removed 
 
(    399    ) 
 
 I  removed  from  Long-Sutton  to  Wringtoi>, 
 feveral  people  owing  me  money,  and  endea- 
 vouring to  defraud  me  of  it  on  my  going 
 away,  I  employed  one  to  get  it  for  me,  on 
 which  one  of  them  was  fo  difturbed  (poor 
 man)  becaufe  I  endeavoured  to  get  my  own, 
 that  he  would  fain  inquire  out  whither  I  was 
 gone,  threatening  that  he  would  go  up  and 
 kill  me,  that  he  would  ;  but  foon  after  he  was 
 taken  lame  of  one  fide  that  he  could  hardly  go. 
 I  never  faw  him  after,  nor  got  my  money- 
 And  fome  others  I  could  inftance,  which  £ 
 forbear  to  mention  at  prefent,  which  were 
 fo  remarkable,  that  I  could  not  but  adore  and 
 reverence  the  awful  name  of  the  Lord,  wTho 
 is  known  by  the  judgments  which  he  exe- 
 cutes, and  will  render  to  every  one  accord- 
 ing to  their  works ;  though  I  never  wifhed 
 evil  to  any,  but  good  to  all,  even  my  very 
 enemies,  deiiring  to  leave  my  caufe  to  the 
 Lord,  to  whom  belongeth  vengeance  and  re- 
 compence,  and  he  will  repay  it  in  due  time. 
 Now  after  I  was  fettled  at  Wrington,  find- 
 ing the  aboundings  of  the  love  of  God  ia 
 my  heart,  I  could  not  be  fatisfied  to  eat  my 
 morfel  alone,  but  had  a  defire  that  others  alfo 
 might  come  to  partake  with  us,  and  tafte  and 
 fee  how  good  the  Lord  is.  In  order  to  which, 
 I  endeavoured  to  procure  a  meeting  in  the 
 town,  where  there  had  not  been  any  of  friend* 
 
 (though 
 
(     4°°     ) 
 
 (though  there  was  one  of  the  Prefbyterians) 
 our  conftant  meeting,  to  which  I  formerly 
 belonged,  being  at  Clareham  two  miles  off; 
 and  indeed  one  end  in  my  coming  thi- 
 ther to  promote  the  fpreading  of  truth, 
 which  I  was  always  defirous  of,  wherever  I 
 dwelt,  to  the  utmoft  of  my  power,  knowing 
 the  worth  of  it ;  and  in  order  thereto,  having, 
 procured  a  houfe,  a  meeting  Was  appointed 
 there  in  the  tenth  month,  at  the  time  called 
 Chriftmas;  but  before  the  day  came,  fome  en- 
 vious men  of  the  town  threatened  the  man  of 
 the  houfe  of  whom  we  had  hired  the  barn,, 
 that  if  he  fufFered  a  meeting  there,  they 
 would  make  a  conventicle  of  it,  which  fhew- 
 ed  their  perfecuting  fpirit,  and  that  they  were 
 againft  liberty  of  confcience  ftill,  though  efta- 
 blifhed  by  law  ;  whereupon  the  poor  man  be- 
 ing affrighted,  I  went,  to  Wells  to  get  a  certi- 
 ficate for  the  houfe,  according  to  the  atl  of 
 toleration  aforefaid,  to  prevent  their  mifchiev- 
 ous  defigns :  but  when  I  came  there,  it  hap- 
 pened at  a  time  when  the  bifhop  (Kenn)  was 
 iufpended  for  not  taking  the  oaths  to  king 
 William  and  queen  Mary  ;  (for  by  the  way  it 
 may  be  noted,  though  he  was  one  of  the 
 {Qven  bifhops  that  oppofed  king  James  as  to 
 liberty  of  confcience;  yet  when  king  William 
 came  and  eftablifhed  it,  they  molt  of  them 
 turned  againft  him  too,  when  he  did  not  an- 
 
 fwer 
 
{     4ci     ) 
 
 fwer  their  ends,  as  if  he  had  only  come  {as 
 one  obferved)  to  eftabliih  a  pillar  in  the  cha- 
 pel at  Lambeth)  fo  he  being  fufpended,  and 
 a  new  one  not  being  fettled,  I  could  not  pro- 
 cure a  certificate :  whereupon  I  went  to  fer- 
 jeant  Coward,  a  juftice  of  peace  in  the  town, 
 and  acquainted  him  with  our  cafe,  and  mew- 
 ed him  the  acl.     He  was  very  friendly  to  me, 
 and  leemed  forry,  feeing  me  in  a  ftraight,  but 
 faid,  he  could  not  do  it    (/'.  e.  give  me  a  certi- 
 ficate) of  himfelf  out  of  feffions;  but  told  me, 
 if  I  would  come  to  him  at   the  feffions,  he 
 would  grant  me  one,   (being  judge  of  the  fef- 
 fions in  the  room  of  ^'  Edward  Phillips)   ad- 
 vifmg  me,  if  we  could,  to  put  off  the  meet- 
 ing till  then  ;  but  the  time  being  appointed, 
 and   notice  being  gone   out,   it  could  not  be 
 put  off;  fo   I  returned  home  without  it :   at 
 which  the  owner  of  the  houfe,  though  a  man. 
 of  account  in  the  town,   was  very  uneafy  for 
 fear  what  they  would  do  ;   they  threatened  fo 
 much,  even  to  the  pulling  down  of  his  houfe: 
 fo  exceeding  mad  were  they  againft  the  truth, 
 begging  me  to  fave  him  harmlefs.     I  bid  him 
 not  be  afraid,  telling  him,  we  could  not  in- 
 trude upon  him  if  he  was  not  latisried.     So 
 when  the  day  came,   being  deprived  of  the 
 houfe,  not  without  the  hand  of  Joab  in  it,  as 
 the  friend  obferved,  we  were  forced  to  have 
 the  meeting  on  the  open  market-place ;  our 
 friend,  Elias  Oiborn,  being  there,  and  feveral 
 D  d  from 
 
(      4°2       ) 
 
 from  Briftol  and  other  parts.  And  a  brave 
 large  meeting  we  had,  being  a  fine  fun-mine 
 day  (which  was  remarkable,  and  taken  notice 
 of)  it  being  a  wet  feafon,  raining  the  day  be- 
 fore and  after :  but  then  the  envious  party 
 being  dilappointed  becaufe  they  could  not 
 prevent  the  meeting,  contrived  to  get  a  poor 
 mattered  man  to  dillurb  our  meeting,  making 
 him  drunk,  and  fetting  him  up  on  a  table  in 
 the  ftreet,  to  act  his  tricks  like  a  madman,  and 
 make  a  noife  that  friends  might  not  be  heard ; 
 till  Richard  Vickris,  of  Chewv  went  and  fpoke 
 to  an  eminent  man  of  the  town,  who  was 
 his  bailiff,  to  have  him  away,  which  he  did; 
 and  then  the  meeting  was  quiet,  and  ended 
 peaceably.  And  the  poor  fellow  came  to  me 
 afterwards,  and  confeffed  who  fet  him  on  work, 
 and  gave  him  brandy  to  make  him  drunk, 
 (which  when  he  was,  he  would  abufe  any 
 body);  particularly  one  J.  S.  a  fhop-keeper 
 in  the  town,  who  never  profpered  after,  but 
 declined  and  came  to  little ;  and  he  told  me 
 how  he  had  been  troubled  for  it,  and  loft  his 
 beft  friends ;  and  promifed  me  he  would  ne- 
 ver lift  up  a  hand  againft  us  any  more,  wilh- 
 ing  dreadful  wifhes  on  himfelf  (even  that  the 
 earth  might  open  and  let  him  in)  if  ever  he 
 did,  which  I  believe  was  an  awe  upon  him, 
 as  to  me,  ever  after;  when  he  was  after- 
 wards fet  on  again  to  abufe  us  for  opening 
 our  fh op-windows  on  the  faft-days,  in  1691, 
 
 as 
 
(     4^3     ) 
 
 as  hereafter-mentioned.  So  when  the  feflions 
 came  in  the  eleventh  month,  I  went  to  Brew- 
 ton,  and  met  ferjeant  Coward  on  the  road, 
 going  home  to  be  chofen  parliament-man  for 
 Wells.  He  flopped,  and  I  fpoke  to  him  about 
 the  matter.  He  told  me,  he  had  left  fir  Edw. 
 Phillips  on  the  bench,  judge,  who  would  do 
 it;  to  whom  I  fent  in  a  certificate  of  the  houfe, 
 by  a  clerk;  and  had  a  certificate  of  it  again, 
 according  to  the  act,  figned  by  the  clerk  of 
 the  peace,  Philip  Bennit,  for  that  and  iome 
 other  places  where  new  meetings  were  fet  up, 
 and  fo  came  over  the  heads  of  the  envious 
 party ;  and  had  many  good  meetings  in  the 
 town,  not  only  in  the  faid  barn,  but  after- 
 wards in  the  great  court-hall  there,  notwith- 
 Handing  all  oppofition ;  of  which  I  writ  a 
 more  particular  account  of  their  envious  en- 
 deavours againft  us,  in  a  manufcript  by  me 
 called,  '  A  Looking-Glafs  for  Perfecutors.' 
 
 This  year,  1689,  being  chofen  one  of  the 
 collectors  of  the  king's  tax,  (the  firit  land-tax) 
 when  I  came  to  the  priefl's  of  the  town,  G. 
 P.  to  collect  it,  he  demanded  tithes  of  me, 
 and  would  not  pay  me,  except  I  would  al- 
 low him  for  the  tithes  (fome  fmall  matter  for 
 garden  and  horfe,  as  he  pretended,  and  Eailer- 
 ofTerings,  having  been  there  but  about  a  year). 
 I  difcourfed  the  matter  friendly  with  him, 
 and  fo  left  him  to  confider  of  it  a-while ;  but 
 when  I  came  again,  he  Hill  infilling  on  it, 
 D  d  2  thinking, 
 
(     4°4     ) 
 
 dunking,  perhaps,  I  durft  not  diftrain  his 
 goods,  I  was  forced  at  lafh  with  my  partner 
 to  take  a  conftable  with  us  to  diftrain.  He 
 ftill  refufed  payment,  to  try  us,  fo  that  we  were 
 forced  to  it ;  which  as  foon  as  we  had,  he 
 paid  us  ;  telling  me,  that  now  I  had  taken 
 my  courfe  at  law,  he  would  take  his.  I  told 
 him,  I  had  done  him  no  wrong,  only  per- 
 formed my  duty.  So  he  paid  down  the  mo- 
 ney, and  would  have  given  me  a  milling  over 
 for  difcraining ;  faying,  he  knew  that  was 
 what  I  aimed  at.  I  told  him,  nay,  I  fcorned 
 his  words,  and  would  have  none  of  his  mo- 
 ney ;  as  Abraham  faid  to  the  king  of  Sodom, 
 He  mould  not  fay  he  had  made  me  rich. 
 And  to  mew  him  I  did  not  aim  at  his  money, 
 he  had  laid  down  a  milling  too  much  among 
 the  money,  (perhaps  to  try  me)  and  there  it 
 is,  faid  J,  giving  it  him  again ;  which  he 
 could  not  but  take  notice  of,  but  faid  he  would 
 not  lofe  his  right.  And  fome  time  afterwards, 
 employed  an  attorney  to  fend  for  a  writ  for 
 me  out  of  the  king's-bench,  as  the  attorney 
 told  me,  to  affright  me :  but  when  I  came  to 
 talk  with  the  prieft  about  it,  and  laid  before 
 him  the  unreafonablenefs  of  his  proceedings 
 that  way  againft  me  for  fo  fmall  a  matter,  he 
 was  afhamed  of  it,  and  denied  it :  and  after 
 he  went  to  London,  his  man,  who  rent- 
 ed the  parfonage,  had  me  before  the  juftices, 
 on  the  *  Ad  for  the  more  eafy  Recovery  of 
 
 1  iinall 
 
(    4°5     ) 
 
 ;  fmall  Tithes:'  and  had  a  warrant  to  diftrain 
 my  goods  for  two  millings;  but  never  did, 
 being  moderate :  fo  it  fell,  and  I  was  never 
 troubled  after  on  that  account,  which  I  men- 
 tion to  his  honour. 
 
 In  the  twelfth  month  this  year,  1689,  died 
 Clement  Lake,  of  Crediton,  in  Devonshire ; 
 an  eminent  friend,  who  had  a  teftimony  for 
 the  Lord  and  his  truth.  He  was  a  man  of 
 an  innocent  upright  life  and  converfation ; 
 very  tender-hearted  and  affectionate  towards 
 the  truth,  and  them  that  walked  in  it.  He 
 at  firft  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it, 
 and  continued  to  the  end  faithful  to  its  tefti- 
 mony, through  all  the  exercifes  he  met  with ; 
 for  in  the  time  of  his  convincement,  he  met 
 with  no  fmall  oppofition  and  exercife  from 
 the  wife  of  his  own  bofom,  through  the  many 
 mitigations  of  thofe  whom  they  formerly  were 
 in  fellowfhip  with,  viz.  the  Independents,  and 
 others ;  which  caufed  her  to  grieve  him,  by 
 ill-demeaning  herfelf  towards  him.  a  confider- 
 able  time,  till  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  open  her 
 underftanding,  and  gave  her  a  fight  of  the 
 workings  of  the  enemy ;  and  then  lhe  lament- 
 ed it,  and  was  much  troubled,  and  knew 
 forrow  for  the  fame.  And  after  fhe  was  con- 
 vinced of  the  truth,  they  lived  in  great  unity, 
 love,  and  fellowfhip,  to  the  comfort  one  of 
 another.  He  alfo  fuffered  imprifonment  with 
 Mends  for  the  teftimony  of  truth,  which  he 
 D  d  3  borQ 
 
(    4°6    ) 
 
 bore  with  patience  and  meeknefs,  in  an  hum- 
 ble fuhmiffion  to  the  will  of  God ;  and  in 
 due  time  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  give  him  the 
 victory.  He  was  diligent  in  meetings  to 
 wait  upon  God,  though  outwardly  attended 
 with  much  weaknefs  and  infirmity  of  body : 
 and  many  times  being  filled  with  a  deep  fenfe 
 of  the  love  of  God  to  his  foul,  and  his  heart 
 tendered  and  broken  thereby:  his  mouth  was 
 opened  to  magnify  and  praife  the  Lord,  and 
 tell,  by  experience  of  the  goodnefs  of  God 
 unto  his  foul.  He  had  fome  controverfy  by 
 letters  with  John  Flavell,  an  Independent 
 preacher  of  Dartmouth;  an  envious  man,  and 
 great  oppofer  of  truth  and  friends,  who  for- 
 merly fet  up  a  boy  to  accufe  two  innocent 
 women  Quakers,  when  friends  came  firft  in- 
 to that  county,  that  they  had  bewitched  him ; 
 which  was  afterwards  difcovered  to  his  fhame, 
 the  boy  fleeing  the  country  into  New-Eng- 
 land, where  he  was  afterwards  convinced  of 
 truth,  and  confeffed  it.  And  the  faid  Flavell 
 going  afterwards  to  preach  an  union  fermon 
 between  the  Preibyterians  and  Independents, 
 as  I  heard,  and  befpeaking  his  dinner,  faying 
 they  mould  not  be  long,  was  taken  ill,  and 
 died  fuddenly  before  he  preached  the  fermon. 
 The  faid  Clement  Lake  bore  a  faithful  tefti- 
 mony  until  death;  and  his  converfation  was 
 a  good  favour  to  all,  as  his  very  enemies  after 
 his  death  confeffed ,  and  believed  he  was  happy. 
 
 And 
 
(     407     ) 
 
 And  feveral  of  his  neighbours  laid,  they  never 
 were  in  his  company,  but  they  received  bene- 
 fit by  it.  He  often  exhorted  his  children 
 and  fervants  in  weighty  layings,  touching  the 
 good  and  welfare  of  their  fouls  ;  many  times 
 declaring  the  goodnefs  and  love  of  God  to- 
 wards him,  from  time  to  time,  in  the  many 
 exercifes  and  trials  he  went  through  in  bear- 
 ing his  teftimony  for  the  truth,  in  the  town 
 of  Crediton,  where  he  lived.  He  died  of  a 
 fever,  the  23d  of  the  twelfth  month,  1689, 
 dying  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  re- 
 ceived the  reward  of  the  faithful.  See  fome- 
 thing,  by  way  of  teftimony,  concerning  him, 
 printed  in  1692. 
 
 I  have  not  much  to  remark  this  year,  1690, 
 in  relation  to  myfelf,  though  much  as  to 
 others,  but  to  commemorate  the  continued 
 goodnefs  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  to  me,  both 
 inward  and  outward,  in  affording  me  the 
 comfortable  enjoyment  of  his  living  prefence, 
 to  my  exceeding  joy  and  comfort  as  in  times 
 pait  ;  bleffed  and  praifed  be  his  holy  name  for 
 all  his  mercies,  which  endure  for  ever. 
 Though  we  were  fomewhat  exercifed  about 
 the  public  faft  appointed  to  be  kept  the  2>& 
 fourth-day  of  every  month  this  fummer,  dur- 
 ing the  war  in  Ireland,  in  relation  to  the 
 keeping  open  our  {hop-windows  (of  which 
 more  next  year)  >  but  fome  friends  elfewhere 
 D  d  4  being 
 
(     4°S     ) 
 
 being  differently  minded  in  that  matter,  which 
 weakened  our  hands,  I  writ  a  letter  to  fome 
 in  relation  thereto,  fhewing  how  inconfift- 
 ent  it  was  with  friends  ancient  teftimony,  to 
 join  with  filch  fafts,  &c.  which  I  hope  had 
 ibme  good  effect;  however  I  had  fatisfaclion 
 in  it. 
 
 And  not  long  after,  a  kinfwoman  of  mine, 
 dear  D.  Chappell,  wife  of  Edmund  Chappell, 
 of  Worle  aforefaid,  dying,  I  was  foon  after 
 taken  dangeroufiy  ill  of  a  fever,  and  my  wife 
 alfo  like  to  die ;  but  the  Lord  was  near  us, 
 and  I  was  given  up  in  the  will  of  the  Lord, 
 and  eafy  in  my  fpirit,  that  if  I  had  died,  I  be- 
 lieve it  would  have  been  well  with  me.  But. 
 after  fome  time,  it  pleafed  God  we  both  re- 
 covered again,  for  which  my  foul  did  blefs 
 and  praife  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  men- 
 tion it  to  his  glory;  and  to  Ihew  how  good  it 
 is  to  be  reiigned  on  a  fick  bed :  honour  and 
 glory  be  given  and  afcribed  to  him  for  his 
 manifold  mercies,  which  are  more  to  me-wards 
 than  can  be  numbered.  Let  my  foul  live 
 in  a  living  remembrance  of  them  all  the  days 
 of  my  appointed  time,  and  wait  on  him  till  my 
 change  come. 
 
 About  this  time  meeting  with  a  book  of 
 Joan  Whitrow's,  called  '  An  humble  Addrefs 
 *  to  king  William,'  wherein  Ihe  fubfcribed 
 herfelf,  One  of  no  Society,  or  gathered  Peo- 
 ple whatfoever.     And  knowing  what  £he  had 
 
 beeu 
 
(    409    ) 
 
 been,  or  pretended  to,  I  writ  a  very  ferious 
 folid  letter  to  her,  deiiring  to  know  whether 
 fhe  was  not  the  fame  J.  Whitrow,  who  writ 
 filch  a  book  about  her  daughter,  &c.  in  1677, 
 and  how  fhe  came  to  be  feparated  from 
 friends,  and  become  one  alone:  withal, touch- 
 ing on  fome  other  paffages  in  her  book,  which 
 I  thought  not  at  all  fuitable  to  a  prophetefs, 
 or  what  fhe  pretended  to  ;  but  more  like  flat- 
 tery, &c.  I  fent  it  directed  to  her  at  Eafl- 
 fhene,  near  Mortlake,  whence  fhe  dated  her 
 book ;  but  whether  fhe  received  it  or  no,  I 
 know  not,  for  I  never  received  any  anfwer, 
 though  I  afterwards  fpoke  with  her  in  Lon- 
 don ;  but  it  being  feveral  years  after,  I  did  not 
 afk  her  about  it. 
 
 The  latter  end  of  this  fummer,  1690,  our 
 brother  George  Bowles,  who  married  one  of 
 my  wife's  filters  (i.  e.  Sufannah)  of  London, 
 came  firft  down  into  our  country  with  An- 
 drew Taylor ;  and  had  meetings  at  Wring- 
 ton,  Clareham,  &c.  And  when  he  returned, 
 I  and  my  wife  accompanied  him  fo  far  as 
 Chippenham  and  Charlcot  meetings  in  Wilt- 
 fhire  j  where,  at  the  laft  place,  was  a  very 
 large  meeting  on  firft-day  :  after  which, 
 taking  leave  of  him,  &c.  we  returned  to 
 Slattenford,  to  E.  Wallis's,  and  the  next  day 
 home. 
 
 But  now  to  come  to  fomething  of  more 
 confecjuence,   though   melancholy  confidera- 
 
 tion. 
 
(    4IQ    ) 
 
 tion.  This  year,  1690,  died  thofe  five  emi- 
 nent fervants  of  God,  and  minifters  of  Jefus 
 Chrift,  George  Fox,  John  Burnyeat,  Thomas 
 Salthoufe,  Robert  Lodge,  Robert  Barclay,  and 
 (fixth)  Joan  Vokins,  that  faithful  handmaid 
 of  the  Lord,  who  deferves  to  be  reckoned 
 with  the  reft  of  the  Lord's  worthies.  The 
 overcafting  of  fo  many  bright  ftars  almoft  to- 
 gether, and  of  the  firft  magnitude  in  our  ho- 
 rizon, had  to  be  fure  a  melancholy  profpect ; 
 and,  as  one  obferves,  was  not  the  leaft  fymp- 
 tom  or  token  of  an  approaching  ftorm,  which 
 yet  the  Lord  in  his  mercy  hath  hitherto 
 averted  ;  of  whom  I  cannot  well  omit  in  the 
 courfe  of  my  memoirs,  but  fpeak  fomething 
 of  each  of  them,  whom  I  all  well  knew,  and 
 can  fay  fomething  of  my  own  knowledge ;  {o 
 fhall  proceed,  and  mention  them  according  to 
 the  time  of  their  deceafe. 
 
 1.  Joan  Vokins,  (though  Lift-mentioned) 
 wife  of  Richard  Vokins,  of  We  ft- Char  low, 
 in  the  vale  of  White  Horfe  in  Berkshire,  was 
 religioufly  inclined  from  her  childhood,  and 
 the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  preferve  her  from 
 many  evils  that  youth  are  prone  to ;  and  by 
 his  light  mewed  her  the  vanity  and  vain  cuf- 
 toms  of  the  world  when  fhe  was  very  young  ; 
 and  all  along  her  youth,  his  good  Spirit  ftrived 
 with  her  to  preferve  her  from  fin  and  evil. 
 And  if  fhe  was  at  any  time  drawn  to  go  to 
 recreations,  fhe  was  condemned,  and  could 
 
 have 
 
(    4"     ) 
 
 have  no  peace;  for  fhe  was  cautious  of  finning 
 againft  the  Lord,  and  defired  after  the  hell 
 religion  and  company :  and  when  young,  de- 
 lighted to  go  to  profeflbrs  meetings,  and  could 
 bring  home  the  text,  and  repeat  much  of 
 their  fermons ;  but  had  no  benefit  to  her  foul 
 by  it,  or  peace  in  it.  And  many  times  Ihe 
 cried  to  the  Lord  to  reveal  his  way  unto  her, 
 promifing  to  walk  therein  whatever  fhe  en- 
 dured ;  and  he  was  pleaied  in  fome  meafure 
 to  make  known  the  crofs  of  Chrift  that  cru- 
 cifies to  the  world ;  and  as  fhe  inclined  to 
 take  it  up  and  follow  Jefus,  he  endued  her 
 with  power :  but  when  Ihe  found  the  way  fo 
 firait  and  narrow,  fhe  was  ready  to  turn  afide 
 for  eafe ;  and  was  exercifed  about  election 
 and  reprobation,  which  none  could  open  the 
 myftery  of  to  her,  but  the  fpirit  of  light  and 
 life  ;  and  Ihe  faw  that  happinefs  was  in  walk- 
 ing in  the  light  that  fhined  in  the  heart.  And 
 as  fhe  learned  of  Jefus  to  be  meek  and  lowly, 
 fhe  felt  the  love  of  God,  which  engaged  her 
 to  give  up  to  his  difpofal,  who  gave  her  of  his 
 good  fpirit,  though  fhe  rebelled  againft  it,  and 
 complained  for  want  of  power  till  Ihe  gave  up 
 to  it,  and  then  fhe  found  it  was  fuffici^nt,  and 
 could  plead  no  excuie :  and  this  was  her  ftate 
 for  many  years,  fo  that  fhe  could  take  little 
 comfort  in  her  hufband  or  children,  houfe  or 
 land,  for  want  of  the  marriage-union  with  the 
 Lamb,  and  this,  before  fhe  heard  of  the  name 
 
 Quaker; 
 
(    412     ) 
 
 Quaker ;  but  believed  there  was  a  church  over 
 whom  Chrift  Jefus  was  head,  though  fhe 
 could  not  find  it,  but  fought  after  it.  And 
 the  Lord  in  due  time  anfwered  her  weary 
 foul,  and  made  known  his  truth  and  people  to 
 her;  and  fent  fome  of  his  meiTengers  for  her 
 encouragement  and  confirmation.  Then  was 
 fhe  and  many  more  right  glad  with  the  glad- 
 tidings  that  they  brought  :  but  fhe  went 
 through  great  exercifes,  oppofition,  and  fuf- 
 ferings,  in  her  convin cement,  from  her  near 
 relations  ;  but  fhe  was  a  good  example  among 
 them ;  that  by  her  good  converfation,  and  the 
 bleffing  of  the  Lord,  fhe  won  them  to  the 
 truth,  and  many  of  them  were  convinced,  viz. 
 her  hufband,  father,  and  children,  for  whom 
 ftie  had  a  great  care  and  concern.  And  the 
 Lord  let  her  live  to  fee  the  fruits  of  her  la- 
 bour, and  the  defire  of  her  foul  concerning 
 them ;  and  her  true  and  tender  love  was  fo 
 great  to  them,  that  fhe  could  have  done  or 
 fufFered  much  for  them.  She  received  a  tef- 
 timony  to  bear  for  the  truth,  and  was  a  very 
 zealous  fervent  woman  for  the  promotion  of 
 it  to  the  utmoft  of  her  power ;  but  was  very 
 weakly  and  tender  outwardly,  fo  that  when  I 
 vifited  her  as  I  returned  from  London  in  the 
 eleventh  month,  1675,  fhe  was  in  bed,  yet 
 inwardly  ftrong  and  living;  and  was  raifed 
 up,  and  enabled  afterwards  to  travel  beyond 
 fea  to  New-England,  about  the  firfl  month, 
 
 l6Soa 
 
(     4*3     ) 
 
 i68o,  though  fhe  was  like  to  die  by  the  way. 
 She  arrived  at  New- York  the  4th  of  the  third 
 month,  and  a  maiden  friend,  whofe  name  was 
 Sarah  Yoklet,   went  with   her;  and  travelled 
 with  her  till  ihe  came  to  Oyfterbay  in  Long- 
 Illand,  where  fhe  had   pretty  much  exercife 
 and  fervice.     And  after  that,  another  woman 
 friend,   who   had   a  public  teftimony,   whofe 
 name  was  Lydia   Wright.      And  when  fhe 
 was  clear  of  Long-Ifland,  fhe  went  to  Rhode- 
 Iiland,  to  the  general-meeting,  where  fhe  was 
 troubled  with  the  Ranters,  as  fhe  had  been  in 
 Long-Ifland,     And  ftill  it  was  upon  her  to  go 
 to  Boflon,  which  fhe  did,  with  another  maid- 
 en friend  who  had  fuffered  much  there  ;  but 
 they  had  peaceable  meetings,  and  the  power 
 of  the  Lord  tendered  the  people.     And  a  law- 
 yer,  who   had  a  hand   in  putting  friends  to 
 death,  was  very  folid   all  the  while.     After 
 which  fhe  travelled  by  fea  and  land  as  the 
 Lord  directed  her ;  and  though  often  weak, 
 was  made  ftrong.     And  from  New-England 
 fhe  returned  to  Rhode-Ifland  and  Long-Ifland, 
 and  from  thence  to  Eaft-Jerfey,   landing  at 
 Shrewfbuiy  with  her  companion,   Elizabeth 
 Dean;  and  had  good  meetings.     So  to  Weft- 
 Jerfey  and  fome  parts  of  Pennfylvania,  and 
 had  good  fervice  there.     And  when  fhe  was 
 clear  of  thofe  parts,   fhe  returned  to  New- 
 York,  in   order  to  take  paflage  to  England  ; 
 but  the  Lord  laid  it  upon  her  to  go  to  Barba- 
 
 does : 
 
(     4*4     ) 
 
 does  :  and  as  the  Lord  put  it  into  her  heart  to 
 vifit  the  Leeward-Illands,  fo  he  carried  the 
 veffel,  let  the  failors  do  what  they  could,  that 
 they  landed  at  Antigua,  where  fhe  was  com- 
 forted with  friends,  and  went  thence  for  Ne- 
 vis; but  the  mafter  was  againft  it,  and  endea- 
 voured to  hinder  her  from  going  on  fhore, 
 and  was  forced  to  put  in  at  Montferrat ;  but  fhe 
 was  fo  weak,  that  fhe  fainted;  and  could  not 
 get  a  meeting,  but  publifhed  truth  in  the  ftreets : 
 then  went  back  in  another  veffel  to  Antigua : 
 but  the  former  mailer  loft  his  veffel,  as  fhe 
 had  forewarned  him.  And  from  thence  got 
 paffage  to  Nevis  with  Mary  Humphrys,  where 
 ihe  had  feveral  meetings  and  good  fervice ;  a 
 judge  and  his  wife  coming  to  meeting,  and 
 people  of  feveral  forts  ;  and  the  governor  was 
 kind.  Then  fhe  came  back  to  Antigua,  and 
 to  five  iflands,  and  vifited  a  poor  people  who 
 complained  of  their  prieft,  that  he  came  but 
 once  a  year,  and  then  it  was  to  take  what 
 they  had.  So  being  clear,  fhe  returned  to 
 Barbadoes,  and  had  many  meetings,  fome- 
 times  two  or  three  in  a  day;  and  after  fome 
 time,  took  fhipping  for  England,  and  landed 
 at  Dover  the  3d  of  the  fourth  month,  1681, 
 with  one  Margaret  Kerby :  and  was  moved 
 to  go  to  the  fteeple-houfe  at  Sandwich,  as  it 
 was  with  her  before  fhe  went  out  of  England; 
 and  declared,  that  the  day  of  the  pouring  forth 
 of  God's  fpirit  on  all  flefh,  was  come,  &c. 
 
 jBut 
 
(    4M    ) 
 
 But  the  prieft  caufed  her  to  be  haled  out,  and 
 he  that  did  it  hurt  her  arm,  that  it  was  fwelled 
 for  feme  time  ;  and  the  prieft  endeavoured  to 
 fend  her  to  prifon,  but  could  not  prevail  with 
 the  mayor;  and  would  have  troubled  friends 
 after  fhe  was  gone.     She  was  three  weeks  in 
 the  fervice  of  truth  in  Kent,  and  lb  to  London, 
 And  after  fome  time,   viiiting  friends  there, 
 returned  home,  rather  better  in  health  than 
 when  Hie  went ;  continuing  in  the  fervice  of 
 truth,  encouraging  friends  in  fufFerings :  but 
 after  perfecution  ceafed,  and  friends  were  freed 
 out  of  prifon,  in  1686,  fhe  went  into  Ireland, 
 where  fhe  travelled  up  and  down  in   many 
 parts  of  that  nation,  though  weakly ;  and  had 
 good  fervice  among  friends   for  near  twelve 
 months ;  and  then  returned  home,  and  conti- 
 nued   her    fervent    defires    for    the    good    of 
 friends,  and  promoting  the  truth  ;  travelling 
 on,  as  fhe  faid,  in  her  heavenly  progrefs,  to 
 the  end  of  her  race.     And  in  1 690,  going  up 
 to  the  yearly-meeting  at  London,   where  fhe 
 was  well  refrefhed  with  friends ;  as  fhe  return- 
 ed home,  fhe  fweetly  died  in  the  Lord,  at 
 Reading,  the  22d  of  the  fifth  month,  of  which 
 fhe  feemed  to   have   a  fenfe   before,  by  her 
 writing    to    Theophila  Townfend.     See  her 
 works,  entitled,  *  God's  mighty  Power  mag- 
 *  nined,'   8vo.   printed   1691.     She  had  alio 
 two  fons,  Thomas   and   Richard,  who  made 
 very  good  ends  ;  the  one  before  her  in  1683, 
 and  the  other  after  her  in  1 696. 
 
 2.  John 
 
(    4'6    ) 
 
 2.  John  Burnyeat  was  bora  in  the  parifTi 
 of  Lowfwater,  in  Cumberland,  about  the  year 
 163 1  ;  and  was  well  educated,  and  religioufly 
 inclined  in  his  youth  ;  feeking  the  Lord,  but 
 knew  not   where   to   find   him,  nor  how  to 
 become  acquainted  with  him,  though  he  was 
 not  far  from   him   and  every  one ;  and  was 
 high  in  profeflion  of  Chrift  and  his  righteouf- 
 nefs,  and  what  he  had  done  for  them  as  a  Sa- 
 viour,  though  in    their   fins :   but  when  the 
 truth  came,  and  was  made  manifeft,   and  the 
 Day-fpring  from  on  high  vifited  him  and  ma- 
 ny more,  he  faw  there  was  need  of  an  inward 
 work,   and  a  Saviour  nigh,  to  fave  from  fin. 
 And  all  their  high  building  and  depending  on 
 the  imputed  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift,  while  in 
 their  fins,  was  not   fufEcient ;    and   great  di- 
 ftrefs  and  forrow  came   upon  him.      He  was 
 convinced  of  the  blefTed  truth  by  his  elder  bro- 
 ther in  Chrift,   George  Fox,   when  he  came 
 iirft  into  Cumberland,  in  the  year  1653,  who 
 directed  him  concerning  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
 and  turned  his  mind  to  the   light  of  Chrift 
 Jefus  in  his  own  heart.   And  he  went  through 
 great  exercife  and  inward  travail  in  the  work 
 of  regeneration    and    redemption,    from   the 
 bondage   of  corruption,    till  his  warfare  was 
 accomplished ;  and  then  the  Lord  railed  him 
 up  to  bear  a  teftimony  for  his  name,  and  fent 
 him  forth  to  declare  to  others  what  God  had 
 done  for  his  foul,  about  the  year  1657;  though 
 he  did  not  go  much  abroad  at  tirit,  but  kept  to 
 
 his 
 
(    4J7     > 
 
 his  own  meeting  for  fome  time,  fave  only  tu 
 vifit  friends  that  were  prilbners  for  truth's  tes- 
 timony at  Carlifle,  waiting  in  great  humility 
 and  lowlinefs  of  mind,  to  feel  the  motion  of 
 the  power,  that  he  might  not  go  before  his 
 guide ;  and  was  diligent  in  his  calling,  grow- 
 ing  in  experience  of  the  work  of  the  Lord 
 (and  alfo  how  to  avoid  Satan's  devices)  and  in 
 favour  with  God,  and  in  an  increafe  of  divine 
 wifdom ;  and  in  this  pleafant   ftate   was  con- 
 tent to   abide.     But  the  Lord,  who  had  fo 
 dealt  with  him  in  mercy,  began  to  ftir  in  his 
 heart,  to  arife  and  go  forth  in  the  ftrength  of* 
 •his  word;  to  declare  againft  the  hirelings  that 
 feed  themfelves,  and  not  the  flock,  but  keep 
 people  in  ignorance  of  the  good  things  that 
 God  had   done   for  him    and    others.     And 
 when  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him,  he 
 would  willingly  have  fhunned  it ;  but  there 
 was  no  peace  but  in  obedience,  fo  he  gave  up : 
 and   on  the  firft-day  of  the   week,   went  to 
 Afpertry,   to  fpeak  to  prieft  Warwick ;  who 
 fpoke  to  the  conftable,  before  J.  Burnyeat  faid 
 any  thing,  to  put  him  and  the  friend  that  went 
 with  him  forth  ;  who  bid  the  prieft  go  on, 
 for  they  did  not  difturb  him.     And  when  the 
 prieft  had   done,   J.   Burnyeat   fpoke   to  the 
 people,  but  he  got  away ;    and    the   people 
 hurried  J.  Burnyeat  out,   fo  that  he  got  not 
 at  the  prieft  that  forenoon,   but   went  away, 
 thinking  to  have  gone  home  t  but  was  moved 
 Ee  to 
 
I  418  ) 
 
 to  go  again  in  the  afternoon,  which  he  did, 
 and  ipoke  to  him  and  to  the  people,  and  came 
 away  in  peace.  And  fome  time  after,  he  was 
 moved  to  go  to  Lorton,  and  fpeak  to  prieft 
 Fogo,  who  fell  into  a  rage  and  ftirred  up  the 
 people,  who  fell  upon  him,  and  haled  him  out 
 of  the  houfe,  and  beat  him ;  and  the  prieft 
 threatened  to  put  him  in  the  flocks.  And 
 that  day  two  weeks,  he  was  moved  to  go  and 
 fpeak  to  the  fame  prieft,  at  Lowfwater ;  and 
 becaufe  he  did  not  put  off  his  hat  when  the 
 prieft  went  to  prayers,  he  railed  at  him,  and 
 bid  the  people  take  him  away,  which  John 
 Burnyeat's  own  father  at  laft  did ;  but  he 
 waited  in  the  yard,  and  fpoke  to  him,  but  the 
 prieft  went  away  in  a  rage.  Then  he  was 
 moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  to  Brigham  to  fpeak 
 to  prieft  Denton,  which  he  did,  after  he  had 
 done  ;  but  his  hearers  fell  on  him,  and  beat 
 him  with  their  bibles  and  ftaves  out  of  the 
 houfe  and  grave-yard,  that  he  was  fore  with 
 the  blows.  And  the  prieft  commanded  the 
 conftable  to  fecure  him,  and  the  friend  with 
 him ;  and  next  day  had  them  before  Lane. 
 Fletcher,  who  fent  them  to  Carlifle  gaol,  where 
 he  remained  twenty-three  weeks.  After  which 
 he  had  a  concern  upon  his  mind  to  go  into 
 Scotland,  which  he  did  in  the  eighth  month, 
 1658  :  and  travelled  in  that  nation  about  three 
 months,  in  the  north  and  weft,  as  far  as  Aber- 
 deen, and  back  again  to  Edinburgh ;  and  fo 
 
 weftwa,r$ 
 
(    4i9    ) 
 
 Weftward  to  Lithgow,  Hamilton,  Air,  as  far 
 as  Port-Patrick,  and  back  to  Air  and  Doug- 
 las ;  and  had  great  fervice,  not  only  at  meet- 
 ings where  there  were   any,  but  in  fteeple- 
 lioufes  and  markets,  to  call  people  to  repent- 
 ance,  out  of  their  lifelefs  hypocritical  profef- 
 fion,    and  dead  formalities.      And    fo    being 
 clear,  he  returned  home  in  the  eleventh  month, 
 and  followed  his  calling  till  the  third  month, 
 1659,    and  then  took   fhipping  for  Ireland; 
 as  it  opened  to  him  when   he  was  in  Scot- 
 land, and  remained  with  him  after  he  came 
 home.     He  landed  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
 and  travelled  up  to  Lifbon  and  Lurgan ;  and 
 to  Kilmore,  in  the  county  of  Armagh  ;  and 
 up  and  down  the  north   among  friends  ;  and 
 many  people  came  to  meetings,  and  were  con- 
 vinced: and  from  thence  to  Dublin  and  Mount- 
 melick  and  Kilkenny,   Caperqueen,  Tallow  ; 
 and  fo  to  Cork  and  Bandon,Youghal  and  Wa- 
 terford,  Rofs  and  Wexfoid,  Catherlough  and 
 Mountmelick  again,  6tc.    And  fo  having  gone 
 through  and  publifhed  the  name  of  the  I  ord 
 and  his  truth,   he  was  willing  to   return   to 
 England,  intending  to  go  to  Carrickiergus  to 
 take  {flipping ;  but  it  came  upon  him  to  re- 
 turn back  to  Lurgan,  where  he  met  with  Ro- 
 bert Lodge,  newly  come  out  of  England,  who 
 went  with  him  to  Londonderry  about  the  be- 
 ginning of  the  feventh  month,  1659;  and  they 
 gravelled  together  in  that  nation  for  1 2  months 
 E  e  2  after  5 
 
(     42°     ) 
 
 after ;  and  were  at  the  fteeple-houfe  in  Lorw 
 donderry  on  the  full-day,  and  had  a  large 
 time  among  the  people,  till  the  mayor  lent  his 
 officers,  who  forced  them  out  of  the  city  into 
 a  boat,  and  lent  them  away  :  fo  being  clear, 
 they  went  to  Colerain,  and  to  the  Grange, 
 Antrim  and  Lurgan ;  and  after  fome  time, 
 into  the  fouth  to  Dublin,  Mountmelick,  Ath- 
 lone,  Galloway,  Limerick,  Cork  and  Bandon, 
 and  fo  through  the  fouth  into  the  north  again, 
 and  laboured  diligently  in  hard  travels,  in  cold, 
 hunger,  and  hardfhips,  in  that  country  ;  and 
 were  feveral  times  put  in  prifon :  once  at  Ar- 
 magh, once  in  Dublin,  twice  at  Cork;  befides 
 fuffering  other  abufes  for  their  teftimony  for 
 the  Lord,  in  their  towns  and  fteeple-houles 
 againft  the  hireling  priefts,  &c.  And  thus 
 having  laboured  in  the  gofpel  for  12  months, 
 and  many  being  convinced  and  turned  to  the 
 truth,  in  the  feventh  month,  1660,  they  took 
 fhipping  at  Carrickfergus,  intending  for  White- 
 haven; but  were  driven  into  Scotland,  and  fo 
 came  over  land  into  Cumberland,  and  he  return- 
 ed to  his  outward  calling,  being  moftly  at  home 
 till  the  firft  or  fecond  nionth,  1662;  and  then 
 was  moved  to  go  to  London  to  George  Fox, 
 and  others;  and  acquaint  them  what  was  up- 
 on him,  to  go  to  America,  which  had  been 
 Jong  with  him :  but  as  he  was  given  up  to 
 the  will  of  the  Lord,  the  weight  of  it  was  re- 
 moved j  and  fo  he  returned  home  through  York- 
 
 fhir4 
 
X    4^1     ) 
 
 iliire.  And  at  Rippon,  going  to  vlfit  friends/ 
 who  were  prifoners  for  meeting  to  worfhip 
 God,  to  the  number  of  twenty-four,  and 
 ipeaking  a  few  words  in  prifon,  the  gaoler 
 had  him  before  the  mayor,  chancellor,  &e. 
 who  examined  him ;  endeavouring  to  enfnare 
 him  for  going  to  the  prifon,  and  ipeaking  there : 
 but  when  that  would  not  do,  tendered  him  the 
 oath  of  allegiance  and  fupremacy;  for  refilling 
 which,  he  was  fent  to  prifon  to  his  friends, 
 where  he  was  kept  fourteen  weeks  ;  and  for 
 ipeaking  among  friends,  was  feveral  times 
 haled,  even  off  his  knees  at  prayer,  and  put 
 into  the  dungeon.  After  he  was  freed,  he 
 returned  home,  and  followed  his  calling :  and 
 was  moftly  at  home,  and  fometimes  in  York- 
 fhire  and  Bifhoprkk,  till  the  beginning  of  the 
 fummer,  1664. 
 
 And  then  it  came  upon  him  again  to  go  to 
 America :  fo  he  prepared  for  his  voyage,  and 
 took  fhipping  for  Ireland,  vifiting  friends. 
 And  in  the  feventh  month  took  fhipping  at 
 Galloway,  for  Barbadoes,  where  he  laboured 
 three  or  four  months ;  and  met  with  many  who 
 had  been  hurt  by  John  Perrot,  and  had  fome 
 exercife  with  them.  After  which,  he  took 
 fhipping  for  Maryland  the  latter  end  of  the 
 iirit,  and  landed  mere  the  latter  end  of  the  fe- 
 cond  month,  1665,  where  he  travelled  and 
 laboured  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel,  that  fum- 
 pier  j  and  had  large  meetings,  and  feveral  were 
 E  e  3  convinced ; 
 
(       4^2       ) 
 
 convinced:  but  he  met  with  an  exercife  with 
 Thomas Thurfton  and  his  party;  but  through 
 much   labour,    mod  of  them  were  reftored. 
 Next  winter  he  went  down  to  Virginia,  where 
 many  alio  were  led  afide  by  J.  Perrot;  but 
 through  much  labour  and  travail,  feveral  of 
 them  aifo  were  renewed.     After  fome  time, 
 lie  returned  to  Maryland,  viliting  friends,  and 
 came  again  to  Virginia  in  the  firft  month,  and 
 landed  at  New-York   in   the   fourth   month, 
 3666;  and  fpent  fome  time  among  friends, 
 and  then  took  fhipping  for  Rhode-liland  in 
 New-England,   and  had  good   fervice  there 
 And  thence  to  Sandwich,  Plymouth,  Tewkf- 
 bury,  Marfhfield,  Scituate,  and  fo  to  Bolton, 
 vifiting  friends.     To  Salem  and  Pifcataway, 
 and  fo  back  to  Hampton  and  the  abovefaid 
 towns,   through  the  woods  to  Rhode-Ifland 
 and  Long-Ifland,  and  back  to  Rhode-Ifland 
 in  the  winter.     And  the  latter  end  of  the  firft 
 month,  took  fhipping  for  Barbadoes,  and  land- 
 ed there  in  the  fecond  month,  1667,  where 
 he  fpent  that  fummer ;    and  in  the  feventh 
 month  took  fhipping  for  Briftol,  but  landed 
 at   Milfordhaven  :    the    27th    of   the    ninth 
 month,  went  to  Haverfordweft,  viliting  friends 
 till  he  came  to  Swanfea,   Cardiff,  and  Mon- 
 mouthlhire,  and  fo  over  to  Brikoh     And  after 
 fome  time,  through  Gloucefterfhire  and  Berk- 
 shire to  London;  and  afterwards  returned  the 
 iiime  way  to  Briftol :  and  into  South  Wales, 
 
 to 
 
(    423     ) 
 
 to  Pembrokefhire,  and  up  again,  by  Glotl- 
 cefter,  &c.  to  London ;  where,  and  in  Sur- 
 rey, he  fpent  part  of  the  fummer,  1668  :  and 
 then  into  the  north,  through  Hertfordshire, 
 Huntingdonihire,andfointoYorkfhire,  through 
 many  towns  and  places,  vihting  friends  :  into 
 Cleveland  and  Bifhoprick.  And  after  fome 
 time,  returned  home  to  his  friends  and  rela- 
 tions in  Cumberland ;  but  foon  after  went  up 
 to  London  to  the  yearly-meeting,  the  begin- 
 ning of  the  tenth  month,  and  then  went  weft- 
 ward  again  into  South- Wales;  and  afterwards 
 to  Briftol,  and  through  the  countries,  vihting 
 friends  up  to  London,  the  fpring  1 669  ;  and 
 then  through  Buckinghamshire,  to  Briftol  a- 
 gain,  at  the  time  of  the  fair  :  and  from  thence 
 into  South  and  North  Wales,  to  Shrewfbury  5 
 and  fo  into  Chefhire,  Lancashire,  Weft  more- 
 land,  and  home  into  Cumberland.  And  after 
 .a  little  time,  took  Shipping  at  Whitehaven  for 
 Ireland,  and  landed  at  Belfaft  in  the  north, 
 and  fpent  the  winter  there  in  the  labour  of  the 
 gofpel ;  and  had  good  fervice  for  the  Lord 
 in  that  nation.  And  when  he  was  clear,  took 
 Shipping  at  Dublin,  and  landed  at  Whitehaven 
 in  Cumberland,  And  after  a  little  time,  took 
 his  journey  for  London  to  the  yearly-meeting 
 in  the  fpring,  1 670:  and  for  declaring  the  truth 
 at  Devonihire-houfe  meeting,  was  impriioned 
 in  Newgate  with  VV.  Simpfon,  the  15th  of  the 
 third  month,  by  the  mayor ;  but  diicharged 
 E  e  4  next 
 
'(     4H     ) 
 
 next  day,  and  he  fpent  fome  time  that  fummer 
 thereabout. 
 
 And  in  the  fifth  month,  1690,  went  with 
 William  Simpfon  for  Barbadoes,  and  had  great 
 fervice  there;  where  William  Simpfon  died 
 the  8th  of  the  twelfth  month,  who  was  a  faith- 
 ful fervant  and  minifter  of  Chrift,  which  was 
 a  great  lofs  to  John  Burnyeat.  And  after  he 
 was  clear,  he  took  fhipping  for  New-England, 
 and  arrived  at  New-York  in  the  fecond  month, 
 1 67 1  ;  and  went  to  Long-Ifland,  vifiting* 
 friends  ;  and  was  at  the  half-year's-meeting 
 at  Oyfterbay;  and  fo  to  Rhode-Ifland  yearly- 
 meeting,  in  the  fourth  month.  Thence  to 
 Sandwich,  &c,  to  Bofton,  Salem,  Hampton, 
 and  Pifcataway  ;  and  had  many  bleffed  meet-; 
 ings ;  and  back  the  fame  way  to  Rhode- 
 Ifland  and  Providence;  Long-Ifland,  Flufhing, 
 Gravefend,  and  over  to  Eaft-Jerfey;  and  had 
 fome  meetings.  And  fo  back  to  the  half-* 
 year's-meeting  at  Oyfterbay,  in  the  eighth 
 month,  where  they  had  a  bleffed  meeting ; 
 though  they  had  fome  exercife  with  fome 
 contrary  fpirits,  againft  the  good  order  of 
 truth;  but  he  anfwered  their  objections.  And 
 after  their  meetings  were  over,  he  went  to 
 Flufhing,  Gravefend,  New- York,  and  fo  to. 
 Maryland  and  Virginia,  with  his  companion, 
 Daniel  Gould,  where  he  found  things  better 
 than  before.  And  he  appointed  a  general 
 meeting  at  Weft-River,  in  the  fecond  month, 
 
 1672, 
 
t  425   ) 
 
 1672,  before  he  left  them;  to  which  came 
 G.  Fox  and  many  friends.  After  which,  he, 
 G.  Fox,  R.  Widders,  and  G.  Pattifon,  went 
 over  to  the  eaftern  Ihore ;  and  through  the 
 woods  to  Newcaftle  and  New-Jerfey,  (now 
 fo  called)  fwimming  over  feveral  rivers,  and 
 lodging  in  wigwams,  (the  Indians  being  kind 
 to  them)  till  they  came  to  Middletown  in  Eaft- 
 Jerfey,  and  fo  to  Long-Iiland,  and  the  half- 
 year'  s-meeting  at  Oyfterbay,  where  fome  of 
 the  former  oppofers  appeared ;  but  truth  was 
 fet  over  them,  G.  Fox  being  there  :  and  then 
 went  to  Rhode-Ifland  to  the  yearly-meeting, 
 •in  the  fourth  month,  which  held  eight  days. 
 After  which,  J.  Burnyeat  went  into  the  eaftern 
 parts  of  New-England,  with  J.  Cartwright 
 and  G.  Pattifon,  to  Sandwich,  Plymouth, 
 Duxbury,  Marlhfield,  and  Scituate,  where  he 
 had  a  difpute  with  fome  of  the  elders  of  their 
 church.  And  at  Bofton,  the  marihal  and  a 
 conftable  came  to  the  meeting  (which  was 
 large)  to  take  him  up  ;  but  the  conftable 
 being  moderate,  after  he  had  heard  him, 
 would  not  take  him,  but  went  away,  and 
 told  the  deputy  governor  that  he  heard  no- 
 thing but  what  was  true ;  and  the  people 
 were  fatisfied,  and  fpoke  well  of  friends : 
 which  when  priefl  Thatcher  heard,  he  ftirred 
 up  the  magiftrates,  and  they  fent  and  took 
 friends  at  their  meeting  foon  after,  and  fent 
 feveral  to  prifonj    particularly  John  Stubbs 
 
 and 
 
(      4^      ) 
 
 and  James  Lancafter,  and  bammed  them  otlt 
 of  the  colony:  and  next  day  he  had  a  meeting 
 at  Salem,  and  alfo  with  fome  of  J.  Perrot's 
 party,  about  keeping  on  the  hat  in  prayer. 
 And  at  Hampton ;  where  feveral  of  their  church 
 elders  came  to  the  meeting,  and  were  well  fa- 
 tisfied,  and  fpoke  well  of  truth ;  at  which  Sea- 
 born Cotton,  the  prielt,  was  angry,  and  en- 
 deavoured to  ftir  up  perfecution.  Thence  to 
 Pifcataway,  and  back  again  to  Hampton  and 
 Salem,  having  good  fervice  among  friends  and 
 others.  And  fo  to  Bolton  and  Rhode-Iiland, 
 where  he  met  George  Fox  ;  and  went  with  J. 
 Stubbs  to  Providence  and  Warwick,  having 
 meetings;  and  had  fome  exercife  with  Gor- 
 ton and  his  company  (Ranters)  :  and  return- 
 ing to  Rhode-Ifland,  had  a  difpute  with  Roger 
 Williams,  who  publifhing  a  partial  relation  of 
 it,  G.  Fox  and  J.  Burnyeat  afterwards  (1677) 
 anfwered  in  a  large  book,  entitled,  '  A  New- 
 *  England  Firebrand  quenched.'  After  which, 
 J.  Burnyeat  and  J.  Stubbs  went  over  to  the 
 Narraganfet  country,  to  New-London,  Nor? 
 wich,  and  Flertford,  and  had  meetings ;  but 
 the  profeflbrs  oppofed :  and  though  he  went 
 to  their  meetings,  they  would  not  hear,  but 
 difputed.  So  they  went  weftward  to  Hert- 
 ford, Newhaven,  Milford,  Stratford,  Stan- 
 ford, and  Greenwich,  where  the  pried  got  a 
 warrant  to  take  them  up  in  the  beginning  of 
 their  meeting,  and  had  them  before  a  magi- 
 
 ftrate; 
 
(    4^7    ) 
 
 ftrate :    but  he  being  moderate,   would  not 
 commit  them,  but  would  have  the  priefts  dif- 
 courfe  with  them  before  the  people  in  their 
 public  meeting-houfe,  which  the  priefts,  though 
 unwilling    (being  difpleafed)   did   on  feveral 
 points,  which  J.  Burnyeat  drew  up  an  account 
 of,  in  a  book  in  manuicript :  and  next  day  had 
 a  meeting  at  Greenwich,  and  fo  went  over  to 
 Long-Ifland,    to  Oyfterbay ;    and   thence  to 
 Eaft-Jerfey,  New- York,  and  fo  to  Maryland 
 and  Virginia,  in  the  ninth  month,  1672;  and 
 had   a   difpute   with   a   fifth -monarchy- man. 
 He  and  George  Fox  had  a  meeting  with  the 
 Indians;  and  after  much  good  fervice,  being 
 clear  of  thofe  countries,  he  took  (hipping -with 
 George  Fox,  in  the  fecond  month,  1673  ;  and 
 in  the  third  month,   landed  at  Galloway-Bay 
 in  Ireland ,  and  travelled  to  Limerick,  Charlef- 
 field,  Cork,  and  Bandon,  vifiting  friends.  And 
 to  Youghall,  Tallow,  Kilcommon,  and  Water- 
 ford;  and  the  counties  of  Wexford,   Cather- 
 lough,  Queen's  County,  Weftmeath,  Armagh, 
 Antrim,  Dublin,  Wicklow,  province  of  Mun- 
 fter  and  Leinfter,  vifiting  moft  of  the  meet- 
 ings in  that  nation ;  and  labouring  there  till 
 the  tenth  month  ;  and  then  took  fhipping  for 
 England,  landed  at  Whitehaven;   and  after 
 three  months  ftay  in   Cumberland,   went   to 
 Newcaftle,  Bilhoprick,  Yorkihire,  Cleveland, 
 Whitby,    Scarborough,    Malton,   and   York, 
 jbaving  precious  meetings;  andfo  to  Marfham, 
 
 and 
 
(    4^8    ) 
 
 &ftd  from  thence  with  R.  Lodge  to  the  yearly- 
 meeting  at  London,  1674;  and  then  through 
 Buckinghamfhire,Oxfordfhire,Worcefterlhire, 
 and  Gloucefterfhire,  to  Briftol  (where  I  firft 
 law  him,  and  loved  him  ever  after  for  his  tes- 
 timony's fake).  After  which  he  went  to 
 Shrewfbury,  and  Wrexham  in  North-Wales  ; 
 and  from  thence,  with  John-ap-John,  into 
 South-Wales,  through  feveral  counties  to  Pem- 
 brokefhire ;  and  fo  up  the  fouth-fide  to  Mon- 
 mouthfhire,  and  pafled  over  to  Gloucefterfhire 
 and  Briftol  again,  and  through  feveral  coun- 
 ties to  London:  then  into  EfTex,  and  returned 
 to  London  to  the  yearly-meeting,  in  1675. 
 Trom  thence  to  Hertford,  and  fo  northward 
 with  John  Grave  and  James  Hall,  through 
 feveral  towns  in  Yorkfhire,  as  above ;  Cleve- 
 land, Bifhoprick,  and  fo  into  Cumberland : 
 then  into  Weftmoreland,  to  a  meeting  about 
 J.  Story  and  J.  Wilkinfon,  with  whom  friends 
 were  about  this  time  exercifed.  After  which, 
 and  viliting  fome  meetings  thereabouts,  he 
 went  through  Lancafhire  and  Chelhire,  to 
 John-ap-John's,  near  Wrexham,  in  North- 
 Wales,  who  went  with  him  to  the  quarterly- 
 meeting  at  C,  Lloyd's,  at  Dolobran  ;  and 
 then  through  feveral  counties  in  Wales.  And 
 came  again  to  Briftol,  and  into  Somerfetfhire, 
 and  back  to  Briftol :  then  into  Wiltfhire, 
 Gloucefterfhire,  Berkfhire,  Oxfordshire,  Wor- 
 cefterfhire,  to  Briftol  again  $  and  from  thence 
 
 tQ 
 
(    4^9    ) 
 
 to  London,  labouring  in  the  work  of  the  go£* 
 pel ;  and  then  down  into  Cumberland,  and  to 
 the  meeting  at  Drawell,  in  the  fecond  month, 
 1676,  about  the  aforefaid  difference  with 
 J.  Story  and  J.  Wilkinfon,  which  lafted  four 
 days,  where  many  friends  laboured  much  for 
 their  prefervation  ;  but  they  were  too  far  gone 
 in  a  feparate  fpirit  to  be  reclaimed.  After  which, 
 J.  Burnyeat  went  home,  and  took  his  journey 
 with  J.  Tiffin,  through  Weftmoreland  and 
 Yorkfhire,  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  London, 
 viiiting  friends  by  the  way ;  where  the  buli- 
 nefs  of  the  feparation  in  Weftmoreland  was 
 under  confideration,  and  epiftles  written  to 
 prevent  it,  if  it  might  have  been.  He  after- 
 wards married  and  fettled  in  Ireland,  where 
 his  fervice  moftly  lay  in  his  latter  days,  but 
 came  over  into  the  north  to  vifit  friends  in 
 1682.  He  was  imprifoned  in  the  Marfhalfea 
 (Dublin)  for  meeting  and  preaching  in  the 
 jixth  month,  1683,  when  perfecution  was  rife 
 in  England,  but  was  freed  in  the  eighth  month. 
 He  came  over  into  England  again  in  1684, 
 and  travelled  in  divers  parts  of  the  north,  and 
 into  Scotland,  with  J .  Tiffin  and  another  friend, 
 to  Edinburgh,  and  north  and  weft.  And 
 after  his  return  in  the  firft  month,  1 6S$,  I  do 
 not  find,  but  he  continued  in  Ireland,  where 
 he  was  very  ferviceable  till  the  time  of  his  de- 
 cease. His  wife  died  about  the  10th  month, 
 1688  j  and  he  having  finifhed  his  courfe  and 
 
 kept 
 
(    43°    ) 
 
 kept  the  faith,  departed  in  peace,  the  i  ith  of 
 the  feventh  month,  >  690,  about  59  years  of 
 age,  refting  from  all  his  labours,  and  his  works 
 follow  him.  He  left  one  fon,  a  hopeful 
 young  man,  behind  him.  He  was  an  ex- 
 cellent minifter  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and 
 his  memorial  is  blelTed.  See  his  works  and 
 teftimonies  concerning  him :  his  account  of 
 his  convincement  and  journal  of  his  travels, 
 printed  in  4to. 
 
 3.  Robert  Lodge,  of  Mafham  in  Yorkshire, 
 a  faithful  fervant  of  God  and  minifter  of  Jefus 
 Chrift,  was  born  about  the  year  1636.  He 
 was  religiouily  inclined  in  his  youthful  days, 
 and  faw  the  errors  of  the  priefls  before  he  re- 
 ceived the  truth,  and  was  helpful  in  difco- 
 vering  them  to  others  ;  and  uied  to  difcourfe 
 them,  particularly  one  Anthony  Procter,  in 
 Oliver  Cromwell's  time;  and  was  commonly 
 too  hard  for  them.  He  was  of  a  valiant  fpi- 
 rit  from  his  youth  upward  :  and  when  it 
 pleafed  the  Lord  to  fend  his  faithful  fervants 
 in  thofe  parts,  to  preach  the  everlafting  gof- 
 pel, directing  people's  minds  to  the  light  of 
 Chrift  in  their  confciences ;  he  and  many 
 more  were  convinced  of  the  way  to  eternal 
 iife  (even  in  his  tender  years)  about  the  year 
 1658,  and  were  gathered  to  be  a  meeting,  to 
 lit  in  lilence,  and  wait  upon  the  Lord ;  and  in 
 due  time,  being  gathered  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  Jefus,  he  made  his  power  known,  to  the 
 
 rending 
 
(    43*     > 
 
 rending  the  vail,  and  breaking  down  the  par* 
 tition-wall,  and  raifmg  up  their  fouls  fronv 
 death  to  life ;  which  caufed  great  joy  and 
 comfort  in  them,  and  among  them;  and  by 
 the  power  and  fpirit  of  life,  he  came  to  have 
 his  mouth  opened,  to  bear  witnefs  to  it,  and 
 declare  of  God's  eternal  power.  And  the 
 Lord  made  him  a  very  ferviceable  inftru- 
 ment  in  his  hand,  for  the  gathering  many 
 out  of  the  ways  of  the  world,  into  the  way 
 of  life :  and  fent  him  forth  to  preach  the 
 everlafting  gofpel  in  many  parts  of  this  na- 
 tion, and  in  Ireland,  whither  he  was  not  long 
 after  moved  to  go,  to  declare  the  everlafting 
 truth;  where  he  travelled  with  J.  Burnyeat, 
 as  aforefaid,  from  the  beginning  of  the  fe- 
 venth  month,  1659,  for  about  one  year's  time,, 
 through  moft  parts  of  it ;  and  had  good  fer- 
 vice  for  the  Lord  in  many  places  ;  and  went 
 through  many  great  trials  and  exercifes ;  but 
 the  Lord  did  mightily  preferve  him,  and  at- 
 tend him  with  his  bleffed  prefence :  from 
 whence  he  fent  an  epiftle  to  friends  in  York- 
 fhire,  dated  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  the 
 fourth  month,  1660.  And  ibon  after  his 
 return  home  he  was  imprifoned,  the  1 8th  of 
 the  twelfth  month,  with  many  more  in  that 
 county  of  York,  in  the  great  imprifonrhent 
 after  the  coming  in  of  king  Charles  II.  in 
 1660,  till  the  king's  proclamation  for  their 
 ^eleafe,  in  1661.     And  was  again  imprifoned 
 
 for 
 
(     432     ) 
 
 for  his  teftimony  at,  Wakefield,  in  the  fame 
 county,  in  1665,  where  he  writ  his  fecond 
 epiftle :  and  when  he  fuffered  impriibnment, 
 or  otherwife,  for  the  teftimony  of  truth,  he 
 fuffered  patiently,  refting  in  the  will  of  God. 
 He  went  into  Ireland  again,  and  travelled 
 with  George  Fox  up  and  down  that  nation, 
 in  the  year  1669;  jeopardying  his  life  among 
 the  priefts  and  Papifts  there,  where  he  and 
 George  Fox  had  many  large  meetings  of  the 
 people  of  God;  and  his  power  and  prefence 
 was  among  them.  And  when  they  had 
 finifhed  their  teftimony  there,  they  came 
 over  into  England,  and  continued  labouring 
 in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  though  I  do  not 
 find  he  travelled  far  abroad,  at  leaft,  over  fea, 
 after  this  :  yet  he  travelled  pretty  much  about 
 his  own  country,  and  fometimes  to  London ; 
 particularly  with  J.  Burnyeat,  to  the  yearly- 
 meeting  in  1674.  I  was  at  his  houfe  at 
 Mafham,  as  I  went  into  the  north  the  latter 
 end  of  the  firft  month,  1676;  but  he  was 
 gone  to  the  meeting  at  John  Blaikling's  at 
 JDrawell,  about  the  difference  with  J.  Story 
 and  J.  Wilkinfon ;  as  were  many  other 
 friends,  whom  1  thereby  miffed  of  feeing. 
 But  the  fame  year  he  came  up  again  with  J. 
 Burnyeat,  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  London  ; 
 and  afterwards  (that  fummer)  came  down  to 
 Briftol,  and  was  at  a  meeting  at  Portfhcad  in 
 Somerfetihire  with  C.  Marfhal,  where  I  faw 
 
 him. 
 
(    433     ) 
 
 him,  and  rode  fome  miles  with  him.  He  had 
 a  fine  refrefhing  teftimony ;  and  I  remember 
 fome  of  his  words,  when  life  fprung  in  the 
 meeting,  faying,  Spring  up,  O  well,  fing  ye 
 unto  it :  and  now  (faid  he,  when  life  was  in 
 dominion)  unto  whom  fhall  the  fong  be  fung, 
 but  unto  the  fpringing  well,  viz.  "  The  foun- 
 "  tain  of  life,  or  well  of  living  water,  (which 
 "  Chrift  faid  of  the  fpirit)  ihould  be  in  him 
 "  that  believeth  a  well  of  water,  fpringing  up 
 "  into  everlafting  life,"  Numb.  xxi.  17.  John 
 iv.  14.  vii.  38,  39.  After  which  I  do  not  find 
 much  of  him  till  the  year  1684,  when  he  and 
 his  old  companion,  J.  Burnyeat,  travelled  again 
 into  Yorkfhire,  &c.  which  was  the  laft  time 
 that  I  find  J.  Burnyeat  was  in  England.  And 
 as  he  and  J.  Burnyeat  had  travelled  much  to- 
 gether, fo  they  died  near  about  the  fame  time; 
 J.  Burnyeat  the  nth,  as  aforefaid,  and  R. 
 Lodge,  the  15th  of  the  lame,  viz.  the  feventh 
 month,  1690,  when  he  had  finifhed  his  tefti- 
 mony, departing  fweetly  in  theLordto  his  eter- 
 nal reft.  A  friend,  KatherineWinn,  to  whom 
 he  had  been  inftrumental  of  good,  coming  to 
 fee  him  in  the  time  of  his  ficknefs,  and  fitting 
 by  his  bed-fide,  under  an  exercife  for  him,  he 
 looked  chearfully  at  her,  and  faid,  Why  wo- 
 man, we  muft  meet  again  in  eternity :  and 
 had  many  heavenly  expreftions  on  his  death- 
 bed. He  was  an  excellent  minifter,  and  had 
 an  extraordinary  gift  in  prayer.  He  was  in- 
 F  f  ftrumental. 
 
(    434     ) 
 
 ftrumental  to  turn  many  to  righteoufnefs,  and 
 to  build  them  up  in  the  moll  holy  faith.  His 
 teftimony  reached  to  the  witnefs  of  God  in 
 the  confciences  of  many;  and  was  a  fon  of 
 confolation  to  the  watering  and  refreshing 
 many  weary  fouls ;  and  his  words  were  as 
 the  balm  of  Gilead  to  the  broken-hearted. 
 He  kept  his  firft  love  and  habitation  in  the 
 truth  to  the  laft  :  and  bore  a  faithful  and  liv- 
 ing teftimony  for  God,  not  only  in  words, 
 but  in  life  and  converfation.  And  towards 
 his  latter  end,  laboured  much  with,  and  for, 
 the  young  generation,  that  they  might  come 
 up  in  the  footfteps  of  thofe  who  were  gone 
 before.  He  was  a  man  of  a  fweet  difpofition, 
 and  left  a  good  favour  behind  him.  Much 
 might  be  laid  concerning  him,  but  I  refer  to 
 the  '  Several  living  Tefumonies  given  forth 
 
 *  by  divers  Friends   concerning  him  and  his 
 
 *  faithful  Labours  and  Travels.'  Printed  in 
 1691. 
 
 4.  Robert  Barclay,  that  faithful  fervant  and 
 minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  famous  apologiil 
 for  the  people  called  Quakers,  was  fon  of  Col. 
 David  Barclay,  of  Ury,  near  Aberdeen  in  Scot- 
 land; defcended  of  the  Barclays  of  Mather, 
 in  the  kingdom  of  Scotland,  an  ancient  and 
 honourable  family  among  men ;  and  of  Ka- 
 tharine Gordon,  of  the  houfe  of  the  duke  of 
 Gordon.  He  was  born  at  Edinburgh,  in  the 
 year  1648,  and  was  educated  from  his  infancy 
 
 amongfl 
 
(    435    ) 
 
 smongft  the  ftri&eft  fort  of  Calvinifts  in  his 
 own  country ;  and  had  fcarce  got  out  of  his 
 childhood,  when  he  was  fent  into  France, 
 under  the  tuition  of  an  uncle  at  Paris,  for  the 
 benefit  of  the  French  tongue  as  wrell  as  the 
 Latin,  both  which  he  had  the  advantage  of. 
 There  the  Papifts  endeavoured  to  profelyte 
 him  to  their  way,  which  his  immature  capa- 
 city could  hardly  refill: :  but  he  foon  came  to 
 a  fight  of  the  error  of  it.  He  returned  home 
 about  1 664,  in  the  fixteenth  year  of  his  age  ; 
 where,  by  the  example  and  inftruction  of  his 
 honeft  and  worthy  father,  who  received  the 
 bleifed  truth  in  the  year  1666;  and  his  con- 
 verfe  with  other  fervants  of  God,  he  came  to 
 fee  and  tafte  the  excellency  of  it  alfo  ;  and 
 was  convinced  of  the  truth  about  the  year 
 1667;  and  publicly  owned  the  teftimony  of 
 the  true  light,  which  enlightens  every  man, 
 and  came  early  forth  a  zealous  and  fervent 
 witnefs  for  it ;  enduring  the  crofs,  and  defpif- 
 ing  the  fhame  that  attended  his  difciplefhip, 
 efteeming  the  reproach  of  Ghrift  greater  riches 
 than  the  treafures  of  Egypt ;  counting  all 
 things  as  drofs,  in  comparifon  of  the  know- 
 ledge of  Chrift,  which  he  embraced  as  his 
 crown ;  and  received  the  gift  of  the  miniftry 
 as  his  greateft  honour,  in  which  he  laboured 
 to  bring  others  to  the  knowledge  of  God ;  and 
 his  labour  was  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  He 
 was  much  concerned  in  controverfy  with  the 
 F  f  2  adversaries 
 
(    436    ) 
 
 adveriaries  and  oppofers  of  truth  in  his  own 
 country;  which  was  begun  by  one  George 
 Meldrum's  preaching  and  writing  againft; 
 friends,  on  the  rife  of  that  people  at  Aber- 
 deen j  which  was  followed  by  thirty  queries 
 of  the  billiop  of  Aberdeen  to  Alexander  Jaf- 
 fray :  all  which  were  anfwered  by  him  and 
 George  Keith.     At  laft  came  out  a  namelefs 
 
 *  Dialogue,'  fuppofed  to  be  by  William  Mit- 
 chell:  to  which  our  friend,  R.  Barclay,  pub- 
 limed  an  anfwer   in  1670,  intitled,    *  Truth 
 
 *  cleared  of  Calumnies,'  with  an  hiftorical 
 preface  of  the  ground  of  the  controverfy,  and 
 how  it  began.  To  which  William  Mitchell 
 replying,  Robert  Barclay  rejoined,  in  a  book 
 intitled,  '  William  Mitchell  unmafked,'  in 
 j  672 ;  which,  as  far  as  I  find,  put  an  end  to 
 that  controverfy.  The  fame  year,  he  was 
 moved  of  the  Lord,  in  a  crofs  to  his  own 
 will,  to  pafs  through  the  ftreets  of  Aberdeen, 
 covered  with  fackcloth  and  allies,  to  call  them 
 to  repentance  by  that  fignal  and  lingular  fign. 
 And  afterwards  wrote  '  A  feafonable  Warn- 
 
 *  ing  and  ferious  Exhortation  to  the  Inhabi- 
 
 *  tants  thereof.'  And  being  given  up  for  the 
 fpreading  and  promoting  of  truth,  to  prevent 
 controverfy  for  the  future,  he  wrote  and  pub- 
 lifhed,  in  1673,  '  A  Catechifm  and  Confeffion 
 
 *  of  Faith,  to  eftabliih  the   Truth   in  plain 
 
 *  Scripture  Terms,  againft  the  Errors  of  the 
 
 *  Weftminiter    Confeifion    and    Catechifm.' 
 
 In 
 
(    437     ) 
 
 In  1 674,  he  publifhed  his  book  intitled  *■  The 
 '  Anarchy  of  the  Ranters,  and  other  Liber- 
 '  tines,'   &c.   in   relation   to   church   govern- 
 ment; which  W.  Rogers  writing  againft,  oc- 
 cafioned    fome    controverfy   between    them, 
 which  terminated  to  Robert  Barclay's  honour, 
 W.   Roger's  owning  his  miftakes  under  his 
 hand:  though  like   the  double-minded  man, 
 being  unliable  in  all  his  ways,  he  afterwards 
 publiihed   his  obje&ions,  as  did  alfo  Robert 
 Barclay   his    vindication.      The    fame    year, 
 (if  not  before)  he  publifhed  fifteen  theological 
 propofitions,  for  the  more  general  informing 
 all  of  our  principles,  intitled,  '  Thefes  Theo- 
 *  logicse,  To  the  Clergy  of  what  Sort  foever,' 
 &c.    *  Which,   according  to  the  will  of  God, 
 c  as  he  fays,   proving   fuccefsful   beyond  his 
 1  expectation,   to  the  fatisfattion  of  feveral ; 
 '  and  to  the  moving  in  many  a  defire  of  being 
 c  further  informed   concerning  us    (as  being 
 1  every  where  evilly  fpoken  of)  and  likewife 
 '  meeting  with  public  oppofition  by  fome,  as 
 '  will  always  be  the  cafe,  fo  long  as  the  devil 
 '  rules  in  the  children  of  difobedience*,  he  was 
 
 '  thereby 
 
 *  For  fome  of  the  Students  of  Divinity  ((o  called)  at 
 Aberdeen,  challenged  a  difpute  on  the  faid  propofitions, 
 which  was  held  in  the  fecond  month,  1675,  between  them 
 and  the  people  called  Quakers ;  particularly,  Robert  Bar- 
 clay and  George  Keith,  which  tended  to  the  advantage  of 
 truth :  for  the  fcholars  and  their  company  behaved  them- 
 felves  fo  rudely,  that  inftead  of  arguments  to  confute, 
 our  friends,  they  broke  up  the  difpute  before   they  had 
 
 t  f  J  gone 
 
(     433     ) 
 
 *  thereby  further  engaged,   in  the  liberty  of 
 
 *  the  Lord,  to  prefent  to  the  world  his  "  Apo- 
 "  logy  of  the  Truth  held  by  thofe  People," 
 which  he  dedicated  to  king  Charles  the  lid, 
 1675,  and  publifhed  in  Latin,  in  1676,  for 
 the  information  of  ftrangers,  In  the  firft 
 month,  1677,  he  was  imprifoned  for  the 
 truth  at  Aberdeen,  where  he  wrote  his  trea- 
 tile  of  '  Univerfal  Love.'  And  in  the  ninth 
 month,   '  An  Epiftle   of  Love   and  Friendly 
 
 *  Advice  to  the   Ambaffadors  of  the  feveral 
 
 *  Princes   of  Europe,  met  at   Nimeguen,  to 
 
 *  confult  the  Peace  of  Chriftendcm.'  Which 
 was  prefented  in  Latin,  in  the  twelfth  month, 
 1677,  to  wit,  one  to  each  ambaflador,  and 
 one  to  each  of  their  principals ;  together  with 
 fo  many  of  his  apologies;  whereof  he  makes 
 mention  in  that  epiftle,   in  thefe  words,  viz. 
 
 *  And  becaufe  many  are  the  calumnies  that 
 '  fuch  are  reproached  withal,  as  holding  forth 
 '  ftrange  and  pernicious  doctrines;  therefore 
 '  I  have  herewith  fent  you  a  large  Apology 
 1  for  the  True  Chriftian  Divinity,  held  forth 
 
 gone  through  half  the  Thefes,  and  betook  themfelves  to 
 throwing  turfs  and  ftones.  So  that  four  of  the  ftudents 
 were  convince^  of  the  truth,  Of  which  difpute  our 
 friends  publifhed  an  account :  and  Robert  Barclay  offered 
 them  another  meeting,  which  they  would  not  accept  of; 
 but  afterwards  put  out  a  book  againft  the  Quakers,  in  rela- 
 tion to  the  difpute:  which  our  friend  Robert  Barclay  an- 
 fwered  in  a  book,  intitled,  c  Quakerifm  confirmed,'  And 
 fo  that  rencounter  ended  ^ 
 
 4  ari(J 
 
(    439    ) 
 
 c  and  preached  by  them ;  that  therein  you 
 c  may  fee  how  the  truly  Chriftian  principles, 
 '  which  have  been  loft  in  the  apoftacy,  while 
 1  the  life  of  chriftianity  was  not  to  be  found, 
 '  is  reftored  by  their  teftimony.'  Which  apo- 
 logy he  foon  after  turned  into  Englifh,  for  the 
 benefit  of  his  countrymen ;  for  onejohn  Brown, 
 a  Scotchman,  writing  againft  it  in  Latin,  and 
 thereby  taking  occalion  the  more  to  abufe  him 
 and  friends,  by  mifreprefenting  the  truth  they 
 held,  being  in  a  language  not  generally  un- 
 derftcod;  this  made  him  haften  the  Englifh 
 edition,  which  was  printed  in  Holland,  1678; 
 and  his  vindication  of  it  againft  John  Brown, 
 in  1 679 ;  in  which  year  he  was  alfo  a  prifoner 
 at  Aberdeen  for  his  teftimony,  where  he  writ 
 his  '  Vindication  of  his  Anarchy,'  againft  W. 
 Rogers.  He  travelled  in  the  miniftry  in  Scot- 
 land and  England;  and  came  feveral  times  to 
 London,  particularly  in  1677,  wnen  ne  nad 
 the  meeting  with  W.  Rogers :  and  went  over 
 into  Holland  with  George  Fox,  William  Penn, 
 and  others,  that  year:  and  travelled  with  W. 
 Penn  into  Holland,  and  fome  parts  of  Ger- 
 many, to  fpread  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  where 
 they  had  good  fervice  for  the  Lord;  and  were 
 intimate  and  inward  in  divers  fervices,  from 
 firft  to  laft.  And  after  his  return,  he  and  G. 
 Keith  came  to  Briftol,  where  I  law  and  heard 
 him,  and  a  fine  teftimony  he  had.  He  had 
 ^lfo  good  fervice  at  court,  in  relation  to  friends 
 F  f  4  fufterings 
 
(     44°     ) 
 
 fufferlngs  in  king  Charles  lid's  time,   being 
 acquainted  with  the  duke  of  York.     He  lived 
 pretty  much  retired  at  home  in  his  own  coun- 
 try, in  his  latter  time,  but  came  to  London 
 again  in  1685,  anc^  difcourfed  the  Dutch  am- 
 baflador  about  immediate  revelation;  and  the 
 next  year,  publifhed  *  The.  Poffibility  and  Ne-» 
 *  ceffity  of  the  Inward  and  Immediate  Reve- 
 c  lation  of  the  Spirit   of  God,'   writ  to  him 
 fome  years  before  on  that  fubjec~t.     He  loved 
 the  truth  and  way  of  God  (fays  William  Penn) 
 as  revealed   among  us,  above  all  the  world ; 
 and  wras  not  afhamed  of  it  before   men,    but 
 bold    and  able  in   maintaining  it :   found  in 
 judgment,    flrong  in   argument,    chearful   in 
 travels   and   iufferings ;  of  a  pleafant  difpofi-. 
 tion,   yet  folid,   plain,  and  exemplary  in  his 
 converfation.     He  was  a  learned  man,  a  good 
 Chriftian,  an  able  mlnifter,  &c.     Thefe  emi- 
 ment   qualities,  fays  he,    in  one  that  had  em- 
 ployed them  fo  well,   and  that  had  not  lived 
 much  above  half  the  life  of  a  man   (having 
 outlived  his  father   but  four  years,   and  died 
 thirty  years  fliort  of  his   age)    rendered  the 
 lofs  of  him  the  greater,  efpecially  in  that  na- 
 tion where  he  lived.     His  ficknefs  was  but 
 fliort;  in  which  time,  our  friend,  James  Dick- 
 infon  of  Cumberland,  was  with  him  :  he  ex- 
 prefied  himfelf  fweetly,  and  fo  died  in  peace 
 with  the  Lord,  at  his  own  houfe  at  Ury,  the 
 third  of  the  eighth  month,  1690^  in  the  42c! 
 
 yeas 
 
(    441     ) 
 
 year  of  his  age,  leaving  a  forrowful  widow, 
 four  fons  and  three  daughters  behind  him. 
 See  his  works  in  folio,  printed  1 692,  and  W. 
 Penn's  Preface  and  Teitimony,  6cc.  concern- 
 ing him. 
 
 5.   George  Fox  the  elder,    (for  there  was 
 another  of  that  name,  for  diftindtion,  called 
 the  younger,  who  died  in  the  year  1662)  was 
 born  at  Drayton  in  Clay,  in  Leicefterfhire;  in 
 1624,  who  was  the  firit.  called  a  Quaker,  and 
 the  firft  that  preached  the  everlafting  gofpel 
 amongfc  them ;  and  turned  many  to  righte- 
 oufneis.     He  was  an  early  and  earner!  feeker 
 of  the  Lord  from  his  childhood,  and  under- 
 went great  exercife  inwardly  about  religion  in 
 his  youth,  feeing  the  corruption  and  degene- 
 racy of  raoft  profeflors,  that  he  could  not  join 
 with  any,  but  retired  much  alone;  waiting  on 
 the  Lord  for  wifdom  and  counfel,  being  fen- 
 fible  of  an  inward   principle  of  light,  grace, 
 and  truth,  in  the  inward  parts,  which  difco- 
 vered  fin  and  evil,   and  would  lead  man  and 
 woman   out   of  it,   and  out  of  the  fall,  up  to 
 God  again,  as  they  took  heed  to  it,  and  gave 
 up  to  follow  it ;  and  teach  them  their  duty  to 
 God,  and  how  to  worfhip  him  in  fpirit  and  in 
 truth.      And   he    met   with   great    oppofition 
 from  prieiis   and  profeflors  for  his  religious 
 diflent,  and   denying  their   evil  ways.      And 
 as  he  grew  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge 
 of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift,  with- 
 out 
 
(     442     ) 
 
 out  any  outward  teacher,  or  any  to  tell  his 
 condition  to,  he  was  often  made  to  reprove 
 both  priefts  and  people,  for  the  evil  of  their 
 ways,  and  call  them  to  repentance :  travelling 
 up  and  down,  and  working  at  his  trade  (which 
 was  that  of  a  fhoe-maker)  between  whiles ; 
 particularly  at  Mansfield  in  Nottinghamfhire, 
 till  about  the  year  1 647,  when  he  began  more 
 particularly  to  declare  the  truth  as  he  had  re- 
 ceived it  in  Jefus  Chrift,  freely  to  others,  and 
 to  direct  them  to  the  light  of  Chrift  in  their 
 confciences,  which  is  the  "  true  light  that  en- 
 "  lightens  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
 "  world,"  John  i.   9,  which  fhews  and  re- 
 proves for  fin  and  evil;  and  would  give  them 
 power  over  it,   as  they  came  to  believe  in  it 
 and  obey  it ;  for  this  was   his  meffage  with 
 the  apoftle,  that  "  God  is  Light,  and  in  him 
 "  is  no  darknefs  at  all ;  and  if  we  walk  in 
 "  the  Light,   as  he  is  in  the  Light,  we  have 
 "  fellowfhip  one  with  another,  and  the  blood 
 "  of  Jefus  Chrift  his  fon,  cleanfeth  us  from 
 "  all  fin,"   1  John  i.  5,  7.     And  many  were 
 turned  to  it,  and   came  to  fit   down  under 
 Chrift  their  teacher,  before  they  were  called 
 Quakers,     (particularly   in    Nottinghamfhire, 
 Leicefterihire,  and  vale  of  Beavor,  in  1648) 
 therefore  truly  called   '  Children   of  Light ;' 
 for  which  he  was  hated  and  perfecuted  by  the 
 priefts  and  profeffors  of  thofe  times  :  and  was 
 jmprifoned  at  Nottingham,  for  fpeaking  in  the 
 
 fteeple-houfe. 
 
(     443     ) 
 
 fteeple-houfe  there,  in  1 649  ;  and  after  he  was 
 releaied,  he  travelled  up  and  down,  going  to 
 fteeple-houfes,    and    fpeaking   to   priefts    and 
 people.     And  in  the  year  1650,  for  going  to 
 the  fteeple-houfe  at  Derby,  he  was  committed 
 to  the  houfe  of  correction  for  fix  months,  by 
 major  Bennet,  an  Independant  juftice  of  peace, 
 who  obferving  George  Fox  to  tremble,  when 
 the  power  of  God  was  upon  him,   called  him 
 Quaker  (the  firft  time  that  name  was  fo  given) 
 and  afterwards  he  was  put  in  the  dungeon  for 
 fix  months  more,  becaufe  he  would  not  take  up 
 arms,  and  be  a  captain  of  a  troop  of  horfe,  to  go 
 and  fight  againit  the  king  (Charles  II.)  at  Wor- 
 cefter  fight,  in  1 65 1 .    And  after  his  difcharge, 
 he  travelled  about,   declaring  the  truth  ;  and 
 many  were  convinced  and  turned  to  it,  as  in 
 Yorkihire,  Weftmoreland,    and    Swarthmore 
 in  Lancafhire,  where  he  was  very  ferviceable 
 in  judge  Fell's  family,  his   wife   being  con- 
 vinced of  the  truth,  and  feveral  others  in  that 
 family,  in  1652;  who   came   forth   in   public 
 teftimonies,  and  became  brave  ferviceable  men 
 and  women;  as  W.  Caton,  T.  Salthoufe,  Anne 
 Clayton,  &c.  though  he  was  much  oppofed 
 and  perfecuted  by  the  priefts  thereabouts;  and 
 underwent  great  fufTerings,  beatings,  ftonings, 
 &c.     And   was  acculed   by  the  priefts,    and 
 fworn  againft  by  their  witnefTes,  at  Lancafter 
 feffions,  but   honourably  acquitted   by  judge 
 Fell  and  Col.  Weft,  who  began  to  fee  through 
 
 th.Q 
 
(     444     ) 
 
 the  priefts,  and  were  moderate  towards  friends; 
 the  priefts  party  being  fo  difappointed,  that 
 the  people  cried,  the  Quakers  had  got 
 the  day,  &c.  and  hundreds  were  convinced 
 at  that  time.  After  which  he  travelled  into 
 Cumberland,  and  had  great  fervice  :  and  for 
 fpeaking  in  the  fteeple-houfe  at  Carlifle,  after 
 the  prieft  had  done,  he  was  committed  to  pri- 
 fon  there,  in  1653,  where  James  Parnel  came 
 to  him,  who  became  an  able  minifter,  and  af- 
 terwards died  a  prifoner  in  Colchefter  caftle, 
 in  1656.  George  Fox  was  threatened  to  be 
 put  to  death,  but  at  laft  was  fet  at  liberty. 
 After  which,  travelling  fouthward,  he  was 
 taken  up  at  a  meeting  at  Whetftone,  in  Lei- 
 cefterihire,  by  colonel  Hacker,  and  brought 
 up  to  London  before  Oliver  Cromwell,  in 
 1654,  with  whom  he  had  good  fervice,  and 
 at  lalt  was  fet  at  liberty.  He  ftaid'in  London 
 fome  time,  and  travelled  in  the  countries 
 round  it :  then  went  northward  again,  and 
 returned  to  London.  Afterwards  went  weft- 
 ward  to  the  Land's-End  of  Cornwall,  where, 
 giving  forth  a  paper,  he  was  taken  up  ;  and, 
 for  refufing  to  take  the  abjuration-oath,  was 
 committed  to  Launcefton  gaol  by  major  Ceely, 
 with  Edward  Pyot  of  Briftol,  and  William 
 Salt  of  London,  in  1655  ;  tried  at  the  affizes 
 in  1656;  and  for  refufing  to  take  the  faid  oath 
 re-committed,  and  afterwards  put  into  Dooimf- 
 dale  there,  where  he  fuffered  much.     After 
 
 he 
 
(     445     ) 
 
 he  was  releafed,  he  travelled  through  Devon* 
 mire  and  Somerfetfhire  to  Briftol,  and  fo  to 
 London.  After  which  he  went  northward, 
 and  back  to  London,  then  weftward.  In  1657, 
 to  Exeter,  Briftol,  and  Wales,  and  had  good 
 fervice  there :  fo  into  the  north  to  Swarth- 
 more,  V/eftmorcland,  and  Cumberland, where 
 Jo.  Wilkinfon,  the  prieft,  was  convinced,  and 
 became  an  able  minifter  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift. 
 Thence  he  went  into  Scotland  to  many  places, 
 and  was  had  before  the  council  at  Edinburgh, 
 and  ordered  to  depart  that  nation  in  {even 
 days :  but  they  that  banilhed  him,  were  not 
 long  after  baniihed  themfelves,  or  glad  to  fly 
 away,  who  would  not  do  good  in  their  day. 
 He  travelled  to  feveral  places  afterwards,  and 
 when  he  was  clear,  came  for  England ;  tra- 
 velling fouthward  to  a  yearly-meeting  at  John 
 Crook's,  in  Bedfordlhire,  in  1658,  and  lb  to 
 London  ;  where,  and  in  the  counties  round 
 about,  he  laboured  for  fome  time :  and  in 
 ]  659,  went  weftward  again  to  the  Land's- 
 End,  and  returned  through  Devonfhire  and 
 Somerfetfhire  to  Briftol,  in  1660.  Then 
 through  Gloucefterfhire  into  Leicefterfhire, 
 to  vilit  his  relations ;  and  afterwards  went 
 northward  to  a  yearly-meeting  at  Balby  in 
 Yorkfhire ;  and  fo  to  Swarthmore,  where  he 
 was  taken  up  by  warrant  from  jultice  Por- 
 ter, who  committed  him  to  Lancafter  gaol ; 
 but  being  afterwards  brought  up  to  London 
 
 on 
 
(    44-6     ) 
 
 on  a  habeas  corpus,  he  was  difcharged  at  the 
 king's-bench  bar  in  the  eighth  month.  He 
 ftaid  in  London  the  remainder  of  that,  and 
 all  the  next  year,  1 66 1 ,  as  far  as  I  find  :  and 
 in  1662,  went  to  Briftol  again,  and  back  to 
 London.  Then  into  Leicefterfhire,  where  he 
 was  taken  up  by  one  called  lord  Beaumont, 
 and  committed  to  Leicefter  prifon,  had  to  the 
 feffions,  and  tendered  the  oath  ;  and  for  re- 
 fufing  it,  fent  back  to  prifon,  yet  foon  after 
 cleared.  Then  returned  to  London;  but  foon 
 after  went  into  the  eaftern  counties,  Effex, 
 Norfolk,  Cambridgeshire,  &c.  returning  to 
 London.  And  after  fome  time,  went  fouth- 
 ward  into  Kent,  and  fo  fouthward  through 
 the  counties;  weftward,  into  Cornwall,  1663, 
 and  back  through  Devonfhire,  Somerfetfhire, 
 to  Briftol ;  and  through  Wiltlhire,  Gloucef- 
 terlhire,  &c.  into  Wales,  and  fo  into  the 
 north,  vifiting  friends  in  feveral  counties  : 
 and  was  taken  up  at  Swarthmore,  and  had 
 before  one  G.  Middleton,  a  Papift,  who  ten- 
 dered him  the  oath,  and  would  have  fent 
 him  to  prifon,  but  at  laft  gave  him  his  liberty 
 till  feffions,  where  he  appeared;  and  had  the 
 oath  of  allegiance  and  Supremacy  tendered 
 to  him ;  and  for  refufing  to  take  it,  was 
 committed  to  prifon  till  the  affizes  in  the  firft 
 month,  then  tried  before  judge  Twifden,  and 
 committed  again  for  refufing  the  oath :  as 
 was  alfo  Margaret  Fell,  till  the  next  affizes, 
 
 in 
 
(    447    ) 
 
 in  the  fixth  month,  1 664,  where  it  was  thought 
 they  would  have  tranfported  him,  but  endea- 
 voured to  praemunire  him:  but  he  pleaded  fo 
 to  the  errors  in  the  indictment,  that  they 
 could  not,  but  committed  him  again  till  the 
 next  affizes  in  the  firft  month,  where  they 
 prazmunired  him  and  Margaret  Fell :  but  the 
 indictment  againft  George  Fox  being  wrong 
 again,  they  did  not  fentence  him  in  court, 
 but  fent  him  to  prifon,  and  recorded  him 
 praemunired.  He  was  afterwards  removed 
 to  Scarborough  caftle  in  Yorkfhire,  about  the 
 third  month,  1665,  where,  after  about  fixteen 
 months  imprifonment,  he  was  releafed  by  the 
 king's  order  the  firft  of  September,  1 666 ;  and 
 the  Lord  fhewed  his  difpleafure  on  feveral  of 
 his  perfecutors.  After  which,  he  vifited  feve- 
 ral meetings  in  Yorkfhire,  and  fo  through  fe- 
 veral counties  to  London ;  then  to  Briftol, 
 and  back  to  London.  And  in  the  years  1667 
 and  1668,  he  travelled  through  molt,  parts  of 
 England  and  Wales,  to  eftablifh  monthly  and 
 quarterly-meetings,  for  the  ordering  the  af- 
 fairs of  truth :  Firft  eaftward,  fo  northward, 
 and  the  middle  counties;  then  into  Wales  to 
 Briftol,  fo  to  London :  Then  through  fome 
 of  the  middle  counties  into  Wales  again  ;  and 
 returning  into  Gloucefterfhire,  Somerfetihire, 
 Devonfhire,  and  Cornwall;  and  fo  up  the 
 f  outh  coaft  to  London  :  and  from  thence  down 
 into  the  north*  took  lhipping  at  Liverpool, 
 
 and 
 
(    448    ) 
 
 and  went  into  Ireland,  in  1669,  vifiting  friends 
 there  in  many  parts ;  and  returned  to  Liver- 
 pool, and  fo  came  to  Briftol,  where  he4 mar- 
 ried Margaret  Fell,  judge  Fell's  widow  :  after 
 which  hereturned  to  London, and  the  countries 
 about  it,  and  then  went  northward  ;  but  his 
 wife  being  imprifoned  on  the  old  praemunire, 
 he  returned  to  London,  1 670,  and  got  her  dis- 
 charged. And  now  the  conventicle  acl:  being 
 come  out  (on  occafion  of  a  difturbance  made 
 by  one  John  Fox,  a  Prefbyterian  in  Wiltshire) 
 George  Fox  was  taken  up  at  Grace-church- 
 ftreet  meeting,  for  declaring  the  truth,  and 
 had  before  the  mayor,  but  at  laft  difcharged; 
 and  then  travelled  weftward  and  fouthward, 
 into  Hampfhire,  Surry,  Suflex,  Kent,  and  fo 
 into  EfTex,  where  he  was  taken  very  ill,  but 
 got  to  Enfield,  lying  there  fome  time;  but  re- 
 turned to  London  to  the  yearly -meeting, 
 1 67 1,  (the  firft,  I  find,  he  was  at).  After 
 which  he  took  fhip  for  America,  landed  at 
 Barbadoes,  where  he  met  with  a  wicked  op- 
 pofer,  who  was  foon  cut  off;  and  he  had 
 great  fervice  there.  Went  thence  to  Jamaica, 
 thence  to  Maryland  general -meeting,  with 
 many  other  friends  :  and  through  the  woods 
 by  Newcaftle  to  Weft  and  Eaft-Jerley,  Long- 
 Ifland,  to  the  yearly-meetings  at  Oyfterbay 
 and  Rhode-Illand,  and  fome  part  of  New- 
 England;  returning  by  divers  places  to  New- 
 Jerfey  and  Maryland,  where  was  a  general- 
 meeting 
 
(    449     ) 
 
 meeting  of  five  dayst  fo  to  Virginia,  Carolina, 
 and  back  to  Virginia  and  Maryland,  at  the 
 general  province-meeting,  having  vifited  moft 
 of  the  Englifh  plantations,  and  had  good  fer- 
 vice.  Being  clear,  he  took  fhipping  for  Eng- 
 land, and  was  wonderfully  preferved  at  fea : 
 arrived  at  King's-Road,  came  to  Briftol  the 
 28th  of  the  fourth  month,  1673  ;  ftaid  till  the 
 fair  (the  firft  time  I  faw  him  and  Win.  Penn, 
 who  was  alfo  there)  after  which  he  went  to 
 London,  and  the  countries  about  it,  vifiting 
 friends ;  and  returning  into  Worcefterfhire, 
 he  was  taken  up  after  a  meeting,  by  Henry 
 Parker,  juftice,  and  committed  to  Worcefter 
 gaol,  with  Thomas  Lower,  the  17th  of  the 
 tenth  month,  and  had  to  the  feffions  in  the 
 eleventh  month ;  tendered  the  oath  of  allegi- 
 ance and  fupremacy;  re-committed  for  refus- 
 ing it,  but  Tho.  Lower  difcharged.  George 
 Fox  was  afterwards  brought  up  by  habeas, 
 corpus,  to  the  king's- bench  bar,  but  returned 
 to  Worcefter  gaol  again,  till  the  feffions  or  af- 
 fize  in  the  fecond  month,  1674;  and  was  left 
 by  judge  Turner,  at  the  affize  to  the  feffions 
 in  the  fame  month,  by  juftice  Parker's  means, 
 at  which  they  tendered  him  the  oath  again, 
 and  committed  him  for  refufing ;  but.  having 
 fome  liberty,  he  went  up  to  London  with  the 
 indictment,  where  fome  got  an  habeas  corpus 
 again  to  bring  him  before  the  judges  of  the 
 king's-bench,  where  he  tendered  a  paper  what 
 Gg  he 
 
(     450     } 
 
 he  could  fay  inftead  of  the  oaths ;  but  they 
 3efthim  again  to  the  juftices  at  the  next  quar- 
 ter-feffions.  He  ft  aid  the  yearly-meeting, 
 1674,  and  returned  to  Worcefter ;  and  at 
 the  feflions  he  was  tendered  the  oath  again, 
 by  juftice  Street,  and  indicted  for  refufing  to 
 fwear.  He  pleaded  to  the  errors,  of  the  in- 
 dictment ;  but  they  pafTed  fentence  of  prae- 
 munire againft  him,  and  fent  him  back  to  pri- 
 fon,  where  he  was  like  to  have  died,  but  was 
 afterwards  brought  up  the  third  time,  on  ha- 
 beas corpus,  to  the  king's-bench  bar,  and  at 
 laft  difcharged  on  the  errors  in  the  indict- 
 ment, in  the  twelfth  month,  1674.  He  con- 
 tinued in  and  about  London,  till  after  the  yearly- 
 meeting,  1 675,  and  then  went  down  to  Swarth- 
 more,  where  he  continued  all  the  year  1676, 
 as  far  as  I  find,  writing  books,  &c.  And  in 
 the  year,  1677,  travelled  through  many  coun- 
 ties, as  Weflmcreland,  Yorklhire,  &c.  to  Lon- 
 don yearly-meeting  j  after  which,  he  went 
 down  with  William  Penn  to  his  houfe  in 
 Suflex,  where  he  and  J.  Burnyeat  writ  their 
 great  book,  '  A  New-England  Fire-Brand 
 *  quenched/  in  anfwer  to  R,  Williams's : 
 and  afterwards  went  over  into  Holland  with 
 William  Penn,  Robert  Barclay,  &c.  vifiting 
 friends  there ;  and  in  Friezland  and  fome  parts 
 of  Germany,  Holftein,  and  many  other  places; 
 and  returned  by  Harwich,  in  the  eighth  month 
 to  London  j  and  fo  through  the  countries-  to 
 
 Briftol, 
 
(    45i     ) 
 
 Briftol,  In  the  eleventh   month,  where  he, 
 William  Penn,  C.  Marfhal,  &c.  had  the  great 
 meeting  with  W.  Rogers,   and  fome   of  the 
 Separates,  in  relation  to  the  good   order  of 
 truth,  eftablifhed  in  the  church,  which  they 
 oppofed :  after  which  George  Fox  went  into 
 Gloucefterfhire,  and  fo  through  feveral  coun- 
 ties to  London.      And  after  the  yearly-meet- 
 ing, 1678,  went  down  into  the  north,  vifiting; 
 friends,  till  he  came  to  Swarthmore,  where  he 
 ftaid  the  remainder  of  that  year,   and  1679, 
 till  the  firft  month ;  and  then  travelled  through 
 divers  counties  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  Lon- 
 don, 1680,  where,  and  in  the  countries  adja- 
 cent,   he    moitly   refided,   after  this,  vifiting 
 meetings,  and  afTifting  friends  in  their  fuffer- 
 ings,  which  were  great  about  this  time,  till 
 1684;  when  he  went  again  to  Holland,  Rot- 
 terdam, Amfterdam,  Friezland,  Harlingen,&c 
 and  returned  again  by  Harwich  and  Colchef- 
 ter,  to  London  ;  where,  and  in  the  countries 
 thereabout,  he  continued  attending  the  yearly 
 and   other  meetings,   and  the  affairs  of  the 
 church ;   writing  epiftles  to  friends,  6cc.  till 
 the  time  of  his  death.     Having  been  at  Grace- 
 church-meeting  on  the  hrft-day,  and  preached 
 and  prayed,  he  departed  this    life  the  third 
 day  after,   at  the  houfe  of  H.  Gouldney,  in 
 White-Hart-Court,  in  peace  with  the  Lord, 
 the  13th  of  the  eleventh  month,  1690,  in  the 
 G  g  2  67th 
 
(    452     ) 
 
 67th  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  the  i6"tftj 
 at  Bunhill-Fields ;  of  whom  I  fay  the  lefs, 
 though  there  is  room  to  fay  more  of  him, 
 than  of  moft  other  friends,  becaufe  he  left  be- 
 hind him  an  excellent  journal  of  his  travels 
 and  fufferings  (which  is  well-known)  printed 
 in  folio,  1694.  (My  defign  being  chiefly  to 
 gather  the  fcattered  memoirs  of  fuch  as  left 
 no  journals,  only  this  and  J.  Burnyeat's  be- 
 fore, and  Stephen  Crifp's  hereafter,  being  fo 
 notable,  that  I  could  not  but  be  particular  in 
 them).  He  wrote  many  books,  epiftles,  and 
 papers,  fome  of  which  are  fince  collected. 
 
 6.  Thomas  Salthoufe,  of  Drugglibeck,  in 
 Lancashire,  another  faithful  fervant  of  God, 
 and  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrifl ;  of  whofe  birth, 
 parentage,  and  education,  I  can  give  little  ac- 
 count, but  that  he  was  convinced  of  the  blefled 
 truth,  with  W.  Caton,  &c.  in  judge  Fell's  fa- 
 mily, when  George  Fox  came  firft  to  Swarth- 
 more  in  1652,  as  aforefaid;  and  giving  up  in 
 obedience  thereunto,  came  to  receive  a  difpen- 
 fation  of  the  gofpel,  and  was  foon  fent  forth 
 to  preach  it  to  others.  And  in  the  year  1 654, 
 travelling  fouthward,  he  came  to  London ; 
 from  whence  he  and  Miles  Halhead,  in  1655, 
 palled  to  Briflol  and  towards  Exeter,  (being 
 prefled  in  fpirit  to  vifit  the  feed  of  God  in 
 captivity,  at  Plymouth,  in  the  county  of  De- 
 von) fo  far  as  Honiton,  where  a  guard  be- 
 ing 
 
(     453     J 
 
 mg  placed  for  apprehending  fuch  as  were  fuf- 
 pedted  to  have  had  an  hand  in  an  insurrection 
 which  broke  out  a  little  before ;  they  were 
 taken  up,  and  had  before  colonel  Coplefton, 
 high-fheriff  of  the  county,  on  fufpicion  of  be- 
 ing cavaliers,  and  having  an  hand  therein ; 
 and  though,  on  examining  them,  he  confeiTed 
 he  did  not  believe  them  to  be  concerned  there- 
 in, yet  caufed  them  to  be  kept  clofe  prifoners 
 at  Exeter,  about  fourteen  days,  and  then  fent 
 them  from  officer  to  officer,  towards  their  out- 
 ward habitations :  but  being  come  two  miles 
 from  Taunton,  on  the  way  to  Bridgewater, 
 the  officer  who  conducted  them  fell  down, 
 and  lay  groveling  on  the  ground  in  the  fight  of 
 divers  people,  and  was  able  to  go  no  further : 
 whereupon  they  returned  back  to  the  juftice 
 at  Taunton,  and  acquainted  him  with  what 
 had  befallen  the  officer,  and  to  know  what  far- 
 ther he  would  enjoin  them  ;  who,  after  fome 
 consideration,  told  them  he  would  have  n# 
 more  to  do  with  them ;  and  having  fet  thern 
 at  liberty,  defired  the  Lord  to  be  with  them. 
 
 Hereupon  they  parted  to  Briftol,  where, 
 and  in  the  countries  thereabouts,  having  ftaicj 
 fome  time,  they  departed,  being  moved  of 
 the  Lord  to  Plymouth  again,  with  a  friend 
 of  Briftol ;  whither  they  came  the  fixteenth 
 of  the  third  month,  1655,  and  had  feveral 
 meetings  there,  in  friends  houfes,  which  many 
 Gg  3  Hocked 
 
(    454    ) 
 
 Hocked  unto ;  to    whom    they   declared   the 
 word  of  life,  as  they  had  received.     To  one 
 of  which  meetings  came  one  George  Brooks, 
 prieft  of  the  Nightingale  frigate  ;  (landing  up 
 after  they  had  done,  fpake  in  commendation 
 of  what  they  had  fpoken,  faying,  It  was  the 
 eternal  truth :  and  exhorting  the  people  in  the 
 words  of  the  apoftie,  Not  to  receive  the  grace 
 of  God  in  vain  ;  telling  them,  They  mult  ex- 
 pect to  fuffer  perfecution.     But  Thomas  Salt- 
 houfe  feeing  his   deceit,   told  him,    He  had 
 fpoken  many  good  words  and  fair  fpeeches, 
 but  afked  him,   whether  he  lived  the  life  of 
 what  he  fpoke ;  for  that  it  was  he  that  had 
 the  witnefs   in   himfelf,   that   could  fet  to  his 
 feal  that  God  was  true.     And  after  fpeaking 
 a  few  words  more  to  the  people,  exhorting 
 them  in  the  words  of  the  apoftle,  Let  him  that 
 Hole,  fteal  no  more,  &c.   not  directing  it  to 
 Geo.  Brooks,  or  to  any  in  particular;  where- 
 upon the  faid  George  Brooks,  to  fulfil  his  own 
 words,  That  they  mull  expect  to  fuffer  perfe- 
 cution, flirred   up  perfecution  againft  them, 
 pretending  they  had  called  him  thief,  though 
 Miles  Halhead  had  not  fpoken   a  word ;   fo 
 that  on  the  21  ft  of  the  third  month  (the  day 
 before  they  intended  to  leave  the  town)  they 
 were    taken    out   of  a  meeting,    by  warrant 
 from  John  Page,  mayor  of  Plymouth,  who 
 fent  them  to  prifon  to  the  Guildhall  in  the 
 fame  town  ;  and  next  day  they  were  had  be- 
 fore 
 
(    455    ) 
 
 fore  the  magistrates,  who  examined  them,  and 
 returned  them  to  prifon  ;  and  about  a  week 
 after,  the  mayor  fent  them  prifoners  to  the 
 common  gaol  in  the  caftle  at  Exeter,  as  di- 
 fturbers  of  the  peace,  &c.  where  they  were 
 continued  till  the  feffions  in  the  fifth  month ; 
 then  tried,  tendered  the  oath  of  abjuration, 
 and  fined  5I.  each,  for  provoking  words  a- 
 gainft  Geo.  Brooks,  clerk,  (who  was  fuch  a  no- 
 torious drunkard,  that  he  once  had  a  quarter 
 cann  hung  about  his  neck,  and  put  on  fhore) 
 and  committed  to  Bridewell  till  payment,  and 
 finding  fureties  for  their  good  behaviour ; 
 where  they  continued  clofe  prifoners  about 
 twelve  months,  of  which,  and  the  proceedings 
 at  feffions,  fee  a  large  account  in  the  book  en- 
 titled, '  The  Wounds  of  an  Enemy  in  the 
 4  Houfe  of  a  Friend.'  After  they  were  re- 
 leafed,  they  returned  into  the  north ;  but  T. 
 Salthoufe  came  again  into  the  weft,  in  1656, 
 and  laboured  much  in  the  work  of  the  Lord 
 in  our  country :  and  had  meetings  at  my  fa- 
 ther's houfe  before  I  was  born,  as  he  hath  told 
 me.  And  the  24th  of  the  eighth  month, 
 1656,  he  had  a  difpute  with  one  Francis  Ful- 
 wood,  (perhaps  the  fame  that  was  afterwards 
 archdeacon  of  Totnefs)  at  Weft-Alvinton  in 
 Devonfhire;  which  was  not  muchto  the  prieft's 
 honour,  as  may  be  feen  in  Thomas  Salthoufe's 
 book,  intitled,  '  The  hidden  Things  of  Efau 
 4  brought  to  Light,  and  reproved,'  in  anfwer 
 G  g  4  to 
 
(     456     ) 
 
 to  the  faid  Francis  Ful wood's  relation  of  the 
 difpute.  And  the  2 2d  of  the  fecond  month, 
 1657,  being  at  a  meeting  of  the  Lord's  peo- 
 ple, at  the  houfe  of  Thomas  Budd,  at  Afh,  in 
 the  parifh  of  Martock,  in  the  county  of  So- 
 merfet,  he  was  taken  up  by  captain  Ray- 
 mond, and  fome  of  his  foldiers.  There  had 
 been  fome  meetings  before,  where  feveral 
 prielts,  with  their  company,  came  in  a  rude 
 manner  to  break  up  the  meeting;  but  being 
 disappointed,  fome  of  their  company  came 
 again  to  this  meeting,  and  while  T.  Salthoufe 
 Was  declaring  to  the  people,  one  R,  Palmer,  a 
 very  wicked  man,  who  endeavoured  to  ride 
 over  friends,  went  and  informed  one  captain 
 Raymond,  who  fent  two  foldiers  to  fetch 
 Thomas  Salthoufe  away ;  but  he  refufing  to 
 go  with  them,  the  captain  came  himfelf,  and 
 took  him  away,  though  he  confeffed  he  had 
 nothing  to  accufe  him  of;  and  next  day  had 
 him  before  Robert  Hunt  and  John  Cary,  juf- 
 tices ;  who,  after  examining  him  as  to  his 
 name,  country,  and  whether  he  owned  the 
 prefent  power  and  government,  and  about 
 the  hat,  &c.  all  which  he  anfwered,  they  com- 
 mitted him  to  Ivelchefler  gaol,  as  a  dangerous, 
 idle,  wandering  perfon,  (and  fo  no  doubt  they 
 would  have  counted  the  apoftles,  if  they  had 
 lived  in  their  days)  where  he  and  others  writ 
 an  epiftle  to  friends  in  the  weft  of  England, 
 in  the  third  month.     He  was  had,  with  other 
 
 friends, 
 
(    457     ) 
 
 friends,  to  the  general  quarter-fefTions  at  Taun- 
 ton, in  the  fifth,  month,  where  his  examina- 
 tion was  read,  and  the  depositions  of  Palmer, 
 and  one  Pittard  ;  as  if  friends  met  with  ftaves, 
 pikes,  and  cudgels,  when  it  was  only  their 
 own  rude  company  that  did  (o ;  and  others, 
 viz.  Chriftopher  and  J.  Jeans  depofed,  that 
 friends  had  hardly  any  itaves,  except  a  riding- 
 rod  or  whip.  But  thefe  laft  John  Cary  would 
 not  return  into  feflions,  left  it  mould  clear  the 
 innocent :  but  having  nought  elfe  againfh  T. 
 Salthoufe,  they  tendered  him  the  oath  of 
 abjuration,  and  though  he  renounced  the 
 Pope's  fupremacy,  &c.  yet  becaufe  he  could 
 not  fwear,  they  fined  him  5I.  and  returned 
 him  to  prifon  till  he  fhould  pay  it,  (fee  the 
 book,  *  A  True  Teftimony  of  faithful  Wit- 
 '  nefles  recorded')  where  he  continued  about 
 a  year  prifoner ;  during  which  time  he  writ 
 an  epiffle  to  friends  in  the  north  of  England, 
 in  the  fixth  month,  and  another  to  the  churches 
 of  the  Anabaptifts,  in  purfuance  of  their  epif- 
 tle  from  Tiverton  in  the  tenth  month,  which 
 Thomas  Collier  (a  man  famous  among  them 
 till  he  turned  oppofer  of  truth,  and  then  he 
 grew  dark)  anfwering,  Thomas  Salthoufe  re- 
 plied in  a  book,  intitled,  '  The  Line  of  true 
 *  Judgment  laid  to  an  imperfect  Piece;'  pub- 
 lifhed  by  Thomas  Collier  ;  writ  at  Ivelchefter 
 the  1 2th  of  the  firft  month,  165^;  but  I  find 
 l^im  at  liberty  at  Kendalfjure  iuGloucefterfhire, 
 
 writing 
 
(    458     ) 
 
 writing  an  epiftle  back  to  the  prifoners  at 
 Ivelchefter,  the  14th  of  the  third  month,  1658 ; 
 and  at  Reading  the  24th  of  the  fame,  where 
 he  wrote  his  general  epiftle.  And  though  he 
 afterwards  went  into  the  north,  travelling  in 
 the  fervice  of  truth,  as  in  Yorkfhire,  (where 
 he  writ  an  epiftle  to  friends  in  the  weft  of 
 England,  from  Scalehoufe  near  Skipton,  the 
 nth  of  the  eleventh  month,  1658)  and  divers 
 other  places ;  yet  he  afterwards  returned  into 
 the  fouth  about  London,  Kingfton,  &c.  in 
 j  660,  and  fo  into  the  weft,  which  by  long 
 imprifonments  in  it,  as  at  Exeter  and  Ivel- 
 chefter, was  become  naturalized  to  him  ;  and 
 where  his  fervice  pretty  much  lay ;  and  he 
 was  at  Plymouth  again  the  fame  year.  He 
 was  imprifoned  again  at  Ivelchefter  in  the 
 great  imprifonment;  being  committed  by  Ed- 
 ward Phillips  the  fifth  of  the  eleventh  month, 
 1660,  for  meeting  and  refufing  to  fwear,  where 
 he  writ  an  epiftle  to  friends  in  the  twelfth 
 month ;  and  was  brought  forth  to  Wells  fef- 
 fions,  but  returned  to  the  affizes  at  Chard,  in 
 the  1  ft  month,  where  he  and  the  reft  appeared; 
 but  with  fome  others  was  returned  to  the  {e(- 
 fions  at  Ivelchefter,  in  the  fecond  month,  1 661; 
 at  which  the  court  would  have  had  him  and 
 J.  Scafe  engage  to  return  into  their  own  coun- 
 try in  a  month,  and  to  come  no  more  for  the 
 fpace  of  three  years  into  the  county  of  Somer- 
 fetj  to  which  unreafonable   demand  againft 
 
 theix 
 
(    459     ) 
 
 their  juft  liberties  to  banifh  themfelves,  they 
 could  not  conient :  or,  fecondly,  to  give  bail 
 to  be  of  good  behaviour,  and  to  appear  at  the 
 next  general  feffions :  or  laftly,  to  engage  to 
 return  into  their  own  countries  in  two  months, 
 and  not  to  come  again  in  12  months,  which 
 they  refufing,  were  returned  to  prifon ;  Tho- 
 mas Salthoule  to  the  common  gaol  at  Ivel- 
 chefter,  and  J.  Scafe  to  the  houfe  of  cor- 
 rection at  Shipton-Mallet,  by  Jo.  Turbivile, 
 judge  of  the  lemons ;  but  were  difcharged, 
 with  John  Anderdon,  T.  Budd,  and  feverai 
 others,  by  the  king's  proclamation,  dated 
 the  nth  of  the  third  month,  1661,  the  28th 
 of  the  fame.  He  was  again  taken  up  with 
 Thomas  Lower,  in  Cornwall,  the  27th  of 
 the  eighth  month  in  the  fame  year,  on  ac- 
 count of  an  infurre£tion :  but  after  long  ex- 
 amination, and  detaining  three  days,  being 
 found  innocent,  they  were  difcharged  the 
 30th  of  the  fame. 
 
 He  afterwards  married  in  Cornwall,  though 
 the  exact  time  I  do  not  find,  and  fettled  at 
 Auftle  in  that  county ;  yet  often  came  into 
 our  country,  in  the  fulneis  of  the  bleffing  of 
 the  everlafting  gofpel,  as  he  often  mentioned 
 in  his  teftimony,  in  relation  to  the  gofpel  mi- 
 niftry.  He  came  to  Briftol,  and  Portlhead 
 in  Somerfetihire,  while  I  dwelt  there,  about 
 1673,  the  firft  time  that  I  faw  him,  to  know 
 him  -}  and  uled  to  come  and  vifit  us  at  Ivel- 
 
 chefter, 
 
(    46°    ) 
 
 chefler,  after  I  was  a  prifoner  there,  efpecially 
 as  he  went  to  London  to  the  yearly-meet- 
 ings, as  he  often  did  while  at  liberty.  He 
 "was  fined  20I.  for  preaching,  by  fir  Jofeph 
 Tredenham,  in  the  fecond  month,  1681,  and 
 fiad  goods  taken  from  him,  viz.  300  yards 
 of  linen  cloth,  worth  21I.  12  s.  6d.  and  was 
 imprifoned  at  Launcefton  with  Thomas 
 Lower,  the  4th  of  the  6th  month,  1683,  by  the 
 laid  Jofeph  Tredenham,  and  praemunired  at 
 the  affizes  in  the  fixth  month,  by  judge  Carle- 
 ton,  for  refufing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance* 
 and  continued  prifoner  (I  fuppofe)  till  king 
 James's  proclamation  of  general  pardon.  He 
 came  into  our  country  again  after  we  were 
 freed,  while  I  dwelt  at  Long-Sutton,  which  I 
 think  was  the  laft  time  I  faw  him.  He  was 
 a  pleafant  man  in  converfation,  which  render- 
 ed him  acceptable  to  many  others  as  well  as 
 friends,  and  had  a  large  capacity  as  a  man, 
 and  an  excellent  gift  of  the  miniftry.  He  writ 
 fome  notable  books,  and  divers  excellent  epif- 
 tles  to  friends,  which  are  moftly  in  print,  ex- 
 cept fome  before-mentioned,  though  never 
 yet  collected  together  as  they  deferve.  He 
 deceafed  at  his  own  houfe  in  Cornwall,  in 
 the  twelfth  month,  1 690,  about  60  years  of 
 age,  in  peace  with  the  Lord  ;  and  is  no  doubt 
 at  reft  with  him  from  all  his  labours  and 
 fufferings,  and  his  works  follow  him. 
 
 So 
 
(    4<5i     \ 
 
 So  much  for  thefe  worthies,  and  the  year 
 1 690.     And  now  for  1691. 
 
 About  this  time  we  were  exercifed  about 
 the  faft  appointed  to  be  kept,  as  laft  year,  dur- 
 ing the  war  in  Ireland,  (and  the  more  this 
 year,  for  that  it  happened  to  be  on  our  month- 
 ly-meeting day  at  Clareham,  viz.  the  third 
 fourth-day  of  the  month,  which  we  had  long 
 held  for  the  worfhip  of  God)  which  becaufe 
 we  could  not  obferve,  by  keeping  faft  our 
 ihop  windows,  (which  was  moll  of  the  faft 
 obferved  in  that  cafe)  but  opened  them  as  at 
 other  times,  not  being  fatisried  that  it  was  the 
 "  Faft  which  the  Lord  had  chofen  to  bow 
 *£  down  the  head  for  a  day,  &c.  but  to  lofe 
 "  the  bands  of  wickednefs,  and  undo  the 
 *'  heavy  burdens,"  &c  Ifa.  lviii.  For  which 
 I  met  with  pretty  much  oppofition  from  fuch 
 as  owed  us  ill-will  in  the  town ;  who  endea- 
 voured to  render  me  difaffe&ed  to  the  govern- 
 ment, though  unjuftly  and  undefervedly,  be- 
 ing obliged  to  the  government  for  our  liberty, 
 and  wifhing  well  to  the  Proteftant  intereft  all 
 the  world  over  ;  though  we  could  not  join  in 
 wars  and  fighting,  or  pray  for  fhedding  of 
 blood,  being  taught  to  love  enemies ;  for 
 **  Chrift  came  not  to  deftroy  mens  lives,  but 
 "  to  fave  them,"  Luke  ix.  56.  and  we  being 
 come  to  his  peaceable  kingdom,  wherein  the 
 "  Swords  are  to  be  beaten  into  ploughfhares, 
 
 "  and 
 
(    462    ) 
 
 v  and  the  fpears  into  pruning  hooks,  and  na- 
 "  tion  not  to  rife  up  againfl  nation,  nor  to 
 "  learn  war  any  more,"  Ifa.  ii.  Mich.  iv. 
 And  as  the  government  had  been  pleafed  to 
 tolerate  our  religious  diffent  from  the  national 
 worlhip,  by  law,  we  could  not  think  they 
 expected,  or  ourfelves  obliged  to  join  with 
 them  in  this,  being  not  in  contempt  of  autho- 
 rity, but  for  confcience  fake;  of  which  I  was 
 not  without  a  teftimony,  outwardly  as  well  as 
 inwardly,  for  I  found  the  Lord  with  me,  and 
 very  good  to  me  this  fummer,  as  in  times 
 paft;  and  often  vifited  me  in  an  eminent  man- 
 ner, in  his  everlafting  love,  and  refrelhing 
 prefence  to  my  foul,  fupporting  and  carrying 
 me  over  all  exercife  and  oppofition  which  I 
 met  with  for  his  truth's  fake ;  bleifed  be  his 
 holy  name  for  ever. 
 
 And  on  one  of  thofe  faft-davs,  fome  envi- 
 ous  perfons  in  the  town  got  their  old  inftru- 
 ment,  the  crazy  fellow  afore-mentioned, whom 
 they  formerly  fet  up  to  difturb  our  meeting, 
 and  made  him  drunk  at  an  inn,  that  he  might 
 fall  on  us  and  abufe  us  for  opening  our  fhop 
 windows;  fetting  him  on,  and  ftanding  out 
 in  the  ftreet  to  fee  what  he  would  do,  who 
 came  vapouring  up  with  a  ram's  horn  in  his 
 hand,  as  if  he  intended  to  do  fome  great 
 matter,  till  he  came  to  the  upper  end  of  the 
 fhambles,  where  he  could  look  out  between, 
 that  and  the  corner  of  another  houfe,    and 
 
 fee 
 
(    463     ) 
 
 fee  our  mop  ;  and  there  he  flood,  leaning  his 
 hands  on  the  fhambles-board,  hanging  down 
 his  head ;    looking    fometimes    towards    our 
 fhop  windows,  and  then  down  again,   as  if 
 he  had  been  flunned  or  chained  to  the  place, 
 that  he  could  not  ftir  or  go  any  further  for  a 
 considerable    time ;    I  and  my  wife  ftanding 
 in  the  fhop  and  beholding  him  all  the  while: 
 fo  that  I  told  my  wife  we  need  not  fear,  for 
 the  Lord  was  on  our  fide,  and  appeared   to 
 confound    our    enemies ;    for   the    man    wTas 
 bound  that  he  could  not  hurt  or  touch   us. 
 And  after   he  had  flood   a  considerable  time 
 in  that  pofture,  and  recovered  himfelf  a  little, 
 he  croffed  over  the  ftreet  another  way,  hang- 
 ing down  his  head  like  one  fmitten,  and  durfl 
 not  look  towards   us ;    and  threw  away  his 
 ram's   horn,   as   a  thing  of  no   ufe ;    and  fo 
 moped  about  all  the  afternoon  till  our  fhop 
 was  fhut ;  and  then  he  was  like  one  let  loofe, 
 capering  and  roaring  about  town  like  a  mad- 
 man,  though   bound   before ;    which   was  fo 
 very  remarkable,  that  though  I  have  known 
 many  deliverances  and  prefervations,  I  never 
 knew  or  faw  any  thing  more  remarkable,  for 
 which  I  praife  and  magnify  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  for  ever.     After  which  they  never  trou- 
 bled us  more  about  our  fhop  windows,  though 
 the  fafts  were  kept  a  year  or  two  after,  and 
 I  mention  it  here  for  the   encouragement  of 
 all  to  be  faithful  in  their  teftimony,  in  which 
 I  never  had   caufe   to   be  difcouraged :    for 
 
 which, 
 
(    4%     ) 
 
 which,  and  the  former  relation  of  the  meet- 
 ing at  Wrington,  in  1689,  and  another  here- 
 after at  Wells,  in  1695,  I  have  extended 
 thefe  memoirs  beyond  what  I  rirft  intended. 
 
 In  the  fourth  month,  having  been  down  iri 
 the  fouth  country,  at  Somerton,  Long-Sutton, 
 &c.  to  viiit  our  relations  and  friends,  I  re- 
 turned by  John  Dando's  at  Hollotrow,  to  our 
 men's  meeting  at  Salford  near  Bath,  where 
 we  had  the  yearly-meeting  epiflle,  by  our 
 friend,  R.  Vickris,  who  came  from  London, 
 with  George  Fox's  paper  to  friends,  which  he 
 left  behind  him  fealed  up  (not  to  be  opened 
 before  the  time,  viz.  of  his  death)  with  which 
 we  were  comforted,  and  a  fine  refrefhing  time 
 it  was. 
 
 This  fummer,  1691,  brother  Bowles  of 
 London,  coining  down  again  into  the  coun- 
 try, I  went  with  him,  in  the  feventh  month, 
 into  Cornwall,  by  Bridgewater  and  Taun- 
 ton, having  meetings  by  the  way  at  Wel- 
 lington, in  the  lower  iide  of  our  county,  where 
 is  now  a  large  meeting ;  and  at  Spiceland  in 
 the  edge  of  Devonfhire,  where  ufed  to  meet  a 
 thoufand  people  :  and  fo  by  Columpton,  Cre- 
 diton,  Oakhampton,  and  Launcefton  (where 
 George  Fox  was  prifoner  in  1656)  over  the 
 Downs  to  Port-Ifaac  by  the  fea-lide,  a  danger- 
 ous way  down  in  the  night ;  but  we  led  our 
 horfes,  and  through  mercy  got  well  to  R. 
 Richards's,   who    married  my  friend   Mary 
 
 Day 
 
(    4<55     ) 
 
 Day,  of  Briftol,  who  had  a  public  teftimonj?* 
 We  went  to  John  Peters's  on  the  feventh  day, 
 and  next  day  after  their  meeting  at  Minver, 
 we  parted,  brother  going  farther  weftward, 
 but  I  returned  home  by  our  quarterly-meet- 
 ing at  Glaftonbury,  where  we  had  fome  trou- 
 ble with  one  who  had  formerly  run  out  about 
 the  duke  of  Monmouth.  I  lived  retired  this 
 winter,  and  have  little  to  remark  as  to  myfelf, 
 but  the  goodnefs  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  to 
 me,  as  at  other  times  ;  for  which  my  foul  is 
 always  engaged  to  blefs  and  praife  his  holy 
 name  for  ever.  Only  I  cannot  but  take  notice 
 of  the  death  of  three  public  friends  this  year, 
 though  not  fo  largely  as  the  laft. 
 
 i.  James  Martyn,  born  at  Eaft-Aclon,  in 
 the  county  of  Middlefex,  in  the  year  1646, 
 was  convinced  of  the  truth  in  1672,  and 
 received  a  teftimony  to  bear  for  the  fame. 
 He  was  an  innocent  man,  whofe  converfa- 
 tion  adorned  the  do&rine  of  Chrift  Jefus, 
 which  he  preached  faithfully  ;  and  zealoufly 
 laboured  to  fpread  the  truth  abroad ;  for 
 which  he  travelled  in  England  and  Ame- 
 rica, going  thither  in  1682,  and  was  in  New- 
 England,  Bofton,  Salem,  &c.  in  the  firft  and 
 fecond  months,  1683;  and  returned  the  latter 
 end  of  that  year,  I  think,  for  he  came  to  Ivel- 
 chefter  to  vifit  us,  when  we  had  our  meetings 
 in  the  common  gaol.  He  went  again  to  Ame- 
 rica in  1685,  and  returned  in  1687.  After 
 H  h  which 
 
(    4&    ) 
 
 which  he  continued  labouring  in  the  miniftry 
 according  to  his  ability,  though  weak  in  body; 
 and  was  taken  lick  when  on  a  journey  in 
 Efiex,  where  he  fmifhed  his  courfe ;  dying 
 fweetly  in  the  Lord,  at  Bocking  near  Brain- 
 try,  the  30th  of  the  eighth  month,  1691  ; 
 and  was  brought  to  Ratcliff,  London,  to  be 
 buried,  the  3d  of  the  ninth  month,  aged  45 
 years. 
 
 2.  Thomas  Brafey,  an  ancient  friend  of 
 the  miniltry,  who  formerly  dwelt  at  Woolef- 
 ton,  near  Nantwich  in  Chefhire,  whom  I 
 knew  ;  he  having  been  in  our  country  about 
 the  year  1677,  and  had  a  found  folic!  tefti- 
 mcny.  He  afterwards  went  to  Pennfylvania, 
 about  the  year  1682,  and  there  died  and  was 
 Juried,  in  1691. 
 
 3.  Thomas  Winne,  an  ancient  eminent 
 public  friend  of  North-Wales,  about  Carwis 
 in  Flintfhire,  who  writ  a  book  called,  •  The 
 
 *  Antiquity  of  tbe  Quakers,'  in  1677.  And 
 another,  intitled,   '  An  Antichriflian  Confpi- 
 
 *  racy  detecled,'  in  vindication  of  it,  againfl 
 a  perverfe  adverfary  who  writ  againft  it,  in 
 1679.  He  afterwards  went  to  Pennfylvania, 
 m  the  year  1682,  and  was  furveyor  there, 
 where  he  died;  and  was  buried  at  Philadel- 
 phia, the  17th  of  the  firft  month,  169!. 
 
 The  next  fpring,  1692,  I  and  my  wife 
 went  to  the  yearly-meeting   at   London,  in 
 
 the 
 
(    467    ) 
 
 the  third  month,  where  I  had  not  been  for 
 above  16  years,  viz.  not  fmce  I  was  there  with 
 my  filler  in  1675  ;  and  a  brave  time  we  had 
 together,  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  being  emi- 
 nently manifested  amongft  us,  could  my  foul 
 lay ;  efpecially  at  the  general-meeting  at 
 Wheeler-ftreet,  the  fclemneft.  that  ever  I  was 
 in  :  fo  that  it  was  as  if  the  2-lorv  of  Lebanon, 
 and  excellency  of  Carmel  had  been  given 
 unto  it :  of  which,  through  the  gooclnefs  of 
 God,  I  had  a  fhare,  to  my  exceeding  comfort 
 and  refrefhment,  which  made  me  in  love  with 
 yearly-meetings  ever  fmce  ;  fo  that  I  may  fay 
 it  was  a  time  of  love,  many  brave  friends  of 
 the  miniftry  being  there.  After  which  we 
 returned  home  in  great  fatisfaclion,  as  with 
 our  iheaves  in  our  bofoms  ;  bleifed  be  the 
 Lord  for  ever.  And  foon  after  came,  down 
 W.  Bingley,  and  had  a  meeting  at  Wrington  ; 
 and  went  from  thence  with  J.  Boulton  of 
 Gloucefterlhire,  and  many  more,  to  our  quar- 
 terly-meeting at  Ivelchefter,  where  we  had 
 fome  exercife  with  the  aforeiaid  perfon,  as  at 
 the  former  quarterly-meeting. 
 
 About  this  time  died  that  faithful  fervant 
 and  handmaid  of  the  Lord,  Katherine  Evans, 
 wife  of  John  Evans,  of  Inkfbatch,  in  the  pa- 
 rifh  of  Inkfcomb,  near  Bath  in  Somerfetfhire; 
 as  to  whofe  birth,  parentage,  and  education, 
 I  cannot  give  any  particular  account,  but  that 
 fhe  received  the  truth  very  early,  and  was 
 H  h  2  raifed 
 
(    46S     ) 
 
 raifed  up  and  fent  forth  to  bear  witnefs  to  the 
 lame ;  in  which  ihe  travelled  in  many  coun- 
 tries in  England,  and  elfewhere,  and  fuffered 
 much  for  her  teftimony.  In  the  year  1 657, 
 for  exhorting  the  people  to  repentance,  and 
 to  turn  from  darkncfs  to  light,  in  the  market- 
 place at  Salifbury,  fhe  was  by  Humphry  Dit- 
 ton,  confiable,  haled  before  Humphry  Ditton, 
 juftice,  who,  with  Robert  Good,  mayor,  and 
 fames  Abbot,  caufed  her  to  be  flopped  and 
 tied  to  the  whipping-poft  in  the  market,  and 
 there  whipped  (for  they  were  notable  whip- 
 pers  in  thofe  days) ;  at  which  the  beadle  trem- 
 bled :  and  fo  fent  her  with  a  pafs  from  tithing 
 to  tithing.  And  for  being  and  fpeaking  at  a 
 meeting  in  the  Ifle  of  Wight,  fhe  was  by 
 warrant  from  Samuel  Bull,  deputy  governor, 
 kept  with  another  friend  feveral  nights  prison- 
 ers on  the  guard,  and  fent  out  of  the  iiland. 
 And  for  fpeaking  to  prieft.  Bartlet,  at  Portf- 
 mouth  (after  he  had  done  his  fervice)  to 
 prove  his  call  to  the  minifiry,  and  for  di- 
 recting people  to  the  true  Teacher,  was  by 
 John  Comfit,  mayor,  put  in  a  clofe  room  to 
 a  mad  woman.  And  about  the  24th  of  the 
 fifth  month,  1657,  for  fpeaking  again  in  the 
 market-place  at  Salifbury,  fhe  was  by  the 
 aforefaid  H.  Ditton  and  R.  Bafket,  conftables, 
 haled  before  R.  Good,  mayor,  who  with  the 
 faid  H.  Ditton  and  J.  Abbot,  brethren  in  ini- 
 quity, lent  her  to  Bridewell,  and  put  her  into 
 
(    4«9    ) 
 
 a  blind-houfe,  a  filthy  nafty  place,  where  two 
 mad-men  had  lately  died ;   and  no  friends  to 
 come  at  her;  and  was  to  have  nothing  to  eat  but 
 what  me  earned  in  a  blind-houfe    (fee  their 
 cruelty,  who  would  have  her  work,  and  yet 
 would  not  allow  her  light  to  work  by) ;  taking 
 counfel  again  to  wrhip  her,  had  not  one  colonel 
 Wheat  told  the  mayor,They  might  as  well  have 
 whipped  the  woman  of  Samaria,  who  brought 
 the  glad  tidings  of  Chrift  into  the  town  ;   and 
 after  confulting   with   the   high-prieft,    John 
 Strickland,    touching  her  enlargement,   they 
 would  have  had  Alice  Helliar,  a  friend,  to 
 engage    that    fhe    mould    not    come     again 
 through  the  city,    though  it  was  the  direct 
 way   to   her    outward   being ;    the  prieft-  al- 
 ledging,  that  it  was  contrary  to  rule ;  for  if 
 fhe  was  perfecuted  in  one  city,  ihe  mould  flee 
 to  another :   (See  the  ufe  as  well  as  trade  the 
 priefts  make  of  the  fcriptures,  to  turn  people 
 out  of  the  way).     So   they  turned  her  out, 
 and  fhe  could  not  get  lodging  for  her  money, 
 but  fat  in  the  fields  all  night   (her  way  was 
 fo  flopped)  waiting  on  the  Lord  to  make  way 
 for  her,  and  next  morning  went  through  the 
 city  by  the  watch,  who  took  no  notice  of  her. 
 Again,   for  fpeaking  to  prieft  Blake,  at  War- 
 minfter,  in  the  fpirit  of  meeknefs,  to   prove 
 his  call  to  the  miniftry   before    the   congre- 
 gation :   upon   the  priefl's  defiring  the  rude 
 multitude,  his  hearers,  to  take  notice  that  he 
 H  h  3  was 
 
(     47°     ) 
 
 was  difcurbed,  flie  was  violently  abufed,  and 
 had  her  cloaths  rent  off  her  back.  And  once 
 in  the  Ifle  of  Man,  there  was  a  foldier  came 
 to  her  bed-fide  with  a  naked  fword,  and 
 took  her  by  the  arm  and  haled  her  out  of 
 bed,  at  the  tenth  hour  of  the  night,  and 
 carried  her  on  Ihip-board  to  fend  her  away. 
 She  travelled  alio  in  Ireland.  And  the  Lord 
 made  her  do  him  fervice  to  moft  of  the 
 mighty  men  in  England  and  Ireland  :  and 
 the  Lord  promifed  her  to  carry  her  before  the 
 mighty  men  of  the  earth,  to  bear  his  name 
 before  them,  and  fhe  mould  have  the  vi&ory 
 whitherfoever  fhe  went. 
 
 And  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1659, 
 fhe,  and  Sarah  Cheevers,  of  Slattenford,  in 
 "Wiltfhire,  were  moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  be- 
 yond fea,  to  bear  teftiinony  to  the  truth  ;  fet- 
 ting  fail  from  London,  and  arrived  at  Leg- 
 horn in  Italy,  intending  to  go  to  Alexandria 
 in  Egypt ;  but  the  matter  of  the  fhip  put  into 
 Malta  (formerly  Melita,  where  Paul  fufFered 
 fhipwreck)  and  when  they  came,  the  walls 
 were  full  of  people  gazing  at  them.  They 
 went  into  the  town,  and  the  Englifh  conful 
 met  them  on  the  fhore,  and  afked  them  con- 
 cerning their  coming ;  telling  them  there  was 
 an  Inquifition  there.  They  told  him  the 
 truth  as  to  their  coining,  and  gave  him  fome 
 books.  He  invited  them  to  his  houfe,  tell- 
 ing them,  All  that  he  had  was  at  their  fer- 
 vice. 
 
(    471     ) 
 
 vice.  And  feveral  came  to  vifit  them,  to 
 whom  they  declared  the  truth,  and  gave 
 them  fome  hooks.  The  conful  had  a  fifter 
 in  the  nunnery,  and  defired  them  to  go  and 
 fee  her  j  pretending,  fhe  had  a  defire  to  fee 
 them:  they  went  and  difcourfed  with  the  nuns, 
 and  gave  them  a  book.  Then  the  inquifitor 
 fent  for  them,  and  examined  them  ;  which 
 they  anfwered,  fo  that  they  could  find  no- 
 thing againft  them ;  fo  went  away,  but  or- 
 dered them  to  be  flayed  there,  and  next  day 
 they  came  again  and  examined  them  apart, 
 and  urged  them  to  fwear  to  fpeak  the  truth, 
 and  to  turn  Catholics ;  which  they  refufed, 
 but  declared  the  truth.  The  conful  told 
 them  how  forry  he  was,  but  there  was 
 hope  in  time.  But  he  was  deceitful,  and 
 had  betrayed  them  into  the  inquifitor's 
 hands  (though  he  denied  it)  when  he  might 
 and  ought  to  have  prevented  it ;  but  flavifli 
 fear  poileffed  him,  and  he  had  never  peace 
 after,  but  pined  away  till  he  died.  The  in- 
 quifitors  examined  them  about  their  religion 
 and  principles,  and  what  they  believed  of 
 their's  ;  all  which  they  anfwered  very  clearly. 
 Then  they  put  them  into  an  inward  room  in 
 the  inquihtion,  which  had  but  two  little  holes 
 in  it  for  light,  or  air,  where  they  were  kept 
 fo  clofe,  that  they  were  almoft  ftified  in  the 
 hot  weather,  and  were  fometimes  glad  to  put 
 their  mouths  to  the  chink  of  the  door  to  gafp 
 H  h  4  for 
 
(    472     ) 
 
 for  breath.      They  came   often  to  examine 
 them,  threatening  them  with  death,  and  to  be 
 burnt   if  they  did  not  renounce  their  errors, 
 and  turn  Catholics;  endeavouring  all  the  ways 
 they  could  to  frighten   and  terrify  them,   to 
 make  them   fubmit  to  their  wills ;  but  all  in 
 vain  ;    coming  to  the   prifon  gates   at  mid- 
 night ;    opening   the   gates,  and  rattling   the 
 chains,  as  if  they  were  come  to  fetch  them 
 out  to  put  them  to  death,  or  murder  them 
 there  ;  fo  that  they  often  expected  when  they 
 fhould  be  had  out  to  be  burnt,  and  were  freely 
 given  up  to  die.  But  the  Lord  preferved  them, 
 and  was  with  them,  to  fupport  them  under  all 
 their  exercifes;  elfe  it  had  been  almoft  impof- 
 fible  to  bear  up  under  all  their  fufferings,  ter- 
 rors, and  threats.     Then  they  feparated  them 
 for  a  great  while,  that  they  could  not  fee  or 
 hear  one  from  another,    to   render  them  the 
 more  difconfolate ;  telling  them,  they  fhould 
 never  fee  one  another's  faces  again,  and  en- 
 deavoured to  entangle  them  in  their  difcourfe ; 
 but  they  were  preferved  by  the  one  fpirit,  to 
 fpeak  the  fame  thing.     And  they  told  Sarah, 
 that  Katherine  had  confeffed  all,  to  perfuade 
 her  to  do  fo  too :  and  at  other  times  that  me 
 was  dead,  to  difhearten  her ;  but  the  had  a 
 fenfe  it  was  falfe  :  threatening  to  fend  them 
 to  Rome ;  tempting  them  all  the  ways  they 
 could  ;  endeavouring  to  take  away  their  lives, 
 fometimes  by  forcery  and  witchcraft,  making 
 
 fucli 
 
(    473     )     . 
 
 fuch  a  flink  with  fire  and  brimftonc,  as  almolt. 
 choaked  them  that  way.     Thus  continuing  to 
 exercife  their  cruelty  and  helliih  contrivances 
 againft  them,  during  the  time  of  their  impri- 
 ibnment   in  the   inquifition,  where  they  la/ 
 above  three  years  and  a  half,  under  great  fuf- 
 fering  and  jeopardy  of  their  lives,  had  not  the 
 Lord  preferved   them ;  and  it  was  his  great 
 mercy  they  had  not  been  deftroyed  by  fuch  a 
 dark  generation  of  Papifts.     And  many  vari- 
 ous trials  and   exercifes  they  went  through, 
 both  outward  and  inward ;  with  fadings  and 
 watchings  day  and  night,    that    they   might 
 be  preferved  from  the  fnares   of  the  enemy, 
 which  he  laid  and  tried  every  way  to  infnare 
 and  deflroy  them.     But  at  laft  the  Lord  deli- 
 vered them,  and  brought  them  back  into  the 
 land  of  their  nativity.      Daniel   Baker  came 
 about  half  a  year  before,  and  offered  body  for 
 body  for  them,  but  that  would  not  be  accepted; 
 but  if  any  w7ould  engage  for  the  payment  of 
 three   or  four  thoufand  dollars,  if  ever  they 
 came  there   again,  they  fhould  have  their  li- 
 berty ;  which  they  could  not  confent  to.    But 
 the  new  conful  pretended  at  laft,  that  he  had 
 engaged  for  five  hundred  ;  but  they  could  not 
 find  it  was  true.     At  laft  they  were  releafed  by 
 means  of  one  lord  d'Aubeny  (a  Papift)   then 
 at  the  Engliih  court,  to  whom  friends  appli- 
 ed ;  who  writ  and  got  them  difcharged,  and 
 fent  on  board  one  of  the  king's  frigates,  called 
 
 the 
 
(     474     ) 
 
 the  Saphire  ;  and  fo  were  brought  by  Leg- 
 horn, Toulon,  and  Tangiers,  into  their  own 
 country,  in  1662. 
 
 After  their  return  into  England,  they  tra- 
 velled in  the  fervice  of  truth,  and  went  into 
 Scotland  and   Ireland,  about    1663  :    an<^  on 
 the  7th  of  the  third  month,  1 664,  arriving  at 
 Minehead  in  Sonierfetfhire,  and  going  towards 
 their  outward   dwelling  on  the    1 1  th  of  the 
 fame,  came  to  Wivelfcomb,  fome  friends  ac- 
 companying them  :   and  having  a  meeting  at 
 the  houfe  of  William  Wear,  there  came  Ro- 
 bert Hawly,  mayor,  and  juftice  of  peace  ;  and 
 after  a  few  words,  drew  his  fword,  and  flou- 
 rifhed  it  over  their  heads,  and  then  called  in  a 
 company  of  rude  fellows  which  he   had   at 
 hand,  and   broke  up  the  meeting ;  and  fet  a 
 guard   on  friends   in  the  fame  houfe,   where 
 they  kept  them  that  night ;  behaving  them- 
 felves  very  rudely,   in   drinking  and  wicked 
 reproachful  language;  efpecially  one  Silvanus, 
 a  fervant  of  the  faid  Hawly's,   who   ordered 
 the  prifoners  to  be  brought  the  next  day  to 
 one  Pollet's  houfe,   about   four  or  five  miles 
 from  Taunton,  which  was  done  ;  where  the 
 faid  Hawly,   and  one   Edward   Clark,    came 
 and  examined  friends  a-part,  and  were  rough 
 with  them,  giving  fome  of  them  very  abufive 
 names,   and   afterwards   made   a   mittimus  to 
 fend  them  to  gaol ;  and  Hawly  being  gone, 
 the  company  grew  very  wicked,  and  would 
 
 fearch 
 
(    475     ) 
 
 fearch  friends,  which  they  did,  efpecially  Ka- 
 therine  and  Sarah  ;  and  took  from  them  feve- 
 ral  papers  and  letters  which  they  had  in  Ire- 
 land, for  certain  friends  in  England,  which 
 they  broke  open  in  juftice  Clark's  prefence : 
 and  though  they  found  nothing  in  them,  but 
 what  related  to  private  affairs,  or  manifestation 
 of  love,  from  one  friend  to  another,  yet  they 
 refufed  to  deliver  them  back  again,  but  kept 
 them  ;  and  that  night  brought  them  to  Taun- 
 ton, and  next  day  to  Ivelchefler  prifon,  with 
 feveral  others.  And  were  had  to  the  feffions 
 at  Taunton,  in  the  fifth  month,  and  indicled 
 for  being  at  an  unlawful  meeting:  and  though 
 they  made  their  defence,  that  their  meetings 
 were  only  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  no  hurt  in- 
 tended to  any,  they  were  fined  $L  a-piece, 
 and  returned  to  gaol  till  they  fliould  give  bail 
 for  their  good  behaviour.  The  faid  R.  Hawly 
 and  E.  Clark  appeared  very  violent  againft 
 them  ;  and  Sarah  reafoning  with  the  faid 
 Hawly,  alledging  fcripture  in  her  behalf,  he 
 aiked  her,  What  {he  had  to  do  with  fcripture  ? 
 And  that  fhe  fhould  not  come  forth  of  prifon, 
 until  fhe  came  forth  to  a  flake  ;  which  fa- 
 voured of  a  Popiili  fpirit  and  cruelty  (like 
 the  Papifts  they  had  fuffered  under).  They 
 were  had  to  Bridgewater  feffions,  in  the  eighth 
 month,  where  John  Turbervile  fat  judge;  and 
 for  not  paying  the  fine  of  5L  a-piece,  impofed 
 on  them  the  lad  feffions,   and  not  giving  bail 
 
 for 
 
(     476     ) 
 
 for  their  good  behaviour,  were  returned  back 
 to  prifon  till  the  nextquarter-feffions,  according 
 to  the  fentence  of  the  laft,  their  liberty  being 
 much  oppofed  by  R.  Hawly  aforefaid.  Whe- 
 ther they  were  difcharged  at  the  next,  or  how 
 long  they  continued  in  prifon,  I  am  not  cer- 
 tain ;  but  not  long  after  they  were  releafed, 
 Sarah  Cheevers  died,  but  Katherine  lived 
 many  years  after,  and  continued  in  the  fer- 
 vice  of  truth.  She  was  imprifoned  at  Welch- 
 pool  in  Montgomeryshire,  for  not  {wearing, 
 in  1666;  but  how  long,  I  find  not.  Thefirft 
 time  that  I  ever  faw  her,  to  know  her,  was  at 
 a  meeting  at  Bath,  with  my  filler,  in  the  year 
 1675.  She  was  imprifoned  in  Newgate,  Bri- 
 ftol,  for  meeting  in  the  beginning  of  the  per- 
 fection there,  in  1681,  as  aforefaid;  and 
 came  after  to  Ivelchefter,  to  fee  us  when  we 
 were  prifoners  there,  about  the  year  1683. 
 She  lived  to  a  great  age,  notwithftanding  all 
 her  great  travels  and  fufferings ;  and  at  laft 
 died  in  peace  about  the  fourth  month,  1692. 
 And  in  the  fixth  month  this  year,  1692, 
 died  that  ancient  and  eminent  fervant  and 
 minifter  of  Chrift,  Stephen  Crifp  of  Colchef- 
 ter,  of  whom  I  cannot  but  make  honourable 
 mention,  for  the  refpect  I  had  to  him.  He 
 was  born  at  Colchefter  in  Effex,  about  the 
 year  1628,  where  he  had  his  education,  ac- 
 cording to  the  profeflion  of  the  times  ;  for  in 
 thofe  days,  religion  lay  more  in  feeking,  than 
 
 in 
 
(     477     ) 
 
 m  fettling  in  any  form  :  and,  accordingly,  he 
 fought  the  Lord  amongfl  moil  profeiTbrs,  run- 
 ning from  one  to  another,  and  from  mountain 
 to  hill,  feeking  reft,  but  finding  none,  till  the 
 truth  was  manifefted.  He  went  among,  and 
 joined  with  the  Baptifts  fome  time,  and  was 
 zealous  in  outward  ordinances,  but  had  not 
 fatisfaction ;  till  at  length  it  pleafed  the  Lord 
 to  fend  his  faithful  fervant  and  meilenger, 
 James  Parnel,  into  that  county,  by  whom, 
 though  a  young  man,  many  were  convinced 
 and  turned  to  the  Lord  :  who  came  to  Col- 
 chefter,  where  our  friend  Stephen  Crifp  was 
 convinced,  and  received  the  truth  in  the  love 
 of  it,  in  the  year  1655,  and  27th  of  his  age; 
 and  coming  into  obedience  to  it,  after  long 
 travail  in  the  deep  and  inward  exercife,  under 
 the  work  of  regeneration,  he  came  to  receive 
 the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment 
 of  praife  for  the  fpirit  of  heavinefs,  having  a 
 difpenfation  of  the  gofpel  committed  to  him. 
 And  in  the  year  1659,  finding  the  aboundings 
 of  the  love  of  God  in  his  heart,  and  a  defire 
 that  others  alfo  might  come  to  know  the 
 Lord,  and  tafte  of  his  goodnefs,  he  was  made 
 to  leave  father  and  mother,  wife  and  children, 
 to  go  and  bear  witnefs  to  his  name  in  Scot- 
 land, that  high  profeffing  nation,  but  would 
 fain  have  put  it  off.  And  went  to  vifit  friends 
 '  about  Eflex,  and  part  of  Suffolk,  but  could 
 not  be  clear  without  going  to  Scotland.     So 
 
 he 
 
(     478     ) 
 
 he  gave  up  :  and  as  he  went  along  Lincohi- 
 fhire  and  Yorkfhire,  he  found  the  Lord  was 
 with  him  as  a  mighty  man  of  valour,  and  fo  he 
 got  into  Scotland,  and  travelled  to  and  fro  in 
 that  nation  that  winter  on  foot ;  and  return- 
 ed through  Weftmoreland  and  part  of  Lan- 
 cashire, home.  Soon  afterwards  he  came  up 
 to  London  ;  and  then  went  northward  again, 
 and  was  imprifoned  in  the  great  imprifonmeiit, 
 1660,  nigh  two  hundred  miles  from  home,  till 
 difcharged,  with  feveral  thoufands  more,  by  the 
 king,  in  1661.  And  in  the  year  1663,  he 
 went  over  fea  to  vifit  the  feed  of  God  in  the 
 Low  Countries,  feeming  to  be  railed  up 
 to  fucceed  the  worthy  William  Caton  in 
 that  fervice,  who  died  in  Holland  about  1664, 
 and  might  defervedly  be  called  the  apoftle  of 
 that  country.  After  his  return,  he  travelled 
 northward  again  to  Newcaftle,  &c.  returning 
 eaftward ;  and  fo  to  London,  in  great  dread 
 to  warn  the  people  of  the  judgments  of  God 
 at  hand,  as  fire,  &c.  And  in  1667,  went  over 
 to  Holland  again,  with  his  dear  companion 
 Jofiah  Goale :  and  after  he  came  home,  went 
 into  the  north  of  England  to  vifit  the  ten- 
 der plants,  and  water  the  heritage  and  gar- 
 den of  God  ;  having  the  care  of  the  churches 
 upon  him;  travelling  from  country  to  coun- 
 try, finding  his  way  profperous.  And  after  a 
 year  or  two  travelling  thus  in  England,  he 
 found  a  neceffity  to  go  into  the  Low-Coun- 
 tries 
 
(    479    ) 
 
 tries  again  (the  third  time)  in  1669  ;  and  tra- 
 velled in  Holland,  Friezland,  and  Germany, 
 near  Worms,  where  he  found  fome  friends 
 who  had  flood  in  a  teflimony  for  God  about 
 ten  years,  in  great  fufFerings  by  the  Palfgrave, 
 and  went  to  Heydelburgh,  where  he  had  an 
 opportunity  to  difcourfe  that  prince  about 
 friends  fufferings,  who  promifed  redrefs.  So 
 he  returned  and  came  to  London  ;  and  from 
 thence  to  Briftol,  and  through  Somerfetihire, 
 &c.  to  the  Land's-End :  returning  up  the 
 fouth  coafts  to  London,  and  fo  to  Colchefter; 
 and  was  foon  after  taken  for  being  at  a  meet- 
 ing, by  means  of  a  prieft,  who  betrayed  him 
 two  years  before,  and  got  him  into  prifon  ;  and 
 now  again  into  Ipfwich  gaol,  in  the  firft 
 month,  1670,  on  the  acl:  for  5I.  or  three 
 months  imprifonment ;  but  judge  Rainsford, 
 at  the  affizes,  committed  him  till  he  paid  5I. 
 but  being  afterwards  fenfible  of  his  error,  fent 
 an  order  for  his  releafe,  at  three  months  end ; 
 after  which,  he  went  the  fourth  time  to  Hol- 
 land, where  he  had  great  fervice  for  the  Lord, 
 having  attained  their  language ;  and  went  eaft- 
 ward  to  vifit  thofe  difmal  dark  countries  in 
 the  lower  parts  of  Germany,  towards  Den- 
 mark and  bweden,  where  the  Lutheran  re- 
 ligion bears  fway,  yet  darknefs  and  wicked- 
 neis  in  its 'full  ftrength.  And  went  to  Flam- 
 burgh,  Holftein,  and  Frederickftadt ;  Bremen, 
 Oldenburgh,  and  Embden ;  and  fo  to  Gron- 
 
 ingen 
 
(    43°    ) 
 
 ingen  and  Lewarden,  where  the  Friezland 
 lords  had  a  law,  to  put  Quakers  in  Bride- 
 well for  five  years,  that  ihould  come  into 
 their  province ;  and  had  taken  three  friends  of 
 Amfterdam,  and  put  them  in  prifon,  and 
 made  an  order  that  no  Quakers  mould  go 
 to  vifit  them  (fo  cruel  were  they)  :  which 
 when  S.  Crifp  underftood,  he  writ  to  the  lord 
 president,  that  they  had  done  worfe  than  hea- 
 thens, and  feeing  they  had  made  fuch  a  law, 
 there  was  he  and  two  more  come  to  vifit  the 
 prifoners,  and  delired  liberty  fo  to  do ;  and 
 they  were  fo  limited,  that  they  did  not  lay 
 hold  on  them.  So  after  a  meeting  in  the 
 town,  they  returned  to  Amfterdam,  and  had 
 meetings  at  Alkmaer,  Harlem,  Rotterdam, 
 &;c.  where  a  young  man  of  Switzerland  hear- 
 ing that  his  brother,  in  Holland,  was  turned 
 Quaker,  came  down  in  his  zeal  thinking  to 
 turn  him ;  but  on  hearing  the  truth,  he 
 was  convinced  of  it  and  came  in  obedience 
 to  it  to  take  up  the  crofs.  After  which  S. 
 Crifp  returned  to  London,  and  foon  after 
 went  over  into  Friezland  again  ;  but  returned 
 in  1 67 1,  and  travelled  through  feveral  coun- 
 ties ;  and  fo  to  London,  and  back  to  Col- 
 chefter  :  and  then  went  into  the  north,  York- 
 shire, Bifhoprick,  &c.  vifiting  the  churches ; 
 Samuel  Cater  going  with  him  (in  his  way  to 
 Scotland)  fo  far  as  Newcafte;  from  whence  Ste- 
 phen turned  weftward,  and  fo  fouthward  to 
 London   and  Colchefter.      And   next   year, 
 
 1672, 
 
(    4»  i     ) 
 
 J  67  2,  went  the  fixth  time  to  Holland  and 
 Friefland,  and  returned  in  the  eighth  month, 
 and  came  to  London.  And  after  fome  time, 
 paffed  over  fea  again  (the  feventh  time)  to 
 Embden  in  Friefland,  the  latter  end  of  the  firft 
 month,  1673  ;  where  were  great  fufferings  by 
 lines,  imprifonments,  and  banifhment,  fome 
 fuffering  16  or  20  times;  being  fpoiled  of  all 
 they  had,  even  to  their  very  cloaths,  and  driven 
 almoft  naked  along  the  ftreets,  aboard  the  fliips 
 that  were  to  carry  them  away;  fuch  a  monfter 
 is  perfecution  in  all  countries :  all  which  our 
 friends  bore  patiently,  and  the  Lord  fupported 
 them  under  it  all.  He  went  from  thence  to 
 Rotterdam,  where  fome  of  account  were  con- 
 vinced of  the  truth ;  and  fo  returned  to  Eng- 
 land, againft  the  yearly-meeting  at  London  in 
 1674.  And  after  that,  travelled  through  di- 
 vers counties  to  Briftol,  where,  and  at  Bath, 
 I  firft  faw  and  heard  him,  and  loved  him  ever 
 after.  And  in  the  fourth  month,  1675,  he 
 was  drawn  again,  the  eighth  time,  to  vilit 
 friends  in  the  Low-Countries,  which  he  did 
 this  fummer,  to  his  great  comfort ;  and  went 
 to  Embden,  where  friends  were  ftill  under 
 great  fufferings,  there  being  a  new  law  made 
 of  25 1.  fine,  for  any  that  fhould  harbour  a 
 friend :  which  he  writ  a  book  in  anfwer 
 to,  fharply  rebuking  the  rulers  for  their 
 cruelty,  and  they  were  fo  chained,  that  they 
 did  not  lay  hands  on  himj  after  which 
 I  i  their 
 
(     48;     ) 
 
 their  fury  abated.     And  in  the  eighth  month, 
 
 1676,  having  been  there  above  a  year,  and 
 vifited  the  provinces,  he  returned  home;  and 
 that  winter  vifited  the  churches  in  EfTex,  Suf- 
 folk, and  London.     And  in  the  nrft  month, 
 
 1677,  he  went  the  ninth  time  to  Holland, 
 (finding  the  care  of  thofe  parts  laid  upon  him) 
 and  found  friends  well ;  and  having  vifited 
 their  meetings,  and  in  Friefland,  he  returned 
 in  the  third  month  to  England,  and  came  to 
 London,  where  he  was  molt  of  that  fummer ; 
 and  then  went  to  Colchefter,  where  he  lived, 
 and  vifited  friends  thereabouts.  And  about 
 the  nrft  month,  1678,  found  drawings  to  go 
 down  into  Yorkfhire,  where  he  had  much  fer- 
 vice  formerly ;  and  went  to  Hull,  and  there- 
 abouts, vifiting  the  churches,  to  his  and  their 
 joy  in  the  Lord.  And  in  the  fourth  month 
 croffed  the  feas,  the  tenth  time,  to  Holland  ; 
 and  went  fouthward  to  divers  cities  up  the 
 Rhine,  vifiting  many  that  were  inclined  to 
 the  truth,  as  at  Cleves  and  Wefel :  fo  returned 
 to  Holland,  where  he  was  taken  ill  and  weak 
 for  fome  time ;  but  at  laft  got  to  Rotterdam, 
 being  fomewhat  recovered ;  and  fo  to  Eng- 
 land, and  afterwards  to  London,  Hereford- 
 fhire,  &c.  And  next  fummer,  1679,  went 
 not  over  fea,  as  ufuai ;  but  after  the  general- 
 meeting  at  London,  went  to  Briftol,  where 
 he  had  fome  exercife  with  fome  who  had  let 
 in  a  wrong  fpirit  againft  friends  and  truth ; 
 
 and 
 
(    4§3     ) 
 
 and  returned  to  London,  and  fo  home,  vifit- 
 ing  friends  in  EfTex  and  Suffolk.     And  next 
 ipring  went  again  to  London,  Hertfordshire, 
 &c.  till  after  the  general-meeting  1680,  and 
 then  found  drawings  (the  eleventh  time)    to 
 vifit  friends    in   Holland  and   Friefland ;  and 
 particularly  a  little  remnant  at  Crevelt,  in  the 
 land  of  Meurs,  who  had  fuffered  many  things 
 for  their  teftimony;    and  returned   through 
 the  Spanifh  Netherlands  to  Holland,  and  fo 
 to  England,  in  the  feventh  month.    And  after 
 he  was  recovered  of  a  fever,  vifited  friends  in 
 Effex, Yarmouth, Norwich  (where  things  began 
 to  revive)  Norfolk,  and  Ipfwich.     And  fooa 
 after,  in  1 681,  travelled  once  more  into  York- 
 shire, to  divers  places,  and  fo  back  to  London* 
 And   next  year,  1682,  went  again   to  Nor- 
 wich, being  a  time  of  great  fuffering  there  ; 
 and  a  juftice  and  conftable  came  to  the  meet- 
 ing, and  haled  him   and  a  dozen    more,    to 
 their  judgment-hall,    where   the    mayor   and 
 aldermen  met,  who  endeavoured  to  enfnare 
 him   and  bring  him  into  bonds  ;  but  he  was 
 preferved   in   the  wifdom    of  God,   fo  that 
 their  fnare  was  broken,  and  he  efcaped,  and 
 went  to  meetings  again  :  and  when  he  was 
 clear,  returned  home  that  winter.     And  next 
 fpring,  found    drawings    again    to    the  Low 
 Countries  :  and   after  the   yearly-meeting  in 
 1683,  (a  time  of  great  fufferings  with  friends 
 in  London,   being  often   kept   out   of  their 
 I  i  2  meeting- 
 
(     4»4    ) 
 
 meeting-houfes,  but  could  not  be  deprived 
 of  the  prelence  of  the  Lord)  he  went  the  12th 
 time,  with  divers  friends  of  Dantzick,  Amfter- 
 dam,  &c.  to  Holland,  to  be  at  the  yearly- 
 meeting  at  Amfterdam,  which  is  three  weeks 
 after  ours,  where  they  had  a  brave  meeting  ; 
 after  which  friends  departed  to  their  feveral 
 habitations :  but  he  was  taken  ill,  and  difabled 
 from  vifiting  meetings  in  fome  places,  as  he 
 intended,  and  in  the  fixth  month  returned 
 home.  And  foon  after  it  pleafed  God  to  take 
 away  his  wife,  they  having  been  married  35 
 years:  and  the  latter  end  of  1684,  he  had  an 
 opening  that  the  Lord  would  give  him  ano- 
 ther wife ;  but  withal,  that  he  had  a  fervice 
 for  him  beyond  the  leas  the  next  fummer.  So 
 he  went  firft  to  London,  and  ftaid  the  yearly- 
 meeting  1685;  and  then  went  over  to  Holland, 
 the  thirteenth  and  laft  time,  with  his  dear 
 friend  whom  he  had  feen  mould  be  given 
 him  to  wife,  and  divers  other  friends  of  Eng- 
 land and  Holland,  to  their  yearly-meeting, 
 where  they  met  with  fome  contrary  fpirits  j 
 who,  with  much  labour,  were  reftored  to  the 
 unity  of  the  truth.  After  which,  hearing  there 
 was  a  door  open  to  receive  the  truth,  at 
 Mackum  in  Frielland,  he  went  thither,  and 
 preached  the  gofpel  amongft  them,  and  was 
 well  received  :  fo  returned  to  Holland,  and  in 
 jthe  fixth  month  to  England,  and  in  the  eighth 
 month  took  his  fecond  wife.     But  (which 
 
 fliews 
 
(    4*5    ) 
 
 fhews  the  inftability  of  all  outward  enjoy- 
 ments) in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1687,  *' 
 pleafed  the  Lord  (who  gives  and  takes  at  his 
 pleafure)  to  take  her  away  from  him  again, 
 which  was  an  exercife  to  him  in  his  old  age. 
 After  which,  he  went  up  to  London  for  three 
 months,  and  returned  to  Colchefter  that  win- 
 ter. And  in  1688,  went  to  London  again; 
 and  in  his  return  vifited  fome  meetings  in 
 EfTex  and  Suffolk :  coming  to  London  again 
 in  the  eighth  month,  about  the  time  of  the 
 revolution.  And  in  1689,  laboured  with 
 other  friends  with  the  parliament,  for  getting 
 the  penal  laws  repealed ;  which  at  lalt  was 
 effected,  to  the  eale  of  tender  confciences  : 
 and  after  the  yearly-meeting,  returned  to  his 
 Tiabitation  at  Colchefter ;  where  and  at  Lon- 
 don, after  this,  he  fpent  his  time,  not  being 
 able  to  travel  much,  as  in  times  paft,  by  rea- 
 fon  of  infirmity  of  body,  being  much  troubled 
 with  the  ftone :  but  continued  in  the  fervice 
 of  truth,  to  his  ability,  till  the  time  of  his 
 death.  He  was  at  the  yearly-meeting  in 
 1692;  but  was  foon  after  taken  ill,  and  re- 
 moved to  Wandfworth  for  the  air,  where  he 
 departed  this  life,  the  twenty-eighth  of  the 
 fixth  month,  1692,  about  fixty-four  years 
 of  age ;  laying  down  his  head  in  peace  with 
 the  Lord,  in  honour  and  renown  ;  refting 
 from  his  labours,  and  his  works  follow  him, 
 And  his  memorial  is  bleffed.  See  his  works, 
 I  i  3  printed 
 
(    486    ) 
 
 printed  in  1694;  and  a  Journal  of  his  Life* 
 
 He  wrote  many  brave  books  and  epiftles, 
 which  are  fince  collected  in  quarto  ;  particu- 
 larly his  c  Epiftle  to  Friends,  concerning  the 
 4  prefent  and  fucceeding  Times ;'  which  I  have 
 often  been  comforted  in  the  reading  of,  as 
 about  this  time  (not  long  after  his  death)  on 
 the  reading  of  it,  How  truth  entered  in  the 
 beginning,  and  how  we  received  it,  and  count- 
 ed nothing  dear  for  its  fake  :  my  heart  was 
 affected  with  it,  and  I  felt  life  anfwering  to  it, 
 fo  that,  as  it  was  laid  formerly,  it  was  a  time 
 of  love  to  my  foul ;  and  the  Lord  was  pleafed 
 to  give  me  a  token  and  pledge  of  it,  to  my 
 exceeding  comfort  and  joy  in  his  prefence,  be- 
 yond what  I  can  exprefs,  which  was  and  is  more 
 precious  to  me  than  all  that  this  world  can  af- 
 ford ;  blefled  be  his  holy  and  worthy  name  for 
 ever.  Though  I  cannot  fay  it  was,  or  is,  always 
 fo;but  that  there  is  at  times  a  withdrawing  of  the 
 beloved  as  behind  the  curtain,  and  hiding  his 
 face  for  a  feafon,  either  through  our  unwatch- 
 fulnefs,  or  for  the  trial  of  our  faith  ;  and  then, 
 as  David  faid,  I  was  troubled,  like  the  difci- 
 ples  who,  while  the  bridegroom  was  with 
 them,  could  not  fart,  but  when  he  was  taken 
 from  them  then  they  mourned  :  fo  it  is  with 
 us  :  yet  there  is  a  brook  by  the  way,  though 
 fometimes  low,  which  is  fufficient  for  the 
 time  till  we  arrive  at  the  fountain.  Where- 
 fore 
 
{    4§7     ) 
 
 fore  let  none  be  difcouraged,  but  truft  in  the 
 Lord  for  ever;  for  he  will  appear  again  in  his 
 own  time,  if  unfaithfulnefs  be  not  the  caufe, 
 and  then  the  foul  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in 
 his  falvation. 
 
 About  this  time  I  made  an  obfervation,  that 
 we  had  been  for  many  years  free  from  oppo- 
 fers ;  fo  that  we  could  even  fiiy,  as  it  was  in 
 the  days  of  Solomon,  that  there  was  neither 
 adverfary  nor  evil  occurrent ;  hardly  a  dog  to 
 open  his  mouth  againft  us  (only  that  eld  apof- 
 tate  Francis  Bugg,  Shimei-like  was  railing  a  lit- 
 tle now  and  then).  But  now  the  Baptiits,  at 
 Deptford  in  Kent,  began  to  oppoie :  The 
 Athenian  authors  followed ;  who  being  fuc- 
 cefsfully  anfwered  and  confuted  by  our  friends 
 George  Whitehead  and  William  Penn;  George 
 Keith,  who  once  knew  better  things,  brought 
 up  the  rear;  beginning  this  year  to  differ  with 
 friends  in  Pennfylvania,  of  which  more  here- 
 after, in  the  year  1694. 
 
 This  year  alfo  died,  Thomas  Olive,  for- 
 merly of  Wellingborough  in  Northampton- 
 (hire,  who  was  convinced  of  the  truth  early, 
 about  the  time  that  William  Dewfbury  came 
 firft  thither,  in  1655,  as  aforeiaid;  and  receiv- 
 ing it  in  the  love  of  it,  with  many  more,  he 
 came  to  have  a  public  teftimony  to  bear  for  it, 
 and  was  ferviceable  in  his  place  in  thofe  days. 
 He  was  a  prifoner  in  Northampton  common 
 gaol  in  the  year  1 666,  with  near  eighty  more 
 I  i  4  pf 
 
(     483     ) 
 
 of  the  people  of  God  at  that  time,  for  the  tef- 
 timony  of  a  pure  confeience ;  waiting  the 
 Lord's  time,  to  plead  their  caufe  and  clear 
 their  innocency:  where  he  writ  a  book,  called 
 
 *  A  Signification  from  Ifrael's  God,  to  Eng- 
 1  land's    Rulers    and    Inhabitants,    from   the 
 
 *  higheft  to  the  lowed ;'  as  one  that  had  re- 
 ceived mercy  from  the  Lord,  and  fo  travelled 
 in  foul  for  their  return,  that  their  fouls  alfo 
 might  live.  How  long  he  continued  in  pri- 
 fon  I  do  not  find,  (perhaps  till  the  king's  de- 
 claration in  1672)  nor  any  thing  further  of 
 him,  till  the  year  1677,  when  he  went  to 
 New-Jerfey,  and  there  died,  and  was  buried 
 in  Northampton  townfhip,  belonging  to  Bur- 
 lington monthly-meeting  in  New-Weft- Jer- 
 fey,  the  4th  of  the  ninth  month,  1692, 
 
 I  have  not  much  to  remark  this  year,  1693, 
 but  the  death  of  fome  public  friends  :  As,  1 . 
 That  ancient  fervant  of  God  and  minifter  of 
 Jefus  Chrift,  Thomas  Goodair,  who  was  one 
 of  the  firft  convincement,  when  George  Fox 
 came  out  of  Derby  prifon,  to  Balby  in  York- 
 shire, in  the  year  i  65 1 ;  at  what  time  he,  with 
 R.  Farnworth,  James  Naylor,  and  Thomas 
 Aldam,  were  convinced  of  the  truth.  And 
 giving  up  to  the  dictates  of  it,  he  came  to  re- 
 ceive a  teftimony  for  it,  in  which  he  travelled 
 to  turn  others  to  it.  And  in  the  year  1656, 
 coming  into  Northamptonfhire,  and  being  at  a 
 
 meeting 
 
(  4S9  ) 
 
 meeting  at  a  friend's  houfe  in  the  faid 
 county,  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  third  month, 
 as  he  was  miniftering  to  the  people,  there 
 came  two  conftables  with  a  warrant  from 
 John  Brown  and  John  Manfel,  juftices ;  and 
 laid  hands  on  him,  haling  him  out  of  the 
 meeting;  and  had  him  before  the  faid  juftices, 
 who  came  fome  miles  that  day  to  the  prielVs 
 houfe  in  the  town,  on  purpofe  to  take  the 
 faid  Thomas,  by  which  means  their  own 
 worfhip  was  neglected  in  the  afternoon,  (fa 
 irreligioufly  perfecuting  were  they  in  thofe 
 days)  the  priefts  and  juftices  fpending  molt 
 part  of  their  time  in  committing  the  faid  Tho- 
 mas, and  others,  that  were  at  the  meeting ; 
 charging  him  to  be  a  dangerous  perfon,  and  a 
 mifleader  of  the  feci:  called  Quakers  ;  demand- 
 ing fureties  for  his  good  behaviour :  which  he 
 refufed,  unlefs  they  could  fhew  him  what  law 
 he  had  broken  ;  which  they  would  not,  or 
 could  not,  do,  but  faid  they  were  judges  of  the 
 law ;  and  fo  made  a  mittimus  to  fend  him  to 
 Northampton  gaol,  where  he  remained  a  pri- 
 foner  for  fome  time,  how  long  I  am  not  cer- 
 tain. And  for  the  other  friends  that  were  at 
 the  meeting,  they  demanded  ios.  a-piece;  and 
 for  their  refilling  to  pay,  threatened  to  diftrain 
 their  goods.  After  his  enlargement,  he  tra- 
 velled, in  obedience  to  the  Lord,  through 
 Warwickiriire,  Worcefterfhire,  Herefordlhire, 
 Glouceftermire,  and  fo  into  Oxfordshire,  where 
 he  was  taken  up  at  a  friend's  houfe  (Benjamin 
 
 Staple's 
 
(     49°    ) 
 
 Staple's  at  Chadlinton)  and  had  before  the 
 commiffioners  at  Chipping-Norton ;  particu- 
 larly, Sir  Wm.  Walter  and  Sir  Tho.  Penifton, 
 who  after  examining  him,  as  to  his  name  and 
 bufinefs  in  that  county,  which  he  anfwered, 
 they  tendered  him  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and 
 to  the  friend  where  he  was  taken ;  and  for  re- 
 futing it,  made  each  of  them  a  mittimus,  and 
 fent  them  to  Oxford  gaol,  the  15th  of  the  fe- 
 venth  month,  1 660,  where  they  fuffered  much 
 by  the  gaoler,  his  wife  and  fon,  who  put  irons, 
 on  both  Thomas's  legs;  and  would  not  change 
 one  that  was  too  {trait,  and  hurt  him,  unlefs 
 he  would  give  them  money  :  and  put  them 
 into  a  Minting  room,  where  they  had  nothing 
 to  fit  or  lie  on ;  and  would  not  let  them  have 
 in  ftraw  to  lie  on,  except  they  would  pay 
 4s.  8d.  a  week  for  their  lodging;  and  abufed 
 them  and  other  friends  very  much.  And  at 
 the  general-quarter-feffions  in  the  8th  month 
 at  Oxford,  the  faid  Walter  being  judge  of  the 
 fellions,  Thomas  and  the  other  friend  (Benj. 
 Staples)  were  brought  into  court.  And  when 
 they  had  examined  Thomas,  and  could  find 
 nothing  againft  him,  they,  on  purpofe  to  en- 
 fnare  him,  tendered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
 him.  He  told  them,  he  owned  the  king  to  be 
 fupreme  governor  in  civil  and  temporal  things, 
 and  was  willing  to  obey  him  in  all  juft  or  law-* 
 ful  commands:  but  if  king  Charles,  and  they 
 that  were  in  authority  under  him,  commanded 
 him  to  do  that  which  was  contrary  to  the 
 
 command 
 
(    49i     ) 
 
 command  of  the  Lord  Jefus,  then  he  fhould 
 chufe  rather  to  obey  Chrift  jefus,  than  king 
 Charles  or  them ;  and  fo  told  them  he  could 
 not  fwear  for  confcience  fake,  if  it  would  gain 
 him  the  whole  world,  becaufe  Chrift  had  for- 
 bid it.  But  nothing  would  fatisfy  them,  ex- 
 cept he  would  fwear  ;  which  he  refufing,  the 
 faid  Walter  afked  the  reft  of  the  juftices  if  they 
 had  any  thing  againft  his  pairing  fentence  a- 
 gainft  him ;  to  which  they  all  confenting, 
 he  bid  him  hear  his  fentence,  That  he  was 
 out  of  the  king's  protection,  and  all  his 
 lands,  goods,  and  chattels  forfeited,  and  to 
 be  feized  for  the  king,  and  he  to  remain  in 
 prifon  during  the  king's  pleafure.  Then  bid 
 the  gaoler  take  him  away.  Thomas  afked 
 him,  if  he  ordered  the  gaoler  to  put  irons 
 upon  him  ?  (which  were  on,  when  he  was 
 brought  before  them).  Walter  faid,  the  gaoler 
 might  do  what  he  would  with  him,  for  he  was 
 out  of  the  king's  protection  .(cold  comfort  from 
 them,  but  under  the  Lord's  protection  ftill). 
 So  the  gaoler  took  him  away,  and  brought  the 
 other  friend  B.  Staples  before  them.  And 
 when  they  had  examined  him,  and  could  find 
 nothing  againft  him,  they  tendered  him  the 
 fame  oath  ;  which  he  in  like  manner  refufing 
 in  obedience  to  Chrift ;  the  faid  Walter,  with 
 the  confent  of  the  reft,  palled  the  fame  fentence 
 on  him,  and  fo  they  were  both  had  to  prifon. 
 And  the  gaoler  told  the  common  prifoners,  that 
 if  they  wanted  coats,  they  might  take  theirs  off 
 
 their 
 
(     492     ) 
 
 their  backs,  for  they  could  have  no  law  againfl 
 them  :  but  one  of  the  prifoners  anfwered,  he 
 would  go  naked  before  he  would  take  oft" 
 theirs.  This  mews  how  cruelly  friends  were 
 ufed  in  thofe  days,  contrary  to  the  righteous 
 law  of  God,  of  *  doing  to  others  as  they  would 
 *  be  done  by.' 
 
 How  long  they  continued  prifoners,  I  am 
 not  certain;  but  probably  till  nextfpring,i66i, 
 when  the  general  gaol-delivery  was,  if  not 
 longer,  for  all  were  not  difcharged  then.  After 
 which  he  was  imprifoned  at  Warwick  with 
 Win.  Dewfbury  and  many  more,  for  refilling 
 to  fwear  (the  common  fnare)  where  he  had 
 been  feveral  years  prifoner,  in  1666,  and  prse- 
 munired  without  any  legal  trial,  or  any  fen- 
 tence  or  judgment  palfed  againft  them  in  open 
 court  or  lemons  ;  but  entered  in  the  calendar 
 to  remain  prifoners  during  their  lives  ;  a 
 cruel  fentence.  How  long  he  remained  a  pri- 
 foner I  do  not  find,  but  fuppofe  till  the  king's 
 declaration  in  1672;  neither  do  I  find  any 
 thing  material  of  him  after  this,  till  1 69 1 ,  when 
 he  publifhed,  '  A  plain  Teftimony  to  the  anci- 
 1  ent  Truth  and  Work  of  God  :'  and  died  in 
 it  at  Selby  in  Yorklhire,  the  8th  of  the  fecond 
 month,  1693. 
 
 2.  William  Yaidly,  formerly  of  Ranfclough 
 near  Leek  in  Staffordshire,  an  ancient  labourer 
 in  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  very  ferviceable 
 formerly  in  thofe  countries,  Derbyfhire  and 
 Chefhirej  and  travelled  in  many  parts  of  Eng-^ 
 
 land 
 
(    493    ] 
 
 land  in  the  work  of  the  miniftry :  but  in  the 
 year  168  1,  or  1 682,  he  went  with  his  family, 
 as  did  many  more,  to  Pennfylvania,  where  his 
 wife  died  in  1691,  and  himielf  in  the  county- 
 of  Bucks  in  the  laid  province;  and  was  there 
 buried  the  9th  of  the  fifth  month,  1693. 
 
 3.  John  Delavall,  another  public  friend,  was 
 the  Ion  of  Tho.  Delavall,  a  merchant  in  New- 
 York  ;  where  he  was  convinced  of  the  truth, 
 and  received  a  public  teftimony,  in  which  he 
 was  very  zealous.  He  removed  to  Philadel- 
 phia, and  was  fomewhat  concerned  with  Geo. 
 Keith  in  anfwering  C.  Mather;  and  in  his  lat- 
 ter time  in  controverfy  with  him  the  faid  Geo. 
 Keith  alfo.  He  retained  his  integrity  to  the 
 laft  ;  and  died  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  there 
 buried  the  1  oth  of  the  fixth  month,  1 693. 
 
 4.  Wm.  Stockdale,  an  ancient  public  friend, 
 formerly  belonging  to  Charlemount  meeting 
 in  the  north  of  Ireland  :  but  whether  he  wa& 
 of  that  country,  or  Scotland-born,  I  am  not 
 certain  ;  but  find  he  was  much  concerned  and 
 travelled  in  Scotland  at  the  firft  fpreading  of 
 truth  there,  and  fuffered  much  for  his  tefti- 
 mony, by  beatings,  bruifings,  &c.  as  may  be, 
 feen  in  the  book  of  c  The  Doctrines  and  Prin- 
 '  ciples,  the  Perfecution,   Imprifonment,  Ba- 
 
 *  nifhment,  &c.  by  the  Priefts  and  Magiftrates 
 
 *  of  Scotland,'  in  1659,  of  which  he  was  partly 
 the  author.  He  was  convinced  early,  but  when 
 or  where  I  find  not;  and  receiving  a  public 
 teftirnony,  he  travelled  much  in  the  fervice  of 
 
 tfuth 
 
(     494     ) 
 
 truth  in  England  and  Scotland,  and  was  very 
 ferviceable;  efpecially  in  Scotland,  as  aforefaid, 
 and  alio  in  Ireland,  where  he  dwelt,  and  pub- 
 lilhed  (or  at  leaft  was  concerned  in)  the  lafl 
 book  of  friends  fufferings  in  Ireland  that  wa9 
 printed,  viz.  '  The  Great  Cry  of  Oppreffion,* 
 in  1680.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Pennfyl- 
 vania,  in  the  year  1687,  and  was  concerned  in 
 the  controverfy  with  Geo.  Keith  ;  and  there 
 died,  and  was  buried  at  Philadelphia,  the  23d 
 of  the  feventh  month,  1693. 
 
 Now  having  mentioned  Geo.  Keith  ;  about 
 this  time  (i.  e.  this  fummer)  hearing  of  the  dif- 
 ference between  him  and  friends  in  Pennfylva- 
 nia,  whither  he  went  fome  years  before,  I  was 
 much  concerned  at  it,  having  had  a  great  re- 
 fpetl:  to  him  on  account  of  his  writings,  (though 
 I  had  never  feen  him  but  once,  when  he  and 
 R.  Barclay  were  at  Briftol,  about  the  year 
 1677)  and  I  was  very  loath  to  believe  it  at  nrft, 
 till  there  was  no  room  left  to  queftion  it;  and 
 under  the  exercife  of  it,  writ  fome  letters  to  a 
 relation  in  Philadelphia  about  it,  as  our  fenfe 
 of  the  matter,  fo  far  as  appeared  to  us  at  that 
 time,  to  moderate  if  as  much  as  might  be,  that 
 they  might  not  give  him  any  juft  occafion,  &c. 
 copies  of  which  are  among  my  letters  and 
 papers. 
 
 But  the  next  fpring  he  came  over  with 
 fome  of  his  party,  full  fraught  with  contention 
 againft  the  yearly-meeting  at  London  in  the 
 third  mouth,  whither  I  went  this  year,  1694  : 
 
 where 
 
(    495    ) 
 
 where  were  Samuel  Jennings  and  Tho.  Ducket 
 on  friends  fide,  with  Tho.  Wilfon  and  James 
 Dickenfon,  who  had  been  travelling  there, 
 and  could  give  an  account  of  it:  which  came 
 before  the  meeting  by  fome  letters  directed 
 to,  and  read  in  courfe  in  the  meeting;  who 
 deferred  the  hearing  of  it  till  the  other  bufi- 
 nefs  of  the  meeting  was  over :  and  then  did 
 hear  it  for  about  ten  days,  reading  books  and 
 papers,  and  hearing  both  fides,  what  they  had 
 to  fay  in  relation  to  the  difference,  how  it  be- 
 gan, and  the  proceedings  thereupon,  in  order 
 to  give  a  true  judgment  in  the  cafe,  wherein 
 G.  Keith  fufficiently  manifefted  himfelf.  So 
 that  friends  had  great  exercife  and  debates 
 with  him  about  the  difference;  endeavouring 
 to  heal  it,  and  reconcile  him  to  friends  if  they 
 could,  for  his  prefervation  if  it  might  be.  But 
 the  enmity  had  fo  far  entered  him,  that  no- 
 thing would  do  with  him,  feeming  refolved 
 for  a  breach,  though  he  pretended  the  con- 
 trary. So  that  the  more  tendernefs  any  fhew- 
 ed  towards  him,  the  more  perverfe  he  was  to 
 turn  it  to  a  wrong  end,  and  ftrengthen  him- 
 felf in  his  contention  and'oppofition,  the  hour 
 of  temptation  being  come,  and  ftrong  upon 
 him  to  try  his  foundation,  which  had  not 
 flood  very  firm  for  fome  years,  being  declin- 
 ing before,  as  I  had  found  by  fome  of  his  late 
 books ;  having  imbibed  fome  odd  notions 
 about  the  man  Chrift,  and  the  extent  of  his 
 death,  as  to  heathens,  &c.  the  revolution  of 
 
 human 
 
(    496    ) 
 
 human  fouls,  the  refurrection,  &C.  even  from 
 the  time  of  Van  Helmont's  being  in  London, 
 about  the  year  1682,  which  dimned  his  fpiri- 
 tual  eye,  and  weakened  him  inwardly,  as  to 
 truth ;  which  had  been  his  ftrength  and  ftay, 
 and  would,  if  he  had  kept  to  it. 
 
 He  was  bred  a  fcholar  at  the  univerfity : 
 and  I  know  what  fome  have  reported,  that  he 
 turned  Quaker  in  difguft,  for  being  deprived 
 of  fome  place  or  fellowfhip.  But  I  would  not 
 fay,  as  fome  are  apt  when  any  fall  away,  that 
 they  were  never  right,  for  a  righteous  man 
 may  turn  from  his  righteoufnefs ;  knowing  by 
 his  writings  that  he  had  a  true  convince- 
 ment  and  work  of  God  upon  him ;  and 
 was  enlightened,  and  tafted  of  the  heavenly 
 gift,  and  of  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come, 
 as  his c  Help  in  Time  of  Need;'  his '  Immediate 
 c  Revelation;'  '  The  Benefit,  Advantage,  and 
 *  Glory  of  Silent  Meetings,'  with  feveral  others 
 of  his  writings,  do  fhew;  and  he  was  fervice- 
 able  with  R.  Barclay  in  fome  controversies  in 
 defence  of  the  truth,  and  in  fome  others;  and 
 valued  for  his  gifts,  while  he  ufed  them  in  hu- 
 mility and  fubferviency  to  truth.  But  being 
 naturally  fomewhat  timorous,  and  afraid  of 
 fuffering  (not  to  look  fo  far  back  as  his  remo- 
 val from  Aberdeen  to  Edinburgh  in  Scotland, 
 being  imprifoned  in  both,  and  his  coming  into 
 England).  After  he  took  Chriftopher  Taylor's 
 fcho'ol  at  Edmonton,  and  his  imprifonment  at 
 Hertford,  he  came  to  London,  and  fought  a 
 
 privileged 
 
(    497    ) 
 
 privileged  place  ;  but  being  taken  and  impri- 
 foned  in  Newgate,  after  he  got  out,   nothing 
 would   do  but  he  would  away  to  America : 
 there  was  nothing  but  persecution  here  (which 
 was  hard,  and  he  was  to  be  pitied,  being  pur- 
 fued  fo  clofe — woe  to  perfecutors)  but  had  he 
 kept  his  eye  of  faith  to  the  Lord,   he  would 
 have    been   preferved.      So    away    he    went, 
 where  yet  he  bore  up  for  a  time,  and   I  hope 
 had  fome  fervice   there,   efpeciaily   in    New- 
 England:  and  writ  fome  notable  books;  particu- 
 larly, '  The  Prefbyterian  and  Independent  Vifi- 
 ble  Churches  in  New-England  andelfewhere, 
 brought  to  the  Teft  and  examined ;'   '  A  Re- 
 futation of  three  Oppolers  of  Truth ;'  '  The 
 pretended  Antidote   proved  Poifon,   or  the 
 true  Principles  of  the  Chrifiian  and  Protec- 
 tant Religion  defended,    againft   C.  Mather, 
 and  others;'  and  '  A  ferious  Appeal  to  all  the 
 more  fober,  impartial,  and  judicious  People 
 in  New-England  (as  notable  as  moft  of  them) 
 in  Vindication  of  Friends :'  publifhed  that 
 very  year    (1692)    the  difference  began  be- 
 tween him  and  friends  in  Pennfylvania ;  but 
 being  fomewhat  peevifh  and  brittle  in  his  tem- 
 per, becaufe   he  could  not  have  his  own  way 
 in  every  thing  he  would   have  prefcribed,  or 
 have  been  dictator  in,  and  could  not  bear  con- 
 tradiction,  he   began   to   fall   out  with  them, 
 charging   them  with    errors.      And   after   he 
 came   over  to  London,   ran   out   further  and 
 further  in  oppofition  to  friends,  till  they  were 
 K  k  obliged 
 
x     493     ) 
 
 rged  to  difowii  him,  he  grew  fo  troublefome 
 and  contentious,  till  he  run  quite  out ;  and  at 
 laft  turned  an  open  oppofer  of  friends  in  thofe 
 very  things  he  had  vindicated  them  in.  And 
 of  the  proceedings  of  the  yearly-meeting,  there 
 was  an  account  drawn  up  and  given  to  him ; 
 and  by  him,  or  fame  of  his  party,  firft  printed, 
 and  afterwards  by  friends,  intitied,  '  A  True 
 *  Account  of  Proceedings,'  &c. 
 
 But  now  to  come  to  fomething  better  of  one 
 of  his  countrymen  : 
 
 This  year,  1694,  died  Patrick  Livingftone, 
 a  Scotchman  born,  though  in  his  latter  time 
 he  dwelt  in  London.  He  was  born  in  the  year 
 1634,  near  Montrofe  in  Scotland,  and  had  a 
 pretty  good  education.  He  received  the  truth 
 about  the  year  j  659 :  and  afterwards,  as  he 
 came  into  obedience  to  it,  he  was  raifed  up  to 
 bear,  a  teftimcny  for  it,  and  travelled  much  in 
 the  fervice  of  it  for  above  thirty  years,  in  his 
 own  country,  and  in  England  and  Ireland ; 
 and  was  made  inftrumental  in  convincing  and 
 gathering  many  to  the  knowledge  of  God 
 and  his  truth ;  particularly  the  meeting  at 
 Kenmuck,  in  the  county  of  Aberdeen,  the 
 largeft  in  that  nation.  He  married  at  Not- 
 tingham the  latter  end  of  1 675,  or  beginning 
 of  1 676 ;  for  he  was  married  when  I  returned 
 out  of  the  north,  in  the  fecond  month,  1676, 
 and  came  from  Nottingham  to  Leicefter  with 
 him,  towards  the  yearly-meeting.  He  pati- 
 ently endured  feveral  years  clofe  imprifonment 
 
 for 
 
(    499     ) 
 
 for  his  teftimony  in  Aberdeen,  from  the  year 
 1676  (foon  after  he  was  married)  to  1679. 
 He  was  valiant  for  the  truth  in  time  cf  luf- 
 fering;  not  turning  his  back  in  the  day  of  trial, 
 being  fervent  and  zealous  for  the  caufe  of  truth, 
 and  honour  of  God  :  infomuch  that  his  perfe- 
 cutors  were  fenfible,  how  that  he  ftrensthened 
 his  brethren  in  prifon;  fo  that  they  would  fome- 
 times  let  him  go,  and  mifsfome  meetings  where 
 he  ufed  to  be,  rather  than  fend  him  to  prifon 
 to  them.  He  was  faithful  to  his  brethren  in 
 afflictions,  and  would  not  leave  them,  till  he 
 faw  an  end  of  that  perfecution  in  Scotland,  in 
 1 679.  After  which  no  friend  was  imprifoned 
 for  feveral  years  in  that  city  of  Aberdeen,  and 
 then  he  returned  to  his  wife  at  Nottineham : 
 and  afterwards  removed  with  his  family  to 
 London,  where  he  was  alfo  imprifoned  in  New- 
 gate about  the  year  i68j,  and  where  he  dwelt 
 in  his  latter  years ;  and  continued  a  diligent  la- 
 bourer in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  vifiting  his  na- 
 tive country  of  Scotland  feveral  times  after  his 
 marriage  and  removal  to  London ;  particularly 
 in  1693,  the  year  before  he  died,  he  vifited  his 
 brethren  there,  and  was  attended  with  the  pow- 
 er and  prefence  of  God  while  he  was  among 
 them,  though  weak  of  body :  and  after  his  re- 
 turn home  he  grew  weaker,  till  he  departed 
 this  life,  the  15th  of  the  fourth  month,  1 694,  at 
 John  Kirton'sat  Kenfmgton;  laying  down  his 
 head  in  peace  and  reft  with  the  Lord,  as  he 
 ligniiied  on  his  death-bed,  about  the  60th  year 
 
 of  his  age. 
 
 K  k  2  This 
 
(     5°°     ) 
 
 This  fummer,  1 694,  the  fpotted  fever  was 
 in  our  town,  of  which  many  died,  and  a  young 
 woman  in  our  family ;  fo  that  we  were  in  great 
 danger:  but  through  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  we 
 were  preferved.  Our  dear  friend  Charles  Mar- 
 shall being  then  at  Briftol,  my  wife  went  to 
 him,  and  he  gave  us  fome  directions,  which  I 
 believe  were  made  inftrumental  to  our  prefer- 
 vation;  though  I  afcribe  it  to  the  Lord,  and 
 render  the  honour  and  glory  of  ail  to  him,  who 
 was  good  to  us,  and  to  me  in  particular  at  that 
 time;  in  a  fenfe  of  which  my  heart  was  bowed 
 before  him,  in  humble  thankfgiving  and  ac- 
 knowledgment to  the  God  of  all  our  mercies : 
 bleiTed  be  his  name  for  ever ! 
 
 ere  died  alfo  this  year,  (and  in  the  fame 
 month  September)  two  public  friends,  which 
 I  cannot  but  take  notice  of:  1.  Thomas  Lloyd 
 of  Pennfylvania,  who  was  born  in  North  Wales 
 about  the  year  1 649 ;  and  formerly  dwelt  at  a 
 place  called  Macemore,  in  Montgomeryihire, 
 being  brother  to  Charles  Lloyd  of  Dolobran 
 near  Welchpool.  In  his  younger  years  he  was 
 brought  up  at  the  univeriity  of  Oxford,  as  his 
 brother  alio  was.  And  after  his  brother  was 
 convinced,  he  came  alfo  to  receive  the  truth; 
 and  was  very  ferviceable  in  that  country,  till 
 he  removed  with  his  family  to  Pennfylvania, 
 where  he  was  prefident  and(  deputy-governor 
 of  that  province  under  William  Penn  feveral 
 years.  And  in  the  latter  part  of  his  time  had 
 his  ihare  with  other  friends,  in  the  exercifes 
 occaiioned  by  the  contention  of  G.  Keith  with 
 
 friends 
 
(    5°i     -) 
 
 friends  there.  lie  died  well,  and  in  great  fatisfac- 
 tion,  as  he  exprefTed;  laying  down  his  head  in 
 peace  after  a  few  days  ficknefs,  departing  this 
 life  the  14th  of  the  feventh  month,  1694,  aged 
 about  45  years,  leaving  fix  children  behind  him, 
 and  was  buried  in  friends  burying-ground  in 
 Philadelphia,  Pennfylvania. 
 
 2.  Eight  days  after,  died,tharfaithful  fervant 
 of  God,  and  labourer  in  the  gofpel,  Thomas 
 Markham  of  Glamford-Bridge  inLincolnfhire. 
 He  was  born  about  the  year  1 634,  and  in  his 
 childhood  was  fenfible  of  the  goodnefs  of  God 
 to  him,  in  convincing  him  of  evil  words  and 
 actions;  in  which  ftate  he  was  for  many  years, 
 but  knew  not  what  it  was  that  did  thus  work 
 in  him,  till  he  was  brought  down  into  contri- 
 tion and  felf-denial ;  and  then  he  knew  it  was 
 the  fpirit  of  Chrift  Jeius  in  the  inward  parts, 
 which  reproves  the  world  of  lin.      He  was  an 
 early  feeker  of  the  belt  things;    and  in  thofe 
 days,  when  he  was  a  very  young  man,  he  took 
 notice  of  the  meflengers  of  truth,  as  JohnWhite- 
 head,  and  others  of  the  Lord's  fervants,  when 
 they  were  fent  forth  to  preach  the  everlafting 
 gofpel  in  the  year  1654;  and  would  help  them 
 to  lodgings  when  they  knew  not  where  to  lay 
 their  heads,  and  acquainted  fuch  profefTors  as 
 he  then  walked  with ;  lo  that  they  got  a  meet- 
 ing at  Glamford-Bridge,  where  he  dwelt;  and 
 had  an  opportunity  to  hear  their  teftimony  to 
 the  light  of  Chrift,  which  many  hate  becaule. 
 their  deeds  are  evil..     And  at  that  time  a  love 
 
(     5°2     ) 
 
 was  raifed  in  his  heart  to  thefn;  for  the  wit- 
 nefs  of  God  in  him  anfwered  to  their  teftimo- 
 ny,  though  that  heavenly  feed  lay  long  hid  in 
 him,  before  fruit  appeared,  and  he  joined  him- 
 felf  for  fome  time  with  the  people  called  In- 
 dependents. And  being  zealous  in  that  way, 
 according  to  his  underftanding,  became  a  teach- 
 er amongft  them:  but  not  finding  that  fatis- 
 faction  and  peace  which  his  foul  travailed  for 
 among  that  people,  and  meeting  with  a  book 
 of  Ifaac  Pennington's,  called,  '  A  Looking- 
 1  Glafs  for  Profeffors,'  &zc.  in  the  reading  of 
 it  his  underftanding  was  fo  opened,  that  he 
 was  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  blefTed  truth, 
 which  he  received  with  great  gladnefs  of  heart, 
 and  willingly  embraced  the  crofs  of  Chrift, 
 and  gave  up  to  endure  the  reproaches  of  it, 
 with  and  among  the  poor  diftrelfed  people  call- 
 ed Quakers,  about  the  year  1 660.  And  though 
 he  was  before  a  man  of  parts  and  abilities,  yet 
 then  he  could  contentedly  fit  down  in  filence 
 for  feveral  years,  and  patiently  wait  upon  the 
 Lord,  to  be  inftructed  by  him.  And  having 
 Well  learned  in  the  fchool  of  Chrift,  and  wit- 
 nefted  the  pouring  forth  of  the  fpirit  upon 
 him,  his  mouth  was  opened  in  fear  and  trem- 
 bling, and  the  life  that  fprung  through  him 
 gave  witnefs  to  his  teftimony;  which  made  it 
 acceptable  to  God  and  his  people.  And  he 
 grew  in  it,  for  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  with 
 him,  and  conftrained  him  to  go  and  vifit  the 
 churches  of  Chrift  about  the  year  1670,  which 
 he  gave  up  himfelf  unto  in  much  fincerity :  for 
 
 as 
 
(     5°3     ) 
 
 a  •  he  was  fearful  to  run  before  he  was  fent,  fo 
 when  he  was  called  forth,  he  went  with  chear- 
 fulnefs  whither  the  Lord  lent  him;  calling  his 
 care  upon  the  Lord,  who  never  fails  them 
 that  put  their  truft  in  him.  Ke  delighted 
 much  in  ferving  the  Lord,  and  travelled  in 
 many  parts  of  England;  fometimes  with  John 
 Whitehead,  and  his  company  and  conversation 
 was  very  acceptable  unto  him:  and  once  went 
 with  his  friend  Robert  Collier  into  Ireland,  and 
 vifited  moft  of  friends  meetings  there,  and  re- 
 turned through  Cumberland,  where  he  was 
 fweetly  refrelhed  with  the  prefence  of  the  I 
 amongft  friends,  which  was  a  feal  to  his  testi- 
 mony and  labours  at  that  time.  His  teftimony 
 was  plain  and" prevalent,  and  the  life  did  often 
 wonderfully  flow  through  his  earthen  veiTel ; 
 and  he  had  a  great  concern  upon  him  for  the 
 good  of  all  others:  and  befides  their  ufual  meet- 
 ings, which  he  diligently  attended,  he  alio  fet 
 apart  an  evening  meeting  once  a  week  for  his 
 own  family,  that  he  might  labour  with  them, 
 to  feafon  them  with  the  grace  of  God,  that  they 
 might  grow  thereby.  And  not  only  fo,  but  vi- 
 fited friends  from  houfe  to  houfe,  to  fee  that 
 they  were  preferved  in  a  favour  of  truth ;  and 
 was  very  charitable  to  the  poor;  ready  to  do 
 good  to  all,  according  to  his  ability,  efpecially 
 to  the  houihold  of  iaith.  one  of  the  firft  to  con- 
 tribute to  others,  not  "forgetting  to  communi- 
 cate." He  was  indeed  an  extraordinary  man, 
 and  worthy  example  many  ways,  being  zea- 
 Kk  4  lo.us. 
 
(     504"    ) 
 
 lous  for  the  truth  and  teftimony  thereof:  and 
 as  he  lived,  fo  he  died  in  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
 finifhing  his  couife  in  the  fervice  of  the  truth, 
 as  he  was  vifiting  the  meetings  of  the  Lord's 
 people  in  Lincolnshire,  at  the  houfe  of  Robert 
 Brown,  in  Bofton,  the  22d  of  the  7th  month, 
 1694,  about  the  60th  year  of  his  age. 
 
 This  year  (1694)  in  the  ninth  month,  Wm. 
 Penn  (with  whom  I  had  fpoken  in  London  at 
 the  yearly-meeting)  came  down  to  Briftol,  and 
 to  Chew,  and  had  a  great  meeting  at  Clare- 
 ham  ;  and  came  to  my  houfe  at  Wrington  that 
 night,  with  feveral  other  friends.  And  next 
 day  we  went  with  him  on  board  the  Bengal 
 fhip  in  Hung-Road  to  dinner;  and  afterwards 
 by  Weftbury  to  Briftol,  on  feventh-day  night, 
 where,  on  firft-day,  were  very  large  meetings ; 
 and  about  two  weeks  after  went  weft  ward,  and 
 had  large  meetings  in  moft  of  the  great  towns 
 in  our  county,  as  alfo  in  Devonfhire  and  Dor- 
 fetfhire.  I  met  him  at  Wells,  and  went  with 
 him  to  Somerton,  where  it  was  fome  time  be- 
 fore we  could  get  a  place  large  enough  for  the 
 meeting,  the  market-houie  (where  the  meeting 
 began)  though  large,  not  being  big  enough  to 
 hold  it ;  and  at  laft  we  were  glad  to  go  out  into 
 the  fields,'  and  a  great  gathering  there  was.  I 
 met  him  again  .at  Bridge-water,  where  he  had  a 
 great  meeting  in  the  town-hall,  as  he  had  in 
 moft  places,  which  the  mayors  generally  con- 
 fented  to,  for  the  refped;  they  had  to  him  (ex-^ 
 cept  at  Wells,  of  which  hereafter) ;  few  places 
 
 elfe 
 
(     5°S     ) 
 
 dfe  being  fufficient  to  hold  the  meetings.  And 
 the  27th  of  the  tenth  month  he  came  again  to 
 Wrington,  and  had  'a  large  meeting  in  the 
 court-hall  (where  we  then  kept  our  meetings) 
 where  was  a  juftice  of  peace  and  his  wife,  W. 
 Penn  lodging  at  my  houfe  :  that  night  queen 
 Mary  died,  and  an  eminent  man  of  the  town, 
 who  had  been  at  the  meeting,  fitting  up  late 
 after  at  cards  (being  the  time  called  Chrift- 
 mas)  died  before  the  morning ;  a  fad  exam- 
 ple for  card-players!  Oh,  that  others  would 
 take  warning,  and  prize  their  time,  and  net 
 turn  from  the  grace  of  God  into  wanton- 
 nefs.  Next  day  I  accompanied  W.  Penn  fo  far 
 as  Barrow,  in  the  way  to  Briftol,  to  a  monthly- 
 meeting,  and  fo  returned  home. 
 
 But,  oh  the  love  of  God  to  my  foul,  how 
 fha.ll  I  recount  his  manifold  mercies  and  loving- 
 kindnefs  to  me,  and  tender  dealings  with  me, 
 in  renewing  the  viiitation  of  his  love  oftener, 
 many  times,  than  the  morning:  though  I  com- 
 memorate them  but  now  and  then,  they  are 
 more  than  can  be  numbered ;  but  are  engraven 
 on  my  heart  as  with  the  point  of  a  diamond, 
 never  to  be  blotted  out,  or  forgotten  by  me, 
 while  I  have  a  being  among  the  Ions  of  men. 
 Though,  as  I  hinted  before,  we  have  not  al- 
 ways that  enjoyment  we  defire,  there  being  a 
 time  of  fcarcity  as  well  as  of  fulnefs,  in  the  all- 
 wife  providence  and  difpofal  of  the  Lord,  who 
 knows  what  is  belt  for  every  one  j  a  fuffering 
 
 want, 
 
(     5°6     ) 
 
 want,  as  the  apoftle  fays,  as  well  as  abounding; 
 a  winter  as  well  as  a  fummer,  or  fabbath-day; 
 and  then  is  the  danger,   as   our  Saviour  inti- 
 mates, of  taking  flight  in  the  winter,  or  on  the 
 fabbath-day :  fo  that  it  is  good  to  learn  how  to 
 fuifer  want,  as  well  as  how  to  abound,  (feeing 
 the  Lord  hath  not  {ten.  meet  that  we  mould 
 always  dwell  in  thofe  high  enjoyments  whilft 
 in  thefe  earthly  tabernacles)    and  learn  to  be 
 content  in  all  ftates  and  conditions;    not  to  be 
 lifted  up  in  enjoyment,  or  caft  down  in  time  of 
 want,  or  winter,  when  the  fap  retires  to  the 
 root,  and  little  life  is  felt,  or  greennefs  appears; 
 when  the  beloved  is  withdrawn,  and  his  pre- 
 fence  not  felt,  then  is  the  danger  of  entertain- 
 ing other  lovers,  '  when  the  winter  nights  are 
 long'  (as  one  fays)  '  and  the  boifterous  ftorms 
 '  many,  when  the  feet  of  the  virgin  ftuck  in  the 
 8  mire,  and  the  young  man  failed  of  ftrength, — 
 c  when  the  refreshing  dews  came  not  down, — 
 *  when  the  lambs  cried  as  in  the  day  of  forgetful- 
 c  nefs,  and  the  cry  went  up  to  God  to  be  kept 
 c  alive  in  famine.'     This  is  the  day  of  Jacob's 
 trouble,  and  of  being  toffed  with  tempefts,  and 
 not  comforted,   that  the  foul  hath  been  ready 
 to  fay,  Hath  the  Lord  forgotten  to  be  gracious, 
 and  will  he  be  merciful  no  more?    But  then 
 again,  as  there  hath  been  a  patient  waiting  and 
 abiding,  not  flying  out  for  relief  or  comfort  any 
 other  way ;  or  ever  I  was  aware,  my  foul  hath 
 been  made  like  the  chariots  of  Aminadib,  and 
 
 the 
 
{     5°7    ) 
 
 the  Lord  hath  appeared  again,  and  the  "beloved 
 come  down  in  his  garden  amongil  his  pleafant 
 plants,  to  feed  among  the  lilies;  and  then  hath 
 the  foul  been  iblaced  in  his  love,  and  made  joy- 
 ful in  his  houfe  of  prayer,  and  the  mouth  fill- 
 ed with  praifes ;  and  fo  hath  fat  under  his  fha- 
 dow  with  great  delight,  and  his  fruit  hath 
 been  fweet  to  her  tafte. 
 
 This  fpring,  1695,  there  was  an  a£t  of  par- 
 liament pafled,  for  the  more  eafy  recovery  of 
 imall  tithes,  by  juftices  warrants,  not  exceeding 
 40s.  per  annum;  which  though  it  might  pre- 
 vent, but  did  not  reftrain,  fome  of  the  more 
 fevere  proceedings  in  the  Exchequer,  and  at 
 common  law;  yet  it  occafioned  the  fufferings 
 of  our  friends  on  that  account  to  be  more  nu- 
 merous. I  remember  I  had  a  book,  printed  40 
 years  ago,  called  '  Tithes  a  Curfe  to  all  nations 
 4  but  Canaan.'  As  indeed  they  have  been,  are, 
 and  will  be  to  all  that  are  concerned  in  them, 
 as  the  unprofperoufnefs  of  moft  that  meddle 
 with  them  mews:  and  I  cannot  but  admire, 
 that  any  mould  fo  clearly  fee  them  40  years 
 ago,  and  our  legiflature,  &c.  cannot  yet  fee 
 through  them ;  but  uphold  them,  and  make 
 laws  to  enforce  the  payment  of  them  to  this 
 day  (which  I  believe  the  impropriations  in  lay- 
 mens'  hands  is  a  great  means  of)  there  being 
 no  ground  for  them  in  the  gofpel ;  but  were 
 firft  preached  up  by  Auguftine,  from  Jewifh 
 example,  given  by  Popiih  kings  and  princes  for 
 Juperftitious  ufes,  to  expiate  fins,  &c.  decreed 
 
 firft 
 
(     5oS     ) 
 
 jfirft  by  Popifli  councils,  and  not  generally  con- 
 firmed in  Englifh  parliament,  till  Henry  the 
 Vlllth's  time,  denied  byWickliffe,  Swinderby, 
 Brute,  Thorp,  and  the  Bohemians,  long  ago ; 
 and  in  later  times,  by  the  Puritans,  Indepen- 
 dents, Baptifts,  and  many  others  before  us,  as 
 may  be  feen  in  many  books ;  fo  that  we  are  not 
 novel  in  this  our  Chriftian  teftimony;  for  a 
 forced  maintenance  is  inconfiftent  with  a  free 
 miniftry,  as  called  of  God,  which  is  the  ground 
 of  all  true  preaching:  fo  that  I  may  apply  Dr. 
 Heylin's  wonder  in  another  cafe,  to  this,  How 
 they  in  thofe  dark  times  could  fee  fo  clearly, 
 and  we  in  thefe  clearer  mould  go  fo  blunder- 
 ingly after  them. 
 
 This  year  (1695)  died,  William  Shewen,  of 
 London,  (or  rather  Southwark,  as  dwelling 
 therein )  whom  I  knew  in  the  year  1675.  He  was 
 fomewhat  concerned  in  the  controversy  with  the 
 Baptifts,  and  anfwered  Jeremy  Ives.  He  was  a 
 very  ferviceable  man  on  truth's  account,  feveral 
 ways,  and  an  elder  in  the  church  ;  of  a  found 
 judgment  and  underftanding  in  the  truth,  and 
 had  very  clear  openings  in  relation  to  the  work 
 of  it;  and  alfo  of  Satan's  wiles  to  hurt  and  hin- 
 der the  progrefs  in  it,  (having  had  long  expe- 
 rience of  both)  and  therefore  could  advife  and 
 direct  the  Chriftian  traveller  how  to  keep  in 
 the  one,  and  be  preferved  out  of  the  fnares  of 
 the  other :  and  writ  feveral  feafonable  experi- 
 mental treatifesj   as,  '  The  True  Chriftian's 
 
 «  Faith 
 
(     5°9    ) 
 
 4  Faith  and  Experience  briefly  declared,  con- 
 
 *  cerningGod,  Chrift,the  Spirit,  the  holyScrip- 
 '  tures,  the  Gofpel,  and  the  Doctrines  thereof,' 
 printed  1675;  re-printed,  with  '  A  few  Words 
 
 *  concerning  Conscience,  what  it  is,'  &c.  writ- 
 ten 1676.    And,  '  A  fmall  Treatife  concerning 
 
 *  Good  and  Evil  Thoughts,'  1679.  '  Counfel 
 '  to  the  Chriftian  Traveller,  with  Meditations 
 4  and  Experiences,'  1683.  And,  '  A  brief  Tef- 
 
 *  timony  for  Religion,'  again  ft  the  penal  laws, 
 &c.  in  1688.  Pie  died  in  peace  with  the  Lord, 
 and  unity  with  his  people,  the  28th  of  the 
 third  month,  1695,  about  64  years  of  age. 
 
 In  the  fifth  month  this  fummer,  1695,  bro- 
 ther and  fifter  Bowles  came  down  from  Lon- 
 don, and  joined  in  partnerfhip  with  us,  at 
 Wrington,  for  fome  time;  and  in  the  eighth 
 month,  we  went  with  Richard  Vickris,  and  fome 
 others,  to  a  difpute,  at  Melkfham  in  Wiltfhire, 
 between  friends,  and  one  Jo.  Plimpton,  a  Bap- 
 tift,  who  had  charged  friends  with  feveral 
 things  as  errors;  particularly  their  holding, 
 that  c  A  manifeftation  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  is 
 L  given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal,'  (which 
 the  apoftle  exprefsly  afTerted)  1  Cor.  xii.  7. 
 and  other  things,  according  to  plain  fcripture, 
 which  he  oppofed,  fo  dark  was  he.  J.  Clark 
 of  Bradford,  undertook  for  friends,  and  de- 
 fended it  by  fcripture,  and  might  have  held 
 him  there,  except  he  would  have  confefled  his 
 error;  but  the  Baptift  wrangled  on  to  oppofe 
 
 it, 
 
(     $*0     ) 
 
 it,  though  ever  fo  plain  :  and  when  he  was  baf- 
 fled as  to  that,  went  on  with  the  other  points, 
 of  water-baptifm,  bread  and  wine,  perfection, 
 or,  freedom  from  fin,  and  the  refurredfion  of  the 
 fame  body.  All  which  J.  Clark  anfwered  his 
 cavils  in,  and  afferted  the  truth  in  relation  to 
 thofe  things,  according  to  fcripture  ;  which  yet 
 would  not  fatisfy  him,  but  he  endeavoured 
 frill  to  oppofe  the  planter!  fcriptures  that  could 
 be  brought,  till  towards  night,  W.  Penn,  being 
 there,  broke  out  over  his  head  in  teftimony  to 
 the  people,  which  were  many,  in  Tho.  Beaven's 
 court;  and  fo  ended  the  difpute,  concluding  in 
 prayer  to  God.  We  lodged  there  that  night, 
 and  next  day  went  with  William  Penn,  and 
 others,  to  a  meeting  at  Warminfter,  which  was 
 large,  and  next  day  home.  I  writ  fome  ani- 
 madveriions  on  this  difpute,  and  the  feveral 
 points  handled  in  it,  by  way  of  explanation 
 out  of  the  fcriptures,  and  fent  it  to  London  to 
 be  printed ;  but  the  Baptiil  not  printing,  mine 
 was  not  printed  neither. 
 
 The  14th  of  the  ninth  month,  Wm.  Penn 
 came  and  had  another  meeting  at  Wrington, 
 lodging  at  my  houfe  that  night,  with  B.  Coole, 
 J.  Everot,  and  others;  and  next  day  went  to 
 Wells,  to  have  a  meeting  there.  For  having 
 had  feveral  meetings  in  moil  of  the  great  towns 
 weftward,  laft  year,  as  aforefaid,  fome  in  that 
 city  feemed  defirous  that  he  would  come  and 
 have  a  meeting  there  alio:  whereupon  I,  with 
 
 another 
 
(     5"     ) 
 
 another  friend,  Robert  Holder,  went  to  feek 
 a  place  for  it,  and  went  to  the  bifhop,  Richard 
 Kidder,  to  acquaint  him  with  it.  He  afked 
 us,  Why  we  defired  to  have  a  meeting  there, 
 feeinp-  there  were  none  of  our  friends  in  the 
 
 o 
 
 town  ?  I  told  him,  to  declare  the  truth.  He 
 afked,  what  we  had  to  preach  more  than  they  ? 
 I  told  him,  the  grace  of  God.  He  faid,  they 
 preached  the  grace  of  God.  I  told  him,  if 
 they  did  a  little  now  and  then,  it  was  but  tran- 
 fiently,  and  not  to  the  purpofe;  as  we  did,  to 
 direct  people  to  it,  as  that  which  bringeth  fal- 
 vation,  and  hath  appeared  to  all  men ;  and 
 would  teach  them  to  deny  ungodlinefs  and 
 worldly  lulls;  and  to  love  foberly,  righteoufly, 
 and  godly  in  this  prefent  world,  as  was  evi- 
 dent by  their  lives,  Tit.  ii.  n,  12.  To  which 
 he  faid  little,  but  was  moderate,  and  left  us  to 
 our  liberty.  At  laft  we  got  a  grant  of  the 
 market-houfe  from  the  clerk  of  the  market : 
 but  the  day  before  we  were  to  have  the  meet- 
 ing there,  fome  of  the  envious  party,  having 
 been  drinking  colonel  Berkley's  election  ale, 
 turned  the  clerk  of  the  market;  fo  that  when 
 we  came  he  refufed  to  let  us  have  the  houfe, 
 except  we  would  enter  it  by  force,  (it  lying  open 
 to  the  ftreeO  threatening  to  take  advantage  of 
 us  if  we  did;  fo  being  deprived  of  that,  and 
 not  being  willing  to  intrude  ourfelves  on 
 any,  we  thought  fit  to  take  up  with  the  inn 
 where  we  put  up,  having  a  large  room,  and 
 balcony,  facing  the  market-place,  and  having 
 
 the 
 
(     S™     ) 
 
 the  landlord's  confent.  But  to  prevent  any 
 occafion  that  might  be  taken  againft  us,  I  drew 
 up  a  certificate,  according  to  the  act  in  that 
 behalf,  that  we  intended  to  have  a  meeting  for 
 religious  worfhip,  at  the  Crown-Inn  in  the  faid 
 city ;  fetting  my  name  to  it,  and  went  with  R. 
 Vickris  and  A.  Thomas  to  the  bifhop  with  it, 
 who  happened  to  be  then  at  home,  and  re- 
 ceived it  friendly.  I  told  him,  the  act  ex- 
 preffed  that  we  ihould  have  a  certificate  of  it 
 again.  He  faid,  he  would  perufe  the  acl,  and 
 if  it  required  it,  we  ihould  have  one.  So  we 
 parted  friendly,  having  done  our  part  to  pre- 
 vent any  trouble  that  might  enfue  in  the  cafe ; 
 and  by  that  time  we  returned  from  the  biihop's 
 the  market-houfe  was  full,  and  brother  Eowles 
 ready  to  ftand  up  to  declare.  I  called  out  to 
 friends,  defiring  them  to  draw  down  out  of  the 
 market-houfe,  upon  the  market-place  over  a- 
 gainft  that  balcony  belonging  to  the  inn, 
 which  they  did;  and  we  went  up  into  the 
 room,  which  was  foon  filled  with  friends,  W. 
 Penn  going  out  into  the  balcony  to  declare  to 
 the  people  who  were  on  the  market-place, 
 which  were  fuppofed  to  be  two  or  three  thou- 
 fand:  but  about  the  middle  of  the  meeting, 
 came  a  conftable  and  other  officers  with  a  war- 
 rant from  Mathew  Baron,  mayor,  and  Wm. 
 Salmon,  juftice,  to  take  up  William  Penn,  and 
 bring  him  before  them;  preffing  through  the 
 meeting  to  get  into  the  balcony.  Friends 
 would  have  perfuaded  them  to  flay  till  the 
 
 meeting 
 
(    5*3    ) 
 
 meeting  was  done;  but  they  would  not,  but 
 rudely  got  over  the  table,  which  flood  acrofs 
 the  room,  (friends  fitting  clofe  about  it,  that 
 they  could  not  go  round  it)  and  fo  got  out 
 into  the  balcony  to  lay  hands  on  Wm.  Penn, 
 as  he  was  declaring,  to  have  him  away:  he 
 defired  them  to  have  a  little  patience,  and  fo 
 drew  to  a  conclufion,  being  forcibly  haled 
 away,  and  had  before  the  mayor.  I,  and  fome 
 other  friends,  followed  after  as  fall  as  we  could 
 for  the  croud.  When  we  came  they  had  fhut 
 the  door,  that  none  elfe  might  come  in,  there 
 being  a  great  crowd  about  the  door.  I  knock- 
 ed, but  the  porter  from  within  anfwered,  that 
 he  mult  let  nobody  in.  I  told  him  I  muft 
 come  in,  I  had  buiinefs  to  the  mayor:  where- 
 upon he  opened  the  door,  and  when  I  came 
 in,  they  were  bufy  examining  William  Penn 
 about  the  meeting ;  charging  him  with  an  un- 
 lawful afTembly,  endeavouring  to  enfnare  him. 
 He  told  them,  how  he  was  invited  to  come 
 and  have  a  meeting  there,  and  that  we  had  the 
 grant  of  a  place,  &c.  referring  to  me.  Where- 
 upon I  told  them  they  had  bell  have  a  care  what 
 they  did,  for  the  houfe  was  entered  according 
 to  law,  and  they  had  done  more  already  than 
 they  could  anfwer,  in  difturbing  our  meeting. 
 Upon  which  they  prefently  fell,  and  began 
 to  excufe  themfelves,  (laying  the  blame  one 
 upon  another)  efpecially  the  mayor,  as  if  he 
 had  been  the  perfon  accufed;  and  fo  difmifled 
 William  Penn,  telling  him  thev  had  no  more 
 LI  to 
 
(     5  H    ) 
 
 to  fay  to  liim.  I  ftaid  behind  a  little,  reafon- 
 ing  with  them  about  their  proceedings,  and  of 
 religion ;  particularly  with  W.  Salmon,  (an 
 old  Prefbyterian)  till  the  mayor  came  in,  and 
 afked,  if  we  were  preaching  again.  And  as  I 
 went  away  with  chancellor  Hughes,  who  was 
 there  alio,  I  reminded  him  what  he  had  for- 
 merly laid  to  me,  (being  acquainted  with  him 
 before)  that  he  never  perfecuted  any  man  for 
 his  religion  in  his  life,  nor  never  would  ; 
 which  he  acknowledged,  and  laid,  no  more 
 he  would.  I  bid  him  be  fure  and  mind  it 
 then,  for  this  was  near  to  it :  fo  parted  loving- 
 ly, being  a  familiar  man,  far  unlike  the  for- 
 mer chancellor.  The  people  ftaying  all  this 
 while  on  the  market-place,  waiting  William 
 Penn's  return,  in  expectation  to  hear  more,  or 
 to  fee  the  event ;  till  he  came  back  and  went 
 out  into  the  balcony,  and  told  them,  they  might 
 depart,  the  meeting  was  ended  for  that  time. 
 After  which  he  was  invited  to  juflice  Weft- 
 ley's,  who  had  gladly  heard  him  that  day,  and 
 was  friendly:  and  he  made  fome  other vifits, and 
 then  returned  with  R.  Vickris  to  Chew,  and 
 we  home  to  Wrington;  of  which  I  writ  a 
 larger  account,  in  a  meet  called3  '  One  Inftance 
 *  more  of  Perfection.' 
 
 But  now  mark  what  followed :  about  two 
 weeks  after,  going  thither  to  a  fair,  and  putting 
 up  at  the  fame  inn,  the  inn-keeper  came  to 
 me,  and  told  me,  that  they  threatened  to  fine 
 him  for  a  conventicle,  for  the  laid  meeting ; 
 
 alledging, 
 
(   sis   ) 
 
 alledging,  that  I  had  told  them  an  untruth,  in 
 faying  the  houfe  was  entered  according  to 
 law;  for  it  feems  they  had  made  inquiry,  and 
 could  not  find  it  out  (wanting  to  be  at  their 
 old  work  again)  :  for  had  we  through  inad- 
 vertency negle&ed  it,  they  would  but  have 
 fhewn  their  mifchievous  fpirits,  to  have  taken 
 the  advantage  of  it;  but  this  being  forefeen, 
 was  prevented,  by  doing  our  part.  So  I  bid 
 him  not  fear,  or  be  troubled  as  to  that;  telling 
 him,  I  would  clear  up  that  matter  before  I 
 went  out  of  town.  And  after  I  had  done  my 
 bufinefs  in  the  fair,  I  went  to  the  bifhop's, 
 who,  as  Providence  ordered  it,  was  at  home 
 again.  I  told  him,  he  might  remember  that 
 about  two  weeks  ago  I  brought  him  a  certifi- 
 cate, that  we  intended  to  have  a  meeting  at 
 the  Crown  inn;  and  that  the  mayor,  fending 
 his  warrant  to  take  up  our  friend  Wm.  Penn, 
 broke  up  our  meeting:  on  which  I  told  them, 
 that  the  houfe  was  entered  according  to  law ; 
 but  that  fince  we  were  gone,  they  had  report- 
 ed I  had  told  them  an  untruth,  though  we  had 
 done  our  part.  Do  they  fay  fo,  faid  the  bi- 
 fhop,  I  will  do  you  right :  and  putting  his 
 hand  into  his  pocket,  took  out  my  certificate 
 as  readily  as  if  he  had  but  juft  received  it, 
 and  laid,  go  to  my  regiftor,  and  tell  him  from, 
 me,  that  he  mull  give  you  a  certificate  again.  I 
 told  him,  may  be  he  will  not  believe  me,  but  if 
 he  pleafed  to  fend  fomebody  with  me,  which 
 he  did:  and  when  I  came  to  the  regiftor  (a 
 L  1  2  high 
 
(     5i6    ) 
 
 high  proud  man,  though  I  knew  him,  and  he 
 me,  having  been  with  him  before  about  bu- 
 fmefs)  I  told  him  what  the  biihop  faid,  which 
 the  mefTenger  confirmed.  Doth  my  Lord  fay 
 fo  ?  faid  he.  Yes,  faid  I,  he  doth.  Well,  faid 
 he,  I  won't  give  you  a  certificate  if  you  will 
 give  me  five  hundred  pounds,  till  I  have  fpoke 
 with  my  Lord ;  for  I  do  not  know  but  he  may 
 be  impofed  upon.  Well,  faid  I,  thou  mayft 
 fpeak  with  him,  but  I  expect  it  to-night,  or 
 to-morrow  morning  early,  for  I  muft  go  out 
 of  town  betimes.  So  I  left  him,  and  came  a- 
 gain  in  the  morning;  but  he  had  not  done  it, 
 nor  knew  how  to  do  it  (fuch  hard  work  it  was 
 to  record  a  Quaker's  meeting  for  worfhip, 
 though  they  could  make  records  of  them  fail 
 enough  formerly,  in  order  to  convict  them  on 
 the  conventicle  act) ;  but  he  muft  then  go 
 and  advife  with  the  chancellor;  and  I  followed 
 him  thither,  till  at  laft  I  got  him  to  hammer 
 out  one  at  a  hard  rate :  and  then  I  was  to  go 
 feek  out  the  mayor,  to  clear  myfelf  to  him  ; 
 and  underftanding  he  was  at  a  public-houfe, 
 as  I  went  up  the  ftreet  I  faw  him  look  out  at 
 the  door,  but  prefently  drew  back  again :  fo 
 that  when  I  came  to  the  houfe,  and  inquired 
 for  him,  David  Trim,  the  town-clerk,  came 
 out  and  told  me  the  mayor  was  not  there.  I 
 told  him,  I  faw  him  but  now.  He  faid,  he 
 was  gone  ^  which  I  was  afraid  was  true,  know-*, 
 ing  the  houfe  had  a  back-door  into  the  grave- 
 yard), I  told  him,  I  muft  fpeak  with  him, 
 Hedefired  me  not  to  trouble  him  now,  but  next 
 
 time 
 
(    5>7    ) 
 
 time  I  came  to  town,  he  and  I  would  drink  a 
 bottle  of  wine  together,  and  all  mould  be  well. 
 I  told  him  that  would  not  do,  the  mayor  had 
 wronged  and  abufed  me,  and  I  muft  clear  my- 
 felf  to  him.  So  at  laft,  when  they  faw  I  would 
 not  be  put  off,  the  mayor  appeared:  I  told  him, 
 that  I  underftood  he  had  railed  a  report  that  I 
 had  told  him  an  untruth,  in  faying  the  houfc 
 where  we  had  the  meeting  was  entered  accord- 
 ing to  law ;  whereas  we  had  done  our  part,  and 
 I  had  now  a  certificate  from  the  bifhop  to  fhew 
 it:  and  that  I  took  it  very  unkind  that  they  mould 
 not  only  diflurb  and  break  up  our  meeting,  but 
 raife  fa]fe  reports  on  us  when  we  were  gone. 
 The  mayor  (poor  man)  flood  like  one  fpeech- 
 lefs,  and  had  hardly  a  word  to  fay  for  himfelf ; 
 fo  I  left  it  upon  him,  having  cleared  myfelf ; 
 and  returned  home  in  peace. 
 
 In  the  tenth  month,  1695,  ^  went  with  bro- 
 ther Bowles  to  our  quarterly-meeting  at  Glaf- 
 tonbury,  and  lodged  that  night  at  Street  with 
 E.  Ofborn  and  B.  Coole :  next  day  we  went  to 
 Long-Sutton  meeting;  and  next  day  toSherborn 
 in  Uorletfhire,  where  on  the  firft-day  we  had  a 
 large  meeting,  and  fecond-day  returned  home. 
 
 And  afterwards  we  hired  a  houfe  at  Wells  for 
 a  meeting,  and  W.  Penn  came  again,  and  had  a 
 meeting  there  on  a  firft-day;  fo  that  we  had 
 many  brave  meetings  there  afterwards,  notwith- 
 standing all  the  oppoiition  we  had  met  with, 
 and  many  came  to  them ;  fo  that  the  ftandard  of 
 truth  was  fet  up  in  that  town :  Oh !  that  they 
 may  not  flight  the  day  of  their  vilitation,  or 
 
 put 
 
(     5'S     ) 
 
 put  the  good  away  from  them,  and  fo  render 
 themfelves  unworthy  of  eternal  life ;  which  is 
 my  earned  defire  for  my  native  country,  and 
 for  that  ancient  neighbouring  city,  where  I 
 have  often  been  concerned,  and  gone  through 
 many  exerciles ;  and  though  they  be  not 
 gathered,  yet  mail  not  my  laboui  of  love  for 
 their  good  be  in  vain,  but  return  into  my  own 
 bofom,  and  my  reward  be  with  the  Lord. 
 And  in  the  firft  month  after,  we  had  our  quar- 
 terly-meeting there  at  the  aforefaid  inn,  about 
 which  time  going  to  fee  the  bifhop  (as  he  de- 
 fired  me  when  I  came  to  town)  we  happened 
 to  fall  into  fome  difcourfe  about  oaths  and 
 fwearing,  being  about  the  time  that  our  friends 
 at  London  were  foliciting  the  parliament,  as 
 they  had  been  many  years  at  times,  for  relief 
 In  the  cafe  of  oaths.  He  queftioning,  why 
 we  could  not  fwear:  I  pleaded  the  command 
 of  Chrift  and  the  apoftle  James,  "  Swear  not 
 "  at  all,"  &c.  againft  all  fwearing :  but  he 
 pleaded  that  all  oaths  were  not  forbidden, 
 urging,  that  the  apoflle  Paul  fwore,  and  al- 
 ledging  thofe  expreffions  of  his,  I  protefl  be- 
 fore God,  I  lie  not;  God  is  my  witnefs,  &c. 
 as  if  the  apoftle  had  fvvorn.  I  told  him,  thofe 
 words  of  the  apoftle,  though  of  ever  fo  high  a 
 nature,  could  not  be  counted  oaths  as  he  ufed 
 them,  for  then  the  apoftle  had  broken  the 
 command  of  Chrift  his  mailer,  Swear  not  at 
 all,  which  we  could  not  allow;  and  if  he  had, 
 we  ought  to  hear  the  fon  before,  or  above, 
 the  fervant,  whom  all  the  angels  in  heaven 
 
 ought 
 
(    5*9    ) 
 
 ought  to  worfhip,  who  faith,  Swear  not  at  all; 
 of  whom  the  Lord  faid,  This  is  my  beloved 
 Son,  hear  ye  him :  with  what  elfe  occurred  to 
 my  mind  at  that  time.  The  bifhop  was  very 
 mild  and  moderate,  offering  to  difcourfe  more 
 of  it  another  time;  but  when  I  came  again, 
 could  not  find  he  had  any  mind  to  difcourfe 
 any  further  of  it.  And  as  I  came  away,  he 
 came  to  his  palace  gate  with  me;  and  juft  as  I 
 took  leave  of  him,  I  faid,  Well,  we  have  this 
 to  fay  for  ourfelves,  that  inafmuch  as  we  have 
 fuch  an  exprefs  command  of  Chrift  on  our 
 fide,  we  deferved  to  be  judged  charitably  of, 
 that  we  were  fo  tender  of  breaking  it ;  at  which 
 the  bifhop  looked  pleafantly  on  me,  and,  as  if 
 he  affented,  or  had  nothing  to  fay  to  the  con- 
 trary, laid  his  hand  on  my  moulder,  and  faid, 
 Well,  pray  God  blefs  you.  And  fo  we  parted 
 very  friendly,  as  indeed  he  always  was  to  me, 
 far  different  from  biihop  Mew ;  defiring  me  to 
 come  and  fee  him  whenever  I  came  to  town, 
 and  invited  me  to  come  and  dine  with  him 
 (and  it  was  faid  he  delayed  his  dinner  two 
 hours  to  look  for  me  one  firft-day  after  meet- 
 ing) ;  but  I  never  made  fo  bold  with  him  as 
 that,  though  I  went  often  to  vifit  him. 
 
 And  fo  I  fhall  end  my  prefcnt  memoirs 
 with  Wells,  where  I  began  with  my  profecu- 
 tion,  and  with  a  bifhop  too  (though  one  of  a 
 far  better  temper  than  the  former)  ;  ending 
 with  the  year  1695,  and  the  beginning  of  1696, 
 (as  I  began  the  latter  end  of  1676)  though  I 
 
 could 
 
(      520      ) 
 
 could  add  a  great  deal  more,  and  not  of  the 
 leaft  moment  neither;  this  being  but  a  fpeci- 
 men  of  what  I  intend,  God  willing,  to  leave 
 behind  me,  both  before  and  after  this,  if  it  be 
 not  printed  in  my  life-time :  but  chufe  to  con- 
 clude here  at  preient,  and  drop  anchor  at 
 
 Wrington  hi  Somer/et/bire,  1696. 
 
 P.  S.  Now  having  mentioned  the  kindnefs 
 of  one  of  king  William's  bifhops,  I  fhall  clofe 
 with  the  words  of  another,  (to  the  honour  of 
 king  William  in  chufing  fuch  moderate  men, 
 and  no  dishonour  I  hope  to  the  bifhops) 
 viz.  Gilbert  Burnet,  in  his  '  Apology  for 
 '  the  Church  of  England,  with  Relation  to 
 
 *  the  Spirit  of  Perfecution,  for  which  fhe  is 
 
 *  accufed,'    printed  in    1689,    p.   5,   col   2, 
 
 *  I  will  not  deny  but  many  of  the  diflenters 
 
 *  were  put  to  great  hardfhips  in  many  parts 
 c  of  England ;  I  cannot  deny  it,  and  I  am 
 4  fure  I  will  never  juftify  it.'     P.  6,   col.  1, 
 
 *  And  I  will  boldly  fay  this,  that  if  the  church 
 
 *  of  England,  after  fhe  is  got  out  of  this  ftorm, 
 
 *  will  return  to  hearken  to  the  peevifhnefs  of 
 
 *  fome  fore  men,  fhe  will  be  abandoned  both 
 
 *  of  God  and  man,  and  will  let  both  heaven 
 4  and  earth  againfl  her/ 
 
 FINIS. 
 
A  N 
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 X 
 
 Of  Perfons  and  Places,  and  fome  other  Things, 
 mentioned  in  this  Book. 
 
 ABBOT,  James,  page  468. 
 Robert,  66,  132. 
 
 Aldam,  Thomas,  488. 
 Alford,  Bartholomew,   134. 
 Allen,  George,  32,  40. 
 ' John,  40,   336.     < 
 
 -  Jonathan,  135,  215- 
 
 Mary,  215. 
 
 Nicholas,   i8r. 
 
 Philip,  205,  223. 
 
 Alloway,  Henry,  134. 
 John,  133,  232. 
 
 ■  William,  202,  230. 
 
 ■  Sufannah,    202,   217,  230, 
 271. 
 
 Ambros,  John,  140. 
 Anderdon,    John,    39,  41,  53,  65, 
 106,  118,  185,  278,  308,  340, 
 
 459- 
 Andrews,  Thomas,  Pr.  381. 
 Androfs,  his  Wife,  274. 
 Ancketyll,  Edward,    1,  4,  12,  16, 
 
 32>  72.  7S»  3l6-  . 
 
 317- 
 
 ■        Nicholas,  317. 
 
 Anfley,  Samuel,  328. 
 
 Aris  and  Lacey,  Inform.  346,  34^- 
 Armorer,  William,  51,  261,  266. 
 Arnold,  Thomas,  193. 
 AtheHlan,  (King J  82. 
 Atkinfon,  William,  359. 
 Audland,  John,   130. 
 Augufiine,  279. 
 Aullin,  the  Monk,  72. 
 Auftil!,  Bridget,  351. 
 Auftill,  Cornwall,  459. 
 Aberdeen  (Scot.)  418,  496,  458. 
 Ackton  {Cum.)  358. 
 Air  (Scot.)  419. 
 Attlill,  (Sam.)  456. 
 
 Aim,  (ditto)  174. 
 
 Alkmaer  (Holl.)  480. 
 
 Alexandria  (Egypt)  470. 
 
 Almibury  (Wilts)  83. 
 
 Amblefide  (JVeffmor.)  139. 
 
 Amerlham  (Bucks)  49. 
 
 America,  169,  361,  421,  448,  465, 
 
 497- 
 Amflerdam  (Hot).)  480,  484. 
 Antigua,  288,  414. 
 Antrim  {Ireland)  420,  427. 
 Appleby    {Wflmor.}    65,  13 r,  352, 
 
 369. 
 Armagh  {Irel)  419,420,427,431. 
 Arkhohn,  360. 
 Aftnon  Park,   145. 
 Afpertry  {Cumber.)  417. 
 Athlone  {Inland)  420. 
 Axbridge  {Som.)  174. 
 A£l  again/1  ^takers,  258* 
 
 of  Banifhment,  260. 
 
 again  ft  Conventicles,  262. 
 
 —  of  TtL ration,    394. 
 
 for  fmall  Tithes,  507. 
 
 Anabaptifts,  377,  215. 
 Athenians,  487. 
 Aylelbury   {Bucks)  49,  349^ 
 Gaol,  49,  347. 
 
 Bacon,  Chviftopher,  27. 
 
 Jtf'ce,  *36' 
 
 Baker,  Daniel,  473. 
 
 Bale,  Giles,  67,  118,  136,  C45,  iSij 
 
 201;,  218,  220. 
 Ball  Giles,  220. 
 Ballam,  David,  178. 
 
 Anne,  135. 
 
 John,  221,  227,  230. 
 
 Banbury  {Oxjordp.) 
 Banbury.  Robert,  37,  219. 
 Banks,  John,  231. 
 
 M  m 
 
 Banton. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Banton,  Robert,  215. 
 Barclay,  David,  434. 
 
 . Robert,  56,  410,  434,  450, 
 
 494,  496. 
 Barnardifton,  Giles,  113,  236, 
 Baron,  Gregory,  167. 
 
 ■  Street,  167. 
 
 ..  Matthew,  Mayor,  5 12. 
 
 Bartler,  Vrhjl,  468. 
 Bafket,  Robert,  468. 
 Batho,  Elizabeth,  125, 
 Bathurft,  Charles,  316. 
 
 ■ Elizabeth,  326. 
 
 Ban,  Jafper,    204,    214,  117,  224, 
 
 226,  336. 
 Bay  lie,  John,  Chaneelhr,  4,    7,    II, 
 
 175*  .J79>  2o6>  234»  266' 
 Baxter,  Richard,  131. 
 
 Beak.es,  Edmund,  145,  168,   257. 
 Beal,  Thomas,  38. 
 Beaton,  William,  40,  339. 
 Beaumont,  Lord,  446. 
 Beavon,  Thomas,  510. 
 Bennet,  Major,  443. 
 — ——  Philip,  223,  403. 
 — — —  William,  115,  234.' 
 Berkley,  Col.   175,  179,  511. 
 Bickham,  Thomas,  30. 
 Bicknell,  Jane,  275. 
 Bidwell,  Nicholas,  135* 
 Bindlefs,  Jufikt,  362. 
 Bingley,  William,  191,  467. 
 Bifhop,    Bath  and  } Fells,    7,  11,  94, 
 
 226. 
 Bilhop,  George,  186. 
 
 Elizabeth,   186. 
 
 '  of  Aberdeen t  436-. 
 
 . ,  Mew,   29,   175,  213,   227, 
 
 519. 
 ■»/■.■ —  kenn,  400. 
 
 ■ Kidder,  511,  515,  $i3. 
 
 Bifhops,  291,  370. 
 
 Courts,  4,  23,  38,  65. 
 
 Blagdon,  Barbara,    182. 
 Blake,  Prit/l,  469. 
 Blakeling,  John,  432. 
 Blawden,  Nathaniel,   134. 
 Blinman,  Edward,  202. 
 Board,  Margaret,  -203. 
 Bohon,  jfi/fiiee,  236. 
 Boldy,  Vincent,  132,  219,  336. 
 
 ■  Ann,  his  wife,  220. 
 Bond,  William,  202,  217,  271. 
 Booth,  Mary,  372. 
 Boucher,  John,  156. 
 Boulton,  John,  467. 
 
 Bowles,  Edward,  lYujl,  379. 
 
 Bowles,  George,    409,    464,    509$ 
 512,  517. 
 
 Sufannah,  409,  503. 
 
 Brangwell,  John,  213. 
 Brafcy,  Thomas,  466. 
 Braithwait,  John,  282, 
 
 Juflici,  139,  140, 
 
 Brain,  Francis,  215. 
 
 -  '     -  Matthew,  38. 
 Briant,  John,  Bro.  318. 
 Brice,  John,  38,  340. 
 Bridges,  William,  234. 
 Briggs,  Thomas,  280. 
 Brigham  (Cinnb.~)  418; 
 
 —  Thomas,  37. 
 
 Brifco,  William,  Ji'fiice,  357. 
 Brooks,  George,  454. 
 
 Broom,  Brooms,  177,  205,  207* 
 
 Francis,  203. 
 
 Laurence,  203. 
 
 Philip,  203. 
 
 Brown,  James,  392. 
 
 John,  439. 
 
 Jtipee,  489. 
 
 Richard,  259. 
 
 Robert,  504. 
 
 Browning,  Thomas,  38. 
 
 Brume,  Richard,  236. 
 
 Brufh,  Edward,  261, 
 
 Brute,  Walter,  508. 
 
 Budd,  Thomas,  456,  459* 
 
 Bugg,  Francis,  487. 
 
 Bull,    Henry,    38,  39,    214,    330*3 
 
 339- 
 
 John,  215,  221,  230. 
 
 ■  Samuel,  468. 
 
 Bullock,  Robert,  121,  131,  257. 
 
 Bult,  Walter,  133,  204. 
 
 Burr,  Thomas,  64. 
 
 Burnet,  Gilbert,  520. 
 
 Burril,  Jufiice,  166. 
 
 Burrough,  Edward,  259. 
 
 Burrow,  Thomas,  135. 
 
 Burwell,  Juftiet,  266. 
 
 Burrfyeat,  John,  410,  416,  431,  433^ 
 
 450,  452. 
 Button  Robert,  178. 
 Balby  (Yorkfi!)   378,  445,  488. 
 Bandon  (Ire/.)  419,  420,  42.7. 
 Banwell  (Somerfttjb.)  39,  339. 
 Barrow  {ditto)   505. 
 Bath,    12,    20,  40,  239,   247,  464, 
 
 467,  476,  481. 
 
 Seflions,   133,   176,  178,  180, 
 
 183,  2C2,  220.34  6. 
 
 Bcdfo-Jjbire,  266,  391,  445. 
 
 Bear*,' 
 
N      D  '     E    '  X. 
 
 Bearbinder-lane,  261. 
 
 Belfaft  (Inland)  423. 
 
 Bellifpool  (PriJ)  118. 
 
 Barbadocs,  46,  287,  36 1,   368,  414, 
 
 421,  422,  44S. 
 Birk/hire,  266,  410,  422,  428. 
 Bermudas,  46. 
 
 Berwick  Mill,  218. 
 
 Bifhop  Aukland,  359. 
 
 Bilhoprick  of  Durham,    359,   42 r, 
 
 423,  427,  4S0. 
 Blackfriars  (Ivcl.)  229. 
 Bliborough,  {Suff.)  235. 
 Booking  (F.ffx)  466. 
 Bolton  {Lane.)  36 1,  368,  39O. 
 Bofton  (Lincolnjb.)   504. 
 —— —  (Ne-wEng.)   43,   45,   413, 
 
 422,  424,  465. 
 Bradford  {Wilts)  509. 
 Brantry  (Fffex)  466. 
 Brewton  (<SV;>«r.)  403. 
 
 —    Seffions,   20:,    103,    210, 
 
 216,  223. 
 Bridewell    (Briftol)    126,    149,  154, 
 
 156,   159,  161,  239. 
 
 Exon,  455- 
 
 . .     Ivelchejter,    1 3  3,    135, 
 
 136,  210. 
 
 Chamber,  136,  210. 
 
 — — Salisbury,  468. 
 
 Shipton  Mallet,  459. 
 
 — — Somerfet,  458. 
 
 Bridlington,  40. 
 
 Bridgwater,  39,  132,  268,  272,  277, 
 
 301,  340,  453,  464,  504. 
 
 *  Prifon,  30,  276. 
 
 -  Seffions,  141,  176,  177, 
 
 .218,  220,  233,  475. 
 B  rid  port  {Dorjajh.)  29. 
 Brifiol,  24,  106,  r  15,  124,  14T,  144, 
 
 148,  167,  184,  191,  200,  236, 
 
 239,  248,  261,  265,  295,  318, 
 
 33*>  337»  36^>  369>  3^6,  390, 
 
 422,  42S,  432,  439,  445,  449. 
 f~     453,  476,  479,  494,  5J0,  504 
 — —  Seffions,  153,  158,  187. 
 Broadmead  (Brijhl)  392. 
 Broadhreet  {London)    37$* 
 Broadway  (Som.)  204. 
 Brough  (dim.)  254. 
 Buckland  (Som  )  135. 
 Bucks  (Pennfyh.)  493. 
 Buekinghamjhire,    47,  ^r,  346 ,  423> 
 
 428. 
 Skda  (Hung.)  294. 
 
 Bull  and  Mouth   (London)  259,  345* 
 
 346>  35T>  374,  ^76. 
 Bunhill-fields,  169,  452. 
 Burlington  (N.  Jo:)  394  488. 
 Burlifcomb,   56. 
 
 Burnham  (Som.)  38,  338,  340. 
 Burton    (ditto)   12  t. 
 Baptilts,  324,  372,  477,  487,  5°8' 
 Bohemians,  508. 
 
 Calbreth,  William,  178. 
 Callowhill,  Thomas,   126,  156, 
 Camm,  Thomas,  65. 
 Camfgill  (IVejl.)  65. 
 Cann,  Sir  Robert,  127,  153* 
 
 Sarah,  153, 
 
 Carleton,  Thomas,  369. 
 Carter,  William,  354. 
 Cartwright,  John,  425. 
 Jaflicc,  266. 
 
 Gary,  John,   'Juflice,  28,  456* 
 Cater,  Samuel,  64,  480. 
 Caton  (Lan.)  251,  259. 
 
 \ William,  443,  452,  47S. 
 
 Cattle,  John,  204. 
 Ceely,  Gregory,  37,  339. 
 
 - Major,  444» 
 
 Chead,  W.  fen.  and  pin.  178. 
 Chapman,  Robert,  236. 
 Chappel,  Edmonds  39,  219,  236a 
 -  Dorcas,  408. 
 
 John,  39,  336. 
 
 Henry,  135. 
 
 Elizabeth,  bis  wife,  233* 
 
 Chappel  Chamber  (Brijl)  164 
 Chamock,  Jtiflice,  266. 
 Charley,  John,  135. 
 Cheney,  Jo.  Priefl,  253. 
 Cheevers,  Sarah,  470,  475* 
 Chorley,  John,   135. 
 Churchill  (Sam.)  1<)1. 
 
 Sir  John,  165,  191 
 
 Clapham,  John,  Pr.  285. 
 Clapton  (Sim.)   ill,  257,  317. 
 Clark,  a  Baptijl,  146. 
 
 yiiftiee,  266. 
 
 . Edward,  Jujlice,  474,  475. 
 
 John,  509. 
 
 3%fc«,  382. 
 
 —  an  In  former ,  2^« 
 
 . Robert,  135. 
 
 Clayton,  Anne,  443. 
 
 Sir  Thomas,  346. 
 
 Clothier,  Abraham,  180 
 
 ' John,   177,  2*5,  220. 
 
 Coale,  George,  168. 
 
 Coale, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Coale,  Jofiah,  168,  169,  278. 
 
 Robert,   168. 
 
 Coole,  Benjamin,  510,   5 1 7. 
 Coat,  John,  6. 
 
 — Marmaduke,    37,   204,    206, 
 
 217,  219,  223,   336. 
 
 ■ Edith,  205. 
 
 Coats,  JuftlcCy  360. 
 Cocket,  Thomas,    382. 
 Coggan,  Joan,   234,   27H 
 Colbeck     (Cumb.)    357. 
 Cole,  jvjlice,  266. 
 Collier,   Anne,  205. 
 
 Pricfi  of  Chard,   38. 
 
 ■  -  Pritjl  iif  Grcnton,   39. 
 
 Robert,  503. 
 
 ■   Thomas,  457. 
 Comb    (Som.)    134. 
 
 Joan,   176,   218,  339, 
 
 — Thomas,  144,   302,  336. 
 
 ■ William,   204. 
 
 Comfit,  John,  468. 
 
 Cooper,    Richard  and  Thomas,   180 
 
 Copkifton,  Col.  453. 
 
 Coram,  Rufus,  132,  336. 
 
 Cordelian,  John,    299. 
 
 Cotton,   ?.lary,    182. 
 
 ■ Seaborn,   Priejl,  426.* 
 
 Counfel,  Richard,  6. 
 
 Coward,   Serjeant,  401,  403. 
 
 Cowcl,   Thomas,    238. 
 
 Cowley,    Abraham,  257. 
 
 Cradock,  juftice,   267, 
 
 Crane,  Henry,  40. 
 
 Crifp,    Nathaniel,  385. 
 
 ■  Stephen,  452,  476. 
 
 Croad,    Hugh,    181. 
 
 Cromwell,    Oliver,    86,   257,   283, 
 
 391,  430,   444. 
 - —  Richard, 
 Crook,  John,   383,   391,  445. 
 Crafs,  John,  134. 
 
 Pritfi,   180,   183. 
 
 .Richard,  215,  233,* 
 Crofman,  Jacob,  39. 
 Cnfmore  (La<ic.) 
 Crow,  Charles.  (Pr.) 
 Crump,  Richard,  155, 
 Cuft",  John, 
 Curwin,  Alice,  42. 
 ..  Thomas,  42. 
 
 Cambridge,  85,  281. 
 
 . ~~,:  Shire,  391. 
 
 Capperqueen  (hcl.)  41 9. 
 Cardiff  {Wales)  283,  422. 
 
 Carlifle,  252,  255,  417. 
 
 jail,    H2,   231,   369,   417, 
 
 418,  444. 
 Cetrolbia,  449- 
 Carrickfergus  (In!.)  420. 
 Carwis  (Flint/I?.)  466. 
 Caftlegreen  (Brifl.)  150; 
 Catherlough  (Lei.)  419,  427. 
 Chadlington  (Oxford)  490. 
 Cham  Gate  (Glajlom)   179. 
 Chard  (Som.)    38,    132,    134,  233, 
 
 *75>  34°>  458- 
 Charlecot  (Wilts)  409. 
 Charlemont  (Ire  I.)  493. 
 Charlesfield  (ditto)  427. 
 Chelmsford  (EJfcx)  116. 
 Cheriton   (So?n.)  40. 
 Chcjhlrc,  266,  280,  28T,  288,  423, 
 
 428,  466,  492. 
 Chew  Magna  {Som.)  180,  i86,2io» 
 214,  227,  251,  365,  402,  504, 
 514. 
 Chewton-mendip,  37. 
 Chillington  (Sotn.)    134, 
 Chilthorn^Domer,  40,  256. 
 Chippenham  (Willi)  409. 
 Chippingnorton,  49.:. 
 Ch'nTelborough,  39,    134,  234, 
 Cirencefter  (Ghuc)   366- 
 Clampet  {Devon.)  61, 
 Clare  {Suffolk)   113,   115, 
 Claieham  {Som.)  5,  253,  400,  4°9» 
 461,  504. 
 
 Cleve   {ditto)   32. 
 
 Cleveland,  380,  423,  428. 
 
 Cleves    (Ger.)  482. 
 
 Coker   {Som.)  234. 
 
 Colchefter,  114,  253,  260,451,476, 
 480,  485. 
 
 f-.  Caftle,  444. 
 
 Colerain,  Ircl.  420. 
 
 Collumpton,  Devon.   464. 
 
 Common  Gaol,  Ivcl.  n8,  205,  210, 
 228. 
 
 C.mgrefsbury  Som.   198. 
 
 Conyhurft,  Sujfex,    184. 
 
 Cotk,    Lei.  419,  420,  427. 
 
 Cornwall,  31,    56,    331,    350,    356, 
 384,   444,  4.59,  464- 
 
 Coventry,   24,    130,   253. 
 
 Crake,  Yorkjh.   379. 
 
 Crediton,  Devon.   405,  407,  464. 
 
 Creech,  Som.    178,   215,   233. 
 
 Crevelt,    Ger.  483. 
 
 Crookhorn,    Som.    132,    176,   234j 
 
 a53- 
 
 Croft, 
 
I      N      D 
 
 Croft whair,  Cum.   it 2. 
 
 Cumberland,    111,     137,     231,    254, 
 
 *66>  354>  357>  36o»  369>  379, 
 416,  420,  423,427,444,503. 
 Curry  Mallet,  Som.   38. 
 
 Dando,  John,  4r,  146,294,464. 
 Danks,   John,    253 
 Daniel,  John,  jujlicc,  266,  288. 
 Derby  Gaol,  64,  380,  443,  488. 
 Derby/hire,  64,   266,  49  V 
 Darby*  Town  Clerk,  233,  340. 
 Davis,  Edward,  41,   118,2(8,227, 
 230,  239,  304,  307,  309,  320, 
 
 3*5- 
 Dawlon,    William,   151. 
 Day,  Mary,  465. 
 Dean,    F.lizabeth,  413. 
 Delavall,  John.   493. 
 
 ■  —  -  Thomas,  ditto. 
 Dennis,  Ifaac,   161,  192,  194,  239. 
 Denny,  John,  38. 
 
 Dennit,   Richard,   381. 
 
 Dent,  jujlicc,  266. 
 
 Delborough,  Gen.   272. 
 
 Dewlbury,  William,  25,  487,  492. 
 
 Dickenfon,  Thomas,  jujl.  379. 
 
 Dickinion,  James,  440,  495. 
 
 Dimock,    Tim.    165. 
 
 Dinning,   John,    135. 
 
 Ditton,   Hum.   Mayo>;  &c  468. 
 
 Dodfworth,  Dr.   218. 
 
 Dole,    Tohn,    128. 
 
 • Dorcas,  157,    193. 
 
 Dowell,  EUzabeth,   t6o. 
 Downer,  Anne,   350. 
 Drev.et,   Amaria,  366. 
 Ducket',  Thomas,  495. 
 Duke  or"  Albemarle,  298. 
 "         of  Gordon,   434. 
 
 ■  of  Monmouth,   65,    294,    311. 
 
 ■  ->'   York,  65,   250,  267,  440. 
 Durborough,  Hugh,  178. 
 Dyer,  Informer,  218,  223. 
 
 "    .  ■    Mary,    Mart.  43. 
 
 Denmark,  479. 
 
 Danes  and  Swedes,  361. 
 
 J)anl%ick,  484. 
 
 Dartmouth,   Devon.  406. 
 
 Dole-bran,  N.W.^%,  500, 
 
 Deptford,  Kent,  487. 
 
 Devizes,  mils,  287. 
 
 Devon/litre,  56,  266,  272,   322,  384, 
 
 389;  405,  445.  446»455>  5^4- 
 Devonfhire,  Chriftopher,  202,  217, 
 224,  226,  271.  I 
 
 X. 
 
 Devonfhire-IIoufe,  4*3* 
 Dodtors-Commons,    Pnj.  119; 
 Dooml'dale,  Lan.  444. 
 Do'fctpin,  29,  59,  244,  322,   504. 
 Dover,    Kent,  414. 
 
 N.  Eng.  45. 
 
 Drayton,    Lciccfl.    441* 
 Drawell,  Yorkjh.  429,  432. 
 Drugglibeck,   Lan.  452- 
 Dubln,   Irel.  '419,  420,   423,  427. 
 Douglafs,  Scot,  iir,  419. 
 Dukelbury,  Duxbury,  N.E.  46,  425. 
 Dumot,  Som,    134. 
 Durham,  120,  266. 
 
 Earl  of  j^ncram,  50. 
 drgyk,  294. 
 
 Bridgewaler,  50. 
 
 — —  Fevt.rjloo.rn,    300. 
 •  Pembroke,    30 1. 
 
 Earle,  Sir  Thomas,   127,    155. 
 
 Edgar,    King,  Z2. 
 
 Edmundfon  William,  2S8. 
 
 Edmonton,  354,  496. 
 
 Edwin,  Prince,  82. 
 
 Efrida,  Queen,  ditto. 
 
 Ellington,  Francis,   382. 
 
 Elliot,  William,   178. 
 
 Ellwood,  Thomas,   72,  347* 
 
 Erburry,  Edward,  71. 
 
 Ethelbert,  King,  82, 
 
 Ethelwolfe,  King,   ditto. 
 
 Ethelwood,    Earl,  ditto. 
 
 Evans,  Catharine,    127,  467,   475. 
 
 Everet,  John,  5U. 
 
 Eaft  A&on,  Middlf.  465. 
 
 Eaft  Chefter,   46. 
 
 Eaft  ferl'ey,  413,  425,  427. 
 
 Eaft  ar.d  Weft  Jerley,  36 r,  44?. 
 
 Eaft  Lidfurd,  177,  215,  220. 
 
 Eaft  Sheen,  Surry,  409. 
 
 Eaftward,  46,  479. 
 
 Edinburgh,    112,     377,    429,   435, 
 
 445,   496. 
 Edington,  Som.   135,  180,  338. 
 Edmondlbury,  235. 
 
 Egypt,  470. 
 
 — — —  in  lower  Gaol,  230} 
 
 Elbrewers,  Som.  66,  206. 
 
 Ely,  Cam.  64. 
 
 Embden,  480,  481. 
 
 Emelton,  Cum.  357. 
 
 Enfield,  Middle/.  448. 
 
 England,  57,  69,  72,  83,  13c,  169, 
 200,  235,  237,256,266,287, 
 413,  429,  445,  447,  474,  481, 
 482,  492,  496,  498. 
 
 Englan 
 
I      N      D 
 
 England,  John,  204, 
 
 Englifh  Conful,  471. 
 
 Enoder,   Corn.   56. 
 
 Efhdale,  Cum.  137. 
 
 EJfex,  114,  353,  428,  446,448,  466, 
 
 476>  477>  48-- 
 Evetham,  Wore.  24. 
 Exchequer ,  140,  219,  318. 
 Exeter,  29,  56,  384,  389,  445,  453, 
 
 458. 
 Excommunications,   32,  3S,  39,  64, 
 
 69>  7f>93>  i6'>  186,270,  276, 
 
 289,  336. 
 
 Faclcrcl,  George,  178. 
 
 Faldo,  John,  61,   63. 
 
 Fane,  Jj^w,  266. 
 
 Farnborough  Marab.  162. 
 
 Farnworth,  Richard,   37S,  4S9. 
 
 Farthing,  John,  134,  241. 
 
 Fearon,  Peter,  356. 
 
 Fell,  Judge,  443,  452. 
 
 Margaret,  447. 
 
 Firman,  John,  236. 
 
 Fiftier,  Samuel,  261. 
 
 Flavel,  John,  406. 
 
 Fleming,  Jujlice,  139,    140, 
 
 Fletcher,  George,  232. 
 
 — — Lancelot,  418. 
 
 Fogo,  Prhjl,  138,  418. 
 
 Ford,  James,  182. 
 
 ,  William,  18. 
 
 Foffe,  John,  134. 
 
 Fowler,  William,  178. 
 
 Fowles,  William,  204. 
 
 Fox,  George,  11  r,  130,  280,  288, 
 35°.  352>  357.  359.  373,  410, 
 416,  420,  425,  432,  439,  441, 
 452,  464,  488. 
 
 • George,  junior,  114,  258. 
 
 Margaret,   356. 
 
 John,  82. 
 
 ■  —  a  Prcjbyitr,  448, 
 
 French  King,  200. 
 French,  Robert,  20;. 
 Fuce,  Jofeph,  261. 
 Fullwood,  Fran.  455, 
 Furly,  John,  115. 
 Falmouth,  Corn.   31. 
 Faylan's  Lin,  Som-  318. 
 Fiteh'ead,  ditto,  134. 
 Fieldhead,  Weft.   140. 
 Flushing,  L.  Ijh<id,  424. 
 France,    186,   200,  435. 
 FrederickHadt,   Hn:j}.  4S0. 
 F re (h ford,  Som.  247. 
 F,:<jUut,   393,   450,'  451*  484, 
 
 X. 
 
 Friejland,  Lords,  480. 
 Friary  Prifon,  54,  221. 
 
 Orchard,  55. 
 
 Friars  (Brijlol)  K5,  153,  245. 
 
 Gale,  John,  Vry  38,  339. 
 Gauler,  Pr.  39. 
 Gainer,   James,  162: 
 Garland,  Jofeph,  134. 
 
 -  Sulannah,  205. 
 
 Gay,  George,  in. 
 Gay  land,  fofeph,  215. 
 Gibbons,  Daniel,  160. 
 Gibbons,  Robert,  161. 
 
 Samuel,  156. 
 
 Gibfon,  Richard,  362. 
 Giblon,  William,  53,  231. 
 Giles,  John,  259. 
 
 Robert,   134. 
 
 -j Walter,  134,  205. 
 
 Gladwin,  J>iJ!rcc,  266. 
 Glanville,  Jofeph,  Pr.  40,  339J 
 Gliflon,  Samuel,  230,  239,  299. 
 Godfry,  George,   132,  135. 
 Good,  Robert,  468. 
 Goodair,  Thomas,  378,  488^ 
 Goodridge,  William,   39. 
 George,  Thomas,  Pr.   17. 
 
 Samuel,  Jujlicc,  266. 
 
 Gorings,  Jujlices,  266. 
 Gorton,  Samuel,  426, 
 Gould,  Daniel,  424. 
 Goldney,  Henry,  45L 
 
 Thomas,  126, 
 
 Mary,  153,  156. 
 
 Gordon,  Catharine,  434. 
 Grabham,  Richard,   132,   iSo,  336. 
 Grafton,    fohn,  64. 
 Graves,  John,  428. 
 Gravefend,  L.  If/and,  46,  424* 
 Greedy,  John,  202,  233. 
 Gregory,  the  Great,  81. 
 Gregory,  Martha,    Covj.  24. 
 j'uftkc,  266. 
 
 Gregoryftoke,  132,  135,  141,  144J 
 I76>  I77>  zo3>  2I4>  218,  296, 
 339- 
 
 Green,  Thomas,  115. 
 
 Greenwell,  Benjamin,  350. 
 
 Greenwood,  James,  361. 
 
 Greethead,  Richard,  i8r. 
 
 Margery,  his  wife,  18  r  J 
 
 1    Joan,  their  daughter,  18 1, 
 
 Grillev,  Ferrars,  jufticet    zoi%  233,, 
 
 241. 
 Gundry,  Abraham,  180. 
 
 Henry,  40,  277,  239.  _ 
 
 Gunning, 
 
I      N      D 
 
 Cunning,  John,  Mayor,  125. 
 Galloway,  InL  420,  417. 
 Germany,    I  39,  439,  450,  479. 
 Glamford  Bridge,  Lin.  501. 
 Glafgow,  Scotl.   112. 
 Glaftonbury,    Som.     29,    179,   214, 
 
 5'7« 
 Gloucefler,  a4,  243. 
 — — Shin,  24,  133,  168,  266, 
 
 366,   385,  428,445,451,  457, 
 
 467,  490. 
 Goodefton  Court,  Kent,  51. 
 Gracechurch-Streec  Meet.    392,  448, 
 
 451. 
 Grange,  Trel.  420. 
 Grafmire,  IVejhn.  139. 
 Great  111  and,    Ar.  En°:  45* 
 Greenwich,   ditto,  426. 
 Grenton,  Sam.  39,  271. 
 Groningen,  Frie/I.   480. 
 Guildford,  Surry,  17. 
 Guildhall,  Briji.  158. 
 
 ■  ■    Plymouth,   454* 
 
 Hacker,  Col.  444, 
 
 Hacket,  Edward,   160. 
 
 Hall,  James,  428. 
 
 Hallhead,  Miles,  360,  452,  454. 
 
 Haly,  Joan,   127. 
 
 Hand,   Francis,  215,  232,  27 1. 
 
 Hanham,  Joan,  18a. 
 
 Harbottle,  Henry,  y»Jl.  359.' 
 
 Harford,  Charles,  126,  151,  163. 
 
 ■  Elizabeth,  hisiuife,   127, 
 Harrington,  John,  Ji'/lice,  28. 
 Harrifon,  James,  368. 
 Harsford,  Stephen,   134. 
 Harvey,  Elizabeth,  182. 
 Hawly,  Rob.  Ji'Jl.  474,  476. 
 Hays,  Thomas,  193. 
 
 Heal,  Margaret,  163,  166. 
 
 Helliar,  Alice,  469, 
 
 John,  124,  128,   148,  154, 
 
 iSS**5fa  x58>  l8o»  l83>  188, 
 197,  206,  214,  227,  266. 
 
 ■  —  William,  217,  234,  266. 
 Helliard,  Ji'Jticfi  266. 
 Hemberry,  Jofeph,  132,  134.. 
 Hewlet,  William,  180. 
 Heylin,  Peter,  508. 
 Hide,  Ju/lice,  266.     • 
 Higgins,  William,  180. 
 Hill,  Robert,  37,  339. 
 Hillacre,   John,  37. 
 Hipfley,  John,  1 8 r,  214,  2 1 7,  224, 
 
 3^>4j  3r9>  336- 
 
 ■■■'  -■ J0a«>    hisiVl/i-f    I  St. 
 
 X. 
 
 Hipfley,  Samuel,  32,  40. 
 Hitchcock,    Attorney,   349. 
 Hodder,  Informer,  231. 
 Holbmok,  Daniel,  i8r. 
 Holbeck,  Yorkfh.  377. 
 Holder,  Chriltopher,  133,  136,  22a* 
 
 336« 
 
 Robert,  511. 
 
 Holms,  Thomas,  252. 
 Hopkins,  John,  177. 
 Horfey,  Prieft,   177,  220. 
 
 John,  his  [on,  zzo. 
 
 How,   Daniel,  205. 
 
 Howgill,  Francis,  130,  273,  30'g. 
 
 Hubbcrthorn,  Richaid,  258.' 
 
 Hucker,  Copt.  297. 
 
 Hughes,  William,  Chan.  514. 
 
 Humphreys,  Mary,  414. 
 
 Hunt,  Ro'bert,  j'>ft.  28,  456. 
 
 Hurd,  Thomas,  40,   184,  338. 
 
 Sarah,  184,  22  r,  227,  239, 
 
 Hutchins,  Peter,  40; 
 Hutton,  Hall,  232. 
 PricJ,  357. 
 
 Hymans,  Thomas,  132. 
 Hyot,  John,  215. 
 Halton,   Lancajh.  360. 
 Hamilton,  Scot.   112,  419. 
 Hambridge,    Som.     37,     204, 
 
 223,  299,  340. 
 Hamburgh,   139,  479. 
 HampJJiire,  27,  448. 
 Hampton,  N.  E.  422,  424. 
 Hardington,  North.   383. 
 Harlem,  Hail.  480. 
 Harlingen,  ditto,  45 r. 
 Harwich,  EJJcx,  450. 
 Hafelborough,  Som.   134. 
 Haverfordwelr,  Pctnb.  422. 
 Heads,  Scot.  112. 
 Hcydelbuigh,  Gcr.  479. 
 Hereford,  286. 
 
 Shire,  286,  490. 
 
 Hertford,  261,  4.28-. 
 
 Shire,  423,  483. 
 
 ?*9» 
 
 High-Ciofs,   Pric/l,   106,   156. 
 Holland,    115,  393,  439,  45o,  4a, 
 
 478,  480,  484. 
 Hollltrow,  Sotn.    294,  464* 
 Hoi/Lin,   450,   479. 
 Honiton,  Devon.  452. 
 Horlington,  Som.  40. 
 Hull,   Torkjl?.  482. 
 Hungroad,  504. 
 Mitntingdonjbhti  391,  423. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 JafFery,  Alexander,  436. 
 James,    John,  156. 
 Jeans,  Chr.  and  John,  457. 
 Jeffreys,  Arthur,  37. 
 
 Sir  G.  L.  C.  J.  251,  311. 
 
 Jennings,  Chriflable,  169. 
 lady,  296. 
 
 -  '    ■'■ Samuel,  248. 
 
 ■ William,   169. 
 
 Jenny,  Jufitce,  236. 
 Ingram,  Robert,  170. 
 Jones,  Charles,  126,   160. 
 
 — — -  John, 
 ~~-  Michael, 
 
 Griffith,  126. 
 
 John  ap  John,  428. 
 John  for,  Edmond,  38c. 
 Jordan,  Thomas,  126,  156. 
 — — —  Hannah,   153. 
 Jordans,- Birds,  51,  347. 
 Ithell,  William,  71. 
 
 -  Rebecca,  155. 
 Judge,  Archer,  276. 
 — Atkins,  382. 
 
 ■ Carleton,  460. 
 
 Fell,  443. 
 
 ~-  Forfter,  276. 
 
 Hale,  382. 
 
 Herbert.  333,  336. 
 
 — —  Jeffrys,  321,  323. 
 
 Montague,  234. 
 
 — —-  North,  131. 
 
 — ■ Rainsford,  39,  278,  340,  479. 
 
 Turner,  255,  449. 
 
 Twifdtn,  446. 
 
 — i  Windham,  379,  382. 
 
 Wright,  333. 
 
 Ives,  Jeremy,  508. 
 
 Jamaica,  46,   169,  361,  44S. 
 
 Inklbatch,  Som.  467. 
 
 Inkfcomb,  ditto,  467. 
 
 Ilminfter,  Som.  132,  134,141,205, 
 
 210,215,  218. 
 Inquifition,  Malta,  471. 
 Johnftons,  Scot.    350,  391. 
 Iffwich,  Suffolk,   236,   393,  483. 
 
 — —  Gaol,    236,   479. 
 
 —  Selfions,  238. 
 
 Italy,  470. 
 
 Ireland,  29,  287,  3 56, 407,411;,  41 9, 
 
 421,  423,  427,  429,  448.474* 
 
 491,  4, 8,  503. 
 Me  of  Ely,  64. 
 — «  Man,  470. 
 
 Wight,  350,  46$. 
 
 Ivelchefler,  Som,  5,  S.T,  »8,  3k  37, 
 
 59,  65,  1 18,  131,  170,  174, 
 177,  183,  201,  216,  232,  241, 
 
 248,    253,    257,    267,272,  295, 
 303,  322,    333,    338,  385»458/ 
 
 459>  465>467,  476. 
 — - — •  Gaol  or  Prifon,  5,   32, 
 116, 133,  182,  226,  238,  241. 
 Sellions,  133,   176,  177, 
 
 220,     22T. 
 
 Ward,  299,  311. 
 
 Independents,    63,    234,    254,   377, 
 406,    443,    508. 
 
 Keith,  George,  55,  354,  436, 
 
 487,  493.  494>  5©°- 
 Kirby,  William,   Ji'Jl.  139. 
 — — - — ■  Mary,  414. 
 Kirton,  John,  499. 
 Key,  Alexander,  134. 
 King,  Anne,  234,  271. 
 King  Henry  VIII.   179,  291. 
 
 James    I.   291. 
 
 Charles   I.    85,  291. 
 
 Charles    II.    36,    139, 
 
 211,    222,  257,   363,431, 
 
 443-' 
 
 James    II.    232,    292, 
 
 33*>  342>  363»  37o>  3&9> 
 400. 
 
 William  III.  232,  302, 
 
 389>  394>  V>°>  Si0' 
 King's  Bench,   251. 
 Kinglbridge,   61. 
 Kingroad,   185,   449. 
 Kingfmell,  Anne,  37. 
 Kingfton,  458. 
 Kingwefh  n,    169. 
 Kirk,  Col.    302,   323.' 
 Knight,  Giles,  134,205,234, 
 Sir  John,    125,   129, 
 
 *52>  T53>  '54>  J55»  l6°* 
 
 197,  266. 
 
 old  Sir  John,   125. 
 
 Kellet,  Lap..   356,  360,  362. 
 Kendal,   Wtjl.    130,    139. 
 Kendal  Shire,   Ghuceft.   458. 
 Kenmuck,   Scot.   498. 
 Kent,  51,   384,  393,  415,  446, 
 
 487. 
 Kewftoke,   Som.    38,  219. 
 Kilcommon,   Inl.  427. 
 Kilkenny,  ditto,  419. 
 Kilmore,  ditto,  419. 
 Kirtly,  Suff    234. 
 
 Lacy,  John,  205. 
 
 ■i—'    William,  Jnjl.  ioz. 
 
 437, 
 
 190, 
 43*, 
 
 323» 
 395* 
 
 364» 
 
 27r. 
 143, 
 187, 
 
 44** 
 
 Lacj- 
 
I      N      D 
 
 X. 
 
 Lacy  and  Arls,  Inform.  346. 
 Lake,  Clement,  405. 
 Lancafter,    252,    360. 
 
 Cattle,   139,  359. 
 
 ■ Gaol,    446. 
 
 Seftions,    444. 
 
 Lancafter,  James,    356,    357,.  426. 
 Lancafhire,  42,  253,  356,  359,  368, 
 
 379>  39Q»  4~3>  42'3>  443>  452- 
 
 473. 
 Lancsfton,  Corn.^^^o,  384,  464. 
 
 Gaol,  444,  4.60. 
 
 Lane,  Sheriff,  127,  153. 
 
 ■ Martha,  153. 
 
 Langhorn,  Thomas,  369. 
 Langwell,  Thomas,  233. 
 Lawrence,  John,  376. 
 
 William,   174,   177. 
 
 Ledra,  William,  Mat.  43. 
 Leyne,  Willobv,  37. 
 Liddon,  William,    37,    336. 
 Limberry,  Jofiah,    134. 
 Lincoln  Caftle,  166. 
 ■  Richard,    176,   308. 
 
 LincnhfrAre,  266,  391,  478,  50 1,  504. 
 Lindk-y,   Benjamjn,    157,    160. 
 Little,  Jofeph,  182. 
 
 -  ■  ■■-   James,  ditto. 
 
 - Elizabeth,  his  wife,  ditto. 
 
 Livingfton,    Patrick,   498. 
 Lack  wood,  John,    379. 
 Lodge,  Chciftopher,  233,   340. 
 
 Robert,  410,  419,  428,  430. 
 
 Lopgwqrth,    Roger,   368. 
 
 Lord  D'Auberry,    473. 
 ■ Churchill,   300. 
 
 Fitzharding,  213. 
 
 Grey,    297. 
 
 — — -  Paulet,   32. 
 
 Stawell,  177,  203,  216,  217, 
 
 231. 
 
 ■ Love,    John,    126,   151. 
 
 Lovel,  William,  383. 
 
 Low,  JufUce,   266. 
 
 Lower,    Thomas,     356,    449,    459, 
 
 460. 
 
 — Humphry  383. 
 
 Lower  Gaol,  Ilcbcfi.  zz<). 
 Lowry,   Richard   112. 
 Lowther,   John   255. 
 Lloyd,   Charles  428,  500. 
 
 Thomas    500. 
 
 LuS§»  Thomas    155,  157,    161. 
 Lumbard,   John    134,    205. 
 Lux,   Robert    160. 
 Lamplough,  Cum.    358. 
 Lamport,  Soni.  219. 
 
 Land  of  Meurs,   483. 
 Land's  End,  Com.  46,  3S4,  444* 
 Leeds,    Torkjh.    377; 
 Leek,  Staff.   492. 
 Leghorn,  lial.  470,   474. 
 Leicefter,   24,  130,  380,  446,  498. 
 Shire,  24,  266,  391,  441* 
 
 444. 
 
 Leinfter,    Irel.  427. 
 
 Leith,  Sept.  392. 
 
 Liverpool,  Lett.  448. 
 
 Lewarden,  Holl.  480. 
 
 Lime,   Dorfet.   295. 
 
 Limerick,   Irel.    4.20,    427. 
 
 Limington,    Som.    38,    134. 
 
 Ling,   Som.   134. 
 
 Lim,  Norf.   283. 
 
 Litburn,  Irel.   419. 
 
 Linlithgow,  Scot.    419. 
 
 Littleport,  I.  Ely.    64. 
 
 London,  28,  44,  51,  1 16,  141,  167* 
 1  ^9,  178,  200,  216,  220,  ta.2, 
 251,  253,  261,  265,  273,  284, 
 289,  296,  303,  326,  342,  351,. 
 361,  372,  383,  385,  391,  392» 
 409,  412,  415,  420,  418,  432, 
 439,  445,  447,  449,  45 r,  46$, 
 464,  466,  478,479,481,482, 
 483,  4S4,  494,  498,  504,  508, 
 509,  510,   518. 
 
 Londonderry,   Iril.  419- 
 
 Longdale-chapel-fteel,    136. 
 
 Long     Ijhiid,     46,     413,   422,   425, 
 427,    448- 
 
 Long   Sutton,    184,    203,   215,  22  T, 
 227,    23T,    272,  299,  301,  365, 
 
 387>  399>46o>  464s  5*7' 
 Lorgan,  Irel.  419,  420. 
 Lorton,   Cum.    418. 
 Low  Countries,    478,   48  r. 
 LowAvater,   Cum.    416,  418. 
 Lyedown,    Som.    145. 
 
 Maber,  Henry  203. 
 Mabfon,  Joha  180. 
 Macy,  Henry,    247. 
 
 William   33. 
 
 Malbranch,    186. 
 Manfel,   Jo.  Jufike,  489. 
 Markham,    Thomas  501. 
 Marlh,   George,   Ju/tke,    392. 
 Richard    126,     I51- 
 
 Marlbal,   Charles  5,  167,  327,  432* 
 451,  500. 
 
 Hannah,    126. 
 
 Henry,    Pritji,    1 12. 
 
 Marihalfea,  Soutbv.   331- 
 
 N  n  Marihalfea, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Marftialfea,  Dublin,  429. 
 Makers,  Jitflicey   266. 
 Martin,    James,  475. 
 — —  Thomas,  40,  256,  336. 
 Matern,    John,   354. 
 Mather  Cotton,   493. 
 Mattock,  Henry,  202,  217,  271. 
 Mead,  John.  134. 
 Meldrum,   George,  436. 
 Melton,   Chr.   Juflicc,   237. 
 Melton   Gaol,  236. 
 Meridcth,  Jufliee,  266. 
 Metcalfe,   Jujlice,   267. 
 Metford,  John,   180. 
 Mew,   Bifbop  fee  Bifbop 
 Middleton,  Geo.  Jujlice,  446. 
 Mitchell,  William,  436. 
 Montague,  Son.  176. 
 Moon,  John,  126,  157,  287. 
 
 -,  Paul,  71,  163. 
 Moor,  Chnftopher,  217,  223. 
 Morland,  Jujlice,  266. 
 Morris,  Robert,  68. 
 Mumpefon,  Thomas,  132,  340. 
 Mufgrave,  Juftice,  266. 
 Macemore,  (Mont.)  500. 
 Mackum,  (Fries).  484. 
 Maidftone,  (Kent.)  253. 
 
 Malta,  (Melita)  470. 
 
 Malton,  Torkjh.)  427. 
 
 Manchester,  281. 
 
 Mansfield,  (Notting.)  442. 
 
 Marlborough,  (Wilts)  272,  331. 
 
 Malham,  {York.')  427,  430,  432. 
 
 M.irlhficld,  (N  Eng.J  $12,41$ 
 
 Marlli  Grange  (7 an.)  356. 
 
 Martock,   (Sam.)  456. 
 
 Maryland,  361,  421,  422,424,427, 
 449. 
 
 Mattamock,  46. 
 
 Mear,   (Somer.J   180. 
 
 Michael  Creech,  (Som.j  38,  339. 
 
 Middlesex,  354,  465. 
 
 Middle  Town,  (E.Jer.)  425. 
 
 M'ulUeroy,  fSom.J  39,  178. 
 
 Mile  End,  ( Loud. J  392. 
 
 Milford,  (N.  Eng.).  46,  426. 
 
 Milfordhaven,  (Wales)  422. 
 
 Mclkiham,  (Wilu)  509. 
 
 MUverton,  (Sam.)  233,  241; 
 
 Minehead,  (ditto)  202,  230,  279,  474. 
 
 Minver,  (Cc  n.)   465. 
 
 Monirole,  (Scotland)  498. 
 
 M' nyaih,  (Derbyjk.)  64. 
 
 Monmoutbjbire,  422,  428. 
 
 Mortlock,  409. 
 
 M01 ■tgoneryjbin,  47O. 
 
 Mourton,  (Devon.)  61. 
 Mountmelick,  (Ireland)  4195  420* 
 Mountferrat,  414. 
 Muckerry,  (Som.)  203,  217. 
 Munfter,  (Ireland)  427. 
 
 Naylor,  James,  372,  378. 
 Nevel,  Juflice,  266. 
 Newberry,  (Berks)  331. 
 Newberry,  Jofeph,  Keeper,  218,  3037 
 
 3°5>  3c6»  3o8>  3*3- 
 Nichols,  Prie/l,  357. 
 Norman,  Prie/l,  275. 
 Nutt,  John,  178. 
 Nantz  Edift,  200. 
 Nantwich,  (Chcjh.)  288,  466. 
 Narraganiet  Country,  426. 
 Naylfey,  (Sam.)  19,  31,40,  73,  75, 
 105,  121,  122,   124,  144,  239, 
 248,  267,  295,  340,  393. 
 Netherlands,  Spanijh,  483. 
 Nevis,  414. 
 
 Newcallle,  427,  478,  480. 
 '  —  in  Pennsylvania,  425,448. 
 
 New  England,43,45, 133,  361,  406, 
 412,  422,  425,  449,  465,  497. 
 Newgate,  (Briflol)  71, 126,  148, 153, 
 161,  170,  182,  186,  240,  248, 
 250,  245. 
 — —— —  (London)    I73,  220,   258, 
 259.  289>  346,   376,   385,  392, 
 423,  497,  499. 
 Newhaven,  426. 
 
 New  Jerfey,  46,  173,  390,  393,  425, 
 44S,  488. 
 
 London,  46,  426. 
 
 Market,  129. 
 
 Munckton  (Scotland)  359. 
 
 York,  46,  361,  413,  422,  424, 
 
 427>  493- 
 Nimeguen,  438. 
 Norfolk,  266,  285,  446,  483. 
 North,  429,  432,  445,  455. 
 North  Curry,  37,  134,  178,  204, 
 
 339* 
 Northampton,  283. 
 -■ <  Common  Gaol,  38  ij 
 
 489. 
 
 Sefiions, 
 
 Ali  rtha  mp  ton  [hire ,  3  f 
 
 Northampton  Townihip,  488. 
 Northumberland,    359. 
 North  Wales,  423,  428,  466,  500. 
 'Northward,  444. 
 Norton,   Durham,  1 20. 
 Norwich,  64,  426,  483. 
 — — —  Cattle,  235. 
 
 Nottingham^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Nottingham,  442,  499. 
 Nottinghamfhire,  266,  380,  442* 
 
 Oats,  Titus,  386. 
 
 Offa,  King,  Si. 
 
 Olliffe,  Ralph,  125,  152,  155,  160, 
 
 «97,  266. 
 Olive,  Thomas,  487. 
 Oliver,  Clement,  192. 
 Oiborn,  Elias,  132,  133,  401. 
 
 junior,  156. 
 
 Sarah,  205. 
 
 Oufley,  Andrew,  216. 
 Owen,  John,  Dr.  131. 
 Ockingham,  Devon.  464. 
 Old,  Northampt.  489. 
 
 Oldenburgh,  Ger.  479. 
 Oxford,  85,  131,  331,490,  500. 
 
 «#?,  126,  158, 161,  248. 
 
 ■  Gaol,  490. 
 
 Scfjtons,  ditto. 
 
 ■ Shire,  266,  428,490. 
 
 Oyfter  Bay,  L.  IJland,  46,  4! 3,  424, 
 
 427,448. 
 Oath  of  Allegiance,  39,  64,  129,  132, 
 
 139,  167,   175,   180,  214,  215, 
 
 224,  24.1,  255,  256,275,  349, 
 
 386,421. 
 Oaths  and  Swearing,  6,  23,  33,  35, 
 
 37i  93>  94>  Zll>  222,  258,  269, 
 
 270,  334> 5l8>  5r9- 
 
 Page,  John,  Mayor,  454. 
 
 ■ Mary,  182. 
 
 Matthew,  134. 
 
 Palmer,  Sir  Philip,  49. 
 
 •  Richard,  Inform.  456, 
 
 Palfgrave,  479. 
 
 Parker,  Alexander,  390. 
 
 >y2/cf,  382,  449. 
 
 Vriejl,  137. 
 
 Parnel,  James,  444,  477. 
 Parfons,  John,  39,  336. 
 
 Thomas,  178. 
 
 ■ Chan.  ofGlouc.  266^ 
 
 Pattifon,  George,  425. 
 
 Paul,  Jofeph,  134. 
 
 Paul,  Philip,  134. 
 
 Paulet,  Francis,  juftice,  5,  202,  206, 
 
 266,  276. 
 ■■■  ■     -  Lord,  32,  40. 
 Peachy,  William,  393. 
 Pearce,  Jofeph,  233,  241,    71. 
 Peddle,  John,  203,  219. 
 Penn,  William,  63,  365,  390,  439, 
 
 45°>45I>487>  5°°>  5°4>  5i0; 
 
 S*h  5^5*7' 
 
 Penn,   Gull,  49. 
 
 Pennington,  Ifaac,  47,  284,  502. 
 
 Penn/yivania,  171,  173,  354,  36 r, 
 368>  37°,  39<?»  4*3>  466>  487> 
 493>  494»  5°°- 
 
 Penny,  John,  241. 
 Penifron,  Sir  Tho.ju/}.  490. 
 Pentlow,  Tho.  fuflice,  381. 
 Perrot,  John,  173,421,  422,  426. 
 Peters,  John,  465. 
 
 Phillips,  Sir  Edward,  i  33,  144,  176, 
 I77>  203,207,  213,    217,   224, 
 256,  301,401,403,458. 
 Phillipion,/wy2/<rf,  140. 
 Pickton,  James,  161. 
 Pinnel,  Jeffery,  i6r. 
 Pittard,  Jo.  Informer,  457. 
 Pleas,  Richard,  135. 
 Plimpton,  John,  509. 
 Plumley,  William,  37. 
 Pole,  Edward,  and  bis  Wife,  271. 
 
 Poller, ,  474. 
 
 Pollexfen,  CounjeJL  251. 
 
 Pool,  Dorfct.  59. 
 juftice,  266. 
 Pope,  John,  162. 
 Pople,  James,  38,  339. 
 
 John,  39. 
 
 Porter,  John,  134. 
 juftice,  446. 
 
 Powel,  Jer.   38,  218,  339. 
 
 .. Thomas,  ;j,  118,  336^ 
 
 Eleanor,  39. 
 
 Vavafor,  391. 
 
 —  William,  38,  39. 
 Prince  of  Orange,  389. 
 Proftor  Anthony,  430. 
 Prowfe,  Geoige,  223. 
 Pullen,  W.  Co-fable,  28. 
 Pvot,  Edward,  444. 
 Pardfhaw,  Crag,  Cimb.  232,,  355* 
 Paris,  France,  43^- 
 Peel  Meeting,  376.. 
 Pembrokeshire,  423. 
 Pen-hall,  Com.   56. 
 Pensford,  Som.  339. 
 Peters-Chalfont,  Bucks,  49. 
 Philadelphia,  Pennfylvania,  354>39'?j 
 
 466,  493,494,  501. 
 Pifcattaway,  N.  Eng-  45,  422,  424, 
 Plymouth,  Devon,  4S3>  458* 
 
 New.  Eng.  422,425. 
 
 Port  Ifaac,  Corn.  464. 
 Port  Patrick,  Scotland,  419- 
 Portihead,  Som.   144,  168,  170,  257, 
 264,386,433,459. 
 
 Una  Portfmoviaij 
 
I      N      D 
 
 Povtimouth,  468. 
 Providence,  New  Eirg.  426. 
 Puckli- Church,   Ghuctjhrfh.  24. 
 Pudtiiemoor,  Som.  28.  40,   133,  139. 
 Prsemunire,  25,  39,  51,  69,  167,278, 
 
 288,  385,447,450,460, 
 Prefbyterians,  63,  276,  406,448. 
 Puritans,  130,  280,  508. 
 
 Quaker,  Quakers,  45,47,  65,  114, 
 125,  133,  147,  186,  221,  235, 
 24^,  258, 268,  27  ,  282,  292, 
 333>  ~44>  355>  372,  379,  394, 
 4^6,412,434,  438,466. 
 
 Quakers  (tirft  fo  called)  443. 
 
 Queen  Elizabeth,  1S6,  198,  291. 
 
 . Mary,  389,  400,  505. 
 
 Queen's  County,  Ireland)  427, 
 
 Rawleigh,  Sir  Walter,  208. 
 
 RaymonJ,  George,  456.. 
 
 Rich,  John,  205. 
 
 Richaids,  Richard,  464. 
 
 IL'igby,  Jii/i.   266 
 
 Robinlon,"  William,  Mart.  43. 
 
 Rock,  Will. am,  134. 
 
 Rogers,  William,  354,437,451. 
 
 Roman,  Alice,  297. 
 
 Roper,  Lieutenant)  378. 
 
 Rumiu-y,    feffery,  3?.. 
 
 _ William,   105,  Ii6j  121, 
 
 122. 
 RuITel,  George,   56. 
 Raniclough,  Staff.  492. 
 RatclifF,  Lond,  466. 
 Reading;  Berks,  261,  266,  331,415, 
 
 45s- 
 
 Goal,  50. 
 
 RedcUff  Street,  Bri/l.  145. 
 
 Rhine  River,  Ger.  482. 
 
 Richmond,  Torkjh.  130* 
 
 Rippon,         ditto,  421. 
 
 Rhode  I/land,  44,  361,  413,  421,  424, 
 426,  44S. 
 
 Rofs,  Ireland,  419. 
 
 Rotterdam,  Holland,  451,  480,  482. 
 
 Remarkable  Paffag<=5  on  Meditation 
 in  the  Fields,  54. — On  the  Qti 
 Meet.  27. — A  Summary  of  Sut- 
 ierings,  1680,  69.  On  being  put 
 in  the  Com.  Gael,  1 19.— On  go- 
 ing  toBriftol,  144.  Or' P.  CV  is, 
 283.  Of  J.  Churchill,  191.  On 
 Ifaac  Dennis,  Keep,  of  Newgate, 
 and  other  Ferfecutors  of  Briftol, 
 195,  196. — On  Henry  Walrond, 
 ao6. — Of  Edward  Davis's  Fear, 
 
 E      X. 
 
 •where  no  Fear  was,  228. '—'On 
 the  Fall  of  Blackfriars,  231. — 
 On  K.  Charles's  Death,J257. — 
 Jnltances  of  Perfecution,  288. — 
 Of  my  going  to  Taunton,  296.— 
 Of  our  being  ironed,  307. — On 
 my  Adverfary's  Death,  &:c.  315. 
 ■ — On  Joleph  Newberry  and  the 
 Keepers,  323. — On  our  Deliver- 
 ance, 337 — Oi  King  James's 
 granting  Liberty  0.1  Confeience, 
 364,  395. — On  the  Meeting  at 
 Wrington,  399,  505. — On  the 
 Meeting  at  Wells,  517. 
 
 Sage,  Jchn,  37, 
 
 Salmon,  William,  512. 
 
 Salt,  William,  444. 
 
 Salthoufe,   Thomas,    28,  385,  410, 
 
 443»  452- 
 Salter,  James,  233. 
 Samm,  John,  384. 
 Samble,  Richard,  31,  56. 
 Samways,  Edith.  203. 
 Sands,  Pr/ift,  4c,  339. 
 Sanford,  Richard,  202. 
 Satterthwa.it,  William-,  140. 
 Sayer,  Samuel,  39,  339. 
 Seate,  John,  4.58. 
 Schoolcraft,  2V;c//,  359. 
 Scott,  Francis,  219,  302,  340. 
 
 Sifter,  296. 
 
 Samuel,  116. 
 
 Widow,  220. 
 
 Scstland,  in,  139,  295,  356,  359, 
 377,  385,  39x>  4'8> 4*°> 429> 
 439,445?  474>  477,  493,  496* 
 498. 
 
 Sealv,  Edward,  276. 
 
 Seawood,  Hannah,  234,  271. 
 
 Selden,  John,  71,  82. 
 
 Serle,  Chriifopher,  305,  319,  326. 
 
 ahackerly,  jujiia,  266. 
 
 Sharp,  Chriifopher,  4,  5. 
 
 Shattock,  Elizabeth,  135. 
 
 Shield,  John,  261. 
 
 Shepherd,  Fr.  233. 
 
 Sherbom,  Dorkt,  517. 
 
 Shewen,  William,  508. 
 
 Shoobroke,  John,  178. 
 
 Sibly,  Thomas,  234,  271. 
 
 Siicocks,  Edward,  38. 
 
 Silvanus, ,474- 
 
 Simpfon,  Lancelot,  255. 
 '-  William,  424. 
 
 Singer,  Walter,  61,  63. 
 
 Slade 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Slade,  Richard,  134. 
 Small,  Ifaac,  135. 
 Smith,  Elizabeth,  132. 
 
 Jujlkc,  266. 
 
 — -  Stephen,  26. 
 
 Thomas,  133. 
 
 Snead,  Richard,  1  26,  249 
 
 Bridget,  240. 
 
 Songhurrl,  Jo'm,  389- 
 Spear,  |ohn,  t8i. 
 Speke,  George,  207,  296. 
 ■   ■  John,  207. 
 
 Springer,  Sir  William,  49 
 Stacey,  William,  205. 
 Stamper,  Francis,  365. 
 Stainthill,//y/iVf,  266 
 Staples,  Benjamin,  49 1. 
 Stawel,  Som.  38. 
 . Lord,  uf,  203, 
 
 215, 
 
 *3I>339- 
 Steel,  Lawrence,  161,  163,  241. 
 Stert,  Robert,  38. 
 Stevenfon,  M.  Mart  43. 
 Still,  Samuei,  Pr.  318. 
 Stirredge,  James,  181. 
 
 Elizabeth,  ditto; 
 
 Stockdale,  William,  493. 
 Stocker,  John,  221. 
 Stone,  Thorn  a-,  135. 
 Storr,  Jofeph,   582 
 
 ■ Marmaduke,  ditto 
 
 Stordv,  Thomas,  2^4. 
 
 Storey,  John,  4.18,  432. 
 
 Stre- 1,  Jujlice,  450. 
 
 — -    Som.  40,- 1 18,  l8o,  276,  339, 
 
 SI7- 
 
 Strickland,  Jo.  Pricft,  469. 
 Strong,  James,  Priefty  340. 
 Stubbs,  John,  3(12,42;;,  426. 
 
 -_ Thomas,  ^84. 
 
 Stuckey,  Jo.  P  icfl,  40. 
 Sutton,  William,  221. 
 Swaiderbv,  -VV  illiam,  508. 
 St.  John  Evangelir!,  Loud.  375. 
 Salem.  N.  E>ig.  422. 
 Salford,  Sr,m.  464. 
 Salisbmy,  iViit,,  282,453,  468. 
 Sandvvicu,  Kt*a,  414 
 
 N.  Eng-J  46,422,425. 
 
 Sankey,  Lan.   252. 
 Scalehoufe,  Yvkjb.  438. 
 Scandaroon,  --</:«,  26. 
 Scarborough,  4:  7 
 
 Caftl  ;,  447. 
 
 Scituaie,  A'.  Eng,  4.6,  ^22,  425. 
 Seaurook,  ditto,  46. 
 
 Sedgmoor,  Sons-  30 r» 
 Si  i.,y,  York/}?.  492. 
 Shtlter-Hland,  Latigrldand,  46. 
 Shepton  Mallet,  S  m.  1S0,  202,  21c. 
 Sheriffs  Ward,  Ikbtfier,  229. 
 Shre'wfbury,  25-,  423,  4;?, 
 
 7  E-  7"."^.-4i3- 
 
 Skjpton,  'Inr.yh.  130,  352,  360,458. 
 Slartenford,  IVtlts,  409,  470. 
 Somcrfet,  l-j,  206,   209,  22 r,  265, 
 
 263>  333»  458- 
 Ssmerfit/bire,    t48,    1S6,    ig r,    226, 
 
 247,  *53>  257»  264,  287,  386, 
 
 393'  4-3>  445>  4i6j  459'  474- 
 Somerton,  4c,    184,  203,210,295, 
 
 299,  358,464,  504. 
 South  Brinr,  Horn    3-. 
 3  mth  Moulton,  Devon.  453. 
 Parrs,  284. 
 
 -  Pit.ierton,  Som.   134. 
 
 St.eet,  351. 
 
 Wales,  423,  428. 
 
 ward,  350. 
 
 — \va  k,  261. 
 
 i'u  elandj  Divon,  464. 
 afford,  25,  131. 
 Staffb'-djhirej  286. 
 Stanford,. JV.  Eng,  426. 
 Stepney,  Loud.  392. 
 Stoke  Gregory,  141. 
 Stoke  Linch,  Som.  134. 
 Stratford.  N.  Eng.  426. 
 Suffolk,  r  1 3 ,  :;:,  266. 
 
 S»<  ry,  26,  42?,  4^8, 
 
 Suffix,  27,  i66,  389,  448,  450. 
 iwanfea,  S.  Wales,  422. 
 Swarthmore,    13c,   443,  445,   446, 
 
 450,  452. 
 Stxitden,  479. 
 Sv>.  ine,  Yorkfh'.  166. 
 Switzerland,  480. 
 Syria,  Ajia,   26. 
 
 Taylor,   Andrew,  409. 
 
 Joieph,   181. 
 
 —  Anne,  bis  Wife,  ditto. 
 
 Chriltopher,  342,  352,  496; 
 
 Ftanpt  ,  b[s  Wife,  354. 
 
 I  nomas',  25,  130, 
 
 — ,  oj  Fifebead,  204. 
 
 i    P      174- 
 Thatcher,   V>-icb,  426. 
 "'.  heap,  fzl/tice,   266. 
 [;homas,  Arthur,  51a. 
 
 -  - —  Margaret,   127,  158. 
 Thorald,  Jiijlice,  266* 
 
 Thoroton-, 
 
I      N      D 
 
 Thoroton,  yuflict,  266. 
 Thorn,  Jujlice,  286. 
 Thornby,  Informer,  267; 
 Thorp.  William,  508. 
 Thurlby,  jirch-Dcacon,  175. 
 Thurfton,  Thomas,  422. 
 Tickell,  Hugh,  in. 
 Tiffin,  John,  429. 
 Tilly,  Informer,   155,  157,  159. 
 Timewell,  Stephen,  Jujlice,  233. 
 Tomfon,  John,  Pr'nfl,    139. 
 ■'  William,  252. 
 
 Townfend,  Jo.  Prie/l,  167. 
 
 — —    Theophilus,  415. 
 
 Travers,  Rebecca,  372. 
 Tredenham,  Sir  Jofeph,  460. 
 Trenchard,  Sir  John,  207. 
 Tnnini,  David,  224,  322,  516.. 
 Triftram,  John,  204. 
 Tucker,  John,  134,  203,217. 
 
 »         William,  17,  340. 
 
 »  ■  -  Captain,  300. 
 
 Turberville,  Jo.  459,  475. 
 
 Turner,  John,  180. 
 
 Tutton,  Robert,  38,  132,  338. 
 
 Twyford,  Captain,   180. 
 
 Tyler,  Philip,  276. 
 
 Tallow,  Irel.  419,  427. 
 
 Tangiers,  Africa,  474. 
 
 Taunton,  Som.  178,  204,  217,  296, 
 
 453,  464. 
 — — Affizes,   232,  234,  241, 
 
 368,278,  321,  336. 
 
 Seffions,  457,  475. 
 
 Temple-Street,  Br'fiol,  126,  153,  155. 
 
 Tetherton,  Wilts,   167. 
 
 Tewkelbpry,  N<u>  England,  422. 
 
 Thorncomb,  Devon.  134,  205. 
 
 Toulon,  France,  474. 
 
 Tobzey,  Brijlol,  153, 
 
 Topfham,  Devon.  61. 
 
 Torbay,  ditto,  389. 
 
 Torrington,  ditto,  384. 
 
 Totnefs,  ditto,  455. 
 
 Tower,  London,  371. 
 
 Truro,  Cora.  31. 
 
 Tithes,  1,  2,  22,  37,  56,  65,  71,  72, 
 
 82,95,  117*167,219,232,253, 
 
 4°3>  5°7« 
 
 Van  Helmont,  496. 
 
 Vickris,  Richard,  71,  126,  149, 159, 
 
 1S5,  250,  365,  402,  509,  512, 
 
 514. 
 Vickris,  Elizabeth,  his  Wife,  182. 
 
 X. 
 
 Vickris,  Hefter,  182. 
 -  Robert,  186. 
 
 Voak,  John,  134. 
 Vokins,  Joan,  410. 
 
 ■       Richard,  410,  415. 
 
 Thomas,  415. 
 
 Upham,  Thomas,  271. 
 Vale  ot  Beaver,  442. 
 
 White  Horfe,  410. 
 
 Venice-Sutton,  Som.  27. 
 
 Virginia,  361,422,424,427,  449. 
 
 Ury,  Scotland,  434. 
 
 Wade,  Jofeph,  181,  214,218,  339; 
 
 Wager,  Prndence,  392. 
 
 Wall,  John,  135,  141,  218,  339. 
 
 Mary,  153. 
 
 Benjamin,   156. 
 
 Wallis,  Ezekiel,  409. 
 
 Walrond,  Henry,  Jujlice,    66,  132, 
 
 133.  '4'.  *44>  174)  177)  *°3> 
 
 206,  226,  339. 
 
 William,  Jujlice,  266. 
 
 Walter,  Richard,  182. 
 
 Sir  W.  Jujlice,  490. 
 
 Ward,  Edward,  Counftllor,  190. 
 Warr,  Richard,  202,  215. 
 
 Prilcilla,  233. 
 
 Sir  Thomas,  Juflice}  278. 
 
 Warner,  Edward,  178. 
 Warwick,  25>377>386. 
 
 Ntw  England,  426. 
 
 Priefi,  4x7. 
 
 IVarwickfiirc,  489,  492. 
 
 Wafeby,  William,  134. 
 WaiUy,  William,  135. 
 Watts,  John,  181. 
 
 William,  205. 
 
 Wear,  William,  474, 
 Webfter,  Priefi,  360. 
 Welch,  Robert,  56. 
 Welchman,  Turnkey,  165,  193. 
 Welchpool,  Mont.  476,  500. 
 Weft,  Col.  443. 
 Wefterdale,  Pr.  219. 
 Weftley,  jijlicc,  514. 
 Wetherley,  George,  114. 
 Whaly,  jujlice,  266. 
 Wharley,  Daniel,  51. 
 Wheat,  Col.  469. 
 White,  Jabez,  164,  193. 
 
 John,  215. 
 
 Whitehead,  John,  166,    382,    501, 
 
 503- 
 
 r~> —  George,  64,  3<;o,  487. 
 
 Whitehead; 
 
I      N      D 
 
 Whitehead,  Anne,  350. 
 
 — — Jane,  266. 
 
 Whiting,  John,  7,   12,  20,  36,  105, 
 124,  143,  174,  217,  336. 
 
 ■ Mary,  257. 
 
 Whitrow,  Joan,  408. 
 
 Wickliffe,  John,  508. 
 
 Widders,  Robert,  342,  356,  425. 
 
 Willan,  Sam.  Priejl,  38,  219. 
 
 Williams,  Roger,  426. 
 
 Williamfon,  Henry,  3S2. 
 Willicom,  Gilbert,  132, 134; 
 Wilkins,  Francis,  134. 
 Wilkinfon,  John,  428,  432. 
 
 oi  Cumb.  445 
 
 Wills,  Robert,  39. 
 Wilfon,  Samuel,  24. 
 
 Thomas,  495. 
 
 —  William,  136. 
 
 ■ Michael,  13S. 
 
 — — —  juftice,  266. 
 
 Windham,  Sir  W.ji/ftice,  209,  266. 
 Wingfield,  Auguftine,  273. 
 Winn,  Catharine,  433. 
 
 Thomas,  466. 
 
 Woluin,  Turnkey,  165. 
 
 Woodhoufe, jit/licc,  266. 
 
 Woolfry,  Thomas,  204. 
 
 Wride,  John,  38,  132,  340. 
 
 Wright,  Lydia,4i3. 
 
 Wyat,  Daniel,  134. 
 
 Wyne,  John,  202. 
 
 Wakefield,  Yorkfo.  432. 
 
 Wtdes,  29,  57,   69,  283,  286,  288; 
 
 337.  39»>445>447. 
 Waltham  Abbey,  353. 
 Walton,  Son:.  32. 
 
 ■ on  Polcn-bill,  11S,  276. 
 
 Wandfworth,  Surry,  485. 
 Ward,  Ivelcbcfter,  303. 
 Warminfter,  Wilts,  469,  510. 
 Warplefdon,  Surry,  26. 
 Warrington,  Lan.  252,  253,  281. 
 Warton,  ditto,  360. 
 Waterford,  Ircl.  419,  427. 
 Wellingborough,  No>-tb,  381,  487. 
 Wellington,  Som.  464. 
 Wells,  ditto,  4,  12,  20,  29,  33,  174, 
 
 202,  400,504,  510,517,519. 
 
 Alfizes,  276,  321,  332,  336. 
 
 ■ Seliions,  458. 
 
 Wefel,  Gcr    482. 
 
 Weft,  226,  294.,  350,391,458. 
 
 — —  Aldington,  Devon.  41:5. 
 
 Chaiow,  Berks,  410. 
 
 . Chelier,  46. 
 
 X. 
 
 Weft  of  England,  112. 
 
 Houle,  Brift.  149,  l62>   164, 
 
 165. 
 
 Indies,  287. 
 
 Meath,  Irel.  427. 
 
 minfler,  261. 
 
 : —  Hall,  371. 
 
 norland,  52,  65,  130,  136,  266, 
 
 35->  369>  379>  423>  4-8>  443> 
 450,478, 
 — —  mun&on,  204. 
 
 River,  Maryland,  424. 
 
 ward,  46,  444,  504. 
 
 Wefton-fuper-mare,  38,  219. 
 
 Loylancl,  38,  30L 
 
 W  exford,  Ircl.  419,  427 
 Wheeler- ftreet,  Lond.  346,467. 
 Whetftone,  Lciceft.  444. 
 Whitby,  Yorkjb.  427. 
 Whitehall,  Land.  151. 
 White-hart-Court,  ditto,  45  r. 
 Whitehaven,  Cum,  423,427. 
 White  Lion,  Soutbwark,  261. 
 Wickham,  Bucks,  347. 
 Wicklow,  Ireland,  427. 
 Wilbv,  Nortbamft.   381. 
 Wiitjhirc,  52,83,  167,  287,  385,  39;, 
 
 409,  429,446,  509. 
 Windfor,  284,  321,  331. 
 Winterbnrn,  Ghuceftcrlb.  133,  168. 
 Withel,  Som,  37. 
 Wivtlfcomb,  ditto,  zcz, 
 
 271,  474. 
 Woodbndge,   Stiff.   234. 
 Woodfide,  Bucks,  49. 
 Woolefton,  Cbejh.  466. 
 WorceJter,  450. 
 
 Fight,  443. 
 
 —  Gaol,  449 
 
 «5»  2S-» 
 
 Worce/ler/bire,  428,  449,  490. 
 Worle,  Som.   39,219,408. 
 Wormingfard,  EJJex,   114. 
 Worms,  Gcr.  479. 
 Wraxall,  Som.  7,    it,   15,  75,  121, 
 
 31S. 
 Wrexham,  N.  W.  428. 
 Wrington,  Som.  32,  191,  295,  3S7, 
 
 399,409,467,  504,  509,  510, 
 
 514. 
 
 Tardly,  Willia-n,  492. 
 Yeamans,  Robert,  155. 
 Yoklet,  Sarah,  413. 
 Yarmouth,  Great,  234,  2S2,  4S3. 
 Yatton,  Som.  32,  40. 
 
 Yeovcl, 
 
N       D       E       X. 
 
 Yeovel,  ditto,  217,223,239. 
 York,  130,  ^79,  3S5,  427. 
 
 Caflle,  379,  385. 
 
 Tori/hire,   130,  257,  267,  352,  359, 
 
 377,  39°,  420,  427,  433,  443, 
 447,458,  478,483.488,492. 
 
 Yonghall,  Ireland,  419,  427. 
 
 Zachary,  Thomas,  342. 
 
 Memoirs  of  the  Lives  of  many  eminent  Friends  deeeajeci. 
 
 Stephen  Smith,   1678  Page 
 
 Chriftopher  Bacon, 
 
 Alive  Curwen,   1679, 
 
 Ifaac  Penington, 
 
 George  RuflTel,  1680, 
 
 Richard  Samble, 
 
 Hugh  Tickell', 
 
 Giles  Barnardifton, 
 
 Thomas  Tavlor,  iCSt) 
 
 William  Wilfon,  1682, 
 
 George  Coale, 
 
 Richard  Vickris,  185, 
 
 William  Bennit,   1684, 
 
 Lawrence  Steele, 
 
 William  Gibfon, 
 
 Thomas  Srordy, 
 
 John  Anderdon,  1685, 
 
 Thomas  Briggs, 
 
 Elizabeth  Bathmfr, 
 
 Thomas  Zachary,   1686, 
 
 Anne  Whitehead, 
 
 Chnftopher  Taylor, 
 
 William  Carter, 
 
 Robert  Widders, 
 
 Amariah  Drewet,  1687, 
 
 Roger  Longwortb, 
 
 James  Harril     , 
 
 26 
 
 Thomas  Langhorn, 
 
 Page  369 
 
 27 
 
 Rebecca  Travers,   1688, 
 
 37* 
 
 4- 
 
 William  Dewibury, 
 
 25>  37<i 
 
 47 
 
 Tohn  Longhurft, 
 
 389 
 
 5" 
 
 Alexander  Parker,  1689) 
 
 39Q 
 
 56 
 
 William  Peachy, 
 
 393 
 
 in 
 
 Clement  Lake, 
 
 405 
 
 "3 
 
 Joan  Vokins,  1690, 
 
 410 
 
 13c 
 
 fohn  Burnyeat, 
 
 416 
 
 136 
 
 Robert  Lodge, 
 
 43'> 
 
 168 
 
 Robert  Barclay, 
 
 434 
 
 250 
 
 George  Fox, 
 
 44i 
 
 234 
 
 Thomas  Salthoufe 
 
 4Si 
 
 241 
 
 James,  Martin,  169 1, 
 
 465 
 
 251 
 
 Thomas  Brafey, 
 
 4S6 
 
 254 
 
 Thomas  Winne, 
 
 46S 
 
 272 
 
 Katharine  Evans,  1692, 
 
 467 
 
 280 
 
 Stephen  Crifp, 
 
 476 
 
 326 
 
 Thomas  Olive, 
 
 487 
 
 342 
 
 Thomas  Goodair,  1693, 
 
 488. 
 
 35° 
 
 William  Yardly, 
 
 492. 
 
 35* 
 
 John  Delaval, 
 
 493 
 
 354 
 
 William  Stock  dale, 
 
 493 
 
 3^6 
 
 Patrick  Livingfton,  1694, 
 
 49$ 
 
 366 
 
 Thomas  Lloyd, 
 
 500 
 
 368 
 
 Thomas  Markham, 
 
 5or 
 
 368 
 
 William  Shewen,   169", 
 
 50J] 
 
 Letters  and  Papers  inferted  in  this  Book 
 
 Libel  in  Latin,  Page     7 
 
 in  Englifh,  11 
 
 Letter  to  Pvielt  Anchtyl,  75 
 
 to  William  Ru.nncy,  116 
 
 to  ditto,  123 
 
 to  M.  J.  142 
 
 to  y.  M.  17  j 
 
 ■  to  a  Friend  in  London,     178 
 
 To  the  Jufhces  a.tBrcw/0/1  "1   t> 
 
 Selhons,  )  Page  21 1 
 
 To  a  Friend  in  London,  216 
 
 To  the'Juflices  at  Ivdchtfro- Stf.  22t 
 L.  S.'s  Verfes  on  Bridget  Sneode,  249 
 To  the  Judges  at  Taunton  Ailizes,  268 
 Some  Prifon  Meditation',  311 
 
 To  the  Judges  at  Welh  AJizes,     333 
 
 N 
 
 Si 
 
mmm 
 
—  iH  if  nun  nw^i.   i.i  i  i     imM 
 
m 
 
 4KW 
 
 '•■•••