i .-. 

 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 'I
 
 
 > ^ /c 
 
 Ar'^'f 
 
 ■ /,^ 3 J^Y ^"'^'^ 
 
 Oz:^£c/J'fi/h^iJc<r: ym4
 
 ••*••
 
 HISTORY 
 
 F T H E 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS, 
 
 From their firfl Rife to the prefent Time, 
 
 Compiled from Authentic Records, and 
 from the Writings of that People. 
 
 By JOHN GOUGH, 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 PRII^TED FOR ROBERT JACKSON, MEATH-STREBT. 
 
 M.DCCLXXXIX-, 
 
 • * • a V 
 
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 H I ST O R Y 
 
 OF THE. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Meetings undijiui-bed for a Seafon. — Twenty Per^ 
 Jons die Prifoners in Newgate. — Amongji them 
 Richard Hubberthorn and Edward Burrough. — 
 Life and Charatler of Richard Hubberthorn.— ~ 
 Ditto of Edward Burrough. — William Arnes.—' 
 Samuel Fifher^ for refufing tofwear^ committed to 
 Newgate, — Notes exemplifying fundry fuffering 
 Cafes, 
 
 JL O R about fix weeks the meetings in the city chap. 
 were generally undiflurbed : the death of the ^^J^I^ 
 murdered man, the apprehenfion of trouble 1662. 
 which might have followed, and the publick Meetints 
 cenfure of their inhumanity, having, probably, "^'j. a 1^^.* 
 damped the ardour of thefe perfecuting magi-fon. 
 ftrates for the prefent ; who neverthelefs foon 
 Vol. II, A returned 
 
 43C9J?6
 
 2 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, returned to a repetition of the fame praclices, 
 ^"' and continued therein to near the end of this 
 ,,^ year. 
 aoperfons By whlch time no lefs than twenty perfons 
 difcci prifon- ^Iq^ prifoners in Nev/gate, and feven more by 
 gate, and fickncfs contraftcd there, foon after their dif- 
 Tm Rich ^^"'^^g*^ • a.mongft thofe who died there, were 
 Hubber- Richard Kubberthorn and Edward Burrough, 
 Edw"Bur- ^^^ ^^'^^'^ qualified ferviceable men, whofe ex- 
 rough, emplary lives, miniflerial labours, aftive exer- 
 tions in behalf of their fufFering friends, and 
 remarkable qualifications for ufefulnefs in vari- 
 ous refpeds, gave them a place amongfl the mod 
 eminent members of this fociety, made their 
 lofs very fenfibly felt by their friends ; and fur- 
 nifned their enemies and oppreffors (whom it 
 ought to have humbled into contrition, had they 
 retained any tenderncfs of the chriftian or the 
 man, as authors of their untimely death) with 
 an occafion of exultation, in hopes that the re- 
 moval of thefe ferviceable members would give 
 fuch a fhock to the fociety (whofe extinction 
 they defircd) as would not be readily got over. 
 Life and Richard Hubberthorn had his birth in the 
 
 chara<fterof T-orthern parts of Lancafhire, being the only fon 
 berthorn" ' of his fatlicr, 2. ycoman of good repute in that 
 country. From his youth, he was averfe to 
 vice and inclined to piety, fobriety and virtue. 
 Being arrived to years of maturity, he obtained 
 a poll in the parliament's army, and from a zeal 
 for promoting righteoufnefs preached occafion- 
 ally to the foldiers and others. But entering 
 amongfl: fome of the firft into the fociety of the 
 Quakers fo called, agreeable to their principle of 
 peace he quitted his military employment, as 
 he found it his place to ufe his endeavours, by 
 a fpiritual warfare with his own lufts and in- 
 firmities.
 
 PEOPLE -CALLED QUAKERS. 3 
 
 firmities, fo to walk in obedience to the grace of c hap. 
 God, as to obtain favour with that prince, whofe ^'"' 
 kingdom is not of this world. And pafling 
 through a variety of inward probations, Jie at- 
 tained experience in the work of regeneration, 
 and received ability to direct others in the fure 
 way to ' the kingdom of Heaven, being one of 
 the firfl of the miniiiers in this fociety who tra- " 
 veiled about for the propagation of righteouf- 
 nefs. 
 
 His bodily prefence promifed little, being a 
 man of low ftature, infirm conftitution, and a 
 weak voice ; fo that an acquaintance with his 
 real chara£ler was rcferved for an intimate knovi'- 
 ledge of his worth, which lay out of the way of 
 fuperficial obfervation, confiiiing not in grace- 
 fulnefs of perfon, but the laudable faculties of 
 the mind : he was of an excellent natural tem- 
 per, being a man of mach meeknefs, humility, 
 patience and brotherly kindnefs ; of diftinguifh- 
 ed equanimity, neither eafily deprelTed in ad- 
 verfity, nor elated in profperity ; clear in judg- 
 ment, and quick of underftanding, he knew his 
 feafon when to fpeck, and when to be filent ; 
 and when he fpoke, he fpoke with plainnefs and 
 pertinency to the fubjecl before him. 
 
 Notwithftanding the weaknels of his" voice, 
 he was a powerful, able and fuccefsful minifter 
 of the gofpel ; travelling in the different parts of 
 the nation in the exercife of his miniftrv, moflly 
 for the fpace of nine years : great numbers v/ere 
 convinced and brought over to the fame faith 
 and pratlice, which he preached up, as feals to 
 the power and efficacy of his pilniilry. 
 
 Although he u-as the very man, that having 
 obtained accefs to the King, was admitted to a 
 free conference with him, in v/hich he gave him 
 
 A 2 fuch
 
 4 H IS T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, fuch fatisfaction, as to the principles and praflice 
 ^2" • ^^ ^h^ Quakers, fo called, that he received the 
 1 66^ royal affurance of protetlion from futfering for 
 •the whole fociety, while they lived peaceably: 
 yet this promife was violated, as well in refer- 
 ence to his own perfon, as to the fociety in ge- 
 neral. For in the month called June, he was 
 haled with violence from the meeting at Bull 
 and Mouth, and carried before that implacable 
 magiftrate alderman Brown, who, indulging his 
 paflion as ufual, pulled him down by the hat 
 with fuch fury that he brought his head almoll 
 to the ground : in the infolence of office, thus 
 treating with unbecoming indignity a man of 
 confequcnce, and good repute, and a much wor- 
 thier charafter than himfelf had any pretenfions 
 to ; he then committed him to Newgate, where 
 the throng was fo great, and the air fo vitiated, 
 as foon overpowered his infirm conftitution ; he 
 prefently grew fick, and was taken away by 
 deaih, when he had fcarce been two mondis in 
 prifon. 
 
 As his life had been fpent in a£ls of righteouf- 
 
 Picty pro- , . ~ ^ . "^ 
 
 niotid. nefs and the purfuit of peace, his latter end ex- 
 hibited the happy eifed;s thereof; the peaceful 
 tenor of his conicience, flripping death of all its 
 terrors, he was in his laft moments fupported to 
 look forward, in full affurance of faith to the 
 near approach of future happinefs. Some of his 
 intimate friends vifiting him near his end, and 
 enquiring if he felt any thing on his mind to 
 communicate, he replied, " That there was no 
 " need to difpute matters ; he knew the ground 
 " of his falvation, and was fatisfied for ever in 
 '' his peace with the Lord." At another time 
 he exprelfed himfelf thus, " That faith which 
 " hath wrought my falvation, I well know, and 
 
 " have
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 5 
 
 *' have P^rounded fatisfaftion in it." But the chap. 
 
 greatelt part of the time of his ficknefs he palfed 
 
 in inward retirement and meditation, fo refign- ^. 
 
 ed, and fo ftill, that he was not obferved to vent 
 
 a groan through the whole. Tlie day before he 
 
 died, he aiked for the miftrefs of the houfe, to 
 
 whom he faid, " This night or to-morrow I fliall 
 
 " depart hence . and the next morning, to one 
 
 fitting by him, " Do not feek to hold me, for 
 
 " it [the body] is too (Irait for me ; and out of 
 
 " this ftraitnefs I mufl go ; for I am wound up 
 
 " into largenefs, and am to be lifted up on high 
 
 " far above all." So in the evening of that 
 
 day, the 17th 6"'''. 1662, he finiflied his courfe in 
 
 this life, in a frame of mind well prepared for an 
 
 entrance into a better, ■ , . 
 
 EDWARD BURROUGH was born inuiennd 
 43r near Underbarrow, a village in the barony of ^''/^^^^'^'[.^^^^ 
 Kendal in Weftmoreland, of parents in repute Bummgh. 
 for their honed and virtuous conduct in life, who 
 were poiTeffed of competent fubftance to give 
 him a good education in fuch learning as the 
 country afforded ; which though not furnifliing 
 the opportunity of what is termed a liberal edu- 
 cation ; yet the foundnefs of his judgment, and 
 the maturity of his underftanding abundantly 
 compenfating for this deticiency in literature, ' 
 
 even his puerile years exhibited proofs of manly 
 fenfe, and he was early dipLinguiihcd by wifdom 
 and fteadincfs of conducl, rarely to be met with 
 in one of his age ; employing himfelf even 
 then in religious thoughtfulnefs, and in the con- 
 verfation of fuch as were in elleem for piety and 
 virtue : abftaining from the ordinary pleafures 
 and purfuits of youth, he placed his fatislaction 
 in perufmg the holy fcriptures, in which he was 
 
 well-
 
 6 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 nan meet 
 
 ires, 
 
 CHAP, well verfed. He was brought up by his parents 
 
 ^'^ in the epifcopal way of worfhip ; but at the age 
 
 gg of twelve years he began at times to frequent 
 
 Frequents the meetings of the Prefbyterians, becaufe their 
 
 Prefbyte- do£trine anpeared to him to approach nearer to 
 
 nan mef!*-- . ^^.i _ r i • n • 
 
 the prnnitive practice of the chrifiian church ; 
 and continued his attendance of their meetings 
 *till about the 17th year of his age, when 
 his reneftion and judgment attaining a great- 
 er degree ot maturity, he felt confiderable un- 
 eafmefs and fear, being led to take a view of the 
 condition of his foul -, and thereby being con- 
 vinced that notwithftanding his religious appear- 
 ance, and good reputation, he had not attained 
 to that knowledge of God, and that internal pu- 
 rity of heart, which was difcovered to his un- 
 derftanding, as the elfential part of true religion. 
 About this time, being exercifed in prayer, he 
 felt an inward conviction impreffing his under- 
 ftanding with this intelligence, " Tbou art igno- 
 " rant of God ; thou knoivejl not where he is, nor 
 '• '-Lvhat he is ; to what purpofe is thy prayer /"* 
 This awakening intelligence excited him to re- 
 doubled diligence, and circumfpe£lion of life, 
 fo that he was' not only very careful in his own 
 condud, but upon occafion, was concerned to 
 reprove others for their vain converfation, im- 
 piety or immorality ; wherein, though his cha- 
 ritable endeavours expofed him to contempt and 
 derifion, yet he felt in himfelf much peace, and 
 enlivening refrefliment of fpirit, in a confciouf- 
 nefs of his religious life and fmcere endeavours 
 to pleafe God. 
 
 Notwithftanding which, his mind was often fo 
 attended with doubting and perplexity, that it 
 became greatly darkened, and in this ftate he was 
 ready to queftion his own experience : Yet fm- 
 
 cerely
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 7 
 
 ccrely dedrous of further difcoveries of the way of c h a p. 
 life and falvation, and finding the dodrine of the ^_^...,_^ 
 teachers to whom he had attached himftlf, defed- j^^^. 
 ive in profitable inllrudion, as to the want and 
 defire of his foul, appearing to him the refult of 
 mere fpeculation, and a natural comprehenfion 
 of the fcriptures and of the experiences of others, 
 and inot the fruit of their own experience, he dif- 
 continued his attention to them ; and was one, 
 amongil the many, that v/ere at a lofs in their 
 minds, what guide to follow, or what fociety to 
 look to, for the direction they wanted. At the 
 time when George Fox firll came into the parts 
 where he refided, he went to hear him preach, 
 and afterwards entered into reafoning with him 
 upon religious fubjefts (as before related) where- 
 by it pleafcd the Lord fo to open his undcrlland- 
 ing into a clear view of his fpiritual condition, 
 that he perceived (as he himfelf exprelTeth it) that 
 he was yet in the prodigal ftate, above the crofs 
 of Chrift, and not in the true fear of the Lord : 
 Yielding to the convidion of truth (as he was 
 fully perfuaded) he was not difcouraged from en- J°'"^ '" ^°- 
 termg mto fociety with the C)uaKers, tnougn nke rhe Qr.ii. 
 the primitive chiiftians, a people defpifed by the''"*- 
 world, and every where fpoken againlt. For this 
 he was rejefted by his relations, and expelled from 
 his father's houie, which hardfiiip, with many 
 others he was afterv/ards expcfed to, he bore with 
 exemplary patience, and continued fteadfaft to the 
 lad in the dodrines and principles of truth. Thro' 
 fidelity to the difcovery of duty, by the light in 
 his confcience, he advanced in the work of fanc- 
 tification, and being thereby endued with the beft 
 quaUfication, became an eminent miniftcr of the 
 
 gofpcl :
 
 8 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP s;ofpeL and a moil ferviceable member of this 
 ^^^_^_^^ fociety. Indefatigable in the laborious exertion 
 1662 °^ excellent talents, natural and fpiritual, bv 
 word and by wTiting, for the promotion of righte- 
 oufnefs in the earth ; for the propagation of gof- 
 pei truths ; tor edifving of the bodv in love;' and 
 uling endeavours for their relief from their griev- 
 ous fufferings ; he willingly devoted the bloom 
 of his youth, and the fucceeding part of life, to 
 the fervice of God ; of his fellow members in fo- 
 cietv, and mankind in general, bv unremitted 
 endeavours to prevail upon the inhabitants of this 
 and other nations to turn from the evil of their 
 wavs ; to encourae;e them to rit^hteoufnefs and 
 purity of life bv example, exhortation, admoni- 
 tion and reproof. 
 
 ^ Thefe religious exercifes were as the whole 
 bufmefs of his Hfe, of which he did not appropri- 
 ate to himfelf ^r his private concerns one week at 
 a time for manv vears ; but beine: continuallv and 
 indultrioully employed in doing good, he allow-- 
 ed himfelf few hours of repofe. 
 Hisq^jsKfi- ^^^ minilfry was powerful and reaching, his 
 cations as a do£lrine found, and his language eloquent ; for 
 though deiccdve in human literature, in the eili- 
 mation of the wife men of this world, yet he 
 fpake as with the tongue of the learned, having 
 learned in the beil fchool, and been prepared for 
 the minilirv- by the bell initrudion, that of the 
 Spirit oi truth, gradually leading into the living 
 experience of holinefs, through the wafliing of 
 regeneration, he was qualified, like the wife 
 fcribe, out of the treafury oi his own experience, 
 to bring forth things new and old ; and to fpeak 
 
 with 
 
 f Piety promoted. ^ Sewel.
 
 menu. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED OJJAKERS. 9 
 
 with clearnefs in the demonflration of the fpirit, chap. 
 to the underllanding of his auditors. He fpake ,^^^..^1^ 
 the feeling ^d animated lan»;uage of the heart, ^(^^2. 
 aptly applied to the dates, and reaching the divine 
 witnefs in the hearts of his hearers, whereby his 
 niiniftry was made effectual to the turning of 
 many from darkneft to light, and from fm to 
 righteoufnefs and circumfpeciion of life. 
 
 His perfonal conduct gave efficacy to his mini- H^perfbrai 
 ftry; he lived himfelf as he wanted and advifed acc^n.piiiii- 
 others to live, viz. in the fear of his Maker,' 
 walking in his prefence, and fetting him as at his 
 right hand that he might not fm againft him. His 
 natural difpofition was bold and manly, temipered 
 with innocence ; his converfation affable and in- 
 ftructive, circumfcribed with watchful care. 
 
 That arbitrary ftretch of power, which at this 
 period was fo unjuftly pointed at Quakers in ge- 
 neral, was like to fail moft heavily upon thofe who 
 were mod eminent am.ongll them. It m.ight 
 therefore adminifter occafion of wonder, if this 
 diftinguiflied young man had efcaped the ftroke 
 of a perfccution, fo generally levelled at the body 
 of which he was coniidered as one of the principal 
 ornaments and fupports. Under the rigour of an 
 harfh irnprifonment, he fell a facrifice to inexo- 
 rable malice, and terminated a life of exemplary 
 virtue and v/ifdom at an age, when the generality 
 of mankind fcarcc think feriouily about living. 
 
 The preceding pages have informed the reader 
 that he travelled in many parts of England, 
 through Ireland, in Scotland and Flanders, in the 
 exercife of his minifteriai labours, in which he 
 met with a variety of fufferings, trials and imipri- 
 fonments ; but his principal field of labour, from 
 the time of his going thither, was in and about 
 
 the
 
 lO 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 
 CHAP, the cltv of London, where his miniftry had been 
 
 ^'"- efTectual to the converfion of numbers. And his 
 
 ,. affectionate regard was fo warm to the inhabitants 
 
 of that city, that he is faid, when perfecution 
 
 grew her, repeatedly to have expreffed himfelf 
 
 thus to Francis Howgill, his bofom friend: " I can 
 
 " freelv eo to that citv, and lay down mv hfe for 
 
 '• a teftimony to that truth, w^hich I have declared 
 
 *' through the fpirit and power of God." And 
 
 being this year on a vifit to his friends in Brifto!, 
 
 in taking his leave of them, he faid, " he did not 
 
 " know he fhould fee their faces any more," and 
 
 therefore " he exhorted them to faithfulnefs and 
 
 *' fteadfaTmefs in that wherein they found reft to 
 
 " their fouls." And to fome, " 1 am now going 
 
 *■'■ up to the city of London again, to lay down 
 
 my life for the gofpel, and fuffer amongft 
 
 friends in that place." 
 
 Not Ion? after arriving in London, he attend- 
 
 ed the meeting at Bull and Mouth, where as he 
 
 Cemwifted was concemcd in his miniftry, he w^as violently 
 
 toNewgate. p^ji;^^ dov/n by foldiers, and taken before al- 
 
 Fined dcmian Brown, who committed him to Newgate : 
 
 Some weeks aker he was brought to trial at the 
 
 foneVtiT' ^'^ Bailey, fined by the court twenty marks*, 
 
 payment, and Condemned to lie in prifon till he paid the 
 
 fine. 
 
 * The proceedings of the courts at this time feem inexpli- 
 cable, as it doth not appear by what law they impofed thefe ar- 
 bitrary and exorbitant lines. The late laws againfl Quakers 
 limit the forfeiture and imprifonment. The revived obfolete 
 law of Elizabeth, of 20I. a month, could not lie againft a man 
 for being found at one meeting, and who previoufly had been 
 travelling in other parts ; befides, I do not find this ad gives 
 any power of imprifonment at all. Neither doth the Itatute of 
 Prcmunire reach the prcfent cafe. So that it feems as if they 
 a<^ed with or without law at their pleafure, in harrafiing an 
 harmkfs bodv of men.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED q^U A K E R S. 1 1 
 
 fine : which amounted to perpetual imprifon- chap. 
 
 mcRt, unlefs releafed by the king ; for as the ^"• 
 
 fa£t for which he, with many of his brethren, ^"^"^ 
 
 1 J •/•(••• 1662. 
 
 were condemned, was, in tneir eltimation, no 
 
 crime, but an acl of iridifpenfible duty to God, a 
 voluntary and adive compliance with the penalty, 
 they efteenied a tacit confeffion of guilt, giving 
 away the caufe, and balking their teltimony to 
 the truth, which, for confcience-fake, they durll 
 not do. This their perfecutors well knew, and 
 took this as another mode to imprifon them dur- 
 ing pleafure. 
 
 Being thus immured in the fame prifon with 
 fix or feven fcore of his friends, crowded fo many 
 in one room, as was even fuflocating, many of 
 them grew tick and died, of which number he 
 was one. And though a fpecial order from the o.-der from 
 king was fent to the flieriifs of London, for his t')«^'<'"g.f'jr 
 releafe and that of fome other prifoners, yet fuch evlded!* *^ 
 was the averfion to all humanity, and fo impla- 
 cable the enmity of fome of the city magiflrates, 
 efpecially Brov/n, that they exerted themfelves to 
 prevent the execution of this order, and found 
 means to eififdt it. By his detention in prifon, 
 his diilemper gathered (Irength, and threatened 
 his approaching dillblution, the profpecl where- 
 of the purity of his confcience llripped of all its ter- 
 rors, fupported by the confolatory review of a life 
 Well fpent in the fervice of his Creator, his friends 
 and fellow-citizens, and exempt from the confci- 
 oufnefs of imputed fm, or wilful omilhon of du- 
 ty, he hefitated not to make the following folemn 
 appeal : / bave bad the tcjiimony of ihe Lord's 
 love unto me from my youth^ and my heart, Lord, 
 hath been given up to do thy will. I have preached 
 the gofpel freely in this city, and have often given up 
 
 my
 
 12 II I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 VH 
 I 
 
 CHAP, my life for the gofpel's fake ; and now, Lord, rip 
 opeti my heart, and fee if it be not right before thee. 
 662. -^R'^"^» There is no iniquity lies at my door ; but the 
 prcfence of the Lord is ivith me, and his life I feci 
 jufiifics me. His friends about him he counfelled 
 to Hie in love and peace, and love one another. 
 PrayiRg for his enemies and perfecutors, he faid, 
 Lord forgive Richard Br(jwn, if he may be for- 
 given. And being fenfible of his diffolution draw- 
 ing nigh, he faid, Though this body of clay mufl 
 turn 10 dv.fi, yet I have a tejiimony thai Ihaveferv- 
 ed God faithfuiiy in my generation ; and that fpirit 
 that hath lived and aclcd and ruled in me, foall yet 
 break frth in thoufands. The morning before his 
 departure, he faid, Noiu m-^ foul and fpirit is cen- 
 tered into its own being with God, and this form of 
 per f on rnuji return from whence it was taken ; and 
 after a little time expired, the 14th of the month 
 called February, in the prime of life, being in 
 the 28th vear of his age, havinn[ been a zealous 
 preacher of righteoufnefs about ten years. 
 ^r A William Ames alfo died in the latter end of this 
 
 year at Amiierdam. As foon as the lalt act 
 againft conventicles came in force, feveral indivi- 
 duals of bitter fpirits, and officious in evil, feem- 
 ed waiting with impatience the opportunity of 
 gratifying their inclination to mifchief, without 
 regard to legal forms or the conftitutional privi- 
 leges of the fubject ; for fuch was the temper of 
 this perfecuting age, and fuch the protection 
 that lawlefs pcrfons depended upon, that the 
 principal barriers of the conilitution were broken 
 ccedfnT^s^^n ^own, to give illegal eifecl to iniquitous laius : So 
 cnforc^-.g that when fome of this people were feen to enter 
 laws!^"^ an houfe, though only on a private vifit to their 
 friends, they were purl'ued into the houfe by muf- 
 
 kcteers,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 13 
 
 keteers, without legal authority ; and even doors chap. 
 of private dwellings were broken open, under ^'^^' 
 pretence of detecting their meetings (who never ^^ 
 met in corners to avoid detection) and where they 
 found five together, upon whatever bufinefs or 
 occafion, it was a conventicle. Now it happened 
 that two of thefe mufketeers, Thomas and John 
 Herbert with other afibciates, entering one houfe 
 according to their cufiom with drawn fwords, 
 found there Samuel Fifher, William Ames, 
 and three * more, whom they immediately took 
 priibners, and being afked for a warrant, holding 
 up their fwords, replied, Do not q/k ns for a war- \ 
 ranty this is our warrant. Thev immediately 
 forced them to Paul's yard, where they were de- 
 rided and abufed by the foldiers, and afterwards 
 taken before Richard Brown, who lent them with w. Ames 
 a mittimus to Bridewell to be kept to hard la- ii'--F-io"C'*. 
 
 1 11 • J 1 u andorow- 
 
 bour, where they were required to beat hemp, iti^ fick is 
 and treated fo feverely that William Ames grew '^^^'^^^''s^^' 
 dangeroufly ill, and being an inhabitant of Am- 
 fterdam, he was difcharged, for fear of his 
 dying in prifon here alfo ; upon which he returned 
 to the place of his refidence, in a weak flate of 
 health, from which he never recovered, but died 
 within the current year ''. 
 
 in his youth he was of a chearful difpofition, 
 and delighted in airy company ; but being dilqui- 
 eted in mind by conviction of his folly in mif- 
 pending his precious time, he gave himfeli up to 
 religious exercifes, to a diligent attendance to 
 the dodrine of the prielts and teachers, and to 
 the reading of the fcriptures, a practice good in 
 itfelf, yet his reHgion only notional, amufmg the 
 
 underdanding, 
 
 * Samuel Goodacre, Henry Green, and J. Giimfhaw. 
 ^ Sewei, p. 379. ct alibi.
 
 14 HIS TO R Y OF THE 
 
 C HAP.' under (landing, but not cleanfmg the heart, 
 ^'^' brought him not peace with God : But being of 
 ,,^ quick underitanding he could difcourfe readily of 
 thofe topicks which he had heard and read, and 
 entering into fociety with the Baptifts, became a 
 teacher among them. He was alio a military of- 
 ficer in Cromwell's armv in Ireland, in which 
 pofl, being fLricl: and regular in his own conduct, 
 he exerted himfelf to introduce, and preferve the 
 like regularity among the foidiers under his com- 
 mand by a ftricl difcipiine : But flill though he 
 had truth in his comprehenfion, and could dif- 
 -courfe of liindification, he perceived he was not 
 come into the experience thereof, as his paffions 
 had dill dominion over him, and regeneration 
 was yet v.anting, but w^as at a lofs as to the 
 means of attaining: what he ftood in need of. 
 About this time Francis Howgill and Edward 
 Burrough coming into Ireland, he went to hear 
 them, and by their doftrine was inform.ed that ic 
 was the light, wherev/ith Chrill enlightene^h 
 every man that cometh into the world, which 
 convinceth man of fm, and giveth him power 
 over it. This doctrine delivered witli a reaching 
 influence, made a deep imprelTion upon his 
 mind, and produced in him a refoiution circum- 
 fpedively to attend to this inv;ard monitor ; and 
 thus walking in fear, he received power to avoid 
 the evil he was condemned for, and to advance 
 in the work of fanftification, and not only joined 
 in profenjon with the people called Quakers, but 
 in procefs of time became a zealous preacher 
 amongft them, and travelled in the work of the 
 miniftry, not only in England, but much in Hoi-, 
 land and Germany, where feveral were con- 
 vinced by him, efpecially in the Palatinate ; and 
 
 thefe
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. i- 
 
 thefe Palatines removing foon after to Penfylva- chap. 
 nia, efcaped the general devaflation of their coun- ^'' 
 try by the French, which happened not long 
 after, and at lafl he fettled at Amflerdam, where 
 he fupported himfelf by wool-combing, and there 
 he died as before related. 
 
 Samuel Fiiher and the reft committed with him, Sam.Finicr, 
 at the end of fix weeks were brought to the fef- fufm-'tV*^" 
 fions at the Old Bailey, not to trial, for they had fwtiir,com- 
 no charge againft them, being very illegally im- iljeweate, 
 prifoned, having broke no law : And therefore 
 they were brought to be involved in the breach 
 of law, by the fure courfe of tendering the oath 
 of allegiance : They dcfired the a<3: might be read, 
 by virtue whereof the oath was required of them. 
 This was promifed by the court to be done ; yet 
 inftead thereof they ordered the clerk to read only 
 the form of the oath, but would not allow the 
 law impofmg it to be read. Before the prifoners 
 had declared their refufal, they were ordered to 
 be taken away, which the officers did with fuch 
 rudenefs, that they threw fome of them down 
 upon the flones ; and thus, inflead or being freed 
 from their illegal impriibnment, they were com- 
 mitted to Newgate. 
 
 The relation of the harfli and unjufl meafures 
 purfued in this year of hot perfecution we have 
 confined moltly to the city of London as the 
 principal fcene of adion ; yet thefe or the like 
 proceedings were not confined to the city, but 
 were too generally carried on in the different 
 counties, wherever the magiftrates were bigots 
 to the church, or fycophants to the court, of 
 which there were too many in all quarters *. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 • John Grave of Turpenhow, Thomas Wat Ton of Cocker- Ciimbcr- 
 iTiomh,and John Robinfonof Biigham, taken out of their o\vp, land. 
 
 houfcs
 
 i6 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. NOTE continued. 
 
 VII. 
 
 t^— ^-T_' houfes by foldiers and carried before the governor of Carlifle, 
 166'' v/ere by him imprifoned in the winter in a cold place over one 
 of the city gates, where they were denied the vilits of their 
 friends, and had their food frequently kept from them ; ai'ter- 
 v/ards the oath was tendered to them, for refufing which they 
 were removed to the county jail, where they lay thirty-five 
 weeks. 
 
 George Fletcher, a justice of peace in this county, with a 
 retinue armed with fwords and pi.'tols, rufhed violently into a 
 meeting at Howliill in Sowerby parilh, and finding a perfon 
 on his knees, he rtruck him over the head ; and when he con- 
 tinued praying ordered him to be pulled down backward, and 
 then caufed him, with feveral others, to be dragged down the 
 hill in a violent and cruel manner, and afterwards fent them to 
 Carlifle jail. Belfe. 
 
 Extradl of a letter, written by fome prifoners to the juftices of 
 peace at Winchelkr felTions, dated the 13th of the month 
 called January, 1662 '^. 
 
 Hampfhirc. *' We are men that fear the Lord, and follow peace with 
 *« all men, amongft whom we have behaved ourfelves peaceably 
 " and quietly, labouring with our hands in honcfl callings, to 
 *' provide for ourfelves and families; and careful, though we 
 *' fuffer in body and eftate, fuch fufferings may only affeft our- 
 felves and ours, and that no other perfon may fuffer lofs 
 or detriment thereby, nor we be chargeable to any. We have 
 '♦■'not wilfully provoked the officers or rulers againft us, nor 
 *' adminifl^ered other occafion of offence, than that we dared 
 *' not but krvt the Lord that made us, by waiting upon him ; 
 *' for this only, and no other caufe on our parts, we have, 
 *' previous to our imprifonment, fuffered fo much cruelty and 
 *• inhuman ufage as almoft exceeds belief, that Englifhmen 
 ** fliould be fo unmercifully abufed by foldiers and others, as 
 " we have been for tlie fpace of a year and a half in the town 
 *' of Portfmouth, the place of our abode : Few firfl: days in 
 *' that fpace of time but we were, by the rudeft foldiers chofen 
 *' out for the purpofe, and clf.cers of the like Itamp, either 
 *' haled from our meetings before the law was made againft 
 *' them, or forced out with violence, beaten with their muflcets, 
 *' pufhed and punched with- the butt-ends thereof; and in this 
 
 " manner 
 
 <^ Bcfle, vol. i. p. Z34, 235, 
 
 -/^^■^ 

 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 17 
 
 •NOTE continued. 
 
 ** manner driven out of the gates from our habitation and law- CHAP. 
 
 *' ful employments. Our bodies were forelv bruifed, our VTf. 
 
 *' goods fpolkd or carried away, and our windows battered V«^V-v^ 
 
 *' to pieces after we wtre forced out. At ot.ier times we i66::» 
 
 *• were made prifoners in our own meeting-houlc, and armed 
 
 ** guards let on every fide to keep us in, men and women 
 
 *' together, contrary to the rules of civil'ty or decency. Food 
 
 *' denied to be brought to us, or our food taken away by the 
 
 *' foldiers. Some of us have been kept feveral weeks in nafty 
 
 *' holes, generally efteemed too bad for felons to be kept in a 
 
 *• few days : In Felton's hole, the waves of the fea beat in 
 
 " upon one of us to that degree in the winter feafon, that he has 
 
 " flood up ro his ancles in water. 
 
 *♦ After we had for the fpace of a year and a half fuffered 
 *' fuch abulive treatment ; the rulers of the nation added 
 *' affliftion to our forrows, by making a law that not more 
 ** than five might depart from their habitations, and affemble 
 " for worfhip, &c. Although we were not at tliis time (for 
 *' which we are imprifoned) the number of five who departed 
 ** from our habitations, and therefore not tranfgreffors of the 
 ** law, which we made appear to the rhayor and magiftrates 
 ** who committed us, and they had no proof to the contrary j 
 " yet notwithitanding they impofed the utmoft penalty of the 
 ** law by imprifoning us for three months ; and three weeks 
 " over the term prefcribed by the ad are elapfed, and we are 
 " ftill detained prifoners in Wincheller this 13'^'^ of 11™". 
 «' 1662. 
 
 " After an appeal to the mercy and juftice of the magi- 
 " Urates, after claiinina the benefit of the kind's late declara- 
 *' tion, they fubfcribe in acquiefcence to the divine will. 
 
 *' John Austin, 
 
 *' William Buckland, 
 
 " Nicholas Complin, 
 
 " Jonas Goff, 
 
 " Thomas Cozens, 
 
 " William Jennings." 
 
 Vol. il. B At
 
 i8 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 NOTE continued. 
 
 CHAP. At the fame time was a prifoner with them in Winchefler 
 *^^- jail, Humphry Smith, who was kept under dole confinement, 
 
 ^^-i^"^/^*^ and never called to anfwer at any affize or fefliODS, and his 
 1662^ friends were frequently denied the liberty of vifiting hini, 
 until he died there on the 4th day of the month called May, 
 1663. This good man had a forefight of his death, and faid 
 to fome of his friends, that he bad a narroiv path to pafs through: 
 And more than once fignified, he faiv he Jhould he imprifonedy 
 and that it might cojl him his life. In the time of his ficknefs 
 he expreflcd himfelf thus : My heart is Jilled nvith the poiver of 
 God ; it is good for a man at fiich a time as this to knoiv the 
 Lord for his friend. And at another time, Lord thou ha/i fent 
 me forth to do thy ivill, and I have been faithful unto thee in my 
 fmall meafure which thou haji committed to me, but if thou ivi/t 
 yet try me farther thy ivill be done. Alfo he faid, / am the 
 Lord's, let him do ivhat he ivill. And when near his depar- 
 ture he prayed thus : I^ord hear the inward fighs and groans 
 of thy opprejfed, and deliver my foul from the oppreffor. Hear 
 me, Lord^. uphold and preferve me. I hnoiv that my re- 
 deemer livctb. Thou artflrong and mighty, Lord. He alfo 
 prayed, that God would deliver his people from their oppref- 
 fors. And for thofe who had been convinced by his miniftry^ 
 that God would be their teacher. He continued fweetly ftilk 
 and fenfible unto the end, and died in perfedl peace. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 19 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Declaration of Indulgence. — The Parliament oppofes 
 Indulgence to Di/fenters. — Remarks upon the 
 King's Declaration from Breda. — Perfeciition in 
 general moderated. — But grievoujly carried on 
 at Colchejier. — Rumours of a freflj Conf piracy. 
 George Fox writes a Paper dif claiming all Plots. 
 — Tet is fubjeded to profecution. — Sundry at- 
 tempts to take him. — He goes to Colonel Kirby^ 
 vuho treats him with diffembled Kindnefs. — At a 
 private Meeting the Jufiices grant a Warrant 
 to apprehend George Fox. — Of which he has 
 notice.^ hut refohes to ftand his ground. — He is 
 committed to Lancajler Caftle. — Margaret Fell 
 fummoned before the fuflices. — Who tender her 
 the Oath of Allegiance., and imprifon her alfo. — 
 Their Prifon very incommodious. — Francis How- 
 gill taken out of the Market at Kendal and im- 
 prifoned, 
 
 J. N the latter part of this year, the king, by chap. 
 the advice of his privy council, ilfueJ a declara- "^"^ 
 tion, dated the 26th of December, in which, 
 after other things, mentioning the promife of 
 liberty of confcience, contained in his declaration 
 from Breda, he adds, " We are glad to renew The king 
 " to all our fubiefts concerned in thole promifes '^"".* ^^•. 
 
 ■L'rr 1 I- 1 1 claration ot 
 
 *' this ailurance, that as for what concerns the induisencc. 
 " penalties on thofe who, living peaceably, do 
 " not conform to the church of England through 
 
 B 2 " fcruple 
 
 1662.
 
 (C 
 
 20 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP. " fcruple or tendernefs of mifgulded confcience, 
 VIII. <c ^yj. modeftly and without fcandal perform 
 1662 " their devotions in their own way, we fhall 
 " make it our fpecial care, as far as in us lies, 
 " without invading the freedom of parliament, 
 to incline their wifdom at the next approach- 
 ing fefiions to concur with us for making fome 
 aft for that purpofe, as may enable us, with 
 " a more univerfal fatisfaftion, to exercife that 
 '* power of difpenfmg, which we conceive to be 
 " inherent in us." 
 
 In his fpeech at the opening of the next fef- 
 fions, the 28th of the month called February, 
 1662-3, ^^ fupported his declaration in the fol- 
 lowing words : " That though he was in his 
 " nature an enemy to all feverity in religion, 
 " he would not have them from thence infer 
 that he meant to favour popery, though fe- 
 veral of that profefTion for their fervices 
 might juftly claim a fliare in that indulgence, 
 he would willingly afford to other diffenters." 
 Then expreffing his zeal for the proteftant re- 
 ligion and the aft of uniformity, continues. 
 If the diffenters will behave themfelves peace- 
 ably and modeftly under the government, I 
 could heartily wifh, I had fuch a power of 
 indulgence to ufe upon all occafions, as might 
 not needlefsly force them out of the king- 
 dom, or flaying here give them caufe to con- 
 fpire againfl the peace of it.** 
 The pariia. But the parliament, in their prefent bigotry 
 fo"ndu^?°' ^o epifcopacy, equally averfe to papifts and non- 
 gencetodif-conformifts, in their addrefs to the king, deliver- 
 ed it as the opinion of the Houfe, T/jat no indul- 
 gence be granted to dijfenlers ; and as the king 
 pleaded his promifes of toleration, they repre- 
 
 fented 
 
 
 (( 
 
 cc
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 2i 
 
 fented that his declaration from Breda contained ^y,/^^' 
 no promife, but an exprefiion of his intentions, v,.^rv-v^< 
 upon the fuppofition of the parliament's con- 1552. 
 currence ; and that even if the non-conformifts 
 had been entitled to plead a promife, they had 
 entrulted their claim to the houfe of commons, 
 who were their reprefentatlves. It was not the 
 weight of argument, but the power of the par- 
 liament, that could give force to fuch reafoning 
 as this, and carry conviction to the king or the 
 people. The king's extravagance reducing him Remark 
 to the neceffity of continual applications for i^-'n^'s j^. 
 fupplies, the commons, by a liberality approach- cJaration ^ 
 ing to profufion, purchafed his affent to feeble 
 arguments and vindictive laws. The king's de- 
 claration from Breda I apprehend not oriiy to 
 be a folemn promife, but a folemn a6t, amount- 
 ing to a treaty or covenant between him and the 
 people of England. 'I'he king propofed terms 
 to the parliament then fitting ; upon thcfe terms 
 he was accepted as their king, which was as 
 the ratification of the treaty by the reprcfcn- 
 tative body : Surely, if ever there was a com- 
 pa6t between king and people, this was one of 
 the moil binding: nature. 
 
 But although the parliament withftccd the ^^^S' 
 king's meafures in this matter, yet this decla- 
 ration of his difpofition to moderation feems PcrfecutOn 
 for a feafon to have retarded the furious career ""^^"^^'^'^• 
 of the perfecuting magifirates. We meet with 
 few inftances of fulferings in the metropolis in 
 the fucceeding year in comparifon of thole re- 
 lated in the lait ; yet they did not remain quite 
 unmolefted, for Sir John Robinfon fucceeding 
 R. Brown in the mayoralty, a man well nigh 
 equal to him in inveteracy to the people called 
 
 Quakers,
 
 22 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP. Quakers, ordered a guard to be placed at the 
 ^"'' entrance of the Bull and Mouth meeting-houfe, 
 .. to prevent any perfons from going in. Being 
 thus fj-iut out they met in the flreet, as near the 
 door as poffible, and there flayed the ufual 
 time of their meeting. When any one preached 
 or prayed they were generally haled away to 
 prifon. One fir ft day the mayor with his offi- 
 cers and the fherifts coming thither, and the 
 people not difperfing at his command, he gave 
 orders to his officers to ftrike, who immediatelv, 
 with their canes and fticks, as ufual, dealt their 
 blows on all fides unmercifully on the heads of 
 both men and women. The mavor himfelf alfo 
 flruck feveral, and fpurred on his horfe to ride 
 over them, to avoid which the horfe reared 
 himfelf on his hind legs, whereby his rider fell 
 off backward into the kennel, and being helped 
 up again, was preparing to repeat his abufes, 
 had not the flieriffs, who were more moderate, 
 and afhamed of his adions, perfuaded him to 
 depart. 
 Pcrfecutioii ^ In this year alfo was a grievous perfecution of 
 at^coichef- ^^^^ pg^pig ^^ Colchefler in EiTex. William 
 
 Moore, then mayor, came feveral times to their 
 meetings, and after having difperfed them fent 
 many to prifon. This method proving ineifec- 
 tua!, a party of the county troops were em- 
 ployed to go to the meeting, where they beat 
 fome and carried others to prifon, having firfl 
 broken the feats and windows of the meeting- 
 houfe. After this, being kept out of the houfe, 
 they met in the ftreet, fometimes in the cold 
 and rain, not daring to decline their duty for 
 
 thefq 
 
 »? BefTe,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 23 
 
 thefe Inconveniences: Thus they continued, c H AP. 
 meeting conftantly twice a week, till a troop of ^'"• 
 horfe, juft come to town, armed with Iwords, 
 carbines, &c. rode in furioufiy among them, ^' 
 
 laying on without mercy on old and young, 
 fome with their fwords and fome with their 
 carbines, beat and bruifed many exceedingly, 
 chafing them to and fro in the itreets ; they alfo 
 committed many to prifon. 
 
 On the 1 3th of December the troopers came 
 again, having added great clubs to their former 
 weapons, with which they knocked down many 
 in the ftreets, where fome lay as dead, and 
 many were fo difabled and bruifed that they 
 could not get off their clothes nor feed them- 
 felves for feveral years. Remarkable was the 
 patience and meeknefs of one of the fufferers, Perfecntfon 
 who when a trooper was beating him with a '^^ Cnkhei- 
 
 O tCT Coflti" 
 
 fword, and the blade fell out of the hilt, tooknued. 
 it up and gave it him, faying, / will give it thee 
 lip again : I defire the Lord may not lay this 
 day^s work to thy charge. ' After they had dif- 
 perfed the meeting, four of the troopers met a 
 poor firkly man about a quarter of a mile from 
 the meeting place, and riding up to him, alked 
 him. Whether he %vas a S^uaker ? He not deny- 
 ing it, they beat him fo that the fpectators 
 thought he would have died on the place, and 
 he had probably been killed but that he was 
 taken into an houfe ; however, he was difabled 
 from getting his bread or providing for his fa- 
 mily a long time after. 
 
 'On the 27th of fame month thirty-eight of 
 thefe troopers came riding among the friends, 
 
 who 
 
 i Beffe,
 
 24 
 
 H I S T O R Y OK THE 
 
 CHAP, who were met in the ftreet, and fo cruelly beat 
 VIII. them with clubs and carbines as moved compaf- 
 
 ■'^— N*-*-^ fion and tears in the ftanders-by. As the fol- 
 ^'^63. diers forced feme away by violence, they drove 
 them upon others of their comrades, who with 
 clubs beat them afrefh, till the fleih cf fome of 
 them was become like a jelly, their blood for 
 the prefent ftagnated, and their limbs deprived 
 of ufe. 
 
 Coichefter. "^ ^u the 3d of the month called January many 
 friends being met at the uliial place, the loldiers 
 fell furiouily upon them, knocking dou'ii feve- 
 ral, one of whom they abufed in fuch a man- 
 ner, that it was verv much doubted whether one 
 of his arms would ever recover its ufe. Solo- 
 mon Fromantle, a merchant, was fo grievoufly 
 abufed and beaten that he loll much blood, yet 
 the barbarous trooper did not defift ; his wife, 
 fearing left he fnould be killed, fell down upon 
 him, to cover and proteft him from their blows, 
 many of which ihe received on her own body. 
 Edward Grant, father of Fromantle's wife, 
 about feventy years of age, v/as knocked down, 
 and furvived the blovv' but a few davs. On the 
 6th of fame month the foldiers had put into 
 their clubs iron fpikes, fnarpened with a file, 
 with which they wounded many, vaunting, fcof- 
 ling and jeering them when they ftarted or 
 liinched at the pain ; amongft the reft they 
 wounded an ancient woman in tv/elve feveral 
 places. After this, finding the conllancy of the 
 fufferers invincible, they began to relent and 
 abate of their formicr violence, fo that there v/as 
 u cairn for two or three weeks, till the mavor 
 
 mi 
 
 ^ BefTe.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 25 
 
 and recorder puflied them on again to ad againft c H a p. 
 
 their wills. v«— vW 
 
 Thefe appear the principal fuiFerlngs in the ^^^ 
 citv and neighbourhood on record in this year, 
 but an incident in the fummer thereof, in which •" ^ 
 they had no concern, involved George Fox and 
 others in the country in great trouble, by cruel 
 and long imprifonmenls, on the following occa- 
 fion : The king and queen making a progrels 
 into the wellern counties, during their abfence 
 rumours of a new conlj^iracy were fet on foot. Rumours of 
 faid to be form*;d in the north among the re- * J^'^^"' ""^^ 
 pubhcans and feparatifts, to feize feveral towns 
 in thofe parts, and raife a general infurrec- 
 tion. 
 
 At this time George Fox was travelling in g. f^x 
 Yorkfhire, where, when he firii: heard of this p;';;^;^^^. 
 plot, in order to exculpate himfelf and friends, ciainimg ail 
 and preferve them ileadfaft in their peaceable^'""* 
 principle, he was concerned, as he had been 
 repeatedly under the preceding government, • 
 to write a paper as his teilimony againit 
 all plots and confpiracies whatever ; to admonifft 
 his friends to circumfpeclion in their words and 
 attions, and not to intermeddle in any of thcfe 
 commotions ; copies of which he di^per?ed y 
 
 through the northern counties, and alio fent 
 one to the king and council. Notwithllandingy^f Jsfub- 
 thefe precautions he was foon fubjeded to a very j^j."^f^'' 
 unjuft and rigorous profecution and imprifcni- 
 ment, a pretended occafion being taken againft 
 him on account of this plot. 
 
 It feems as if uncommon pains were ufed to 
 fix a fufpicion on this people of being parties 
 in the conf})iracy, (whatever it was) to give a 
 colour of reality to the groundlcis report of 
 
 their 
 
 .C(.\ to 
 
 ccuuoa.
 
 26 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP, their being concerned therein, and as if the 
 VIII. magiftrates of the northern counties had re- 
 '~— v^^ ceived diretlions from above for that purpofe, 
 '^^S' and particularly to take up George Fox ; for as 
 he paifed along from Yorkfliire through the 
 counLies of Durham*, Cumberland and Welt- 
 moreland, ' feveral menaces were given out, and 
 fundry attempts made to take him, but he ef- 
 caped them all, not by abfconding, (his forti- 
 tude founded in integrity dildaining mean eva- 
 fions) but accidentally or providentially, till he 
 came to Swarthmore. In his palling along he 
 was well informed that in Cumberland the ma- 
 giftrates had offered a crown or a noble a day 
 sunc^ry at- to anv of the pcacc officers that could apprehend 
 tnke'a* Fox ^^^ fpcakcrs among the Quakers, but at the time 
 of his paffmg through that part they were gone 
 to the feftions to receive their wages, by which 
 means he paiTed on into Weftmoreland unnio- 
 lelied, where lie was in jeopardy ftill, juftice 
 Fleming having in open fclHons offered five 
 pounds to any man that fhould take him. When 
 he came forward to Swarthmore he was in- 
 formed that C'olonel Kirby had fent his lieute- 
 nant to fearch the houfe for him, and that he 
 had been fo particular in his fcrutiny, as to in- 
 fpecl the trunks and chefts. 
 G. Fosgroes Upon ihis intelligence, and reflecling upon 
 Kirby's, the fucceflive defigns he had been informed of 
 hif" v-'^r* ^° apprehend him, fupported by confcious in- 
 diucniWed nocence, and to Ihew he was afraid of no fcru- 
 kmcncfs. tinv, he reroived to face his purfuers. Accord- 
 ingly he went the next day to this Colonel Kir- 
 by's houfe, where he found feveral of the gen- 
 try 
 
 ' Geo-ge Fox's Tournal.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 27 
 
 try (fo called) on a vifit, to take their leave of ^ ^ ^''^ ^- 
 Kirby, who was about fetting off for London, to ^'^^^' 
 attend the parliament, and amonpfi: them jurdce "*"■ 
 Fleming aforefaid. He addrefled himfelf to Kir- •** 
 
 by, that undcrllanding he was defirous to fee 
 him, he paid him this vifit, to krtow what he 
 had to fay to him, or whether he had any thing 
 againll hirn ; to wliich Kirby replied he had not. 
 But, faid he, Mrs. Fell muil not keep great 
 meetings at her houfe, being contrary to law. • 
 At parting he (hook him by the hand, and repeat- 
 ed that he had nothing againll him ; but notwith- 
 jfanding his fair Carriage and apparent civility, it 
 was underftood he left private inftrudions with 
 the other juftices to profecute him after he was 
 gone. 
 
 In a fliort time after there was a private meet- ^<- ^ r^'^^tc 
 mg or the juitices and deputy-iieutenants atj^,,,ices 
 Holker-hall, the feat of juftice Prcilon, whercir^ntawar- 
 
 ■t 1 111* -r^,- rant to ap- 
 
 they granted a warrant to apprehend liini. Urp;ehendG, 
 this tranfaftion, fecret as they thou^-ht it, he re- ^';'^<,"[ 
 
 , , •« which he 
 
 ceived intelligence, time enough to have with- hath r.-Jce, 
 drawn out of their reach. But confiderin;ij that ''■^*,/'^'"'^'.^* 
 
 1 • 1 • . r ^ , . , r -^ , to fhind his 
 
 durmg this .none ot a plot m tncie parts, al-orou;.d. 
 though he had no meeting appoin'ed, :.ind v/as 
 clear as to his fervice, yet if he fhould go uway, 
 it might give an advantage to his adverfaries to 
 interpret or reprefent his retreat as a fymptoni 
 of guilt, and thence take occafion to fall with 
 additional feverity upon his friends ; as, on the 
 contrary, if he furrendered himfelf into their 
 hands, his friends might come off the better ; on 
 thefe confiderations he determined quietly to a- 
 bide the confequence, and v/as apprehended the 
 next day, and brought before the juftices Raw- 
 
 linfon
 
 28 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP linfon and Prefton, and one * Sir George Mid- 
 viii. dleton at Holker-hall aforefaid, by whom being 
 ^-""^^-^-^ examined, and clearing himfelf of the plot, as 
 J66j. ^-j^Qy j^^^ jiQ evidence or foundation for com- 
 mitting him upon that account, they reforted to 
 the accuftomed fnare of tendering him the oath 
 of allegiance, and were, upon his declining it, 
 about making his mittimus ; but upon further 
 confideration they contented themfelves with his 
 engaging to appear at the feflions, and fo difmilT- 
 ed him at that time. 
 
 In confequcnce of his engagement, he appear- 
 ed at the feflions at Lancaller ; where he was en- 
 quired of what he knew of the plot ? He told the 
 
 juflices 
 
 This Middleton (a papifl) dlfcovered great bitternefs of 
 ipintag<i:nil George I ox, but he feemcd not to know the man 
 he had to deal with : He tirft charged him thai he denied 
 God, the churrh and ftiiih ; to which George replied, •* Nay, 
 '* i own God, and the true church, and the true faith, but 
 *' what church doll thou own ?" At which query he was 
 greatly inccnreJ, and faiu, " You are a rebel and a traitor." 
 George immediately returned upon him, " Whom doft thou 
 *' fpcak to, or whom doll thou call rebel ?" Choked with paf- 
 fion, Middleton was awhile before he could fpcak, but at laft 
 got out, " I fooke to you." George's f})irit, roufcd at the 
 charge, he (truck his hand on the table and told him, " I 
 '* have fuftered more than twenty fuch as thou, or any that 
 " are here, Laving been fix months a prifoner in Derby, 
 " where I fufFered much becaufe I would not take up arms 
 " againd the king : And was afterward fcnt up a prifoner out 
 " of my native country by Colonel Kackerto Oliver Cromwell 
 ** as a plotter to bririg in king Charles; yc tJk of the king, 
 " a parcel of you, but where were you in OHver's days, and 
 " what did you then ior him ? I have more love to the king 
 " for liis eternal good and welfare than any of you have." 
 Middieton propofing to tender him the oath of allegiance 
 and fupremacy, George aflccd him, " whether he who was a 
 *' fv/carer had taken the oath of fupremacy, as for us wc 
 *' cannot fweiir, becaufe Chriu futuad it."
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. ^9 
 
 juftices he heard of it in Yorkfhire by a friend, chap. 
 who had it from the high fherili". They then viii. 
 alked him, whether he had declared it to the ^— '''^^"'^ 
 magiftrates ? He informed them of the aforemen- ^^^3- 
 tioned paper, which he had fent abroad, and 
 had alfo fent to them, as foon as he came into 
 the country, to remove all occafions of jealoufy 
 out of their minds concerning him and his 
 friends. Then they went upon the act againft 
 meetings ; but upon thefe fubjedts, finding no 
 grounds to effeft their purpofe of committing 
 him to prifon, they had recourle to the ufual 
 means of crimination, they tendered him thea.Foxcom- 
 oath of allegiance, and committed him to pri- f""'^^,^'^. 
 fon in a very incommodious room in l.ancafter cafiie.' 
 caftle, where he was kept clofe priioner till af- 
 ter the fpring affizes 1665; after that removed to 
 Scarborough caftle, where he was detained up- 
 wards of a year longer ; when finding means to 
 get his cafe laid before the king, he foon after 
 obtained his releafe, after an arbitrary and moft 
 rigorous imprifonment of more than three 
 years. 
 
 "' About a month after George Fox*s com- 
 mitment, Margaret Fell was fent for by the 
 fame juftices to Uiverftone, and queftioned a- 
 bout keepin'T meetin;^s at her houfe, at which Margar^e 
 they feemed to be much ofiended, and infifted aioncd b'c- 
 upon tendering her tlie oath of allegiance : In an- '"'^'^ "-'-^ i"^- 
 fwer, fhe remarked, that " they knew fne could * 
 " not fwear, and why fhould they fend for her, 
 *' from her own houle and her lawful affairs, to 
 *' enfnare her," adding " what have I done ?'* 
 This expoftulation, upon their dii'.ngenuous pro- 
 cedure, made an imprelfion on them (o far, that 
 
 they 
 
 «> BefTe.
 
 3© HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, they told her, " if fhe would not keep meet- 
 VIII. " ings at her houfe they would not tender her 
 ^— ""^^^-^ " the oath :" A plam confcinon that this tender 
 ^663. ^ras only a mere pretext to be vexatious to the 
 fabjecl without real occalion, and that it was 
 an arbitrary meafure aiVumed for the mere pur- 
 pofe of perfecution for religion, and nothing 
 elfe : To this propofal, fiie magnanimoully re- 
 plied, " She Ihould not denv her faith and prin- 
 " ciples, for any thing they could do againft 
 " her, and while it fhould pleafe the Lord to 
 whoten- " Jet her have a houfe, fhe would endeavour to 
 theo9thof " worlhip him in it." Upon this they tendered 
 aiieg-iancc, j^gj- i\iq oath, and upon her refufal committed 
 foil her. ' her alfo to Lancaller caftle ; which prifon was at 
 this time quite crowded by the nun\bers of this 
 people taken up and imprifoned there, fome for 
 meeting together, andfome for refufmg to fwear. 
 And many of them were poor men, whofe fami- 
 lies depending on their daily labour for their 
 fubfiltence, were in danger of perilliing for want, 
 if the fympathy, affectionate care and charity of 
 their friends had not been exerted to prevent 
 it. 
 Their pri- ° Sucli riiTorous imprifonments as thefe people, 
 
 lull v'crv t!i- • ^ I A ' 
 
 commodi- particularly George Fox and Margaret Fell were 
 **"'• fubjedt to, being in fmoky rooms, in fuch bad 
 
 condition, that the rain came in upon them in 
 abundance, was more than fufficient punilhment 
 for petty criminals; and an evidence of the 
 ^ unfeeling malice of their perfecutors, needlefsly 
 to expofe Klargaret Fell in particular to fuch 
 hardfhip, a woman of eftate, the widow of a 
 judge, and a man of confequence in the coun- 
 
 trv, 
 
 ^ * 
 
 ° George Fox's Journal. 

 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. ^ 31 
 
 (ry, who had been ufed to comfortable accom- chap. 
 modations in her own houfe, and was every way viii. 
 on a level with her perfecutors, except the pof- ^—^'"^^ 
 feffion and abufe of pov/er. But all the hard- ^^'-'3' 
 fhips (he fuffered, in being arbitrarily forced 
 from her houfe and family, without caufe or 
 crimination, and hurried to this difmai jail, was 
 not a fufficient gratification of the groundlefs 
 enmity of thefe magilbates, till they went the 
 fartheil length they could go, by profecuting her 
 to a premunire, realizing the proverb, Sum- 
 nium jus^ fmnma injuria; the execution of per- 
 verted laiu is accumulated injury. The account 
 of the further proceedings againft her and 
 George Fox are poltponed, as their trials were 
 put off, and they continued prifoners till next 
 year. 
 
 About the fame time Francis Howgill metF^ncis^ 
 with treatment equally fevere and unjull from °^'"^''^' 
 the juftices of Weftmoreland ; and it is probable, 
 under pretext of the fame plot, and in execu- 
 tion of the plan, adopted amongft thefe Nor- 
 thern juflices of taking up the fpeakers among 
 the Quakers, although they had no legal caufe 
 againlt them. 
 
 This very refpedable member of civil and^ai-'-nontof 
 
 ,. . r • 1 • '1 1 1 -he market 
 
 religious lociety, being m tne maricet-piace atatKemiai 
 Kendal upon his lawful occafions, was fum-^"^'^?"- 
 moned by the high conftable to appear before 
 the juftices then fitting at a tavern : Whither 
 when he came thev tendered him the oath of alle- 
 giance, and becaufe his confcientious fcruple 
 to violate a divine command, obliged him to de- 
 cline compliance, they immediately committed 
 him to prifon til the fummer aiTizes to be held 
 in the next moaih in Appleby : being brought 
 
 thither.
 
 32 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, thither, the oath was again tendered to him, 
 viii. and upon refufal, an indiftmerxt was drawn up 
 ^^ — '^"-^ againfl him, which he traveriing, had hberty 
 1663. ^i\\ jjgj-j. affizes to anfwer thereto. Being re- 
 quired to enter into bond for his good beha- 
 viour, he refufed, as apprehending therein, not 
 only a tacit acquiefcence in the impHcation of 
 ill-behaviour, which he was not chargeable with, 
 but alfo perceiving a fnare therein to intangle 
 him further in the perplexities of the law, becaufe 
 he thought his attendance of meetings, which 
 the perfuafion of duty would not fuffer him to 
 negleft, while at liberty, would by them be inter- 
 preted as a breach of his engagement ; upon thefe 
 confiderations, declining to enter into bonds, 
 he was recommitted to prifon ; from whence he 
 was not relcafed, till it pleafed divine providence 
 by his death to remove him beyond the reach of 
 unmerciful men ; of his fubfequent trials we 
 propofe to exhibit a narration in due courfe. 
 
 The fucceeding years affording variety of 
 matter, this feems a proper period to bring for- 
 ward the hiflory of this people in other parts. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 PEO,PLE CALLED QUAKERS. * 33 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Perfecuiion continued in Neiv England. — Grievous 
 Sufferings of Alice Ambrofe^ Mary Tomkins and 
 Anne Coleman. — Whipped through three Towns. 
 — Violently abufed by two Conjiables. — Eliza- 
 beth Hoot on obtains a Licence from the King 
 to fettle in any of the Plantations. — With which 
 fhe returns to Boflon^ where no regard is paid 
 to the Licence. — At Dover fl:>e is fet in the 
 Stocks. — Imprifoned at Cambridge. — -Whipped 
 through three Towns., and turned into the 
 Wilderncfs. — Returiiing into Cambridge., to fetch 
 her Clothes., is again whipped, together with her 
 Daughter and Sarah Coleman. — She is a fccond 
 Time whipped through three Towns., and turn- 
 ed into the Wilder nefs. — Whipped again at Bof- 
 ton., and fent away to Rhode IJland., with a 
 Warrant to whip her from Town to Town. — 
 Edward Wharton's repeated Whippings in like 
 Manner, 
 
 1 HOUGH the government of New England chap. 
 was reftrained from putting the Quakers to death, ix. 
 and granted them liberty for a while, it lafted ' — / — ^ 
 not long : * The difpofition of the magillrates ^ ^/»62- 
 
 O ^ <=> Perffcution 
 
 Li was continucdin 
 
 New £ng- 
 
 * Neale winds up his account of thefe perfecutions in New 
 England, in the Hke paUiative ftrain we have noticed in many 
 parts of his narration. " The court, fays he, began to be 
 " fenfible that the putting men to death for their reHgious 
 
 " principles
 
 34 HISTOPvYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, was ftill the fame ; they returned again to their 
 IX. perfecuting meafures, and indulged their pro- 
 
 penfity 
 
 1662. 
 
 ** principles was odious in the eye of the world ; that in tlie 
 *' cafe of the Quakers it did not anfwer their ends, for the 
 " more they perfecuted, the more bloody work they had on 
 ** their hands ; and therefore they refolved for the future, 
 " only to whip them at the cart's tail as vagabonds, through 
 ** all the towns, out of their jurifdidion." Then after re- 
 citing the king's mandamus, he adds, " I'his put an effec- 
 *' tual flop to the fufferings of the (fakers on account of 
 *' their principles : fome of them indeed have been punifhed 
 ** fince as vagabonds and criminals againft the ftate, but none 
 ** that I know of, purely for their ft ntiments in rehgion." 
 
 Upon comparing tliis account with the prcfent narrative of 
 this and the follov/ing cafes, as recorded by George Biiliop 
 and others, it will ai)pear to be no evidence of the author's 
 impartiality, or [\n&. regard to truth ; for that this manda- 
 mus put an efFeflual (lop to the fufferings of the Quakers, on 
 account of their principles, is not true, fince their fufferings 
 were continued feveral years after, and for their religious 
 principles only ; and what were his humane feelings to term 
 the barbarous ufage thele poor people met with only 'whip- 
 ping thtm as vagalonih through all the toiuns out of their ju- 
 rifdidlion. The order to wliip three tender women through 
 eleven towns was barbarous beyond parallel, and well nigh 
 equal to capital puniflmient, and their fubfequent abufe by the 
 Roberts's, fuch as no civilized government would fuffer to 
 be given even to vagabonds. And as to their being puniflied, 
 not for religion, but as vagabonds and criminals againft the 
 llate, it was eafy for malice to give hard names of undefined 
 meaning ; but if to create a criminal appellation were fuffi- 
 cient grounds to puniih the perfon upon whom it was fixed, 
 as a real criminal, then, if they had thought proper to call 
 them thieves and felons, mull they be puniihed as fuch, be- 
 caufe enmity mifcalled them fo. It admits of no difpute 
 that they were flill punifhed not fimply as vagabonds, but real- 
 ly as Quakers, and that they were thus unmercifully whip- 
 ped and abufed for no other caufe, than that for which their 
 friends had been put to death : If the three women above, by 
 any forced and falfe conllrufrion of the word could be termed 
 vagabonds, yet how could Elizabeth Hooton be a vagabond, 
 
 who
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. '" . 35 
 
 penfity to cruelty in the punifhment of this chap. 
 people, male and female, with the iitmofl feve- '^' 
 rity in their power. "^7^ 
 
 In the year 1662, Mary Tomkins, Alice Am- MaryTom- 
 brofe and Anne Coleman came under a relie;ious ^'"'^' -^""^ 
 
 ./- , . .. . , T-i-f " Coleman 
 
 concern to vilit their friends about 1 ilcataqua and aHcc 
 river, and to confirm them in the truth : They -'^"^^rofc. 
 had not been long there before one Rayner, a 
 pried of Dover, excited the magiftrates to per- 
 iecute them : He brought them before one Wal- 
 den, a deputy magiftrate, who telling them of ' 
 the law they had to punifh them, Mary Tomkins 
 anfwered,* So there was a law that Daniel Jhould 
 not pray to his God. He replied, 2?j, and Daniel 
 fuffered, and Jo Jlmll you. Alfo when Alice Am- 
 
 C 2 brofe 
 
 who came with the king's licence to purchafe an habitation in 
 the country, and had fubftance to purchafe it ? Is every one 
 that removes to a new refidence a vagabond? Or ivas Edivard 
 IVharton a relidentiary inhabitant of Salem, when he came to 
 Boll:on on lawful bufmefs, a vagabond ? Then every man may 
 be fo termed, who doth not confine himfelf entirely at home, 
 and make his own houfe his prifon : Yet we fee with what 
 feverity they were both, treated by cruel whippings fre- 
 quently repeated. In their circumftances no man, nay, not 
 even thefe men, would ever have thought of terming them 
 vagabonds, only that they were ^inkers, fo called. As to 
 the infinuated charge of their being cnminals agamft the ftate, 
 from all that I have heard or read, I am under no hefitation 
 totally to deny the charge, as a groundlefs calumny, fup- 
 ported by no matter of fad. It is evident that it was purely 
 for their fcntiments in religion, and nothing elfe, that their 
 punifhment was continued. Their telHmony againft all re- 
 ligion without righteoufnefs touched the demure, but perfe- 
 cting priefts and magiftrates to the quick, and roufed them 
 to vengeance: So that though their hands were tied up from 
 hanging them ; they perfifted in punching them as far as they 
 durll, with unabated malice and cruelty. 
 
 * Befle. *
 
 36 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, brofe faid. Her name ivas written in the Lamb*i 
 
 ^^* book of life, he anfwered, No body here knowi 
 
 gg that hook, and for this you fhallfuffer. On this 
 
 occafion the pried fupplying the place of a 
 
 clerk, formed for him the following warrant or 
 
 order; 
 
 <( 
 
 To the Confiables of Dover, Hampton, Salif- 
 " bury, Newbury, Rowley, Ipfwich, Wen- 
 *' ham, Linn, Bofton, Roxbury, Dedham, 
 " and until thefe 'vagabond Quakers are car- 
 " ried out of this jurifdidion. 
 
 " You and every of you are required, in the 
 king's majefty's name, to take thefe vaga- 
 bond Quakers, Anne Coleman, Mary Tom- 
 kins, and Alice Ambrofe, and make them fait 
 to the cart's tail, and driving the cart through 
 your feveral towns, to whip them on their 
 backs, not exceeding ten flripes a piece on 
 each of them, in each town, and fo convey 
 them from conftable to conftable, till they 
 come out of this jurifdidion, as you will 
 anfwer it at your peril : And this fliall be 
 
 At Dover, " RICHARD WALDEN." 
 Dated Dec. I2d, 
 1662. 
 
 This order was cruelly executed at Dover, 
 while the priefl flood by, looked at it and 
 laughed, for which cruel levity when Eliakini 
 Wardel and William Fourbifh reproved him, 
 the magiflrate caufed them to be put in the 
 
 flocks 
 
 f
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 37 
 
 ftocks. They were then conveyed to Hampton, c h a p, 
 and then again whipped, and alib at Salilbury ; '"^ 
 but the conflable of that town, deputing a per- ^, 
 fon to convey them- farther, he, moved with whipped 
 compafiion, determined to run the hazard of^!^'*'"g'^ 
 breaking the law, and fet them at liberty, where- 
 by the pried was difappointed of his aim, which 
 feemed to be to take away their lives, which 
 in all likelihood had been the cafe if the con- 
 flables of thefe eleven townfhips had executed 
 the warrant with fuch feverity as he had ex- 
 cited the conflable of Dover to do, the diftance 
 from Dover to the end of the jurifdidtion being 
 about eighty miles. ...... 
 
 * After a little time they returned again to violently 
 Dover, where being met together with other ^^"^^^'^^J 
 friends on the firil day of the week, whilft Alice ftabks, 
 Ambrofe was at prayer, two conftables, Thomas 
 Roberts and John his brother, came into the meet- 
 ing, and taking her each by an arm, inhumanly 
 dragged her out of doors, and then with her 
 face towards the fnow, which was knee-deep, 
 over flumps and old trees near a mile ; when 
 they had wearied themfelves, they commanded 
 two others to help them : then they fetched 
 Mary Tomkins, and treated her in like man- 
 ner : The next morning, which was excefTively 
 cold, they forced them into a canoe, together 
 with Anne Coleman, who in love accompanied 
 them, and carried them to the harbour's mouih, 
 threatening that they would now difpofe of them 
 fo, as that they would be troubled with them 
 no more. And becaufe they were not willing , 
 
 to 
 
 * Befle, vol. ii. p. 228, 

 
 i662. 
 
 38 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, to gOy they forced them down a very fleep 
 '^' place in the fnow, dragging Mary Tomkins again 
 over ftumps of trees to the water fide, whereby 
 file was much bruifed and fainted under their 
 hands : Alice Ambrofe they pulled into the wa- 
 ter, and kept her fwimming by the canoe in 
 great danger of drowning or being frozen to 
 death. They would in all probability have pro- 
 ceeded in their wicked defign of murdering 
 them, had they not been prevented by a ftorm, 
 which drove them bark to the houfe, where they 
 had kept them all the night before. They kept 
 them there till near midnight, and then cruelly 
 turned them out of doors, in the froft and fnow, 
 although Alice Ambrofe's clothes were frozen 
 as hard as boards. The barbarity exercifed on 
 thefe women was fuch, that to all human pro- 
 bability they mull have periflied, had net the 
 hand of providence in a fignal manner preferved 
 them. It did not appear thefe men had any le- 
 gal warrant or authority to meddle with them, 
 but that they were animated and encouraged to 
 this wicked abufe of thefe harmlef> women by a 
 ruling elder of their church, mifcallcd Hate-evil 
 Nutter. 
 
 Elizabeth Amonffft tiie number releafed from prifon 
 along v.ith Wenlock Chrilfifon, were Elizabeth 
 llooton and Joan Brockfup, two antient women 
 each about fixty years of age, being driven with 
 ^the reft into the wildernefs, and left there among 
 wolves and bears, without neceffary proviAons, 
 they were left to wander through places unin- 
 habited and hardly paflable, in very great danger, 
 /till at length they came to Rhode-Ifland, thence 
 to Barbadoes, and from thence not long after 
 returned to New-England, for to that province 
 
 was
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 39 
 
 was their mefiage to teflify againft the fpirit of c hap, 
 perfecutlon predominant there. Upon their com- y^^^r-.^..,^ 
 ing to Bofton they were prefently apprehended by ^^q^, 
 a conflable, an illiberal and furious zealot, who 
 declared, // was bis delight, and he could rejoice 
 in following the fakers to execution as much as 
 ever. They were immediately fent away to Vir- 
 ghiia, from whence Elizabeth Hooton went back 
 to England. 
 
 After fome time fhe felt the impulfe of duty to obtains a 
 return to New-England ; but previoufly to her IhrkLJ"^ 
 going;, (he made apphcation to the kinoj, and fc"'^ 'R any 
 
 o, P'j , . ,. ^^ I r r u c\C of the plan- 
 
 obtamed his licence to purchaie ror nerielr antations, 
 houfe and dwelling in any of his plantations : 
 Thus authorifed, fhe and her daughter of the 
 fame name fet fail in a fhip bound for Boilon, 
 where, when they arrived, the magiftrates, who 
 zealoufly kept up all the perfecuting laws which 
 they durft, were determined to fine the mafter 
 of the fhip one hundred pounds, until they were 
 informed fhe had a licence from the king, which with which 
 deterred them from executing that defign ; but toVofton? 
 in contempt of the king's licence and her foliei- 
 tations, they perfifted in their refolution not to 
 fuffer her to purchafe any habitation there. In- 
 ftead thereof they let her feel the effeds of their 
 malicious difpofition, which had fuffered no 
 diminution by the reflraint put upon them. At At Dover 
 Dover fhe was fet in the flocks, and kept four ^^^ 'J^fJ^ 
 days in prifon in cold weather. At Cambridge imprifoned 
 fhe was imprifoned in a clofe flinking dungeon, Jridg^' 
 without any thing to lie down or fit on, two 
 days and two nights without bread or water, and 
 when a friend in fympathy with her fufferings 
 brought her fome milk when fhe was ready to 
 perifli, he was fined five pounds and fent to 
 
 prifon.
 
 40 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, prifon. She was then whipped through three 
 ^^- towns, Cambridge, Watertown and Dedham, 
 with ten flripes in each, with a three-ftringed 
 whipped' whip and three knots at the end, and in this 
 through mangled condition flie was carried on horfeback 
 anTtu°rned' in frofty wcather many miles into the wildernefs, 
 'T/*'^ r and left there among wild beads, in the hazard 
 of perifliing there ; as her perfecutors, who left 
 her there, exprefled their hopes that they JhouUi 
 never fee her more. And in all human proba- 
 bility Ihe mull: hav. periflied, had not a provi- 
 dential hand preferved her fafe through the dif- 
 mal defert and many deep waters to a town 
 called Reb.obolh, where Ihe arrived the next day 
 neither faint nor weary, and thence made her 
 way to Rhode-Iiland, praifmg and magnifying 
 the name of the Lord, who had fignally fup- 
 ■ ported her through fuch grievous tortures, as to 
 her age and fex in all outward appearance were 
 infupportable. 
 
 But her fufferings had not yet fatiated the 
 
 vindidive hatred of her perfecutors. As they 
 
 would not fuffer her to take her clothes with her. 
 
 Returning when they fent her away as aforefaid, (he re- 
 
 dothe^ihc'^"^'^''^*^ ^° ^ P^^^^ near Cambridge accompanied 
 is again by her daughter to fetch rhem ; and as they 
 tlgeXr' were returning with them to Rhode- Ifland, one 
 with her Thomas Daufurt, a mapjiftrate, made out a war- 
 and^sJah fant to the coniiable of Charleflown to appre- 
 Coicman. h^ud them and Sarah Coleman, an ancient wo- 
 man of Scituate, who had met them in the woods 
 as they were going back. They were taken back 
 to Cambridge, abufed by the fcholars, and then 
 all three committed to the houfe of corredion, 
 
 and 
 
 f
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 41 
 
 and whipped by order of one * Daniel Goggin, chap. 
 though no juft caufe could be affigned. Eliza- ,^^^_. 
 beth Hooton came at this time on the reafonable ^^^^ 
 errand of reclaiming her property, her daughter 
 was guilty of no crime or offence but the filial 
 duty of waiting upon and ailiiting her ancient 
 mother, and the other accidentally fell into their 
 company. The magiftrates, not fatisfied with 
 this, fent the conftable with an order to taH 
 them from conftable to conftahle toward RbodC' , 
 IJJand to be whipt in three towns. Returning to 
 Bofton and preaching repentance fhe was again 
 fent to the houfe of correction, whipped at the 
 whipping-pod as before, and afterwards at Rox- 
 bury and Dedham at a cart's tail ; thence flie 
 was again taken in a mangled condition into the 
 wildernefs, and left there to make her way twenty 
 miles, the weather dill continuing very cold. 
 Soon after, returning to Bofton to vifit her 
 friends, fhe was again caft into prifon, whipped 
 from the prifon door to the town's end, and then 
 fent away to Rhode-lfland, with a warrant to 
 whip her from town to town, threatening if 
 ever fhe came thither again they would either put 
 her to death or brand her on the JJjoulder, Thus 
 this good old woman, who was a woman of 
 repute and fubftance, perfectly peaceable and 
 inoffenfive in her conduct ; no vagabond, no 
 criminal againfl the ftate was cruelly perfe- 
 cuted with three imprifonments, nine times 
 
 was 
 
 * The temper of this magiftrate may be conceived from 
 hence. He applied to one William Hathorne a magiftrate of 
 like difpofition with himfelf, to fend htm fame ^takers that ivay j 
 
 that he might fee them Jlafied ; which is a clear indication that ' 
 
 he was of that temper which could take delight in the fufFer- <^ 
 ings and torture of his fellow-creatures, ,
 
 42 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, was {he tortured with fevere whippings, twice ex- 
 ^^' pofed to perils in the wildernefs, and left to 
 -66 perifh, as far as in the power of thefe rigid and 
 hypocritical profeffors of religion. Whoever can 
 vindicate fuch proceedings, 1 lliould think he 
 either wronged his judgment, or was as callous 
 to the tender feelings ol humanity as the unmer- 
 ciful magiltrates of New-England. But in her 
 righteous caufe as her afflictions abounded, fo 
 her inward confolations did much more abound, 
 under the enjoyment whereof flie teftified her 
 willingnefs to endure much more for the propa- 
 gation of righteoufnefs, and the love fhe bore to 
 the fouls of all men. 
 
 The magiftrates of this colony had fuffcred 
 their fpirits to be fo imbittered againfh this fo- 
 ciety, that the very name expofed thofe who bore 
 it to punifhnient, and it is to be prefumed few 
 of them efcaped it in a greater or lefler degree ; 
 but fome individuals feem to be more peculiarly- 
 marked out by them as objeds of their utmoll 
 malevolence, fuch we have ihewn were Lau- 
 rence and Caifandra Southick, and their fon 
 jofiah, fuch were thefe innocent women, whofe 
 
 F-iward futferings are ju(t remarked ; and fuch was Edward 
 Wharton of Salem, whofe banifhment, on pain 
 of death, hath been before recited ; but the 
 king's mandamus havinfr prevented the perfe- 
 cutors from carrvino; their fentence into execu- 
 tion, rfor as he told them, he did not depart 
 from their jurifdiction, but kept his habitation) 
 they omitted no opportunity to wreak their ven- 
 geance upon him, and make his refidence there 
 as uneafy and diiireffing as in their power. 
 1663. Being a man of Chriflian courage, in the 
 fummer of this year he went into the court at 
 
 * 
 
 Dover,
 
 it 
 ii 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 43 
 
 Dover, a place where pcrfecuiion had been chap. 
 hotly carried on, and expreffed himfelf in the v^^^.,,.,^. 
 following terms : " Woe to all oppreflbrs and ^^^ 
 " perfecutors, for the indignation of the Lord 
 is againfl them ; therefore, friends, whilft you 
 have time prize the day of his patience, and 
 " ceafe to do evil and learn to do well : Ye 
 " who fpoil the poor and devour the inno- 
 " cent." 
 
 Having faid this, he was immediately appre- 
 hended, and fet in the ftocks till they might con- 
 fult what to do with him, for his exprefllons had 
 touched them to the quick, and provoked their 
 refentment againfl him. The refult of their con- 
 fultation was, that he (hould be feverely puniflied 
 as a 'vagabond ^mker, though well known to 
 them as a reputable inhabitant of Salem, and 
 about his lawful bufmefs : The clerk, who was 
 employed to write the order for his punifhment, 
 was his next neighbour, (and confequently as 
 much a vagabond as himfelf) as he was drawing 
 it up, * William Hathorne called to him, and 
 bade him write in the king*s majefty^s name. 
 Whereupon Edward Wharton made his objec- 
 tion, " Friends, you wrong the king and abufe 
 " his name, for I believe he never gave you 
 
 " order 
 
 * This Hathorne, before he was a magiflrate, appeared as 
 a profefled enemy to perfecmion, for when an a(St was pre- 
 paring to prohibit any perfons from preaching but fuch as 
 fhould be approved by a particular fet of men, he publickly 
 oppofed it, faying, He looked upon it as a very bad a£t, and a 
 fign that the Lord had forfahen them. How unftable and con- 
 tradidtory are the fentiments of men in different ftations of 
 life ? This man, after long feeking, being advanced to an 
 office of magiftracy, became a violent perfecutor of others, 
 for praiflifing that Chriftian liberty which himfelf had aflerted - 
 and contended for.
 
 44 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 c H A P. " order fo to abiife his honeft fubjefts." HoW" 
 ,!^^L, ever the court made the following order, viz. 
 
 1663. 
 
 " To the conftables of Dover, Hampton, Sa- 
 
 " lifbury, Newbury, Rowley, Ipfwich and 
 
 " Wenham. 
 
 Warrant to " You atid every of you are required, in his 
 tfiroVh"^ " i^^jeity's name, to receive into your cuftody 
 jiireetown.'. " Edward Wharton, a vagabond Quaker, and 
 " convey him from town to town until he come 
 *' to his habitation in Salem ; and the conftables 
 " of Dover, Hampton and Newbury are to 
 " whip him through their refpedive towns at a 
 cart's tail, not exceeding ten flripes in each 
 town, according to the law of vagabond 
 " Quakers in that behalf. This being the fen- 
 tence of a court held at Dover the 4th of July, 
 1663. 
 
 " Elias Stilman, cleric." 
 
 To which fentence Edward anfwered, " I fear 
 " not the word you may be fuffered to do to 
 " me, neither do I look for favour at your 
 " hands." The fentence was immediately exe- 
 cuted at Dover, and the executioner told him 
 he mufl prepare to receive the like at the next 
 town. But reiufing to go, except forced, he was 
 put upon a horfe*s back, having neither bridle 
 nor halter, nor any thing to hold by but the 
 pommel of the faddle. In this ignominious man- 
 ner, one leading the horfe and two others guard- 
 ing him on each fide, he was carried like a 
 notorious criminal from town to town, and 
 whipped as the warrant direded. 
 
 Soon 
 

 
 nn at 
 
 baiciu. 
 
 PEOPLE cAiLED QJJAKERS. 45 
 
 Soon after this two of his friends, John Lyd-c hap. 
 dal ana 'i'homas Newhoufe *, being at a meeting ^^J,^^.^, 
 at Salem, were apprehended, and by Hathorne ^^^ 
 ordered to be whipped through three towns, whipped 
 Edward remonftrating againft this and other pro- ^^f " 
 ceedings of this Hathorne, was fentenced to be^ 
 whipped with fourteen ladies, which were in- ' ' 
 Aided at the whipping- poll in the faid town. 
 
 About the fame time Joleph Nicholfon, Jane Cruciwhip- 
 Millard and Anne Coleman were cruelly whipped A^ne'coic- 
 through Salem, Bofton and Dedham ; the latter "'f' an'i 
 of whom, Anne Coleman, it w^as thought would 
 have loff her life through the extreme torture 
 fhe was put to, by the knots of the whip fplitting 
 one of the nipples of her bread ; and it was a 
 confiderable time before Ihe recovered. 
 
 Edward Wharton went about fome temporal 1664- 
 concerns to Rhode-lfland, and from thence he, 
 with George Preflon and Wenlock Chriftifon, 
 went to Boflon, and afl'embled there with others 
 of their friends to worfliip God. Rawfon, the 
 fecretary, coming to the knowledge thereof, / 
 
 iffued his warrant xo take a ftranger, a preacher 
 among the Quaker,.; iic. but before the conifa- 
 ble reached the houfe the meeting was ended, and 
 the ftranger gone. Searching Nicholas UpiltaU's 
 tfoufe he found Edward Wharton there, and in- 
 iifted upon his going before the governor ; but 
 Edward demanding a fight of his warrant, and 
 not being mentioned therein, he afferted his right 
 as a fubjeft of England, and refufed to go under 
 
 a warrant, 
 
 * Thomas Newhoufe was again whipped through the jurif^ 
 didion of Bofton for bearing teftimony againft perfecution in 
 one of their meeting- houfes ; at which time having two gla(r,- 
 bottles in his hands, he threw them down, faying, *' So ihall 
 *' you be diflied to pieces."
 
 46 HISTORYoFiHE 
 
 c H A p. a warrant, in which being neither named nor 
 
 ^]^^Lj defcribed, it was in no refpe£t a warrant 
 
 g, againil him : But here, the magiftrates and their 
 
 officers being of the fame caft, the conftable 
 
 dragged him by violence out of the houfe, and 
 
 took him before the governor, who immediately, 
 
 notwithftanding he knew him very well,* had 
 
 been perfonally obliged to him, and knew he 
 
 was an inhabitant of the colony, a reputable 
 
 tradefman in good circumflances, told him be 
 
 Jhould fuffcr as a 'vagabond. To which Edward 
 
 replied, I defy the life of a vagabond ; that law 
 
 is a wicked law, and very wicked and unrighteous 
 
 men they are that caufe thofe zvho fear the Lord 
 
 tofuffer by fuch a wicked law. But this remon- 
 
 llrance availed not. The governor, refolved on 
 
 rigour, turned a deaf ear to his reafoning, and 
 
 Edward iffued his warrant for him to be whipped in their 
 
 Wharton n j • • • i. x.> ^ •! 
 
 ordered to accuitomed ignomiiiious way at a cart s tail 
 
 be whipped through the towns of Bofton and Lynn, and 
 
 Bofton and thencc paffed to Salem, the place of his abode. 
 
 Lynn. jf gygj. ^j^g [Qxvci vagabond was mifappiied, as it 
 
 was in refpect to this people in general, it was 
 
 moft certainly in this cafe. A man on his way 
 
 home from a remoter place, whither his lawful 
 
 occafions 
 
 * William Sewel, p. 339, writes that Endicot had been 
 formerly in a circumftunce to acknowledge Edward Wharton's 
 frjendjliip to him, when he fupplied him with neceflaries in his 
 want, promifing then, that if ever it lay in his po-wer he ivould 
 requite him. In what maniicr he made that promife good thefe 
 anecdotes make manifeil. In a letter to Endicot from one 
 John Smith, recorded by J. BefTe, vol. ii. p. 209, and faid 
 to be delivered into his own hand, I find this palTage : 
 " There remaineth in thee a fpirit of cruelty and hard hearted- 
 " nefs to thy poor neighbours, which thou haft been formerly 
 " much beholden to, and relieved by in time of want, when 
 " thou hadfl not bread to cat."
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 47 
 
 occafions In the way of his bufmefs had called CHAP, 
 hiin, apT.nx'hended at random in the breach of '^^ 
 no lawj not even their law, was furely neither ^^. 
 vsgraiit nn any accepted fenfe of the word) nor 
 criminal j no firanger, but well known in Bofton; 
 but he was kuown to be a Quaker, fo called ; 
 this was hh crime, and for this he fuffered, — for 
 his religion and nothing elfe *. When the war- 
 rant v/a." written, Edward was told, that *•' if he 
 " would p-iomife the governor to come no more 
 " to the Quakers meetings at Bolton, it was 
 " likely he vvould dilcharge him." To which 
 he replied, "■ Not for all die world ; I have a 
 " back to lend to the fmiter, and I have felt 
 " your crutl whippings before now, and the 
 " Lord hath made me able to bear them, and 
 " as I abide in his ft^ar I need not fear what 
 " you (hall be fu^cred to do unto me ; but 
 *' furely the Lord will vifit you for the blood 
 " of the innocent, and your day is coming as 
 " it is come upon many, who but as yelterday 
 *' were higher than ever you were or are likely 
 " to be, but now are made the lowed of many, 
 " and truly my foul laments for you.** 
 
 The next day he was cruelly whipped through 
 Bofton almoft a mile, and fent away to Lynn ; 
 but the conflable there confidering him as a 
 well known inhabitant of Salem, and the war- 
 rant an illegal one, refufed to execute it. 
 
 Toward the end of the next month Alice 
 Ambrofe and Mary Tomkins being returned 
 from Virginia, where they had been feverely treat- 
 ed, and the latter, being very fick near unto death, 
 Edward Wharton and Wenlock Chriftifon having 
 
 intelligence 
 
 See note upon Neale, p. 33, Sec,
 
 48 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, intelligence thereof, came from Salem to Boflon 
 '^^ to vifit their fick friend. They were no fooner 
 come to the houfe where fhe was, than two 
 '^' conftables followed, and forced them all together 
 before the governor, although the fick woman, 
 through extreme weaknefs, fell down by the way 
 as dead, yet they waited over her till fhe reco- 
 vered a little, and took her with the reft. Wen- 
 lock and the two women were ordered to be 
 whipped out of the jurifdiclion, but their fen- 
 tence, through the interceffion of Colonel Tem- 
 ple, was remitted. As for Edward Wharton, 
 he being an acknowledged inhabitant now (al- 
 though fo lately a vagabond) they refolved upon 
 another courfe with him, and thereupon informed 
 him, that unle/s he ivould fuhfcrihe to thefe four 
 propofitions : ift. To promile to come no more 
 to any Quakers meetings in Bofton. 2d, That 
 when he came to Bollon'he fhould acquaint the 
 governor and his deputy forthwith, and of his 
 bufmefs. 3d, That he would take the oath of 
 fidelity. And 4th, To give bond for his good 
 behaviour, he fhould he tied to a great gun, and 
 fcvercly whipped ivith thirty flripes on his naked 
 body. A fevere and arbitrary alternative ; yet 
 this confcientious man was not long in deter- 
 mining his choice, he plainly told them that 
 " he Vv'ould not comply with their propofals ;'* 
 whereupon Daufort drew up the following war- 
 rant, and QOt Endicot to fiofn it : 
 
 " To the conftables of Bofton, of Charleftown, 
 Warrant " Maiden and Lynn. 
 
 for whip- 
 
 rgafn'aT " ^ ^^ ^''^ Tcqulrcd to take into your cufto- 
 Boftonwith" dy rcfpeQively Edward Wharton, convided 
 
 i""'^ « nf 
 
 ftnpes. u*
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 49 
 
 ** of being a vagabond from his own dwelling- chap. 
 place ; and the conftable of Bofton is to ,^^i^^^^ 
 whip him feverely with thirty ftripes on his ^^g 
 naked body ; and from conftable to conftable 
 you are required to convey him until he 
 " comes to Salem, the place where he faith 
 *' he dwelleth : And in thus doing this (hall be 
 " your warrant. Dated at Bofton the 30th of 
 June, 1664. 
 
 " John Endicot," 
 
 
 it 
 
 Then they led him to the market place, and Barbaroufly 
 bound his arms to the wheels of a great gun,"""'^ " 
 and barbaroufly whipped him v/ith thirty ftripes, 
 fo that it was teftified that peas might lie in the 
 holes, which the knots of the whip had torn in 
 his flefti ; his body was much fwelled and very 
 black from his waift upwards. In that fad and 
 miferable condition they led him as the warrant 
 direded, not the neareft way to Salem, but 
 round about the country, as if to expofe him to 
 the people as a fpeclacle, to terrify them with 
 the notion of their unlimited power, and their 
 rigorous cruelty in exercifmg it. 
 
 Soon after the figning this warrant Endicot 
 was deprived of his power, which he uniformly 
 applied, in concert with other magiftrates of 
 fmiilar temper, to the punifhment of thofe 
 who could not fquare their religion by his 
 pattern ; being feized with a loathfome dif- 
 eafe, which caufed a naufeous putrefadion be- 
 fore his breath left him, and terminated in his 
 death. 
 
 Of his confederates fome were gone before, 
 and the reft were taken away one by one, fo 
 diat from this time perfecution in New England 
 
 Vol. II. D gradually
 
 5© HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, gradually abated, as the perfecutors loft: their 
 '^^ flrength, and the eyes of the people began to 
 gg be opened to fee the evil of thefe rigorous mea- 
 fures, and more generally to condemn them, 
 the magiftrates became more cautious ; yet we 
 fhall, in fundry inftances, fee the veft:iges of 
 the perfecuting fpirit endeavouring to exert its 
 power for' the punifhment of divers of this peo- 
 ple feveral years after this, even till the Indians 
 made deftrudive incurfions into their jurifdic- 
 tion, which brought on a war, and gave them 
 more ferious employment — to repel enemies 
 much more formidable than the Quakers fo 
 called. 
 
 Edward Wharton, however, did not find all 
 his perfecutors removed in Endicot, for fome 
 months after, he was again cruelly whipped and 
 imprifoned one month, for no other caufe than 
 accompanying fome of his friends to Bofton, 
 who came thither to feek a paffage to England. 
 Such a feries of inhuman whippings and other 
 cruel fufferings for feveral years together, is 
 fcarce paralleled in hiftory to be inflicted on 
 any one perfon, for the caufe of religion and a 
 good confcience. 
 
 CHAR 
 
 ^
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS, $1 
 
 CHAP. X. : • 
 
 DETACHED OCCURRENCES. 
 
 Travels cf Catharine Evans and Sarah Cheevers 
 
 into Itahj. — On their Way to Alexandria are 
 
 put into Malta. — Are put into the Inqu'ifition. — ■ 
 
 Their Sufferings there. — Releafed by the Inter- 
 
 vention of Lord D'Aubigny. — John Philly and 
 
 William Moore travel- into Hungary to vifit 
 
 the Hortefche Brethren. — From thence to upper 
 
 Hungary. — Put in Shackles. — Rijied by the 
 
 Officers. — Brought before the Inquifitor. — Re» 
 
 peatedly examined, but no caufe of Crimination 
 
 appearing they are put to the torture. — Williafn 
 
 Moore's Account thereof and of their fuccejfive 
 
 Trials and fever e Sufferings. 
 
 A BOUT this period two Englifh women were chap. 
 imprifoned in the inquifition at Maha, where ,^^^?1^ 
 they M'ere confined above three years : their ^^g^^ 
 names were Catharine Evans and Sarah Chee- Catharine 
 vers. Thefe women, under a religious concern |j^^Jj^*^J^^^ 
 to propagate the doftrine of the divine light in vers take 
 man in the darker parts of the world, took p^^^^^'^'^ 
 their palfage in a (hip bound from London to 
 Leghorn, where, through various trials and 
 ftorms, they at length fafely arrived, and (layed 
 fome time, during which they ufed their en- 
 deavours to anfwer the end of their coming, by 
 difperfmg fundry books, explaining the doc- 
 
 D 2 trines
 
 52 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, trines of this people ; and difcourfmg upon re- 
 
 ^^^' ligion with the people who came to them, of 
 
 ggj whom curiofity drew numbers of all ranks 
 
 daily ; and in thefe their chriftian endeavours 
 
 they met with no moleftation here. 
 
 thL-nce in- From hcnce having got a paflage in a Dutch 
 
 ArexamiHa ftiip» v/ith intcntioH to go to Alexandria, the 
 
 are put into niafter put into Malta, where he tarried fome 
 
 IVTalta. • • 
 
 time. Next day after their arrival, being the 
 firfl of the week, they went afliore, where they 
 Were met by the Engiifh conful, who enquiring 
 the caufe of their coming, they informed him, 
 and gave him fome books, upon which he let 
 them know there was an inquifition there ; and 
 Entertaiiifd kindly inviting them to his houfe, they accept- 
 Hft coiiiuf's. ed his invitation. While they abode here cu- 
 riofity drew many to vifit them, whom they 
 found it their concern to call to repentance, 
 whereby fevet-al were affeded. They went 
 by defire to the nunnery, to fee the governor's 
 fifter there, where they difcourfed with the 
 nuns, and gave them fome books. Here a 
 priefl brought ihem into the chapel, and wanted 
 them to bow to the high altar ; but they refufed, 
 with abhorrence of that idolatry, and went back 
 to the confuFs, where they continued about 
 three months, during which time they were 
 repeatedly called before the inquifitors, and ex- 
 amined by them about their religious princi- 
 ples ; and through the v/ifdom and integrity they 
 were favoured with, anfwered their interroga- 
 tories in fuch manner as not to give them the 
 advantage againil them which they were feeking 
 for, nor give away the caufe of that truth they 
 believed in, by the lead compliance with their 
 requifitions to adopt their fuperftitious and 
 
 fliowy
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 53 
 
 lliowy religion. The inquifitors, not advcn-*^ ^^J^ P- 
 turing to take them out of the conlul's houfe k.^.^..^^,.,^ 
 without his conl'ent or acquiefcence, yet defi- 1651. 
 reus to get tliem into their power, at length 
 prevailed upon him by their flattery, their me- 
 naces, and (as was afterwards difcovered) by 
 bribery, to violate his duty, and v,ithdraw his 
 protection fo far as to fuffer them to be taken 
 by the officers of the inquifition ; for which 
 purpofe he confined them in his own houfe, 
 though the governor had fignified his willing- 
 nefs that they fiiould retain their full liberty, as 
 believing them to be honefl women. The con- The confui 
 ful by fair carriage was defirous to conceal his Jerdy'with 
 infmcere conduct ; but they being under a fenfe them, 
 that meafures were in contemplation to their 
 prejudice, and fufpeding the confui to be a 
 party therein, hinted to him their fufpicions, 
 remarking, that " Pilate would willingly do the 
 " Jews a pleafure, yet wafli his hands in inno- 
 " cency ;" which remark his confcioufnefs of 
 his duplicity applied home to himfelf, fo that he 
 required a fign of them, if they were the mef- 
 fengers of God : And they fignified that this . 
 might ferve for a fign, " That it would go well 
 " with them, but it would not go off well 
 " with him." 
 
 Soon after the confui informed them that they and g\vrs 
 w^ere fent for by the inquifition, in purfuance [j'^'" J,'P;^° 
 of orders from Rome, but that he hoped theytion. 
 would be fet free ; wherein he ftill diflembled, 
 knowing (as they afterwards difcovered) that 
 they would be detained in prifon. They v/ere 
 taken into cuftody by the officers of the inqui- 
 fition, and carried before the lord inquifitor, 
 whofe firfl quellion was, *' Whether they had 
 
 changed 
 
 6(
 
 
 54 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP." changed their mmds ? To which they an* 
 x^J^-^ fwered, " No, and that they fliould not change 
 J 65 1. " from the truth.'* Then he alked, " What 
 Examined « ncw light it was they talked of?" They re- 
 qJiSor^and P^icd, " It was no new light, but the fame the 
 committed " prophcts and apoftles bore teftimony to.*' 
 SeTnquiC- Next he aiked, " How this light came to be 
 tion. " loft fmce the primitive times ?" They an-, 
 
 fwered, " It was not lofl, but men did not 
 comprehend it, by reafon of the night of 
 apoitacy which had overfpread the nations." 
 Then he threatened them, if they would change 
 their minds they fhould fay fo, or elfe they 
 would ufe them as they pleafed ; but they fig- 
 nified they would not change, adding. The ivill 
 of the Lord be done. Upon this the inquifitor 
 and conful withdrew, and left them to the offi- 
 cers to conduft them to their prifon, which 
 was a clofe dark room, with only two little 
 holes for light and air, and fo extremely hot 
 in that warm climate that it feemed as if the in- 
 tention of the inquifitor was to ftifle them to 
 death. 
 
 They were brought under examination again 
 
 and again, but no anfwer could be extorted from 
 
 them to turn to their difadvantage ; and being 
 
 flill kept clofe prifoners, the conful, who had 
 
 been forewarned that his connivance at their ap- 
 
 prehenfion would not go off well with him, be- 
 
 T!^c conful came troubled in his mind to that degree that 
 
 for'^"/^!f he came to them with tears in his eyes, expref- 
 
 theni upr fing his forrow for their detention ; and he 
 
 offered back what he had received for delivering 
 
 them up, but could not prevail to have them fet 
 
 at liberty ; and is faid to have enjoyed no peace 
 
 after
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. -^^^ 
 
 after as long as he lived, which was not very chap. 
 
 1661. 
 
 lonsf. ^ 
 
 To defcribe minutely all the fufferings and 
 trials they patiently endured during a cruel im- 
 prifonment lor three or four years would lead 
 me into too much prolixity. They were conti- They are 
 nually befet and perplexed with the imperti- Jjf ™ks 
 nences of monks and friars, to cajole, terrify and friars. 
 or beguile them into conformity to their fuper- 
 ftitions ; but all their efforts were quite ineffec- 
 tual. Thefe innocent women were too well ef- 
 tabliflied, and too fteadfaft in that purer reli- 
 gion they had experienced the efficacy of, to be 
 perverted therefrom either by flattery, by me- 
 naces or by terror, although in apparent jeo- 
 pardy every day, often threatened, and often 
 under the difmal apprehenfions of being led to 
 the flake, as numbers before them on the like 
 offence had been. 
 
 But it looked as if their defii;n v/as rather to 
 get them put out of the way without noife, than 
 to execute them publickly. They were there- Put into a 
 fore put into a room fo exceedingly hot, clofe [h|;"\^e^a[- 
 and fuflccating, that it was thought they could moftfu/To 
 not furvive there long ; where moreover they 
 were fo excelfively flung by gnats that their 
 faces were fpotted and fwelled as if they had 
 been in the fmall pox. They were often forced 
 to rife out of their bed, to lie down at the 
 chink of the door for air to draw breath. By 
 the excefTive heat of the room, v/hich was in- 
 tenfe beyond conception, by an internal heat 
 added to that of the climate, their fkin was 
 parched, their hair fell off, and they frequently 
 fainted away. Their afilitlion here was too fe- 
 vere for humanity in its befl flate, efpecially in 
 
 tender 
 
 catca.
 
 c6 HISTORYoFTHfi 
 
 CHAP, tender women, to fupport, fo that at times they 
 ^- were tempted to with for death, to put an end 
 ^"7^"^ to their for rows. 
 
 vvWby It was not admirable that Catharine, by this 
 Catharine treatment, fell into a fit of ficknefs, and the 
 faUsfick. ^^^^j^g Qj^^g bringing with them a phyfician, as 
 they had done feveral times before, telling them 
 it was in charity, Catharine afked them, 
 " Whether they did not keep them in that hot 
 " room to kill them, and bring the phyliclan 
 " to keep them longer alive in torment ?" To 
 this it was replied, " It was better to keep them 
 " there than to kill them." They wrote to the 
 inquifitor, pleading their innocency, and com- 
 plaining of the hardfliips they fuflained, adding, 
 " if it was their blood they thirfted after, they 
 " might as well take away their Uyes feme other 
 " way as fmother them there." 1 his remon- 
 ftrance he took fo ill, that he ordered their ink- 
 horns to be taken away. They aiked, " Why 
 " their goods were taken away ?" and were an- 
 fwered, " All is ours, and your lives too if we 
 *' will." He ordered them alfo to be feparated; 
 but when they came to part them, Catharine's 
 diforder had broke out in one continued erup- 
 tion from head to foot, v.'hereupon the doftor 
 was fent for, v.'ho faid, " They muft have air, 
 *' or elfe they would die." This being report- 
 ed to the inquifitor, he ordered the door to be 
 fet open fix hours in the day. 
 They are Soon after they were feparated, in hopes to 
 feparated. ^^^^ ^^^^^^ impreifion upon them, by attacking 
 them feparatcly with their artful wiles or dread- 
 ful menaces, in order to bring them to fubmit 
 to their requifition ; but their affailants were 
 greatly difappointed, for they found them after- 
 wards
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 57 
 
 wards as immoveable as before, being flrength- chap. 
 ened feparately as well as jointly to refiit all y^,^^,^^ 
 their attempts. i66i. 
 
 As a fpecimen of their manner of making 
 converts 1 fhall tranfcribe one of their dialogues 
 out of many. One time a friar came to Catha- Difcourfe 
 rine, and told her, If fhe would be a catho- ^^^^'(/['^Jjj,, 
 lick fhe fliould fay io, otherwife they would ufe ""e. 
 her badly, and ihe fhould never fee the face 
 pf Sarah again, but (lie fliould die by herfelf, 
 and a thoufand devils fhould carry her foul to 
 hell. She afked him, If he was the melTenger 
 of God to her ? and he faid, Yes : Wliy, 
 what is my fm, or wherein have I provoked the 
 Lord, that he fhould lend me fuch a meifage ? 
 It is, replied he, becaufe you will not be a 
 catholick : Whereupon fhe faid, I deny thee 
 and thy meifage too, and the fpirit which 
 fpeaks in thee, for the Lord never fpoke fo. 
 He, growing angry, threatened to lay her in a The friar 
 whole pile of chains, where fhe fliould fee J|'_^^'=^"'''* 
 neither fun nor m.oon. Signifying her refig- 
 nation and trull in divine protcftion, llie faid, 
 he could not feparate her from the love of 
 God in Chrift Jefus, lay her where he would. 
 Threatening to give her to the devil, flie told 
 him, fhe did not fear him, for the Lord, faid 
 ihe, is my keeper ; the Lord is at my right 
 hand, and the worfl you can do is to kill the 
 body ; you can touch my life no more than 
 the devil could Job's. At this, quite enraged, 
 he told her, fhe fhould never go out of that 
 room alive ; to which fhe undauntedly replied, 
 Th« Lord is fixlficient to deliver me ; but whe- 
 ther he will or no, I will not forfake the living 
 fbuutain to drink at a broken ciftern ; and 
 
 you
 
 58 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c n A P. you have no law to keep us here, but fuch a 
 y,^,,^.^^...^ law as Ahab had for Naboth's vineyard. At 
 1 65 1, this the monk ran off in a rage, and pulling 
 the door, faid, Abide there, member of the 
 devil : To which fhe faid, The devil's members 
 do the devil's works, and the plagues of the 
 Lord will be uDon them for it. 
 Even in the ^^^^^ houfe of the inquiiitioii being rebuilding 
 inquifition or repairing in fome parts for the fpace of a 
 oppoit'u'ii- y^^^ '^"^^^ '^^ IvdW, furniflicd them with frequent 
 ties of opportunities, even here, to incite the people to 
 prcacLng. j.^pgj^|-j^j^(,(,^ 2Lnd to an attendance to the light of 
 Chrifi; in them, tliat thereby they might be 
 preferved from evil, not only among the work- 
 men, who were well affected and obliging to 
 them, but often with the citizens of better qua- 
 lity who came to view the building. 
 
 Sometimes they fpokc fo etfeftually to thofe 
 who came to fee them that they could not gain- 
 fay the truths they declared, but were macle to 
 confefs that God was with them. And Catha- 
 rine's prifon being fo near the ftreet that flie 
 could be heard of thofe that palfed by, (he fre- 
 quently found it her duty, particularly as they 
 palTcd to and from the place of v/orfhip hard 
 by, to call them to repentance, and to turn 
 them to the light, which would lead them from 
 all hnful ways and worfhips to ferve God in fpi- 
 rit and in truth, which feemed to have a confi- 
 derable eifeft on many, who would ftay to hear 
 as long as they durlt, for they were narrowly 
 •watched, and the confequence of their flopping 
 might have been imprifonmcnt at Icalt. Others, 
 greatly offended, applied to the inquifitor to have 
 them chained, or puniflied fome other way ; and 
 many of the lower order, imbittered by the 
 
 pr lefts,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 59 
 
 priefls, manifefted great malice in their words chap. 
 and a6tions. ^• 
 
 Thus they not only wlthflood all the efforts of 
 the monks to beguile them from their faith, but 
 bore open tellimony to the truth they believetl 
 in, and againfl the fuperliition and idolatry of 
 the religion eftabliflied there ; endeavouring, by 
 a faithful difcharge of duty, to keep a confci- 
 ence void of offence to God as well as man ; 
 and they were fupported in refignation to the 
 divine will, in the midfl: of furrounding dangers, 
 and in humble confidence in divine prefervation, 
 whereby at lad they experienced deliverance. For pra. r>tuarf, 
 which fundry interceiiions were made to the in- ^ ' •'[•'^'" v^ 
 quifitor, both by their friends and others. One cits\'Lr'rc' 
 Francis Stuart, of London, a mafter of a fln'p, in ''^■i<"f.with- 
 company with an Irim triar, coming to that city, 
 and engaging the aflifLance of the new conful, ex- 
 erted themfelves greatly, and made great intereft 
 to get them releafed by application to the chief ma- 
 giftrate, to the inquifitor, to the magiftrates and 
 friars ; and obtained the confent of ail or moil of 
 them to their relcafe, except the inquifitor, who 
 told them, He could not fei them free^ wiihoni an 
 order from the pope. Thefe men were however 
 admitted to fee and fpeak with them Ca privilege 
 rarely granted) the mailer with tears informed 
 them of the ineffectual pains he had taken to pro- 
 cure their liberty ; " It is this inquifitor," faid 
 he, " that prevents it ; you have preached to 
 " this people." To which they replied, " Tlr-U 
 it was to preferve the teliimony of a good con- 
 fcience; and the truth they had borne witnefs to 
 amongfl them, they fhould ftand to maintain, 
 " even with their blood," 
 
 The 

 
 ^O HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP. The next effort for their liberty was made by 
 ^ Daniel Baker, one of the fame profefTion ; who, 
 ^^^"*"^ under a concern for propagating true religion, in 
 company with John Stubbs, Henry Fell, and 
 Dan. Baker Richard Scoflrop had travelled to Leghorn, 
 aUo applies whcnce Stubbs and Fell took their departure for 
 q° iVtor'lor Alexandria ; and Baker and Scoftrop for Smyrna 
 their liber- ^nd Conllantinople, they preaching everywhere 
 ^' the light of Chrill, and exhorting all to obedi- 
 
 ence thereto, as the means whereby they might 
 experience falvation from fm, and a real conver- 
 fion of their fouls to God. This doftrine, deli- 
 vered in meeknefs, and accompanied by inof- 
 fenfive deportment, was received with contempt 
 and indignation, more by the profeflbrs of chrif- 
 tianity, than the Turks, Jews and Greeks. 
 "When they arrived at Smyrna, they were fent 
 back by the Englilh conful to Zant, where Rich- 
 ard Scoflrop died. Daniel Baker got paflage 
 from thence to Venice, and fo to Leghorn, and 
 at length to Malta, to vifit the aforefaid women, 
 with whofe fufferings he had real fympathy, be- 
 ing engaged in the fame caufe. He obtained ac- 
 cefs to the inquifitor, and addrefl'ed him in Ita- 
 lian, thus, " I am come to demand the juft li- 
 " berty of my friends, the two Englifh women 
 " in prifon in the inquifition." The inquifitor 
 aiked, whether he was related to them as an huf- 
 band or kinfman ? And whether he came out of 
 England on purpofe to make this application ? 
 He anfwered, that he came from Leghorn for 
 that purpofe. The inquifitor told him, they 
 ihould lie in prifon till they died, except fome 
 Englifti merchants, or others of fufficient ability, 
 would give an obligation of three or four thou- 
 
 fand
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. <5i 
 
 fand dollars, that they fhould never return thl- c HA P. 
 
 ther. ^ ^ K^Jt-.^ 
 
 He repeated his folicitatlons, but could obtain ^T"*^ 
 no other anfwer. During his ftay of twenty-four 
 days on the ifiand, he frequently vifited the pri- 
 foners, at the hazard of his life ; adminiftered to 
 their neceffities, and received feveral letters from 
 them to take over to their friends in England ; 
 and although he was daily threatened with the in- 
 quifitlon, and their officers watched him narrow- 
 ly, yet through the favour of divine Providence, 
 he was preferved out of their hands, and returned 
 fafe to England, where he was foon after taken 
 with others trom the meeting at Bull and Mouth, 
 in the 5th month (July) 1662 ; and after being 
 detained fome hours for a gazing-flock to the 
 people in Paul's yard, was taken in the evening 
 before alderman Brown, v/ho ordered his attend- 
 ants to fmite him, which they did ; and pulling 
 him four or five times to the ground, beat him 
 with their fids, and wrung his neck to gratify 
 the ill temper of their mailer ; who when he was 
 fatisfied with abufmg him and his companions, 
 committed them to Newgate : It was not without 
 reafon that Daniel Baker, reflecting on the treat- 
 ment he had met with abroad, told him that 
 Turks and Pagans would be afliamed of fuch bru- 
 tilh aftions. 
 
 At laft, after thefe women had endured the George For 
 feverities of their imprifonment in the inquifi-fl'j^'D'Au- 
 tion upwards of three years, George Fox and j^'gny to 
 Gilbert Latey underflanding that the lord D' Au- uSavouT, 
 bigny could procure their liberty, applied to him^hpobtuins 
 for his friendly interpofition, by writing to the k^fe, 
 magiftrates there in their favour ; which with a 
 laudable humanity he readily promifed to do, and 
 
 his
 
 ^2 H I S T O R Y o? THE 
 
 c H A p his mediation was fo fuccefsful as to obtain their 
 
 ^- releafe in the following manner. 
 ' "yi ' The lord inquifitor with the chancellor and 
 others came to the prifon, and afked them, Whe- 
 They are ther they would return to England to their hujhands 
 sccordingiy and children ? They replied, " It was their intent, 
 ^a at 1 tr- .^^ ^j^^ ^.^j ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ „ Whereupon they 
 
 were releafed, and the inquifitor courteoufly took 
 his leave of them, wifhing them a profperous 
 ■ journey to their own country, as did the other offi- 
 cers, without making any demand of fees for their 
 attendance. Being thus reftored to liberty, they 
 kneeled down and prayed unto God not to lay 
 to their charge the evil they had done unto them. 
 And then they were delivered into the confutes 
 hands : After about eleven weeks refidence at his 
 houfe, the Sapphire frigate coming to the ifland 
 took them in, together with fome knights of 
 Malta, one of whom was the inquifitor's brother, 
 v/ho often interefted himfelf with the captain in 
 their favour, requefting they might want no ac- 
 commodation the fliip afforded. From Malta 
 Are kindly thcv Came to Leghorn, where the merchants 
 at" Leghorn, treated them with remarkable kindnefs, fending 
 them Vv'ine and other things for their refrefhment. 
 From hence they paffed to Tangier, at that time 
 andatTan-befieged by the Moors, notwithftanding which 
 ^'"''° they went into the town, and got many opportu- 
 
 nities of exhorting the people to the amendment 
 of their lives, as they flocked greatly to the houfe 
 where they lodged : They paid a viiit to the go- 
 vernor, who received them courteoufly, took 
 their admonition in good part, and fignified his 
 purpofe to follow their counfel. He would have 
 given them money, which they were not free to 
 accept, but gratefully acknowledged his kindnefs. 
 
 From
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 63 
 
 From Tangier they went aboard another (hip for 
 •England, where, after fome florms, they arriv- 
 ed in fafety, rejoicing in the Lord, and mag- 
 nifying his mercy manifefted in their wonderful ^^^^• 
 deUverance. 
 
 For fome time previous to their difcharge their - 
 tried integrity and blamelefs demeanour had 
 made an impreffion on both the magillrates and 
 inquifitor in their favour, fo that the latter relax- 
 ed in his feverity, and feemed inclined to give ' 
 them their liberty ; but the friars exerted their 
 endeavours againft it. However, he ordered that 
 they (hould be fupplied again with pens, ink and 
 paper, to write to their friends. After this they , 
 wrote feveral letters and papers during their con- 
 finement. 
 
 Severe as the fufferings of the aforefaid women john Phiiiy 
 in the inquifition were, they fell (hort of thofe of ^'^^^^j4'J'_.^_ 
 two men friends, John Philly and William Moore, v<i ;i,t<, 
 who being with other friends in Germany in the ^^,"^'[^7 '** 
 becrinnine of the year 1662, felt a concern onHortciUic 
 
 1 ' •! iri • TT brethren. 
 
 their mmds to proceed farther mto Hungary, on 
 a vifit to the liortefche brethren, who were a 
 kind of Baptifls living in a community, and in 
 imitation of the primitive chriftians, having their 
 goods and polfeffions in common : they alfo re- 
 fufed to fwear or fight, and dwelt by hundreds of 
 them together in a family. To encounter the pe- 
 rils of» fo long a jonrney, through a trad of coun- 
 try unknown to them, and where they were un- 
 known, amongft people far diflering from them 
 in language, in fentiments and in manners, was 
 a difcouragement, which nothing could furmount 
 but a firm perfuafion of duty, and in confequence 
 a reliance on divine protection in the way there- 
 of. By the information they had previoufly ob- 
 tained,,
 
 64 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 c H A P. tained, and urther direftions on the way, they 
 
 •^ made a profperous journey to the neareft body of 
 
 gg this people, refiding near Cufliart, about a day's 
 
 journey from Prefburg, where they were pretty 
 
 hofpitably entertained by fome of them. They 
 
 here difperfed fome religious books, which they 
 
 had taken with them for that purpofe. They had 
 
 afterwards fome favourable opportunities of exer- 
 
 cifmg their gofpel labours amongft them, wherein 
 
 they endeavoured to promote and advance their 
 
 growth and experience in pure chriftianity. 
 
 Travel on After they found themfelves clear of their fer- 
 
 mto upper • there, they enquired after other families of 
 
 Hungary. ^ ' ; T _ 
 
 their brethren, and were informed of one, three 
 hundred miles farther at a city called Pattock, in 
 upper Hungary ; at the fame time they were dif- 
 fuaded by thefe people from going fo far, but ra- 
 ther flay and vifit the famili^ thereabouts. With 
 this propofal, although William v/as eafy to com- 
 ply, yet his companion thinking it his duty to 
 go forward, he had not freedom to leave him, as 
 John did not underfland the language, which he 
 had fome knowledge of. 
 
 They therefore continued their journey in 
 company to Prefburg, and forward towards 
 Comora, and on the way finding a boat going 
 with meal to the garrifon at Newhaufel, which 
 was on the way to Pattock, they endeavoured to 
 sunoun.Kd get a paffage in it. The boatmen alking whe- 
 
 re'.ton" ^^^^ ^^^y ^^^ ^^^y acquaintance there, and whe- 
 cvery iUe. thcr they had a pafs ? and being anfwered in the 
 negative, they told them it would be danger- 
 ous going thither, and alfo to travel farther in 
 thefe parts, being tributary to the Turks ; that 
 they would be encompalled with danger on all 
 hands ; in danger of being killed by the country- 
 men or Turks j and in equal danger if they went 
 
 to
 
 t'EOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 65 
 
 to Newhaufei, as at that garrifon they ufually put chap 
 thofe to death who were found on the tributary y^^..,. 
 ground without permiffion. John Philly notwith- ^, 
 Handing being defirous to proceed, they went on 
 till they came near Comora, and lodged at an 
 Hungarian's ; but not being able to underftand 
 one another, they fent for a lludent from the col- 
 lege, with whom William converfed a little in 
 Latin. The Itudent enquiring concerning their 
 country, and the purpofe of their journey, Wil- 
 liam told him they came from Great Britain, 
 and were defirous to go to Pattock. Afterwards 
 they entered into difcourfe about religion, and in 
 conclufion the ftudentj taking his leave, wiflied 
 them well, though his fentiments, he faid, dif- 
 fered vaftly from theirs. 
 
 Comora is in Schut, an ifland in the Danube, w. ivtoorc 
 which river they muft> therefore crofs to get to it ; ^°" *'*5°' 
 
 ^ •' 1 mora where 
 
 they made ngns to a countryman to put them over, he is apprc- 
 by holding out money to him, being ignorant of the '^^"'^^<^- 
 rifque they would tun. He was accordingly get- 
 ting his boat ready, when a Dutchwoman, coming 
 up called out to him. What are you about ? and 
 told thefe ftrangers the governor would prefently 
 caufe him to be hanged, if he took them over. 
 So they returned to their lodging. Here Willi- 
 am having heard there were many Dutch people 
 on the fouth fide of the town, went over the next 
 day» and without apprehenfion of the confe- 
 quence, took over fome books, in order to feek 
 an opportunity to convey them to Pattock. Meet- 
 ing a foldier, and having one of the books in his 
 hand, the foldier, looking at the title, told him of 
 a certain place in the neighbourhood, which was 
 in Turkey, whither, if he went, he might have 
 good days there ; to whom William fignified his 
 Vol. IL £ purpofe
 
 6S HISTORY OFTHE 
 
 CHAP, purpofe to return back, and proceeded to the 
 X. water fide, in order to rejoin his companion whom 
 ^""•^r-^ he had left behind. Here the aforefaid foldier 
 *6^2. came up to him, and told him, he mull come to 
 the captain, before whom appearing accordingly, 
 he afked for the book, and looking into it, afked 
 William if he was a Quaker ? to which he an- 
 fwered. Tea. The captain, in a paffion, faid, 
 Thefe rogues fhew no reipect, and that he was a 
 young Hus come to feduce the people, and make 
 uproars. He then caufed him to be ftripped and 
 learched, and took awav his monev from him : 
 And William giving him to underiland he would 
 not like fuch treatment hlmfelf, he told him. 
 When you get clear you fhall have your money; 
 but that is not like to be the cafe. Being fent to 
 Putin the guard, and ihackled hands and feet, they en- 
 fhackies. Qeavoyred to terrify him, by hulnuating as if he 
 flioulq be roafled on a wooden fpit, as lome had 
 been, who had but juft gone to the next village 
 without their order. He endeavoured to compofe 
 hlmfelf in refignation to the divine difpofal, ex- 
 pecling little lefs than immediate death. He was 
 dehrous to convey intelligence to his companion 
 of his fituation, and told fome of the foldiers he 
 had, a companion in the inn on the other fide, 
 \yho would wonder what was become of him, if 
 John Phiiiy he did not hear. On this intelligence they went 
 Lendc^'^ ' ""^^ '^^"^ apprehended him in his lodgings, though 
 unconcerned in the crime they imputed to Wil- 
 liam, which was his going over into the garrifon. 
 They were committed to feparate prifons, Willi- 
 am to the Stockhoufe, and John to the room ap- 
 propriated to the inhuman purpofe of putting the 
 prifoners to the rack, where he had only the prof- 
 peel of the implements of torture before him. 
 
 After
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. S-j 
 
 After the officers had rifled their perfons and port- c H a p- 
 manteau, and flripped them of 'vvhat they pleafed, ^■ 
 they were not afhamed to ufe both threatenings .^ 
 and mean artifices to difcover if they h^d anv^, 
 money lert, and to extort it from them. nfledbythc 
 
 The day following they were brought before °^'^^''*- 
 the inquifitor to be examined by him, who de- Smuchtbe- 
 manded of them, Whence they were ? Whither q';;if,j'^,'j„"J 
 they intended ? Who was the author of their examined. 
 coming forth ? What money they had tc'.ken up ? 
 William was farther examined concerning the 
 books, and told it was a capital crime, and would 
 cofthim his life; to which he fignified. What he 
 had done therein he had done in fimplicity. To 
 the next queftion, Who had fpoken to them in 
 their lodging? he anfwered, A ftudent. This 
 ftudent being accordingly fent for, and examined, 
 his information was taken down in writing ; but 
 it doth not appear that any caufe of crimination 
 could be drawn therefrom, as to their pretended 
 crime of coming as fpies, or with treacherous in- 
 tention, to the garrilbn. At a future examina- 
 tion the inquilJtor had the ftudent's information 
 in his hand, but would not read it openly ; for 
 the proceedings of thefe courts have been long 
 marked with infamy in all countries where they 
 are not eflabliilied, for their iniquitous myfteri- 
 oufnefs in concealing from the unhappy prifoner 
 every information or accufation they have againfl 
 him, and proceeding by torture to extort a con- 
 fefTion to their purpofe, whether they have or 
 have not any grounds of crimination. This was 
 the wretched cafe of thefe men. When nothing 
 as to their pretended crime could be made out, 
 the inquifitor told them the books were enough, 
 though there were nothing elfc ; and then afked 
 
 K 2 Whether
 
 68 HISTORYoF the 
 
 CHAP. Whether they did not know that Catholics had 
 X. laws to burn and torment Heretics, and fuch as 
 
 ^-'>/-*-' carried fuch books ? to which William warily re- 
 1662. plied, I fhould not have expected fuch dealings 
 among gjood chrillians. 
 
 The inquifitor opening a book, real or pre- 
 tended, of their corrupt laws, read or appeared 
 to read therein, that perfons who carry fuch 
 books and papers are to be put to the rack. 
 I'hey were repeatedly brought to examination in 
 the firft eight days after their apprehenfion, and 
 fundry enfnaring quefUons put to them, as what 
 they thought of the facrament ; to which William 
 replied, the fiejh profitetb little^ it is thefpirit that 
 quickencth. This inquifitor was fo flrangely unac- 
 quainted with the fcriptures, that in a furprize he 
 applied to a pried prefent, " Sir, father, how is 
 that ? who recollecting himfelf faid, he did re- 
 member fuch an exprejfion. The inquifitor next 
 >afked him if he would turn catholick? to which 
 he made this rational reply, " If I fhould do fo 
 *' for fear or favour of you, the Lord not requi- 
 *' ring it of me, I Ihould not have peace in my 
 " confcience, and the difpleafure of the Lord 
 " would be more intolerable than yours ;'* add- 
 ing that compulfion might make hypocrites, 
 but not chriftians, as it did not change the heart. 
 Being thus fifted and tempted 'till the eighth 
 day, without the difcovery of any crime from 
 their own confeffion, or the information of others, 
 their perfecutors proceeded to their ufual refource, 
 to extort the confeffion they wanted by torture. 
 Of this the fufferer, William Moore, gives the 
 following account, in a letter to William Caton, 
 written foon after his releafe. 
 
 They are " Notvvithftanding our iiinocencc, the govcm- 
 
 torture.*"^ " ^^ would havc US rackedjwhich feemed to me, 
 
 according
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 6^ 
 
 "^ according to relation, a cruel torment ; and in c h a p. 
 
 " thofe days I often poured out my iupplications ^' 
 to the Lord with tears. They made ready the ^, 
 benches, lighted the candles, put John out of 
 his room, and fent for me, the inquifitor fit- 
 ting there and two more officers, and the mar- 
 flial and executioner by them. The inquifitor, 
 addreffing himfelf to me, faid, William, that 
 you may not think we deal with you as tyrants, 
 we will inform you that you may tell what 
 you know in time, for if you be racked you 
 will be a miferable man, and mull have your 
 head cut oif befides. But I told them I had 
 done no evil that I knew of, nor had any in my 
 heart againfl: them. Then he read a few lines 
 to this purpofe, we Leopald, Emperor, &c. hav- 
 ing underftood of two impeached perfons, John 
 Philly and William Moore, found by our fron- 
 tier garrifons, our defire is they fhould be 
 racked, to know their intent. And then the 
 executioner, by their order, put an iron fcrew 
 hard upon my thumbs, and bade me tell out. 
 Then he flacked them and fcrewed them hard- 
 er again ; but their aim not being gained 
 thereby, he was commanded to proceed far- 
 ther ; upon which he tied a fmall cord about w. Moore $ 
 my wrifis behind my back, and another cord «ariina- 
 
 , ^ a •Till- IT tion on the 
 
 about my ancles, with a battel or wood be- rack, 
 tween my feet, and forced my body quite from 
 the ladder ; and at the fir ft pull, my left arm 
 being diflocated, gave a loud crack, then he 
 was ordered to put it in joint again. So he 
 flackened : And then they told me, they had 
 three things efpecially, which they wanted to 
 be informed in, ift. Why I afked the ftudent 
 if one Ihould come to them, and fay he in- 
 tended
 
 ^o 
 
 i602. 
 
 HISTORY OF THfi 
 
 '' tended to buy fomewhat of them, if they would 
 " kill him ? Secondly, Why we had defired to 
 " be fet over the water, and who was the au- 
 '* thor ? Thirdly, Why I had written down 
 " fome of the names of the garrifons and other 
 " places, notwithllanding I had them in the 
 " maps?'* 
 
 " He further endeavoured to force me to 
 " tell whether John Philly was a gunner, an 
 " engineer, or a minifter ? Now this fufpicion 
 *' of his being a minifter was put into their 
 " heads by an Irifhman, who had an irrecon- 
 " cileablfe hatred or mahce againft Englilhmen, 
 " as I afterwards from his own mouth plainly 
 ■' underftood ; but I anfwered and kept to this, 
 " that he was an huPoandman and a maltman, 
 " and I knew him not 'till he came to Amfter- 
 " dam. He allied me, if I had a mind to go to 
 *' the Turks, and be one ? I faid I had rather 
 " die than be one. In the mean time I was fo 
 " racked, that my chin was clofe to my bread, 
 *' and my mouth fo clofed that I was ahnoft 
 " choked, and could not well fpeak any longer ; 
 " and I fhould not wifh any to experience the 
 *' painful torture I endured ; and when they 
 " flackened, it was fometimes almofl as painful 
 ** as the pulling, and yet ftill they would be 
 queftioning me. Then I afked where is your 
 chriftian charity ? 4° Y^ i^ow as ye would 
 that others fhould do unto you ? And I cried 
 the louder that the people without might hear, 
 and bear witnefs what they were doing to me, 
 for the door was fhut and guarded : but fome- 
 thing they would force out of me ; and I told 
 them that by fuch means they might force 
 men to tell more than they knew,, to be out 
 
 ^' of 
 
 <c 
 it 
 ii 
 cc 
 << 
 i( 
 <(
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 71 
 
 ** of their pain, as many had done. Finally, I c h a p. 
 *' told them, it was for love to our religion we ^^• 
 " were come to thofe places. Ihen they left "^ — ^'"'^ 
 " off, as thinking there was crime enough. ^*^'^2- 
 " Yet dill the inquifitor threatened 1 fhould be 
 *' racked again on the third day." 
 
 Then they fetched John, who not feeing me, john Phiiiy 
 thought I had been hanged on the private gal- put to the 
 lows they had there, and put out of the way ; 
 but he was given up, being confident in the 
 Lord, who had fcaied to him, he faid, that his 
 life fliould be given to him for a prey before he 
 came forth ; his thumbs were fcrewed, and he 
 was drawn up the ladder twice, but cried out, 
 innocent ; and they aiking the interpreter, what 
 that was ? they feemed fmirten in their con- 
 fciences, and left off; and when all w^as done, 
 and they could find no contradiction, they in- 
 vented a lie. The marfiial cimie to me, and told 
 me John had faid, I had no money by me, but 
 what I had was his ; and bid me tell how it 
 was ; which I knew to be falfe : thus they fought 
 occafion to torment us the more ; but we kept 
 to truth, and their expectation failed them. 
 
 After all, they told me there would be twenty They arc 
 or thirty men of note, out of the quarters round threatened 
 
 , ^ . , 11, c • CY- With death. 
 
 about, appointed to hold a court or juitice upon 
 us, and to determine what deaths we ihculd die, 
 and to make new laws for our fake ; but in the 
 mean time the inquifitor came, and would have 
 me write down fome of the heads of my religion, 
 which I did, at fome of which he raged very 
 much. 
 
 John Philly being fufpicious that the inquifitor J. Phiiiyon 
 and priefls, plotting to take away their lives, ^j 'h"'-"- 
 might give a falfe reprefentation of their con- q i'fitorsand 
 feffion on the rack, called out to the gover- ^[1^, toThe 
 
 nor, govcrnsr.
 
 JOW 
 
 72 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 nor, as he was pafling in his coach, and upon 
 fending to know his bufinefs, he informed hint 
 '777^ of the queflions put to them, and their anfwers, 
 which being true, there was not the leaft con-, 
 tradiftion found therein. He afterwards wrote 
 to him more fully, but the inquifitor,. confcious 
 of his evil dealing, intercepted the letter, and en- 
 deavoured to conceal it from the governor, 
 which John underflanding, took another oppor- 
 tunity to call to the governor, and informed him 
 thereof, who ordered the inquifitor to give it to 
 William to tranflate, which he did ; foon after 
 the inquifitor came to them, and informed them 
 he was fent by the governor to let them know 
 they might go forth to fill fome earth in a wheel- 
 work at the barrow, whereby they might earn two pence a 
 whceibar- ^^^y |.q j^.^jy \^yq^(\ j fQ]-^ Continued he, that which 
 
 remains in my hands of your money is little for 
 my pains, and the marfhal and the executioner 
 muil have fome for theirs. This offer they wil- 
 lingly accepted, both for the fake of frefli air, 
 and in hopes that their futferings, being in open 
 view, might move fome compairion, there being- 
 many Lutherans and Calvinifls there, who com- 
 miferated their condition, but durft not venture 
 to vifit or converfe with them in the caftle. Yet 
 fometimes the marilial would not let them go 
 out, and often kept back their wages. 
 
 They both wrote again to the governor, in ac- 
 knowledgment of his moderation, in preventing 
 the defire of fome of their adverfaries, who 
 wanted to proceed to greater feverities. The 
 inquifitor again intercepted their letters j but the 
 governor, coming to the knowledge thereof, 
 obliged him to give them up, and foon after their 
 chains were taken off. 
 
 After
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 73 
 
 After they had been detained here about fix- chap. 
 teen weeks, they were conveyed m chains, by a ,^,.,.^,^1.^ 
 waggon, under a guard to general Nadaili, who j^g^. 
 was addrefled under the titles of Judex Curias Removed 
 Hungarise, the Emperor's adive privy counfellor '^"^J^^'j"' ''^ 
 and lord chamberlain. Ihe next morning they Nadafti. 
 were brought before him and fundry lords of 
 that kingdom, by whom they were examined ; 
 and although fome of them feemed affefted with 
 their anfwers, and none objeded thereto, they 
 pafi'ed fentence upon them, that they Ihould be 
 burned, if they would not be intruded in and Sentenced 
 embrace the popilh religion, for that their laws ^^j_ '^ 
 tolerated only three religions, their own, the 
 Lutherans and the Calvinifls ; and whofoever 
 brought a new religion, by their laws was to be 
 burned. Upon receiving this fentence they were 
 fent away. Under this difmal fentence John was 
 fupported, and encouraged his companion, by a 
 full perfuafion of mind, that the power of the^^^^^^ 
 Lord would divide them in their council, which cxccuied. 
 proved to be the cafe, as they afterwards under- 
 flood by an Irifh pried, who was fent to demand 
 an account of their religion in writing, which 
 they gave him in Englifh, and William having 
 jtranflated it, gave into Nadalli's own hands. 
 
 A prieil was fent to convert them, but his ^ p^iefi 
 endeavours and thofe of others being ineffeftual, ^cnt to c.m- 
 Nadalli fent them to a place within about five Threatened 
 German miles of Vienna, where falling into the ^^'^h the 
 hands of the priefts, their perils became aggra- oftheir 
 vated. They were here a-jjain fearched, their '"^]'^"". 
 
 J o ■' and various 
 
 books and papers taken away. J hey were threat- tortures, 
 <ened with the execution of the fentence paffed 
 upon them ; that they could give them a fpeci- 
 nien of their ftrong arguments for convincing 
 Jiereticks, fuch as burning under the arms, put- 
 ting
 
 74 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP ting hot irons or copper-plates upon their breafts, 
 ^^^ and other methods of torture. They brought 
 i66t them into their churches (fo called; to make them 
 take off their hats and bow to their images. 
 They fet others to enfnare them, in their words, 
 and llrove to do it themfelves, that they might 
 get fonie occafion to take away their lives. But 
 iKice^TaTd' their menaces, and pious frauds (as they have 
 fr,aKisi:uf- bccn termed) were fruftrated by the (leadfaftnefs 
 of thefe men to the truth they believed in : They 
 therefore put manacles on their wriils, fo fmall, 
 as, when locked by main force, but them to ex- 
 treme torture, fo that they could not help crying 
 out. This feemed to give much joy to thefe ob- 
 durate ecclefiaflicks. Then they were thruil: in- 
 to a narrow hole with fome Turks, that were 
 prifoners, where they had fcarce room to fit 
 down. Here they were again threatened to be 
 fent back to Hungary to be burned. One of 
 the prieils, being defired to treat them as men 
 and clirillians, to allow them a little flraw to lie 
 on, and not to ufc them worfe than the Turks, 
 replied, we prefer them before you. About the 
 fame time they offered them drink, urging them 
 greatly to take it, which they fufpeding to be 
 poifon, refufed ; upon this one of the priefts 
 faid, fufpcclum ejl. Amongil thefe prieds they 
 had a very uneafy time, being, in addition to 
 their cruelry, almoft continually aifaulted by their 
 w Moore ^i^'^^es, their taunts or their menaces. As Wil- 
 iinder great llaui under <^reat difcouras^cment was fittinp- and 
 mem'ha^h" ii^ufmg upoH thclr fituatioH, he faid within him- 
 an cnconr- felt, Lord help US ' what will be the end of this ? 
 -gmg VI I- ^^fjjj j-jj^y. [ij^Y^ power to murder us here, where 
 few may know of it ? (for there were no Lu- 
 therans and Calvinills here as at Prelburg and 
 
 Coiuora
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 75 
 
 Comora to be witnefles of their treatment :) Inc ha p. 
 this mufing ftate, he feemed as if he ilept, and x. 
 on a fudden to his imagination appeared a man '^^'^ — ' 
 all clothed in white, fitting on a milk-white **^*^^' 
 horfe riding in hafte towards him, like one 
 haflening to his refcue ; whereby his faith was 
 ftrengthened, imagining it was of divine ap- 
 pointment for his encouragement, left he (hould 
 be too much caft down. The very fame day 
 a meffage came trom the Earl *, fignifying his 
 difpleaiure at their proceedings. 
 
 There was one Adam Bien, the Earl's barber, Adam Bicn, 
 who had been educated amongit the Hortefche ^.^n'^bv * 
 breihren aforementioned, and being favoured in their con- 
 his youth with an enhghrened underftanding in afi'caed" '* 
 the nature of true religion, had been engaged ^'!!^ ko'"^ 
 to exprefs his dilTatisfddion with the darknefs them and 
 and deadnefs of the forms of thofe brethren. ^'5,''" P""" 
 
 ciplcs. 
 
 The Earl giving him fome account of thele pri- 
 foners, and (liewing him fome papers he had re- 
 ceived from John Philiy, his religious feelings 
 were thereby revived, and a ftrong defire raifed 
 in his mind to get an opportimity of converfation 
 with them, which through his intereil with the 
 Earl it was not diificult for him to attain. By 
 their difcourfe he was reached and in a good 
 degree convinced of the truth of their doctrine, 
 and while they Itayed there became a fteadfaft 
 and very ferviccable friend to them. He told 
 them, he had it from the Earl that he imagined 
 the priefts muit have been drunk when they gave 
 the ill treatment which had difpleafed him j they 
 
 in 
 
 * Who this Earl was, we have no further account in Wil- 
 liam Moore's letter, from which this narrative is cxtrafted ; but 
 I conjtdure he was a perfon verted with the principal civil au* 
 thority in this place.
 
 -jS HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, in return informed him they were fo both with 
 X. rage and wine. 1'he Earl's reproof had fuch ef- 
 ^'^ — v*^^ fed as to ftop for a feafon that current of abufe, 
 1662. ^2.t in various channels had hitherto run vio- 
 lently to bear them down : the llreams began to 
 turn, and fome of thofe, who had diftinguidied 
 themfelves in promoting every cruel and mali- 
 cious infult for the feafon, were endeavouring to 
 ingratiate themfelves with them by flattery, to 
 wipe off the remembrance of their preceding 
 treatment. The pri^ils alfo were reftrained from 
 keeping them any longer in their hole of a pri- 
 fon, and ufmg them with the cruelty they had 
 done before, which was to them a great morti- 
 fication. 
 At lad have They fecmcd now to have a comfortable prof- 
 o/obta^n^ peft of obtaining their liberty, having obtained 
 ini? their certificates of tlieir charafter from their friends 
 prcvea't<!d' in Holland, with the King's proclamation for 
 byaprieii. fettiug their friends at home at liberty, which 
 were of fervice : but a priefh exerted his utmoil 
 efforts to prevent it, by intufing prejudices into 
 the Earl's ear, and influencing him with a bad 
 opinion of them. And this Earl going to Vienna 
 was there confined by an heavy indifpofition, by 
 which means they were difappointed, for the pre- 
 fent, in their hopes of liberty, 
 iipccimer ^ Of the fpirit of the religion of thefe ecclefi- 
 of thV^'" afticks we have feveral inlfances. About this 
 ^^^f'^^' ^^^^ there came to them a fpiritual Lord, (fo 
 called) an Englifhman, from Vienna, who afked, 
 if they were come to plant their religion ? add - 
 ing, Sefts have occaiioned much mifchief in 
 England, but now they will be rooted out. John 
 remarked to him, the love of God can recon- 
 cile thein : A pox take ili'ii love, faid he, with 
 
 other
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 77 
 
 other unfavoury expreflions, very unbecoming chap. 
 his character of fpiritual, manifefling him not x. 
 only carnal but profane. Another time there *'■■ — "^ — ' 
 came one, who was called Brother Valentine, ^662. 
 and fpeaking with them concerning the Bible, 
 fald it had brought many thoufands into hell. 
 And reading a paper of John's, which he had 
 written to the Earl and council, fliewing that he 
 was an Englifliman, and forafmuch as there was 
 no difcord between England and the Empire, 
 he could not conceive whv an En<Tlifhman com- 
 ing thither to vifit a particular clafs of people, 
 and fpend his money among them, fliould be ufed 
 with the cruelty they had been : upon readijig 
 which this Valentine gave vent to the virulence 
 of his fpirit in the following uncharitable ex- 
 preffion. That they ought to be beheaded, for 
 if that had been done to Luther at firft, there 
 had not been fo many Lutherans or hereticks at 
 this day. This man's bitternefs, no lefs than 
 the other's profanity, difcovers a temper very dif- 
 ferent from the fpirit of the gofpei, which is 
 pure, peaceable, gentle, eafy to be entreated, 
 full of mercy and of good fruits : wherefore they 
 took a very abfurd method of recommending 
 their religion to the adoption of the prifoners, 
 who were better informed of the nature of true 
 religion, than not clearly to perceive theirs, 
 which allowed thefe liberties was not fo ; and 
 fenfible enough to difcern, that although pvieft- 
 craft might apply to fuch methods of fupport, 
 chriftianity abhorred them, as deftrudive of its 
 eifence. 
 
 In the mean time Adam Bien had requefted, 
 unknown to the prifoners, liberty for them to 
 refide in his houfe, during the extremity of the 
 winter ; as their prefent prifon, the guard-room, 
 
 was
 
 58 n I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, was very cold, the doors being open all day, 
 X. and much of the night, and from the confidence 
 ^-"■v — ' he had in their integrity, profferred his own per- 
 1662. fQj^ in their ftead, if they fhould make their 
 efcape ; but they were not free to add the bur- 
 den of fupporting them to the obligations they 
 were under for his former ads of kindnefs, and 
 therefore chofe to (lay in the prifon appointed 
 for them : yet they got liberty at times to go to 
 his houfe, where th'^y fometimes met with fome 
 of the brethren, and had religious opportunities 
 with them. 
 Their fuf- But their fufFerings werc not yet at an end; 
 fcrings con- ^^Qth the pricfts and foldiers, though partly re- 
 flrained by the awe they were in of Adam, on 
 account of his intimacy with the Earl, continu- 
 ed at all fecure opportunities they could get to 
 be vexatious, to them, and fought in various 
 ways to infnare them. Finally, they feem by 
 their infmuations to have prevailed upon the 
 Earl to connive at leafl at a plot which was laid 
 They are to fepatatc them, by carrying William Moore 
 fcpamea. ^^ privately, probably, becaufe, having fomc 
 knowledge of the High-Dutch language and 
 Latin, they might look upon him as the bed 
 qualified and moft likely to promulgate their 
 doctrines. For this purpofe he was called out 
 ciandeftinf- by One of the men employed to carry him off, 
 iy carried wlio gavc him two glafs bottles, under pretence 
 cruelly a- of going witli him to fetch fome wine \ and when 
 bufedby 1-ie h2.d drawn him out of the town into the 
 iants. fields, whither came fome lleds (the country be- 
 ing fo deeply covered with fnow, that waggons 
 could not travel) being armed with a cudgel, he 
 forced him on to one of them, and was prefent- 
 ly joined by a foldier, whom William knew to be 
 a defperate fort of a man, having been much 
 
 threatened
 
 PEOPLE CALLED C^AKERS. 79 
 
 threatened by him before. Upon his coming, chap. 
 Wiliiam was fenfible mifchief was intended him, '^• 
 and fearing left they fhould, under the pretence of ^^^^ 
 his being run away, vent their vengeance on his 
 companion and Adam too, to whom they bore 
 a grudge for his kindnefs to them, he re- 
 folved ro endeavour to get back ; but was pre- 
 vented by the wicked attendants, who beat and 
 abufed him greatly, threw him down on the 
 fnow, tied him hands and feet, bound him on 
 the fled, with his face to the hay, and carried 
 hirh oft"; fo that he was under apprehenfion 
 that their defign was to murder him in an ad- 
 joining wood. They afterwards went by a gal- 
 lows, where he imagined they might have it in 
 view to execute him ; but they palfed by both. 
 Some people coming that w^ay, they covered him 
 wdth a cloak, and one of them fat upon him, 
 that he might not be feen. But hearing them 
 palling by, he called out to them to let the bar- 
 ber know he was forcibly carried off. The fol- 
 dier then again beat him levercly, the other man 
 having charged him not to fuffer him to fpeak. 
 At night, when they came to their lodging, they 
 fettered his feet, and put a long chain tied over 
 a beam about his neck. Next morning, pafTmg 
 through a village, he would gladly have fpoke to 
 fomebody ; but they forced him to lie down un- 
 til they had got through the village. They car- ^J^^'/j; ^ 
 ried him to a convent or fome fuch place in a convent. 
 wildernefs ; but the prior not being at home, 
 the monks would not receive him without his 
 orders ; fo that night he was laid in chains as 
 before. Next morning he was taken up to the 
 monaftery or caftle, and his conductor gave di- 
 rections that they fhould blindfold him, and put 
 him in a deep dungeon, and giveiiim only a little 
 
 bread
 
 8o H I S T R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, bread and water, and that none (hould be fuffer- 
 y^^^^^, ed to give any intelligence of him. A Jew be- 
 1662 ^^S there, was prohibited, on pain of death to 
 fay any thing of what he had feen. He was ac- 
 cordingly put into an hole, where there was 
 fcarce any light, and kept there four days and 
 four nights in cold frofly weather, fo that it feem- 
 ed admirable he was not ftarved to death. 
 
 From the clandeftine manner in which he was 
 conveyed hither, and the myfterious fecrecy or-^ 
 dered to be obferved, as to his prefent place of 
 confinement, it is not to be wondered at, that 
 he was apprehenfive of being privately murder- 
 i!e is ap- ed, or made away with, fo as never to be heard of 
 prthenfive j^q^q . ^-^^ [^ jg hard to account for this treache- 
 
 ©f being ... 
 
 privately rous projecl otherwife, than that the original de- 
 ^ade away ^^^^^ ^£ ^^^ projcdors was fuch, or elfe to bury 
 
 him alive in a dungeon, till death fhould releafe 
 him, or till he fliould be wearied out, or ter- 
 rified into an adoption of their religion : But the 
 fuperintendency of divine providence refcued 
 him from the former, and the well-grounded 
 perfuafion of the fuperior rettitude of his own 
 religion from the latter. 
 Rener.-ed He had been confined twelve days, when the 
 
 endeavoyrs t% ' i i r r 1 • 1 
 
 to convert "nor Came home, who lent tor him and exa- 
 bimtopo- mined him, what end they had in view in com- 
 ing into that country, and concerning fome 
 points of their religion ; to which he anfwered 
 agreeably to truth. The prior told him that was 
 not enough, he muft alfo believe that the Pope 
 was Chrifl's Vicar, and that he, and they, had 
 power to bind and loofe in Heaven and on 
 Earth. He was afterwards again examined on 
 the fame fubjeft ; and as his demeanour amongd 
 them was inculpable and circumfped, confiftent 
 
 with 
 
 pcry,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED Q^UAKEJIS. 8i 
 
 %vlth the purity of the profeffion he made, they chap. 
 were the more defirous to gain him over as a 
 profelyte, bec^tufe they apprehended he would be g^ 
 an ornament to their proieffion. And a prieft 
 was fent to inftrud and convert him, but his 
 labour being ineffedual, they had recourfe to 
 menaces, threatening one while to cut out his 
 tongue, another to flay him alive, if he would / 
 
 not turn papift. 
 
 Adam Bien continued fteadfafl in his friend- Adam Bien 
 fhip to them in all their affliaions. After Wil- ^^^^'Jcon- 
 liam was carried off, the Earl endeavoured to tinues his 
 perfuade him he was run av/ay, which Adam in their TaT 
 could not believe; but by fome means getting 'v°^''. 
 intelligence of the place of his confinement fent 
 him fome neceffaries, and gave orders to fupply 
 him with bread on his account. Soon after the 
 Earl being again feized with an indifpofition, 
 from which his recovery was doubtful, Adam, 
 folicited him in their favour, and obtained his 
 promife to fet them at liberty. But they being 
 building a new cloifter, William was detained 
 by the Prior fix weeks after to attend the ma- 
 fons, promifmg to tell him a good meffage when 
 he returned, if he would be diligent. He af- 
 terwards took him afide, and told him the 
 Earl would have him told, that if he would turn, 
 catholic he fhould have good fervice and pre- 
 ferment ; but if not he could not detain him, 
 for he had prifoners enough befides ; but that 
 it was concluded, that if he was found after- 
 wards in Hungary or Auftria, he fhould be 
 burned, and his companion alfo. 
 
 It was on the 4"" of 7""° (September) i663,wiiiiam 
 he was relsafed, and his companion two days ^°(°^^ ^^^ 
 after, of whom I find no farther account but through 
 
 Vol. II. F thatSLf' 
 
 makes his
 
 tinate. 
 
 82 HISTORY OFTHE 
 
 CHAP, that he fet forward toward Germany. William, 
 ^ ahhough fet at liberty, yet having at firft with 
 '""TC^^ his companion, been dripped of their money, 
 ^^'ay^nto which fccmed more than fufficient for the ex- 
 the Paia- penfcs of their journey, found himielf involved 
 in difficulty ftill, a ftranger in a remote country, 
 without money and without friends ; but having 
 been inured to clofe trials of his faith, he fet 
 out on his journey homeward, trufling in the 
 fuperintending care of divine providence for his 
 fuftenance, from which he had experienced pre- 
 fervation in many fhraits, wherein there was lit- 
 tle profpecl of relief. Another danger attended 
 him ; the Auflrians being at war with the Turks, 
 guards were placed at all the towns thereabout 
 to examine flrangers, and feize or prevent fuf- 
 picious perfons entering into them ; he therefore 
 avoided the garrifoned towns, and enquired the 
 raoft private ways, and under the protection of 
 that divine hand in which he trufted, in about 
 a month he made his way into the Palatinate, 
 where at Chriilein he got aniongft his friends, 
 who entertained him kindly. Here he tarried 
 fome weeks to reft and refrefh himfelf after the 
 long continued fcene of danger, terror and dif- 
 trefs, which he had juft palled through. 
 
 CHAR
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. I3 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 ^ohn Audland^s Death and Charader. — He was a 
 Teacher among the Independents. — Convinced 
 by. George Fox. — He travelled much in the work 
 of the Minijiry, — Firji who vifitcd the City of 
 Brijiol. — His Widow's Te/iimony concerning hinu 
 — George Fox's Trial before Judge Twifden. — 
 He traverfes the Indidment. — IndiBment quafh- 
 ed. — On his fecond Trial he is clandcjiinely con^ 
 demned in a Frcmunire. — Severity of his Impri- 
 
 fonment. Margaret Fell's Trial. — Francis 
 
 Howgill's Trial. —At his fecond Trial condemn- 
 ed in a Premunire alfo. — Remarks upon hisTrials^ 
 
 IT was near the clofe of this year that John chap. 
 Audland was taken off in a confumption, in an xi. 
 early ftage of life. He was born near Camms- """^^^ 
 gill in Weftmorland, the feat of his beloved com- j^^n ^J;,, 
 panion in gofpel labour John Camm (whofe cha- lands death 
 rafter and pious end is before related). From a ^^^q^^'^' 
 thild he is defcribed as fharp in apprehenfion, 
 of retentive memory and quick underftanding ; 
 and as he approached a ftate of maturity, he appli- 
 ed the attention of his mind to religious thought- 
 fulnefs, and diligent reading the fcriptures, and 
 by the ftrength of his memory, and the good- 
 nefs of his underftanding, gathered a large trea- 
 fure of fcripture knowledge, and became an 
 eminent teacher amongft the independents, of;^^^'^^^''^^^^ 
 whom he had a very numerous auditory. He indepen- 
 was oQe of the principal preachers at Firbank '^^""• 
 
 F 2 chapel
 
 84 HISTORYoFTHK 
 
 CHAP, chapel at the time when George Fox had the 
 ^i* memorable meeting there, and not the lead 
 
 ^""^ — ' amongfl the number then convinced of the truth 
 ^^^3- and efficacy of the dodrines he publifhed. Not- 
 
 by George withftanding the contemptible light in which 
 
 Fox, at Fir- learned prejudice has viewed and reprefented 
 
 bankchapel. t-T "' • t t i • i r 
 
 George fox, yet it appears manirelt his artlels 
 preaching and honefl fimplicity of llyle, con- 
 veying heart felt experienced truth, with gofpel- 
 authority, was more conducive to fix the beft; 
 impreffions on the hearts of his auditory, and 
 to open their underftandings into a clear per- 
 ception of the emptinefs of fpeculative religion, 
 unproductive of inward purity and eftablifhment 
 in righteoufnefs, than mofl of the elaborate 
 difcourfes of lettered eloquence. This was the 
 effed: it had upon John Audland, imprefling his 
 mind with fuch refledions as thefe ; What a-vnil- 
 eth our great profejjlon ? All our building tumbles 
 down ; the day of the Lord is upon it, and the 
 jire of his word cojifumes it as dry fiubble, and 
 puts an end to all high notions, and prof ejjions with- 
 out life and fuhflance, to all the wifdom of fallen 
 man. We 7nufi forfake the world and all its 
 glory ; it is all but vanity and vexation cf fpirit. 
 It is a Saviour I long for. that I ?nay be ga- 
 thered i?ito his life ; overfljadowed with his glory I 
 fandified throughout by his word, and raifed up 
 by his eternal power. Under this view of the 
 neceffity of taking up the crofs in order to at- 
 tain peace, he willingly fubmitted thereto ; and 
 refigning all his own felf-righteoufnefs, acquired 
 wifdom, and the reputation he had attained there- 
 by, he fpent many days in filencc and folitude, 
 in felf-abafement, humiliation and m.ental prayer, 
 under the wafhing of regeneration, of which, 
 
 after
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 85 
 
 after a feafon of mournful travail of fpirit, he c H A P. 
 was favoured with the experience. Through xi. 
 divine condefcenfion he attiiined the defire of ^^-^''v-^^^ 
 his foul, that inward peace which exceeds the '*^^3- 
 comprehenfion of unfandified men ; and an ex- 
 traordinary qualification, with wiidom and lively 
 zeal to promulgate the way of falvation and re- 
 conciliation to God, no longer under the cold 
 influence of barren fpeculation, but the ani- 
 mating energy of living experience. In the ex- He travels 
 ercife of profitable minidry he zealouily and ';:;;,t 0} Ihc 
 faithfully exerted his talents for feveral years, mimiiry. 
 travelling much through fundry parts of the na- 
 tion to propagate the doclrines of the gofpel 
 maintained by the people called Quakers. He 
 was early married, about the twentieth year of 
 his age, to Anne Newby, a young woman of a 
 good family, who proved a well fuited com- 
 panion, being a virtuous, valuable and well ac- 
 compliihed woman : With her he enjoyed much 
 domeftick happinefs. But fuch was the unre- 
 ferved dedication of heart to the fervice of God, 
 and chriitian fortitude of thefe profeilbrs of the 
 light of Chrift: within, that neither the allure- 
 ments of domeftic eafe and fatisfaftion, nor the 
 dangers and hardfliips which awaited them every 
 where abroad, were of fufficient confideration 
 with them, to prevent their ready obedience, 
 when they apprehended the call of duty fum- 
 moned them to go forth with the meffage of the 
 gofpel: Herein approving themfelves, by the 
 fame divine fpirit to be fafhioned after the mo- 
 del of primitive chriftianity : Remembering the 
 time was fliort, ihey that had wi-ves^ were as 
 though they had none^ they that bought as though 
 they pojfeffcd not, and they that ujed the world as 
 
 not
 
 8^ HISTORY OF TKf. 
 
 CHAP, not abicfing it. Such were this pious pair ; 
 yj\^, clofely united as they were in mutual affection 
 i66x ^^ ^^^^ other, in fimilarity of fentiments and 
 difpofition, and of devotion to the fervice of 
 their creator ; when this fervice commanded 
 their feparation, he hefitated not to proceed in 
 the Une of duty ; nor fhe to give him up freely 
 thereto, By which means it happened, that for 
 ' a confiderable part of the time from their mar- 
 riage to his death, they were much deprived 
 of each other's company. Although few were 
 happier in each other than they ; yet looking 
 for their principal happinefs in futurity, they 
 were willing to deny themfelves of that part of 
 their prefent fatisfadion, which might be any 
 obflrudion to the fteady purfuit of the fu- 
 ture. 
 Pirfiwho John Audland was one of the earlieft preach- 
 Ii[y o'f Bni'- ^^s of thls perfuafioH, being the firfl: of them, 
 toi. in company with John Camm, who vifited the 
 
 city of Bridol, and the weftern counties ; where, 
 as well as at other places, his powerful miniftry 
 was effectual to the convincing of many. Being 
 fluent in exprcffion, engaging in his manner of 
 delivery, and abundantly replenifhed with mat- 
 ter, adapted to the different dates of his audi- 
 tory, the number of his hearers encreafed to 
 fuch a degree, that for want of an houfe large 
 enough to contain them, he and his companion 
 held their meetings frequently in an orchard 
 without the city. He was not only a partaker 
 with his brethren in gofpel labour, but in 
 the perils and fufferings of that trying day ; in 
 repeated imprifonments and corporal abufes; by 
 which, with his zealous exertions in thefe large 
 meetings, beyond his bodily ability to fuftain 
 
 without 
 
 •
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 87 
 
 without injury, he was affeclcd with a violent chap. 
 
 cough, which appeared confumptive, and finally ^_^..__, 
 
 terminated in a flow fever, whereby he was re- ^^^ 
 
 duced to great weaknefs of body ; but through 
 
 the comfortable evidence of inward peace, in a 
 
 confcioufnefs of a life well fpent, in the fer- 
 
 vice of God and man, he was preferved eafy 
 
 and lively in his fpirit, and bore his indifpofi- ' 
 
 tion with exemplary patience. Refled:ing upon 
 
 his paft labours and their effedts he expreifed, 
 
 " that in thofe great meetings in the orchard at 
 
 *' Brillol he often forgot himfelf, without con- 
 
 *' fidering the inability of his body, from a de- 
 
 *' fire to be heard of all : But that his reward 
 
 *' was with him, and he content to be with the 
 
 " Lord, which his foul valued above all ^ 
 
 " thin-s." 
 
 o 
 
 Not long before his deceafe, being vifited by 
 fome of his friends, he addreJled them with 
 fuch encouraging confolation and exhortation to 
 fidelity under the trials they were expofed to, 
 and wi:h fuch pertinency and reaching energy, 
 as if he was railed above the feeling of his 
 weaknefs. In tender fympathy vv^ith his beloved 
 and affeftionate wife, who was 'with child, nigh 
 to her delivery, to encourage her refignation, in 
 cafe of his removal, he faid, " My will is in 
 '* true fubjedion to the will of the Lord, whe- 
 " ther life or death, and therefore give me up 
 " freely to his difpofing." And being, through 
 divine axTiflance, ftrengthened to comply with 
 this advice, her fmcere refignation under this 
 affliftion contributed greatly to the eafe of his 
 mind. Lie was not only preferved in peaceful 
 ferenity of mind at this folemn period, but at 
 times even filled with joy in the profpedl of ap- 
 proaching
 
 88 HISTORToFTHK 
 
 c H A P. proachlngfelicityjundertheimpreffionwhereof^in 
 ^'- the time of extreme bodily weaknefs, his foul was 
 ^""T^ ' raifed up in praife to the almighty, and in prayer 
 ^* for the profperity of his friends in righteoufnefs, 
 " That they might be preferved in the truth, 
 " out of the evil of the world ; that his gofpel 
 " might fpread and be publifhed to the gather- 
 " ing of all that pertain to Ifrael." His flrength 
 daily'diminifning, he terminated a virtuous life 
 in great tranquillity at the age of thirty-four 
 years, which to him was of duration fufficient, 
 being fo well fpent, as we trull, enfured him the 
 end of his faith, the falvation of his ioul. ^ 
 His wi- His widow (who bore her affliction in her 
 
 dow'stefti- ^Yvmo: circumftances, being about ten days after 
 his deceafe delivered of a fon, with remarkable 
 refignation and difcreetnefs) wrote a very pathe- 
 tic teftimony to his memory, which contains a 
 fenfible and lively defcription of affeftion, 
 founded in religion; and chriftian fortitude, in 
 acquiefcing in divine difpofal, in which fhe faith, 
 " God, who by his Providence joined us toge- 
 ther in marriage in our young days, in his 
 blefled counfel caufed alfo his day to ipring 
 from on high upon us ; in the marvellous light 
 " and ftining whereof he revealed his fon in 
 " us, and gave us faith to believe in him, the 
 " eternal word of life, by which our fouls came' 
 " to be quickened and made alive in him ; and 
 " alfo in and by the quickening of his holy 
 " power we were made one in a fpiritual and 
 " heavenly relation, our hearts being knit to- 
 " gether in the unfpeakable love of truth, which 
 " was our joy and delight, and made our days 
 " together exceeding comfortable, as being that 
 by which our temporal enjoyments were* 
 
 " fanaified 
 
 a 
 
 £( 
 
 cc
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 89 
 
 *' fandified and made a bleffing to us. How CHAP. 
 ** hard it was, and how great a lofs to part ^^\j 
 " with fo dear and fo tender an huiband, is far ^^^ 
 " beyond what I can exprefs ; the forrow of 
 " my heart, my tongue or pen is not able to 
 " declare ; yet in this I content myfelf, that it 
 " was the will of the Lord that he was taken 
 " from the evil, and that my lofs, though great, 
 " is not to be compared to his eternal gain," 
 
 1664. 
 In the lafl year we left George Fox, 
 Margaret Fell and Francis Howgill in prifon, 
 under arbitrary and illegal commitments ; the 
 two former in Lancafter caftle, and the latter in 
 Appleby jail. George Fox was brought to his g. Fox's 
 trial for refufmg to take the oath of allegiance j^^J^^^j^lj^, 
 at the fpring aflizes, the beginning of this year, den^ 
 before Judge Twifden ; and after giving his rea- 
 fons why he could not, for confcience fake, 
 comply with the requifition to take the oath, he 
 alked the judge, If he owned the king ? Who 
 replying in the affirmative : Why then, faid he, 
 doft thou not obferve his declaration from 
 Breda, and his promifes made fince he came 
 into England, that no man ihould be called 
 in queftion for matters of religion, fo long as 
 they lived peaceably ? Why doll thou call 
 me in queftion, and put me upon taking an 
 oath, feeing neither thou nor any other can 
 charge me with unpeaceable living ? At this 
 the judge was fo provoked that he cried out, 
 " Sirrah, wiU you fwear ?" To which George 
 boldly rejoined, " I am none of thy firrahs, I 
 " am a chriftian ; and for thee who art an old 
 " man and a judge, to fit there and to give nick- 
 " names to prifoners, doth not either become 
 
 « thy
 
 ^p H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 " thy grey hairs or thy office.'* Two days af- 
 terward being brought before the judge again, 
 and afked, whether he would traverfe the in- 
 _, ^ J. dictment or fubmit, he defired liberty to tra- 
 the indid- verfe, whereupon he was continued in prifon 
 '^^^' till the next alfizes, and during his confine- 
 ment writ feveral papers to the niagiilrates, ma- 
 nifefting the evil of perfecution, and exhorting 
 to virtue and piety. 
 
 He was called again before Judge Turner at 
 the fucceeding affizes held in the month called 
 Augull, where an indictment was found againlt 
 him for refufmg the oath ; and he being 
 brought in guilty by the jury, in arreft of 
 The ind'i?- judgment he pleaded fo many material errors in 
 mcntquafii-^l^^ indictment that the court could not get over 
 acknowledging them fufficient to quafh it, and 
 it was accordingly laid afide ; whereupon he 
 appealing to the judge, demanded juflice of 
 him, for he did not look for mercy. The judge 
 told him. You muft have juftice, and you Ihall 
 have law. Afi^ing then. Am 1 free from all 
 that hath been done a2:ain(l me in this matter ? 
 Yes, replied the judge, but then recollecting 
 himfelf, and ftarting up in a pafTion, faid, I 
 can put the oath to any man here, and I will 
 tender it to you again ; which he did accord- 
 ingly, and recommitted him to prifon till the 
 next ailizes, which ■were held, the i6rh of March, 
 (fo called) 1664-5, when he was tried on ano- 
 ther indictment. 
 P-cmar!^. The arbitrary and unjuii treatment of this 
 worthy man is very obvious throughout, being 
 hitherto detained, in a very incommodious pri- 
 fon, as before described, upwajds of twelve. 
 nionths, witho-at the lead fniuiow of crime : a 
 
 fufficient
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. g.i 
 
 fufficient punifhment of itfelf for evil doing ; c hap. 
 and when tried for a created offence, and tiie xi. 
 indidment was proved erroneous in many ef- ^-^v^-' 
 fential points, inftead of obtaining his liberty, ^^^4t' 
 as of right he ought, a repeated advantage is 
 taken of his confcientious fcruple, to prolong 
 his punifhment. Although the judge confeffed 
 him legally at liberty, yet he contrives to re- 
 mand him to his fevere iinprifonment. Thus 
 juftice was perverted under the influence of 
 party-prejuuice, and the lav/ flretched beyond 
 due bounds to punifh inculpable demeanour. 
 
 In his trial on the fecond indiclment before on his fe- 
 Twifden he met with (till harder treatment ; ^"""^^"''^ 
 for although he proved this as well as the for-jud^e 
 mer erroneous in fundry particulars, the judge j[^"j'^'^j"^_ 
 arbitrarily overruled all his objiedions, and or-dedineiy 
 dered him to be taken away. When he was [;;"^^^;:;^'^_ 
 gone the jury brought in a verdicl for thenire. 
 king : he was called no more, but fentence of 
 premunire was paffed upon him in his abfence. 
 
 * Colonel Kirby, though feemingly fair and 
 civil in his carriage towards him to his face, was 
 at the bottom a bitter enemy, and the chief pro- 
 nioter of his firft imprifonment and the feverity 
 of this profecution, who, having now obtained 
 his defire, ordered the jailer to keep him clofe, 
 and fuffer nobody to come near him. The jailer. The fcvm- 
 in compliance with this order, locked him up P' ''^.j"' 
 in a fmoaky tower, fometimes fo filled with ment. 
 fmoak that he could fcarce fee the candle when 
 burning. Here he was fometim.es almoft fmo- 
 liiered, .and in wet weather it rained in upon 
 his bed, fo that his fhirt was often quite wet 
 
 in 
 
 ' Sewel. Beflco
 
 pt HISTORY OF THE 
 
 c H A P. in attempting to flop the rain. In this dif- 
 
 ^^ treffing condition he lay tkrough a long cold 
 
 winter, whereby he was fo affefted by the cold 
 
 , '^* and wet, that his body was much fwelled and his 
 
 limbs benumbed. 
 
 M. Fell's At the aforefaid alTizes, in the month called 
 Auguft, Margaret Fell was alfo brought to her 
 trial on the fame account, an abflracl of whofe 
 trial followeth : 
 
 Margaret Fell being brought to the bar, and 
 the indiftment read, the Judge faid, Come, will 
 you take the oath ? ^ 
 
 M. Fell. There is a claufe in the indiftment 
 that the church-wardens informed of fomething, 
 which feemeth that it fhould be the ground or 
 caufe of this indictment, I defire to know what 
 matter of faft they did inform of, for I was 
 fent for from my own houfe, from amongd my 
 children and family, when I was about my out^ 
 ward occafions ; when I was at no meeting, 
 neither was it meeting day ; therefore I defire 
 to know what this foundation or matter of fact 
 was, for there is no law againft the innocent 
 and righteous ; and if I be a tranfgreflbr let me 
 know wherein. 
 
 Jud'^e. You fay well, the law is made for 
 tranfgreffors : But, miitrefs, do you go to 
 church ? 
 
 M. FelL I do go to church. 
 
 'Judge. What church ? 
 
 M. Fell. The church of Chrifl:. 
 
 Judge, But do you go to church with other 
 people ? You know what I mean. 
 
 M. Fell. What doft thou call the church, the 
 houfe or the people ? The houfe you all know 
 
 is
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 93 
 
 is but wood and ftone ; but if thou call the chap. 
 people a church, to that I anfwer, As for the ^^^' 
 church of England that now is, I was gathered ^^^ 
 to the truth, unto which I now (land a witnefs, 
 when this was not the cftabllfned church. I 
 was feparated from the general worfhip of the 
 nation, when there was another fet up, than 
 that which is now, and was perfecuted by that 
 power which then was, and fuffbred much hard- 
 fliip ; and would you now have us deny our 
 faith and principles, which we have fuft'ered for 
 fo many years, and turn to your church con- 
 trary to our confciences ? 
 
 Judge. We fpend time about thefe things : 
 Come to the matter in hand, What fay you to 
 the oath and to the indidment ? 
 
 M, Fell. I fay to the oath, as I have faid be- 
 fore in this place, Chrift Jefus hath commanded 
 me not to /wear at all, and that is the only 
 caufe, and no other, the righteous judge of 
 heaven and earth knoweth. And this I do teftify 
 imto you here, that for the matter or fubftance 
 of the oath, and the end for which it is intend- 
 ed, I do own one part and deny the other. I 
 do own truth, faithfulnefs and obedience to the 
 king, and all his juft and lawful commands and 
 demands ; and I alfo deny all plottings and 
 contrivings againll the king, and all popifli fu- 
 premacy and confpiracy ; and I can no more 
 tranfgrefs againft King Charles in thefe things 
 than I can difobey Chrift's commands. I do 
 not deny this oath, becaufe it is the oath of al- 
 legiance, but I deny it becaufe it is an oath, 
 becaufe Chrifl Jefus hath faid I fliall not fwear ■ 
 at all. If I might gain the whole world for 
 fwearing an oath I could not, and whatever I 
 
 have
 
 94 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, have to lofe this day for not fwearing an oath 
 
 ^^- I offer it up. 
 ^"TT*^ J'-^dge. What fay you to the indidment ? 
 ^664. j^^ p^^ii^ -^h^^ {[^oM\^i I fay ? I am clear and 
 
 innocent of wronging any man upon the earth 
 as the little child that (lands by me ; and if 
 any here have any thing to lay to my charge let 
 them come and teftify it before you all ; and if 
 I be clear and innocent you have no law againft 
 me. 
 
 Then Colonel Kirby and the fheriff whifpered 
 to the judge, whereupon fhe accofted the co- 
 lonel : 
 
 M. Fell. Let us have no whifpering : If thou 
 hafl any thing to lay to my charge come down 
 and teftify againft me ? 
 
 Judge. Jury, take notice fhe doth not take 
 the oath. 
 
 M. Fell. This matter is weighty to me, what- 
 ever it be to you, and I would have the jury 
 take notice of it, and confider ferioufly what 
 they are going to d^o. I ftand here before yoii 
 on account of the lofs of my liberty and my 
 eftate ; fecondly, I ftand here obeying Chrift's 
 command, and keeping my confcience clear j 
 but if I keep the king's commands in obeying 
 ^ this law, I defile my confcience and tranfgrefs 
 
 the law of Jefus Chrift, who is the king thereof: 
 And the caufe and controverfy in this matter 
 that you are all here to judge of this day is 
 betwixt Chrift Jefus and King Charles ; this is 
 his caufe, and whatfoever I fufter it is for him, 
 and fo let him plead my caufe when he plea- 
 feth. 
 
 Judge to the jury. Are you agreed ? Have 
 you found it ? 
 
 Jury,
 
 1664. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 95 
 
 Jury. For the king. 
 
 M. Fell. I have counfel to plead to my in 
 dictment. 
 
 The court adjourned till after dinner, 
 when being met again they proceeded. 
 
 M. Fell. I defire we may have time till to- 
 morrow morning to bring in our arrefl of judg- 
 ment ? 
 
 Judge. You fhall have it. Miftrefs Fell, you 
 wrote to me concerning the badnefs of your pri- 
 fons, that it rains in, and that they are not fit 
 for people to lie in. 
 
 M. Fell. The fheriiT knows, and hath been 
 told of it feveral times, and now it is raining, 
 if you will fend you may fee whether it be fit for 
 people to lie in or not. 
 
 Then Colonel Kirby {landing up to excufe the 
 flierilf, and to extenuate the badnefs of the 
 place, 
 
 M. Fell faid, if you were to be in it yourfelves 
 you would think it hard, but your mind is only 
 in cruelty to commit others, as William Kirby 
 here hath done, who hath committed ten of our 
 friends and put them into a cold room, where 
 there was nothing but bare boards to lie on, 
 where they have lain feveral nights, fome of 
 them above threefcore years of age, and known 
 to be honell men in the country where they live ; 
 and when William Kirby was afl^ed, Why they 
 might not have liberty to (liift for themfelves for 
 beds ? He anfv/ered. They were to commit them 
 to prifon, but not to provide prifons for them. 
 And being aft^ed. Who fhould do it then ? He 
 anfwered. The King. 
 
 Judge. You fhould not do fo ; they ought to 
 have prifons fit for men. 
 
 Next
 
 p6 
 
 F. How- 
 
 •rill's trial 
 
 Sir Philip 
 Muftrrave 
 influences 
 the iuiloe. 
 
 Charjfe to 
 the grand 
 jury. 
 
 HISTORY OF THK 
 
 p. Next morning her counfel pleaded in arreft of 
 judgment, and found feveral errors in the in^ 
 diftment, which yet the judge would not admit 
 of, but pafled fentence of premunire upon 
 her. 
 
 M. Fell. The Lord forgive thee for what thou 
 haft done : This law was made for Popifh re- 
 cufants, but you pafs fentence on few of them. 
 Although I am out of the King's protection, yet 
 I am not out of the protection of Almighty 
 God. 
 
 She remained in prifon about twenty months 
 before fhe could obtain liberty to go to her own 
 houfe, which then fhe got for a little time, and 
 returned to prifon again, where fhe continued , 
 about four years, till releafed by an order of the 
 king and council. 
 
 Francis Howgill was alfo brought to his trial 
 at the fpring affizes this year at Appleby, before 
 Judge Twiiden aforefaid. Coming into court 
 before the judges fat, he enquired of the clerk 
 whether his appearance was expected then or 
 not ? Who gave him expectation that he would 
 not be called upon that affize. But Sir Philip 
 Mufgrave, a violent man and a principal pro- 
 moter of the profecution, unfairly endeavoured 
 to prepolTefs the judge againft him, by reprefent- 
 ing him as a dangerous per/on, a ringleader of the 
 Siuakers^ and a great upholder of their meetings. 
 Whereupon they refolved to proceed to his trial. 
 Judge Twifden, in his preparatory charge to the 
 grand jury, adopting the pretences and language 
 in fafliion, informed them. There was a fort of 
 people, who under pretence of confcience and 
 religion, and feeming to build upon the king's 
 declaration from Breda, under colour thereof 
 
 hatched
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 97 
 
 hatched treafons and rebellions ; charging them CHAP, 
 to enquire after and prefent fuch, that the peace ^^___^_^ 
 of the nation might be preferved. The jury ^^^ - 
 was then empannelled, and Francis called to the 
 bar. The judge proceeding very calmly, in. the, 
 following fpeech : . , . - 
 
 Judge, The times being dangerous, and 
 things having now a worfe appearance than at 
 iaft affizes, and people under pretence of con- 
 fcience violating the laws, and hatching treafons 
 and rebellions, although I have nothing of that 
 kind to charge againil you ; yet feeing you did 
 refufe to take the oath of allegiance at the lafl 
 aflizes, the law doth prefume fuch perfons to be 
 enemies to the king and government ; however 
 I Ihall give you time to prepare for your trial till 
 the next affizes, only you muft enter into recog- 
 nizance for your appearance then, and for your 
 good behaviour in the mean time. 
 
 F, Hoivgiil having requelled and obtained 
 leave to fpeak^ faid, Thou very well knoweft. 
 Judge Twifden, upon how very flender an ac- 
 count, or none, I was brought before thee the 
 lafl alTize?, where thou waft pleafed to ten- 
 der me the oath of allegiance, though, I be- 
 lieve, both thou and the reft of the court did 
 know that it was a received principle amongft 
 us, not to fwcar at all : Many reafons I then 
 gave to fnew, that I did not refufe the oath 
 out of obftlnacy, but confclentioufly, and that 
 I was none of them, who make religion a cloak 
 of malicioufnefs, nor confcience a cloak to carry 
 on plots and confplracles : The Lord hath re- 
 deemed me and many more out of thefe things. 
 I defire therefore that my verbal promife and 
 
 Vol. IL G engagement
 
 pg HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 C H A P engagement to appear at the next aflizes may 
 ^'- be accepted. 
 
 Judge. You mufl enter into bond in this 
 dangerous time ; I would have you confider of 
 it, and either give me your anfvver now, or be- 
 fore we go out of town, 
 
 A day or two after he was called again. 
 
 Judge Twifdcn made a fpeech againfl treafons 
 and rebellions, faying, thefe things were carried 
 on under colour of confcience and religion, and 
 reflecled upon the Quakers. 
 
 F. Hougill. As to thofe things, I am clear : 
 I hope neither the court nor country have any 
 thing to lay to my charge : I blefs the Lord I 
 have nothing to accufe myfelf with, for I have 
 peace, and feek it with all men ; and feeing the 
 court is pleafed to give me time to anfwer to 
 my indiftment till the next aflizes. and fmce it 
 is a matter of great confequence to me, on which 
 my liberty and eftate depends, I hope the court 
 will not be againft my having liberty for thefc 
 five months to prepare for my trial. 
 
 Judge. We do not defire your imprifonment^ 
 if you will be of good behaviour. 
 
 Jujhce Fleming. My lord, he is a great fpeaker, 
 it may be the Quakers cannot do without him. 
 
 Judge. Let him be what he will, if he will 
 enter into bond. What do you tell us of con- 
 fcience, we meddle not with that, but you con- 
 temn the laws, and keep up great meetings, and 
 go not to church. 
 
 F. Howgill. It hath been a dodrine ahvays, 
 and a received principle, as any thing we be- 
 lieve, that Chrifl^s kingdom could not be fet up 
 with carnal weapons, nor the gofpel propagated 
 by force of arms, nor the church of God built 
 
 with
 
 t»EOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 99 
 
 ■with violence ; but the Prince of Peace is ma- chap, 
 niieft amonf]f us, and we cannot learn war any ,^J^[j 
 more, but can love our enemies, and forgive ^^ 
 thofe that do evil to us ; and though this un- 
 happy contrivance hath fallen among fome men, 
 who have brought trouble on the country and 
 mifery on themfelves, we have no hand in ir. 
 This is the truth, and if I had twenty lives, I 
 would engage them all that the body of the 
 Quakers will never have any hand in war, or 
 things of that nature, that tend to the hurt of 
 others, and if any fuch whom you repute to be 
 Quakers, be found in fuch things, I do, before 
 the court here, and before all the country, deny 
 them ; They are not of iis. 
 
 'Jujlice Mufgrave. My lord, We have beeii 
 remifs toward this people, and have driven with 
 them, and put them in prilbn again and again, 
 and as foon as they are out they meet again. 
 
 Sir 'John Loivther. My lord, they grow info- 
 lent notwithftanding all laws, and the execution 
 of them, yet they grow upon us, and their meet- 
 ings are dangerous. 
 
 Jujiice Mufgrave. My lord, it happened that 
 fome of the Quakers being fent to prifon, one 
 of them died there, and they fet this paper on 
 the coffin, " This is the body of fuch an one, 
 " who was perlecuted by Daniel Fleming to 
 " death." 
 
 F. Howgill. Notwithftanding here has been 
 diligent enquiry made by the grand jury con- 
 cerning this plot, what have you found againft 
 the Quakers ? 
 
 Ju/iice Mil/grave. There was one Reginald 
 Fawcet, a Quaker, that is run away, that was 
 an intelligencer from the county of Durham. 
 
 G 2 F. HowgilL
 
 100 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. F. Hoii'gilL Fawcet hath been difowned by 
 y^^^' us thefe fix years, nor do 1 believe he hath pre- 
 g^ tended to come among us thefe two years : And 
 if perhaps any by you reputed Quakers (hould 
 be found offenders in this nature, I believe 
 they would teflify for us againft themfelves, that 
 the body of our friends and meetings did dif- 
 own them. It is therefore unkind to reprefent 
 us thus hardly to the country. God is with us 
 and hath kept us from evils and temptations of 
 this nature, of plotting and fighting, notwith- 
 flanding all the provocations and fuiferings we 
 have palled through. 
 
 Judge. The gentlemen and I have fpent much 
 time with vou, and 1 (hall not difcourfe with 
 you any longer. 
 
 F. HowgilL I acknowledge your moderation 
 towards me, and I fhall not trouble you much 
 longer. I fhall be willing to appear to anfwer 
 my indldment at the affizes, and fhall in the 
 mean time live peaceably and quietly as I have 
 always done. 
 
 yudge. You mull enter into bonds, and come 
 at no more meetings. 
 
 F. Howgill. I cannot do that ; if I fhould, I 
 muft be treacherous to God and my own con- 
 fcience, and even you yourfelves and this people 
 would think me a hypocrite. 
 
 The court ordered him to prifon, and as he 
 was going he turned to the people, faying. The 
 fear of God be amongfl you all. 
 
 The people generally appeared very affec- 
 tionate to him, and pitied his hard circum- 
 flance. 
 
 At the funimer alTizes held in the fame place 
 the 22d and 23d days of the month called Au- 
 
 gult.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. lo! 
 
 guft, he was again brought to the bar, and finally c H A P. 
 condemned in a premunire, under which he lay ^i* 
 in prifon to the end of his days. v-/^vn.> 
 
 Previous to his fecond trial he caufed two ^^^■'^• 
 papers to be prefented to the judges ; one of 
 them was a declaration containing the labftance 
 of the oath, and the other a niodell defence of 
 hinifelf for refullng to fwear ; both which he 
 was informed the judges read. Here follows his 
 trial before Judge Turner. 
 
 Clerk. Bring Francis Howgill to the bar. 
 
 *Judge. Here is an indictment againft you for 
 refufing to fwear, you mud plead guilty or not 
 guilty. 
 
 F, Howgill. May I have liberty to fpeak and 
 make my defence ? 
 
 yudge. Yes, you may. 
 
 F. Howgill. I will lay the true Rate of the cafe 
 before thee, feeing Judge Twifden is not here, 
 who was privy to all the: proceedings hitherto 
 againft me. I was born and brought up in this 
 county ; my carriage and converfation is known, 
 that 1 have walked peaceably toward ai! men, 
 as I hope my countrymen can teftify. About a 
 year ago, being in a neighbouring market-town 
 about my reafonable and lawful occafions, I was 
 fent for by an high-conitable out of the market 
 to the juitices of peace, before whom I went : 
 They had nothing to lay to my charge, but fell 
 to afldng me queftions to enfnare me about our 
 meetings, and when they could fmd no occa- 
 fion, they feemed to tender me the oath of al- 
 legiance, though they never read it to me, nor 
 did I pofitively deny it ; yet they committed me 
 to prifon. At next affizes Judge Twifden de- 
 ,,clared that my ?nittimus was infufficient : Nevcr- 
 
 thelefs
 
 102 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 thelefs he there tendered me the oath, and en- 
 gaged me to appear the next aflizes after, which 
 "^^^ I did ; and then refufing to give bond for my 
 good behaviour, and not to be prefent at any of 
 om* meetings, I was committed to prifo.n, where 
 I have been thefe five months, fome of that time 
 under great reftraint, and my friends not fuifer- 
 ed to fpeak to me. Now as to the oath, the 
 fubflance thereof, with the reprefentation of my 
 cafe, is aheady prefented to the court, unto whicl^ 
 I have fet mv hand, and fliall in thofe words tefti- 
 fy the fame in open court if required ; and fee- 
 ing it is the very fubftance of what the law; 
 doth require, I defire that it may be accepted, and 
 that I may be cleaved from my imprifonment. 
 
 Judge. I am come to execute the law ; ar\d 
 the law requires an oath, and I cannot aker it : 
 Do you think the law muft be changed for you^ 
 or only for a few ? If this be fuffered the admi- 
 niftration of juflice i:> hindered, no action c^n be 
 tried, nor evidence given for the king : Your, 
 principles are altogether inconfiftent with the 
 law and government : I pray you (hew me which 
 way we iliall proceed, (hew me forne reafon, and 
 f^^i\c me fome ground. 
 
 F. Howg'dL I ihall : In the tnouth of two or 
 three witnelies every truth is confirmed, and we 
 never denied to give, and are ftill ready to give 
 evidence for the king in any matter for ending 
 of flrife between man and man in truth and 
 righteoufnefs, and this anfwers the fubflance of 
 the law. 
 
 Judge. Is this a good anfv/er, think you ? 
 Whether to be given with an oath or without ari 
 oath ; the law requires an oath. 
 
 F, HowgilL
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. ic^ 
 
 F. Hozugill. Still evidence may be given in c h a p. 
 truth, according to the fubftance of the law, xi. 
 fo that no detriment cometh to any party, feeing ^— "v^^ 
 true tefiimony may be borne without an oath; ^°°4- 
 and I did not fpeak of changing the law : Yet 
 feeing we never refufed to give telUinony, which 
 anfwereth the end and fubftance of the law, I 
 thought it reafonable to receive our tefiimony, 
 and not expofe us to fuch fufferings, feeing we 
 fcruple an oath only on a confcientious account, 
 for fear of breaking the command of Chriil, the 
 Saviour of the world, which if we do, there is 
 none of you able to plead our caufe with him. 
 
 Judge. But why do you not go to church, 
 but meet in houfes and private conventicles, 
 which the law forbids ? 
 
 F. HczvgilL We meet only for the worfhip of 
 the true God in fpirit and in truth, having the 
 primitive chriftians for our example, and to no 
 other end but that we may be edified and God 
 glorified ; and where two or three are met to- 
 gether in the name of Chrifl, and he in the 
 midil of them, there is a church. 
 
 Judge, That is true ; but how long is it fmce 
 you have been at church, or will you go to the 
 church the law doth allow of? Give me fome 
 reafons why you do not go ? 
 
 F. Hoivgill. I have many to give, if thou hail 
 patience to hear me. ift, God dwells not in 
 temples made with hands. 2dly, The parifli- 
 houfe hath been a temple for idols, and I dare 
 not have feliowfhip with idols, nor worfliip in 
 idols temples ; for what have we to do with 
 idols, their temples or worfhip ? 
 
 Judge. Were there not houfes called the 
 .houfes Of God and temples ? 
 
 F. HowgilL
 
 104 HISTORY OP the 
 
 F. Howgill. Yes, under the law, but the 
 chriftians who believed in Chrifl feparated from 
 thefe, and the temple was made and left defo- 
 1664. late ; and from the Gentiles temple too, and 
 met together in houfes, and broke bread from 
 houfe to houfe ; and the church was not con- 
 fined then to one place, neither is it now. 
 
 'Judge. Will you anfwer to your indi-flment ? 
 
 F. How^iill. 1 know not what it is. 1 never 
 heard it, though I often defired a copy. 
 
 j'ud'^c. Clerk read it. 
 
 The indidment was read, importing that he 
 had wilfully, obftinately and contemptuoufly 
 denied to fwear when the oath was tendered. 
 
 F. HozQgilL I deny it. 
 
 Judge. What, do you deny ? 
 
 F. Ho\vgill. The indiftment. 
 
 Judge. Did you not deny to fwear ? 
 
 F, Howgill. I gave unto the court the fub- 
 ftance of the oath, as you all know : I alfo told 
 you that I did not deny it out of obftinacy or 
 wdlfulnefr,, neither in contempt of the king's 
 law and government, for I would rather chufe 
 my liberty than bonds, and I am fenfible it is 
 like to be a great damage to me. I have a wife 
 and children, and fome eftate, that we might 
 fubfifl on, and do good to others, and I know all 
 this lies at ftake ; but if it were my life alfo, I 
 durfl: not but do as I do, left I fhould incur the 
 difpleafure of God : and do you judge I would 
 lofe my liberty wilfully, and fuffer the fpoiling 
 of my eftate, and the ruining of my wife and 
 children, in obftinacy and wilfulnefs .? Surely 
 not. 
 
 . y^^S^' Jury, you fee he denies the oath, and 
 will not plead to the indictment : only excepts. 
 
 againft
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. loj 
 
 againfl it becaufe of the form of words ; but chap. 
 you fee he will not fweur, and yet he faith, he >^i-- 
 denies the indidment, and you fee upon what ^--"^ — ' 
 ground. *^^+' 
 
 Then the jailer was called, and gave evidence 
 that the oath was tendered to him at a former 
 aflizes, which he did refufe to take. 
 
 So the jury, without going from the bar, 
 brought in their verdict, Guilty. 
 
 The next day, towards evening, he was again 
 brought to the bar to hear his fentence. 
 
 Judge. Come, the indictment is proved 
 againfl you, what have you to fay, why fentencq 
 Ihould not be given ? 
 
 • F. HowgilL I have many things to fay if you 
 will hear them, ift, As I have faid, I deny not 
 fwearing out of obftinacy or wilfulnefs, but am 
 willing to teftify the truth in this matter of obe- 
 dience, or any other matter wherein I am con- 
 cerned. 2dly, Becaufe fwearing is dired:Iy 
 againfl the command of Chrift ; and ;;dly, 
 againfl the do£trine of the apofiles. 4thly, Even 
 ijbf fome of the principal members of the church 
 of England, as Bifhop Uflier, fometime primate 
 of Ireland, who faid in his works that the 
 Waldenfes denied all fwearing in their age from 
 (hat command of Chrifl and the apoflle James, 
 and that it was a fiifScient ground. And Doctor 
 Gauden, late Bifhop of Exeter, in a book 1 
 lately read, cites many ancient fathers, proving 
 : that the chriftians, for the firfl three hundred 
 years, did not fwear, fo that it is no new doc- 
 trine. 
 
 yudge. Surely you miflake ? 
 
 F, HowgilL I have not their books here. 
 
 Judge.
 
 iq5 H I S T O R Y of the 
 
 CHAP. y^dge. Will you fay upon your honeft word 
 . xr. that they denied all fvvearing ? 
 ^-^''""^ F. Hoiugiii. What I have laid is true. 
 1664. yudge. Why do you not come to church and 
 hear fervice, and be fubjed; to the law, and tQ 
 every ordinance of man, for the Lord^s fake ? 
 
 F. Howgill. I am fubje£t ; and for that caufe 
 do we pay taxes, tribute and cuftom, and give 
 unto Csefar the things that are his, and unto 
 God the things that are his, to ivit, worfliip, 
 honour and obedience : But if thou meaneft the 
 parifh aflemblies, I tell thee faithfully, I am per- 
 fuaded, and that upon good grounds, that their 
 teachers are not the miniflers of Chrift, nor 
 their worfhip the worfuip of God. 
 
 Judge, Why it may be for fome fmall thing 
 in the fervice you rejeft it all. 
 
 F. Ho-ivgill, Firfl of all it is manifefl they are 
 tlme-fervers, one while preaching that up for 
 divine fervice to the people, which another time 
 they are crying down as popilh, fuperflitious 
 and idolatrous ; and that which they have been 
 preaching up twenty years together they make 
 Ihipwreck of all in a day, and now again call 
 divine, and would have all compelled to that 
 themfelves once made void. 
 
 Judge. Why, never nnce the king came in ? 
 
 F. Hoiugill. Yes ; the fame men that preached 
 it down once, now cry it up, and fo unftable and 
 v/avering are they that we cannot believe they are 
 minifters of Chrifl. sdly, They teach for hire, 
 and live by forced maintenance, and would 
 force a faith upon men contrary to Chrift's 
 and the Apoille's rule, who would have every 
 one perfuaded in their cwn minds, and faid, 
 ivhatjocver is not of faith is fin \ and yet they 
 
 fay
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 107 
 
 fay faith is the gift of God, and we have no c h a p. 
 fuch faith given ; and yet they will force theirs ^i* 
 upon us, and if we cannot receive it, they cry, ^-— v/-— ' 
 You are not fubjed to authority and the laws, **^^'l" 
 and nothing but confifcaticns, imprifonment and 
 banifhment is threatened ; and this is their 
 greateft plea. I could defcend to more particu- 
 lars. 
 
 Judge. Well, I fee you will not fwear, nor 
 conform, nor be fubjed, and you think we 
 deal feverely with you ; but if you would be 
 fubjett we fhould not need. 
 
 F. Howgill. Yes, 1 do think fo indeed, that 
 you deal feverely with us for pbeying the com- 
 mand of Chrift. 1 pray thee canil thou (hew 
 me that any of thefe, for whom the aft was 
 made have been proceeded againft by this fta- 
 tute, though 1 envy no man's liberty ? 
 
 Judge. Oh yes ! I can inftance you many up 
 and down the country that are premunired. I 
 have pronounced fentence myfeif againft di- 
 vers. 
 
 F. Howgill. What, againft the papifts ? 
 
 Judge. No. 
 
 F. Howgill. What then, againft the Quakers ? 
 So I have heard. It feems then that ftatute 
 which was made againft the papifts, thou letteft 
 them efcape, and executeft it againft the 
 Quakers. 
 
 Judge. Weil, you will meet in great num- 
 bers, and do encreafe, but there is a new ftatute 
 which will make you fewer. 
 
 F. Howgill. Well, if we muft fuffer it is for 
 Chrift's fake and for well doing. 
 
 Then
 
 io8 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Then the judge pronounced with a * faint 
 
 XI. and low voice, You are put out of the king's 
 
 ''^ — ^'-*-^ protection and benefit of the law. Your 
 
 1664. lands are confifcate to the king during your 
 
 life, and your goods and chattels for ever, and 
 
 you are to be prifoner during your life. 
 
 F. Ho-w^ill. Hard fentence for obeying the 
 command of Chrift: ; but I am content, and in 
 perfeft peace with the Lord ; and the Lord for- 
 give you all. 
 
 'Judge. Well, if you will yet be fubjedt to the 
 laws, the king will ihew you mercy. 
 
 F. HozvplU The Lord hath fliewed mercy to 
 me, and I have done nothing againlt the king 
 nor government, nor any man, blefled be the 
 Lord, and therein (lands my peace ; and it is 
 ■for Chrifl's fake I fulfer, and not for evil 
 doing. 
 
 So he returned to prifon, where he continued 
 to the end of his days. 
 
 I thought it Vv'orth while to infert thefe fuc- 
 ceffive trials of this worthy man at large, as exr 
 hibiting a fpecimen of the folidity of that reli- 
 gion, which preferved him in fo much tranquil- 
 lity, meeknefs, and command over his pafiions 
 in the molt affetlin? circumflances of accumu- 
 lated injury and unmerited feverity, Modefty, 
 equanimity, good fenfe and fober reafoning on 
 his part, feem to Joften the fternnefs of judges 
 (habituated to menacing and reproach) into ap- 
 parent moderation, though iiot to juffice or cle- 
 mency ; 
 
 * This appears to me an evidence that this judge was 
 fenfible this honeft man was greatly wronged, while he was 
 completing his wrong, and that he pafTed fentence upon him. 
 contrary to the convidion of his own confcience.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 109 
 
 mency ; and his unprejudiced countrymen into chap. 
 a commiferation of his wrongs. On the other ^i* 
 hand, when we view the pointed malevolence of "^ — ^'*'*^ 
 the perfecuting juftices in Weftmoreland, with- ^664, 
 out any real caufe adminiftered by him, to fend 
 for him, when engaged in his lawful affairs, on 
 purpofe to entrap him, on account of a religious 
 fcruple, and taking advantage thereof, to com- 
 mit him to prifon feveral miles from home, and 
 confine him there. When we fee them unfairly 
 endeavouring to prepoffefs the judge in the pre- 
 judice of an honed inoffenfive neighbour by 
 invidious calumnies, and to precipitate his ruin 
 as to his outward circumflances, by the weight 
 of their joint influence and enmity ; in fhort, 
 when we review all the cruel treatment of a 
 worthy and refpeftable character, whofe moral 
 conduct and peaceable demeanour were unim- 
 peachable ; whofe virtues were confpicuous and 
 reputation in his neighbourhood untainted, we 
 are naturally led to regret the pernicious effects 
 of a religious or a political party fpirit, which 
 blinds the judgment to fuch a degree, that the 
 mofl confpicuous virtue in one of oppofite fen- 
 timents lofes its complexion, and is mifconftrued 
 into vice. That in miflaken zeal for religion 
 the plained rules of morality are violated, and 
 in forcing uniformity in uneffential points, the 
 fubftantial parts, mercy, juftice and truth are 
 obliterated. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 lien 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Xll. 
 
 J^ againjl Conventicles. — fakers the greaieji 
 Sufferers. — Remarks on this Ad. — Eight Per- 
 Jons tried on this Ad and fentenced to hanijh- 
 ment. — Cujlomary to commit for a few Days to 
 expedite their Banifhment. — The Bill returned 
 ignoramus. — The fury fent out again and find 
 the Bill. — Offered to be releafed upon paying the 
 Penalty J which they refufe. — The Jailer con- 
 trads with Thomas May to tranfport them in hii 
 Ship, — He refufes to take them. — But is compel- 
 led againfi his will. — He difmiffeth them. — Re- 
 turning they acquaint the King and Council, who 
 ord-ered them to prifon, where they are confined 
 feven Tears. — In London great Numbers imprif- 
 oned. — Alderman Brown very abufive. — Speech 
 of judge Keeling. — Remarks thereupon. — Six- 
 teen tried at Hicks' s -hall. — Hard Cafe of Hannah 
 Trigg. — Forty more tried. — Jurymen, for objed- 
 ing to the Evidence, menaced. — For refufmg to 
 alter their Verdid bound over to the King's 
 Bench. — Edward Brufh and James Harding 
 iranfported to famaica. — Robert Hayes, put 
 aboard with them, dies there. — His Charader, 
 
 CHAP, 
 XII. 
 
 IKE flatute which judge Turner, in the afore- 
 
 ,j^^^,.,^^ faid trial, feemed to exult in, as one he was con- 
 
 1664.. fidci^t would certainly reduce the numbers of 
 
 this people, was entitled An ad to prevent and 
 
 fupprefs feditious conventicles. 
 
 Every rumour of a plot (real or pretended) 
 feems, under this adminiftration, a prelude to 
 
 an
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. iii 
 
 an additional penal law againft nonconformifts. chap. 
 The plot alledged to be formed in the North, of xii. 
 which mention hath been made, and on the pre- * — ^ — -' 
 tended account whereof the three foremention- ^^^4- 
 ed perfons were taken up, and premunired, was 
 made a pretext for this new ad, whereby the ad 
 of 35 of EHzabeth was declared to be in full 
 force *. It further enads, " That if any per- 
 " fon of the age of fixteen years or upwards, Aft a^bft 
 " after the firft of July 1664, fnall be prefent ucks. 
 " at any meeting under colour or pretence of 
 *' any exercife of religion, in any other manner 
 " than is allowed by the liturgy or praftice of 
 '* the church of England, where fhall be five 
 *' or more perfons befide the houfehold, fliall 
 '' for the firft offence fufier imprifonment not 
 exceeding three months, or pay a fum of mo- 
 ney not exceeding 5 1, upon record made upon 
 *' oath, under the hands and feals of two juftices 
 " of peace : for the fecond oifence, the penalty 
 *' to be doubled : and for the third offence, bc- 
 " ing convicted before the juflices at their quar- 
 *' ter fellions, or judge of aiH2'.e, by the verdict 
 *' of a jury, to be tranfported to ibrne of the 
 *' American plantations (excepting Ne-io England 
 *' and Virginia) for feven years, or pay lool. &c, 
 " And in cafe they return, or make their efcape, 
 " fuch perfons are to be adjudged felons, and 
 '"' fuffer death. Sheriffs or jullices of peace, or 
 " others commiflioned by them, are inipowered 
 *' to diffolve, dillipate and break up all unlaw- 
 " ful conventicles, and to take into cuftody fuch 
 " of their number as they think fit. Perfons 
 " who fufier fuch conventicles in their houfes or 
 " barns are liable to the fame penalties and for- 
 *' feitures as other ofienders, Perfons convid- 
 
 ed 

 
 cc 
 
 ti 
 
 cc 
 
 iC 
 
 lil H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A P. '^ ed of the third offence to be tranfported at 
 
 xii. " their own expence, and in default of ability 
 
 ^^^^^y^^' " to pay the fame, to be made over to the maf- 
 
 1664. <c tei- Qf (\yQ {}^jp or his affigns to ferve them as 
 
 " labourers for five years. Married women 
 
 taken at conventicles are to be imprifoned 
 
 for a term not exceeding twelve months, un- 
 
 lefs their hulbands pay a fum not exceeding 
 
 forty pounds for their redemption. This acl 
 
 to continue in force for three years, and to 
 
 ** the end of the nex*" fcffion of parliament.'* 
 
 It is obfervable, that the former acl paffed in 
 1661 enabled the lame penalties, though not fo 
 largely or particularly exprefled as this : nor 
 doth it appear that it was rigoroufly enforced, 
 as this was. ^ The penalties of that acl affe£led 
 the Quakers only ; but this extending them to 
 all who meet in any other manner than is allow- 
 ed by the liturgy or practice of the church of 
 England, reached all the nonconformijfls of eve- 
 ry clafs. 
 Quaiters But although it appcars levelled at every body 
 jnc greateii qC (jiifenters, ftill the crreateft weight of fuffer- 
 mgs fell upon the people called Quakers. I 
 have met with no account of any others con- 
 demned to tranlporta'aon upon this a£l, but 
 with numbers of thefe who were. Other clafles 
 of diflenters could dilfemble, temporize or meet 
 clandeflinely * to avoid the force of the law ; 
 
 but 
 
 ' Rapin. 
 * Before tlie conventicle aJt took place, the laity were 
 courageous, and exhorted their miniders to preach 'till they 
 went to priion ; but when it came home to themfelves, and 
 they had been once in jail, they began to be more cautious, 
 and confulted among themfelves how to avoid the edge o^ 
 the law in the beil manner diey could ; for this purpofe their 
 aflemblies were freq^uently held at midnight, and in the moft 
 
 private
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 113 
 
 hut the Quakers (fo called) were more upright chap. 
 than to evade fuflerings by infmcerity, more re- ^n. 
 gardful of the reputation of their religious per- *^"7C^' 
 luafion, than to give any advantage againft it by ^ "'" 
 mean fubterfuges, and more zealous in the con- 
 fcientious difcharge of duty to God, than to be 
 deterred from paying him the reafonable fervice 
 of united worfliip, for fear of human penal- 
 ties. 
 
 It is not wonderful that a law of fuch perni- Remarks 
 cious tendency to the . liberty and fecurity of fo""^^"*'^^- 
 large a body of the people fliould become the 
 fubjed of fevere criiicifm, and give occafion to 
 
 Vol. II. H free 
 
 pHvPte places : and yet notwithflanding all their caution, they 1 
 
 were frequently dillurbed. But it is remarkable, that under 
 all their hardfhips they never made the leart refinance, but 
 v/ent quietly with the loldiers or officers when they could not 
 fly from them. The diftrefs of fo many families made fome 
 confine themfelves to their own houfes, fome remove to the 
 plantations, and others have recourfe to occafional conformity, 
 to avoid the penalties of not coming to church. 
 
 Indeed the Quakers gloried in their fuflerings, and in fiiort 
 gave fuch full employment to tlie informers about London, 
 that they had Icfs leifure to attend the meetings of other dif- 
 fcnters. 
 
 In London where the houfes joined, it was thought the 
 law might be evaded if the people met in feveral houfes and 
 heard the miniller through a window or hole in the wall ; but 
 it feems this was over-ruled. Neale's hlftory of the Puri- 
 tans, vol. ii. p. 650, 651. 
 
 In the year 1666 a proclamation was IfTued againft meet- 
 ings. In Herefordfhire, George Fox writes, we were told of . - 
 a great meeting of Prelbyterians, who had engaged themfelves 
 to ftand and give up all rather than forfake their meetings. 
 When they heard of the proclamation the people afiembled ; 
 but the prieft was fled, and left them to themfelves. Then 
 they met in Leominfter privately, and provided bread, cheefe 
 and drink, that if the officers fliould come they might put 
 up their bibles and fall to eating. The like contrivance they 
 had in other places.
 
 114 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP free anlmadverfion. An anonymous pamphlet, 
 XII- foon after publiflied, fet forth the abfurdity and 
 ^~ — '^^"-^ feverity thereof in cafes like thefe *. Since all 
 ^^^4- religion exercifed by fix perfons, not according 
 to the formality of the church of England was 
 forbidden, if a woman being in travail, and her 
 life in danger, one of the company faid a prayer; 
 or if any one fpoke any thing to comfort the 
 near relations of a perfon deceafed ; or prayed 
 for the health or happinefs of a new married 
 couple, &c. it might nappen that fome, by the 
 m-alice of their enemies, might not only incur 
 imprilonment for three months, but by the re- 
 petition 
 
 * It doth not appear that thefe probable confequences were 
 merely imaginary. Neal relates that fuch was the feverity of 
 thefe times, that many were afraid to pray in their fami- 
 lies, if above four of their acquaintance that came to viht 
 them were prefent. Some families fcrupled to aflc a blefiing 
 on their meat, if five ({rangers were at table. And in George 
 Fox's journal 1 meet with the following remarkable pafTage, 
 as the great profeiling Jews *' did eat up God's people as 
 " bread," and the falfe propliets and priells then preached 
 peace to the peoj<le, fb long as they put into their 
 mouths ; but if they fed them not, they prepared war againft 
 them : fo thefe that profefs themfelves chiilHans now (both 
 priefts and profefTors) iHrred up perftcution, and fet the v\'ick.- 
 ed informers at work ; fo that a friend could hardly fpeak a 
 few words in a private family before they Ikt down to eat, 
 but fome were ready to inform agalnfl them : a particular in- 
 (lance of which I have heard as follows. At Droitwich, 
 Jo. Cartwright came to a friend's houfe, and being moved of 
 the Lord to fpeak a fsw words before he fat down to fupper, 
 there came an informer, and flood hearkening under a win- 
 dow. When he had heard the friend fucai^, he went and in- 
 formed, and got a warrant to diflrain the fiiend's goods, un- 
 der pretence that there was a meeting at his houfe : whereas 
 there were none prefent in the houfe at that time, but the 
 man of the houfe, his wife and Jervant maid. But this evil- 
 minded man, as he came back with his warrant in the night, 
 fell off his horfe and broke liis neck.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 115 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 XII. 
 
 petition of fuch friendly offices be condemned to 
 tranfportation. 
 
 George Whitehead alfo (one of the people '^"'TJ^ 
 called Quakers) took up his pen upon this occa- 
 fion to expofe the unreafonable feverity of the 
 perfecutors ; to ftrengthen his friends to ftead- 
 faftnefs .in their chriftian teftiinony ; to exculpate 
 them from the chars.!;e of obftinacv, and to anfwer 
 fome fpecious objettions, particularly the follow- 
 ing one, " That the Quakers might keep fmall 
 " meetings, and fo not fall under the lafh of the 
 law ; for if they did not meet above five in 
 number they would keep above the reach of 
 the law, and might alfo acquit their conici- 
 ences before God.'* To this he anfwered. 
 That it might have been objefted to the pro- 
 phet Daniel, that he might have prayed fe- 
 cretly and not with open windows and thrice 
 a day, after King Darius had figned the de- 
 " cree. That whofoever fliould aflc a petition of 
 any God or man for thirty days, fave of the 
 King, fnould be cad into the lion's den ; but 
 that Daniel notwithftanding that decree conti- 
 nued to pray as aforetime." 
 And as to the judges continuing to enforce 
 this acl in their cuftomary unequal and arbitrary 
 manner, he reprefented " How unreafonable 
 " it v/as to influence the jury on iil-grounded 
 " fufpicion, without leaving them the liberty of 
 " their own judgment : how unequal it was 
 " that foldiers, who abufed his friends in their 
 " meetings, fhould be called as witneiTes againlt 
 " them ; and that they fhould be locked up with 
 " thieves and felons, fmce this was contrary to 
 " the right of a free-born Engliihman ?" JofiaJi 
 Coale likewife about this time publillied a re- 
 
 H 2 monftrance 
 
 ii. 
 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 6i
 
 ii6 
 
 H I S i' O R Y OF THE 
 
 1664. 
 
 Eight pcr- 
 foiis tried 
 and fen- 
 tenced to 
 tranfporta- 
 tion. 
 
 Cuflomary 
 to commit 
 tliem for a 
 few days to 
 expedite 
 iheir ba- 
 niflimcnt. 
 
 monltrance to the King and both hoiifes of par- 
 liament againfl: perfecution ; but remonftrances 
 however realbnable had little effed upon the 
 men. now poireffed of power, and previoufly de- 
 termined to exert it with vindictive violence in 
 the puniihment of nonconformiils, fome in fa- 
 vour of uniformity, and others to promote lefs 
 obvious defigns. Perfecution to banifhment was 
 refolved on, and almofl immediately endeavour- 
 ed to be put in execution. 
 
 For at the afTizes at Hertford in the verv next 
 month (Augufl) the follovving eight perfons of 
 this profeffion, viz. Francis Prior, Nich. Lucas, 
 Henry Fead, Henry Marihall, Jeremy Hern, 
 Thomas Wood, John Blendale and Samuel 
 Trahern were brought to their trial before judge 
 Orlando Bridgeman, and indicted for the third 
 offence againil the conventicle act. This is a 
 remarkable inftance of the precipitant eagernefs 
 of the perfecutors ; for this a£l was not in force 
 'till the firfl of the month called lulv, and thefe 
 perfons were arraigned for the third offence on 
 the 1 2th and 13th of the fucceeding month. 
 Now as the penalty for the firll offence was im- 
 prifonment for a term not exceeding three 
 months, and for the fecond not exceeding fix, 
 at the arbitrary difcretion of two jultices; it 
 was ufual vvith thefe juffices to commit them for 
 a few days for the firll and fecond offence, * not 
 
 out 
 
 * Of this we meet with the following account In George 
 Whitehead's journal, part ii. p. 283. On the i6th of 8'"* 
 1664, being the firft day of the week, our friends were met 
 together according to their ufual manner at their meeting 
 place at Bull and Mouth near Alderfgate, London, and Geo. 
 Whitehead being there was concerned to preach : after fome 
 
 time
 
 noranius. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 117 
 
 out of tendernefs, but in order to fubjeft them CHAP, 
 more fpeedily to the penalty of tranfportation xii. 
 for the third offence. For, from their long ap- ^^ — v*-^ 
 proved conftancy, they promifed themfelves an 1664. 
 afl'urance of finding them again at their rehgious 
 affembhes, as foon as at Uberty. 
 
 An indidment was drawn up againrt: the afore- 
 faid eight perfons, exprcfiing. That they had been 
 at an unlawful meetinci: three fundrv times, at 
 fuch times and places, and being delivered to 
 the grand jury, they could not agree in their ^ 
 
 verdict ; for there were fome among them whofe 
 confciences would not fo eafily allow them to be ■ 
 
 acceffary to the condemnation of the innocent, 
 and therefore they returned the bill ignoramus, returned by 
 Now although this was a legal verdift, and the the jury ig- 
 court by law had no right to reject it, yet the 
 privileges of the fubjed: were held by fo preca- 
 rious 
 
 time a great company of men v/ith halberts came into the 
 meeting, but gave him no interruption, 'till the mayor and 
 Richard Brown, with a great company, came in ; then in a 
 fhort time a rude fellow pulled George Whitehead down and 
 haled him near the door. The halbert men took Georoc 
 Whitehead and forty-three others men and women into the 
 ftreet, where after they had kept them fome time they were 
 fent in companies to Newgate without warrants, being fined 
 one /hilling each, or fix days imprifonment. At tlje (;mie 
 time a particular warrant was fent to detain five of them for a ^ 
 third offence. And the fhortnefs of our imprifonment (fiith 
 he) as well as tiie fmallnefs of the fines, feemed defigned to 
 difpatch us fooner out of the land by baniihment. On the 
 24th of the month called July, twenty-fcven perfons were 
 taken from the meeting in Wheeler-ffreet, and committed to 
 Newgate for three days ; from Mile-end twenty-two for fiK 
 days ; and on the 31ft fifteen for five davs : on the 7th of 
 Auguft (fo called) twenty from Wheeler-ftreet, and thirty- 
 two from Mile-end-green for four days : on the 14th nineteen 
 more fent for two days, and tv/o for the third offence. Eeffe, 
 vol. i. p. 394.
 
 I^ei 
 
 iefled 
 
 by 
 
 the 
 
 judi 
 
 £C. 
 
 Th: 
 
 f jur>' 
 
 fenr out 
 
 and 
 
 1 find 
 
 tiie 
 
 biJl. 
 
 
 ii8 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 c II A p. riou;; 3 tenure at this time, and the judges were 
 XII. fo inured to go over every barrier of the con- 
 
 '^ — v' — ' ftiiution to gratify the partial views of them- 
 1664. felves or others, that inflead of accepting thi$ 
 return of the grand jury, Bridgman addreffed 
 the jury with this angry fpeech, " My mafters, 
 " what do you mean to do ? Will you make 
 " a nofe of wax of the law, and fuffer the law 
 " to be baiiied ? Thole that think to deceive 
 the law, the law will deceive them. Why 
 don't you find the bill ?" With this menace 
 and frefh inltruQions he fent them out again, 
 they then found the bill, with v/hich the court 
 feemcd well pleafed. Four of the prifoners 
 were then brought to the bar, who pleaded not 
 guilty, and added, we have tranfgrelTed no jufl 
 law : but replied the judge, you have tranf- 
 grcjjcd this law (holding the conventicle a61: in 
 his hand) and you have been twice con-vi6led al- 
 ready. If you be now found guilty, I muft 
 pafs fentence of tranfportation againft you : but 
 if you will promife to have no more fuch m^eet- 
 ings, I will acquit you of what is paft. This 
 favour you may receive before the jury is charg- 
 ed with you, but not afterwards. What fay 
 you, will you meet no more ? They anfwered 
 with one accord, Vie can make no fuch promife. 
 Upon which the jury v/as fworn, and witneffes 
 examined, who depofed that they found thofe 
 perfons afiembled . above five together at certain 
 times and places, but that they neirher heard 
 any of them fpeak, nor faw them do any thing. 
 
 The judge then fummed up the evidence, and 
 gave his charge to the jury, in which he told 
 them, " You are not to expeft plain punctual 
 " evidence of any thing faid or done, a bare 
 " proof of their being met for worfhip in 
 
 " their
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJT A K E R S. 1 19 
 
 
 their manner, not being according to the liturgy CHAP. 
 
 and pradice of the church of England, is furti- xii. 
 " cient for their conviftion. 'Tis net your bu/mefs '"^^^'^^"^^ 
 " to enter into the meaning of the la-iv^ but fingly '^^H- 
 " determine the fad.^"* The jury, with thefe in- 
 flrudions, went out, and foon brought them in , 
 guiky, and the judge forthwith palfed fentence 
 upon them, viz. 7^ou jhall be tranfported beyond 
 the feas to the ijland cf Barbadocs, there to remain 
 for f even years. 
 
 Then the other four were fet to the bar, and 
 tried in like manner, and condemned to be 
 tranfported to Jamaica ; and a hfth, John Rey- 
 nolds, was tried along with them ; but the wit- 
 nefles depohng they had not feen him in the meet- 
 ing, but within a yard of the doer, with his 
 face from it, he was brought in not guilty, and 
 accordingly acquitted. The eight perfons con- ' 
 vided were informed by the judge or that claufe 
 in the act, which provides that upon pavinsf P"«7<^'o 
 I col. each, before the rinng of the court, theyuponpay- 
 mio-ht be difcharcred. The court adiourned^ and '"? ^^''■^l^', 
 
 o O . ,-'.,' irMly which 
 
 when they met agam, lent to the pnloners to theyrcfiue. 
 know whether they would pay the icol. to 
 which they unanimoully anfwering no, the court .., , . 
 broke up. 
 
 Purfuant to the fentence, the jailer, by thcrhcjaiier 
 fiieriii's order, as he faid, applied to one Thomas "'.''|^^'''^|s 
 May, mafter of a Ihip, called the Anne, and May to 
 contraclcd with him to carrv them to Barbadoes ^•^H'^/',';^""' 
 at c;l. a head, and thole to Jamaica at 61. teiimg 
 him they were freemen, and that hx of them • 
 would carry goods. Vvlicn they were brought 
 to the mafter, and he found thev were under 
 compulfion, he refufed to receive them, as his '^'•''/'^^"f^^ 
 
 ' „ ' P ' , to take 
 
 contract was to carry ireemen and no others, them. 
 The jailer, vext at the difappointment, betook 
 r himfelf
 
 120 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, himfelf to the fecretary of Hate, and made oath 
 XII. that he had contracted with Thomas May for the 
 ^^-y^v^^ prifoners' paffage, as perions convicted by the 
 1664. a£l. May being fent for, took with him wit- 
 neffes of his contract ; but the fecretary told 
 him, oath having been already made for the 
 King, his witnelfes could be of no ufe, he muft 
 carry the prifoners. During this time they 
 v/ere clofely confmed, and but few of their 
 friends admitted to fee them. 
 But is com- The mafter being thus compelled to tranfport 
 ^ainfth's ^^^""^ againfl his will, they were put aboard; 
 will. but put on fliore by the mafter, and taken in again 
 
 fundry times between London and Gravefend ; 
 it being very remarkable, that although many 
 other veflels palTed them down the river, this 
 fhip could m.ake no way, nor with the utmoft 
 application of the feamen make fail to any pur- 
 pofe. Having by the mafter's orders followed 
 him from place to place, at laft he met them all 
 together at Deal, and before feveral witnelfes 
 declared, that though they had followed the (hip 
 fo long, yet he was' refolved not to carry them^ 
 The mafter Here he finally difmilfed them, with a certifi- 
 difmiffes' cate, to fiicw that they did not make their efcape, 
 ihcm. i^uj- were freely put aftiore by him, affigning for 
 his reafons, that feeing the adverfities and va- 
 rious difappointnients he had hitherto met with, 
 he concluded the hand of the Lord was againft 
 him. That therefore he durft not proceed on 
 his voyage with thefe prifoners, they being in- 
 nocent perfons, and charged with no crime wor- 
 thy of baniihment. That there is a law in 
 force, that no Englilhman Ihall be carried out 
 of his native country againft his will. That his 
 men refufed to proceed on the voyage, if he 
 carried them. 
 
 There
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 121 
 
 There was on board one Manning-, a man of c ha p. 
 a different difpofition from the reft, who had xii. 
 been very officious in getting them aboard, and ^^-'^^^^^ 
 defirous of detaining them there with defign, as ^^^+- 
 was thought, of making a market of them be- 
 yond fea. This Manning, difappointed in his 
 views, carried a comphiint to the deputy or 
 principal officer at Deal, that the prifoners had 
 made their efcape from the ihip, but they pro- " ' 
 ducing the mailer's certiticate he refufed to con- 
 cern himfelf in the matter. Then Manning 
 with two others forced four of them into a boat 
 which he found on the beach, to put them 
 again on fhip-board ; but as nobody v/ould aflift 
 him to row it, he was forced to let them ro. 
 The mafter failed that night, and i'o left them 
 behind. The relation of the manner in which 
 the (hip left them was attefhed by eleven perlons, 
 who were eye v/itneffes thereof. 
 
 Being thus fet at liberty they returned home, Retumirtr 
 and by letter acquainted the kino; and council '^*""*^^ ^^'7 
 
 r I'll !• 11 acquaint rbc 
 
 thereoi, which letter being read at the council king and 
 board, under pretence that their liberation was '^o""'^'';'''^° 
 ertected by a coilufion concerted between the to prifon a- 
 mafter and them, by order of council they fhey'a^Je'"* 
 were again committed to prifon, until means of kept "p- 
 tranfporting them by fome fliip to thofe parts ^n'yei-s,^' 
 could be iound, and were continued in prifon 
 until releafed by the king's letters patent more 
 than feven years after. 
 
 On their return to prifon they found twenty- 
 one more of their friends lying there under the 
 like fentence, who at the quarter feflions held 
 at Hartford the 3d, 4th and 5th of Oclober 
 this year were condemned to banifnnient, un- 
 der
 
 122 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP, der -which fentence mofi: of them lay there till 
 
 xn. releafed by the fame letters patent in 1672. 
 ^-'~^^~*-' In London this conventicle a£t was no fooner 
 1664. jj^ force than multitudes were imprifoned for the 
 firfl and fecond offence, which (as hath been 
 In London noticed) was ufually for a few days. On the 
 w'inipri- J 4th of the month called Augufl the flieriffs, 
 foned OH -with many officers and others armed, entered 
 the meeting-houfe at Bull and Mouth, and or- 
 dered the perfon who was preaching to come 
 down, after which two of the officers ftepped 
 on a form near him, drew their fwords, and 
 flruck him and another friend with fuch force 
 that one of their fwords was broken ; then they 
 laid hold both on men and women, and haling 
 out near two hundred drove them to Guildhall, 
 where they were kept prifoners till near mid- 
 night, and then, by the mayor's orders, con- 
 duced with lighted torches by a guard of hal- 
 berdiers to Newgate, where they were thrufl 
 up among felons. On the 15th about twenty 
 were fined and committed, as were tvi^elve more 
 on the 17th, and about fixty others on the 19th, 
 fome for fourteen and others for nine days. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft the mayor with the (lieriffs and 
 alderman Brown came again to the meeting at 
 Alderman 'Qx}[] and Mouth : This officious Brown, with 
 abufivc. ' his ufual rudenefs, kicked fome, pulled others 
 by the hair, and pinched the women's arms 
 ■ until thev were black. Bv this rude behaviour 
 and ffiameful abufe, degrading the dignity of his 
 office, and proving himfelf too vulgar for, and 
 abfohiteiy unworthy of, the magiftracy he bore in 
 any well regulated governmicnt. The mayor 
 cauiing the doors to be ffiut fent about one hun- 
 dred and fifty-nine of them to Newjxate for four 
 
 days,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 123 
 
 days, where they had not room to fit down nor c h a p. 
 fcarce to ftand, being clofe fhut up among the xii. 
 felons, without refpecl to age or fex. On the ""-^^^"^^ 
 sSth one hundred and feventy-five were alfo ^^^-f- 
 lent to Newgate as privately as poffible, the ma- 
 gillrates, its probable, being afnamed to expofe 
 their unrelenting feverity to the public eye. On 
 the 4th of September two hundred and thirty- 
 two more were committed. 
 
 By fuch commitments the prifons being foon 
 filled, it was intended to proceed to the trial of 
 fuch as were in for the third offence, prepara- 
 tory whereto Judge Keeling, at the feffions at the 
 Old Bailey on the 7th of September, made the 
 following fpeech to the grand jury : 
 
 " Becaufe this day was appointed for the '^pfech of 
 trial of thefe people, and inafmuch as many .^j^aga^nft" 
 are come hither expecting what will be done, I^^ Qh^- 
 I faall Hiy fomething concerning them and 
 their principles, that they might not be 
 thought worthy of pity, as fuffering more 
 than they deferve, for they are a ftubborn 
 feet, and the king has been very merciful to 
 them. It was hoped that the purity of the 
 '' church of England would, ere this, have con- 
 *' vinced them, but they will not be rc- 
 *' claimed. 
 
 '* They teach dangerous principles ; this for 
 " one. That it is not lawful to take an oath. 
 " You mufl not think their leaders believe this 
 doctrine, only they perfuade thefe poor igno- 
 rant fouls fo ; but they have an interelt to 
 carry on againft the government, and there- 
 fore they will not fvvear fubjeflion to it ; and 
 " their end is rebellion and blood. You may 
 *' eafdy know that they do not believe them- 
 
 '' feivcs 
 
 cc 
 
 iccrs. 

 
 it 
 ti 
 ii 
 
 124 , H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 felves what they fay, when they fay It is not 
 lawful to take an oath, if you look into the 
 fcriptures. That text (Mat. 5Lh) where our 
 1664. '■'■ Saviour faith, Swear not at all^ will clear it- 
 " felf from fuch a meaning as forbids fwear- 
 "^ ing, if you look but into the next words, 
 '• where it is faid. Let your com.munication be 
 *' yea, yea, na}^, nay ; and it is faid. An oath 
 " is an end of ail ftrife : this for the new 
 tellament : And the old is pofitive for fwear- 
 ing ; and they that deny fwearing deny God 
 a fpecial part of his worfhip. 
 " Now you (hall fee how this principle of 
 " not fweariup; tends to the fubverfion of the 
 *' government : Firft, It denies the king the 
 '* fecurity he ought to have of his fubjeCls for 
 " their allegiance, which oath they deny, and 
 " fecurity by bond is not fo good, for thereby 
 " they are not engaged in confcience, and they' 
 " will only wait for a convenient feafon to for- 
 *' feit their bonds without hazard, and make 
 " fure work in overthrowing the prefent go- 
 " vernment and fecure their own fecurities ; 
 " but an oath binds the confcience at all times, 
 " and that they cannot abide. Again, this 
 " principle tends to fubvert the government, 
 " becaufe without fwearing we can have no 
 *' julHce done, no law executed ; you may be 
 " robbed, your houfes broke open, your goods 
 " taken awav and be injured in your perfons, 
 " and no juftice or recompenfe can be had, be- 
 " caufe the fatl cannot b€ proved : The truth 
 *' is, no s^overnment can ftand without fwear- 
 " ing, and v/ere thefe people to have a govern- 
 " ment amonfr themfelves thev could not live 
 " without an oath, 
 
 " AVhereas
 
 a 
 
 
 
 PEOPLE cALT.F.n QUAKERS. 125 
 
 " V\/'hereas they pretend In their fcribblesc h a p. 
 " that this acl againft conventicles doth not xii. 
 " concern them, but fuch as under pretence of '^^ — "^ — ' 
 " worfnipping God do, at their meetings, con- ^^*^4- 
 fpire againft the government : Thic is a mif- 
 take, for if they iliould confpire, they would 
 then be yuiltv of treafon, and we il^ould trv 
 *' them by other laws ; but this aft is againft 
 meetings, to prevent them of fuch confpiracy, 
 for they meet to confult to know their num- 
 bers, and to hold correfpondency, that they 
 may in a fliort time be up in arms. 
 " 1 had the honour to ferve the king at York 
 " upon the trial of thofe v.'icked plotters, and 
 we found thofe plots were hatched and car- ' 
 ried on in thefe meeting;s, and we hanged up 
 '*^ four or five of the fpeakers or praters, whom. 
 " we found to be chief leaders in that rebcl- 
 " lion. I warrant you their leaders will keep 
 " themfelves from the third offence, we fnail 
 " not take them. If we could catch their 
 " leaders we fliould try them by fonie other 
 " law, which, if executed, will take away their 
 lives. This is a merciful law, it takes not 
 av/ay their eftates, it leaves them, entire, only 
 banifhes them for feven years if they will not 
 pay an hundred pounds ; and this is not for 
 worfliipping God according to their confci- 
 ences, for that they may do in their families, 
 but forfooth they cannot do that, but they 
 muft have thirty, forty or an hundred others 
 " to contrive their defip'ns withal." 
 
 One might imagine this judge looked upon Reji.-5};ons 
 the bench as a privileged place to utter falfc- ^''''''"i'''"' 
 hoods, and becaufe his office and power ex- 
 empted him from deteclion there, he might take ■ 
 
 the 
 
 (I 
 a
 
 ii6 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, the liberty not only of mifreprefentating faft, 
 
 XII. but, in order to deprive honelt people, whom 
 
 ^— -v-^ he was determined to punifh with the utmofl 
 
 1664. rigour of this unrighteous law, of compaihon, 
 
 and to add public odium to exorbitant feverity, 
 
 to bring any aggravating accufations againil them 
 
 without regard to truth. But his falfe aflertions 
 
 were detected in a reply to rhis notable fpeech 
 
 publifhed foon after. He intended immediately 
 
 to have proceeded to the trial of fome of them, 
 
 for which purpofe a young lad was brought from 
 
 Newgate, who being afked if he were not at 
 
 the Bull and Mouth meeting fuch a day, he 
 
 replied, / -zvas not ; whence the judge took 
 
 occafion to reproach the Quakers with common 
 
 The nidpe P^^ce refledious, faying, that for all their pre- 
 
 difappoiDt- tenfions to truth, they could lie for their intereft, 
 
 vi^tln^Thc and to evade fufFering. But this youth perfilling 
 
 tira i.p.,a [yi his denial, witneifes were called for, to prove 
 
 want of his being there, but none could be found ; 
 
 proof dif- which the iude;e obfervine", faid. Here is a dif- 
 
 n^diCs the JO o-' 
 
 jury. appointment ; threatened fome (liould fuffer for 
 
 it, and (o dilmiired the jury. This difappoint- 
 ment was want of evidence to anfwer the pur- 
 "pofe of the court, to prevent wdiich in future, 
 orders were iifued that the jailer of Newgate, 
 ihe marihal and his men fliould attend the meet- 
 ings, and be prepared to give evidence againft the 
 next feiTions. 
 
 On the icth of Oftober the feffions began at 
 
 llicks's-hall before Sir John Robinfon, and on the 
 
 1 3th a bill of indi6lment was preferred againil 
 
 Sixteen fixteen Quakers for the third offence, about 
 
 Hicksv which the grand jury could not agree that night, 
 
 iij.il. but next morning, at the importunity of the 
 
 juftices, found the bill bv a fmall maiority. 
 
 * ' 'They*
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 127 
 
 They were tried and convicled, and twelve of c hap. 
 them received fentence of tranfportation, amongil: ^^i* 
 whom was a young woman named Hannah '^■""v-*—' 
 Triecf, whofe treatment was mireafonably tyran- „ "^'^+: 
 
 • 1 1 -n 1 1 1.- J- 1 r Hardcai4 . 
 
 nical and illegal, even by this levere law, tor of Hamr^h 
 being alked in form, why fentence fhould not ^'■'^»' 
 be paffed upon her, fhe replied, llie was not fix- 
 teen years of age, one of the juftices told her 
 Jhe lied : And although a certificate of her birth, 
 figned by two women prefent thereat was pro- 
 duced, alferting fhe v/as born the 20th day of 
 Augufl 1649, it was arbitrarily rejecced by the 
 juitices, who were fo intent on muhiplying con- 
 victs, that they feemed determined to go over all 
 objections legal or illegal, whereby any #^nt 
 efcape the defigned punifhment. The cafe of this 
 young woman was yet more fevere in this ; that 
 loon after fhe was fentenced to banifliment, flie 
 fickened in Newgate, and dying there, the fame £he dies in 
 unfeelinsr inhumanity, infatiate with her life, was ^'^^'8^"' 
 extended to her hfelefs corps : her relations were iii>i among 
 debarred even of the coniolation of paying the *"'^°"'' ^'■* 
 laft office of natural aifeftion, by interring her as 
 they defired, but fhe was carried to the burying 
 place, where they ufually inter felons and others 
 who die in the jail. When the bearers came to 
 the ground, finding no grave made, they left 
 the corps unburied, faying, they would make a 
 grave next morning. The girl's mother attend- 
 ing the funeral, had the grief and anguifh to . 
 behold this inhuman ufage of her daughter's 
 remains in filent forrow without the power of 
 remedy. The other four being married women 
 were fentenced to eleven months imprifonment 
 in Bridewell. 
 
 On
 
 128 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Chap. On the 1 5th above forty more were bl-ought 
 XII. to the feiTions at the Old Bailey, and called to 
 
 v^"v-vj the bar, one, two, three or four at a time, as 
 1664. jj^gy were included in one indidment. About 
 
 Forty more ^ ' r \ • i • t o i 
 
 tried. lixtcen, conlidering the mdictment as a charge 
 of contemning the law, and acting contrary to 
 the king's peace, pleaded not guilty. Others 
 ^ 8"i^'i^ig general, anfwers, fuch as, / have wronged 
 
 none^ I am innocent^ ^c. were fet by as mute, 
 and the fafl: taken pro confejfo. Then the court, 
 at which Judge Kide prefided, proceeded to try 
 the former fixteen. The witneifes againft them 
 vvcre the under-keepers of Newgate and the mar- 
 fl^i^e^en. The firil was one Dawfon, a turn- 
 key, who was greatly confounded in his tefli- 
 mony, for having fworn that he took John Hope, 
 vv'ho had been In prifon three weeks at the Bull 
 and Mouth laft Sunday, and the court endea- 
 vouring to fet him right, he correfting himfelf, 
 faid the Sunday before, which was equally falfe. 
 Afterward he faid the prifoner was brought out 
 to him, and that he did not fee him in the 
 A Juryman meeting. Upoii which one of the jurv, ad- 
 ;i?ctS«^^e^^"^ ^'imf^if to the judge, iliid, ;' My lord, 
 difcounte- " I befccch vou let us be troubled with no more 
 teenTd'^ " fuch evidence, for we mall not caft men upon 
 " fuch evidence as this;" but the judge endea- 
 voured to palliate it, and reproved the juryman 
 for being too fcrupuious. 
 
 Another evidence was William Turner, a 
 turnkey too, who being afked if the prifoner 
 was at the Bull and Mouth, anfwered, he was 
 there that day, he came with the conftable ; 
 whence it appeared he did not fee him, till he 
 came to Newgate. So one of the jury objecting 
 to this witnefs, the judge grew angry, and 
 
 threatened
 
 (( 
 it 
 it 
 
 (C 
 
 li 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 129 
 
 threatened him for undervaluing the king's wit- CHAP, 
 nefles, and told him the court had power to xii. 
 punifh him, and would do it. After fome time ^^'v'^^ 
 the jury was fent out, who brought in their ^^^'^' 
 verdidt, that four of the prifoners were not guilty, 
 and the reft they could not agree on. The 
 judge being much difpleafed fent them out again 
 with frefli inftruftions, they returned with this 
 verdift, guilty of meeting, but not of fad. I'he 
 judge enquiring what they meant by not guilty 
 of faft, the jury replied, " Here is evidence 
 that they met at the Bull and Mouth, there- 
 fore we fay guilty of meeting ; but no evi- 
 dence of what they did there, therefore we 
 fay, not guilty of meeting contrary to the 
 liturgy of the church of England." The 
 judge afked fome of the jury, Whether they 
 did not believe in their confciences that they 
 were there under colour and pretence of wor- 
 Ihip? To which one of them replied, " 1 do 
 *' believe in my confcience, that they were met 
 " to worfhip in deed and in truth." Another 
 faid, " My lord, I have that venerable refpe£i: 
 for the hturgy of the church of England, as 
 to believe it is according to the fcriptures, 
 which allow of the worfliip of God in (pirit ; 
 " and therefore I conclude to worfliip God in 
 fpirit is not contrary to the liturgy ; if it be, 
 1 fhall abate of my refpetl to it." In fliort, 
 neither perfuafions nor menaces could induce the 
 jury to alter the verdift : Whereupon fix of them sis of the 
 were bound in lool. each to appear at the King's J"^. /ar. 
 
 ^ "^ '-' not altering^ 
 
 Bench bar the firft day of the next term. their ver- 
 
 On the 17th, thofe who had been fet by were '^''^' '^"^'^ 
 brought to the bar to receive fentence : Firlt, King's 
 foiir married women condemned to the houfe of p^"):'];^^^_ 
 Vol. II. I correftion ricd women 
 

 
 130 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, corredion for twelve months, the reft to banifh- 
 XII. ment ; the men to Barbadoes, and the women 
 
 ^-'■v"'*-^ to Jamaica, there to remain feven years. 
 1664. Thus the perfecutino; magjiftrates and iudo-es 
 
 committed . , \ .^" <-^j , 1 
 
 to the houfe continued to imprilon, tiy and condemn to ba- 
 cf corr:di- jjjU^ii-jgnt the membcrs of this fociety in great 
 tobanira- numbcrs, there being, by an account publiflied 
 u^"' d^oi^^ ^'^^^ time, upwards of fix hundred in prifon. 
 fix hundred All the abfurdity and arbitrarinefs of their pro- 
 111 pnion. cecdings particularly to recount would lead mc 
 into a difagreeable prolixity ; fuffice it to ob- 
 ferve, that by authentic records I find that up- 
 Two hun- wards of two hundred were fentenced to banilh- 
 dred are nicnt ill different parts of the nation, in this and 
 
 fentenced to , ^ , . r i. J r 
 
 bajjiinment. the fucceedmg year, or whom upwards or one 
 hundred and fifty were condemned at the Old- 
 Bailey and Iiicks*s-Hali ; and what is very re- 
 markable, out of all this number 1 find no 
 particular account of more than two at one 
 time and about fifteen at others, who were 
 actually tranfported, which was not owing to 
 any relaxation of feverity in the government or 
 fubordinatc magiftrates, but the difappointments 
 they met with of the means of tranfporting them, 
 as hath been obferved with regard to thofe con- 
 demned at Hertford, and will further appear in 
 the procefs. 
 Edward Thefc two wei'e named Edward Brufli and 
 
 Tanit^"*^ James Harding, who on the 24th of the month 
 Harding Called March, very early in the morning, were, 
 tojamaica. "without any warning, hurried from Newgate by 
 fome of the turnkeys to Blaqkfriars, and thence 
 ^ to Gravefend, where they were forced on board 
 a fliip, which carried them to Jamaica, where it 
 pleafed God to profper them, fo that they lived 
 Edvv^rd there in good circumfiances : and Edward Brufh, 
 
 Brum hved «-* , 
 
 to return, WllO
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 131 
 
 who was at that time a grey -haired aged man, chap, 
 a citizen of good repute among his neighbours, .^J^^ 
 and well efleemed by many perfons of confe- ,^^ 
 quence, alter luirermg the anguilh or bemg thus 
 violently feparated from a beloved wife and only 
 child, aged as he was, furvived the term of his 
 exile, lived to come back, and end his days in 
 peace at home. 
 
 Along with thefe two, a third named Robert Robert 
 Hayes, was alfo in like manner put on Ihip- ^^[^^!^Pj"* 
 board ; in whom we have a frcfli inflance of the along wkh 
 unfeeling barbarity -which actuated his perfe- '"^"' 
 cutors, for being taken falling out of prifon, 
 though in a weak ftate of health, and under a 
 courfe of phyfick, and carried down the river on 
 a very cold day without any refrefkment afforded 
 him ; within a little time after he was put on 
 board, he died there. His body was brought ^^"°" 
 back to London, and interred \p. the burying 
 ground belonging to his friends. George White- 
 head, who knew Iiim, gives the following ac- 
 count of Robert Hayes : " He. was a very in- His dwac- 
 " nocent loving man, a goodlike perfon, of a 
 *' frefh comely countenance, feemed healthy, 
 " and in the prime of his flrcngth when firft 
 " imprifoned." And adds, " I was very for- 
 rowfully affeded, v.-hen I heard hov/ quickly 
 he was difpatched out of the world by the 
 fhameful cruelty and inhuman ufage of thefe 
 mercilefs perfecutors." 
 
 tcr. 
 
 
 I 2 CHAP,
 
 132 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 LKe?i!pu:rv Patience of this People under Suffer- 
 ing. — Sundry Friends by Example and Precept 
 encourage them to Jleadfajinefs. — George Fox, 
 jun. his Warning to England. — George Bijloop's 
 to the King and Parliament. — Refie^iion on the 
 Manners of the ^ge, which are thought to 
 drazu doivn the Judgments of Heaucn upon 
 it. — I. The Dutch War. — 2. A depopulating 
 Pejlilcnce. — More than one hundred and tzventy 
 condemned to Tranfportation i?i London. — An 
 Embargo laid on the Shipping, in order to oblige 
 the Majlers to tranfport the Prifoners. — Fifty- 
 Jive taken from Nezagate to be tranfported. — 
 "The Plague breaks out in the Ship and carries 
 off tiventy-feven of the Prifoners. — TJ:)S Ship 
 taken by a Dutch Privateer, and the furviving 
 Prifoners fet at liberty. — The Plague encreafes. — 
 Fifty-tzco cf the People called J^akers die in 
 Ncngate of the Peflilence, notiuithfianding 
 'which the Prifons are crowded with frejh Pri- 
 foners. — Death cf Samuel Fijher, Jofeph Fuce, 
 and William Cat on. 
 
 c M A p. XLXPOSED as this people was to multiplied 
 ^^J^^*^ penalties and fevere execution of unequal laws, 
 jg^ yet through all the exertions of malicious vicw- 
 ExempUrv lencc, wauton defpotifm and manifelt injuftice, 
 patience oi duj-inor the heat of the perfecution, thev fainted 
 
 this people , O r , ' , ^ 
 
 under their not lu their mmds ; itrengttiened by divme lup- 
 fuftcrwigs. p^,.^ ^^^ ^YiQ teltimony of a pure coiifcience, 
 
 thev
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 133 
 
 they "were enabled to endure fufferyigs exceed- chap. 
 ing the patience of meer humanity with meek- ^J^'" 
 nefs, and without repining, in refigned acquief- ^.^ 
 cence to divine permiflion, and in humble de- 
 pendance upon divine protedion and fupport, 
 under the arbitrary deprivation of the protec- 
 tion of the king, the laws and immunities of 
 their native country. There were among them 
 fome, who were not only examples in fteadfail- 
 nefs in fufiering themfelves, but by their exhor- Sundry 
 tations in word and writing, as well as example, exampic^^nd 
 encouraged their brethren to ileadfaflnefs there- precept cn- 
 in ; fo that through all thefe efforts of the per- them w 
 fecutors to abolifh this fociety, they encreafed ^^edfaancfs. 
 notwithftandinq: in ftrengrth and in numbers. 
 George Fox, George Whitehead, Francis How- 
 gil and Jofiah Coale were of this number. Others 
 were engaged to bear teftimony againll perfecu- 
 tion by their epiflles, remonflrances and prophe- 
 tic warnings, addreffed to the king and parlia- 
 ment in much plainnefs ; and yet (v.hat was 
 very remarkable) amongft the great number 
 condemned to banifliment, not one of thefe 
 eminent and adive menibers was included, al- 
 though they never fought to efcape by fubter- 
 fuge, but continued, when at liberty, to ex- 
 ample their brethren to an open and diligent 
 attendance of meetings, as well as to encourage 
 them thereto. 
 
 Two of thefe prophetic warnings are too re- 
 markable to be pad over unnoticed, although 
 lettered pride, which reludantly admitting of 
 any divine revelation, confiders all modern claim 
 thereto as enthufiafm, and quakerifm in particu- 
 lar as founded therein, yet other readers, w^ho 
 with me may not be quite fo fceptical, may 
 
 perhaps
 
 134 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP- perhaps be modeftly backward to decide upon a 
 XIII. point above the determination of human wifdom, 
 v^^v^^ efpecially when the predictions appear to be ful- 
 1664. filled : So leaving the reader to make what com- 
 ment feems good, I jftiall proceed to tranfcribe 
 them as I find them recorded in the authors be- 
 fore me. 
 
 The hrft is extracted from a publication of 
 Geo. Fo:c, Gcorgc Fox the youuger in 1661, wherein la- 
 warningto mcnting England, becaufe of the judgments that 
 England, ^/ere coming upon her inhabitants for their wick- 
 ednefs and perfecutions, he faith, " The Lord had 
 fpokcn in him concerning the inhabitants, " The 
 '* people are too many, I will thin them, I will 
 " thin them !" Further, " that an overflowing 
 fcourge, yea even a great and terrible judg- 
 ment, was to come upon the land, and that 
 many in it Ihould fall and be taken away." 
 The next is a fliort admonitory caution from 
 George Bilhop, of Briftol, addrefled 
 
 " To the King and both houfes of parliament. 
 G.Biftop^s. c. ji^.js fajth the Lord, 
 
 warning. -k ^ t it • i -i i rri_* 
 
 '^' Meddle not with my people, becauie or their 
 " confcience to me, and banilh them not out of 
 " the nation becaufe of their confcience ; for if 
 " you do I will fend my plagues upon you, and 
 " you (hall know that I am the Lord. 
 
 " Written in obedience to the Lord by his fer- 
 *' vant, 
 
 " Briilol 15th 9-° 1664. G. BISHOP." 
 
 Refieiiion ^ Yet Vv'hilft thefc rigorous meafures were thus 
 ontiic rigorouily executed, for forcing uniformity in 
 
 manners a ^ J ^ ^~ o ir 
 
 oftheiigc. religion, true religion perhaps was never lefs 
 
 cultivated 
 " Neale, vol. ii. p. 65 1 , 
 
 cc
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 135 
 
 cultivated or promoted than at this time, by the chap. 
 ruliiio" partv. 'Ihe manners of the aee were '^^'"' 
 corrupt and immoral to a fcandalous degree. ^^^ 
 Through the example of their I'uperiors, and 
 the pliant doftrine of their teachers, adaj^ted to 
 flatter the great, and in general more pointed 
 againd nonconformity than vice, " the common 
 " people (fays Nealej gave themfelves up to -^ 
 ^' drunkcnnefs, profane Iwearing, gaming, Icwd- 
 ** nefs, and all kinds of debauchery, which 
 " brought down the judgments of heaven upon 
 " the nation." 
 
 The people called Quakers alfo of this age, whici. are 
 looked upon the train of fucceeding calamities '|^°^'" ''"^ ^° 
 as divine judgm.ents inflicted upon a fmful and judgmenu 
 perfecutin? 8;cneration : and although the fecrets "5'°." ^'^^ 
 
 * r 1 * 1 • 1 1 11- nation. 
 
 or the Almighty are a great deep, and his ways 
 above the inveftigation of human wllclom, yet 
 I think fcripture warrants us to confider fignal ^ 
 national calamities in this light, when natiomd . 
 corruption becomes remarkably general as at this 
 time. 
 
 The firfl of thofe evils, mentioned by Neale, i<t The 
 was a war with the Dutch, wantonly and in un- 
 juil policy commenced by the Englilh court, and 
 promoted by the felfifn policy of France, which 
 cofl the nation m.uch blood and treafure, and 
 many lives were loft on both fides and no ad- 
 vantage gained by either. 1665. 
 
 The next general calamity which befel the ~'^- ^^ ''.^" 
 
 u J .-U r J- • popuhit.ng 
 
 nation had more the appearance or a divme pcUiiciHc. 
 vifitation for the fins of the people ; it was the 
 moll dreadful plague that had been known in 
 the memory of man. Neale writes " that it was 
 " preceded by an unufual drought ; the mea- 
 " dows were parched and burnt up like the 
 " highways, infomuch that there v/as no food 
 
 " for
 
 i3(> HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP. " for the cattle, which occafioned firfl a mur- 
 ^^^"I' " rain among them, and then a general conta- 
 i66i: " ^^^^ among the human fpecies, which en- 
 " creafed in the city and fuburbs of London *till 
 *' eight thoufand or upwards died in a week. 
 *' The wealthier inhabitants fled into the re- 
 *' moter counties ; but the calamities of thofe 
 " who flayed behind, and of the poorer 
 " fort, are not eafily defcribed." '' Trade 
 was at a full {land. Interceurfe between Lon- 
 don and the country was much interrupted. 
 In London the fhops and houfes were quite (hut 
 up, and grafs was growing in the mod populous 
 flreets, now become a fcene of folitude, filence 
 and gloom ; and it was remarked that the firfl 
 houfe in which it broke out and was fliut upon 
 account of the infeftion, was the very next door 
 to the late dwelling of Edward Brufh, lately tranf- 
 ported en the conventicle acl. 
 
 It was certainly a moft awful and awakening 
 vifitation, fufficient one would think to roufe the 
 mofl inconfiderate fouls to ferious thoughtful- 
 nefs, and clofe confideration of their ways and 
 of their latter end, when the examples of mor- 
 tality were daily multiplying before their eyes, 
 and none could be certain, whofe turn it would 
 be next, or whether himfelf had many days to 
 live : yet fuch was either the hardnefs of heart, 
 or the miflaken perfuafion of their doing well, 
 in the perfecuting magiflrates, that unawed by 
 thefe fymptoms of divine difpleafure, not foften- 
 ed to companion by the common calamity, they 
 proceeded for a feafon to carry this conventicle ad 
 into force, by encreafmg the number of Quaker 
 prifoners and exiles, as if nothing extraordinary 
 had fallen out. 
 
 In 
 
 ^ Scv.'ch
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJ7AKERS. 137 
 
 In the month c:illed April 1665, twelve more c K a p. 
 of this fociety were fentenced to tranfportation, ^^'^' 
 and feven more taken from Newgate to Gravef- 
 end, and there put on fhipboard, to be tranf- 
 ported to the plantations, and in the fucceeding 
 month eight others. And a few days after their 
 embarkation, judge Hide, who had been an ac- 
 tive man in promoting the conviction and fen- 
 tencing of many to banifhment, was fuddenly 
 taken off, being in health in Wellminfter in the 
 morning, and found dead in his clofet the fame 
 day at noon. 
 
 ' At the next feflions at the Old-Baily four More tiiaa 
 more were condemned to tranfportation, under '^^'on- 
 which lentence there remamed m Newgate more tianiVoiu- 
 than i2operfons, vv^hom the fneriffs knew not*^'""- 
 how to get rid of; for the mailers of mips, per- 
 fuaded of the men's innocence, generally rcf^uf- 
 ed to carry theni, and the encreafmg pellilence 
 confirmed them in their refufal, it being efteem- 
 ed by them and many others as a judgment on 
 the nation for its perfccuting laws. To remedy 
 this difficultv, an embarj^o was laid on all ^n^^^rps 
 
 - -* ' . , , f^ , nil 'a'C on lh:ps 
 
 merchantmen, witn an ordeT- that none Ihould go in order to 
 down the river without a pafs from the Admiral ; "^^'k-^ '/"^"^ 
 and this would be given to no maiter going to the pruou- 
 the Well-Indies, but on condition of his engag-*^""^' 
 ing to carry fome Quakers. Remonflrances of 
 the illegality of carrying Englifhmen out of their 
 native country by force were vain. At length 
 they found a man for their purpofe, one Fudge, 
 a perfon fo hardened as to fay, he would notjiick 
 to tranfport his neareft relations. With this manj'^^^'l!" 
 the Iherilis agreed to carry the priloners to Ja-^ate tobe 
 jnaica, and in purfuance thereof fifty-five ^^"^^^^^ll^l^^ 
 
 taken marinei * 
 refufe to 
 _ _ , help aboard.
 
 138 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, taken out of Newgate, put into a barge and car- 
 y^^!^hj ried down the river tb his fhip, lying at Bugby's- 
 g^, hole, a little below Greenwich. When they 
 ■^ came to the fiiip's fide, the mailer being abfent, 
 the feamen refufed to affift in forcing them on 
 board, and the priioners were unwilling to be 
 adive in their own tranfportatiQn. The turn- 
 key and officers ufed high words to the feamen, 
 infifting. that theprifoners were the King's goods, 
 and thar they ought to be affiftant in taking 
 them aboard ; but the mariners were inflexible, 
 and would not move a finger in that work. At 
 length with much difficulty they got only four 
 on board, and being weary, returned with the 
 reft to Newgate, where they lay about two 
 weeks, and then were again carried to the barge. 
 soid:.-is' Soldiers were fent from the Tower in boats, to 
 fciit from |-,g affiftant in puttinec them aboard. Several of 
 toaffirt. their friends m other boats accompanied them, 
 though the foldiers threatened to fmk them, if 
 they would not be gone. The commander of 
 the foldiers called to the feamen to affift, but 
 few of them regarded. Then the foldiers in the 
 barge laid hold on the prifoners, dragging fome, 
 kicking and punching others, heaving many by 
 the legs and arms, and in this manner got them 
 ail on board in about an hour's time, being thir- 
 ty feven men and eighteen women. 
 
 On board, the men were all thronged toge- 
 ther between decks, where they could not ftand 
 upright. The mailer of the fnip being in the 
 mean time arrefted for debt, and caft into prifon, 
 the fhip was detained fo long in the river, that 
 ^, , it was about feven months before they reached 
 >!rpaks out the land s-end : and m the intermediate time, 
 in the fhip t]^g peftilence breaking out in the fhip, carried 
 
 jirjQ carries * ^-^ ^ 
 
 offz7ofthcOiF 27 of the prifoners. At laft another mailer 
 
 prifoners. . ^^'^^^^
 
 lon- 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 139 
 
 being procured, en the 23d of the month called c hap. 
 February, the veiTel failed from Plymouth, and xin. 
 was the next day taken by a Dutch privateer ^"^ — '^"■^ 
 oif the Land's-end, and carried to Hoorn in ^^'^j- 
 North -Holland. When the comraiflioners taken'bya 
 of the admiralty there underftood that thev ^"'''f"'', 
 
 T_ 1 J T r vateer, and 
 
 would not be cxcnangea as pnloners 01 war, the Auviv- 
 they fet them at liberty, and gave them a pafT- "^^ ^^.'^" 
 port and certificate, " That they had not madenbtny 
 *' their efcape, but were fent back by them.'* 
 From Hoorn they made their way to Amfter- 
 dam, where they met with a kind reception from 
 their friends, who provided them with lodging 
 and clothes, their ov/n having been moflly taken 
 from them by the privateer's crew. From hence 
 they all returned to England, except one, who 
 being a foreigner flayed in Koiiand. By thefe 
 means the exiles were delivered, and the defiP-n 
 of the perfecutors was fruftrated by the order- 
 ing hand of divine providence. 
 
 In the fame week that thefe c^ perfons were^j^ j 
 put on Clipboard, the bills of mortality in London encreafts. 
 amounted to upwards of 3000, and in the next 
 week to 4030, and went on encreanng till in 
 the month of September they encreafed to up- 
 wards of 7000 in the week, Perfecution not- 
 with [landing continued, and the meetin^os to be 
 diflurbed as before. As this deftruftive peili- 
 lence was efteemed to be a fore and heavy judg- 
 ment on a wicked, profane and perfecuting ge- 
 neration, who had long fported themfelves in 
 opprelhng the innocent, fo it might be reckoned 
 a merciful vifitation to the faithful and confcien- 
 ticus prifoners, in releafmg them from a life 
 worfe than death in the filthy holes of Newgate. 
 For a contagion v/hich fprcad through all the 
 city with unabated violence mud naturally be. 
 
 fuppofedi 
 
 ia'*uc
 
 140 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c xiit ^ -^'uppofed to infecl the jails (at all times liable to in- 
 ^^y^.^'s^ fedion, where numbers are pent up together in a 
 1 66-. polluted air, in clofe, damp and filthy rooms) with 
 51 d.e in an additional baneful eftecl. In the aforemention- 
 oAhrpeP- ^^ pi'ifon no lels than fifty two of the people called 
 tikiiLc. Qiiakers laid down their lives in tefiimony of 
 
 a good confcience, twenty-two of whom lay there 
 
 under fcntcnce of tranfportation. 
 
 But what muil fix an indelible ftamp of utter 
 
 infenfibility to every motive of humanity, of 
 
 civility or common decency, on the charaders 
 Notwith- of thofe magiilrates, to the difgrace of the go- 
 v.hichThe vernment, and of that church with which they 
 priibns are wcrc fo zealous to forcc conformitv, was, that 
 
 crowded 1 • j 1 • 1 r l '' • 1 
 
 with irera ciurmg the very height or the contagion they 
 priioiias. continued to crowd the infected prilons with 
 frefh prifoncrs. On the 9th of the month called 
 Augult, Sir John Robinfon, lieutenant of the 
 Tower, fent a body of foldiers to break up the 
 meeting at the Peel, who entered it in the ac- 
 cuftomed hofllle manner, crying to the affem- 
 bly, " They were all their prifoners.'* John 
 l.ldridge all:.ing by what authority they came, 
 was anfwered bv a blov/ on the head with a 
 mufquet ; and another for afning the fame quef- 
 tion was knocked down. " The foldiers carried 
 away thirty two of them to Newgate, without 
 paying any regard to tlie perilous fituation of 
 that prifon, which bears an afpeft of barbarity 
 xinfaiiable in puniflimcnt fliort of death ; as there 
 was at the time of their imprifonment no human 
 probability of their all coming out alive ; nor 
 did they ; fome of thefe being in the number 
 of the prifoners carried off by the plague in that 
 prifon. 
 
 In 
 
 d p. 
 
 \z^t.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 141 
 
 In the fame month eighteen others were com- chap. 
 mitted to the Gatehoufe Weftminfter, by war- ^Jll^ 
 rants from the Duke of Albemarle, four of ^^^^^ 
 which number died there of the contagion.^ 
 
 But now having profecuted their vindictive 
 meafures to imprifonment, Uttle fliort of mur- 
 der, the devouring peftilence continuing to cut 
 off multitudes of the citizens, and little or no 
 trade ftirring, the poorer people grew difcon- 
 tented : The melancholy ftate of the city, and 
 general diftrefs of the citizens, damped the fury 
 of perfecution in the city for the prefent ; and 
 this calamity of the plague being the next year 
 fucceeded by another little lefs didreiTmg, a de- 
 ftruftive and extenfive conflagration, the fuc- 
 ceflive and extraordinary fymptoms of divine 
 difpleafure difcouraged, (or the necefiary care 
 for the relief of the diftrefied citizens diverted 
 the attention of; the government and magillrates 
 from profecuting the diflenters as hitherto, in 
 order to apply it to more preffing exigencies ; 
 fo that this people in the city of London had 
 a refpite of fome years, wherein they were fuf- 
 fered to hold their meetings with lefs difturb- 
 
 ance. 
 
 Amoneft the great numbers who laid down c^'^- and 
 their lives in prilon m the courie 01 this year, sa^uei 
 was Samuel Fifher, with whom the reader hath ^'^^tr. 
 been before made acquainted ; that he was a 
 man of great parts and literature, formerly a 
 parifh preacher at Lydd in Kent, but voluntarily 
 relinquifhed his benefice of near two hundred 
 pounds per annum, and joined in fociety with 
 the baptifls. In the year 1655 he was convinc- 
 ed of the truth, as held by the people called 
 Ouakers, and through obedience thereto became 
 
 a faithful
 
 142 HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 c H A p. a faithful minifter of the fame, and travelled 
 ^^^"' much in the exercife of his miniderial labours 
 i66c ^^^ ^^^ propagation of righteoufnefs both in 
 England and foreign parts. At Dunkirk in Flan- 
 ders he had good iervice in teftifying againft 
 the idolatry of the priefts and friars, and preach- 
 ing to the Englilh garrifon there. He afterwards 
 travelled on foot, in company with John Stubbs, 
 over the Alps, and through Italy to Rome, where 
 they bore faithful teftimony to the fimplicity of 
 truth, and a(Tainil the fuDerftitions of the reli- 
 gion of that place; they alfo diftributed fome 
 books amongil the ecclefiallicks there, and when 
 their fervice was over paffed away without mo- 
 leftation. But although he efcaped perfecution 
 abroad among-ft the Komanifb ("amon^ft whofe 
 pernicious tenets Protellants have ranked the 
 perfecution of Hereticks) he met with his full 
 ihare of it amongft the profeifed proteflants at 
 home, his fufferings being very great after his 
 return to England. The greatell part of the four 
 iaft years of his life he fpent in prifon ; for in 
 1 66 1 he was feveral months a prifoner in the 
 Gatehoufe in Wellminfter : Soon after his re- 
 leafe he was illegally apprehended, as before re- 
 lated, fent to Bridewell, and after fome time 
 brought to Guildhall, where refuhng to take the 
 oaths he was committed to Newgate, and con- 
 fined there about twelve months. And in a 
 fhort time after his difcharge was taken again 
 at Charlewood in Surry, and committed to the 
 White Lyon prifon in Southwark, where after 
 near two years imprifonment, on the lad day of 
 the month called Auguft, he finished his courfe 
 in this life, in perfeQ: peace v/idi God ; in good 
 elleem both with his friends and many others, 
 
 not
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 143 
 
 not more on account of the eminence of his chap. 
 natural parts and acquired abilities, as a fcholar, "^"'" 
 than of his exemplary humility, fecial virtues, ^r 
 and circumfpect converfation as a chriftian : In 
 meeknefs indrufting thofe who oopofed him, 
 and labouring inceflantly by his diicourfcs and 
 by his writings to propagate and promote true 
 chriftian pradlice and piety. 
 
 Along with him was taken at the fame meet- Jofepii Fucc 
 ing, and committed to the fame prifon, Jofeph 
 Fuce, who alfo laid down his life there, a pri- 
 foncr, for the tellimony of a good coiifcience. 
 In the work of the miniltry he had travelled 
 through feveral countries ; his gift being in a 
 peculiar manner adapted to the convincing of 
 gainfayers, he was frequently engaged in dif- , 
 putes with independents, baprifU and other 
 preachers. * He was a man of a patient and 
 meek fpirit ; very laborious in the work of the 
 rninillry ; and, as well as his brethren, a deep 
 fufferer on account of his religious perfuafion, 
 and religious difcharge of duty : In the year 
 1655, being on his travels in the exercife of Ij^AruTda 
 gofpel labour, he was taken up by order of the with dthc« 
 mayor of Arundel, and fent toPortfmouth to be 1^''^"'" ^'° 
 fhipped for Jamaica, among a company of dif- 
 orderly perfons, who had been convided and 
 fentenced to tranfportation for their vicious 
 courfes. By what means he efcaped this unde- 
 ferved punilhment doth not appear, but it is 
 reafonable to fuppofe that, in confideration of . 
 the barefaced illegality of banilhing a fubje£t 
 not only unconvifted, but legally charged with 
 no crime, fome of the more temperate and pru- 
 dent 
 
 Befle.
 
 144 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, dent magiflrates mufl have releafed him. ^ In 
 y^^^,^^^..^^ 1660, being at a meeting at Deal, after the in- 
 ^QQ furredlion of the fifth monarchy men, feveral 
 Ag^in im- amied men and others ruflied in, and took thence 
 P^^^°[j|^f ""^Jofeph Fuce and twenty-three others ; they were 
 the fittii all committed to Sandown caftle, and there kept 
 monarchy fey^j-al joys and nights, their friends not be- 
 ing allowed to bring them either food to eat, or 
 ftraw to lie on. Afterwards he and another 
 friend were removed to Dover caflle, where their 
 treatment was flill mo»-e barbarous. They were 
 kept locked up with five others of their friends 
 within two or three doors in one room, from 
 which they were permitted no egrefs on any 
 emergency, however urgent, not even to anfwer 
 the neceflities of nature ; neither were their 
 friends allowed accefs to them to bring them 
 neceflaries ; for the marflial had charged his 
 fervant that he fhould permit nobody to come 
 near them, and the man having fhewn them 
 fome little favour, was turned out of his place, 
 and another fubRituted therein more fuiled to 
 the marfhal's difpofiiion in a fimilarity of tem- 
 per ; for when one of their wives had come fix 
 miles to bring her hufband fome neceffaries, he 
 would not fufier her to fee him. Jofeph Fuce, 
 taking an opportunity to remonfhrate to the 
 marfhal againft the unreafonablenefs of this 
 cruel ufage, was anfwered with a volley of oaths 
 and execrations, which profanity being very 
 wounding to the ears of this religious man, he 
 thought himfelf in point of duty obliged to- 
 bear his teilimony againft it, by a ferious re- 
 proof, for which he met with treatment more 
 
 cruelly 
 
 Grofsly a- 
 bul'ed '"or 
 reproving 
 the mar- 
 flial. 
 
 BefTe, t. i. p. 291.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. HS 
 
 cruelly fevcre. The marfhal, exafperated to C H A P. 
 rage, caufed him to be dragged headlong down ,^j^"^ 
 feveral Hone Iteps, into a dungeon, under the \^q. ' 
 bell-tower, overrun with filth and with vermin, 
 to a degree which decency recoils to defcribe, 
 without aperture for light or air, only fome 
 holes cut in the door. There he was kept two 
 days and two nights without fire, candle, ftraw, 
 or any thing to lie on but an old blanket. Af- 
 terward when he got fome flraw for a bed, for 
 want of air, through the damp and flench of his 
 difmal lodging, it was no wonder he fell lick ; 
 and after nine days confinement in this conta- 
 gious hole, he feemed at the point of death, 
 when the fear of being quefUoned for murder- 
 ing him, incited the cruel marilial to let him 
 out, and fuffer him to return to his fellow-pri- 
 foners, with whom he continued feveral months, 
 till releafed by the king's proclamation. He 
 was alfo confined in Ipfwich jail fome time, for 
 refufing to take the oath of allegiance, and at 
 laft laid down his life in the White-lioa . prifon. 
 South wark, as above related. •W.'^V 
 
 In this year alfo Vv iiliam Caton departed this wmiam 
 life at Amfterdam. His fervice was much in death. 
 that country ; of his religious difpofition, con- 
 vincement and qualifications for ufefulnefs in fo- 
 ciety, a pretty full account having been given, at 
 his firfl introduction inio this hiftory, it feems 
 unneceffary to enlarge thereupon here, further 
 than to remark that befides his literary accom- 
 pUfhments, and religious converfation, ^ being re- 
 markable for the courteoufnefs and affability of 
 his difpofition, he engaged the general efteem of 
 Vol. IL K thofe 
 
 f SeweL
 
 146 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, thofc who were acquainted with him. His per- 
 ^"'' fon while living, and his memory after his re- 
 gg moval, were much refpedled, even by perfons of 
 confequence in that ftate. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 'The Parliament convened at Oxford pafs the 
 Five-mile A61. — Friends fuffer by this Ad 
 though not made againjl them. — Several Friends 
 come from the Country to London to vifit and 
 help their Brethren in this calamitous Seafon. 
 — George Fox fiill a Prifoner at Lancajler. — 
 From thence removed to Scarborough Cajile. — 
 Where his hnprifonment is very fevere. — His 
 Friends debarred from viftting hi?n, — Several 
 Perfons come to difpute with him.-^Menaces 
 added to the Rigour of his Imprifonment. — At lafi 
 by Application to the King he obtains his Re- 
 leaf e* — The City of London laid wafle by Fire, 
 -^-—Bull and Mouth Meeting-houfe dejiroyed. — 
 Grace Churchflreet Meeting-houfe built.~^ 
 ^^ ^ ^ George Fox travels through feveral Counties to 
 XIV. London. — His Labour and Travels in efiablifh- 
 
 '^^'^""^''"'^ ing Difcipline a?nongst his Friends, — Differtation 
 
 „J^^^,: on Difcipline. 
 
 The parha^ -' •» 
 
 ment being 
 convened at ^ 
 
 thffiv'l'^^^'^^ the plague ftlil continued its ravages in 
 mile ad. the city of London, the parliament was conven- 
 ed 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 14^ 
 
 ed this year at Oxford : but the joint calamities chap. 
 of war and peftilence, which at this time dif- ■^'^" 
 treffed the city and the nation, feem to have made ^^ - 
 no profitable imprelTion on the members of this 
 parliament, fo as to incline theih to a better 
 temper towards the non-conformifts j for inflead 
 of being humbled in their minds, of mollified 
 in their tempers ; inftead of fympathizing in the 
 general diftrefs, or conforming to the pccafion, 
 and attempting a reformation of the diflblute 
 manners of the age, as if neither war, pefti- 
 lence, or any fymptom of divine difpleafure, 
 were calamities of equal magnitude, with the 
 exiftence of non-conformity, they proceeded to 
 enadt a frefh penal law, commonly known by 
 the name of The Oxford ji-ve -mile ail, which re» 
 ceived the royal affent Odober the 31ft, 1665. 
 It was entitled, Aji ad to rejirain non-confonnijis 
 from inhahlting corporations ; the preamble to 
 which fets forth, . ." that divers Parfons and 
 " others in holy orders, not having fubfcribed 
 *' the aft of uniformity, have taken upon them 
 to preach in unlawful affembiies, and to in- 
 ftil the poifonous principles of fchifm and re- 
 bellion in the hearts of his Majefty's fubjefts 
 to the church and kingdom : Be it therefore 
 enafted that all fuch non-conformift minifters 
 fhall take the following oath, 
 " /, A. B. do fzvear that it is not lazvfid^ 
 upon any pretence whatfoever, to take up arms 
 againfi the king ; and that I do abhor that 
 traiterous pofttion of taking arms by his autho' 
 rity againfi his perfon, or againfi tbofe that are 
 commijfioned by him, in piirfuance of fuch com- 
 mijfions \ and that I will not at any time endea- 
 vour any alteration of government in church or 
 fiate, 
 
 K 2 -' And 

 
 148 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 c H A p/* And all fuch non-canformid minifters flial! 
 ^'^' *' not after the 24th of March, unlefs in pafling 
 ^, " the road, come or be within five miles of 
 
 *' any city, town-corporate or borough, that 
 fends burgefles to parliament, or within five 
 miles of any parifli, town and place, wherein 
 they have, iince the aft of obhvion, been 
 parfon, vicar or lefturer, &c. or where they 
 have preached in any conventicle, on any 
 pretence whatfoever, before they have fub- 
 fcribed the abovefaid oath, before the jufli- 
 ces of peace at the quarter feflions for the 
 county in any court, upon forfeiture for every 
 fuch offence of forty pounds, one third to the 
 king, another third to the poor, and a third 
 
 *' to him that fhall fue for it. And it is further 
 
 " enacled, that fuch as fliall refufe the oath 
 aforefaid, fhall be incapable of teaching any 
 public or private fchools, or of taking any 
 boarders or tablers to be taught or inftrucl- 
 ed, under the penalty of forty pounds, to be 
 
 *' diflributed as above. Any two juilices of 
 peace, upon oath made before them of any 
 offence committed againfl this act, are em- 
 pow^ered to commit the offender to prifon for 
 fix months without bail or mainprize/* 
 
 Ili)ofe?in '^^^^ ^'^^^ ^^^ "^^^^ great oppofition in the 
 thehoufeofhoufe of lords, upou account of its enforcing 
 °'^^' an unlawful and uniuitifiable oath. Even th,e 
 Earl of Southampton (Clarendon*s intimate 
 friend, who in concert with Archbifhop Sheldon, 
 Ward, Bifhop of Salifbury, and their creatures, 
 is faid to be the contriver and promoter of this 
 a6i;) was ftrenuous in the oppofition, declaring 
 the oath to be fuch as no honeji man could take : 
 But the heat and pafiion of party prejudice pre- 
 vailed 
 
 cc 
 a 
 ti 
 a 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 (C
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 149 
 
 Vailed againft propriety, reafon and humanity, chap. 
 and the bill was paffed into a law. xiv. 
 
 Now though this a£t was principally aimed at ^-^ — ^^ — ' 
 the Prefbyterians and Independents, who had ^^'^S- 
 formerly enjoyed the emoluments of the church, ^^^^"^ 
 fo called, and been incumbents of pariilies, yet tiiis kw, 
 it was alfo frequently enforced againft the people madf'l- °^ 
 called C)uakers, who, becaufe for confcience-fakeg^'"ftthem. 
 they could not fwear, were upon this law profe- 
 cuted and imprifoned, as well as the other nu- 
 merous penal laws of this reign. 
 
 The pellilence having carried off, according 
 to moft accounts near one hundred thoufand of 
 the inhabitants of London, in the courfe of this 
 year ; and amongft theni many of the people 
 called Quakers, who left many poor widows 
 and fatherlefs children ; and this people, from 
 their firft exiftence, having been diftinguifhed 
 for their charitable regard towards, and care of 
 each other, this calamity of confequence muft 
 awaken their tender feelings : But the number 
 of objects demanding their brotherly afliftance 
 and attention at this period, proving too bur- 
 denfome for the men, who held occafional meet- 
 ings in the city, for the purpofe of p""oviding for 
 the neceility of the poor; they called upon fome 
 of the moft grave and tender-hearted of their 
 female friends to be aiTiftants to them in this 
 necelfary care, who readily complving, met for 
 this purpofe once a week at London. 
 
 Such v.-as the fraternal regard, and feeling Several 
 fympathy which prevailed amongft this people, ['^'^"j'^^^^^f 
 at this time, that not only the refident inhabi- the country 
 tants were exercifed in this care ; but feveral, [" fendthJiV 
 as George Whitehead, Alexander Parker, Jofiah-'Tiihmcein 
 Cole and others felt themielves incited, by the carc"rn thu 
 
 pointings calamitous 
 
 alon.
 
 153 H I 5 T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, pointings of duty, to come out of the country 
 XIV. to London, as with their lives in their hands, in 
 ^'^ — -^^"^ faith in divine protection, and refignation to the 
 ^^^5- divine will, to fuffer with their friends there, 
 ^ whatever might be permitted to befal them ; to 
 ftrengthen and encourage them by their exam- 
 ples and exhortations to keep up their meetings; 
 to edify them with their gifts ; and to vifit and 
 comfort the fick and imprifoned ; and through 
 ail were mercifully preferved from the infection, 
 and from imprifonrnent in this feafon of dan- 
 
 ceorge Fox jn the mean time George Fox, whofe folicitude 
 fo'ner at for the Welfare of the fociety which he had been 
 Lancafter. f^j.(]- niade in^rumental to gather and eilablifli, 
 was unremitted, found himfelf fecluded from the 
 opportunity of extending his paftoral and pa- 
 ternal care towards them in this feafon of their 
 accumulated diflrefs ; having been for three 
 years kept a prifoner fo clofe, that to his friends 
 he was as a man buried alive. We left him a 
 prifoner in Lancafter caflle, under a clandeftine 
 fentence or record of premunire, whence the 
 neighbouring juftices, who had been adtive in 
 his profccution, perceiving that the arbitrary pro- 
 ceedings againft him at the affizes, being pub- 
 lickly known, and freely canvaffed, expofed them 
 to public cenfure and difrepute, deterriiined to 
 exert their endeavours to procure his removal 
 to fome remote prifon, as the moft probable 
 means to make the general diflike of their con- 
 T' mifr"*" ^^^ ^^^ away. In order to effedl their purpofe, 
 prefentati- it fecms they fent up fome virulent, though 
 vour^to?c't groundlefs, accufations to the king and council, 
 him remov- and obtained an order from them to remove him 
 thencTto ^'^^^"^ Lancafter, accompanied with a letter froii;i 
 
 fome other thS 
 
 jpriforjo • ■
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 151 
 
 the Earl of Anglefey, importing, " that if thofe chap, 
 " things were found true againft him, with xiv. 
 " which he was charged, he deferved no mercy/* ^--^r-*-' 
 Thus when men are once tempted to tranfgrefs ^^^S' 
 the bounds of rectitude, they too frequently en- 
 deavour to cover their former errors by the 
 commiflion of more and greater. Thefe men 
 well knew they could convid: him of no offence, 
 but his confcientious declining an oath, or their 
 prefent ill-will would have Incited them to have 
 done It ; yet to erafe the memory of their paft 
 injurious condud, they add wrong to wrong, 
 by hidden mlfreprefentaticns, rendering him ob^ 
 noxious to government in order to fcreen their 
 own mlfconducl, and fatiate their malice, by ag- 
 gravating the unmerited fufferings of a man 
 who had done them jno wrong. 
 
 When they were prepared for his removal, He is in 
 the under-iherlff and bailiffs fetched him out of '^onfequence 
 the caflle, when he was fo weakened by lying from lan- 
 in that cold, wet and fmoky prifon, that he "^i*" '" * 
 could hardly go or (land. They took him into dition, 
 the jailer's houfe to Colonel Kirby and others, 
 who called for fome wine to give him ; but con- 
 fiderlng them as the principal authors of his im- 
 prifonment, he, who detefted all infmcerlty, ' 
 
 would not accept their fhew of kindnefs, when 
 fuffering fo feverely under the effects of their 
 malice. The horfes being ordered out, he defir- 
 ed to fee their order, if they intended to re- 
 move him, infifting " that he was not the - 
 " king's prifoner, but the fheriff's ; for they 
 " and all the country knew he was not fully 
 " heard at the lafl affize, nor fuffered to Ihew 
 " the errors In the indidment, which were fuf- 
 ^* ficient to quafh it : But they all knew there 
 
 " was
 
 152 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP 
 XIV. 
 
 1665. 
 
 and impri- 
 foned in 
 Scarbo- 
 rough eaf- 
 tie. 
 
 cc 
 
 a 
 
 where his 
 imprifon- 
 mcnt is very 
 fevere. 
 
 was no fentence of premimire pafled upon 
 him, therefore being ftill the fheriif's pri- 
 foner, he again defired to fee their order." 
 But they would lliew him none but their fwords, 
 and inflead thereof haled him out, and lifting 
 him upon one of the fheriif's horfes, hurried 
 him that night fourteen miles to Bentham, 
 though he was fo very weak, that he was hardly 
 able to fit on horfeback ; he was treated with 
 much rudenefs and incivility, which gave him 
 occafion to remark to the officers, that he re- 
 ceived neither chriftianity, civility nor humanity 
 from them. 
 
 At Bentham being delivered into the cuflody 
 of a freih guard, he was taken on to Gigglef- 
 wick that night, although exceeding weak and 
 weary : All this v-i-hile he was kept in ignorance 
 of the place of his deftination ; and upon his 
 enquiry of fome of the foldiers, who guarded 
 him, whither he was to be fent ? Some of them 
 told him " beyond fea ;" others " to Tinmouth 
 " caille." Being guarded thence to York, by 
 troopers under Lord Frecheville, he fell into 
 better hands, for they treated him with civility; 
 admitted his friends to vifit him on the wav, 
 and allowed him two days reft at York, from 
 whence the marflial and four or five foldiers 
 conveyed him to Scarborough caftle, his appoint- 
 ed prifon. 
 
 One may naturally imagine the Lancafhire juf- 
 tices muft have made a dreadful reprefentation 
 of the danger to be apprehended from him (al- 
 though they had no matter of fact to fupport 
 their charge) for he was here clofely confined, 
 like a prifoner of ftate, under a military guard, 
 a feminel being placed on his room in the caf- 
 tle j
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 153 
 
 tie ; but he being fo weak as frequently to faint, chap. 
 for a while they permitted him at times to walk xiv. 
 out for air, with a fentinel to attend him. He ^«— v-*-' 
 was foon removed from his firfl: rot)m to ano- i^^5- 
 ther, little better, if not worfe, than that in 
 which he was confined at Lancafler, being 
 fo open as to admit the rain, and exceed- 
 ingly otfenfive with fmoke. Infomuch that 
 the governor, Sir Jordan Croiland, in com- 
 pany with Sir Francis Cobb, coming one day 
 to fee him, having a little fire, the room was 
 fo filled with fmoke, that they could hardly find 
 their way out. He laid out about fifty fliil- 
 lings to keep out the rain, and prevent the , 
 
 fmoke ; which when he had done, and thereby 
 made it tolerable, he was removed into another 
 ftill worfe, without chimney or fire-place, fo 
 open to the fea-fide, that the wind drove in the 
 rain fo violently, that the water poured in upon 
 his bed and about the room, till he had it to 
 fkim up with a platter. And Vvhen his clothes 
 were wet, being without fire to dry them, his 
 body was benumbed with the cold, and his fingers 
 fwelled to double their natural fize. Few or 
 none of his friends would be fuffered to come to . 
 him, even to bring him food, wherefore he was 
 under the necelhty of hiring others to do it. 
 Againfi; this hard treatment he pleaded the in- 
 dulgence which Paul received from the Romans, 
 who were not chriftians but heathens. But at 
 the fame time whihl his friends were debarred 
 from admifiion to him, numbers of others were 
 freely admitted, whom curiofity drew to gaze 
 upon him, or who came to difpute with him. 
 
 Of
 
 154 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c HAP. Of thefe latter he had vifitants of moft de- 
 ^J^' nominations, Epifcopalians, Prefbyterians and Pa- 
 jgg_ piits, particularly of the lad (the governor being 
 Several *^'^ ^^"^^ pcrfuafion) by whom he was much 
 come to oif- teized with the advancinr^* of their do6trines, 
 ^^''^ as the infalUbihty of the Pope, and fuch like ; 
 but he feemed feldom at a lofs for a fuitable 
 reply to all that came to difcourfe or difpute 
 with him, being a£tuated through all with an 
 innocent boldnefs in confuting error, and con- 
 tending for the true faith according to fcripture 
 teftimony. 
 addedwVae ^^ ^^^ rigour and hardfhips of his imprifon- 
 rigourof ment, his keepers added frequent menaces in 
 fo^^t!" order to terrify him. The deputy governor once 
 told him. That the king, knowing he had a great 
 intercji in the people, had fent him thither, thai if 
 there Jhould be any Jlirring in the nation, they 
 jhoidd hang him over the wall. He replied to 
 this menace. If that was what they defired, 
 and it was permitted them, he was ready, for he 
 7zever feared death or fufferings in his life ; but 
 was known to be an innocent, peaceable man, 
 free from Jiirrings and phttings, and one that 
 fought the good of all men. 
 
 At length his patience having furmounted the 
 
 hardfhips he was expofed to, and his innocence 
 
 pleading in his favour with his keepers, they 
 
 gradually relented, relaxed their feverity, and 
 
 finally became favourable and rei'pedful to him. 
 
 The officer.s would frequently fay, he was as 
 
 flifFas an oak, and as pure as a bell, for we 
 
 could never bow him. 
 
 1666. After he had been a prifoner in Scarborough 
 
 At lad by caftle above a vear, he laid his cafe in writing 
 
 to the king before tae kmg, rdatmg the manner or impri- 
 
 |-^ "^r^^'" " fonnientj 
 
 his relcafc'.
 
 1>E0PLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 155 
 
 fonment, and the hard treatment he had met chap. 
 with ; fubjoining, that he was informed that no ^J^^ 
 man could deliver him but the king himfelf. ,,, 
 His friend Efquire Marlh exerted his endeavours 
 to procure fuccefs to his application, and through 
 the mafter of requefts, obtained the king's order 
 for his releafe, the fubftance whereof was, " that 
 the king being certainly informed that George 
 Fox was a man principled againfl plotting and 
 fighting, and had been ready at all times to 
 diicover plots rather than make any, &c. 
 therefore his royal pleafure was that he fhould 
 *' be releafed from his imprifonment." As foon 
 as this order was obtained, it was quickly brought 
 to Scarborough, and delivered to the governor, 
 who upon receipt thereof immediately difcharged 
 him, and gave him the following pafl'port. 
 
 a 
 
 <c 
 <c 
 
 
 it 
 
 *' Permit the bearer hereof George Fox, late 
 a prifoner here, and difcharged by his ma- 
 jefty's order, quietly to pafs about his law- 
 *' ful occafions, without moleftation. Given 
 under my hand at Scarborough caftle this 
 I ft day of September, 1666. 
 
 « JORDAN CROSSLANDS, 
 
 " Governor of Scarborough caflle.** 
 
 George Fox when he received his releafe was 
 willing to make the governor an acknowledg- 
 ment for the civility and kindnefs he had lately 
 jfhewn him, who would not receive any thing, 
 but told him, *' Whatever good he could do 
 *' him or his friends, he would do it, and never 
 f* do them any hurt :" which promife his con- 
 
 fcquent
 
 J 56 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, fequent conduct made good, being humane and 
 "^^^' favourable to his friends through the remainder 
 „g of his life. 
 The city of It was juft at this time (after the city and 
 london fuburbs of London were fo greatly depopulated 
 by fire. by the plague j that the faid city was laid in aflies 
 by a dreadful conflagration, which broke out in 
 Pudding-lane, over againfl the place where the 
 Monument is erefted, whereby in a few days 
 time the greateft part of the city within the 
 walls was confumed : The inhabitants, in amaze- 
 ment, terror and defpair, were forced to flee for 
 their lives, with what goods they could fave, into 
 Moor^dds, where they lodged in huts and tents. 
 Many families, who were lafl: week in opulence, 
 were now reduced to great diftrefs ; and for the 
 fpacc of three days it fpread devaftation, and 
 bafiled all human exertions to ftop its progrefs. 
 At lafl: it ceafed almofl: as wonderfully as it be- 
 gan ; when all human efforts failed, it feemed to 
 die away, and be extinguiflied on every fide, as 
 by a peculiar interpofition of providence. 
 
 Various were the conjectures formed concern- 
 ing the caufes and authors of this conflagra- 
 tion ; but as no inve {ligation led to certainty, 
 what caufe it arofe from, why may we not fafely 
 acquiefce in the opinion of the mofl: pious and 
 religious fort of that age, who afcribed it to 
 the vifitation of heaven upon a city fliamelefsly 
 immerfed in vice and immorality, and which 
 had not been fufliciently humbled by the pefl:i- 
 lence of the foregoing year ? 
 Bull and The Bull and Mouth meeting-houfe being de- 
 meaing. ft^'oyed by the fire, the meetings of this people 
 hoiifc de- continued to be held regularly as they fell in 
 ^^'^'^ ' courfe in their other meeting-houfes, which had 
 efcaped, viz. Wheeler-flireet, Peel, Devonfliire- 
 
 houfe,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 157 
 
 houfe, &c. and they had fome refpite and eafe chap. 
 from violent perfccution and diflurbance for a y^^^^^,^ 
 feafon, until the city was in a great meafure re- ^^^^^ 
 built. 
 
 But their numbers increafmg-, they had the ^^^^^ 
 courage and refolution, in faith, to build athnrch- 
 new meeting-houfe this year in White-hart ^[^"ng. 
 Court, Grace Church-ftreet, which from its cen-ji<';ife 
 tral lituation became afterwards the place for 
 their yearly meetings. Here, as well as in other 
 places, they met with frequent difturbance by 
 the trained bands and informers, being many of 
 them often haled out by force, and often for- 
 cibly kept out, they were obliged to hoFd^ their 
 meetings in the llreet. .;.■. > 
 
 It appears a manifefl evidence of divine pro- Remark, 
 teftion, fupporting and profpering this fociety, 
 that they were not only preferved fteadfaft to 
 the truth in which they believed, in patient re- 
 fignation to the divine will, and a blamelefs de- 
 meanour toward mankind, under a fucceffive 
 train of fevere trials; but continually encreafed 
 their numbers, v/ith the powers^ of the 'world 
 agamlt them. ............. -j..- 
 
 The hiftory of this people from their fird rife 
 to this time prefents one continued feries of per- 
 fccution, through the fticc6i?ive revclurioiis of 
 government ; the fecular powers, urged on by 
 the ecclcfiaflick';, to whole power and emolu- 
 ment their principles were adverfe, exerted eve- 
 ry efibrt, Ihort of capital punimment, to . lelTen 
 their numbers, and flop their progrefs, and from 
 man they had little countenance ; yet notwith- 
 ftanding, by the fupport of the divine hand, 
 the fociety encreafed, fo that they were now be- 
 come a numerous body. 
 
 As
 
 iS8 H i S T O R Y OF rut 
 
 CHAP. As foon as George Fox was freed from his 
 XIV. long confinement, he proceeded as ufual in his 
 *'"^"^^-*-' religious labours and fervices. He palfed through 
 Geo^pfx P^^^ ^^ Yorkftiire, Derbyfhire and Nottingham- 
 travels (hire, vifiting his friends, and having many large 
 kvlrS^ and edifying meetings amongft them ; notwith- 
 tountifts. ftanding fome attempts to have him taken again, 
 which were fruftrated, for perfecution was itill 
 hot in fome counties. So proceeding fouthward 
 through divers counties he came to London ; 
 but he was fo weak with his cruel and hard impri- 
 fonments for the greateil part of three years, 
 and his joints fo (liff and benumbed, that it was 
 with difficulty he could mount his horfe or 
 alight. 
 Of the ef. ^^^ numbers and the exigencies of the fociety 
 tabiiftiment being cucreafed, as before remarked, he faw it 
 of ^"ip"^^ neceitary to encreafe the number of meetings of 
 lint' difcipline, for the good government of the 
 
 church. The fervice of thefe meetings feems 
 to have gradually opened, as the (late of the fo- 
 ciety required. In the year 1660 we have ta«> 
 ken notice of a general meeting for church af- 
 fairs, held at Skipton in Yorkfhire, which had 
 then been held fome years, wherein the bufinefs 
 was confined to the taking an account of 
 their fufferings, and to the making colledions 
 for the relief of their poor. Afterwards quar- 
 terly meetings were eflablifhed in London and 
 in other parts, which in addition to the former 
 fubjecls of attention, had the charge of the re- 
 putation of the fociety, to watch over the mem- 
 bers, and admoiiifli and exhort fuch as might 
 appear diforderly and uncircumfpe£t in their con- 
 verfation, not agreeable to the ftriOinefs of their 
 religious profefTion j befides the women's meet- 
 ings^
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 159 
 
 ings, which had chiefly the care of poor widows chap. 
 and orphans. But during his flay in London xiv. 
 at this time, he felt it his concern to recom- ^- — v-^> 
 mend the eilablifliinff five monthly meetings of ^^'^<5. 
 
 , . ^, . ^ r <-L r ^ Monthly 
 
 men and women m that city, to tranlact lucn meetin-s. 
 matters as had before been the employment of 
 the quarterly meeting, and to unite in a gene- 
 ral meeting once in three months as before, for 
 mutual counfel, advice and deliberation, in ^-e- 
 lation to the common affairs and care of the 
 whole body in the city. Having (laid here to 
 fee his recommendation in part reduced to prac- 
 tice, and his friends fettled in comely order ; 
 the advantage refulting therefrom appeared to 
 him fo evident, that he found it his duty to 
 make a progrefs, firft through the adjacent coun- ^'^^°i ^^^_ 
 ties, afterwards many of the more remote, to dry places 
 get thefe monthly meetings in like manner efla- !he''eftX^ 
 blifhed amongfl friends throughout the nation ; Hfliment of 
 having a clear view opened to his mind of the meetings. 
 method and order, wherein the monthly and 
 quarterly meetings were to be eflabliflied and 
 conducted, which he communicated by letter to 
 fuch counties as he could not vifit in perfon, 
 and to his friends in Scotland, Ireland, Holland, 
 Barbadoes, and the continent of America ; 
 whom he afterwards vifited in perfon, to afliil 
 and promote the regular eftablifliment there- 
 of. 
 
 After monthly meetings were eftabliflied, theThefervice 
 fervice of them flill extended. George Fox after '^^^^ 
 his circuit through the counties, returned to cxtcnJcd to 
 London ; there he perceived the expediency of zance'of"'" 
 the monthly meetings taking cognizance of the damages. 
 orderly proceedings towards marriage, and there- 
 fore recommended, '* That propolals of mar- 
 
 *' nage
 
 
 160 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP." riage (hould be laid before the men's monthly 
 XIV. c meetings, that friends might fee, that the rela- 
 ^'^"^'"'^^^^ <' tions of thofe who proceeded to marriage were 
 1666. ec fatisned, that the parties were clear from other 
 " engagements, and that widows had made pro- 
 " vifion for their firft hufband's children before 
 " they married again, and whatever other enqui- 
 ries were neceilary for keeping ail things clean 
 and pure, in good order and righteoufnefs, to 
 " the glory of God." 
 
 Thus wns this valuable man engaged in long 
 travels un- and paiuful travels, under great infirmity of body 
 ctrnuKh -j^ confequencs of the hardfhips, he had lately 
 body to let- pafled through in his difmal prifons, as him- 
 tie montiiiy jg|£ nr- j^i^ " I was fo exccedinfj weak, I 
 
 aieetiDgs. r ' o ' 
 
 ** was hardly able to ^et on, or off my horfe's 
 " back ; but my fpirit being earneftly engaged 
 " in the work the Lord had concerned me in, and 
 " fent me forth about, I travelled on therein, 
 ** notwithftandiRg the weaknefs of my body, 
 " having confidence in the Lord that he would 
 " carry me through, as he did by his power." 
 From London he continued his travels to other 
 counties, 'till the meetings for difcipline were 
 fettled in all, or mod parts of the nation, where- 
 by the care over the members of the fociety was 
 widely fpread, and the body became compared 
 together in a mutual concern for each others 
 temporal and fpiritual profperity. The difci- 
 pline which George Fox was fingly initrumental 
 thus to eftablilh, notwithftanding the contemp- 
 tuous light in which he has been viewed, and 
 reprefented by fundry writers, bearing the marks 
 of a peculiar wifdom in the contrivance, and 
 goodnefs of heart in the ends in view, realized in 
 the beneficial effecls it then had, and hath fince 
 continued to produce, fsems to demand a par- 
 ticular
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. i6i 
 
 dcular difquifitlon in a work of this nature, and chap. 
 this appears the proper place to introduce it. ^'v. 
 
 1666. 
 
 A Dissertation on the Discipline 
 exerci/ed amongst the People called fakers, 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 The firfl: meeting for church affairs that I find pirft meet. 
 any clear account of, was held at Skipton in '"s."^ ^'^' 
 Yorkfhire, whether occafionally by particular skipton. 
 appointment, or at certain Hated times, doth 
 not appear. Of this meeting, the nature and 
 ufe is defcribed by George Fox in his journal 
 as follows : " To this meeting came many 
 friends out of mofl parts of the nation ; for 
 it was about bufmefs relating to the church, 
 both in this nation and beyond the feas. Se« 
 veral years before, when I was in the North, 
 I was moved to recommend to friends the fet-> 
 ting up of this meeting for that fervice ; for 
 many friends fuffered in divers parts of the 
 nation, their goods were taken from them, 
 contrary to law, and they knew not how to 
 help themfelves, or where to feek redrefs ; 
 but after this meeting was fet up, feveral 
 friends, who had been magiftrates, and others 
 who underflood fomething of the law, came 
 thither, and were able to inform friends, and 
 aflift them in gathering up the fuiferings, that 
 they might be laid before the juflices, judges 
 or parliament. This meeting had flood feveral 
 years, and divers juflices and captains had 
 come to break it up ; but when they under- 
 flood the bufmefs friends m.et about, and faw 
 friends books and accounts of colledions for 
 Vol. II. L " the
 
 1 62 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP." 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1666. 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 cc 
 
 ti 
 
 &( 
 
 cc 
 
 Quarterly 
 
 the relief of the poor ; how we took care, 
 one county to help another, and help our 
 friends beyond fea, and provide for our poor, 
 that none of them fhould be a charge to their 
 parifhes, &c. the juftices and officers confefled 
 that we did their work, and would pafs away 
 peaceably and lovingly, commending friends 
 practice." By this account it appears as if 
 this was a general meeting for the whole nation, 
 or a great part thereof, and fixed in this town 
 as a central fituation, the greateft body of this 
 people in the earlieft times being in the North. 
 But about the year 1666, the fociety being 
 meetings, encrcafed, and their fuflferings multiplied, it be- 
 came requifite to eftablifli a meeting of difci- 
 pline in each county, to be held once a quarter ; 
 and afterwards again to fubdivide thefe into fe- 
 veral monthly meetings, which order is con- 
 tinued to this day. 
 
 Thefe were termed monthly meetings, becaufe 
 in the mofl general way, they were appointed to 
 be held once a month ; yet as exigency, and 
 multiplicity of bufinefs, in large cities particu- 
 larly, pointed out the neceffity of Ihorter inter- 
 vals, fome are held every two or three weeks, 
 and fome at greater intervals. They are alfo 
 in fuch places compofed fometimes of the mem- 
 bers of one particular meeting only ; but mofl: 
 generally through the counties confift of feveral 
 contiguous meetings ; and in this cafe it is the 
 practice in many places for friends of each par- 
 ticular meeting to hold a preparative meeting, 
 to enquire into the flate of the fociety in that 
 meeting, in refpecl to want, to general conduct, 
 or to the futFerings of their members ; and to 
 appoint reprefentatives to report what may ap- 
 pear 
 
 Morttlily 
 
 meetings,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 163 
 
 pear needful to the monthly meeting. Four or ^ ^ ^ P- 
 fix particular meetings ufually compofe a monthly v_«,^^,.^^ 
 or general men's meeting. 1666. 
 
 Thefe monthly meetings alfo are fewer or 
 more in number in each refpeclive county, as 
 the number, fituation and circumflances of the 
 members in each might render mod expedi- 
 ent. 
 
 The fetting up of monthly meetings did not Quarterly 
 occafion the abolition of quarterly meetings ; ni«tings 
 but the former taking upon them the executive 
 part of the difcipline, which had before employ- 
 ed the latter, it appeared conducive to general 
 benefit, that the quarterly meetings fhould ftill 
 continue, as fuperintendent and alliflant by ad- 
 vice to the monthly meetings. It was therefore 
 agreed, that all the monthly meetings in a coun- 
 ty fhould, by their reprefentatives, and other 
 members, conftitute the quarterly meeting for 
 that county, which all the moil zealous, and 
 judicious friends, in a general way thought it 
 their duty to attend, for the mutual communi- 
 cation of their fentiments, the advice and help 
 one of another, efpecially when any bufinefs 
 feemed difficult, or a monthly meeting was ten- 
 der of determining a matter. Thefe monthly 
 and quarterly meetings in fome counties were 
 fixed, or held moflly in the fame place ; in 
 others they were held in rotation at different 
 places, as the members found it moil conveni- 
 ent. 
 
 5 Sometime after monthly and quarterly meet- Yearly 
 ings were eflabhfhed, viz. in the year 1669, it"^eetingof 
 was found expedient, and agreed upon, to hold 
 a general m.eeting in London, reprefentative of 
 
 L 2 the 
 
 5 Sewel,
 
 164 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, the whole body in England, and all other parts 
 XIV. where any of the fociety were fettled, which 
 
 V — V — ' having been thenceforward held annually, is de- 
 1666. nominated the yearly meeting in London. 
 
 This meeting is conflituted of reprefentatives 
 deputed from each quarterly meeting in Eng- 
 land, from the half-year's meeting in Ireland, 
 and fometimes from other parts, yet without 
 reftraining any member in unity with the fo- 
 ciety from attending. And fuch places in Eu- 
 rope and America, as by their remote fituation 
 cannot conveniently fend reprefentatives thereto, 
 keep up a correfpondence with this meeting by 
 epiltles. 
 
 But as the firfl: eftablifhment of the yearly meet- 
 ing was in a time of great fuffering under a multi- 
 plicity of penal laws, the collefting accounts of thefe 
 fufferings in order to lay them before government 
 and feek redrefs, took up much of the attention 
 of that meeting at that time, as appears from the 
 queries of that meeting, the three firfl of which 
 are, i. What prefent prifoners ? 2. How many 
 difcharged laflyear ? When, and how? 3. How 
 many died prifoners ? As many exigencies in 
 fuffering cafes might arife in the intervals be- 
 tween the yearly meetings, demanding a more 
 fpeedy application for relief than the delay in 
 waiting for the fucceeding yearly meeting might 
 occafion, pointed out the expediency of eflablilh- 
 ing a committee of correfpondence in London and 
 the feveral counties and other places, to be confult- 
 ed in the intervals between the yearly meetings up- 
 on any emergency : The members appointed cor- 
 refpondents in London, with others who may be Ife 
 in the city, meet the fixth day in every week, 
 for the purpofe of confidering and confulting 
 upon fuch matters as may be laid before them 
 
 b)F
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 165 
 
 by any of the country correfpondents ; particu- chap. 
 iarly any fuffering cafes of friends that may want ^J^!l^. 
 their counfel or afliflance : and from thence is ^^^^ 
 called ibe meeting forfuffcr'nigs^ and is a meet- 
 ing of record. 
 
 This oicononiy hath ever fmce fubfiftcd a- Advantage 
 mongft this people, whereby the great ends oi cij;,ih'ic. 
 religious fociety, real devotion of heart towards 
 God, a careful and circumfpetl converfation in 
 righteoufncfs and honcfty amongfl men, and the 
 mutual edification of each other in love, have 
 been materially promoted, and a people difperf- 
 ed in fundry quarters of the world rendered 
 a compact body, engaged in a zealous and mu- 
 tual concern for the promotion of peace and 
 piety amongft themfelves and mankind in ge- 
 neral. 
 
 For by this ceconomy the care of the body at 
 large may be conceived to extend to every mem- 
 ber ; and on the other ha]id, every member to 
 become accountable for his conduct to the body 
 at large, as well as the object of their brotherly 
 aid, if his fufferings or w^ant demanded it. For 
 the part being always conlidered as fubordinale 
 to the whole, and the Iclfer meetings to the 
 more general for diredion, affiltance and 
 advice ; particular meetings to the monthly 
 meetings, monthly to quarterly, and the quarterly 
 meetings of the counties to the yearly meeting 
 in London: And the religious care devolved upon 
 each meeting over its own members, operating 
 within its own fphere ; that of particular meet- 
 ings exercifed in the infpecling of the flate, the 
 conduct or the neceflities of the members and 
 famihes belonging to them refpectively : Again, 
 the quarterly meetings taking cognizance of the 
 
 ftate
 
 ^66 H I S T O R Y ot iiir, 
 
 CHAP, {late and reports of the monthly meetings, giv- 
 "^^^' ing them counfel and inftruftlve advice, accord- 
 g,^ ing as exigency required ; and coUefting from 
 their reports, a general report of the ftate of the 
 fociety in the county, to the yearly meeting, by 
 which intelligence the faid meeting is furnifhed 
 with the fubjects of their deliberation and ad- 
 vice : The refult of which deliberations, and the 
 advices appearing requifite to the flate of the 
 fociety, are generally tranfmitted to the counties 
 in an epiftle from the faid yearly meeting. 
 
 SECT. 11. 
 
 Of the Manner of conducling thefc Meetings, 
 
 No member From thcfe meetings of difcipline no mem- 
 with thTfo^ bers of the fociety are excluded ; but every one 
 cietyex- in uuity hath liberty to attend and exprefs his 
 meetiig^sTf f^titiments with freedom in the fear of God, 
 difcipline. upon the fubjecl matters of deliberation ; but 
 the fenfe of the fubordinate meetings, in parti- 
 cular cafes, is generally underflood by the repre- 
 fentation of their deputed reprefentatives. No 
 chofen or deputed officers prefide in their meet- 
 ings, after the manner of the aifemblies of 
 other focieties, ^ " Chrifl only being their prefi- 
 *' dent, as he is pleafed to appear in life and 
 " wifdom in any one or more of them; what- 
 " ever be their capacity or degree, the reft 
 adhere with a firm unity, not of authority, 
 but conviction, which is the divine authority, 
 and the way of Chrift's power and fpirit in 
 
 ^« his 
 
 
 ?* William Penn's Rife and Progreis,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 167 
 
 " his people ; making good his blefled promife, chap. 
 " that he would be in the midft of his, where y_^^^^^,^ 
 " and whenever they were met together in his ^^^^^^ 
 " name, even to the end of the world." 
 
 Yet they have a clerk in each meeting, who Records of 
 generally undertakes the office voluntarily at the [.l!|;',''„f7' 
 defire of the meeting, whofe bufmefs is to take kept, 
 down minutes of their proceedings : For in all 
 thofe meetings, yearly, quarterly and monthly, 
 a regular record is kept of all their proceedings, 
 appointments and fubjecls of deliberation ; of 
 their colleftions and dill)urfements generally 
 in a diflind book ; of the fufferings of their 
 members and other neceifary matters ; and as for 
 thefe purpofes they have feveral feparate re- 
 cords in fundry parts, different members are en- 
 gaged in keeping them in regular order, one 
 undertaking the care of one record, and another 
 of another. 
 
 And as the bufmefs of thefe meetings is of a Meetings 
 folemn and religious nature, they are preceded 'jj'j^'g'pj.g. 
 by a folemn meeting of worfliip ; that friends by ceded by a 
 
 . J n . J V • ■ Cl' r nicetin^of 
 
 united worlhip, and waiting m conjunction tor ^yoj-fhSp 
 the influence of divine wifdom and power, may 
 thereby feel their minds properly prepared to 
 affift in the weighty bufmefs of the day ; for it 
 is a principle of belief with them, that under 
 the influence of the holy fpirit this difcipline 
 was originally eflablifhed, and that the fame di- 
 vine influence is the requifite qualification for 
 condu(5ling it with propriety to edification, as 
 well as for the work of the miniftry, and every 
 other fervice of the church. William Penn, in 
 the treatife before quoted, records his experience, 
 " That thefe meetings being opened, and ufu- 
 " ally concluded in folemn waiting upon God, 
 
 " he
 
 1^8 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 ^ XIV ^ " ^^ ^^ fomelimes gracioufly pleafed to anfwef 
 i^..,^,,.,^ *' them with as fignal evidences of his love and 
 1666. " prefence, as in any of their meetings of wor- 
 " Ihip." And it appears almofl felf-evident, 
 that a number of men fitting down together 
 under an awful fenfe of the prefence of the All- 
 feeing eye, the witnefs of their tranfaftions, and 
 of the frame of their hearts, are under the pro- 
 perefl temper of mind for deliberating and de- 
 ciding upon the fubjed of religion and its con« 
 cerns. 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 Of the Objects of DifcipUne in the fiindry Meet^ 
 
 ings. 
 
 I. Monthly Meetings. 
 
 The monthly meetings may not be improperly 
 termed the executive power of this fociety, as it 
 is their bufinefs to apply the rules of the difci- 
 pline to the particular cafes and exigencies of 
 the individuals. The fubjeds of their enquiry 
 and dealing will not improperly be defcribed in 
 the order that the enquiries of the quarterly 
 meeting are made into their care ; as contained 
 in the following queries, which are anfwered by 
 each monthly meeting to the quarterly m.eeting. 
 
 1. Are meetings for worfhip and difcipline 
 duly attended ; and do friends avoid all un- 
 becoming behaviour therein ?" 
 
 2. Are love and unity preferved amongfl 
 you, and do you difcourage all tale-bearing 
 
 " and detradion?" 
 
 " 3. Is 
 
 6C
 
 I'EOPLE CALLED QJJAK?^- ^7t 
 
 ** 3. Is it your care by example and prP^^ ^ ^^^ ^• 
 to train up your children in a godly conve.\._.^^^...^ 
 fation, and in frequent reading the holy fcrip- ^g^. 
 tures ; as alio in plainnefs of fpeech, beha- 
 viour and apparel ?" 
 
 '* 4. Do you bear a faithful and chriflian tef- 
 timony againft the receiving or paying tithes, 
 priefts demands or thofe called church rates ?'* 
 " 5. Are friends careful to avoid all vain 
 fports, places of diverfion, gaming, and all 
 unnecelfary frequenting of ale-houfes or ta- 
 verns, excefs in drinking, and intemperance 
 of every kind ?" 
 
 6. Are friends jufh in their dealings, and 
 punftual in fulfilling their engagements, and 
 are they advifed carefidly to infpe(^ the dale , 
 
 *' of their affairs once in the year ?" 
 
 7. Is early care taken to advife and deal 
 with fuch as appear inclinable to marry con- 
 trary to the rules of our fociety; and do none 
 remove from or into your monthly or two ■ 
 
 " weeks-meetings without certificates ?" 
 
 " 8. Have you two or more faithful friends 
 *' deputed in each particular meeting ro have the 
 *' overfight thereof? and is care taken when any 
 " thing appears amil's that the rules of oar dif- 
 *' cipline be put in praftice ?" 
 
 Of the zeal of the members of this focietv in r. 
 the attendance of their religious meetings, this' 
 hiffory abounds with remarkable inftances : 
 neither penal laws, perfonal abufe, long and 
 hard imprifonments, lofs of fubftance, nor the 
 profpeft of banifhnient, could damp the ardour 
 of their zeal in keeping them up, evidencing, 
 that peace of mind, refulting from difcharge of 
 duty, was of more confideration with them, 
 
 than 
 
 a 
 it 
 
 iC 
 
 <( 
 cc 
 a 
 <c 
 
 cc 
 a 
 
 tc 
 
 a 
 a 
 ii 
 a
 
 1-JO HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, than flcflily eafe or worldly enjoyments. At this 
 XIV. time, the fociety being compofed of members, 
 ^-^^/-^^ who, having received their religion, not by 
 1666, tradition or education, but by convincc- 
 ment of their underflandings, and conver- 
 fion of heart, a61:ed upon principle, and attend- 
 ed meetings, from a confcientious perfuafion of 
 duty. Although in thefe perilous and fuffering 
 times fome were concerned to encourage and 
 ftrengthen their brethren herein, yet 1 appre- 
 hend at this time it was not needful ro engage 
 much care of the monthly meetings, to incite 
 them to a duty, of the obligation whereof they 
 were inwardly convinced. But in procefs of 
 time, individuals falling from their firll love, 
 were for introducing flefli-pleafmg do£lrines and 
 a temporizing difpofition to evade fuffering, 
 which occafioned the following minute of the 
 yearly meeting, 1675. 
 
 It hath been our care and pradlice from the 
 
 beginning, that an open teflimony for the 
 
 Lord fnould be borne, and a public ftandard 
 
 for truth and righteoufncfs upheld in the 
 
 power and fpirit of God, by our open and 
 
 known meetings, againft the fpirit of perfe- 
 
 cution that in' all ages hath fought to lay 
 
 wafte God's heritage, and that only through 
 
 faithfulnefs, conftancy and patience, victory 
 
 " hath been and is obtained : So it is our ad- 
 
 " vice and judgment that all friends gathered 
 
 in the name of Jefus keep up thefe public 
 
 teilimonies in their refpeclive places, and not 
 
 decline, forfake or remove their public aifem- 
 
 " blies becaufe of informers, or the like perfe- 
 
 " cutors 5 for fuch practices are not confiflent 
 
 '« with 
 
 tc 
 
 a 
 tc 
 a 
 ti 
 a 
 cc 

 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 171 
 
 '^^ with the nobility of truth, and therefore not chap. 
 *' to be owned in the church of Chrift." v«^-s/-*^ 
 
 Others afterwards born in the fociety, and ^^^^ 
 holding the profeffion of th^-ir religion in the 
 form, as the religion of their education, with- 
 out effectually fubmitting to the converting 
 power thereof, giving way to thoughtleifnefs, or 
 lecular engagements, grew remifs in this reafo- 
 nable fervice, the neglect whereof gave occa- 
 fion to its becoming an efpecial part of the care 
 of monthly meetings to apply their endeavours 
 to remedy this deficiency. The means they em- 
 ployed for this purpofe were earned exhortation, 
 directed to convince them of the reafonablenefs 
 and obligation of this duty ; exciting them by 
 pov/erful perfuafions to a diligent attendance of 
 religious meetings, not only on the firfh day of 
 the week, whereon even the laws of the land 
 prohibit us to tranfa£l worldly affairs ; but ro 
 manifeft their love to God and devotion to duty 
 hy facrificing that portion of time on other days, 
 fet apart for the important purpofes of worfliip- 
 ing God, and edifying the body in love. Thefe 
 endeavours were frequently ufed by members de- 
 puted by the monthly meetings, when the defi- 
 ciency of any member was obvioufly remarkable, 
 and fometimes in a more private way, as any 
 friend found a concern on his mind, to labour 
 with a brother for his good. 
 
 Love, the charaderiftick of difciplefhip, and 
 unity, the bond of fociety, were cultivated with , ^- , 
 
 ^ n 1 1 • 1 Love and 
 
 uncommon care amonglt them, and emmently unity, 
 diftinguifhed thofe of the firfl generation, " it 
 " being" (as William Penn teflifies) " a com- 
 f mon remark in the mouths of ail forts of peo- 
 
 " pie
 
 172 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 HAP." pie concerning them, they will meet, they wilt 
 " help andJUck to one another^ look how the ^a- 
 
 1666 " ^^''^ ^^'^^' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ of another : And if 
 loving one another, and having an intimate 
 
 communion in religion, a conftant care to 
 meet and worfnip God, and help one another, 
 be any mark of primitive chriftianity, they 
 had it in an ample manner." In this age they 
 had many fkilful watchmen, and efpecially 
 George Fox, who were diligent in detefting the 
 approach of every danger of weakening or dif- 
 folving the bonds of amity and unity, and faith- 
 fully warning, and carefully guarding, the dif- 
 ferent claffes of the fociety againft the danger, 
 as we have feen in the cafe of James Naylor, and 
 /liall further have occafion to remark in the 
 fequel. 
 
 As to the prefervatlon of love and unity in 
 general, the difcipline of this fociety extends 
 only to caution and admonition ; but in fome 
 cafes where ambitious, envious or refractory fpi- 
 rits have arifen to head a party, and caufe rents 
 and divifions in the fociety, they have been con- 
 ilrained, for preventing the evil confequences, 
 publickly to teflify againft them and their prac- 
 tices ; but fuch inftances have been rare, there 
 being, I believe, no fociety that have been more 
 careful to maintain unity, or avoid the occafions 
 of contention than this. 
 
 And as to difterences about matters of pro- 
 perty, it is an eftabliflied rule with them that 
 all difputes on this account between two mem- 
 bers be referred to the determination of judi- 
 cious and impartial men chofen by the parties 
 from among their brethren. For brother to go 
 to law againft brother among them, is deemed 
 
 utterly
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QITAKERS. 173 
 
 utterly a fault, as among the primitive chriflians, chap. 
 and commencing fuits at law, except in cafes >,.^^_, 
 of neceffity, and with the confent of the monthly ^^^^ 
 meeting, is deemed an abfolute breach of good 
 order, cognizable to the fociety. Ey this branch 
 of difcipline much expence, perplexity and vex- 
 ation is faved to individuals, and mutters as 
 juftly determined, as by puriuing them through 
 the intricacies of the law. 
 
 And as private animofities and differences a- 
 bout matters of property have a tendency to in- 
 terrupt unity, introduce contention, and propa- 
 gate parties and divifions in the church, it hath 
 been the care of this fociety in their colleftive 
 capacity to give warm and prefiing advices to 
 monthly meetings to put a fpeedy end to all dif- 
 ferences arifing amongft them ; and as the origi- 
 nal of private animofities or diflike is often 
 from refledions and infmuations tending to in- 
 jure the reputation one of another, the latter 
 part of the query is properly fubjoined, direct- 
 ing to the difcouragcment of tale-bearing and 
 detradion, as being an unchriftian-like praclice, 
 having a tendency to fow difccrd among bre- 
 thren. 
 
 We come now to the third head of difci- , ■^•. 
 
 •1. 11 . , T F.uucation.. 
 
 pime, and that a very important one, the reli- 
 gious education of youth, which appears, efpe- 
 cially in thefe early times, to have engaged the 
 care and attention of the church in a degree pro- 
 portioned to the importance thereof, both by a 
 conflant recommendation, that parents fliould in- 
 ftrud: their children in the principles of the 
 chriftian religion, inure them to a frequent read- 
 ing of the holy fcriptures, to habits of induftry, 
 temperance and fobriety j preferve them from 
 
 corrupting
 
 it 
 
 r74 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, corrupting company, and infill into them a 
 ^^^'^' fenfe of the neceffity and advantages of a reli- 
 g^g gious circumfpe£t converfation ; as alfo train 
 them up in plainnefs of habit and fpeech, agreea- 
 ble to the fimplicity of their profeffion, as well 
 as in necefTary and ufeful learning ; and by a 
 conftant enquiry how this advice is put in prac- 
 tice. The direftion of the yearly meeting on 
 this fubjecl s, " wherever a deficiency of this 
 fort appears, that monthly and quarterly meet- 
 ings ilir up thofe concerned to their duty 
 " therein." Particularly in the year 1731 this 
 weighty fubjecl feems to have engaged their very 
 ferious confideration, which produced the follow- 
 ing lively recommendation. 
 
 " Inafmuch as we have a large body of youth 
 growing up, the oif-fpring of friends, thefe call 
 for our efpecial care and concern, that they may 
 be preferved in the way of truth, in which' our 
 forefathers walked ; and in order thereto, we 
 tenderly recommend to all parents and guar- 
 dians, 
 
 " Firfl, that they take heed to themfelves, that 
 their own fpirits be rightly feafoned and direct- 
 ed for the help and good government of their 
 children, and then, that they have a conftant 
 watchful eye in love over them for their good, 
 and keep them as much as pofTible within their 
 notice and obfervation, for this we are fenfible 
 of, that the mifcarriages of youth have very 
 much proceeded from their being imprudently 
 indulged, or left to themfelves ; by which means 
 they become expofed to the danger of evil ex- 
 amples on the one hand, and vicious corrupt 
 principles on the other, with which the world 
 too much abounds ; and therefore we earneftly 
 
 and
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 175: 
 
 and tenderly advife all parents and guardians to n h a p. 
 be watchfully concerned in this refped, and that ..11,J, 
 they take all proper occafions, both by example ^^^^ 
 and inltruftion, to help their children : And that 
 mothers of children, as well as fathers, (as they 
 have frequently the bed opportunities) would 
 take particular care to inftruft them in the 
 knowledge of religion and the holy fcriptures ; 
 becaufe it hath been found by experience, that 
 good impreffions made early on the tender minds 
 of children, have proved lading means of pre- 
 ferving them in a religious life and converfation. 
 This praftice was enjoined ftrcngly upon the 
 people of Ifrael by Mofes and Jolliua, the fer- 
 vants of the Lord, who required them to read, 
 or repeat, the law to their children ; and the 
 apoflle Paul takes notice of Timothy's being well 
 inftrucled in the holy fcriptures from a child, 
 and of the unfeigned faith which dwelt in his 
 grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, 2 Tim. i. 
 5. who no doubt had a religious care of his 
 education. 
 
 " But where parents or guardians are deficient 
 in fuch their care, we recommend monthlv meet- 
 ings, that they ftir them up thereto, either by 
 vifiting them in their families, or in fuch man- 
 ner as in the wifdom of God they may fee 
 meet, that fo the doctrines of the gofpel, and a 
 converfation agreeable thereunto, may be main- 
 tained unto all generations. 
 
 '* And in order to render thefe advices more ef- 
 feflual, we farther tenderly recommend to all 
 heads of families, that they do frequently call 
 their children and fervants together, and in a, 
 folemn religious way caufQ them to read the 
 holy fcriptures, and in fo doing, that they hum- 
 
 blv
 
 i-jo HISTORY OF THE 
 
 c H A P. bly wait upon God with their families, for m« 
 yy,^^^.i^ ftru6lion and counfel to them, refpefting chrif- 
 1666 "^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ practice, according to the former 
 advices of this meeting, particularly that in the 
 year 1 706, to which in an efpecial manner we 
 refer on this occafion : which is as follows, viz. 
 Forafmuch, as next to our own fouls, 
 our children and offspring are the mod imme- 
 diate objeds of our care and concern, it is 
 tenderly recommended to all that are or may 
 be parents or guardians of children, that they 
 be diligently exercifed in this care and con- 
 " cern, for the education of thofe committed to 
 their charge, that in their tender years they 
 may be brought to a fenfe of God, his wif- 
 dom, power, and omniprefence, fo as to be- 
 get an awe and fear of him in their hearts, 
 (which is the beginning of wifdom) and as 
 they grow up in a capacity, to acquaint them 
 with, and bring them up in the frequent 
 reading of the fcriptures of truth; and alfo 
 *■' to inllruQ: them in the great love of God, 
 ", through Jefus Chriif, and the work of falva- 
 *' tion by him, and of fanctification through his 
 ** fpirit ; and alfo to keep them out of the vain 
 " and foolifh fafhions and ways of the world, 
 and in plainnefs of language, habit and be- 
 haviour, that being thus inflrufted in the way 
 of the Lord when they are young, they may 
 not forget it when old ; or however, that all 
 concerned may be clear in the fight of God, 
 ** that thev have not been wanting in their du- 
 " ties to them. And that the labour and tra- 
 vail of friends therein may be more effeftual, 
 it is our tender defire that feafonable oppor- 
 tunities may be taken to wait upon the Lord, 
 
 with 
 
 (C 
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 a 
 
 (C 
 
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 (( 
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 (< 
 
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 c. 
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 cc
 
 PEOTLE CALLED QUAKERS. 177 
 
 " with your children, in yonr families, for the CHAP. 
 " manifeftatlon of his bleffed power, to make xiv. 
 " them fenfible of his witnefs and feed of life " "'^'^^ 
 " and grace in their hearts, in order to beget ^"°°* 
 " in them the living knowledge and love of the 
 " truth as it is in Jefus." 
 
 As to the fubje^l of the fourth query, the *. 
 receiving or paying of tithes, I have before ex- 
 plained the grounds of their declining the pay- 
 ment thereof, and therefore fliall not enlarge 
 upon it here, further than to obferve, that being 
 a term of communion, and in their view a tef- 
 timony of importance, the violation of this tef- 
 timony is a breach of unity ; but monthly meet- 
 ings are inftrutled to take great pains to convince 
 the delinquents (who are moft commonly fuch, 
 not from a perfuafion of the claimant having any 
 juft right to thefe demands ; but merely to evade 
 fuffering) ot their weaknefs or error, before they 
 proceed to pafs any cenfure upon them, 
 
 A people honeitiy direcling their refearches 5. 
 after pure religion, and the firft principles of^f^g^QQ^j^ 
 chriilianity, could not be long in dlfcovering the 
 inconfiflency of vain fports and diverfions, fuch 
 as theatrical exhibitions, horfe-racing, dancing, 
 mufical entertainments, cards, dice, and other 
 fpecies of gaming, with the precepts and fplrit 
 of the gofpel ; to which they are diametrically 
 oppofite in their root and origin, nature and 
 tendency ; being not the genuine growth of 
 chriftianity, but a branch from the corrupt root 
 of gentililm, adopted by profeffed chriftlans to 
 their hurt. This people in their fearch after 
 primitive chriilianity, recurring to the example 
 and precepts of Chriit and his apoltles, could not 
 reconcile thele diverfions to their practice, nor 
 
 Vol. it. M to ,
 
 ii 
 a 
 a 
 
 178 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, to fuch precepts as thefe, " ^ For every idle 
 
 y^^^,_^__^ " word you muft give an account.'* " ""Pafs the 
 
 1666 " ii^^G of your fojourning here in fear." " ^ Ufa 
 
 " all diligence to make your calling and elec- 
 
 " tion fure." " ''Let no corrupt communication 
 
 proceed out of your mouth, but that which 
 
 is good, to the ufe ot edifying, that it may 
 
 minifter grace to the hearers j neither filthi- 
 
 nefs, nor ioolilh talking, nor jelling, which 
 
 are not convenient, but rather giving of 
 
 " thanks. Let no man deceive you by vain 
 
 " words ; for becaufe of thefe things cometh 
 
 ^^ the wrath of God upon the children of difo- 
 
 " bedience." 
 
 For thefe and other reafons, they thought it 
 their duty both to difufe the attendance of vain 
 fports themfelves, bear their tellimony againll 
 them, and make it a point of communion, and 
 an object of difcipiine, that their members fhould 
 refrain the attendance thereof, or be dealt with 
 as tranfgreflbrs ; becaufe they looked upon them 
 to be unlawful, and evil in themfelves, and fre- 
 quently an inlet to groffer evils, elleeming them 
 as inventions of Satan or degenerate men, to 
 draw the minds of mankind out of themfelves, 
 throw them off their guard, deaden the convic- 
 tions, and ftifle the voice of God's witnefs in their 
 confciences, fet them at eafe in their fms, and 
 lay them open to the deftruclive fnares and 
 temptations of the great enemy of their eternal 
 happinefs. 
 
 The unnecefiary attendance of taverns and 
 alehoufes having a like tendency to draw into 
 unfuitable company, unfavoury difcourfe, riot 
 
 and 
 
 = Mat. xii. 36. b I Pet. i. 17. <= 2 Pet. i. 10. <* ThefT. xxix. 
 5> 4> 6.
 
 ice in 
 commerceo 
 
 IPEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 179 
 
 and excefs of drinking, is efteemed an equal ob- chap. 
 jecl of the church's care, to guard every avenue ^^__^^^ 
 to evil by timely caution and admonition ; iggg. 
 which if it fail, and habitual drunkennefs over- 
 take any of their members, if repeated gofpel la- 
 bour to reclaim them prove ineffetlual, the party 
 is to be teftified againfl and difowned. 
 
 Juftice in trading and dealing was perhaps 6. 
 amongft no people pradifed with more fcrupu-^"^^ 
 lous punftuality, and confcientious regard, than 
 amongft this people in the beginning, fuch a 
 thing as a failure in the punctual payment of 
 their debts according to contrad, much lefs a 
 bankruptcy, was fcarce known amongft them. 
 Being daily liable by unreafonable fines and forfei- 
 tures and exorbitant diftraints, to be ftripped of 
 all they had, they were extremely cautious of 
 contra6Hng debts at all ; that the loftes they 
 might be expofed to might be purely their ou^n 
 property, and not that of others ;, when they 
 contracted them, they were on this account 
 very folicitous to pay them at a fliort time. 
 Their religious principle againft every fpecies of 
 luxury, and fuperfluity in eating and drinking ; 
 in their apparel, and the furniture of their hou- 
 fes ; againft frequenting alehoufcs and vain 
 fports ; reduced their expenfes to the necelTary 
 fupport of nature, which they found did not re- 
 quire much : And efteeming it a point of duty 
 (when not engaged in higher fervice) to be di- 
 ligently employed in their lawful callings, they 
 procured thereby more than a fufficiency for 
 their own wants, without invading any man's 
 property. And it had been well for their pof- 
 terity, if they had more univerfally adopted thefe 
 prudent maxims of conduct, and carefully 
 
 M 2 . trodden.
 
 
 i8o . HISTORY oi the 
 
 CHAP, trodden in their footfleps ; but too many of the 
 ^^^^' fucceeding generations, giving way to an afpir- 
 gg- ing fpirit, aiming at great things in this world, 
 and directing the bent of their minds to the 
 amalling of riches, gave occafion to lively and 
 warm admonitions of the yearly meeting to re- 
 cm' back to, and imitate the honourable exam- 
 ples of their worthy predecefiors, particularly to 
 the following minute of 1732. 
 
 " We fmd it our duty to remind our refpec- 
 tive members, of the remarkable uprightnefs 
 and honeny of our friends in the beginning, 
 " in their commerce and converfe. How exacl 
 " were they in performing their words and pro- 
 " mifes, without evafive excufes and infmcere 
 " dealings I Hovv- careful not ro involve them- 
 " felves in bufmefs which they underllood not, 
 " nor had flock of their own to manage ! How 
 " circumfpect not to contract greater debts than 
 " they were able to pay in due time ! which 
 brought great credit and reputation to our re- 
 ligious fociety. But with forrow we obferve, 
 that, contrary to their example, and the re- 
 peated advices formerly given by this meet- 
 ing againfl an inordinate purfuit after riches, 
 too many have launched into trades and bufi- 
 *' nefs above their ftocks and capacities ; by 
 '* which unjuftifiable proceedings, and high 
 " living, they have involved themfelves and fa- 
 " milles in trouble and ruin, and brought con- 
 " fiderable loCs upon others, to the great re- 
 " proach of our holy profefiion.'* 
 
 " We therefore recomiUiend to friends in their 
 refpeclive quarterly and monthly meetings, to 
 have a watchful eye over all their members ; 
 
 " and 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 a 
 
 4i 
 
 <c 
 cc
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. i8r 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 ti 
 
 li. 
 
 and where they obfcrve any deficient in dif- CHAP. 
 
 - - ' XIV. 
 
 1666. 
 
 " chartrin-j- their contrafts and jiill debts in due ^'^ 
 
 time, fo as to give reafonabic fufpicion of 
 weaknefs or negligence, that friends do ear- 
 neftly advife them to a fuitable care and necef- 
 fary infpedion into their circumPtances, in 
 order that they may be helped ; and if any 
 proceed contrary to fach advice, and by their 
 failure bring open fcandal and reproach on the 
 fociety, that then friends julliiiably may, and 
 ought to teitify againft fuch offenders." 
 In the times whereof I am now writing, there 
 feems to have been little or no occafion for ad- 
 monition, this people proved by an undeviating re- 
 gard to an internal monitor, that they were flrewn 
 what they fliould do, and what the Lord their God 
 required of them, to do Ji(/t/y, love mercy ^ and 
 walk hianhly zvith their God ; fo that the firft 
 advice we meet with on this fubje61: is in the 
 year 1688, near twenty years afcer the eflablifli- 
 ment of the yearly meeting;, and exhibits a fpc- 
 cimen of their watchful care againfl every thing 
 that might diilionour or defile the reputation of 
 their fociety. 
 
 " Advlfed that none launch into trading and 
 worldly bufinefs beyond v\'hat they can manage 
 honourably and with reputation ; fo that they 
 may keep their words with all men, that their 
 yea may prove yea indeed, and their nay, 
 " nay ; for whatfoever is otherwife cometh of 
 " evil : and that they ufe few words in their 
 " dealings, left they bring diilionour to the 
 '- truth of God through their forwardnefs ; and 
 the holy profeffion of his name and truth : 
 Such are for judgment, and the judgment of 
 ^' truth ought to be fet over them, that thofe 
 
 " who 
 
 ii. 
 ii 

 
 l82 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. " who abide and walk in the truth may be clear 
 
 ^J^J^ " of their iniquities." 
 
 .^^ Their ideas of juftice in commerce were not 
 confined to the regular payment of their juft 
 debts ; but extended to prevent all deceit or dif- 
 honefty in every fliape ; that the fabrick of their 
 manufactures lliould be made good and fubftan- 
 tial in their refpedive kinds ; of juft and lawful 
 meafure ; and to anfvver the expectations of the 
 purchafer. They looked upon it inconfiftent 
 with ftrict juftice to launch into trade beyond 
 their own capitals, or rifque any m.ans property 
 but their own, on the uncertain probability of 
 future contingencies. The fame religious care 
 to their words and actions circumfcribed them 
 in their commercial engagements, as in every 
 other part of life. They found themifelves re- 
 ftraincd from the too common practice of dealers, 
 in ufing a multiplicity of words in their deal- 
 ing, in v/hich there wanteth not fin, nor very 
 often deceit. They trufted to their goods (by 
 the care and honefty employed in fabricating, 
 them) to recommend themfelves by their fervice, 
 and were very fparing in their verbal recommen- 
 dations. They v/ere at a word in buying and 
 felling. Seeking no unfair advantage ; in buy- 
 ing they at once offered what they thought the 
 value ; in felling, at the firft word, told the 
 lovveft price they w^ould accept, nor would the 
 habitual method of bargaining in thofe they had 
 to deal with tempt them to vary from their fet- 
 tled rule. 
 7- Forefeeing the manifeft ill confequences, tem- 
 
 poral and fpiritual, which might refult from in- 
 termarriages with thofe of different perfuafions, 
 both to individuals, to families, and to religious 
 
 fociety j
 
 TEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 183 
 
 fociety ; that, If the apoillc tliought it expedient chap. 
 for chriftians all to walk by the lame rule, and ^^J^V^ 
 mind the fame thing ; much more thofe who are ^^^^ 
 connected in this clofe alliance, which makes 
 two as one : But where there is a difference of 
 fentiment and perfuafion about religion and re- 
 ligious worlliip, it hath a tendency to di- 
 vide afunder thole who ought to be united in 
 the clofeft bonds of afFection and unanimity ; 
 to introduce confufion and perplexity in the 
 place of harmony and fatisfaftion ; to interrupt 
 the peace of families, and introduce diftraftion 
 in the great concern of the religious education 
 of children : On thefe important confiderations, 
 this fociety thought it requifite to make it a point 
 of communion, that their members fhould marry 
 among themfelves, according to the good order 
 -eftablillied amongit them ; and in order to pre- 
 vent the confequences to themfelves and the fo- 
 ciety, of individuals violating this rule of dif- 
 cipline, an early care and vigilance is recom- 
 mended to give fuitable attention, by over- 
 fight, timely admonition and zealous endeavours ' 
 to preferve youth and others from entangling 
 themfelves in improper connections, or joining 
 in marriage by a pricft or otherwife, contrary to 
 the good order eftablilhed in the fociety, in or- 
 der to avoid the difagreeable neceffity (to pre- 
 ferve their regularity) of teftifying againil them 
 as tranfgreffors thereof. 
 
 And in order to a proper knowledge of their 
 own members, it is a rule with them, that every 
 profeffor amongft them, who removes his or her 
 place of refidence fliall apply for a certificate of 
 his or her conduft and converfation, and their 
 K'ight to fellowihip with the fociety, from the 
 
 monthly
 
 !S4 H I S T O R Y OF TH£ 
 
 CHAP, monthly meeting they remo\'-e from, to that they 
 ^^^^^^^__^ remove into ; and in cafe of neglecting fuch 
 i666. Application, the m.onthiy meeting they remove 
 from is to fend fuch recommendation as they 
 can give ; or the monthly meeting they remove 
 to, upon the obfervation of a ftranger or flran- 
 gers coming to refide amongft them and fre- 
 quenting their meetings, is to enquire of them 
 v/hence they came, and to write for a certificate 
 or character for them. 
 
 " Their way of marriage is peculiar to them * ; 
 and fhews a diftinguilliing care, above other fo- 
 cieties profeffing chriftiaiiity. They fay that 
 marriage is an ordinance of God, and that God 
 only can rightly join man and ix-oman in marriage. 
 Therefore they ufe neither priell nor magiflrate ; 
 but the man and wom.an concerned, take each 
 other as hufband and wife, in the prefence of 
 divers credible witneffes, promifing to each other ^ 
 with God^s ajjijlance^ to be lo-ving and faithful in 
 that relation^ till death fhall feparaic them. But 
 antecedent to this, they firfl prefent themfelves 
 to the monthly meeting, for the affairs of the 
 church v.'here they refidc ; there declaring their 
 intentions to take one another as hufband and 
 wife, if the faid m.eeting~have nothing material 
 to object againft it. They are conftantly alked 
 the neceffary queilions, as in cafe of parents or 
 guardians, if they have acquainted them with 
 their intention, and have their \ confent." 
 
 " The 
 
 * Penn's Rife and Progrefs. 
 
 f If it be difcovered that any man hath propofed 
 marriage without firfl obtaining the confent of the 
 young u^oman's parents or guardians, he is obliged 
 
 to
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 185 
 
 " The method of the meeting is, to take a mi- C n A P. 
 nute thereof, and to appoint proper perfons to "ctv^. 
 enquire of their converfation and clearnefs from ^-^'v^v^' 
 all others, and whether they have difcharged ^'^'^^• 
 their duty to their parents or guardians ; and to 
 make report thereof to the next monthly meet- 
 ing, where the fame parties are defired to give 
 their attendance. In cafe it appears they 
 have proceeded orderly, the meeting pafles their 
 propofal, and fo records it in their meeting- 
 book. And in cafe the woman be a widow and 
 hath children, due care is there taken, that pro- 
 vifion alfo be made by her for the orphans, be- 
 fore the meeting pafs the propofals of marriage : 
 advifmg the parties concerned to appoint a con- 
 venient time and place, and to give fit no- 
 tice to their relations, and fuch Iriends and 
 neighbours, as they defire fhould be witneffes 
 of their marriage : where they take one another 
 by the hand, and by name promife reciprocally 
 love and fidelity, after the manner before ex- 
 prefied. Of all which proceedings, a narrative 
 in way of certificate is made, to v.'hich the 
 faid parties firll fet their hands, thereby con- 
 firming it as their aft and deed ; and then divers 
 relations, fpedators and auditors fet their names 
 as witneffes of what they faid and figned. And 
 this certificate is afterward regiflered in the re- 
 cord belonging to the meeting where the mar- 
 riage is folemnized. Which regular method, 
 where it hath been by crofs and ill defign- 
 ing people for want of the accuftomed for- 
 malities of pried and ring difputed, has been, 
 
 as 
 
 to condemn fuch proceeding in writing, prevlouHy 
 to the meeting taking cognizance of the marriage.
 
 186 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, as it deferves, adjudged in courts of law a good 
 
 XIV. 
 
 1666. 
 
 marriage 
 
 * 
 
 * In the year 1661, a caufe was tried at the affizes 
 at Nottingham, refpe6ting the vaUdity of a friend's 
 marriage. The cafe was this : Two friends having 
 been married amongft friends, lived together as man 
 and wife about two years, when the man died leaving 
 his wife with child, and an eftate in lands of copy- 
 hold ; afterwards another friend married the widow. 
 A perfon near of kin to her former hufband, brought 
 his aclion againfh the prefent hufband with a view 
 to difpoHefs them of the land, deprive the child of its 
 inheritance, and poiTefs himfelf thereof as next heir 
 to the woman's firit hufband, under the plea <* That 
 *< the child was illegitimate, as the parents had not 
 *' been married according to law." In opening the 
 caufe, the plaintiff's counfel taking an indecent li- 
 berty of exprefTion, too common in fuch cafes, af- 
 ferted, '< that the Quakers went together like brute 
 « beafl 
 
 " ^.^..^ ^..w ^ 
 
 3," with other unfcemly expreffiono >.uij.„«-iiiiiig 
 that people. After the counfel on both fides 'had 
 pleaded, judge Archer opened the caufe to the jury 
 in the following manner : ** There was a marriage in 
 paradife when Adam took Eve and Eve took Adam, 
 and it was the confent of the parties that made a 
 marriage. As for the Quakers he did not know 
 their opinions, but he did not believe they went 
 together as brute beails, but as chriflians, and 
 therefore he did believe the marriage was lawful, 
 and the child iavv'ful heir." To confirm his judg- 
 ment he related this cafe : *' A man that was weak 
 in body and kept his bed had a defire to mar- 
 ry, and did declare before witnefTes that he did 
 take fuch a woman to be his wife, and the woman 
 declared (lie took that man to be her hulband. This 
 marriage being afterward called in queftion, all 
 the bifhops (he faid) did conclude it to be a lawful 
 marriage." Whereupon the jury brought in their 
 verdict in favour of the child. 
 
 a 
 
 The
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 187 
 
 1666. 
 
 The obfervance of the aforefald ceremo- chap. 
 nies they have refufcd : not out of humour, x'v. 
 but confcience reafonablv • grounded ; inafmuch 
 as no fcriprure-example teils us, that the prieft 
 had any other part of old time, than that of a 
 W'itnefs among the reft, before whom the Jews 
 ufed to take one another : and therefore this 
 people look upon it, as an impofition to ad- 
 vance the power and profits of the clergy : and 
 for the ufe of the ring, it is enough to fay, 
 that it was an heathenifh and vain cuitom, and 
 never in practice among the people of God, 
 Jews or primitive Chriflians : the words of the 
 ufual form, as zvifb ?ny body J thee luorjhip, &c. 
 are hardly defenfible. In iliort, they are more 
 careful, exact and regular, than any form now 
 ufed ; and it is free of the inconveniencies with 
 which other methods are attended : their care 
 and checks being fo many, and fuch, as that no 
 clandefline marriages can be performed among 
 them." 
 
 " It may not be unfit to fay fomething here of 
 their births and burials, which make up fo much 
 of the pomp of too many called chriflians. For 
 births, the parents name their own children ; 
 which is ufually fome days after they are born, 
 in the prefence of the midwife, if flie can be 
 there, and thole that were at the birth, who 
 afterwards flgn a certificate for that purpofe 
 prepared, of the birth and name of the child or 
 children ; which is recorded in a proper book, 
 in the monthly meeting to which the parents be- 
 long, avoiding the accuflomed ceremonies and 
 feflivals." 
 
 (.1 
 
 Their
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 " Their burials are performed with the fame 
 fimplicity. If the body of the deceafed be near 
 any publick meeting-place, it is ufually carried 
 1666. thither, for the more convenient reception of 
 thofe that accompany it to the burying-ground. 
 And it fo falls out fome times, tliat while the 
 meeting is gathering for the burial, fome or 
 other has a word of exhortation, for the fake 
 of the people there met together. After which 
 the body is borne away by young men, or elfe 
 thofe that are of their neighbourhood, or thofe 
 that were moil of the intimacy of the deceafed 
 party : the corps being in a plain coffin, without 
 any covering or furniture upon it. At the 
 ground they paufe fome time before they put 
 the body into its grave, that if any there fhould 
 have any thing upon them to exhort the people, 
 they may not be difappointed ; and that the re- 
 lations may the more retiredly and folemnly take 
 their lad leave of the body of their departed 
 kindred, and the fpeclators have a fenfe of mor- 
 tality, by the occafion then given them to reflect 
 upon their ov.n latter end. Otherwife thev have 
 no fct rites or ceremonies on thofe occanons. 
 Neither do the kindred of the deceafed ever 
 wear mourning ; * they looking upon it as a 
 worldly ceremony and piece of pomp ; and that 
 what mourning is fit for a chriiiian to have, at 
 the departure of a beloved relation or friend, 
 
 Ihould 
 
 * N. B. Since ihetime this account -".vas firfl; publiihcd. Anno 
 ,1694, fome of the pofrerity of this people have vifibly de- 
 generated from the primitive plainnefs of their predecefTors in 
 this refped ; neverthelefs the coUedtive fenfe and judgment of 
 the church herein, remains the fame, as is manifeft by the 
 fre€}uent advices given forth fiom their yeaily and other meet- 
 ings.
 
 PEOPLE cALLr.D QJTAKERS. i8p, 
 
 fhould be worn in the mind, which is only fen- c h a p.-' 
 fible of the lofs : and the love they had to them, .^Jl^I^^ 
 and remembrance of them, to be outwardly ex- ^^^^^ 
 preiled by a relpect to their advice, and care of 
 thofe they have left behind them, and their love 
 of that they loved. Which conduct of theirs, 
 though unmodifh or unfafhionable, leaves no- 
 thing of the fubftance of things negleded or 
 undone : and as they aim at no more, fo that 
 fmiplicity of life is what they obferve with great 
 fatisfadion ; though it fomctirnes happens not to 
 be without the mockeries of the vain world they 
 live in.'* Thus far WUllani Fenn. 
 
 However obnoxious this fociety may have 
 been to unmerited calumny on other accounts, 
 their charity hath been too obvious not to pro- 
 cure general approbation ; for while they have 
 been particularly attentive that nothing fliould 
 be wanting to the neceifary fupply of their poor, 
 that there fhould be no bec;gar amongft them, 
 nor any fent to the parifh for relief; and that 
 their children fliould partake of neceifary learn- 
 incr, and be put out apprentices to fuitable 
 trades ; at the fame time they have chearfully 
 paid their quota to the poor of their refpeclive 
 parifhes ; belidcs private donations by many 
 amongfl them to proper objects of any denomi- 
 nation, which they nev^r defired fhould be knovvu; 
 their religion being of that caft, which inftru-S:- 
 ed them to do good to all, but efpecially to the 
 houjhold of faith. 
 
 The fentiments of thefe people on this fub- 
 jed may be perceived from the fallowing extraft 
 from an epiftle of Stephen Crifp. 
 
 " Concerning practical charity ye know it 
 " is fupported by liberality, and where liberality 
 " ceafeth, charity waxeth cold j where there is 
 
 " no
 
 ipO HISTORYOFTHE 
 
 CHAP." no contribution there is no diftribution ; where 
 ^^^' " the one is fparing the other is fparing ; and 
 1666 " therefore let every one nourifh charity in the 
 root, that is, keep a liberal mind, a heart 
 that looks upon the fubftance that is given 
 him, as really beftowed upon him for the fup- 
 port of charity, as for the fupport of his 
 own body ; and where people are of this 
 mind, they will have a care of keeping back 
 any of God's part ; for he hath in all ages 
 in a molf fmgular manner efpoufed the caufe 
 of the poor, the widow and the fatherlefs, 
 and hath often by his prophets and minifters 
 given a fpecial charge to rich men, that they 
 " ihould look to it, that they were faithful 
 ftewards of what ihey poileifed. 
 " Now as concerning the necefiities of the 
 poor, there is great need of wifdom, when 
 ye meet together about that aifair ; for though 
 the worthinefs or unvvorthinefs of perfons is 
 not to be confidered in judgment, yet in this 
 it is ; and you will find iome that men have 
 made poor ; fome that God hath made poor, 
 and fome that have made themfelves poor, 
 **• which muft all have their feveral confidera- 
 " tions, in which you ought to labour to be 
 " unanimous, and not one to be actuated bv an 
 " affeftion to one more than another, but 
 every one to love every one in the univerfal 
 fpirit, and then to deal out that love in the 
 outward manifeflations thereof, according to 
 " the meafure that the Lord in his wifdom work- 
 *' ing in you, fhall meafure forth to them." 
 
 " And as to thofe who by ficknefs, lamenefs, 
 " age, or other impotency are brought into po- 
 '•' verty by the hand of providence, thefe are 
 *' your peculiar care, and objeds pointed out to 
 
 " you 
 
 a 
 t.i 
 a. 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 ii 
 ii 
 
 ii.
 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 191 
 
 " you to beflow your charity upon, for by theme hap. 
 " the Lord calls for it ; for as the earth is the v_^-_^ 
 " Lord's and the fulnefs thereof, he hath by his ^^^^^ 
 " fovereign power commanded that a part of what 
 " we enjoy from him fliould be thus employed. 
 " The Ifraelites were not to reap the corners of 
 " their fields, nor gather the gleanings of the 
 " corn or vintage, thefe were for the poor. And 
 *' in the time of the gofpel, they were, on the 
 " firfl day of the week to lay by a part of what 
 " God had bleffed them with, for the relief of 
 thofe that were in neceffity ; nay, they did 
 not confine themfelves in their charity to their 
 " own meetings, but had an univerfai eye 
 through the whole church of Chrifl, and 
 upon extraordinary occafions, fent their be- 
 nevolence to relieve the faints at Jerufalem in 
 a time of need : and all that keep in the 
 guidance of the fame univerfai fpirit, will 
 " make it their bufinefs to be found in the fame 
 " practice of charity and good works ; to do 
 good, and communicate, forget not, faith the 
 apoftle. They then, that forget not this chrif- 
 tian duty will find out the poor's part in the cor- 
 ners and gleanings of the profits of their trades 
 and merchandizings, as well as the old IfraeHte 
 did in the corners and gleanings of his field ; 
 " and in the diflribution of it, will have a re- 
 gard to comfort the bowels of fuch v/ho are 
 by the divine providence of God put out of 
 a capacity of enjoying thofe outward comforts 
 " of health and ftrength, and plenty which 
 *' others do enjoy ; for while they are partakers 
 of the fame faith, and walk in the way of 
 righteoufnefs with you, they are of your 
 houfhold and unde^ your care, both to vifit, 
 *' and to relieve as members of one body, of 
 
 *' which 
 
 cc 
 
 ii 
 (.1 
 ii 
 
 Li 
 
 a 
 
 it 
 a 

 
 ii 
 
 
 192 H I S T- O H Y o F T n E 
 
 CHAP." which Chrift jefus Is head, and he that 
 y^^' " giveth to Inch poor lendeth to the Lord and 
 .^r " he Yvill repay it. 
 
 1666. .. ^ , ^ '. ir r 1 1 
 
 But there is anotner lort or poor, who make 
 themielves poor through their lloth and care- 
 leilneis, and fomctimcs by their wih^ulnefs ; 
 " being heady and high-minded, and taking 
 *' things in hand that are more than they can 
 " manage, and make a flouriih for a feafon, 
 and through their own neglects are plunged 
 down into great poverty ; tliefe are a fort the 
 primitive churches began to be troubled with- 
 al in the early days of the gofpel ; for the 
 " apoftle took notice of fome that would not 
 work at ail, and fharply reproved them, and 
 faid. They that would not work Jljould not eat : 
 and thefe are commonly a fort of bufy-bodies, 
 " and meddlers vvith others matters, while they 
 negleft their ov/n, and run into a worfe way 
 than unbelievers, while they profefs to be be- 
 " lievers, yet do not take due care for thofe of 
 " their own houfhold. 
 
 " The charity that is proper to fuch, is to 
 " give them admonition and reproof, and to 
 " convince them of their lloth and negligence ; 
 " and if thev fubmit to your reproof, and are 
 '' willing to amend, then care ought to be taken 
 " to help them into a way to fupport themfelves ; 
 " and fometimes by a little care of this kind, 
 " fome have been reclaimed : but if they will 
 " not receive your counfel and admonition, but 
 " kick agalnil it either in their words or actions, 
 " friends will be clear of fuch in the fight of 
 God ; for it is unreafonable in them to expetl 
 you fhould feed them, who will not be ad- 
 " vifed by you, becaufe they diiuilve the obliga- 
 ** tion ol fociety by their diforderly w^alking ; 
 
 " for 
 
 
 6i 
 
 ii
 
 PEOPLE CALLED C^JJAKERS. 193 
 
 '* for our ccmmunion doth not (land only in fre- c H a p« 
 ** quenting meetings, and hearing truth preach- ^civ. 
 " ed, but in regulating the life and converfa- ^-''*"^**-' 
 " lion by the principle and fpirit of truth, and *^^6» 
 " therein both the rich and the poor have fellow- 
 *' fhip one with another. 
 
 There is another fort that are made poor by- 
 cruelty and oppreflion ; by long imprifonments, 
 and fpoiling of their goods : Thefe oppreffed 
 poor cry loud in the ears of the Almighty, and 
 he will in his own time avenge their caufe : But 
 in the mean time there is a fympathetic tender- 
 nefs to be extended towards them, not knowing 
 how foon it may be our turn ; and if there be 
 need of counfel and advice, or if any applica^ 
 tions can be made to any that are able to deliver 
 them from the oppreffors, let all that are capa- 
 ble be ready and willing to advife, relieve and 
 help the diltrefled : This is an acceptable work 
 of charitV; and a great comfort to fuch in Iharp 
 afflidions, and their fouls fliall blefs the inftru- 
 ments of their eafe and comfort. 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 Of their Method of Dealing with TranfgrefforSi 
 
 Having given a general view of the fubjefts 
 of the chriitian difcipline amongft this people, 
 I proceed to their method of dealing with fuch 
 as violate the laws of virtue and morality, and 
 the rules of this fociety founded thereupon. 
 
 In every external fociety of men there mud 
 be fome rules, principles or laws accommodated 
 to promote the ends of their confederacy, for the 
 
 VcL, II, N regulation-
 
 194 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, regulation of the members thereof, to which in 
 ^J^TL, proportion to their conforming their condudt and 
 g,g converfation, they are entitled to the benefits 
 and privileges of memberfliip in that fociety: 
 
 Rules and laws are in themfelves only a dead 
 letter. Sanctions are neceflary to make them ob- 
 ligatory. The law, faith the fcripture, was ad- 
 ded becaufe of tranfgreffion, i. e. fanctions and 
 penalties were annexed to prevent tranfgreffion, 
 or declare how the tranfgrelfors are to be treated, 
 more or leis of which are in every fociety. 
 
 In civil fociety, laws for the prefervation of 
 peace and property are efhabliihed by human 
 policy with temporal coercion, confifcation, or 
 corporal penalties, the fame principle miftakenly 
 applying thefe penalties to tranfgreffions in re- 
 ligious lociety, is perfecution, at this day very 
 juftly and very generally exploded. The fanc- 
 tions of the laws or rules for the government of 
 religious fociety are to be drawn from the fun- 
 damental code, the bible, efpecially the new tef- 
 tament, which re(trids the utmoft penalty meer- 
 ly to exclufion, without any temporal penalty 
 whatever. The prefcription of the higheft 
 authority was this, " If thy brother offend 
 " thee, tell him between him and thyfelf; 
 
 if he hear thee, thou haft gained thy 
 
 brother; but if he will not hear thee, take 
 " with thee one or two more, that, in the mouth 
 '* of two cr three witneffes, every word may 
 " be eftablifhed: And if he fhall negled to hear 
 " them, tell it to the church ; but if he neglect 
 " to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a 
 *' heathen man and a publican." 
 
 To 

 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 195 
 
 To this may be added the following precepts chap. 
 of the apoftle, 2 TheiT. iii. 6. " We command xiv. 
 *' you, brethren, in the name of our Lord '—■ "^^""^ 
 •' Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourfelves '^^^^' 
 " from every brother, that walketh diforderly.'* 
 And I Cor. v. 11. " I have written unto you, 
 " not to keep company, if any man, that is 
 *' called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, 
 •' or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, 
 " or an extortioner, with fuch an one, no not 
 *' to eat." Thefe rules and precepts authorize 
 and regulate the proceedings of this fociety with 
 thofe who tranfgrefs their rules. 
 
 Thefe things premifed ; I proceed to lay be- 
 fore the reader a more particular account of 
 the method of their proceedings in the words 
 of William Penn. 
 
 " It may be expelled, I fliould here fet down 
 what fort of authority is exercifed by this 
 people, upon fucli members of their fociety 
 as correfpond not in their lives with their 
 profeflion, and that are refraftory to this 
 good and wholefome order fettled among 
 them; and the rather, becaufe they have not 
 wanted their reproach and fufferings from 
 fome tongues and pens, upon this occafion, 
 in a plentiful manner. 
 
 *' The power they exercifc, is fuch as Chrift 
 has given to his own people, to the end of the 
 world, in the perfons of his difciples, viz. 
 To overfee, exhort, reprove, and after long 
 fuffering and waiting upon the difobedient and 
 refradlory, to difown them, as any longer of 
 their communion, or that they will ftand 
 charged with the behaviour of fuch tranf- 
 greilors or their converfation, as any of them, 
 
 N 2 '' until
 
 196 HISTORYo?THE 
 
 until they repent. The fubjeft matter about 
 which this authority, in any of the foregoing 
 branches of it, is exercifed, is firil in relation 
 1666. " to common and general practice. And, fe^ 
 condly, about thofe things that more (Iridly 
 refer to their own character and profeflion, 
 and which diftinguifli them from all other 
 profelfors of chrhlianity ; avoiding two ex- 
 treams upon which many fplit, viz. Perfe- 
 cution and libertinifm, that is, a coercive 
 power to whip people into the temple ; that 
 I'uch as will not conform, though againft taith_ 
 and confcisnce, Ihall be puniihed in their 
 perfons and citates : Or leaving all loofe and 
 at large, as to pradice ; and fo unaccounta- 
 ble to all but God and the magiflrate. To 
 which hurtful extream., nothing has more con- 
 tributed than the abufe of church power, by 
 fuch as fuffer their palTions and private in- 
 tereds to prevail with them, to carry it to 
 outward force and corporeal punifliment. A 
 pradice they have been taught to diflike, by 
 *• their extream fufferin^s, as well as their 
 *' known principles for an univerfal liberty or 
 " confcience. 
 
 On the other hand, they equally diflike an 
 
 independency in fociety. An unaccotintable- 
 
 nefs in pradice and converfation to the rules 
 
 and terms of their own community, and to 
 
 " thofe that are the m.embers of it. They dif- 
 
 •■' tinguilh between impofmg any pradice that 
 
 " immediately regards faith and worfliip, which 
 
 *' is never to be done or fuifered, or fubmitted 
 
 *' unto, and requiring chriftian compliance with 
 
 ." thofe methods that only refped church bufi- 
 
 *' nefs: in its more civil part and concern ; and 
 
 " that 
 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 cc 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 li 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 <c 
 cc
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 
 
 '^^ that regard the difcreet and orderly mamlc- CHAP. 
 " nance of the charafter of the fociety as a fo- ■^^^• 
 
 i 666 
 
 " ber and religious comnmniry. In fliort, what 
 " is for the promotion of holinefs and charity, 
 " that men may praclife what they profefs, live 
 " up to their own principles, and not be at li- 
 " berty to give the lie to their own profeflion 
 " without rebuke, is their ufe and limit ot 
 " church power. They compel none to them, 
 " but oblige thofe that are of theni to walk 
 " fuitably, or they are denied by them : Thar 
 " is all the mark they fet upo]i them, and the 
 " power they exercife, or judge a chrlllian fo- 
 *' ciety can exercife upon thofe that are mem- 
 " bers of it. 
 
 " The way of their proceeding agalnft fuch 
 as have lapfed or tranfgreifed, it? this : He is 
 vifited bv Ibme of them, and the matter of 
 fa6l laid home to him, be it any evil practice 
 againll known and general virtue, or any 
 branch of their particular tePdmony, which 
 he in common profelfeth with them. They 
 " labour with him in much love and zeal, for the 
 " good of his foul, the honour of God, and re- 
 *' putation of their profeflion, to own his fault 
 and condemn it, in as ample a manner as the 
 evil or fcandal was given by him ; which for 
 the moft part, is performed by fome written 
 teflimony under the party's hand : And if it 
 fo happen, that the party prove refra£lory, 
 and is not willing to clear the truth they pro- 
 fefs, from the reproach of his or her evil 
 doing or unfaithfulnefs, they after repeated 
 " entreaties and due waiting for a token of re- 
 " pentance, give forth a paper to difown fuch a 
 " lad, and the party offending : Recording the 
 
 " fame 
 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 a 
 
 cc 
 
 C(
 
 ipS H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A P. " fame as a teftlmony of their care for the ho- 
 
 XIV. «« nour of the truth they profefs. 
 ^'^^''^^ " And if he or fhe (hall clear their profefTion 
 1666. a ^j^(j themfelves, by fmcere acknowledgment 
 *' of their fault, and godly forrow for fo doing, 
 " they are received and looked upon again as 
 " members of their communion. For as God, 
 " fo his true people, upbraid no man after rc- 
 " pentance.'* 
 
 I have already obferved that the executive 
 part of the difcipline is veiled in the monthly 
 meetings : But if any perfon cenfured or dif- 
 owned be diffatisfied, or think himfelf injured 
 by the judgment of any monthly meeting, he 
 may appeal to the quarterly meeting of the 
 county or province to which the monthly meet- 
 ing belongs, where the cafe is heard generally 
 by a committee, compofed of members of all 
 the monthly meetings, except that from whofe 
 judgment the appeal is made. And if the quar- 
 terly m^eeting confirm the judgment of the 
 monthly meeting and he be ftill diifatisfied, he 
 may appeal from their judgment to the yearly 
 meeting of London, or in Ireland to the na- 
 tional half-year's meeting in Dublin, where the 
 matter is again heard by a committee, from 
 which the members of the meeting appealed 
 from are excluded. 
 
 It is further to be obferved, that in all their 
 proceedings, they endeavour to exemplify the 
 fpirit of the gofpel which is love, in earneft en- 
 treaties to reftore them, or bring them to a feeling 
 fenfe of their mifconduct, that they may expe- 
 rience a proper temper of mind to condemn it 
 honeftly and fmcerely for removing the reproach 
 occafioned thereby, and when this is the cafe, 
 
 fuch
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 199 
 
 fuch condemnation is frequently accepted, and chap. 
 publifhed inftead of a paper of denial, as before ^i"^* 
 obferved by William Penn. And when they ' — '■^"^ 
 find it neceffary to publifh a teftimony of dif- ^*^^^' 
 unity, it contains no tincture of the fpirit of the 
 excommunications of the Romiih hierarchy, no- 
 thing like an anathema or curfe ; but in the pure 
 fpirit of chriftianity is concluded with an earned 
 defire or prayer, that they may timely come to a 
 feeling fenfe of their mifcondudl, and be favour- 
 ed with repentance unto falvation. 
 
 C H
 
 :oo 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Violent Proceedings of William Armour cr in Berk^ 
 Jhire. — Abingdon SeJJion. — Thomas Curtis^s 
 •whole Family in Prifon. — Trial of fifty Pri- 
 foners. — The fury bring them in not guilty. — 
 So7ne of the Prifoners remanded^ and the Oath 
 tendered, — The Oath tendered to Anne Curtis, 
 •who remonflrates againft it. — Twenty premu- 
 7iired, and two fentenced to banifhment. — Trial 
 of Jofeph Phipps on the Acl for Ba?iiJJwient. — 
 Perfecution in NorthamptonJJjire. 
 
 c HA P. During the rebuilding of London after the 
 K^,......,^^ fire, the heat of perfecution abated for a feafon, 
 
 not only in the city, but through the nation in ge- 
 neral : Yet in fome parts it was kept alive in the 
 breads of fome magiflrates, who ftill continued 
 to harrafs the members of this fociety with per- 
 fevering violence and rigorous treatment. 
 Violent In Berkfhire in particular, they had been grlc- 
 
 orwiUiam voufly pcrfecutcd and grofsly abufed for a feries 
 Armourer of time from the year ioG'},, principally through 
 Sife"^' the antipathy of William Armourer, a juftice of 
 peace, and a man of a violent turn of mind ; 
 his implacability to them inftigated him to ex- 
 S663. tend the perfecuting laws of this reign to their 
 utmoft feverity, and in cruelty of execution to 
 exceed the bounds of the law, in endeavours to 
 
 efFea
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. i 
 
 •effe^l the ruin of his quiet and peaceable neigh- CH A 
 bours, who had done him no wron-:;'. 
 
 From a meeting at Thomas Curtis's at Read- 
 ing, the 27th of the month called March, 1664, ^^*^- 
 having fent thirty-four men 10 the county jail 
 for being at an unlawful nlTembiy, he came 
 again that day week, and finding only two mem 
 there, Robert Paine and John Boult, he com- 
 mitted them to prifon after the reft. 
 
 He continued to vifit their meetings from 
 time to time, till he had imprifoned mod or all 
 the men, and then he proceeded to impiifon the 
 women alio. And afterv/ards coming with his 
 ufual rage, and finding only a few children and 
 young maidens in the meeting, he ftruck one of 
 them with his ftaff, ordered them to be pulled 
 out, and threatened to fend them to pvifon, if 
 they fhould come thither any more. 
 
 At the quarter-fefiions at Abingdon, the pri-A^^.-r-'Ts 
 foners were called to the bar; but inilead of ,a'^"'°-'- 
 legal trial, upon the caufc of their commitment, 
 the acculfomed fnare was reforted to, the tender 
 of the oath of allegiance : The firll:, who was 
 called, was James Whiteheart, who, coming with 
 his hat on, was by the angry julHces ordered to 
 be taken awav, without beincr cuelbioiied, whe- 
 ther he would take the oath or not. 
 
 The next was Henry Pizeing, not a Quaker, iTmrv 
 who coming to tlie bar, with his hat otl', and ou;&?''^^ 
 bowing, the judge, Thomas Holt, faid, " Here's "^ 
 *' a man has fome manners," and afked him, 
 whether he would take the oath of allegiance ? 
 to which he replied, " I have taken it already.*' 
 But, faid the judge, " you were no Quaker 
 *' then." Henry replied, " neither am I now, 
 f but have been manv weeks among- them, and 
 
 '' I nevti^
 
 202 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP." I never faw an}' hurt by them ; but they are 
 XV. " an honefl civil people." Upon which Ar- 
 
 '*-'"^''"*-^ " mourer ftood up and faid, " Why did you 
 1664. ti j^Qj ^gij j^g Iq before ? Henry anfwered, 
 
 " Your worfliip vi^as fo wrathful, that you would 
 " not hear me." The oath being then tender- 
 ed, he took it, and was difcharged. 
 
 Several c^her prifoners being called and inter- 
 rogated in like manner, anfwered, they were 
 not committed on account of the oath, but for 
 being at a meeting. But the oath being infift- 
 ed upon, Thomas Curtis . informed the court, 
 that he did not refufe the oath, through any de- 
 fault of aUcgia?ice to the king, but becaufe Chrifi 
 commanded, not to fwear at all ; that he had 
 approved himfelf a faithful fubje^t to the king, 
 and would take that oath as foon as any ; and 
 therefore defired the court to dire6t one of their 
 minifhers to inform him from, fcripture how he 
 might take it, and not break the command of 
 Chrift. Upon this a prieft fitting by was defir- 
 ed to fatisfy Thomas in that point : But being 
 cautious of entering into debate upon a fubjeft, 
 wherein he might doubt the validity of his ar- 
 gumentation, he put it off, under the pretence 
 that they were an obfiinate people and 7iot to be 
 fatisfed. At length Armourer ordered them to 
 be taken away, laying, / know they will not take 
 it; although many of them did not refufe it. 
 Thomas Thomas Curtis, againft whom, and his wife 
 
 pedbyAr- Annc (whofc father it hath been remarked, loft 
 riiourer j^jg j^f^ £qj. ]^-g f^^elitv to the king) Armourer 
 
 Irom going , i , . , 
 
 toBriftoi bore a particular ill-will, having obtained liberty 
 from the fl-jeriff, whofe prifoner he was, to at- 
 tend Briftol fair on his trading concerns, this 
 Armourer hearing of it, fent for him to an inn, 
 
 and
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 203 
 
 and addreffing himfelf to him, faid, " I hear chap. 
 " you are going to Briftol fair, but 1 will ftop ^^^^^^^^^ 
 " your journey :" And by arbitrary compulfion, ^^^ 
 without legal authority, removed him out of the 
 fheriff's cuftody to the town prifon of Read- 
 ing. 
 
 Having gratified his malice fo far as to have 
 Thomas Curtis and his wife both Ihut up in pri- 
 fon, Thomas's trade and houfe were under the 
 care of a man and maid fervant, whom he 
 threatened alfo to fend to jail, and nailed up the 
 doors, to prevent any more meetings to beheld 
 there. Soon after he fent his warrant to take 
 the man fervant, to v;hom, when brought before 
 him and the mayor, they tendered the oath of 
 allegiance, and upon his declining it, committed 
 him alfo to prifon ; but could not accomplifh 
 their defign of preventing the continuance ot 
 meetings there. Some time after he committed Thomas 
 the maid fervant to the houfe of correftion for*^""'''^ 
 forty-eight hours. At which tune tne whole la- miiy m pri- 
 mily were m pnlon. 
 
 It is really aftonifhing to fee what lengths, 
 party refentments will carry men pretending to 
 rationality and chriflianity, in oppofition to the 
 plained principles of reafon and equity ; and the 
 unjuft ufe made of this oath of allegiance, not , 
 to fecure government againll danger ; but ineerly 
 to bring innocent people under the lafli of a 
 law never intended againfl them ; and for their 
 being fubjefted to the fevere penalties of it, tho* 
 they had given no jufl occafion. It feems mani- 
 feft that Armourer, in defiance of every fenti- 
 ment of juftice and humanity, aimed at the ruin 
 of this couple as to their outward circumftan- 
 ces, by thus obliging them to fluit up their Hiop, 
 
 and
 
 204 
 
 HISTORY o? THE 
 
 CHAP, and difabling them from carrying on their bu- 
 
 3CV. fmefs, while thus pent up in prifon ; perverting 
 
 ^-^^r"^ law and government, to the deftruftion of pro- 
 
 1664. perty, which ought to be direfted to the fecu- 
 
 rity of it. 
 
 Whilft Thomas Curtis, his wife and man 
 fervant were in prifon, Armourer fent his man 
 to enquire if there were any in the houfe befide 
 the family, and the maid informing him there 
 were not, he came in perfon a little after, and 
 knocked at the door, which the maid, being in 
 fear, was not forward to open. Armourer then 
 drawing an inflrument from his pocket, picked 
 the lock, entered the houfe, and fearching it 
 ^™T'^7 j^ from room to room, found Jofeph Cole, whofc 
 coieoutof dwelling was there, and who was confined by 
 Curtb\ indifpofition. Armourer taking him by the arm, 
 and fends and dragging him down flairs, aficed him, if he 
 houVro?^ ivould take the oath of allegiance^ which he refuf- 
 correaion. 'mcr was fcnt to the houfe of correction. From 
 the prifon the faid Jofeph v/rote a letter to the 
 juftices exhorting them to the fear of God, to 
 righteoufnefs, jultice and a temperate confidera- 
 tion of their proceedings towards their neigh- 
 bours, how inadequate their imputed offences 
 were to the feverity of the punifhments infiicled 
 upon them, in terms conceived in the meeknefs 
 of wifdom, and arguments founded in right rea- 
 fon : But thefe intemperate magiftrates were not 
 to be diverted by reafon or argument, from their 
 determined purpofe to profecute the Quakers even 
 to their ruin. This honeft man was kept 
 in prifon till his death, which happened in 
 167c. 
 
 At
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 205 
 
 At the quarter-lellions held at Reading the lat- c n a v. 
 ter end of the year 1664, about fifty prifoners xv. 
 were brought to the bar, and an indictment read ^— v-«-^ 
 againft them for wilfully refufing the oath, to '^^^4« 
 which at Newbury feflions they had pleaded not litty pri- 
 guilty. The evidences were Sir William Ar-^^-''"*- 
 mourer and the clerk of the peace, who fwore 
 that the oath had been tendered, and read to 
 them at lafl Abingdon feflions. The council for 
 the king infilled much on the credit of the wit- 
 nelTes, telling the jury, ibey nmji either bring in 
 the prifoners guiliv, or they luould make Sir IVil- 
 liajH Armourer and the clerk as -perjured perjons. 
 Neverthelefs the jury on flritl: enquiry, perceiving 
 that the tender of the oath was irregular, and 
 the clerk acknowledging he could not tell whe- 
 ther it was read before or after thev were called 
 over, brought in their verdicl, not guilty. Upon rhr jury 
 which the court broke up, and many of the pri-V".'K'" 
 foners being difcharged by the jury, went away. dic> not 
 But Armourer and lome others flaying behind, 2"'^^^" 
 ordered the jailer to call back the Quakers. 
 Thomas Curtis, George I.amhold and their wives 
 with three others appeared, tlie reit being gone 
 away. 
 
 To thefe they proceeded to tender tlie oath s...nc or*'.-. 
 afrefli ; whereupon Thomas Curtis remarked itP'"'^'"^'^'^'^- 
 was not the part ot men or honour, to endea-urdtiicodth 
 vour to enhiare thofe whom the jury have clear- 1'"'^"^'^"' 
 ed ; but fuch proceedings will appear as blots in 
 your efcutcheons : We do believe you aim to 
 enfnare us, and it is our eflates you are feeking 
 after. It is well if fome of you have not begged 
 them already. George Lambold being next re- 
 quired to take the oath, anfwered, as to the 
 oath of obedience, be could promife very much 
 
 and 
 
 , a'ja.n.
 
 
 206 H I S T O R Y OF THE ^ 
 
 CHAP, and flioulcl keep his promife. Not content with 
 
 ^^- adminiflring the oath to the men, they proceed- 
 
 , ed to do the fame to their wives, to which Anne 
 
 The oath Curtis remonllrated, that it was a very hard 
 
 tendered to cafc, fhc fliould be required to take the oath, 
 
 tis, who re- being under covert, " and my hufband here a 
 
 -'SSik" " ^ fufFerer for the very fame thing" " for,'* 
 
 added (he, " there is no other woman in Eng- 
 
 " land under covert (that I have heard of) who 
 
 is required to take that oath, and kept in 
 
 prifon on that account." But Armourer in 
 
 a paffionate vulgarifm, cried out, " hold your 
 
 " tongue, Nan, and turn your back." And 
 
 fo (he with the reft was fent back to prifon. 
 
 Thus the arbitrary magiftrates of this reign 
 broke every barrier of the conftitution to wreak 
 their vengeance on a harmlefs body of men. We 
 have feen juries overawed and menaced, their 
 verdicts refufed, themfelves bound over to the 
 King's Bench, and here their verdict made of 
 none effect; by contriving to remand to prifon 
 the perfons whom they had juft acquitted : What 
 availed this boaft of the Englifhman's privilege, 
 while he could be alternately imprifoned and 
 tried, tried and imprifoned on new created of- 
 fences, until a jury could be found to con- 
 demn him. 
 
 By the time of the fucceeding feffion at 
 
 166'-. Newbury, Armourer had got in prifon again a 
 
 confiderable number of thofe who were releafed 
 
 at lait feifions, and at that tim.e efcaped his 
 
 hands : The prifoners to the number of twenty- 
 
 prcmunired '^^'^ Were Continued from felFions to aflizes, and 
 
 and two from afijzes to feilions unt'l near the end of the 
 
 !^^"ban;flf. year, when at the fefli' •] at Reading twenty 
 
 nr.eut. were condemned in pr-jniunire, and remanded 
 
 to
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 207 
 
 to prifon, and two women convicted of meeting; chap. 
 the third time were fentenced to be tranfported ,^_^____^ 
 to Barbadoes. 
 
 Such a fpecimen of premunire by wholcfale 
 feems to confirm Thomas Curtis's obfervation, i665. 
 that it was their eflates they wanted ; and him- 
 felf, as one poffefled of the greateft property was 
 not paffed by. For on the 19th of the month 
 called June, this year, John Witham under-fhe- 
 ritf, and Thomas Rofsjthe Duke of Monmouth's 
 tutor, came to the jail and told Thomas Curtis E'Tc^'^s of 
 and George Lambold they had a warrant from curds^nd 
 the king to feize their eflates. They feized their George 
 books, papers and writings, and one hundred f^^^^'j^' 
 and fifty pounds in money of Thomas Curtis's ; 
 then they went to their houfes, and took an in- 
 ventory of what they could find, but on their 
 promife to be anfwerable for the goods, they did 
 not remove them. 
 
 Anne Curtis and Sarah Lambold were broucfht Further :■.(;- 
 to the felfions at Newbury, but their trial was "^^mourer's 
 put otf. However Armourer their profefled violent pro- 
 adverfary not being prefent, the juilices granted '^''" '"^'' 
 them their liberty, upon pvomlfe of appearing 
 at the next feiiions. This difpienfed Armourer, 
 who prefently fent the jailer's m.an to fetch them 
 to prifon again : The man told him tliat the juf- 
 tices had given them liberty until the next ief- 
 fions : To which Armourer replied, " What 
 " have the juilices to do with my prifoners?'* 
 and threatened to lay the man by the heels if he 
 did not obey his orders : So he fetched Sarah 
 Lambold back to prifon ; but Anne Curtis being 
 gone to ErifLoi, was for the prefent out of his 
 reach. 
 
 But
 
 j666.. 
 
 aoJJ. ' n f S T O R Y oi -r hi. 
 
 c K A P. {5m ^jj^ ^\^^. f^,^^. j-iy Ij,^.,- huiijiind's eficttj; 
 ^^'' were ruizetl us above rclalccJ, 11 ic was by Ar-- 
 moLirei's warrant carried again to prilon, where 
 atier Ihc had been detained about two months, 
 at the interceHion of ilic f)crlons, who had the' 
 charj'X' of her liulband's edate, who it is hkely 
 juigcd it too unreaionaljlc even in I his unrea- 
 Ibnable ai;e to })retniniire the hvdbiind, and hn- 
 prilon the wife at the fame lime, for tlie lame 
 nfrcacc ; Ihe was fet at hl)crly by a thieliarge un- 
 der Armourer's hand and leal; mjtwitiiltandiiijj 
 which he lometime alter remandcil hi r to pri- 
 lon upon her lormer commitment, at a time 
 ■when I'le was confined to her cliamber throuj^h 
 indilpoliiion. Acting thus arbitrarily, without 
 tear 1)1 controul. 
 
 l>iil to recite the wiiole catalogue of this man's 
 cruellies in violation ot jullice, at law, ot hu- 
 manity, and ol a good coiifcience wu)uld draw 
 me into a tedious detail ; lo I fhall (Jidy jull, 
 touch upon lome other indances ol his rude 
 and indecent behaviour. He ihreateiied to gagg 
 a priibner lor Ipeaklng in his own defence. He 
 lent youu''; girls to the houfe ol coiredion, 
 \.liere they lay a long tin^e. He came to a meet- 
 ing, and finding oidy lour young maids there, 
 he lent for water, which he threw wfth great vio- 
 lence in I heir laces until one ol them was almoll 
 lullocated, and then turned them wet out ot the 
 meeting. On another occallon the profanenels 
 and oblcenity of his langua;;e was luch as de- 
 cency recoils at. liy his wonls and adions 
 proving himielf ill ciualifieil to fupport the dig- 
 nitv ajul repute of his flaiion, as luch conduft 
 would dilgrace an ollice muc h iiderior to that 
 of a julticc of the peace. To Anne Curtis he 
 
 Lore
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 209 
 
 bore a pcculiLir animofity, becaufe being a wo- c it a p. 
 man of good fenlc, Ihc was qualified to make xv. 
 i'ome pertinent obfervations on the impropriety ^ — -- ^ 
 of his conduft. '^'^^^ 
 
 But before I leave this county, as a further Trial of 
 illuitration of the lawlefs proceetlings of this };jJ|j||J',^„ 
 man and his affociates, I lliall take notice of 'i"- ^'^i '-■■ 
 another trial at their fedions at Reading on the 
 16th of tlie month called January this year. 
 It was that of Jofeph Phijiiis for the third of- 
 fence on the ad of baniflmient. A Quaker who 
 had been ju(l before tried was arquittetl ; where- 
 upon the court difmilfed the jury and impannei- 
 ed another. Armourer's direction to the baililfs 
 being go out and pick a jury, you knozu there are 
 honeji men enough in the town, one of the bai- 
 liffs anfwered, Tes, Sir Willia?ii, Vll fit you. Ano- 
 ther jury being fworn, Jofeph was fet to the bar, 
 and having pleaded not guilty, he infilled there 
 were not five perfons of fixteen years of age at 
 the meeting, and therefore he was not within 
 the ati. Julv^rard Dolby anfwered, if there were 
 but one of that age, yet if there were five pre- 
 fent, he would lend that one to prifon as a 
 breaker of the law ; for though the relt were 
 not punifhable by the att, yet they would ferve 
 to make up the number. 'Phis unequal confhuc- 
 llon of the law was prefied upon the jury ; as 
 was alfo the confeilion of the prifoners, that they 
 were met to feek the Lord. And when one of 
 them allied whether to feek the Lord was a 
 crime worthy of baniOirnent ? the judge an- 
 fwered, yes. 'ihe jury went our but could not 
 agree: Such as favoured the prifoners caufe were 
 threatened ; and they were ordered 10 be kept 
 up all night without fire or candle. Next morn- 
 VoL. ib O ing
 
 2IO H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, ing the court fat again, and fcnt to know whe- 
 ^^- ther they were agreed; one of them faid, / am 
 ^gg not fatisjied : Yet the Foreman faid guilty, al- 
 though four of the jury had not agreed to the 
 verdift : However the judge pafied fentence on 
 Phipps, that he Ihould be tranfported to fome of 
 his Majefty's plantations, there to remain feven 
 years ; under which fentence he was returned to 
 prifon, and lay there until difcharged by the 
 King's letters patent, about fix years after, 
 rerfecution In Northamptonfiiire alfo, perfecution was 
 thamp'ton- Carried on without relaxation through this and 
 flnre. jj^e fuccceding year. Several were tried on the 
 a£t of banifliment, of whom four were fentenced 
 to tranfportation. One William Smith, fore- 
 man of the jury, was a very aftive man in their 
 conviclion, and exerted his influence over the 
 other jurors to join with him in bringing them 
 in guilty, to difplay his zeal in forcing a con- 
 formity to the liturgy of the church of Eng- 
 land, when now the church of England had the 
 upper hand : having been equally zealous a- 
 gainft: it in Oliver Cromwell's days, and equally 
 forward to promote perfecution. 
 
 Imprifonments were frequent and numerous. 
 At one time a conftable came with a rabble of 
 afliftants to a meeting at the houfe of John 
 Mackernefs in Find on, took about forty of the 
 perfons alfembled, detained them in an alehoufe 
 all night ; and next day conveyed them like cri- 
 minals in a cart and waggon to juftice Yelver- 
 ton's, who in conjunclion with another jullice 
 fined them forty fhillings, and for non-payment 
 fent them to the county jail for fix weeks. Ano- 
 ther time fifteen men and* ten women were car- 
 ried before the fame juftice Yelverton, who 
 
 figned
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 211 
 
 figned a mittimus for committing ten of the men chap, 
 to prifon ; but another juflice's hand being ne- ^_JJI^ 
 ceflary, he direded his clerk to carry it to juf- ^^^^ 
 tice Ward. The ten men were again put into 
 the cart, and conveyed with the mittimus to the 
 faid juftice, but he refufed to fign it, and no 
 other juftice was found willing to do it, nor 
 could the jailer legally receive them without the 
 fignature of two jultices. So the prifoncrs, after 
 being thus driven from juftice to juftice, were 
 permitted to return home. But fome time after 
 fix of them were taken by another warrant, and 
 fent to jail ; three of whom were afterwards 
 fentenced to tranfportation. The number of 
 perfons of this perfuafion at one time under clofe 
 confinement in the county jail were more than 
 four fcore, of whom many were hufbandmen, 
 locked up from their bufmefs both in hay time 
 and harveft, to their great lofs and detriment. 
 
 O 2 CHAP.
 
 21% H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 C H A P. XVI. 
 
 mUinm Pemis Birth and Education. — At the 
 College he is partly convinced. — His Father in 
 Refentment barajhes him from his Houfe. — Sends 
 him to France. — He goes to Ireland. — Where he 
 is thoroughly convi?iced by the Minijiry of Tho- 
 mas Loe. — His Father endeavours to bring him 
 off from joining ivith Friends. — Banij}:>ed from 
 his Father's Hovfe a fecond Time. — Called to 
 the Work of the Miyiijlry. — Robert Barclay's 
 Birth and Education. — Convinced of the Prin- 
 ciples of the People called Sljjakers. — He re- 
 ceives a Gift in the Minijiry. — Roger Haydock 
 convinced. — Miles Halhead taken up in Devon- 
 fbire. — Death and CharaSler of Richard Farnf- 
 worth. — Further Infiances of Armourer s rude 
 and arbitrary Proceedings. — JJnjuft Verdict. 
 
 c H A P. INJ ti^iis year and the next, two members emi- 
 ■^^^* nent for their virtue and piety, as well as for 
 'yT''^ their natural abilities, were added to this fociety, 
 viz. William Penn. and Robert Barclay, who 
 for their very great ufefulnefs and fervices there- 
 in claim a particular attention. 
 William William Penn was born in the city of Lon- 
 
 LirthaU ^^on? 24^'' of 8™°. 1644. His father of the 
 education, fame name, a man of a good ellate and reputa- 
 tion, in the time of the Commonwealth had 
 filled fome of the highefl ftations in the navy, 
 
 viz-
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 213 
 
 viz. thofe of Rere Admiral, Vice Admiral, Ad- c h a p. 
 miral of Ireland and Vice Admiral of England, ^_J^^^^ 
 with honour and fidelity. He. retained his pod ^^^_^ 
 after the Reftoration, was knighted by Charles il. 
 and was peculiarly diftinguiihed as a favourite 
 by the Duke of York. His father's affectionate 
 attention, and the promifmg profped he enters, 
 tained of his fon's advancement, procured him a 
 liberal education ; and by the acutenefs of his 
 genius and diligent application to his ftudies,. 
 he made fuch proficiency in learning, that about 
 the fifteenth year of his age he was entered a 
 ftudent in that called Chril? Church College in. 
 Oxford. ..,. .,, 
 
 Some time after his removal to' the college, atAtthcCoi- 
 a meeting of the people called (fakers, thro ugh J^'^^^JjJj''^,"^^ 
 the reaching miniilry of Thomas Loe, he receiv- vinccd. 
 ed fome relifh of pure and fpiritual religion,; 
 and was impreffed with an ardent defire after the 
 experimental attainment thereof. In confe- 
 (^uence, he, with certain other ftudeuts of that 
 univerfity, withdrawing from the public worfiiip, 
 held private meetings for tiie exercife of reii-. 
 gion, where they boih preached and prayed a-' 
 mong themfeives. This gave great oiience to 
 the heads of the college, and he, at fixteen 
 years of age, v/as fined for non-conformity ; 
 but this punifhment not abating the fervour of 
 his zeal, he was at length, for continuing in 
 the like religious exercifes, expelled the coU 
 lege. 
 
 From thence he returned home ; but ftill took: 
 great delight in the company of fober and reli- 
 gious people, from whom his father fearing he 
 might contrad a turn of mind little accomm^)- 
 dated to advance him to that preferment in the 
 
 (late.
 
 114 
 
 CHAP 
 XVI. 
 
 1667. 
 
 His father 
 in refcnt- 
 mcnt ba- 
 r.iflie? him 
 from his 
 houfe. 
 
 Sends him 
 to France, 
 
 ■whence he 
 returns an 
 2ccompIifh- 
 ed gentle- 
 man. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 (late, which he fondly flattered himfelf, his inter- 
 eft might procure him, he endeavoured, both 
 by words and blows to deter him therefrom ; 
 but finding thofe methods ineffectual, he was at 
 laft fo incenfedj that he turned him out of 
 doors. 
 
 Patience furmounted this difficulty, until his 
 father's alfeQion fubdued his anger ; who then 
 fent him to France, in company with fome 
 perfons of quality, that were taking a tour thi- 
 ther. He continued there a confiderable time, 
 until his converfation amongft that gay and vo- 
 latile people diverted his mind from the ferious 
 thoughts of religion. At his return, his father 
 finding him not only a good prolicient in the 
 French language, but polite and courtly in his 
 behaviour, flattering himfelf with the fuccefs of 
 his fcheme, as having gained his point, welcom- 
 ed him with a joyful reception. 
 
 For fome time after his return from France 
 his genteel and complaifant behaviour procured 
 him the character of an accomplifhed young gen- 
 tleman, and of confequence the eftimation and 
 good opinion of his acquaintances, and the world 
 around him : but amidft the carelTes and flatteries 
 of men, he found a difturber of his fatisfa£tion 
 therein, within his own bofom, reminding of 
 his former ferioufnefs and good refolutions ; of 
 a ftate of futurity, and the certainty of a day 
 of ftri£t account : And although guilty of no- 
 thing, which the world terms criminal, yet by 
 the light, with which his mind was illuminated, 
 he was fenfible he had loft ground, as to the at- 
 tainment of that inward purity of heart, in 
 which he had feen the fubftance of religion to 
 confift j and was renewed into an earneft defire 
 
 of
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 215 
 
 of regaining what he had loft, and applying his c 11 a p. 
 mind to the purfuit of pure religion, as the fame yj^jl, 
 had been manifefted by the divine light to his ^^. 
 underftanding. But in directing his attention 
 this way, he fuffered a painful fpiritual conflidl : 
 His natural inclination, his lively and adive dif- 
 pofition, his acquired accomplifhments, his fa- 
 ther's favour, the refpeiSt of his friends and ac- 
 quaintance, w^ere fo many flrong incentives to 
 embrace the glory and pleafures of this world, 
 then even courting his acceptance; and moun- 
 tains of oppofition in his way to adopt that pure 
 religion, which might endanger his relinquiili- 
 ing them all. Mountains of this magnitude 
 might feem almoft infurmountable ; but the ear- 
 neft fupplication of his foul being to the Lord 
 for prefervation in the way of duty to him, he 
 was pleafed to grant him fuch a portion oi his 
 grace and good fpirit, as enabled him in due 
 time to overcome all oppofition, in a holy refo- 
 lution to follow Chrift, whatlbever reproaches or 
 perfecutions might attend him. 
 
 In the courfe of the vear 1666 his fa-po«toirc- 
 ther having committed to his care and manage- " 
 ment a confidcrable eftate he had in Ireland, he 
 Vv^ent over to that kingdom, and being in the 
 city of Cork, he was informed that Thomas 
 Loe was likely to be at a meeting there : he 
 went to hear him : who began his public tefti- 
 monv in thefe words, Tbcre is a faith tbat"!"^-^^^ ^^, 
 
 , , , , . j--^. , f . istbororgh- 
 
 overcomes the world, and there is a jaitb that is ly toiivmc- 
 overcome by the world; upon which fubject ^e ^^^.^^yj''^^^ 
 enlarged with great clearnefs and energy : And Thongs 
 by the reaching powerful tedimony of this man ^°^- 
 (whofe miniltry had made profitable impreifion 
 upon him feveral years before) he was fo tho- 
 roughly
 
 210 
 
 6 HISTORY OFTHE 
 
 CHAP roughly reached and convinced, that from this 
 ■^^^ time he joined the fociety of the Quakers, and 
 
 1667. 
 
 conflantly attended their meetings through all 
 
 the heat of perfecution. 
 HU father {^ ^^y^s Hot loDfT bcfore his father was inform- 
 tobrinsr ed by a nobleman or ins acqu.imtance, what 
 him off dancrer his fon was in of being profelyted to 
 
 from join- ^'?.r , 1 iiu'i 
 
 ingwith Quaivenun, whereupon he remanced Inni home: 
 fnends. ^p,| although there was no great alteration in 
 his drefs, yet the ferioufnefs of his deportment, 
 and the folid concern of mind he appeared to be 
 under, were manifefl indications of the truth of- 
 the information his father had received, who 
 thereupon renewed his efforts to bring him off 
 from a way of thinking and condud, wh"ch 
 would difappoint all his fanguine hopes, and 
 bailie his fond fchemes of feeing him advanced 
 at court. But his efforts proved in vain ; for al- 
 though his fon felt all the force of natural affec- 
 tion and filial duty, and would have been far 
 from ofi'ending him in any cafe, wherein the 
 peace of his confcience was not concerned ; yet 
 in this cafe he durft not comply with the requifi- 
 tion of his eaithly father, to difobey, as he 
 thought, the requirings of his heavenly fa- 
 ther. 
 
 At length, after much ftrivinfr with him, find- 
 jng him too firmly fixed in thefe principles to 
 be brought to a general compliance with the cuf- 
 tomary complinients of the tinies, his father 
 feemed inclinable to have borne with him in other 
 refpe»^s, provided he would appear uncovered 
 in the prefence of the king, the duke and him- 
 felf, which being propofed to him, he defired 
 time to confider of it, and retiring to his cham- 
 ber, humbled him.felf with falling and fupplica- 
 
 tioii
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 217 
 
 tion to receive divine diredion, and was fo c h a p. 
 flrengtliened in his mind, that, returning to v^_^^^^^ 
 his father, he humbly fiL^nified that he could not ^^^ 
 comply with his defire therein. 
 
 When all endeavours proved ineffectual, and pan'flj_e'i 
 his father lound hnnlelt utterly dnappointea or father'* 
 his hopes, he could no lon.rer enduie him in his^°"'\-'''-" 
 
 * r t -iri *-*-*^'^ time 
 
 fight, but turned him out of doors the lecond 
 time, whereby he was expofed to the charity of 
 his friends, having no other fubfiftence, except 
 v.'hat his mother privately fent him. Thus he 
 endured the crofs with chiiilian patience and 
 magnanimity, and evinced the hncerlty of liis 
 converfion, by a voluntary relinquiihing of every 
 tempting worldiv profpect, in order to attain 
 the favour oi Heaven and folid peace of 
 mind. 
 
 Havinp- thus bought the truth bv partlnr with <^=^"^<^ 'o 
 all for its fake, and abidincr under the enliven- oi the mL- 
 
 'b 
 
 ing influence thereof, he received qualification "'''^'■y- 
 to incite others to do likewife, being called to 
 the work of the miniitry about the twenty-fourth 
 year of his age, in which he approved himfelf 
 a workman that need not be alhamed. Nor was 
 he only eminently diflinguiflied for his qualifi- 
 cations and labours in the miniflry, but alfo for 
 his writings in defence of the principles he had 
 adopted, and for propagating religious thought- 
 fulnefs, and the pracfice of piety among man- 
 kind in general, which being collected, compofe 
 two volumes in folio. 
 
 Robert Barclay was exempted from the fevere Robert Bar- 
 obftruclions and difcouragements which flood in a,fjeduca- 
 the way of William Penn's embracing this pro- tiou. 
 feffion, his father having adopted it before him. 
 He alfo was well defcended, and had received 
 
 the.
 
 2l8 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, the advantage of a good education. He was the fon 
 XVI. of colonel David Barclay of Ury near Aberdeen, 
 
 ^^-'^^''■"'^ delcended from the Barclays of Mathers in the 
 1667. kingdom of Scotland, an ancient and honour- 
 
 teiiimony. able family among men, and of Catharine Gor- 
 don, of the houfe of the duke of Gordon. Yet 
 it was not from his defcent he received his prin- 
 cipal honour, and the degree of eflimation he 
 attained both within the fociety and without ; 
 but from his perfonal merit and inherent good 
 quahties. His native city was Edinburgh, be- 
 ing born there in 1648, and in his infancy he 
 was educated among; the Calvinifts in his own 
 country ; but being early removed from thence, 
 for the fake of an opportunity of a more exten- 
 five education under the tuition of his uncle, 
 who was prefident of the Scotch college at Paris, 
 whtire the learning common to our fchools and 
 univerfities was taught, he attained a proficiency 
 in the French language as well as the Latin, with 
 other branches of literature. 
 
 The Papifts, taking advantage of the immatu- 
 rity of his judgment in his minority, endeavour- 
 ed to make a profelyte of him. Their endea- 
 vours in that tender age made fome impreiTion 
 upon him., but as his judgment ripened, he foon 
 clearly difcovered the errors of their religious 
 fyftem. He returned home about 1664, in the 
 1 6th year of his age, and during his abfence his 
 father having joined himfelf in fellowfhip with 
 the people called Quakers, by his religious con- 
 verfation and circumfpeft example, as well as 
 the converfe and conduct of others of that 
 profelTion, he was imprelfed with a perception 
 and relilh of the excellency of that reli- 
 gion, which produced fo remarkable a con- 
 fiftency of conduct in life and converfation with 
 
 the
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 219 
 
 the fpirit and precepts of the gofpel, amongfl chap. 
 
 its profeflbrs in a general way. xvi. 
 
 Under this impreffion he was induced to at- '— v--^ 
 
 tend the rehgious meetings of this people, where- 1667. 
 
 by he felt his inclination toward them lirengthen- 
 
 ed, and his convincement promoted, of which 
 
 he himfelf hath left us this account *. " It was 
 not by ftrength of argument, or by a parti- 
 cular difquifition of each doclrine, and con- 
 vincement of my underftanding, that 1 came to 
 receive and bear witnefs of the truth ; but by 
 being fecretly reached by the [principle of 
 light and life, to which they were garheredj 
 for when I came into the filent ajfemhlics 
 of God's people, I felt a fecret power 
 among them, which touched my heart, and 
 as I gave way to it, I found the evil weaken- 
 ing in me, and the good raifed up, and fo I 
 became thus knit and united unto them, 
 hungering more and more after this power 
 and life, whereby I might feel myfelf per- 
 fedly redeemed." 
 In the year 1667 he was thoroughly convinced ronvinc?(i 
 
 and made public profefiionof the principles of this cipies^orthc 
 
 i.e cal 
 
 fociety, taking up his crofs to the glory and friend- p' p' 
 fhip of the world, and deipifing the Ihame, he ef- 
 teemedthe reproach of Chrill greater riches than the 
 treafures of Egypt, manifefting to the world that 
 the contemptible name of a Quaker could not 
 deter him from following, owning and defend- 
 ing truth, wherever to be found, counting ail 
 things as drofs in comparifon of the knowledge 
 of Chriil, v/hich he intently fought after and 
 embraced as his crovv'n, and received a gift in 
 
 the 
 
 * Apology, prop. 11. §7,
 
 220 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, the miniftry as his greatefl: honour, in which he 
 yj^l^, laboured to bring others to the knowledge of 
 1667 God, and his hibour was not in vain in the 
 Re receives Lord. Bcfides his miniflerial labours, he was 
 ^^f^'j^y'^'^ much engaged in controverfy with the opponents 
 and flanderers of the fociety, chiefly his own 
 countrymen, both verbally and in writing ; for 
 which bufinefs his qualifications were remark- 
 ably eminent, being not only mailer of ufcful 
 literature, but of a clear comprehenfion, a ca- 
 pacious reach of thought, a clofe and convincing 
 manner of reafoning, delivered in a neat ftyle, 
 though plain and unatFefled ; to which adding 
 the excellency of his temper from the preva- 
 lence of religion in his mind, whereby he was 
 fo preferved in coolnefs, that pafTion (fo general 
 in controverfial writers) did not blind his judg- 
 ment, or lead him into indecent refleclion, whiifl 
 his regard to plain truth prevented him from 
 flattering error or excufmg calumny. His reach 
 of thought penetrated to the bottom of his fub- 
 ied, and pointed out clearnefs of method, and 
 the weight of his arguments proved him an over- 
 match for his antagoniils- In fhort, by means 
 of his elTays, and thofe of William. Fenn and 
 fome other cotemporary writers, as George 
 Whitehead, Thomas Elwood, Ifaac Penington, 
 &.C. Quakerifm (fo called) hitherto expofed to 
 contempt and odium, by the hideous form where-' 
 in their adverfaries (particularly the priefts of 
 various denominations) had mifreprefented and 
 expofed it to publick view, began, to put on a 
 more pleafmg appearance, and to be exhibited in 
 its native and genuine complexion, whereby the 
 candid and diipaffionate part of mankind were 
 jfeady to own it to be no abfurd combination of 
 
 wild
 
 XVI. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 221 
 
 'U'ild notions, but a regular fyflem of important, c h^ a 
 rational and practical truths. 
 
 Yet it is not from hence to be conceived that 
 they introduced any new doftrines into this fo- 
 ciety, or modelled a new fyilem of principles, 
 for thefe had been their tenets from the begin- 
 ning ; but through a candid examination of their 
 doctrine and practice, they were convinced, and 
 induced to join the fociety, amongft whom they 
 found thefe dodtrines received as articles of faith 
 and rules of pra&ice. 
 
 * About this time Roger Haydock of Lanca- Ro.o^THay- 
 (hire came over to this fociety, whofe converfi- vrncca^^ 
 on had fomething peculiar in it. His elder 
 brother John having joined their communion, 
 occafioned confiderable uneafmefs to his mother, 
 a zealous Preibvterian ; v^hen Roeer coming to 
 his father's houfe, and being reputed a learned 
 intelligent man, {he prevailed upon him to ufe 
 his endeavours to convince his brother of the 
 abfurdity of his choice, and diiTuade him from 
 perfifhing therein : he accordingly entered into 
 difcourfe with him upon the fubjeft, when John 
 gave hira fuch cogent reafons for his change, as 
 foon put him to filence ; his mother being dif- 
 pleafed that he did not hold out the argument 
 more ftoutly, he told her, // zvas truths and he 
 could not gainfay it. Being thus brought to the 
 acknowledgment of the truth, he foon came to 
 make publick profeffion thereof, and in procefs 
 of time became an eminent miniller, and a verv 
 ferviceable member of this fociety. 
 
 Miles Halhcad travelling; this year in Devon- '^'^■f ^^'^ 
 ilnre, and being taken up and brouglit before up inDo 
 the magiurates, was aflved, what buhnefs he (who ^'o"^'*«- 
 
 dwelt 
 
 * SeweL
 
 222 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, dwelt in Weftmoreland) had in Devonfiiire ? 
 
 ^^'" To which he anfwered, that he was come to 
 
 ^^ fee fome of his old friends, whom formerly 
 
 1007. - 111. 'J 
 
 about ten years ago he had acquamtance with. 
 One of the magistrates afked him what were 
 the names of his friends he meant, upon which 
 he named feveral former magiftrates of that coun- 
 ty : one of the prefent magiftrates remarked, 
 " Truly, gentlemen, though this man calls thefe 
 *' his friends, yet they have been his perfecu- 
 " tors.'* Another of the magiftrates then gave 
 him an account of the difafters which had be- 
 fallen them, and how they had loft their eftates ; 
 that one of them had been imprifoned for high 
 treafon, and was efcaped out of jail and had 
 fled the country, adding, " if thefe men were 
 " your perfecutors, you may be fure they will 
 *' trouble you no more ; for if they that perfe- 
 " cuted you have no better fortune than thefe 
 " men, I wifh that neither I nor any of my 
 " friends may have any hand in perfecuting 
 
 « you.'* 
 
 Death and In this year Richard Farnfworth laid down 
 
 RiSTafd' °^ ^^^ t)ody in the city of London. He was one 
 
 ranif- of the firft that received George Fox's teftimo- 
 
 '^°'^ ' ny, foon after his releafe from his imprifonment 
 
 at Darby, while the name of Quaker was but 
 
 juft known ; and joined him in fociety and mi- 
 
 nifterial labour, which was attended with fuch 
 
 a convincing power, that many were converted 
 
 bv him from the evil of their wavs : and he was 
 
 not only admitted to a part in the miniftry of 
 
 the gofpel with his brethren, but partook in the 
 
 fufferings to which they were expofed. About 
 
 the year 1656, walking with one of his friends 
 
 in the ftreet of Banbury, he met the mayor and 
 
 a juftice
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. -232 
 
 a julilice of peace whofe name was Allen. And chap, 
 because he did not put oli" his hat to them, Allen xvi. 
 in a paflion Itruck it off his head. They after- ^^"v-Si^ 
 wards fent for him and committed him to prifon. ^^^7- 
 Next day when their pride and paflion were a 
 little abated, they fent for him, and told him, 
 if he would pay the jailer's fees and promife to 
 go out of the town that night, he fhould have 
 his liberty : but he would promife nothing, 
 knowing that they had committed him illegally. 
 Wherefore, to cover their unlawful procedure, 
 they tendered him the oath of abjuration, and 
 his refufal furnifhed them with a pretence for his 
 recommitment to prifon, where he lay about fix 
 months. 
 
 After about fifteen years fpent in afting and 
 fuffering for thofe doctrines, he had received as 
 truth, he was taken ill in London, and a ihort 
 time before his departure o\!t of this life, gave 
 the following evidence of his full afl'urance of 
 faith, and exhortation to his friends with afFecl- 
 ing energy and (Irength of fpirit, as if he were 
 in full health. Friends, God hath been mightily 
 •with me, and fupported me at this time, and his 
 prefence and power have encompafjcd me all along ; 
 God hath appeared for the owning of my tejlimony, 
 — / am fdlcd with his love more than I am able to 
 exprefs. — God hath really appeared for its.'— 'There- 
 fore I befeech you, friends, here of the city of Lon- 
 don, whether I live or die, be yon faithful to the 
 tcfiimony which God hath committed to you. 
 
 ''The Earl of Clarendon, prime minifter to King 
 Charles, and reputed to have been a principal 
 promoter of all the feverities hitherto inflifted 
 
 on 
 
 « 
 
 '^ Rapln.
 
 214 HISTORYoFTHfe 
 
 CHAP. Oil the dilTenters, and contriver of the penal laws^ 
 ^^^^ " by raifing or exaggerating rumours of plots, 
 166- ^bout this time loll his influence, and became 
 himfelf obnoxious to popular odium and unme- 
 rited profecution : this gave the dlirenters en- 
 coarag-ement to hope for more eafe, which they 
 enjoyed for a feafon : and perhaps it may not 
 be unworthy of remark, tliat with what meafure 
 he had meted, it was meafured out to him 
 again : for he, who had- been inflrumental to 
 the imprifoning and banifhment of numbers of 
 innocent perfons for no caufe, or on trivial 
 grounds, was himfelf at lad condemned ro 
 banifnment on groundlefs or frivolous accuia- 
 tions. 
 
 In Berkfaire, Armourer continued his arbi- 
 Fiirther in- trary proceedings through this year, while per- 
 ftanccsof^ fecution fubfided in a great meafure in mofl 
 
 Armourers r^ • --, ^^ 1 
 
 rude and Other parts. C.ommg with his man to the meet- 
 pro-teHmg ^"§5 ^^^ ^^^^^ looking iu at the door and going 
 in Berk- out again, pulled the door after him, which 
 ^"^^' having a fpring lock Ihut them out. His mafter 
 finding the door faft, called for a f!edge to break 
 it open ; but one within opening it, that no 
 handle might be made thereof to throw a fufpi- 
 cion of plotting upon them, he manifested the 
 violence of his temper by faying, if it had not 
 been opened for him he would have broken it 
 open. Upon his being let in, he fent nine of 
 the perfons aflembled to prifon ; one of them, 
 Marv Coale (v/hofe hufband was under fentence 
 of premunire; he committed for fix months ; 
 three women were committed on the third of- 
 fence in order to banilliment. 
 
 At the fucceeding affizes at Abingdon, they 
 w<ere arraigned, and pleaded iiot guilty, but 
 
 their
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 22; 
 
 their trial was poftponed. Henry Adams on c H a p. 
 a like indidment was tried, but no record of ,^^^^^^ 
 his firft or fecond offence could be produced, ^^^^ 
 nor did any witnefs appear to prove a third Ui juii vcr- 
 offence, fo that the jury brought him in wo/ Jjf^^jsainft 
 guilty. This verdift being difpleafmg to the Adams. 
 court, the jury were fent back, and by Armour- 
 er's influence and menaces, who fwore that the 
 records, though loft, were true, fome of the jury 
 brought in a contrary verdict, which the reft, 
 through fear, did not oppofe. Upon which the 
 prifoner was remanded to jail ; but no fentence 
 pronounced againft him in court. When he 
 afterwards afked the jailer, ivhat order he had 
 concerning him ? His anfwer was, " Harry, thee 
 " art for tranfportation ; they have done it fmce 
 " among themfelves.'* He continued in prifon 
 five years 'till releafed with others in 1672. 
 
 Vol. IL P C H A P>
 
 225 HISTORY OS the 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Thomas Vincent^ a Prejhyfcrian Preacher, viJifies 
 Friends, who cle?7ia}ided a publick Meeting to 
 •vindicate themfei-ves. — The Meeting held, but in- 
 terrupted by the Rudenefs cf the Auditory.— 
 lVi/Iia?n Fenn appeals to the Publick in a little 
 Trad. — For which he is imprijmed in the Tower, 
 
 — Where he writes No Crofs no Crown. 
 
 Death of Thomas Loe, Jo/uih Cole, and Fran- 
 cis HozugilL — Account of Joftah Cole and Francis 
 Howgill. 
 
 Although the Quakers (fo called) were 
 freer from diilurbance by the government than 
 16687 ^*^ ^^^'■^ foregoing years, yet they met with fome 
 uneafinefs and trouble from another quarter. 
 The other focieties of DilVenters were, fome of 
 them, during the heat of perfecution, ready to 
 acknowledge the chriftian courage of this people, 
 in Handing in the gap, and bearing open tefli- 
 mony to the truth they believed in, in oppofitioii 
 to human laws ; as by this means, while the 
 weight of fuiferings fell upon them, thefe other 
 efcaped more eafdy : but as thefe other focieties 
 at bottom, bore them no good will, as foon as 
 the fufpenfion of perfecution encouraged their 
 preachers to officiate publickly, they returned to 
 promulgate their invecl:ives againft the Quakers. 
 Thomas Vincent, a Prefbytcrian preacher, lofmg 
 two of his hearers, who going to the Quakers 
 
 meetings.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 227 
 
 meetings, to fee for themfelves, whether they CHAP, 
 were fo erroneous in principle and practice, as xvii. 
 they had been reprefentcd, were convinced, and ' — v^**-' 
 joined their fociety : this i^o irritated Vincent, .. ^^'58. 
 that he indulged his paffion in a licence of ex-vim'aua 
 prelhon, not only beyond the bounds of chriftian i^reftiyte- 
 moderation, but of common decency, telling his [r^, vMes " 
 hearers, that he had as lief they would eo to a'''f rf"P'= 
 
 1 1 1 r r 1 /-v 1 called Qua<. 
 
 bawdy-houle, as to frequent the (fakers meet-kers, 
 ings, becaufe of their erroneous, damnable doc- 
 trines ; and pointing to the window faid, if there 
 fhould ftand a cup of poifon, I would rather 
 drink it, than fuck in their damnable doftrines. 
 He farther expreifed himfclf in this manner to 
 one of them, if ever you go again, I will give 
 you up, and God will give you up, that you may 
 believe a lie and be damned. 
 
 Thefe railing accufations coming to the ears 
 of fome of the people at whom they were cad, manded a 
 they demanded of him a publick meeting; to vin- P"^^''.'^'^ 
 dicate themfelves from thefe toul afperfions, or vindicate 
 give him an opportunity to prove them, if he ^^'^"^^^^^'*' 
 were able ; which, after fome demur, he agreed 
 to ; but took care to have the houfe filled be- 
 fore the hour appointed with his own hearers 
 and partifans, alfo to procure three affiftants, 
 
 Thomas Danfon, Thomas Doolittle and -— . 
 
 Maddocks. 
 
 George Whitehead and William Penn attend- 
 ed this meeting, to hear what erroneous dodrines 
 Vincent could charge the Quakers with, and 
 what proofs he could bring ; but inftead thereof The meer- 
 he took upon him the othce of a catechiil, open- '"S .''=''■' 
 ing the conference with this quellion. Whether rupted bj^ 
 they owned one Godhead in three di/tin^ and fepa- '""'^ ^^ '^^^ 
 ratepcrfons? On which fubjedt framing an in- 
 
 P 2 conclufive
 
 228 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 C H A p conclufive and unintelligible fyllogifm, after the 
 XVII. manner of argumentation then in ufe, George 
 ^--''^^^■^^ Whitehead rejected his terms as not to be found 
 1668. jj^ fcripture, nor deducible from the text he in- 
 ilanced ; wherefore he defired him to explain 
 the terms fo that they might be underftood, 
 inafmuch as God did not ufe to wrap his truths 
 in heathenifli metaphyficks, but deliver them in 
 plain language ; but they would neither keep to 
 fcripture terms, nor allow them in their antago- 
 nifts, calling George Whitehead's explanation 
 and reduftion of their matter to fcripture fenfe, 
 to fuit it to the auditors apprehenfion, an indi- 
 rect way of anfwering ; and after many rude in- 
 fults offered them by ridiculing, hiffing, fhoving 
 and (ligmatizing with opprobrious nicknames, 
 Vincent abruptly broke up the meeting by falling 
 to his prayer, wherein with an affeded tone he 
 accufed them as blafphemers ; and then to de- 
 prive them of an opportunity of clearing them- 
 felvcs, he defired the people to withdraw, giv- 
 ing them an example by retreating himfelf with 
 his three coadjutors. But fome of the people 
 flaying, they found an opportunity of vindicat- 
 ing themfelves from the inveftives of their adver- 
 faries. 
 
 They applied to Thomas Vincent for another 
 
 opportunity, but he evaded it. Wherefore Wil- 
 
 rp^ai^to" ^^^"^ P^^^^ appealed to the publick in a little 
 
 to the pub- piece, ent'nled, T/je/andy/oimdationJ/jaken, which 
 
 littie'piece, S^^^ great offence to fome powerful ecclefiafticks, 
 
 who prefently applied to their accuflomed me- 
 
 for which thod of refuting what they call error, viz. for an 
 
 lonedTn^the ^^^^^ ^^^ imprifoniug him in the tower of Lon- 
 
 Tower, don. There was he under clofe confinement, 
 
 and even denied the vifits of his friends ', but 
 
 yet
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 229 
 
 yet his enemies attained not their purpofe. For c ri A P. 
 when his fervant brought him word, that the xvii. 
 bifhop of London was refolved he fhould either ^-^^ 
 pubHckly recant, or die a prifoner, he fignified ^^^^' 
 his refolution alfo that his prifon fhould be his 
 grave, before he would yield the leaft compli- 
 ance in violation of his confcience ; fo^ he owed 
 his confcience to no mortal man. 
 
 A fpirit warmed in the caufe of religion, the 
 love of God, and the welfare of mankind, ever 
 purfues its main defign. This worthy perfon, pre- 
 cluded from the opportunity of promoting piety 
 by his minifterial labours, was not in his con- 
 finement unmindful of this great purpofe of his 
 life, he applied himfelf to promote it by writing: 
 Several treatifes were the fruits of his folitude, 
 particularly that excellent one, entitled " No 
 " Crofs no Crown," a book tending to pro- writes hfs 
 mote the general defign of religion, was well -^'' ^'"f' 
 accepted, and hath palfed fundry impreilions. 
 
 And in order to clear himfelf from the af- 
 pcrfions cad upon him in relation to the doc- 
 trine of the Trinity, &c. he publidied a piece 
 called " Tnnocency with her open Face," by 
 wav of apology for " The fandy Foundation 
 " {haken," in which he fo fuccefsfully vindicated 
 himfelf, that foon after he was releafed from his 
 imprifonment, which had been of feven months 
 continuance ^ 
 
 The latter part of this year and beginning of 
 the next deprived this fociety of three eminent 
 and ferviceable members, viz. Thomas Loe, Jo- 
 fiah Coale and Francis IIowQill. AVith the abi- Deatii of 
 lities and qualifications of Thomas Loe, the rea-J"J^°'"^* 
 
 der 
 
 " Sewel.
 
 23 
 
 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, der hath been partly made acquainted at his 
 XVII. firfl introdudion into this work. He vifited Ire- 
 
 ^.^^"v^kJ land feveral times, and having an excellent gift 
 
 1668. in the miniflry, was much followed, and had 
 
 generally crowded audiences, amongft whom his 
 
 Pkty pro- niiniflry was effectual to bring many over into 
 
 moted. the focicty of his friends. We have jufl: obferv- 
 ed it was by his powerful miniftry, as the inflru- 
 mental means, that William Penn was firft reach- 
 
 r^!?c^^" ^^ '-^^^ afterwards convinced. He was a man 
 of a fine natural temper, eafy, affable and pleaf- 
 ing in converfalion, benevolent in his difpofi- 
 tion, and tenderly fympathizing with his friends 
 in afFii6tion, which made his company not only 
 profitable from the fubjccls of his inflru6live ob- 
 fervations, but dehrable and agreeable from the 
 manner of them ; whereby he gained the alTec- 
 tion and efteem of thofe he converfed with, 
 and opened a door for the readier reception of 
 his miniltry. 
 
 He alfo travelled in divers parts of England, 
 and was feveral times imprifoned for his tefti- 
 mony. By his travels and labours his natural 
 ftrength was impaired, and coming to London 
 this year in the courfe of his travels, he was 
 there feized with that difeafe, which terminated 
 his labours and his exhlence in the body. 
 
 His pious end was agreeable to the tenour of 
 his life, having in the time of health, chofen 
 and fteadily purfued hinifelf (and zealouily ex- 
 horted others to choofe) that good part which 
 fhould never be taken from him, he felt the confo- 
 lation tfiereof in his bodily weaknefs. At which 
 time being vifited by William Penn, for whom 
 he cherilhed the befl defires to the laft, he ad- 
 drelied to him the following exhortation, Bear
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 231 
 
 thy crofs, and Jiand faithful to God ; then he ivillc hap. 
 give thee an everlajiing crown of glory that JJmll xvii. 
 not be taken from thee. There is no other vjay """"TC^ 
 which fhall profper than that which the holy men 
 of old walked in, God hath brought immortality 
 to lights and life immortal is felt. His love over- 
 comes i7i\< heart. Glory be to his name for ever- 
 more. This dying tellimony of his honoured 
 friend to the virtue of that grace and truth, 
 through fidehty to which he was enabled to at- 
 tain victory over death, and triumph over the 
 terrors of the grave, mu(t have been a comfort- 
 able and confirming evidence to William Penn. 
 of the folidity of that religion, of which he had 
 been effeftually convinced by the fame worthy 
 man. At another time Thomas Loe faid to his 
 friends that flood by his bed-fide. Be not troubled^ 
 the love of God overcomes my heart. And to Geo. 
 Whitehead and others, the Lord is good to me,, 
 this day he hath covered me wiih his glory ^ J am 
 weak but am refrefjed to fee yon. Another friend 
 afking him how he was, he anfwered, " I am 
 " near leaving you, I think, but am as well in 
 *' my fpirit as I can defire, I blefs the Lord ; I 
 '^ never faw more of the glory of God than I 
 " have done this day.'* Thus rejoicing in hope 
 'till his end ; his parting breath exprefled a fong 
 of praife to that Almighty being, whofe good- 
 nefs prefer ved him through life, and defer ted him 
 not in his end. 
 
 Jofiah Coale was born at Winterborn, Glou- Death and 
 cefterfliire, near the city of Briltol, and was '''f''!'^]^ ?^ 
 one amongit the great number or thole, who 
 were reached, and turned to a clofe attention to 
 the light of Chriil in their own hearts by the 
 powerful and effectual minillry of John Aud- 
 
 land
 
 232 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. land about the year 1655; whofe teftimony 
 XVII. made fo deep an impreffion on him, as produced 
 
 '^*^^'y'<^ a folid and earnefl defire after redemption and 
 ioo». falvation : And from the clear fenfe of his con- 
 dition and deficiency of that flate of purity 
 which by the light in his confcience was difco- 
 vered neceflary to be attained, in order to peace 
 and happinefs, he walked for a time mournfully 
 under judgment for fin, and that godly forrow, 
 which worketh true repentance ; and by taking 
 heed to that which reproved him for evil, he 
 received ftrength to get the victory over it ; 
 being purified by the wafliing of regeneration, 
 he became well prepared for the reception of a 
 gift in the miniftrv, and proved an able and zea- 
 lous minifler of the gofpel ; to this fervice he 
 devoted his* whole life : Few fpent themfelves 
 more in the fervice of God and man than he 
 did ; it being the delight and principal engage- 
 ment of his foul, from the time of his conver- 
 fion, to teftify with zeal againft iniquity, and 
 promote truth and righteoufnefs amongft man- 
 kind ; for which he was well qualified by a pe- 
 culiar talent ; his tellimony being as a fword 
 /harp and piercing againfi: the workers of iniquity, 
 attended with an eminent power penetrating the 
 very fouls of the auditors. At other times 
 flowing in a fi:ream of life and encouraging 
 confolation to the pious and virtuous. 
 
 * To him, with his brethren, it was given not 
 only to believe in the truth, but to fufter for it. 
 He was hardly diftinguifhed as a member of this 
 fociety, until he was imprifoned in 1656 in New- 
 gate in Brifiol, along with Thomas Robertfon, 
 
 for 
 
 '' BeiTc, V. i. p. 14.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKER.S. 233 
 
 for bearing teflimony to the truth in one of the chap. 
 public places of worfhip, having been hril; griev- xvii. 
 oufly abufed by the populace, and dragged ^^./'^^"^ 
 bareheaded under the fpouts in a time of ^^^^'y 
 rain. In the fame year at Melcomb-Regis in 
 Dorfetfliire, Jofiah with three other friends, for 
 their chriltian intention of exhorting the people 
 to piety, met with fevere and defpiteful abufe 
 from them, and after being violently beaten by 
 them, were by the mayor committed to 
 prifon. 
 
 In the year 1658 believing it his duty to pay 
 a religious vifit to the Enelifli Colonies in Ame- ^'^^V''"' 
 rica, and not bemg able to procure a paliage to Colonies, 
 New England (no mailer of a fliip being willing !|"dan'''e 'oL 
 to take him, for fear of the penalties enacted in journey 
 that ftate againlt luch of them as fliould bring ^ISi^.^^." 
 in any Oilakers) he in company with Thomas 
 Thirfton got a palfage to Virginia, whence they 
 made their way on foot through a tra6l of wil- 
 dernefs of feveral hundred miles, until then deem- 
 ed impaffable for any but the Indians, a hardy 
 race of men. By the Indians [of the Sufque- 
 hana Tribe] thefe ftrangers were treated with 
 remarkable attention and hofpitality, being not 
 only entertained by them with the befl lodging 
 and provifions which they had, but provided 
 with guides to condu6l them to the Dutch plan- 
 tations, from which they proceeded to New 
 England. Yet the journey of thefe travellers, 
 through that large uncultivated wilderncfs, was 
 attended with much hardfiiip and danger, for 
 they had not only pinching cold to encounter 
 with in the winter feafon, but were often in 
 danger of being devoured by vvild beafls, or pe- 
 rilhing in unknown waters, marllies and bogs. 
 
 80
 
 234 H I S T O R Y F T H E 
 
 c H A p. So that even their adverfaries, admired at their 
 XVII. prefervation, in which more than human power 
 
 ^"^ — ^'■•^ was manifefted. 
 1668. d jj^ New England he partook of the treatment 
 
 landjudgcd. ufually given to his friends in that jurifdiction. 
 Being in company with John Copeland, in a 
 friend's houfe at Sandwich, they were both feized 
 there, haled out in a violent manner and fent to 
 prifon. He was fome time after banifhed from 
 Maryland. The comparing of his treatment 
 here with that which he received amongfl: thofe 
 generally termed favages, as fuppofed deftitute 
 of religion and civilization, gives them the ad- 
 vantage as to civility and humanity above thofe 
 lofty profeiTors of New England, whofe natural 
 tempers had been imbittered by falfe principles 
 of religion, to the eradication of all tendernefs, 
 and companion towards thofe who differed from 
 them, lie travelled alfo through Maryland and 
 Barbadoes ; and in Europe through molt parts 
 of England, and in Holland and the Low Coun- 
 tries, in the work of the miniftry, which being 
 animated by a divine power, was effedual to 
 the converfion of many. To this fervice he de- 
 voted the prime of his life and ftrength, and 
 continued unmarried, that, being difengaged 
 from worldly cares, he might be more at li- 
 berty to attend to his miniftry. And though 
 he went through many perils, imprifonments and 
 perfecutions, he was valiant in the caufe of truth, 
 undaunted in danger, and by the fupport of a 
 peaceful confcience borne up above the fear of 
 man. Difmterefted in his endeavours to pro- 
 jnote pure religion, he was careful not to make 
 
 the 
 
 * Eefle.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. -735 
 
 the gofpel chargeable "J but having an edate of CHAP, 
 his own, he freely fpent it in the befl fervice : xvii. 
 And not only in his travels bore his own charges 'v^"\''v^ 
 abroad, but was an exemplary pattern of libera- ^^^^' 
 lity at home. 
 
 His natural temper was chearful ; but religion 
 tempering it with ferioufnefs, and his uiiaffbcled 
 afiability being mixed with a circumfpe£t and 
 exemplary dcnieanour, his whole converfation 
 illuflrating tlie purity of his rehgion, was an 
 ornament to his profoflion, and a confirmation 
 in the truth to thofe whom his miniflry had con- 
 verted thereto. 
 
 Having by harddiips in his travels and im- 
 prifonments, and his zealous minifLerial fervices 
 for the fpace of twelve years, walled his natural 
 ftrength, he finiflied an honourable, ufeful and 
 virtuous lite at a middle age by a gradual de- 
 cline ; but the warmth of his zeal and the firm- 
 nefs of his fpirit bore him up in the exercife of 
 his miniftry for a feafon, until the increafe of his 
 diflemper obliged him to fubmit to confinement. 
 During which George Fox viiiting him, enquir- 
 ed whether am thing lay on his mind to the friends 
 in England ? "" But he fignified, that having dif- 
 charged his duty fully in his travels aniongH 
 them, he had nothing on his mind to write. 
 George, after praying by him, feeing him grow 
 heavy, advifed him to lie down, which he did ; 
 but being more uneafy in this pofture, he foon 
 rofe again with the help of his friends, and fitting 
 on the fide of the bed, with an afiecting power 
 he addreiTed his friends fitthig by with the fol- 
 lowing exhortation, Well, friends, be faithful to 
 
 God, 
 
 ^ Belle,
 
 2^6 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. God, and have afingle eye to his glory, and feek 
 XVII. nothing for felf or your own glory: And if any 
 *'— ~v — -J thing of that arife, judge it down by the power of 
 1668. the Lord God, that fo you may fi and approved in 
 his fight, and anfwer his witnefs in all people ; 
 then will you have the reward of life. For my 
 part I have thus far finifoed my tejlimony, and 
 have peace with the Lord : His Majejly is with 
 me, and his crozun of life is upon me. So mind my 
 ■ love to all my friends. He faid to Stephen Crifp, 
 Dear heart, keep loza in the holy feed of God, 
 and that will be thy crown for ever. A little 
 afterwards fainting, and being fupported by his 
 friends, he departed in their arms, as one falling 
 into an eafy fleep ; full of confolation he pafled 
 into immortal life at the age of thirty-five years 
 and two months. 
 Franii-i ^^ Francis Howgill was one of the principal 
 
 ^"^^^'' ■ perfons anibngft the firil promulgators of the doc- 
 trines of this fociety, his qualifications, his vir- 
 tues, his fervices and his fufferings have been in 
 various inftanccs laid before the reader. We left 
 him confined in prifon under a rigorous and un- 
 deferved fentence of premunire, from which he 
 was only releafed by death : He lay near five 
 years under this fentence, deprived of every com- 
 fort and convenience in the power of his perfe- 
 cutors to take from him ; but the freedom of his 
 fpirit and the purity of his confcience (poflef- 
 fions beyond the reach of human power j he re- 
 tained unimpaired, remembering, doubtlefs, the 
 gracious promife of the hundredfold in this 
 life, and in the world to come life everlaft- 
 ing. 
 
 This
 
 1 668. 
 
 dui.a- 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 237 
 
 This valuable member- of fociety was a native CHAP. 
 of Weftmoreland, educated in the profeffion of xvii. 
 the eflablifhed religion, and trained up at the ^^^'"'^"^ 
 Univerlity, in order to be ordained to the prieft's ^^}^ 
 office in the church ; but being fcrupulous of uon. 
 complying with the ceremonies thereof, he with- 
 drew from that communion, joined in fociety 
 with the independents, and became a preacher j„;nstiie 
 of eminence among them, being in efteem no '"n^'^pen- 
 lefs for his virtue and exemplary converfation, 
 than for a zealous and laborious difcharge of 
 his duty as a minifter. Yet Hill he found not 
 that fatisfaclion in himfelf which he defired, 
 feeling, notwithftanding his punduality in fad- 
 ing, praying and other religious exercifes, the 
 root of fm flill remained in him. The pre- 
 vailing opinion that Chrifh had taken the guilt 
 of fm upon himfelf, he was afraid to repofe his 
 dependence upon, his confcience fuggelling to 
 him, /jis fsrvant thou art ivhom thou obeyeji. 
 Encreafmg in underflanding, it was revealed in 
 him, that the Lord would teach the people him- 
 felf, and that the time approached nigh. It was 
 not long 'till George Fox had that remarkable Convince^! 
 meeting at Firbank chapel, where Francis offici- fox/""^^^ 
 ated, and hearing him a/Tert that, the light of 
 Chriji in ?nan fJjews the way to Chrift^ he was 
 deeply affedled thereby, believing it to be a cer- 
 tain truth. And in confequence attending to the 
 reproofs of this inward light, he perceived tlie 
 unfruitfulnefs of all his own righteoufnefs, and 
 his labour therein : He now forfook the inde- 
 pendents, and taking up the crofs, joined him- 
 felf to the defpifed and perfecuted fociety of the 
 people called Quakers, and in fdence and patient 
 refignaiion, bearing the admiaiilration of con- 
 demnation
 
 235 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, demnatioil for fm, in due time he was favoured 
 XVII. with the experience of a happy tranfition to the 
 ^— ~</^ — ' more glorious difpenfation of jultification in 
 1668. righteoufnefs, and fitted by previous fanctifica- 
 tion for the reception of a gift in the miniftry. But 
 upon his public appearance as a minifter among 
 His firft ini. this peoplc, both the prieils and magillrates, his 
 pnionraent f^fp-^gj- friends and admirers, turned liis enemies ; 
 and ahiioll as foon as he was known as fuch 
 he was confined by their means (as we have feen) 
 in a very lildry uncomfortable priibn in Appleby, 
 and detained there for fome time without any le- 
 gal caufe. After his releal'e, he profecuted his 
 fervice in his miniltry with zeal and diligence, 
 travelling about moftly on foot to promote righ- 
 Trriveis tcoufncfs, Or to fcrvc ,the fociety of which he 
 Tult "" was a member. He and Edward Burrough were 
 almoit 'conftant companions in gofpel labour, 
 clofcly connefted in unity of fpirit and fenti- 
 ment, in fnnilarity of abilities for fervice, and 
 in the pure bonds of gofpel fellowfhip ; which 
 drevv from Francis a very pathetick teftimony to 
 the memory and worth of his beloved compa- 
 nion, when fo fuddenly taken away. 
 
 In the year 1661 being in London he fuffered 
 
 Second im- imprifonment amongft the multitude of his 
 
 pnfoninent i^iends taken up in confequence of the infur- 
 
 reclion of the lifth-monarchy men. And after 
 
 I he was fet at liberty, continued his labours and 
 
 travels as before, 'till the year 1663, that he 
 
 was fummoned to appear before the magillrates 
 
 at Kendal, as before related, and in confequence 
 
 premunired and imprlfoned tor life. ^ On the 
 
 2oth of I imo. called January 1668-9 ^^ hniflied 
 
 his 
 
 f Sewel.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 239 
 
 his courfe in this life, in his prifon at Appleby, chap. 
 after a ficknefs of nine days. During his im- xvii. 
 prifonment, he evidenced the peaceful and eafy ''^ — v — -> 
 tenour of his foul, by his patience, and refigned ^^"^^^ 
 acquiefcence in all his fufl'erings ; and that his 
 outward loifes were abundantly compenfated by 
 that inward peace, which he was favoured with 
 in reward of fidelity to manifelled duty: Where- 
 by in his ficknefs he was preferved to the lad in 
 that amiable equanimity ; which had fo re- 
 markably characterized him through life. As 
 he approached the verge of time, he felt the full 
 benefit of his having paffed the time of his fo- 
 journing here in fear ; being, through this laft 
 fcene of mortality, borne up in his fpirit fuperior 
 to his fuiferings, by the ferenity of his confcience; 
 and above the fear of death, by feeling the ffcing 
 thereof taken away. Expreffing himfelf in his 
 ficknefs ; That he was content^ and ready to die; piety pro 
 praifing the Almighty for the many fwcet enjoy- ^^°^^^' 
 ments and refrcjhing feafom ^ he had been favoured 
 with on that his prifon-houfe bed whereon he lay^ 
 freely forgiving all ivho had an hand in his re^ 
 jlraint. " This^ (faid he,) was the place of my 
 " firft imprifonment^ and if it be the place of my 
 " laying down the body ^ I am content.^' Two days 
 before his death, his wife and friends being pre- 
 fent, he addreiled himfelf to them as follows. 
 Friends, as to matter of words, you mud 
 not expeft much more from me, neither is 
 there any great need of it ; as to fpeak to mat- 
 ters of faith to you, who are fatisfied, only 
 " that you remember my dear love to all friends 
 " who enquire of me, for I ever loved friends 
 " well, and any others in whom truth appear- 
 ** ed J and truly God will own his people as he 
 
 * " hath 
 
 ii.
 
 240 H I S T O R Y o F T ii e 
 
 c H A r. cc |^^,.|^ ^^^^j. i^ithgyto done, and as we ha\'e daily 
 XVII. et vv'itnefled: For no fooner had they pafled that 
 ''^'"^ " aft againft us for banifhment, to the great 
 1668. " fuffering of many good friends, than the Lord 
 " flirred up enemies, even three great nations, 
 " whereby the violence of tlieir hands was ta- 
 *' ken off. As for me, I am well, and content 
 " to die : I am not afraid at all of death : And 
 ^' truly, one thing I have obferved, which is, 
 " that this generation pafl'eth away — many good 
 " and valuaole friends have been within thefe 
 *' few years taken from us, and therefore friends 
 " had need to watch and be very faithful, fo 
 *' that we may leave a good and not a bad fa- 
 " vour to the fiicceeding generation ; for you 
 '' fee, it is but a little time, that any of us have 
 " to flay here." 
 
 Several of the principal inhabitants of Ap- 
 pleby, and particularly the mayor, vifited him 
 in his ficknefs, and fome of them praying that 
 God might fpeak peace to his foul, he anfwered. 
 He hath done it, A few hours before he de- 
 parted, fome friends from other places being 
 come to vifit him, he enquired after their wel- 
 fare, and prayed fervently. That the Lord by his 
 mighty power ?n!ght preferve them out of all fuch 
 things as might fpot and defile. His voice then 
 by reafon of weaknefs failed, yet recovering a- 
 gain he faid, " I have fought the way of the 
 " Lord from a child, and lived innocently as 
 " among men ; and if any enquire concerning 
 '* my latter end, let them know that I die in 
 '' the faith in which 1 lived and fuffered for." 
 After thefe words, he uttered fome others in 
 prayer to God, and fo finiflied his life in 
 
 perfect
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 241 
 
 *' perfed; peace in the fiftieth year of his chap. 
 " age." ^v^^- 
 
 The efforts of his enemies (caufelefsly fuch) '^^^^"^^ 
 exerted with feverity on his perfon and property, ^^^^' 
 could not fully his reputation any more than his 
 confcience : Confpicuous for his virtues, and 
 the innocence and integrity of his life, he was as 
 generally refpeded and fpoken well of among Pc 
 mod who knew him, as his futferings were com- 
 miferated, and the unmerited enmity and cru- 
 elty of his perfecutors condemned. In his out- 
 ward confinement his free fpirit, his love to the 
 brethren, and his zeal for the caufe of truth, re- 
 mained unconfined, whereby his perfecutors 
 were fruftrated in their defigns, as far as they 
 expefted by his imprifonment to deprive the fo- 
 ciety of his ufeful fervices ; for although he was 
 reflrained from travelling and edifying his friends 
 by his miniftry, yet he negleded not, by his 
 pen, to comfort and ftrengthen them under their 
 deep trials, in which he was their companion ; 
 to defend their doclrine againft thole who op- 
 pofed it, and his own practice, for which he fuf- 
 fered, in a copious treatife againft oaths, wherein 
 he maintained the unlawfulnefs oi fwearing un- 
 der the gofpel. 
 
 Some time before his deceafe he made his 
 will, wherein he bequeathed a token of his af- 
 feftionate remembrance to feveral of his bre- 
 thren and fellow-labourers in the miniftry. He 
 alfo left a legacy to his poor friends in thole 
 parts where he lived. For although his perfonal 
 eftate was forfeited to the king for ever, the 
 confifcation of his real eftate was only during 
 his life ; fo from thence having fomething left, 
 he ordered the difpofal thereof bv will. 
 
 Vol, II. O ' He
 
 242 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 Ke writ alfo an Epillle of Advice and Counfel 
 as his laft will and teflament to his daughter, 
 imparting diredlion for her future condu6t in 
 life, which conveying ufeful inftrudion to young 
 people, more peculiarly thofe of the female fex, 
 it may not be ufelels to annex the following ab» 
 ftraft thereof. 
 
 (( 
 
 Daughter Abigail, 
 
 AbOrr.a cf " This is for thee to take heed unto and ob- 
 
 tirhb"'^'^ " fei"^'e5 for the regulating thy converfation in 
 
 daughter. '* this world, fo that thy life may be happy and 
 
 " thy end blefied, and God glorified by thee in 
 
 " tliy generation. I was not heir to great pof- 
 
 " felfions ; but the Lord hath endowed me with 
 
 " a competency, and hath been as a tender fa- 
 
 " therto me, becauie I trufted in him, and loved 
 
 *' rio-hteoufnefs from a child. 
 
 " My counfel to thee is, that thou remember 
 
 
 thy Creator in the days of thy youth, fear 
 him and ferve him all thy days : Firft feek the 
 kingdom of God and the righteoufnefs there- 
 '* of. Though thou be born into the world a 
 " reafonable creature, yet thou m.uft be born 
 " again into God's image. Seek and thou fhalt 
 " find ; wait and thou Ihalt receive. If thou 
 " afl^:, in what and how muft I feek and wait ? 
 *' 1 inform thee that thou mufl filence all thy 
 •* own thoughts, and thou muft turn thy mind 
 to that which is holy and good within thy- 
 felf, the light of Chrift Jefus, wherewith thou 
 art enlightened, which fhews thee when thou 
 doft evil, and checks and reproves thee for 
 it : Take heed unto that, and it will fliew the 
 *' evil motions and thoughts j and as thou loveft 
 
 
 ££
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 
 
 443 
 
 1668. 
 
 it, it will fubduc them, and preferve thee for chap. 
 the time to come out of the evil ; and thou xvii. 
 wilt feel thy heavenly Father working in thee, 
 and begetting thae into life, and thou wilt 
 feel the power of the Lord itrengthening thee 
 in thy little, and making thee grow in the 
 immortal feed, and outgrow all evil, fo that 
 thou wilt daily die to it, and take no pleafure 
 in it, but in the Lord, and his goodnefs and 
 virtue fhed abroad in thy heart. Love the 
 Lord with thy heart and foul, even him that 
 made thee, and gave being to thee and all 
 things in heaven and on earth. And do 
 thou enquire of thy dear mother, f!ie will in- 
 form thee, fhe knovv's him and the way to 
 life and peace j and hearken to her inftruc- 
 tions. 
 
 " Be fober-minded in thy youth, and delight 
 to read the fcriptures and friends books, and 
 take heed to what thou readeft, to conform 
 thy praftice thereto, as far as thou under- 
 ftandeft, and pray often to the Lord, that he 
 will encreafe thy knowledge in his law, and 
 open thy underllanding in the things of his 
 kingdom. Search thy heart often by the light 
 of Chrill in thee, bring thy deeds to it, that 
 they may be tried thereby ; and examine thy- 
 feif, how the cafe (lands between the Lord 
 and thee : And if thou feel conviction for 
 any wrong thing, regard the reproofs of in- 
 ftruftion, they are the way of life ; humble 
 thyfelf in forrow, and turn unto the Lord 
 and he will ihew thee mercy, and take heed 
 for the time to come that thou run not into 
 the fame evil again : Keep thy heart clean ; 
 
 O z " v/atch
 
 246 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP." in charge to obferve as my Mind and Will 
 XVII. « and Counsel unto thee unalterable, 
 
 ^^^^' " Thy dear father, 
 
 " FRANCIS HOWGiLL." 
 
 " 2 6tn, cmo. 1666." 
 
 'Perfecution for religion feemed at prefent to 
 fubfide ; and more liberal fentiments to have 
 been adopted by the moderate part of the lead- 
 ing men among the epifcopalians. A fcheme 
 was faid to be in agitation for comprehending the 
 prefbyterians in the body of the Englifh church, 
 and granting a toleration to other diuenters. 
 The Chief Juftice Hales undertook to draw up 
 the bill, and the keeper of the great feal, Or- 
 lando Bridgeman, to fupport it in parliament 
 with all his iiitereil. Sheldon, Archbifhop of 
 Canterbury, being apprized of the defign, gave 
 the alarm to the bifiiops by circular letters, en- 
 joining them to make an exa^t enquiry into the 
 number of conventicles within their rcfpedivc 
 diocefes. Having received all the information 
 he could procure, he in company with other bi- 
 fiiops exerted endeavours to frudrate the good 
 defign, and by exaggerating all circumilances to 
 the king, prevailed with him to iifue a procla- 
 mation ordering the laws againft non-conformifl 
 mdniflers to be put in execution. The parlia- 
 ment, upon meeting after the prorogation fe- 
 conded the efforts of the bifiiops, by a refolve, 
 prohibiting the bringing in any fuch bill, by an 
 
 addrefsi 
 
 Neale.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJI A K E R S. 247 
 
 addrefs of thanks to the king for ifluing his pro- ^ ^^^, ^• 
 clamation, and appointing a committee to en- K^^^-y^J 
 quire into the conduct of the non-conformifts, \66Z. 
 who reported that divers conventicle^ and fcdi- 
 tious affemblies were held in the neighbourhood 
 of the parliament, in defiance of the laws, and 
 endangering the public tranquillity, whereupon 
 the houfe declared, thcv would adhere to the 
 king for the fupport of government in church 
 and ftate. Thus the perfecuting laws were kept 
 in force, and in ccnfequence thereof fome fieps , 
 were taken to break up the meetings of the dif- 
 fenters, which had been for fome time held 
 without moleuation. The people called Qua« 
 kers neverthelefs, appear to have been pretty 
 much undiilurbed by the civil power through 
 this year, in comparifon of the former, their 
 fufferings being moftly by excommunicationSj 
 imprifonments and diilraints for their conlcienti- 
 ous fcruple againft paying ecclefiaftical demands, 
 feveral of which however v/ere unreafonably fe- 
 vere*. 
 
 Ill 
 
 * Robert Goodes of Wra(1In?vvort!i In Bediin-dniire, was 
 profecuted in the King's Bench for tithes of 45 1. value, at 
 the fuit of one Goodchild a tithe-farmer, who obtained a 
 verdidl for 135I. treble value ; for which his gocds were 
 taken by an execution to the value of 200I. but fo under- 
 valued by the fheriff's officers, tiiic they pretended yet to 
 want 41!. 3s. 4d. of their de'inand, for which they rook 
 away his bed, and committed him to prifon. Bcflc, vol. i. 
 p. 7. 
 
 From Thomas Cole of Lexden in Effex nine cows worth 30I, 
 were taken by diftrefs for tithes. BeiTe, vol. i. p. 202. 
 
 Robert Latche of Cherinton in Kei;t, had iii; corn fei^ed 
 and taken oft his waggon, as he was bringing it home, by a 
 perfon employed by an impropriator, who had before taken 
 his tithe off the land. This proceeding was without any co- 
 Jjour of law, and was fo rudely acled, that the faid Ro- 
 bert's
 
 248 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. In the fpring of this year, George Fox travel- 
 "^^" ling in the northern countries received intelli- 
 gence. 
 
 1669. 
 
 bert's wife, being with child, was inhumanly abufed, thrown 
 into a ditch among the buflies, and ftamped upon. Befle, 
 vol. i. p. 294. 
 
 John Sagar of Lancafhire, profecuted in the ecclefiaftical 
 court, was excommunicated for not appearing there at a 
 time when he was clofe fliut up in jail, and in confe- 
 quence of that excommunication was detained in prifon four 
 years and an half. His wife, afflifted at the lofs of her huf- 
 band, and the difficulty of fupporting four children in his ab- 
 fence, became diftrafted : The profecutor would not permit 
 him the liberty of fo much as once vifiting his wife in that 
 doleful condition. Befle, vol. i. p. 31 7. 
 
 George Craggs, prieft of Anderley in Lincolnfbire, with 
 three fervants, came to William Cliff of that town, as he 
 was loading his corn, and demanded tithes, which becaufe 
 William refufed to give him, the prieft ordered his fervants 
 to ftrike him and his wife, faying, they are excommunicated 
 perfons, and if you knock them on t/ie head, there is no laixi 
 againjl you : J ivill be your txarrant ; tJte "j.'ay is clear. His 
 fervants not anfwering his purpofe, he himfelf ftruck the 
 man's wife with a fork, and the hulband deliring him to for- 
 bear, and not abufe his wife, who was then with child, the 
 prieft, enraged, puflied her violently on the body feveral 
 times, and threw her down ; he alfo faid to his fervants, 
 fetch my fivord, I ijuill he re'venged of them. In fbort the 
 poor woman was fo affrighted, and forely hurt and bruifed, 
 that fhe foon after mifcarried of two children, one of which 
 had plain marks of the blows received, and ftie herfelf was 
 in great danger of her life. Within a few days after this 
 barbarity to the woman and her unborn babes, the prieft alfo 
 eaft her huft)and into prifon by a writ de excommunicato capi~ 
 endo, by that msans as it were burying the man alive, whom 
 he could not excite his fervants to kill. Befl*e, vol. i. p. 
 
 350- . • . , ^. 
 
 'V\ illiam David of Cardiganfliire, a poor man, who rented 
 
 fome land at 50s. per annum, was annually demanded 20s. 
 for tithe, for which five times the value was conftantly ta- 
 ken, fo that his tithe amounted to double his rent. One year 
 the tithe-mongers took from him two cows, whofe fuckling 
 calves fbr lack of fuftenaace died. Beffe^ vol. i. p. 742.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 249 
 
 gence, when he came into I>ancaflilre, that his c 11 A P. 
 old adverfarv. Colonel Kirby, had thrown out xvii. 
 threatenings, that if he came into thofe parts he ^- — v — ' 
 would call him into prifon; but at the time of ^608. 
 his coming, Kirby being conlined by the gout, 
 he efcaped out of his hands, continued his 
 journey to Liverpool, and embarked from 
 thence in company with John Stubbs and Thomas 
 Briggs for Ireland, fpent fome time in vifit- 
 ing his friends in that nation, and foon after his 
 return married Margaret Fell. 
 
 rmarCTiTTi 
 
 CHAP. XYIIL 
 
 WALES. 
 
 Abufes of Friends previous to the lnfurrcdi(jn of 
 the Fifth -monarch'; men. — Unlmvful Seizure of 
 Cattle. — Sufferings of Francis Wi?ifon. — Of Se- 
 ^Derai Friends confequcnt to the bifurre^lion. — 
 Of Friends of Shreufhury. 
 
 i HE number of the people called Quakers in c h a p. 
 many parts of this principality being conlldera- xviii. 
 bly encreafed, they were expofed to the like ^-^ — ^-'"•^ 
 feverities with their friends in England, even 1660. 
 before the infurredion of the fifdi-monarchy 
 men had furniflied a palliative for violating the 
 
 king's
 
 -250 
 
 HISTORY o? T!iE 
 
 men 
 
 c H A P. kim;'s promife of proteftion to tender confci- 
 ^^ ' ences. We meet with the following fpecimen 
 1660 ^^ ^^^ malicious difpofition which a6luated their 
 adverfaries, and of their precipitancy, in thefe 
 remote parts as well as many others, hurrying 
 them into perfecution without waiting for any 
 r-pparent caufe or colourable pretence, except 
 that of holding their religious meetings. 
 Abiifesof In IMcrionethfliire, in the month called Auguft, 
 ^iousto^th'c^'oout fourteen friends being met for religious 
 iniurreaion worfuip, Were afiaulted by Alban Vaughan, and 
 monardV f^vcral rude perfons arm^ed with fvvords, who 
 haled them out of the meeting place, and threat- 
 ened to carry them to Carmarthen cafile twenty- 
 fix miles off; but after they had driven them 
 about two miles, frequently ftriking them with 
 tlieir fwords, they let them go. A few days af- 
 ter the fame body of armed men on horfeback 
 cams to the feveral dwellin": houfes of thofe thev 
 had thus abufed, and haled them out by vio- 
 lence, foms out of their beds, wounding, beat- 
 ing and bruihng feveral ; and drove them on foot 
 before their horfes twenty miles to Bala : Four 
 of them were required to take the oath of al- 
 legiance, and for refufmg it were committed to 
 the jailer's cuilody, who put them in irons, and 
 caufed them to go fettered twelve miles to pri- 
 fon, where he kept them with others of their 
 friends, above twenty in all, about fifteen or 
 fixteen weeks, not fuffering any to carry them 
 food or other necelTarics, and taking away their 
 bibles, inkhorns, knives and money, and daily 
 infulting and abufing them in a barbarous man- 
 ner. 
 
 Nor
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (RAKERS. 251 
 
 Nor was the corporal abufe and imprifonment chap. 
 ©f their perlbns a fufficient gratification of the xvm. 
 malignity or avarice of their perfecutors, exor- "^ — v-^ 
 bitant depredation was added to perional injury : 1660. 
 lor leveral or laid perlons, durnig their impri-i-c;^,.reof 
 fonment, had their cattle feized in great num-'^^"^'^- 
 bers, about fix hundred and fifty head in all, 
 which were driven to Bala, there fold, and the 
 amount difpofed of at pleafure, without render- 
 ing any account thereof to the owners. 
 
 They continued to be har raffed in like manner 
 in different parts of this principality ; their meet- 
 ings being illegally broken up by foldiers with 
 fwords drawn and lighted matches ; they gene- 
 rally took the men to fome juflice to tender 
 them the oaths, and for their confcientious re- 
 fufal drove them in crowds to prifon, until the 
 infurre£lion of the Millenarians or fifth-monar- 
 ch vmen broke out, UDon which the friends in 
 Wales fullered equally with their brethren in the 
 different parts of England. Francis Vv^infon was Sufferingsof 
 taken out of liis own houfe by foldiers, kept v™;^^'* 
 two days upon guard, and fixteen days at the p^^r luun, 
 marfnars houfe, where he was iiardly ufed ; after 
 which he was brought before the commifTioners, 
 who tendered him the oath, and fent him to pri- 
 fon, where he was fliut up in a dungeon. He 
 was a poor labouring man, had a wife and five 
 fmali children, whole fubnflence depending upon 
 his labour, they fullered much hardfliip by means 
 of his confinement. 
 
 On the 31ft of the month called January, sn/rfrinj^ 
 Walter Jenkins, John Williams, Philip Wil- "- '""vcrai 
 liams and Charles Jenkins were forcibly taken i/q„elu to"' 
 out of their beds, their doors bein^ bro- 1^^^' 'niJ"-- 
 ken open by a party of horfe, fevcral of whofe 
 
 ofHcers
 
 252 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP oi'Hcers were papifls. They broke open their 
 ,^_^__^^__^^ coifers and trunks under pretence of fearching 
 1660 ^'^^ arms, and though their violent fearch difco- 
 vered none, they drove thefe inoffenlive men 
 feveral miles, through mJre and dirt, to an old 
 caflle, where they were detained until the next 
 morning, when the captain of the troop came, 
 and ordered a party of rude foldiers to conduft 
 them to Monmouth, who drove them thither 
 molt inhumanly along the dirty road, not futier- 
 ing tliem to walk on the foot-wav. The mavor 
 of Monmouth committed them to prifon for re- 
 fufing to fwear, where they v^-ere confined in a 
 place noifome and ofTenfive by its filthinefs to an 
 extraordinary degree. Hither William John, 
 who was taken from his bufinefs in the field, was 
 fent to bear them company, where being con- 
 fined together feveral of them fell fick, through 
 the noifomenefs and unwholefome air of their 
 prifon, upon which the jailer removed them to 
 his own houfe. Several were taken travelling 
 on the highv/ay about their lawful occafions and 
 fent to prilon, and in fome parts watches were 
 fet with orders to fuit'er no Quaker or Anabaptill 
 to go from one parifh to another, or gather to- 
 gether to any meeting or conventicle, but to 
 take efpecial care to fecure all (fakers in their 
 refpeclive parifhes. Such was the violent bitter- 
 nefs of the perfecutors here, that the mere 
 name of Quaker expofed thofe that bore it to the 
 lofs of their liberty, and in confequence of thefe 
 orders forty perfons of this denomination were 
 taken, fome jfrom their own houfes, fome on the 
 highway, and others from their religious meet- 
 ings, and fent to prifon at Cardiff. 
 
 At
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 253 
 
 At Shrewfbury the number of prifoners being chap, 
 alfo large, many of their friends, from the im- xviii. 
 pulfe of chriflian love, came to vifit and aflifl *^ — "^ — ' 
 them. As foon as the fcldicrs who kept guard i,*^^' „ 
 at the prilon diicovered any or thele perlons friends at 
 coming to vifit the prifoners, they immediately si^rewf- 
 apprehended them, and carried them to the 
 mayor, who tendered them the oath and fent 
 them to prifon. To recite at full length all the 
 feverity and abufe they underwent in the different 
 parts of Wales, fimilar to the inhuman treatment 
 they fuffered in different parts of England, would 
 be tedious and irkfcme to write and to read ; 
 fuffice it therefore to remark, that the fame vin- 
 didive fpirit, which hunted them from their 
 meetings, their houfes, their lawful employ- 
 ments, to prifon, was manifeiled in the ufage 
 they met with there, fliut up in filihy clofe rooms, 
 feven in a hog-houfe, expofed to all weathers 
 without fufficient fiielter ; others thruft among 
 felons and murderers, who robbed them of their 
 food and money, and otherwife abufed them 
 with impunity ; aged and fickly people kept 
 whole winters without fire, whereby their hands 
 and feet were much fwelled ; wives who had 
 come many miles through great difficulty to 
 fee their imprifoned hufoands, prohibited from, 
 feeing them or carrying them provifions, and 
 forcibly fent av/ay. One of them, Elizabeth 
 Holme, only for this office of alfedion and duty, 
 had her horfe and faddle feized, and herfelf de- 
 tained in prifon with her hufband. Many of 
 thofe at liberty were grievoufly beaten and a- 
 bufed to the hazard of their lives by wicked 
 perfons on the road, who on prefumption of im- 
 punity
 
 254 H I S T O R Y o P T H s 
 
 CHAP punlty made it their fport to inmlt and abufe 
 XVIII. them. 
 
 ^-— V-*-' Thus in time of peacs, undiilurbed by them, 
 1660. they were expoied to all the evils of war (except 
 a violent death,) for what ufage more inhuman 
 could they experience from the invafion of a 
 foreign enemy, than they did from their own 
 neighbours in this heat of party-rage and civil 
 tumult, artfully kindled for the mere purpofe of 
 forcing conformity againft confcience, or puniih- 
 ing confcientioui non- conformity ? 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJx\SERS. 255 
 
 CHAP. XIX, 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 Convincement of Alexander 'j affray and Margaret 
 Mollefon^ 'James Urquhart, Robert Gordon and 
 John Robin/on. — William Forbes, contrary to con- 
 indion, piibliJJjes an Excoynmiinication agalnjh 
 Urquhart. — Next under the like Con-viSiion, being 
 about to publijh one againji his own Daughter, is 
 prevented by fudden Death, — George Gray and 
 Agnes Si?}2on convinced. — The Priejis cf Aber- 
 deen endeavour tojlir up Perfecution. — The Po- 
 pulace excited to riot. — The PricJls by appli- 
 cation to the Bijhop get Andreiu Jaffray fined 
 and confined. — David Barclay convinced, — 
 And foon after his Son Robert. — And Li lias 
 Skein. 
 
 In 1659, Stephen Crilp, a man well qualified CMAI 
 for that work, travelled into Scotland to preach 
 the gofpei there, and fome time after William 
 Dewlbury ; the gofpei teflimony of thefe faitli- 
 ful witnefl'ei? did reach the confciences of many 
 who heard them, and amongil thefe fome noted 
 profelfors in * Aberdeen, partlcnlarly Alexander AkxamTrr 
 
 Mray, who had been chief m.an-iiirate of thaf: i-"--'/- ^- 
 city, a man in high repute amongft the higheft 
 
 y.VA. 
 
 1650. 
 
 profeilbrii 
 
 Befle.
 
 2s6 HISTORY OP the 
 
 c H A p- profeOors of religion, and Margaret IMoIIefonj 
 ^^J^"^^^ wife of Gilbert Mollefon, a magiflrate of Aber- 
 deen, a woman of diflinguiflied character a- 
 mongil the better fort for her religious endow- 
 ments. 
 1663. ^^'^ ^^^"^ Alexander JaiTray, foon after his 
 ccnvinccment, removed to Inverary, and was in- 
 ffrumental to fettle a meeting there : By means 
 whereof feveral thereaway having the opportu- 
 nity of hearing the doctrines of this people de- 
 clared, were convinced : Of thefe were James 
 quW,Ro-Urquhart and his wife, Robert Gordon and John 
 bcrt Got- Robinfon. After fome time James Urquliart fell 
 UoinuLi. under the cenfure of the prefbytery and was ex- 
 communicated ; the excommunication was fent 
 WiiHm jQ William Forbes, priefl: of the place of Urqu- 
 
 Forbes con- ' \ . . ^ . ^ •'• 
 
 traryto hart's rcfidencc, with an mjunttion from the 
 
 publi'ihes an P^^^y^^^y ^^^ ^^"^ ^^ publifii it from the pulpit. 
 exconimu- To Complying with this injunction he felt great 
 gabfijam"es^^^'-''^'^'^c^5 ffom 2. convictlon of the worth and 
 UrtLuhart. integrity of the perfon he was enjoined to read 
 the fentence againft ; but under the profpect of 
 the probable lofs of his (lipend, in cafe of his 
 difobeying the prefbytery, interefted confedera- 
 tions overcame his convictions, and he publicly 
 pronounced the fentence againll him, in direft 
 oppofition to the dictates of his own confcience. 
 He afterwards fell under great uneafmefs and 
 anxiety of mind, which difcompofed him to fo 
 great a degree that for fome time he was dif- 
 qualified from performing the offices of his func- 
 tion, until at length he made this ingenuous 
 confedion, Tbat bis difcompofure was a jiiji judg- 
 ment upon him, for curjing zvith kis tongue a per- 
 fon ivkoni ke believed in his oiun confcience to be 
 a very honeft man. But notwithftanding the 
 
 ftrength
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 257 
 
 iflrength of his conviifiions at that time, he after- chap. 
 
 wards fell into the like error in a cafe more xix. 
 
 nearly affecting him ; his own daughter 'Jane ^— ~v — * 
 
 Forbes was convinced of the principles of the '^^^l' 
 
 people called Quakers, and joined them in fo- 
 
 ciety : Church proceedings were carried on a- ^l '^ ""'^<^'" 
 
 gamlt her to an excommunication, which her don being 
 
 tather was required by the preflDytery to pro- ^'^'^^.'^^"^^ 
 
 nounce. It is eafy to imagine in how diftreffmg apaind his 
 
 an alternative he mud be hereby involved, ^n- "'"."'^"sJ^- 
 
 r c\ r ' ' ' t*^*^ 'sp'^'^- 
 
 der the profpecl of either wounding his confci- vented by 
 
 ence and parental feelings, by pronouncing ex-jctth" 
 communication againfl his own daughter, whom 
 he knew to be an honefl woman, or be ejedled 
 from his living for difobeying the prefbytery. , 
 
 Again the latter cbnfideration preponderated 
 againd confcience and natural affedion : But 
 alas, the anxious conflit^t^between confcience 
 and felf intereft was too cppreflive for nature 
 to fupport, he determined to read the excom- 
 munication, but was fuddenly (truck with 
 death, at the very time he purpoled to do it. 
 
 About the fame time with James Urquhart George 
 before mentioned, George Gray and Agnes Si- AgrL^'si^ 
 mon were convinced, two perfons fo highly mon. 
 thought of for their religious attainments and cir- 
 cum.fpedconverfation, that the prieft oftheparilh 
 whereto they belonged made it his boaft, that 
 he had a weaver and a poor woman whom he 
 would defy any of the Quakers to equal, either 
 in knowledge or a good life : but when Ihortly 
 after both thefe hearers of his v/ithdrew from 
 under his teachings, and joined the Quakers, 
 the priefi: was exceedingly enraged thereat. 
 
 Vol, II. R The
 
 2S8 HISTORY OF the 
 
 CHAP, The faid A^nes Simon, after her convince- 
 ^^_^^' ment, readily opened her houfe for the keeping 
 1 66? of religious meetings, and the neighbouring 
 people flocked to the alTemblies held there in 
 fuch numbers, that her houfe could not contain 
 them, wherefore they met in the open field, 
 where Patrick Livingltone was made inftrumen- 
 tal, with fome others, to the convincement of 
 many in thofe parts. This convincement draw- 
 ing away many of their hearers, mightily alarm- 
 ed the priefts of Aberdeen, viz. * George Mel- 
 drum and John Menzies and others, who in con- 
 fequence thereof exerted their endeavours to pre- 
 vent the progrei's of this people, by afperfing 
 ^ them 
 
 * The minifters refilled them and their teftimony, by afperf- 
 ing them with many grofs calumnies, lies and reproaches, as 
 demented, dijirade'd, bodi^ P''>JJ''JJ''d of the de^il, praClifing 
 abominations under colour of being led to them by the fpirit ; 
 and as to their principles, blaTphemous deniers of the true 
 Chrift, of heaven, hell, aiigels, the refurrcctiun of the body, 
 and day of judgment. '1 his was the vulgar and familiar 
 language of the pulpits, for a time received as unquertionable 
 truths, 'till about the year 1 663 fome fober and ferious porfons 
 in and about Aberdeen began to examine the ways and prin- 
 ciples of this people more narrowly, which proving upon en- 
 quiry to be far otherwife than they were reprefented, their 
 enquiry let them fee the integrity and foundneis of this abufed 
 people, and the prejudiced difingenuity and enmity of their 
 accufers. R. Barclay s preface to Truth cleared of calumnies. 
 
 1666. George Meldruin preached a moft virulent fermon 
 againft the Quakers, wlierein he repreferted them in fuch 
 colours as he thought moll: adapted to excite his hearers in- 
 dignation againft them, and confcious of the pollible ground- 
 lelfnefs of his accufations, to fecure his calumny from confu- 
 tation, enjoined his auditors, who had taken it down in writ- 
 ing, not to let the fakers have a copy : But Alexander Jaftray 
 and George Keith obtained a copy, which they found eafier 
 to anfwer than to procure. Befie vol. ii. p. 498.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 259 
 
 them from the pulpit with undeferved calumnies c h a p. 
 and reproaches, in order to incenfe the m-agi- v^^-^l,^ 
 flrates to fupprefs them, and to raife among the j^^ 
 ruder and and lefs intelligent part of their hearers, George 
 a fpirit of riot and indignation, prone to abufe ^J^^^^^^ 
 and vilify them on all occafions. Their efforts Menzies, 
 to excite the magiflrates againfl them met not, Aberdeen °^ 
 as yet, with the fuccefs they wifhed for, their groisiy ca- 
 violent attempts being in feveral inftances fruf- th"'p^o^pig 
 trated ; for they could not by their utmoft en- '^^^'J^'i Qh^- 
 deavours prevail upon the fecular power to exert Endeavour 
 itfelf to the height of perfecution they aimed at, "^^ ^''' "P 
 which was the total fuppreffion of that people. 
 But with the ignorant and ill-judging populace, 
 their ilanders had a more effectual influence, for 
 it frequently happened that as foon as any of this ,^^g^P°P;"Jj 
 perfuafion appeared in their ftreets, a mob ga- to not and 
 thered about them, (toning, beating and abufmg ^^"^'^" 
 them as they palfed quietly along : and fo deep- 
 ly was this fpirit of riot and mifchief implant- 
 ed in them, that this fpecies of perfecution and 
 lawlefs abufe was continued in many parts of 
 this nation, long after legal perfecution was abo- 
 lifhed by the aft of toleration. 
 
 Being lefs fuccefsful with the fecular power Thefe 
 than they defired, inimical as their principles p^^^s by 
 were to the power and office of bifhops, thefe S^thrS" 
 priefts, to compafs their aim, made no fcruple ^°p v^°- 
 to excite the bilhop of Aberdeen, and by his drew jaf- 
 means archbifliop Sharp, to exert their power ^""^y •"= 
 againfl the people called Quakers. Andrew Jaf- confined. 
 fray, a man of a blamelefs life, and of good 
 efteem among the fober and ferious inhabitants, 
 at the fuggeflion of thefe priefls, was fummoned 
 to appear before the high commiffion court, be- 
 fore which he was enabled to bear a faithful tef- 
 timony to the truth j and although the archbi- 
 
 R 3 fliop
 
 
 260 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Oiop himfelf entered into a conference witli him, 
 ^J^^^_^ he could gain no advantage in argument againft 
 gg him ; yet, to fatisfy the piiefi.s, the court pafled 
 fentence upon him, " That he fhould be con- 
 *' hned to his ov/n dwelling houfe, and keep 
 no meetings therein, nor go any whither with- 
 out the bilhop's liccnfc, under the penalty of 
 a fine of 600 marks," which they elleemed 
 to be one fourth of his yearly rents. By the 
 like means, at the fuggedion of James Gordon, 
 prieil of Alford, to the bifhop of Aberdeen, 
 Alexander Forbes of Archinhampcr, and Alex- 
 ander Geily, were apprehended, carried away to 
 Edinburgh, and iniprifoned in the Cannongate 
 Tolbooth fome time. 
 
 But by thefe rigorous proceedings the priefls 
 did not attain their defire, others from time to 
 time fell cS from them, and joined the Quakers 
 ' ' by convincement, and "amongft them fonie per- 
 ^— 'con-^^' ^^^^^ ^^ note: !n the year 1666 David Barclay 
 vinced and cf Ury, adviptcd their profeiTion, and fteadfaftly 
 bm^o^r continued therein the remainder of his days. 
 after. And iu or about the next year his fon Robert 
 Liim Skein, ^yj^g alfo couviuced as before remarked. As was 
 about the fame time Lilias Skein wife of Alex- 
 ander Skein, one of the magiftrates cf Aberdeen, 
 a woman much efleemed for her religious accom- 
 plifnment:, and in a particular manner by the 
 aforefaid George Me'drum their pried. She was 
 convinced or confirmed in her convincement by 
 a very remarkable circumftance. She was actu- 
 ated by an earned defire to find out the way of 
 truth, but difcouraged from looking towards this 
 fociety by notions and prepoffefTions induftri- 
 oufiy inflilied into her mind and that of others 
 of their hearers by the priefts againfl that people, 
 that they denied thefcripturcs^ and did not pray 
 
 in
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 261 
 
 in the nams cf Jcfus^ of whom the fcr'.pftcres ieftify. chap. 
 But being vifited with indifpofition, fhe kept her ^_^^_, 
 chamber in an apartment under the fame roof ^^g 
 with Barbara Forbes, one of that fociety, at 
 whofe dwelling the Qiiakers fometimes met, fo 
 near the faid Liiias*s apartments that fhe could 
 diflindly hear what paiTed : here, attentively 
 liftening, (he heard two tnglifhwomen exercifed 
 both in preaching and praying, whofe teftimo- 
 nies (he obferved to be replete with fcripture ex- 
 prelTions, and their prayers put up in the name 
 of Jefus, and attended with life and power. 
 From this demonitrative confutation of the ca- . 
 lumniating accufations of thefe priefts, w^hom 
 fhe formerly admired, and to whole reprefenta- 
 tions fhe had given entire credit, (he was freed 
 from her prepoiTeflions ; and difcovering the 
 falfehood of their aifertions, ihe withdrew from ' 
 their communion, and in confequence of this 
 difcovery and the effectual reach of the teilimo- 
 ny (he had heard, (he was fulry convinced and 
 joined in fociety v.^ith that people. And not 
 long after her hud-and, who had been a zealous 
 oppofer of them, became a fmcere convert to 
 their chriftian principles- This added fuel to 
 the paflion of the priefts, who renewed their 
 exertions to excite the magiftrates againif them, 
 but dill, as yet without attaining the foil grati- 
 fication of their willies. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 l62 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 IRELAND. 
 
 Great Numbers i7vprifo7ied in confequence of the 
 Rip.ng of the Fifih-niGnarehy Men. — Willimn 
 Edmundfon folicits and obtains their Releafe. — 
 Several Friends fined by fudge Alexander. — 
 
 Sufferings for Tithe. Extreme Virulence of 
 
 George Clapham, Priefi ofMountmelick. — Ireland 
 governed by men of Moderation. — William Ed- 
 mundfon lays a Narrative of Clapham\ Pro- 
 ceedings before the Government. — Who is fum- 
 moned before the Privy Council and flmrply re- 
 buked. — His malignant Proceedings in revenge. 
 — Sufferings of Friends in Cork through the 
 Rancour of Chriftopher Rve, Mayor. — Richard 
 Pike dies in Jail. — Meetings of Difcipline fet- 
 tled. — George Fox arrives in Ireland. 
 
 c H A p. -p. 
 
 XX. Robert turner • having about the year 
 ^--"-v-v-/ 1657 been inftrumental to the convincement of 
 1660. feme perfons who refided about Grange near 
 Charlemount, and by means of the labours of other 
 friends, who travelled in the exercife of their 
 minifterial gifts, their numbers encreafmg, a 
 meeting was fettled there this year, which con- 
 tinues a large meeting at the prefent time. 
 
 Upon the revolution of government which 
 took place at the King's relloration, and the 
 
 rifmg 
 
 » Rutty,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 463 
 
 rifing of the Fifth-monarchymen, the people chap, 
 called Quakers in this nation, fhared deeply in xx. 
 the like feverities with their brethren in Eng- <— v--*^ 
 land ; their meetings were broken up with vio- 1660. 
 lence, they were taken out of their houfes, out ^rfimprT." 
 of their fields, on the public roads, and haled foned in 
 to prifon in fuch numbers, that before the end o°encc of 
 of the year there was a general imprifonment of the rifing 
 friends through the kingdom. William Edmund- monarchy ' 
 fon hath left an account in his journal that he "^^n. 
 with many more friends was prifoner at Mary- 
 borough, but that the Lord fupported them, and 
 bore up their fpirits above their fufferings and 
 the cruelties to which they were expofed, that 
 friends were frcfli and lively, contented in the 
 will of God ; that they had many good meet- 
 ings in prifon, the Lord's prefence being with 
 them, to their great confolation in him, who 
 wrought liberty for them in his own time. 
 
 They continued under fuifering through this 
 year and part of the next ; but neither the go- 
 vernors nor inferior magiflrates in general feem 
 to have been influenced againft them to an equal 
 degree of animofity with thofe in England. Se- 
 veral of them on the contrary difcovered an 
 amicable difpofition and readinefs to relieve 
 them. For after the nation became fettled, and 
 the pafiions of the people began to cool, William 
 Edmundfon, being then a prifoner, obtained his 
 liberty for about twenty days from the fheriif, wiiiiam 
 whereupon he went immediately to Dublin and Edmundfon 
 folicited the lords juftices, the earls of Orrery obuin* 
 and Mountrath and Sir Maurice Euftace to fet ^^^^^^ '■*^" 
 his friends at liberty, who were imprifoned in 
 different parts of the nation, and was fo fuccefs- 
 ful as to obtain an order for their releafe. Se- 
 veral
 
 254 H I S T O R Y o F T H E 
 
 CHAP, veral copies of the order being procured and 
 XX. figned by the lords juftices, were forwarded to 
 
 *— "^v-^^ the fheriffs of the feveral counties, where any of 
 1660. jijg friends were prifoners. 
 
 And foon after he vifited the meetings of his 
 friends throuojh the nation, and enquired whe- 
 ther the fheriifs had complied with the order, 
 which appeared to be generally done. In about 
 fix weeks he accomxpiifhed the bulmefs and re- 
 turned home ; but found his friends in the 
 Queen's county, where he refided, {till detained 
 in prifon ; wherefore at the enfuing quarter fef- 
 fions he went to Maryborough, to demand of the 
 juftices and high ihenft the reafon why the order 
 of tlie lords juilices was not obeyed ; the fherift 
 replied, they were detained for their fees, and 
 they fhould pay them, or lie there and rot. This 
 circunixlance occafioned him another journey to- 
 Dublin. But previoufiy perceiving the juilices 
 did not approve of the fheriff's conduct, but 
 fympathized with the prifoners, Vv^hofe innocence 
 had begot compaflion in the minds of them and 
 others, he procured from them a certificate of 
 the reafon of their detention, which was figned: 
 by three of the juilices prefent. 
 
 Thus provided he renewed his application to 
 the lords juflices, and through the particular fa- 
 vour of the earl of Mountrath (who, as well as 
 his fon after him, entertained a perfonal regard for 
 William Edmundfon, and a benevolent difpofi- 
 tion towards his friends in general' he readily 
 procured a pofitive order to the IheriiF to fet 
 friends at liberty without paying fees to any per- 
 fon : with this order he haftened back, and de- 
 livered it to the (lieriiF, who immediately compli- 
 ed in releafmg them, but with an ill-grace ; for 
 
 being
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 265 
 
 being greatly exafperated at the deprivation of c h a p. 
 this perquifite, he could not refrain from vent- ^^' 
 ing abufivc language and hard names at William 
 Edmundfon for his interceiiion in favour of the 
 priioners. 
 
 The good eife^l of this order, and the bene- 
 volent difpofition of many magifirates, is farther 
 evinced by the teltimony of Edward Cooke, in a 
 letter from Dublin dated the 29th of 9'"'". this 
 year, in which he writes, " Friends are gene- 
 " rally well, and none in prifon but in Cork, 
 " where we expeft flioitly to be releafed ; the 
 " jullices are very ready to help us at their fef- 
 " fions, fo that at prefent v/e have no jufl caufe 
 " to appeal any where elfe\" 
 . Yet there were fome magiilrates whofe treat- 
 ment of this people was marked with a malevo- 
 1-ence, exciting them to illegal fcverlty and injuf- 
 tice refembling the perfecuting meafurcs we have 
 noticed in England, particularly in this year 
 judge Alexander, who caufed Henry Rcfe, Tho- ^^T^;j'J 
 mas Shannon and nine others, v/fio had beenfmcdh. 
 apprehended at a meeting and committed to pri- jj"^^/i'"'* 
 fon at Carlow by John Mafters, Portrieve, with- Alexander 
 out examination or mittimus in writing, and 
 had been indided at the quarter fefTions, and by 
 the jury found not guilty, to be again indicted at 
 the afTizes, and being found guilty of meeting, 
 he fined them 320I. 
 
 At Cork he fined Alexander Atkins, Philip 
 Dymond, Thomas Cooke and feveral other pri- 
 foners 1190I. on the fame account. And at 
 Waterford, upon William Blanch, William 
 Wright and eight others he impofed a fine of 
 580!. And at Limerick fundry friends being 
 
 prifoners 
 
 * Befle.
 
 266 
 
 H I v*5 T O R Y OF THE 
 
 1665. 
 
 Sufferings 
 for tiuic». 
 
 Extretne 
 
 TJnilence 
 
 of George 
 
 Ciapnam, 
 
 prieil of 
 
 Mountme- 
 
 lick. 
 
 prifoners for the fame caufe of fimply meeting 
 together, he fmed them 40I. a piece, and remand- 
 ed them to prifon, where they continued four 
 months, 'till releafed by an order from the lords 
 juftices. 
 
 They were alfo here as well as in England li- 
 able to grievous futlerings and fpoil of goods 
 from the covetoufnefs and malevolent difpofition 
 of feif-interefled ecclefiafticks, who by them- 
 felves or a,!::;ents frequently took diflrefies from 
 them manifold their demands, which for con- 
 fcience fake they could not pay. Many were 
 imprifoned, and long continued in prifon on de- 
 finitive fentences and writs of excommunication, 
 to which fome of the clergy, in the true fpirit 
 of prieftcraft, endeavoured to give the force and 
 extent of an outlawry, and annex all the dread- 
 ful confequences with which they were attended 
 in the darkeft ages of popery. George Clap- 
 ham, pried of Mountmelick in the Queen's coun- 
 ty, having procured the excommunication of 
 William Edmundfon and feveral others, endea- 
 voured to deter the millers from grinding their 
 corn for the ul"e of their families, or any to fpeak 
 or trade with them : ^ he watched the markets 
 and the Quakers fhops, and to thofe he faw or 
 knew to deal with them, he would fend an ap- 
 paritor to fummon them to the bilhop's court, 
 the apprehenfion whereof generally terrified them 
 into a pecuniary compofition both with the mer- 
 cenary pried and apparitor, to get free from the 
 effects of a profecution in this dreaded court. 
 
 This fame pried degraded the dignity of his 
 function of a minider fo far, as to tell his hearers. 
 That if they met any of the excommunicated 
 
 Quakers 
 
 '' William Edmundfon's Journal.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 267 
 
 Quakers on the highway they fliould fnun them chap, 
 as they would fhun the plague ; that if they xx. 
 owed them any debt, they need not pay it ; or ^-^•""^ 
 if they knocked them on the head, the law ^^^5- 
 would bear them out. Strange doftrine in- 
 deed from one affuming the charadler of a mi- 
 niller of the gofpel ! His doctrine however had 
 not the defired effect upon his hearers ; they 
 received it with abhorrence, and knowing the 
 integrity of their peaceable neighbours, this 
 fpecimen of his malignity leflened their reve- 
 rence to their miniiter, and awakened their 
 fympathetic feelings for the fufferers, they of- 
 fered their fervants to carry their corn to the 
 mill to fupply them with bread for their fa- 
 milies, or any other kindnefs in their power, 
 and by their humanity frultrated fb far the evil 
 defigns of this envious piictl. 
 
 It was the happinefs of Ireland at this time to 
 be governed in church and ftate by men of J^'^'J^"^,^^" 
 more moderation, and lefs biaffed bv the in- men of mo- 
 
 At-' 
 
 fluence of a party fpirit and partial political de- p^^j^'^JIgViy 
 figns, than feveral of thofe in high fiations in primute 
 England feem to have been. The primate Boyle, °^ ^' 
 who was alfo chancellor, appears to be actuated 
 by a very different temper from archbilliop Shel- 
 don : 1 conceive from his condud in this bufmefs 
 the difcreet and judicious governor, who knew 
 how to diftinguifii between real and imputed dif- 
 loyalty ; between the adminiftration of legal and 
 arbitrary rule ; and to eftabliffi the authority of 
 the governor in the juftice and humanity of the wiiiiam 
 man. William Edmundfon drew up a narrative Kdniundfon 
 of Clapham's grofs proceedings, and got it at-ralTveor' 
 tefted by the Signature of feveral of his own c'^^p'^*"?'* 
 people, with which he went to DubHn, and pe-bcforeth"^* 
 
 c 
 
 titioned g"^""- 
 
 ment.
 
 tCiB H I S T O R Y or THE 
 
 CHAP, titioned the government upon the fubjed tbcre- 
 "■^^- oL The primate, as well as the privy council, 
 """"y^^ before which it was laid, expreflcd his indigna- 
 ^ ^-^' tion at his proceedings, as contrary to all law 
 T.ho is fum- and rule ; and immediately an order was iffued 
 Jpearbe- ^^^' ^^'^ pricit and apparitor to appear before the 
 £arc the counciL They appeared accordingly, and met 
 IS^iidtr with fevere reproof. The primate laid he would 
 giarpiy re- make examples of them, and would have had 
 them puniihed ; but William Edmundfon in- 
 formed him that he and his friends wanted no- 
 thing more by their application, than a flop to 
 be put to fuch cruelty as they had fuffered un- 
 der, in order that they might live peaceably in 
 their callings without moleilation. The primate 
 bade William, If they did not defift from fuch 
 proceedings, only write to him, and be ivould 
 make them examples to the nation. So William 
 forgave them, and let the matter drop. This 
 ^inltance of his pacific and forgiving fpirit fur- 
 ther conciliated the good opinion of many prin- 
 cipal men in authority of his principles, and a 
 favourable regard towards him and his fellow 
 profeflbrs in general. 
 
 But Ciapham being mightily incenfed againft 
 
 €iap>iEri*s William Edmundfon, for expofing his proceed- 
 
 pocfedin'i.t"^gS5 ^nd bringing him under the cenfure of his 
 
 ia icvcugc, fuperiors, continued to be vexatious to him and 
 
 his friends, as far as in his power. Having 
 
 procured a neighbour's horfe and car, he came 
 
 to William's houfe, loaded and carried^ away a 
 
 confiderable quantity of cheefe from him, and 
 
 much goods, corn and even wearing apparel 
 
 from other friends of the meeting he belonged 
 
 to, for fome church rates, as he faid ; and not 
 
 fatisfied herewith, he, being a juftice of peace, 
 
 fent
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 2^9 
 
 fent a conftable to apprehend William Edmund- chap. 
 fon (from a meeting at Mountmelick) and made ^x. 
 a mittimus to fend him to Maryborough jail ; ^---''vv-i' 
 but the earl of Mountrath fuperfeded his war- ^^^55, 
 rant, and fet William at liberty 'till the enfuing 
 alhzes, at which the earl patronizing his caufe, 
 and four lawyers pleading tor him unieed, again (t 
 two indictments which the priclt had preferred 
 againll him, the indidments were quafiied, and 
 the prieft gained nothing by this vindiclive at- 
 tempt againd his peaceable neighbour but fliame 
 and difgrace. 
 
 Y.et notwithflanding thefc repeated difappoint- 
 ments, he continued to difcovcr his propenfity 
 to perfecution by various efforts to bring both 
 William Edmund Ton and feveral others of the 
 people called Quakers into trouble. He indift- 
 €d William for not paying an aiTeiTment towards 
 the repairs of the public worfiiip houfe, al- 
 though he had been diftrained by the wardens 
 and conflable for the fame before, who took a 
 mare away from him worth 3I. los. He again 
 indicted feveral friends for being at meeting on 
 a certain day, and for not being at church (as 
 he termed it) the fame day 5 in confequence of 
 this profecution feveral were fined, and warrants 
 ilfued for levying the fines by diilraints. In 
 order to ufe endeavours to refcue his friends 
 from fullering for the confcientious difcharge of 
 apprehended duty, from the malice of unreafon- 
 able men, William Edmundfon Vv^ent again 
 to Dublin, and prefented a petition upon tha 
 fubjedt to tjie lord lieutenant and council : him- 
 felf and another friend were admitted into the 
 council-chamber to ftate their grievance j and 
 after a patient and candid hearing the council 
 gave judgment that the proceedings againft them 
 
 were
 
 %^0 H I S T O R y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, were illegal. The lord lieutenant being defirous 
 XX. to be informed why they did not pay tithes to 
 
 ^"■"^ — ' the minillers, William Edmundlbn informed him 
 1665. from the Scriptures, that the law was ended that 
 gaije tithes., and the priejihood ended that received 
 them^ by the coming and fuffering of Chrijt^ who 
 bad fettled a minijiry on better terms ^ and ordered 
 them a maintenance : he then enquired what 
 maintenance the minillers muft have ? and 
 William replied, Chrift's allowance, pointing 
 out from the Scriptures what that was ; as the 
 Lord, he faith, opened them to him, and gave 
 him wifdom and utterance to treat the fubjecb 
 clearly to their underftandings. I'here were 
 three biihops prefent, but none of them made 
 any objection in reply. The lord lieutenant, in 
 ccnclufion, bid Ood blefs them ; adding that they 
 Jhould not fuffer for not going to the public wor- 
 flnp, nor for going to their own meetings. This 
 favourable difpofition of the chief ruler awed 
 the prieil into quietnefs, and occafioned a pub- 
 lic opinion that the Quakers had received a 
 toleration of their religion, which was produc- 
 tive of much eafe to the members of this focietv, 
 who had fuftered greatly both by imprifonments 
 and lofs of fubftance on a religious account. 
 
 In effeft of this moderation in the governors, 
 
 the fufferings of the Quakers (fo called) were 
 
 inconfiderable through the courfe of the fucceed- 
 
 1667. ing year, and longer in moil parts ; but in the 
 
 year 1667 perfecution grew hot in Cork, through 
 
 Sufferings the intemperate rancour of ChriHopher Rye, 
 
 ot fria-.cis mavor of that citv, to the members of this fo- 
 
 m Cork . - , . • ^ i • -l 
 
 through the ciety, wno impriioned them m great numbers, 
 cTiX'^ her ^'^^y ^^^ keeping up their religious meetings, 
 Rye,nwy- and caufcd their imprifonment to be particularly 
 *^^- rigoiou*
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 271 
 
 rigorous and fevere ; and amongft other repe£l- chap. 
 able inhabitants of the city, Richard Pike, who xx. 
 loft his life by cold and diltemper, contracted in ^-^^^^^ 
 the jail ; and William Penn, lately convinced ^^.'^l^^J' 
 there, as before related, who during his refi- piue die* 
 dence in thefe parts, having contrafted an inti- '" J^''- 
 mate acquaintance with many of the nobility 
 and gentry, wrote to the earl of Orrery, lord 
 prefident of Munfter, acquainting him with the 
 caufe and manner of their imprifonment, and 
 foliciting him to interpofe his authority for re- 
 ftoring them to their liberty, which requeft, lb 
 far as related to himfelf, was readily granted, the 
 earl immediately ordering his difcharge ^ 
 
 The fociety being now^ greatly encreafed in 16CS. 
 number, upon the receiving of George Fox's 
 epiftle of advice to fet up meetings of difcipline, ^"Jj-^-^g 
 the ufefulnefs and neceflity thereof appearing eiiaMiihed 
 manifeft to friends in Ireland, they proceeded '" ''"'^'^'^ 
 to eftablilh them, in the fame manner as their 
 brethren in England had done. The care where- 
 of refted principally upon William Edmundfon, 
 who had been chiefly inftrumental to the gather- 
 ing of the fociety in that nation, and preferving 
 them in fidelity to their principles. They began 
 with eftablifhing provincial meetings to be held 
 once in fix weeks ; for thefe were prior to the 
 monthly meetings, as the quarterly meetings in 
 England were prior to the monthly meetings 
 there ; and thofe affairs which have fince been 
 the fubjeds of deliberation in monthly meet- 
 ings at firft fell under the cognizance of the 
 provincial meetings, becaufe in thefe times of 
 infancy and fufferings the mutual help and ad- 
 vice of friends allembled from different parts 
 
 appeared 
 
 •«= Rutty.
 
 «7^ 
 
 HISTORY OT THE 
 
 c K A ? appeared neceffary, when fome particular meet- 
 's x. ings were weak and fmall. 
 
 '--—/--^ In the forepart of the fucceeding year George 
 1-669. Fox landinsr in that nation in companv with 
 
 a^^rqi i^ Robert Lodge and fome other friends, feconded 
 
 Irciaud. his epillolarj ad%-ice, by his prefence and perfonal 
 affiflance and directions in fettiinc: men's and 
 women's meetings. At Dublin he recommend- 
 ed the holding cf their men's and women's 
 meetings once in two weeks, which hath con- 
 tinued ever fmce ; in fome places they were 
 agreed to be held monthly ; in others once in 
 fix W'eeks, as exigency or convenience required : 
 He likev/ife recommended the eftabliihment of 
 a general national m.eering to be held half yearly 
 in Dublin in the third and ninth months. The 
 firil m.eeting of this fort was held there in the 
 third month 1670, O. S. and this fettlement flill 
 continues. 
 
 By which eflabliihment the fociety in that na- 
 tion (as well as in England) became a com.pact 
 bodv, united in a benevolent concern for the 
 mutual help and edification one of another, and 
 cf the body in general, as the exigencies of in- 
 dividuals or the fociety at large might render 
 requifjte. 
 
 In thofe early days the principal employment 
 of thefe meetings was the collecting and record- 
 ing the fuiierings of the refpeciive m.embers 
 cf the fociety, and the account upon which they 
 fuffered ; and to make proper application for the 
 relief of friends, or for their releafe from im- 
 prifonment. 
 
 But in procefs of time many other weighty af- 
 fairs, refpecting good order and difcipline in the 
 church, leemed neceflary fubjects of confidera- 
 
 tion
 
 PEOPLE CALLED qUAKERS. 273 
 
 tion in thefe meetings ; and friends in that na- chap. 
 tion became eminently confpicuous for their zeal ^^* 
 and diligence in the fuppcning thereof; the 
 the fame fpirit of wifdom and found underftand- 
 ing leading them and their brethren in England 
 into the fame falutarv- rules, excellent in them- 
 felves, and highly conducive to the prefervation 
 of the ccmm.unity in a life and pradice confill- 
 ent with the purity cf their profeilion. 
 
 George Fox travelled over feveral parts of the 
 nation, vifiting his friends in their meetings of 
 difcipline, as well ai vrorfliip, to fet a-foct thofe 
 meetings in the different quarters : and -when he 
 had accompliihed his fervice, he took his leave 
 of his friends in much affection, in the fenfe of 
 the heavenly life and power that was manifefted 
 among them, and vdth his companions return- 
 ed to England. 
 
 Of this vifit Geoxe Fox himfclf crives the fol- 
 lowing account. " The prieils and magiilrates 
 were envious, but the Lord difapiK'inted their 
 counlels, and? gs-ve us manv bleifed opportu- 
 nities to vilit friends, and fpread truth in that 
 '* nation. Meetings were larcre, friends com- 
 " ing to them far and near : Many were reach- 
 *'• ed and convinced, and gathered to the truth, 
 ** and friends ereatlv refreflied." 
 
 (I 
 
 Ci 
 
 Vol, IL 5 CHAP.
 
 274 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Xll. 
 
 I S L E o F M A N. 
 
 Ferfccuiion in the JJle of Man exceedingly grie- 
 vous. — William Callow and Evan Chrijlen fuf- 
 fer fevere Imprifonment for very trivial De- 
 mands, — Warrant iffued by two Priefisfor com- 
 mitting the fakers ^ fo called^ to prifon, — They 
 are excommunicated without Procefs, and deli- 
 vered over to the fecular Power. — Order for 
 their Tranfportation. — Put on board a Ship to 
 be tranfported^ upon which the Sailors leave the 
 Ship. — Forced on board ether Ships and taken to- 
 Dublin, and fent back by the Mayor. — William 
 Callow and Evan Chrijlen have a long Confe- 
 rence with the Bifhop and Dean..—-Thcy go to* 
 the yiand, but are not fuffered to land. — Their 
 EJiates fei-zed. — William Callow^ after an inef- 
 fectual Application to the Earl of Derby, foli- 
 cits the Inter cejfion of the Duke of Tork and 
 Prince Rupert. — The Bijhop^s Inhumanity. — 
 Four Wom£7i baniftoed with Circumjlances of 
 CHAP. Barbarity — Aiicmpt to tranfport William Callow 
 to Virginia. — Is landed in Ireland. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 1662. 
 
 Peri'ecutior 
 intliclUcof 
 
 Man ex- under the arbitrary rule of the lord of the land 
 
 grievous. ^Uil, 
 
 ;"f Persecution in this fequedered ifland.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 275 
 
 (the Earl of Derby) and the uncontrouled power c hap. 
 of a rigid prelate, whofe intemperate bigotry xxi. 
 excited his blind zeal more to force uniformity ^^ — '^"'^ . 
 in religious profefTion and ceremonious worihip, ^^•^2* 
 than to cultivate in himfelf or his flock the 
 eflfentials of true religion, viz. the fear and love 
 of God, and benevolence to mankind ; was con- 
 tinued with additional feverity after the reltora- 
 tion, even beyond the feverity of the rulers un- 
 der the long parlia-nent and commonwealth, be- 
 fore related, aga^'jit the few refidents in this 
 iiland, who went under the denomination of 
 Qual^ers. 
 
 The number of them here was very fmall ; 
 the power and influence of the clergy being 
 more prevalent in this dark corner, where the 
 ignorance and rudenefs of the inhabitants fur- 
 nifhed opportunity, than in the more enlighten- 
 ed nations. This power and influence they have 
 uniformly exerted, rivalling popifti ecclefiaftics 
 in the darkefl ages, to prevent the introduction The clergy 
 of any other dofirines than thofe themfelves have ^^'j^^/t'^^"'" 
 adopted and taught; but particularly fuch as prevent the 
 are adverfe to their intereft and authority ; fo l°orornew 
 that through the awe with which the generality docirincs, 
 of people regarded thefe teachers, they were deter- 
 red from attending to or receiving any dodrines 
 different from theirs, and the more fo ft:ill from 
 the obfervation of the unfeeling cruelty, with 
 which thofe few, who had received thofe of the 
 people called Quakers, were treated. 
 
 William Callow and Evan Chrifl:en, the for- wiiiiam 
 mer for refufmg to pay fixteen-pence, and the E^"°'chrit 
 latter two-pence, demanded by a prieft/or bread ^^n com- 
 find wine for the facrament^ were committed to "arTimpri- 
 the prifon called St. Germain's in Cajik Peel, andfonmcnt for 
 
 ♦ o ■very trifling 
 
 S 2 were denra«d».
 
 ^•jS H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 '■(i'H A P. were clofe fhut up in a difmal dungeon without 
 
 XXI. fire, candle or bedding, having only ftraw ta 
 ^---N''-^ lie upon and a ftone for their pillow : Here they 
 
 1662. j^y fixteen days, until fome of their neighbours, 
 out of mere compaffion, unknown to them, paid 
 the money, otherwife they might have perilhed 
 there, their rigid perfecutors, two priefts, one 
 the complainant, the other the judge of the bi- 
 iliop's court, who granted the warrant for their 
 commitment, appearing by their adions to value 
 the lives of two honeft innocent men at lefs than 
 eighteen-pence. They were again, with fcveral 
 others, imprifoned ten days for abfence from the 
 public worihip, and a third tim.e, with fix others, 
 for being at meeting, were confined in a high 
 tower at Cafhle-Rufhen, without fire or candle, 
 fifteen weeks in the cold winter, only Williamt 
 Callow, after a month's imprifonment, appealing 
 to the Earl of Derby, obtained permiffion to go 
 to London, where at length he procured the 
 Earl's warrant for the difcharge of himfelf and 
 the refc. 
 
 J 663. They were imprifoned again the fucceeding 
 year, together with Evan's father, eighty years 
 
 1664. of age; and the following year prefents us with 
 the extent and independency to which ecclefiaf- 
 tical pov/er was llretched in this wretched illand, 
 by the following order iffaed by two priefts', 
 judges of the Bilhop's Court, for imprifoning the 
 Quakers. 
 
 Warrant if- " We have received orders from our reverend 
 P^Hefts^for^ " ordinary to admonifh the Quakers to conform 
 thegrenerai « and come to church, or be committed until 
 mcmofVhis** ^^^7 fubmit to law ; and forafmuch as they 
 people. « retufe, after feveral charges and publications 
 
 " ill
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 277 
 
 
 in the parifti church, but continue their re- c H a p, 
 
 fradlorinefs to all government of the church, xxi. 
 *' and are therefore cenfured to be committ)3d ^»^^v^^ 
 *' into St. Germain's prifon, and there let them ^^^4* 
 
 remain till orders given to the contrary, and 
 
 for fo doing this fhail be your difcharge. 
 
 " ROBERT PARR. 
 « JOHN HARRISON„ 
 
 €( 
 it 
 
 ec 
 
 P. S. If they refufe to be committed by 
 " you, call for the alfiflance of a foldier from 
 Captain Afcough. Let the fumner put this 
 in execution immediately.'* 
 
 
 By this order the faid William Callow, F.van 
 Chriflen and fome others were again lodged in 
 their former difmal manfion of Germains', and 
 in about four months after all the * women of 
 this profeffion were arrefted by a fumner or ap- 
 paritor, by virtue of an order of the bifhop to 
 carry them all to prifon, they being, he faid, 
 both men and women excommunicated, of which 
 excommunication they had not the leaft intelli' 
 gence, before he now declared it to them. 
 
 * Thcfe were the wife of fiild William Callow, (who be- 
 ing juft recovering out of a fever, and unable either to walk 
 or ride, was fuffered to iby at home for the prefcnt) jan? 
 Chriften, Jane Kennell, Anne Chriften, Mary Callow and 
 Mary Chriften ; one of whom was feventy-four and another 
 fixty-feven years of age, a third a poor fcrving man's wife, 
 •who had three children, the youngcfl: at her bread ; tl-.e 
 fourth, the wife of one not called ;a Quaker, had a large 
 family and many children, and the fiftli a fcrvant of Wil- 
 liam Callow, who was forcibly taken from her fick mif- 
 trefs. 
 
 The
 
 l-jB 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 1664. 
 
 Excommu 
 
 nicated 
 
 •without 
 
 power. 
 
 CHAP. The prifon allotted them was the fame gloomy 
 XXI. dungeon in which the men were confined, whi- 
 ther when the apparitor had brought them, he 
 took off his hat, and formally pronounced what 
 he called the bifhopV, curfe, to this effeft, " I do 
 *' here before the fiaiiders-by deliver you up into 
 
 5eu"er^" " St. Germain's prifon, by the law of my lord 
 
 kcuilr'^^^ '' the bifhop and his clergy, you being caff out 
 " of the church by excommunication, and I do 
 " take witnefs that I do deliver you over from 
 " the power of the bifhop and his law, to be 
 *^ and continue the Earl of Derby's prifoners." 
 What he meant by this reverie, the prifoners 
 could not devife, as there were none prefent but 
 himfelf and they. Having finifhed his fpecch he 
 left them, and they continued there many months, 
 enduring the hardfhips of a clofe and unhealth|y 
 confinement, the cruel m.ercies of the bifhop and 
 his clergy. 
 
 Being thus after the example of Romifh priefl- 
 craft turned over to the fecular power, which ap- 
 pears here as arbitrary, as that of the ecclefiafp 
 tics was exorbitant, feeming to be exercifed by 
 the mere will and plcafure of the Earl of Der- 
 by, in the month called June, 1665, Henry 
 Nowell, deputy governor, came to the caflle, 
 and read to the prifoners an Order from the 
 
 Order for Earl, that they muji be forthwith iranfported to 
 ' fome other land: And near the end of the 
 month two priefls came to them, and informed 
 them they were come by the deputy governor's 
 order to admonifh them to come to church, 
 otherwife they muft be banifhed forthwith. 
 
 On the 5111 September the commander of the 
 caflle received an order to fend all the Quakers 
 prifoners to Douglas, which was done on the 
 
 7th: 
 
 1665. 
 
 portation.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 279 
 
 ^th : And there they were kept under a guard chap. 
 rof foldiers until the 14th, when they were put xxi. 
 on board a Ihip of which Thomas Brittain was ^^-"^"^"^^ 
 mafter; but as the prilbners entered on onCpJ^^^* 
 fide of the fliip, the feamen went out at the luard a finp 
 other into the boat, teUing the mafter they were p';,''45'^,;;|; 
 not hired to carry people out of their native the faiiors 
 country againft their wills, and that they would ^^^"^ '^'' 
 •not go with him if he carried them, fo went on 
 fhore, leaving him only a boy cr two. The 
 mafter finding his men determined, and himfelf 
 unable to proceed on his voyage without them, 
 fet the prifoners on fliore again, which being done, 
 the failors returned, and the fhip fet fail. 
 
 About three days after feveral veiVels came 
 into the road ; but all refufed to carry the pri- 
 foners. The foldier-s endeavoured to force them 
 .on board the fhip of Anthony Nicholfon, offorcJdm! 
 Whitehaven ; but he ftrenuoufly oppofed it, in - ^«.="-'i °;h«;^ 
 fiftmg that he would carry no priioners, except the wiU of 
 they would fend a guard of foldiers, and money *'''^. '"^*^"*« 
 to mamtam both the priioners and them, and to Dublin, 
 alfo fignify in writing the crime laid to their ^"J^*^?'^j^^ 
 charge. However, on the 1 8th, about midnight, mayor. 
 four of the prifoners, viz. William Callow, 
 J^van Chriften, Jane Chriften and Mary Callow, 
 were * hurried out of their beds with fuch pre- 
 cipitancy, that they were not allowed time to 
 put on their clothes, but obliged to leave fome 
 of them behind ; two of them were forcibly put 
 on board Nicholfon's (hip, and the other two on 
 board William Crofsthwaite's againft the will of 
 
 * They purpofed alfo to have fent another woman of fe- 
 Tcnty-four years of age, but left her, being too weak to 
 remove, lying, as they thought, at the point of death on a 
 bed of ftraw. 
 
 the
 
 28o HISTORTOFTHE 
 
 CHAP, the mafter's. They failed to Dublin, where nei- 
 XXI. ther the feamen nor prifoners were fuffered to 
 
 ^— ~v~*-' land, until Crofsthwaite was examined by the 
 1665. mayor, who demanded his warrant for bringing 
 the prifoners without their confent, to which he 
 anfwered, that he had no warrant, but was com- 
 pelled to take them on board by one Quail, an 
 officer, who took away his fails, and would not 
 let him put off without the prifoners, and his 
 veffel was in danger of breaking. " Upon w^hich 
 the mayor gave him the following order. 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 " You arc hereby required to take back in 
 '^ your own veffel, the prifoners called Quakers, 
 ** which you brought againft their voluntary con- 
 *' fent out of the Ifle of Man, and them to put 
 " on Ihorc on the faid ifland, to follow their ne- 
 
 ceffary occafions ; of which you may not fail 
 
 at your peril. 
 
 
 <c 
 
 Dated the 27th of September, 1665." 
 
 Purfuant to this order he brought them back, 
 but either being, or pretending to be, driven by 
 the ifland by contrary winds, he carried them to 
 Whitehaven, and there put them on flrore ; but 
 Carried to John Lamplugh, a juftice of peace, iffued his war- 
 Sen and ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ conftables of Whitehaven to caufc 
 thence back them to bc put ou board Crofsthwaite's fliip, to 
 and from ' ^e Carried back to the ifle, as no order or legal 
 Dublin to proceedings appeared to authorize him to bring 
 haven' them into that country. So on the 12th Decem- 
 again. ]^qy, Crofstliwaite took them on board again, 
 but inftead of carrying them to the ifland, car- 
 ried
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. ' 28i 
 
 Tied them again to Dublin, but would not be c h a p. 
 fuffered to land them there until he had given xxi. 
 fecurity to convey them to the illand on his re- '-^ — ^^""^ 
 turn. But in violation of his engagement he ^^^5* 
 returned with them to Whitehaven. Thus were 
 thefe innocent perfons harraffed and toflfed back- 
 ward and forward in the cold winter feafon. Be- 
 ing landed again in England, the two men went 
 to the Earl of Derby, and vvhile they were em- 
 ployed in fruitlefs folicitations to him and the 
 bilhop, for liberty to return to their places of 
 refidence and lawful occupations, Crofsthwaite 
 carried the two women back to the ifland, where 
 they were again fliut up in prifon. 
 
 Thefe two men, after long attendance upon the ,655. 
 Earl of Derby, were by him reierred to the bi- The two 
 ihop, to whom (after fome time coming to Know- ^^ll ^^n! 
 lefly Hall in Lancafhire, the faid earPs feat) they ^^^^^^^^^ 
 got admittance, and had a long conference with b;(i,op and 
 him and the dean, wherein they endeavoured to ^'=^''- 
 move him to compaffionate their cafe, and give 
 an order for their return to their wives and chil- 
 dren, and to their honeft labour at home ; but 
 he appeared callous to every fenfation of cle- 
 mency, he would by no means admit of their re- 
 turn, and by his influence the earl was alfo har- 
 dened againft them ; for although his oflicer had 
 pretended to deliver them over from the bifhop's 
 power, as excommunicated perfons, to the civil 
 power, and this biihop himfelf pretended he had 
 done with them ; yet it appears by his own ac- 
 knowledgement in their conference with him, 
 and by their fubfequent fuiferings, that fo far 
 from having done with them, he was the princi- 
 pal inftrument in promoting all the perfecuting 
 ineafures againfi them. The conference itfeif is 
 
 too
 
 2JJ2 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, too prolix to be introduced here at full length; 
 XXI. but a fmall part thereof, as conveying an idea 
 '— ~v-^ of this bifliop's fpirit, may not be impertinent to 
 1666. laiy before the reader. 
 
 Bifiop. What have you to fay to me ? 
 
 Anfwer. We have to fay to thee, viz. to let 
 thee know that we are perfecuted, and baniflied 
 from place to place for confcience-fake, and moft 
 of it long of thee. 
 
 Bipop. I did not banifh you — I left you fad 
 enough when J. left the ifland. 
 
 Anfwer. Yet notwithftanding we know that 
 our banifhment is long of thee, or elfe the earl 
 would be loth to ufe us there worfe than his te- 
 nants in this country. 
 
 Biflwp. 1 have no more to do with you or fay 
 to you ; but what I told you before, that if I 
 can periuade my lord to the contrary, you fhall 
 not go again to the ifland. 
 
 Afifiver. Indeed we expecl no better from the 
 fpirit of perfecution in any whomfoever ; but 
 fhou art contrary to the fpirit of Chrift, who 
 faid, do unto all men as you would be done 
 unto, who taught to love our enemies and not 
 to perfecute. 
 
 Bijhop. You are not perfecuted, but banifiedy 
 becaufe you do not come to church. 
 
 How eafily men fuffer themfelves to be im- 
 pofed upon, and run into weak and abfurd rea- 
 foning, by ufmg unmeaning expreffions, or giv- 
 ing wrong names to things. If banifhing men 
 becaufe they do not come to church be not per- 
 fecution, I would fain know what is ? 
 
 After their ineffectual conference, thefe exiles 
 returned into Cumberland!; and although they 
 could not obtain the earl's or bifiiop's permif- 
 
 fion
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 283 
 
 fion to return home, the diftrelfed ftate of tlieir chap. 
 families, in their abfence, from which they had xxi. 
 been forcibly feparated, determined them at any v-''v>^ 
 rifque to return' to them, and accordingly they ^ 666. 
 took (hipping again for the ifland ; but before bacic^tf °he 
 they could get on fhore, the mafler of the veifel ''i^"^' ^V"* 
 
 •' . , 9 r rr I , , . are nut luf- 
 
 received orders not to lutier the m to land ; m f„rcd to 
 confequence whereof they were detained on**"^- 
 board until the ill of September, when the 
 mafler fent a petition to the biihop, requefting 
 that they might go on fliore until he was ready 
 to return, and then, if required, he would carry 
 them back to England, whereunto the biihop re- . 
 plied, ' 
 
 *' I am content that the Quakers be fecured 
 *' on fliore until the return of the veflel, upon 
 *' fecurity given by the owner of the veffel and 
 *' the Quakers for their return upon his depar- 
 *' ture from the ifland. 
 
 « ISAAC SOBER and MAN." 
 
 They continued at home about a month, 
 Ivhen they were brought to Ramfey, and forced 
 again from wife and relations. William Cal- 
 low's wife taking her leave of him with tears, fo 
 affeded the mailer of the ihip, that he wept too, 
 endeavouring to comfort the poor woman with 
 promifes of kindnefs to her huiband. But this 
 obdurate biihop, contrary to his aifertion, had not 
 done with them yet ; for one Qualtrop, an attor- 
 ney, juft about the fame time they were fent off, 
 took polTeiTion of their eftates, and an inventory -f^^^jrefu 
 of all their fubltance real and perfonal, by vir- t*'«s feizri. 
 ine of an order figned by the laid biihop and 
 
 others.
 
 284 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Others. It Is difficult to conceive a more arbi- 
 
 XXI. trary government than feems at this time to have 
 
 ^- — V — > fubfifted in this iiland, where men could be de- 
 
 1666. prived of both their liberty and property, at 
 
 the mere M'ill of their governors, without con- 
 
 viftion of any crime, or even being brought to 
 
 a legal trial. 
 
 "Upon their being landed again in England, 
 William Callow went into Lancalhire, and re- 
 newed his application to the earl, for his permif- 
 fion to return home, but with no better fuccefs 
 than before : Wherefore he went to London, 
 and reprefented his cafe to the Duke of York 
 wniiam 3nd Prince Rupert, the latter of whom compaf- 
 nevvshisap-fionated it fo far, as to intercede by letter in his 
 plication to t)ehaif wherein, after reciting the account he 
 
 the Larl of , . r- , • 1 o • • rr r 
 
 Derby, but had oi his characler, as a quiet moiteniive per- 
 
 fcdlfai'foit ^"^^J ^^ prefumes, that if there was nothing 
 
 cits the in- morc againft him than his being a Quaker, the 
 
 J^^jdJ^^" °f earl might be inclined to reftore him and his 
 
 York and family to their antient polTeffions, and to prevail 
 
 yerr^^"" upon him to do fo (he fays) was the reafon of 
 
 troubling him with that application. But even 
 
 this powerful foiicitation proved lefs effeflual 
 
 with the earl, than the biihop's influence, and 
 
 for his declining compliance with which he gives 
 
 the following reafon. " There is not now in the 
 
 *' ifland * one Quaker or dilfenting perfon of 
 
 " any 
 
 » BefTe. 
 * This was a miftake, there being three women of that 
 denominatioa prifoners in the ifland, and as this ifland was a 
 kind of afylum for bankrupts and other fugitives both from 
 Britain and Ireland, it feems probable there might be many 
 diflentcrs from the former and many papifts from the latter ; 
 but the fear of ths bifliop's court, and the confecjuential feve- 
 
 rities
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 585 
 
 " any perfuafion from the church of England, CHAP. 
 *' and I humbly conceive your highnefs, for that xxi. 
 *' one man's concern, would not have that place '^--^v^^-' 
 *' endangered to be infefted v/ith fchifm or ^^^^-^ 
 *' herefy, which it might be liable to, if Qua- 
 ** kers were permitted to refide there." 
 
 While William Callow was occupied .in Lon- 
 don in foliciting for liberty to return home, he 
 received intelligence from his wife, that flie, his 
 daughter Anne, her filler Jane Chriilen and 
 Mary Callow had been prifoners in Caftle-Peel 
 five or fix weeks, and that all their eflates, real 
 and perfonal, were feized, and that flie heard 
 the attorney would fhortly come and take away 
 all their goods ; that fne and Jane Chriflen being 
 with childj they had applied by letter to the bi- 
 fliop for leave to return to their houfes until the The bi- 
 fpring, and then return to prifon, they not hav- Y^ml^kj, 
 ing wherewith to fubfifl: during the winter, nor 
 neceflarics for perfons in their condition, but 
 that the bifliop, deaf to their entreaties, had re- 
 turned the following fevere anfwer. 
 
 
 If upon releafement they will put in fecu- 
 *' rity to promife to come to the fervice, and 
 " conform to the order of the church, and all 
 ** luch as are excommunicated to acknowledge 
 *' their fchifms, and receive abfolution, I fliali 
 fo far prefume upon my lord's favour, as to 
 grant them liberty ; otherwife I have no pow- 
 er to meddle with them, they being my lord's 
 
 
 rities might awe them to conceal their di/Tent under an oc- 
 cafional conformity, which to men of no principle was a tem- 
 porary evil not hard to endure. In every view it is a proof 
 of the exorbitant ftretch of ccclefiaftical power in this bar- 
 barous illc. 
 
 , " prifoners ^
 
 286 H I S T O R r OF THE 
 
 CHAP.*' prifoners ; and if they mifcarry in their healtli 
 XXI. «' or lives, it is wholly imputable to their dif- 
 
 ^-'"v — ' " obedience, and they mull be accounted their 
 1666. " own murderers ; and this is all I can fay to 
 them. 
 
 Ci. 
 
 « ISAAC SODER and MAN, 
 
 **^ Caftletown, 15th December, 1666.** 
 
 Thus the bifliop, who had power and influence 
 to perlecute with cruelty, but pretended want of 
 power to relieve, while he wanted only tender- 
 nefs to feel, hardened his heart againfl: every 
 remonftrance, and perfiiled in his obftinacy to 
 force thefe unhappy perfons into conformity a- 
 gainil their confciences, or leave them in danger 
 of ftarving and perifhing in jail. And William 
 Callow, who upon the receipt of this affecting 
 intelligence, determined at all events if poflible 
 to vifit his wife in her weak and diflrefled con- 
 dition, and endeavour to give her fuch relief a* 
 was in his power, accordingly returned home, 
 William where, although he found his wife in a weak 
 turnthomc, condition, as he expefled, he was not fuffered 
 andisfcnt fo give her any efl^ectual affillancc ; for the very 
 iamcdTy/^day he came home he was fent to prifon by or- 
 der of the biftiop, where he was detained feven 
 days, and then put on board a velfel again, and 
 fent off to England. He then wrote a moving 
 account of his hard ufage to the Earl of Derby, 
 and waited perfonally upon him with it ; but he 
 turned a deaf ear to his complaints, refufed to 
 receive his paper, and difmilfed him with this 
 rude anfwer, " If he would not conform, he 
 '' fliould not return to poifon his illand.'* The 
 
 bifliop
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 2S7 
 
 bifhop had before ufed the Hke argument in de- CHAP. 
 fence of his perfiltance in refufing them liberty xxi. 
 to return, alledging, if tliey had their liberty, ^— -v — •> 
 they would corrupt all the neighbours about 1666. 
 them. To which they anfwered, " Nay, \vc 
 " would not corrupt them, they are corrupted 
 " enough, f wearers, liars, whoremongers, arc 
 *' all corrupted." 
 
 In the year 1668 thofe four women were im- The four- 
 prifoned again and banlfhed with fuch circum- gahTimpH. 
 fiances of barbarity as even drew tears from '°"^^ ^"^ 
 their neighbours, who were commanded to bewTthcL 
 affiftant in taking them. Two foldiers came to cum^ances 
 William Callow's houfe, with an order from theLrblruy, 
 bifhop to take his wife to prifon, and they faid 
 the order from the bifhop was peremptory to 
 take her and the others to prifon, though they 
 fhould die by the way. William's wife being 
 very weak in bed, they took her each by au 
 arm, and endeavoured to pull her out of the 
 bed ; but her children crying round her, and the 
 neighbours alfo at the fight of their cruelty, 
 moved them to defifl at that time, but they re- 
 turned the next day and took her, Evan Chrif- 
 ten's mother, an antient woman between feventy 
 and eighty years of age, Jane Chriilen and Mary 
 Callow, all to Caflle-peel. The very next day an 
 order came from the bifhop to fend them back 
 again to Ramfcy, where they were detained fe- 
 veral weeks until a veiTel was ready to take them 
 away; when one Captain Afcough, in whofe 
 cuftody they were, brought them to the boat,T.K 
 with their children weeping after them, whomhecrueiivfc- 
 cruelly feparated from them, not fuffering them, f;'„';;\'";h^;j. 
 though defirous, to take any but the youngelh'^i^t-"- 
 along with ihem. So WilUarn Callow's wife, 
 
 to
 
 2gS H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, to her other painful fufferings, had the piercing 
 XXI. mortification to leave four children behind her 
 
 ''■^ — "^"^ wiihout father or mother to provide for or take 
 1666. care of them. Jane Chriflen in like manner was 
 
 at v/hite- forced to leave five. They being forced on 
 
 feavc-n and ^oard wcre landed at Whitehaven. After fome 
 
 Sent n:^.rK 
 
 flay there, they together' with William Callow 
 were fent back by order of two Cumberland juf- 
 tices. The day after their arrival at the illand 
 they were forcibly taken out of their beds by 
 order of the deputy governor, and put on board 
 the Ihip in fuch hurry, that the women were 
 obliged to take their children naked in their 
 aprons, crying through the llreets, in the night. 
 They W'erc now taken to Dublin, whence a fhip 
 PubuV^id ^''^^ prefled to take them back again by order of 
 bock. the mayor. The palfagc was tedious by reafon 
 of contrary winds, and the v/omen fuffered much 
 for want of provifions and necelfaries, William 
 Callow's wife being near the time of her deli- 
 very. As foon as the bifhop and governor were 
 informed of their arrival, they fet a watch upon 
 the vefTel to prevent William Callow's landing, 
 ^nd the women having been landed before, were 
 foon forced again on board by foldiers by their 
 orders, with aggravated circumftances of inhu- 
 manity. The mailer of the fhip being brought 
 ^"J^c^^Vt" hefore the governor and the bifhop, reprefented 
 the bifliop'»the weak condition of the women, and what 
 "^^ '^' they had fuffered at fea, and the danger to which 
 they muft certainly be expofed by being hurried 
 again on board ; but the bifhop, whofe heart 
 feems fteeled againll every impreffion of huma- 
 nity, unmoved by the reprefentation, fent an 
 order to raife the parifli people to put William 
 Callow's wife on board. The meffenger inform- 
 ed
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 289 
 
 cd him flie was very weak, and they did not chap. 
 know but in labour. The bifliop, neverthelefs, xxi. 
 renewed his orders, and the foldiers coming to ^-^"^ — ' 
 her bed fide, ordered her to get up and go with ^'^'^'^• 
 them, fwcaring that they had orders from the 
 bifhop, if {lie would not go, to carry her in a 
 cart or acrofs a horfe's back. They took her 
 children out of bed from her, and fcarce giving 
 her time to put on her clothes, hurried her to 
 Ramfey ; they rifled her pockets of 4s. ; they 
 took away her box of clothes and Hnen, leav- 
 ing the poor woman neither linen nor any 
 thing elfe but what fhe had on her, alledging 
 they feized her goods by the bifhop's warrant. 
 Three of the neighbours who refufed to aflifl in 
 this cruel treatment of an helplefs woman, were 
 by the bifhop's order committed to prifon, as 
 if, in his eflimation, compaffion were a crime. 
 The exiles were detained on board an open boat 
 half decked, and that fo badly that when it rain- 
 ed they could not fit dry, which landed them at 
 Peel in Lancalhire ; but upon their landing, 
 two juftices of peace made an order to fend 
 them back again ; purfuant to which order they 
 were all fent back (except Anne Callow, who 
 being in childbed was left behind) and on their 
 arrival at Ramfey, were detained prifoners on 
 fliip-board from the 8 th of the month called 
 Augufl 'till the ifl: of September. 
 
 Thus were innocent perfons, legally convicted 
 of no crime, a fecond time toiled from fhore to 
 fiiore, as if unfit to live on the earth ; though 
 they had injured no man, nor were burdenfome 
 to any, but able to fupport their families repu- 
 tably, while they were fufiered quietly to follov,- 
 their lawful occupations. But it feems proper 
 
 Vol.. IL T to
 
 290 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, to remark that the magiflrates of Dublin, and 
 XXI. of the Britifh ports, where they were landed, 
 ^^-"^r-^ appear not to have fent them back in any ilU 
 1666. yf/i\i to rhem ; but rather in teftimony of abhor- 
 rence of the bifhop's arbitrary and illegal pro- 
 ceedings. The reafons affigned by the Lanca- 
 Ihire juftices in their warrant for the taking them 
 back are, that thev had all eflates in the Ifle of 
 Man, but had none elfewhere, that [ (tripped of 
 all their property] they were like to be burden- 
 fome to the King's fubjecls in thefe parts, if 
 they fhoukl be permitted to fettle — that they had 
 been banifhed out of the ifland, the place of their 
 habitation, without any legal proceedings, that do 
 any way appear, and not fent or coniined to any 
 certain place of banifhment by any legal autho- 
 rity, but turned out as vagabonds to the wide 
 world, to the fcandal of the laws and the King's 
 government. 
 
 Finding that both from England and Ireland 
 the banlfhied were continuallv fent back with a 
 ccnfure of the illegality and unreafonablenefs of 
 their proceedings, in order to free themfelves 
 Eiideavoars from the like trouble and reproach for the fu- 
 William ture, tney determmed to tranlport William Cai- 
 caiknv to lo^v to Virginia by a London (hip, then at an- 
 chor in Ramfcy bay, bound thither, of which 
 Ralph Harwood was mafler. On the ift of Sep- 
 tember an order was fent to captain Afcough to 
 fend William Callow under the condud of a 
 foldier to the governor, who upon his appear- 
 ance enquired of him, if he was willing to go 
 to Virginia ? to which he replied, " i have no 
 " bufmefs there ; but, replied the governor, 
 " Wc will fend ihee thither." William enquir- 
 ed by what law ? Anfivsr, " By my lord's or- 
 
 " der."
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 291 
 
 " der.** William defired a fair trial, infilled that chap. 
 he had never been tried ; never been brought xxi. 
 before any court ; demanded to be tried by the ^^ — v— *-^ 
 laws of his ovi^n country, or by the lavi^s of Eng- ^^^^' 
 land ; he appealed to the laws of his country ; ti/e'kmg * 
 to the king and council, before whom, he faid, ^"'^""""J- 
 his caufe was already. The benefit of the law 
 was refufed, and his appeals rejeded by this in- 
 folent governor, who was refolved, by the wan- 
 ton exertion of illegal violence, to put it out 
 of his power to avail hinifelf of legal redrefs for 
 the wrongs he received, or profecute any appeal 
 to effeci. After a fliort conference, in which 
 William, with a fortitude founded on innocence 
 and cdnfcious integrity, llrenuoufly maintained 
 his right to exemption from the propofed baniih- 
 ment, and denying the legality of the gover- 
 nor's power to tranfport him, againll: w^hich the 
 governor had little farther to advance than, 
 " Upon my credit thou fhalt go to Virginia — I 
 " deny thy appeal— What I do I will anfwer it,** His appeal 
 he ordered the foldiers to take him away, upon ^"'^'^' 
 which two of them, taking each an arm, haled 
 him to the boat, and then left him on fliip- 
 board. When he was put on board, the failors Being put 
 refufed to go the voyage, if he was to be carried ftip^'^^he ^ 
 with them, faying, tbey never heard of a /Zj/j& fa'iors rc- 
 whicb carried fakers againji their will thai ti^^oyfge. 
 ever profpered. Whereupon the mafler promifed 
 them, that he would carry him no further than 
 Ireland, and accordingly the next day fet him on 
 fhore about forty miles north of Dublin. William 
 went directly to Dublin, took {Inpping and land- is bnded in 
 ed at Whitehaven ; alfo about the fame time Ireland. 
 Evan Chriften, his aged mother, and Alice Cow- 
 ard, arrived in Enrdand from the Ifle of White- 
 
 T 2 • • horn
 
 292 HIS TO R Y Oi THE 
 
 CHAP, horn in Scotland, whither they had been carried 
 XXI. in an open fiihing boat, after long confinement 
 
 v-'^/-^^ on board the veflel, which brought them back 
 1666. out of Lancafhire, as before related. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 Perfcciition relaxed in England, — A Dejtgn to io- 
 ierate Dijfenters. — Oppofed by the Bijhops. — 
 The Farliament addrefs the King for a Pro- 
 claination againjl Dljj enters. — Conventicle A 61, 
 — Remarks thereupon. — Ecclefiajiics promote the 
 fevere Execution thereof. — The People called 
 ^.akisrs the great eft Sufferers. — Many of them 
 greatly fpoiled. — Informers profligate and infa- 
 mous. — Many of them perjure ihemfelves by 
 falfe Information. — Exorbitant in their Dijlraints. 
 — fnfti^^^ ^^^d Informers frequently exercife 
 their Power beyond the haw. — Tet Appeals 
 are generally ineffedual. — Arbitrary Mifcon- 
 jiru6iion of the Word Conventicle. — Unfair 
 Method of fining for a Preacher. — Some Juf 
 tices df courage the Informers. — George Fox writes 
 agauift the Ad^ and encourages his Friends to 
 faithfulnefs. 
 
 Pcrfecution 1 ERSECUTION In England fecms to have 
 
 axed in 
 England. 
 
 relaxed in \^qqi^ fome time confiderably relaxed, although 
 
 not totally put a flop to, particularly in the city 
 
 of
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 293 
 
 of London, to which various caufes appear to c h a p. 
 have confpired, the Dutch v/ar, the depopulat- xxii. 
 ing peflilence, the deftruction of a great part of ^— -v-^^ 
 the city by the fire, more immediately demanding ^^T°' 
 the care and vigilance of the government and 
 magifiracy, drew off their attention from the 
 diffenters for a feafon. And the Duke of Buck- 
 ingham fucceeding Clarendon in the ftation of 
 prime minifler, whether in order to confirm the 
 opinion that liis predecefTor had been the author 
 of ail their haidfliips, or that he really held 
 more liberal fentiments in refpeft to religious 
 liberty, fhewed more lenity to the non-confor- 
 mills than his predeceflbr had done,* and by con- 
 nivance fuffered them to hold their meetings 
 without moleflation ; the difcourfe of a tolera- 
 tion began to revive, and the queftion concern- 
 ing the reafonablenefs thereof to be more freely 
 agitated in fundry publications. The king alfo 
 in his fpeech at the opening of the parliament 
 in 1668, exprelTed his dcfire that they would 
 take into their ferious deliberation the means 
 of effeding an union amongd all his proteilaut 
 fubjefts, whereby they might be induced not 
 only to fubmit quietly to the government, but 
 chearfully - give their alliliance to its fupport. 
 But the majorify of the Houfe of Commons, 
 under the influence of the fame party fpirit 
 which had iiinmlated them to enact the fevere 
 laws of this reign, appeared much diflurbed, 
 and in return petitioned the king to iffue out a 
 proclamation for enforcing the laws againft con- 
 venticles, and for preferving the peace of the 
 kingdom againft unlavrful aifembhes of papills 
 
 =" Neale. Rapin.
 
 .194 H I S T O R Y OF* the 
 
 CHAP, and non-conformifts. The king iflued the pro- 
 XXII. clam-ation accordingly, yet it appears not [o have 
 *— 'v**^ been attended with very heavy confequences to 
 ^^70- the diflenters. For in the courfe df the fuc- 
 ceeding year .their hopes were again revived, 
 thofe feds who to avoid perfecution had ufually 
 met clandeflinely, now appeared more openly, 
 and ventured to afl'emble publicly for religious 
 worfhip. A more generous way of thinking 
 feemed to be adopted by fome leading men a- 
 mong the epifcopalians. A fcheme v/as fet on 
 Adefignto foot for Comprehending the prefbyterians in the 
 hemfthe body of the eftablifhed churchy and granting a 
 P'-e'J'.y'e- toleration to other diifenters. '' The Lord Chief 
 eftabiinied Juftice Hale undertook to draw up a bill for this 
 church, an^ purpofe, and Sir Orlando Bridgeman to fupport 
 other dif. it Vv^ith his whole intereft. But the defign com- 
 femers. jj^g ^^ |.j^g coguizauce of fom'e of the bilhops, 
 " they quickly took the alarm and fpread it to the 
 Oppofedby reft. Archbifhop Sheldon wrote a circular let- 
 t c 1 ops. ^^^ ^Q j^jg fufFragans, enjoining them to- make a 
 minute enquiry touching the conventicles in their 
 refpeftive diocefes. Having received all the in- 
 formation he could procure, he exaggerated every 
 circum-ftance to the king, and obtained from 
 his eafy temper a frefti proclamation to put the 
 laws in force againft the non-conformifts, and 
 particularly againPc the preachers, according to 
 the Statute of 17 Car. II. which prohibits their 
 refiding in corporations. 
 Thfpar. The parliament, upon their meeting after the 
 
 Iiament ad- .. ^ . _ i f i rr r i i • n 
 
 ^reffcsthe prorogation, leconded the eltorts or the bilhops, 
 prodama- ^X ^^ ^ddrcfs of thanks to the king for his pro- 
 tion againft claiiiation \ by a vote prohibiting any member 
 
 rion con- 
 formifls. 
 
 ^ SmoUet. Rapin, 
 
 from
 
 i 
 
 PEOPLE* CALLED QJTAKERS. '295 
 
 from bringing in the propofed bill in fiivour ofc HAP 
 non-conformilts. and by appointing a committee xxsi. 
 to make exa6l enquiry inro their conduct ; who '.,.^/->^ 
 in refult of their enquiry reported, that divers 1670. 
 conventicles and feditious ajremblies were -held • 
 in the neighbourhood of the parhament, fo as • 
 to infult the government, and endanger the 
 pubHc tranquilHty ; the houfc immediately de- 
 clared, that they would'adhere to the king for 
 the fupport of government in churqh and date, 
 againit all adverfaries whatfoever. I'hefe mea- 
 fures might be juftly looked upon ?.s a prelude 
 to frefti perfecution under additional penal laws; 
 for although the*behaviour of the different claf* 
 fes of non-conformiils had admini tiered no foun- 
 dation for railing any rumour of a plot in 
 agitation, as had been generally done, this vole 
 feems intended t^ create an alarm of danger 
 notwithftanding, requiring the joint exertion of^ 
 the different branches of the legiiiature to guard • 
 and provide againft, nnd to point out all dif- 
 fenters as perfons fcditioui and dangerous to the 
 flate. 
 
 And the former aft againft conventicles, uporx 
 which fo m^any were condemned to banii'hment, 
 being expired, in the next feiTion, in 1670, they 
 proceeded to make a third acl ugainit tiieni ; 
 but having found repeated and long imprii'on- 
 ments, and even banifhment, ineffeclual to deter 
 thofe called Quakers in particular from keep- 
 ing up their religious meetings for the worll-iip 
 of God, they feem.ed refolved now to try the 
 force of depredation and impoverifhing them in 
 their eftates, like the perfccutor of Job, effay- 
 ing various modes of diRrcis to accompliih their 
 purpofes, and force them to defile their confoi- 
 
 - ence.?
 
 6i 
 ii 
 ii 
 ii 
 ii 
 
 296 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, cnces in declining their duty of divine worfliip 
 XXII. according to their perfuafion of the divine re- 
 ^""""^r-^ quirings. 
 
 1670. jhe title of this third ad, was, " An a£t to 
 
 aft. ' " prevent and fupprefs feditious conventicles," 
 
 22 Car. II. which received the royal affent the 
 
 nth of the month called April, 1670, and was 
 
 to the following effeft, " That if any perfons 
 
 upwards of fixteen years of age fhall be pre- 
 
 fent at any aflembly, conventicle or meeting, 
 
 under colour or pretence of any exercife of 
 
 religion, in any other manner than according 
 
 to the liturgy and practice of the church of 
 
 England, where there are five perfons or more 
 
 prelent befides thofe of the faid houfehold, 
 
 ** in fuch cafes the offender ihall pay 5s. for the 
 
 " firft offence ; and los. for the fecond. And 
 
 " the preacher or teachers in any fuch meetings 
 
 " fhall forfeit 20I. for the firft, and 40I. for 
 
 *' the fecond offence. And thofe who knowingly 
 
 " fuffer fuch conventicles in their houfes, barns, 
 
 " yards, &c. fhall forfeit 20I. Any juftice of 
 
 " peace on the oath of two witnefles, or any 
 
 '* other fufficient proof, may record the offence 
 
 " under his hand and feal, which record fhall 
 
 " be taken in law for a full and perfect con- 
 
 *' viction, and fhall be certified at the next 
 
 '* quarter felfions. The fines may be levied by 
 
 diftrefs and fale of the offender's goods and 
 
 chattels, and in cafe of the poverty of fuch 
 
 offender, upon the goods and chattels of any 
 
 other perfon or perfons that fliall be convift- 
 
 *' ed of having been prefent at the faid con- 
 
 ** venticle, at the difcretion of the juftice of 
 
 peace, fo that the fum to be levied on any 
 
 one perfon, in cafe of the poverty of others, 
 
 "do 
 
 
 e.c
 
 a 
 a 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 297 
 
 *' do not amount to more than lol. for any one c h a f, 
 *' meeting : The conllablcs, headboroughs, &c. ^^u. 
 *' are to levy the fame by warrant from the juf- ^--"'^^^''^ 
 *' tice, and to be divided, one third for the ufe ^^1°' 
 *' of the king, and another third to the poor, 
 *' and the other third to the informer or his af- 
 filtants, regard being had to their diligence 
 and induftry in dilcovering, difperfmg and 
 punifhing the faid conventicles. The fines 
 upon minifters for preaching are to be levied 
 alfo by difurefs ; and in cafe of poverty, upon 
 the goods and chattels of any other prefent j 
 and the like upon the houfe wiiere the con- 
 :" venticle is held, and the money to be divided 
 >^' as above. 
 
 " And it is further enaded, that the juflice 
 or juflices of the peace, confrable, headbo- 
 roughs, &c. may by warrant, with what aid 
 *^' and affiftance thev Ihall think neceifarv, break 
 open and enter into any houfe or place where 
 they fliall be infornied of a conventicle, and 
 take the perfons afiembled into cadody. And 
 *' the lieutenants or other commillioned oiiicerr. ' 
 
 ■" of the miilitia may get together fuch force 
 or afiiflance as they th.ink necefiary, to diirolve, 
 dilTipate and difperfe fuch unlawful meetings, 
 " and take the perfons into cuflody." Then 
 foliow^ two extraordinary claufes, " that if any 
 *' juftice of peace ref ufe to do his duty he 
 ** ihall forfeit iccl. and every conllablc, &c. 
 " 5L And be it further enacted, that all clau- 
 " fes in this acl Jhail be conflrucd inqft largeh' 
 *' and beneficially for the fi^ppf^Jjiug of conventi- 
 '* cles^ and for the jufvlfi cation and encouragement 
 f of all perfons to be enplcycd in the executicn 
 *' thereof No warrant or mittimus fliall be 
 
 " made 
 
 
 <( 

 
 293 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 1670. 
 
 Remarks 
 vpon this 
 
 made void or reverfed for any default in the 
 form ; and if a perfon fly from one county 
 or corporation to another, his goods and 
 chattels ihali be feized wherever they are 
 found.' If the party otfending be a wife co- 
 habiting with her halband, the fnie fliall be 
 levied on the goods and chattels of the huf- 
 band, provided the profecution be within 
 three months. Parties aggrieved may appeal 
 to the quarter feffions if the fine amount to 
 I ol. and to no other court, and if call to pay 
 treble damages." 
 The palpable injuftice of this iniquitous law 
 did not efcape the notice of thofe who were ex- 
 pofed to the danger of futtering thereby ; they 
 in their own behalf remarked with freedom upon 
 this flagrant violation of the ellablilhed privi? 
 leges of the people of England. 
 
 That it defhroyed the bulwark of the Englifli- 
 man's liberty, property and life, viz. Trial by 
 'Jury ; authorizing a lingle jultice out of fef- 
 fions to convict, fine, and by warrant levy it 
 upon the offender contrary to Magna Charta. 
 
 By this acl the innocent might be punifhed 
 for the offence of the guilty, contrary to natural 
 juftice. If the wife or child was convicted of 
 being prefent at an affembly termed unlawful, 
 the fine was to be levied on the goods of the 
 hufband or father, whether he was of the fame 
 perfuafion or no. It was left to the arbitrary 
 difcretion of the judices to lay half the fine for 
 the houfe or "jround where fuch affemblv was 
 holden, and half the fine for a pretended un- 
 known preacher, and the whole hnes of fuch of 
 the meeters, as they fhould account poor, upon 
 any other who was prefent at the meeting (not 
 
 exceeding
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKER5. 209 
 
 exceeding the limited fum) ^vhich vefled the c H A P. 
 juftices with power to hariafs and opprefs with xxii. 
 dreadful feverity thole to whom they might owe ^^y^r^*>J 
 no good will, and was in itfelr an infringement 1679. 
 of the immutable laws of equity and reafon. 
 
 The clandeftine mode of convi»aion (which i- 
 frequently took place) by the cath of two in- 
 formers, (who had an intereft therein, and 
 fought their gains from a multitude of convic- 
 tions) before a juflice : fo that men might be, 
 and oiten were, convitlcd and fined without any 
 notice or knowledge thereof, until the officers 
 came and took away their goods, and even then 
 they were ignorant by whofe evidence they were 
 convidled ; than which, what could be more op- 
 pohte to the privileges of the fubjed ; to the 
 fpirit of the great charter ; to the jurifprudence 
 of England or common juflice? which require 
 that every man fiiould be openly charged, and 
 have his accufer face to face, that he mipht 
 have a fair opportunity, both to anfwer for him- 
 felf, and object to the validity of the evidence 
 againft him. 
 
 The fines impofed on juflices anil other offi- 4. 
 cers, and the claufe direding in eiTed, to con- 
 ffrue every part of the act in favour of the pro- 
 fecutors, appears to corrupt juRice in its very 
 fource: To inflruct and iniiuence the magillrates 
 to partiality in their judgments, to apply power 
 only to opprefs, and reverie the fcriptural qua- 
 lification for magiilracy, to the encouragement 
 of evil-doers, and the punifhment of thofe that 
 do well ; and that many of them actually did 
 fo abundantly appeared in divers profecutions by 
 this a£l. 
 
 As
 
 30O 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 c ii A. P. *" As an ad of fuch flagrant injufllce and perni- 
 xxii. cious tendency to fo great a body of the people 
 ^"y^""^ mud bring difcredit to the framers, promoters 
 ' ' and pariilans thereof, the greater part of the 
 hiitorians, who are mod attached to the church 
 of England, endeavour to excufe its feverity, by 
 alledging that politics and the care of govern- 
 ment were the occafion of it more than religion. 
 Echard (according to Neale) fays, " that this 
 " and all the penal laws made againft the dif- 
 lenters were the afts of the parliament and 
 not of the church, and were made more on 
 a civil and political than upon a moral and 
 religious account; and always upon fome frefa 
 provocation in reality or appearance.'* Per- 
 fecution ever endeavours thus to hide its defor- 
 mities under the garb of political caution ; but 
 I think in the prefent cafe the covering is too 
 tranfparent ; for at this feafon it doth not appear 
 that any clafs of difi'enters by their conduct had 
 given the leafl diflurbance to the peace of the 
 nation, or could be charged wirh any defign a- 
 gainit the flate. The committee of parliament 
 appointed to enquire into their conduct difco- 
 vered no mifconduct amongft them, nor had they 
 given any frefli provocation, but that of attend- 
 ing their meetings openly, to M'hich they had 
 been encoura2:ed bv the connivance of g-overn- 
 ment. The preamble to the act doth not charge 
 them with difloyalty, only fays, ** That for pro- 
 " viding fpeedy remedies againft the practices 
 " of feditious fectaries and others, who under 
 " pretence of tender confcience have or may 
 *' at their meetines contrive infurre6tions," 
 
 iiapm. 
 
 which
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 301 
 
 which by the way there was little danger ofcHAP. 
 their doing in their public affemblies, in a mil'cel- xxii. 
 laneous company of women, fervants, flrangers, '^-'^v-^^ 
 and probably fpies. The a£l points them out a i^/^* 
 likelier method of contriving plots, as it would 
 appear more feafible to combine with fuccefs 
 between three or four, if they had any fuch de- 
 fign in view ; fo that if the guarding againft in- 
 furredions was the only object propofed, this 
 parliament feems to have wanted wifdom in con- 
 certing the meafures to prevent them : But it ap- 
 pears too evident that the reafons alhgned in this 
 weak preamble are only a pretence, and that the 
 only objed: in view was upon a religious ac- 
 count to inflict new punifhments upon the dif- 
 fenters for their difient from the national church, 
 and nothing elfe. 
 
 And although the penal laws were the a£cs of 
 the parliament, as no other body had the power 
 of making laws, yet it will be a difficult under- 
 taking to exculpate the churchy that is the cler- 
 gy, from a confidcrable fhare therein: The weight 
 of their influence and intereft w^as not wanting 
 to procure penal laws and proclamations in fa- 
 vour of their own emoluments and power (as ap- 
 pears by the exertions of Sheldon and others a- Ard.biniop 
 gainil the comprehenfion) nor to the ricrorous ^''"-;''^*'r^"'^ 
 
 ' c f ana others 
 
 execution of them when made : And that many of the bi- 
 of them looked upon this aft as a confiderable ac- '^;"P''«"d 
 
 cieitiy pro- 
 
 quifition in their favour, appears from the fol- mote the 
 lowing extraft from Archbiihop Sheldon's cir-!^';;';;'^,"^ 
 cuiar letter * upon the occafion, ia which he di- t'"i*-i»a^. 
 
 refts 
 
 * Copies of this letter were fent by the archJencons to 
 the officers of the fcveral parifhes within their jurifdi^tionr., 
 earnefily exhorting them to take l|jecial care to perform what 
 
 is
 
 'JOt 
 
 HISTORY or the 
 
 CHAP, reels all ecclefiaftical judges and officers, "^ ** to* 
 xxil. " take notice of all non-conformifls, holders, 
 y^^^v"^ " frequenters, maintainers and abettors of con- 
 1670. «' venticles, efpecially of" the preachers or teach- 
 ers in them, and of the places wherein they 
 are held ; ever keeping a more watGhful eye 
 over the cities and great towns, from whence 
 the mifchief is for the moft part derived, unto 
 '' the leffer villages and hamlets. And where- 
 " foever they find fuch v/ilful offenders, that 
 " then with a hearty affbi^lion to the worfhip of 
 God, the honour of the king and his laws. 
 
 cc 
 
 «i 
 
 IS therein required, and to give an account at the next vifi- 
 tation. 
 
 John Chappie, priefl: of Brant- Broughton in Lincolnfhire,- 
 perceiving the conilable not forw.ud in making diltrefTes an4 
 breaking up meetings, fent him the following letter : 
 
 *' Thomas Kelfey, 
 
 *' I cannot but wonder that any king's officer fhould be fb 
 " backward in executing the king's laws, as 1 find you to 
 *« be : Methinks you fliould have gone to Sir Chriftopher 
 <* Nevile, had you no other inducement thereto fave only 
 ** civility to Sir Francis Fane, who defired you fo to do : 
 •' You cannot now as you did then pretend the want of aa 
 *' horfe. I have fent my man on purpofe to join with you in 
 " giving information to the juIHces concerning the late con- 
 *' venticle at Broughton, and if you refufe to act I have 
 ♦' ordered my man to make his complaint to the bench. If 
 ** your landlord Mr. Pierpoint, be informed how you and 
 •' others have behaved yourfelves in this bufinefs, I know 
 *' that he will not thank you for your remilTnefs ; for what- 
 " ever his tenants at Broughton may be, fure I am he is a 
 •• perfon more zealous for the church. No more at pre- 
 " fent from 
 
 " Your friend, 
 
 « JOHN CHAPPLE." 
 
 ^ Nealc, 
 
 *' and
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 303 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 
 and the peace of the church and kingdom, chap. 
 they do addrefs themfelves to the civil magi- xxii. 
 ftrate, juflices and others concerned, im- *^ — v"*-' 
 ploring their help and afhftance tor prevent- ^^7^- 
 ing and fupprefiing the fame, according to 
 " the late ad in that behalf made and fet 
 " forth. 
 
 " What the fuccefs will be we muil leave to 
 " God Almighty ; yet I have this confidence 
 under God, that if we do our parts now at 
 firft ferioufly, by God's help, and the aJJlfiance 
 " of the civil power, confidering the abundant 
 " care and pro'vi/ion the aft contains for cur 
 *' ADVANTAGE, wc fhall in a few months fee 
 " a great alteration in the diflradions of thefe 
 " times.'* 
 
 '"The bifliop of Peterborough declared pub- 
 lickly in the fteeple-houfe at Rowel, after he 
 had commanded the officers to put this act in 
 execution, " Againft all fanaticks it hath done 
 " its bufinefs, except the Quakers ; but when 
 " the parliament fits again, a ftronger law will 
 *' be made, not only to take away their lands 
 *' and goods, but alfo to fell them for bond- 
 " flaves.'* Who can acquit the church, fo 
 called, of their fliare in the perfecution, when 
 the rulers thereof were fo intempi-rately warm 
 and aflive in it, and dill infaliate with all thefe 
 feverities, inhumanly planning morcand greater*? 
 AVard of SaHibury and Gunning of Ely, arc 
 alfo faid to have been very zealous abettors of 
 feverity, though many of the bilhops had the 
 prudence to lie by, and refign the odium of 
 enforcing the law to the civil magilirate. 
 
 ' Sewel, p. 506. 
 
 There
 
 004 HISTORY 0? THE 
 
 c H A p. There Is no doubt but the clergy in general 
 XXII. paid jR:ri(5t attention to the mandates of the 
 '"-"-''y'^ archbifiiop before recited, as they were gene- 
 ^Ojo. rally encouragers of, (and many of them were 
 not afliamed themfelves to turn) informers. Tho- 
 mas Elwood, a cotemporary v/riier, informs us, 
 " That fome of the clergy of moit ranks, and 
 " others, who were exceffively bigotted to that 
 '' party, ufed their utmoft etibrts to find out 
 " and encourage the mod proiligate wretches 
 " to turn informers ; and get fuch perfons into 
 parochial ofEccs as would be mod obfequiou* 
 to their directions, and prompt, at their 
 beck, to put this law into mod rigorous ex- 
 
 ec 
 
 " ecution." 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 In fome parts care had been timely taken, 
 by fome not of the lowed rank, to chufe 
 out fome perfons properly qualified *, men of 
 
 " acute 
 
 • The fame author gives this account of one of thefe 
 emifTaries. He whofe port: was afligned him in the county of 
 Bucks, thrufl; himfelf upon a friend under the counterfeit ap- 
 pearance of a Quaker ; but being by the friend fufpeded, and 
 difmid unentertained, he was obliged to betake himfelf to an 
 aiehoufe for accommodation, where not being able to bear 
 the curb of his feigned fobriety, he indulged himfelf in drink- 
 ing too freely with the company he found there ; in his cups, 
 he was thrown fo far off his guard, that to magnify himfelf 
 among his companions, he let them know the quality of their 
 new aflbciate, that he was fent out by Dodor Mew, Vice- 
 Chancellor of Oxford, on the dcfign before related, and un- 
 der the protedion of juftice Morton, a warrant under whofe 
 hand and feal he produced, by which difcovery he got the 
 name of the Trepan, and as fuch being known and generally 
 avoided, he went to another part of the country, and infinu- 
 ated himfelf among the baptifts, having wrought himfelf into 
 their good opinion, and wilily drawn one of them into an In- 
 cautious opcnnefs and freedom of converfation upon the feve- 
 rity of the times, he villainoufly impeached him, who was 
 
 a mao-
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 305 
 
 ^' acute parts, clofe countenances, pliant tern- chap. 
 pers and deep diflimulation) and fend them xxii. 
 forth as fpies among the fectaries, fo called, ^—^v^^' 
 with inflructions to thruft themfelves into all ^^1°' 
 focieties; conform to any religious profefTicn; 
 and transform themfelves from one religious 
 appearance to another, as occafion fliould re- 
 quire. In a word, to be all things to all men; 
 not that they might gain fome, but that they 
 might ruin as many as they could. The 
 drift of this defign was, that their employers 
 might by thefe means get a full account what 
 number of diifenters meetings of every fort 
 there were in each county, and where kept; 
 what number of perfons frequented them, 
 and of what ranks ; who among them 
 were perfons of eftate, and where they lived ; 
 that when afterwards they fliould have troubled 
 the waters, they might the better know where 
 with moil advantage to caft their nets." 
 Doth not this proceeding feem to be in confe- 
 fequence of the archbifhop's inftru6:ions ? 
 
 The execution of this aft expofed every body The people 
 of diifenters to great damage and hardfhip ; but^'^'^^^j^j^^j^^ 
 this as well as the former fell with the greateft greateft fuf- 
 weight upon the people called Quakers, for the*^^"*" 
 fame caufe. Other diffenters could take the li* 
 
 a man of reputation, of having fpoken ireafonabk ibordsy 
 and brought him into danger of lodng both his eRate and 
 life, had not a feafonable detection of his vicious pradlices 
 elfewhcre, caufed him to fly out of the court and country ac 
 the very time when the honeft man flood at the bar, ready 
 to be arraigned on his falfe accufation. This difcovery of his 
 villainy leaving no further room to play the hypocrite, he 
 threw off the malk, and openly appeared in his proper cha- 
 raiSer, that of an informer. 
 
 Vol. II. U berty 
 
 ?7- *
 
 3o6 'HISTORY of the 
 
 c HAP. berty of afting by the maxims of human pru- 
 XXII. dence ; and ufe various means to keep them- 
 
 '*— "^v — ^ felves beyond the reach of the law, or to pre- 
 1670. ygfit their being detected in the violation of 
 it*. Yet they could not by any contrivance en- 
 tirely efcape the vigilance of the informers, or 
 the vigorous purfuit of the juftices and their of- 
 ficers. Eut the Quakers, who had no freedom, 
 to defert their public meetings for fear of hu- 
 man penalties, continued to frequent them at the 
 accuftomed places and hours, whereby they 
 were open to the detedion of the perfecutors of 
 all ranks, who were highly provoked againll 
 them, particularly on this account ; as their ftead- 
 faflnefs in duty very much broke their mea- 
 fures. 
 
 themyLt- Exafperated at their open violation of thefe 
 
 lyfpoikd. lavv's, in obedience to the divine law of God in 
 their confciences, many of the executors of this 
 fevere law acled up fully to its fpirit in their fe- 
 verity and injuflice in the execution thereof, 
 whereby many an honed and induftrious fa- 
 mily was dripped of the fruits of their indu(lr)^ 
 At London, and in feveral other places, many were 
 cruelly fpolled of their property; people of con- 
 fiderable fubflance reduced to extreme poverty, 
 (hop goods and houfehold goods fo thoroughly 
 fwei)t away by the hard-hearted fpoilers, that 
 the fick have had their beds taken from under 
 them, and they themfelves laid upon the floor. 
 
 * The minidcrs would preach in large fiiinilies with only 
 four ftrangers, and as many under the age of fixteen as would 
 come, and at other times, where people might hear in feveral 
 adjoining houfes ; but after all infinite mifchiefs enfued ; fa- 
 mdies were inipovcri'lied and divided ; friendihip between 
 neighbouis interrupted, and general diftruft and jealoufy fuc- 
 Geedcd. Neale, v. ii. p, 675. 
 
 For
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 307 
 
 For upon the paffing of this law, many juf- chap, 
 tices, who were too honeft to be inftruments xxii. 
 of fuch feverities, quitted the bench, and many ^^ — '^"^ 
 of thofe that remained feem to have been of ^^7^- 
 that kind, who go under the denomination of 
 trading juftices, mercenary enough to iook for 
 their fhare of the booty. And the informers in i"fc"-mers 
 general were men of the vilcft charaders, and !nd infa-'' 
 of the meaneft clafs, idle, profligate and infa-'"°"'' 
 mous ; extravagant, needy and rapacious. Such 
 juflices and fuch afTiflants were not only prompt 
 to plunder, but dextrous in the dividing of the 
 fpoil ; fo that it is faid, the king and the poor 
 frequently got but little for their fliare. Thefe 
 unprincipled informers, taking up the infamous 
 office to make out a living, (being too idle to 
 earn it by honefl means) were not very fcrupu- 
 lous in the evidence they gave ; the profped: of 
 booty being the object in view, they, too often, 
 encouraged by the clandelHne manner of con- often per^ 
 vidion, were tempted to fwear home at a J"'"'"'^ ^'^^'"- 
 venture * j being profecutsd by other dillen- 
 
 U 2 ters, 
 
 * In Buckinghamfhire two noted informers Lacy, and 
 Arts, fwore before juiticc Clayton that Thomas Zachary and 
 his wife were at a meeting at Jordan's the 2i!l of Augnft 
 1670, whereupon thejuftice, ac forward to convict as they to ' 
 
 inform, fined him 30I. for himfclf and his wife and a pre- 
 tended preacher, and ifTued a warrant for diftrefs. Tlionias 
 and his wife were then both at London, wherefore he ap- 
 pealed to the quarter feflions. Thejurticc, to fcreen tiie in- 
 formers, telling Thomas he fufFered julHy, and Ise in liis own 
 defence anfwering that the right tons ivcre oppreffal, and the 
 iL'icked went unpuni/hec!, pretended to interpret thefe words, 
 as a reflection on the government, and for reuifipg furctics for 
 his appearance at the next feff.ons, committed him to Aylf- 
 Wryjail. This was done to prevent him Gom profccuting 
 
 his
 
 3o8 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, ters, divers of whom upon trial were found 
 
 XXII. guilty of perjury, and fuffered for it ; others by 
 
 "^^^^y^^ the partiahty and protection of the magiflrates, 
 
 1&70. though proved guihy, efcaped the punifhment 
 
 due to their crime.* 
 
 I Nor were they more fcrupulous in propor- 
 tioning the diilraints to the value of the fines 
 
 impofed ; 
 
 his appeal ; but fome of his friends, efpecially Thomas Ell- 
 wood, profecuted it, and at the next fefiions produced incon- 
 teftible e^idence that Thomas Zachary and his wife were in 
 London all that day ; fo that, notwithftanding all endeavours 
 to the contrary, the jury found for the appellants ; the con- 
 viflion was fet afide, and the money depoficed at entering the 
 appeal ought to have been returned, but they could never get 
 more than lol. of it, the reft being detained by the clerk of 
 the peace. But fo angry was the convicting juftice, that he 
 perfuaded the reft to tender Thomas Zachary the oath of al- 
 legiance, for refufal v/hereof he was kej^t in prifon a long 
 time after. 
 
 In Somerfetfhire the informers fwore again ft fix perfons for 
 being at a meeting at Yeovil, where ihey had not been at alL 
 Others fwore Thomas Gully was at a meeting at Gregory- 
 ftoke in faid county, when he was fick in bed, and died 
 foon after. They fwore againft William Lea, the younger, 
 as being at a meetino five weeks after his death. In Weft- 
 morcland Richard Holme and feveral others were fined, as 
 for being at a meeting, which they were not at, the iriformers 
 having fworn at random. 
 
 * George Whitehead. 
 
 ■f In Wiltfhire the fines of fundry friends amounted to 
 99I. I OS. from whom were levied by diftrefs goods to the 
 value of 213I. 9s. Rcbeit Stevens v/as fined lol. for an 
 unknown preacher, and 5s. for himfclf, though there was no 
 preacher there ; he was a very poor man, and all his goods 
 were valued at 40s, which being reported to the juftice, he 
 ordered the officers to take away the little al/. Three others 
 were in like manner unjuftly fined the like fum for the un- 
 known preacher, who was not there. In Bedfordfnire the offi- 
 cers were incited to rapacity by juftice Chavnock, telling them 
 i/jey mi'r/jf tah icol.for 20/. and bring him the money ^ for 
 h'ls clerk fiould have feme of it for his pains ; and iliui they 
 
 muli
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 309 
 
 impofed : Rapine being their trade, they did CHAP. 
 not hefitate in the lead: to take much more in ^^"• 
 
 value 
 
 mujl tale the more, hecaufs fenv ivould huy the goods. Rich- 
 ard Milner, for a fine of 20I. for a meeting at his Iioufe, 
 had goods taken from him vorth ^i\. Richard Smith of 
 Chefter had his goods feized fevcral times for meetings at his 
 lioufe far exceeding tlie lines impofed, whicli were ufiially 20I. 
 by the encouragement of tlie mayor, bidding the officers take 
 enough; feveral were diflrained to five or fix times the value 
 of the fines. 
 
 Thomas Green being on his knees in prayer at a meeting in 
 Sabridgeworth, Hertfordfhiie, was dragged out and lined by- 
 two juftices lol. for which his goods were taken by diftrefs to 
 the value of 50!. 
 
 Charles Barnet, a baker of Leomlnftcr, vvas fined 20L for 
 preaching, and afterwards 40I. for a fecond offence ; for 
 which all the goods in his'houfe, and all the wood in his yard, 
 were taken away. After which warrants being again ifTued 
 againft him, the ofEcer reported to the juflice Booth he had 
 nothing left but bread, ivh'tch would fpoil before it coidd he 
 fold; the juftice anfwered, f y6ii CMtnolfell it, you may brin^ 
 It me to give to my horfes. 
 
 Theophilus Green, preachiag at a meeting at Uxbridge, was 
 iined 20I. and under pretence that he had uttered feditious 
 cxpreffions, becaufe he exhorted his friends to keep their meet- 
 trigs in the name of Jus us, notivith landing the laws of man to 
 the contrary t he was fcnt to newgate. For this and other 
 fines for meeting, warrants of diitrefs were iiTued againft him 
 for I ool. for which they took away all his houfehold goods. 
 
 In Nottinghamfiiire in 1669, Penifton Whaley, chairman, 
 in his charge to the grand jury, endeavouring to incenfe them 
 againft the Quakers fo called, manifefted his abfurdity, ig- 
 norance and malevolence together, by telling them in effccl 
 the a<5t of 35 Eliz. was not made againft the Papiils but the 
 Qu^akers ; for, faid he, the church of Rome is a true church, 
 as well as any other; for a man though he be a lame or ill- 
 favoured man, yet he is a man as well as a lord or an earl. 
 And though the church of Rome have fome corruptions, yet 
 it is a true church as well as any other, and fo it could not be 
 made againlt them ; therefore it muft needs be againft thefe 
 
 people. 
 
 1670.
 
 3IO H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A p. value th?.n the amount of the fines, while they 
 
 ,J^^^^ could find any thing to take, encouraged by the 
 
 J 670. inflrudions 
 
 people. You ought to put it in force and not pity them. Ex- 
 traordinary reafoning indeed ! 
 
 On the 6th, 8th and 9th of the month called Augufl this 
 year, one Bumflead, a baiUfPs follower, with others, ''came to 
 the houfe of William Albright of Wooburn in Bedfordfhire, 
 at whofe houfe a meeting was kept, and by a warrant from 
 jufl-ice Charnock broke open his doors, and took away tim- 
 ber, malt, oats and other things to the value of 70I. How- 
 beit the faid Albright continued itedfaft in permitting meet- 
 ings at his houfe, until by repeated feizures he was fo im- 
 poveridied, that having nothing left to fatisfy the fines, he was 
 finally caft into prifon about the month of 0<5lGber. 
 
 Sarah Baker, a poor widow, for 15s. fine, futfercd diftrefs 
 cf^ what houHhold goods {he had, amongft which having 
 boiled milk in a Ikillet for two fick children, the informers 
 threw away the poor children's fuftenance, and took the fl<il- 
 ^ let away. George Thorowgood, of Ely, had all his houfe- 
 hold goods, beds and bed-clothes taken, and was forced to 
 lodge on flraw; after which, when fick, his profecutors took 
 away bis flieets and fliirt. Edward Crooke had the bedding 
 for himfclf and family taken away, v/ith the children's cra- 
 dle, fo that one of them died with ficknefs contraded by lying 
 en flraw. Samuel Bates of Cranbrook, having had all his 
 goods feized for a fine for fuJTcring meetings at his houfe, a- 
 while after, when he had gotten a few more houfehold goods,' 
 fome of which were lent him in his diltrefs, one Culpeper, 
 .1 juflice of peace, got in at a window, and with an axe broke 
 open the door, and let in the conftable, whom he charged /o 
 clear the hovfe of all thai nvas iti it ; but the conllable pitying 
 the poor man's cafe, did not execute the order, for which the 
 juftice fined the fiiid conftable s^- who had two oxen taken 
 from him worth 15I. For a meeting at Long-Claxton in Lei- 
 cefterfhire four pcrfons v/ere fent to prifon, and fo many 
 goods at divers times taken from fome of that meeting, that 
 they had not a cow left to give their children milk ; their bed- 
 clothes, working-tools and wearing apparel efcaped not the 
 violence and avarice of the perfecutors ; the fum total amount- 
 ed to above -3 61. bcfidcs which the informers gave them 
 much perfonal abufe, and robbed one of the prifoners of his 
 piirfe and money.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QITAKERS. 311 
 
 inflrudionsand affiftanceof iuftices, whofrequent- c h a p. 
 ly gave them diredions to be fare to take enough, ^^J^_^ '' 
 they often fold the diftrefl'es for lefs than iialf ^^^^ 
 value, and would then come for more. To re- Fxorb.t.r.t 
 cite all the inftances of cruel plunderincTvS on one '",''^' "' 
 hand, and diltrenuig lunermgs on the other, 
 even in this year, recorded in BeiTe's Account 
 of the Sufferings of this People, would even 
 make a volume ; wherefore I fnall content mv- 
 felf with a few notes exhibitinq; fome cafes in 
 confirmation of thefe remarks. 
 
 Severe as this act againft conventicles was, Juf^ices and 
 yet the villainy and perjury of the informers, cxe°rcTfr^ 
 and prejudice of fundry juftices againit this peo- I'^^n'fwer 
 pie frequently urged them to ads of fcverity hw!* " 
 and injuflice beyond the letter of the law ; 
 which excited fome of the fuiFerers to appeal, 
 according the privilege allowed them by the ad; 
 but in a general way they got little by the ap- 
 peal but additional lofs*, for as the dernier or 
 
 only 
 
 * Ten perfons having taken from thcni for fines, for a 
 meeting at Welt-Alvington in Devonlhirc, goods amounting 
 to 81I. IIS. 8d. amongll- which was comprized 20I. for a 
 preacher, though the meeting w.is held in filcnce, and fines 
 upon others for two perfons, one of which was abfent, and 
 the other had been dead fome time, fome of them brought 
 their appeal to the quarter feflions, where the informes in 
 concert fwore for their gain, that they faw a man (landing up 
 with a bible before him (a praflice not in ufe with this peo- 
 ple) which was clearly difproved by the witneffes for the appel- 
 lants, and amongfl: them tlie conflable. The chairman fum- 
 jning up the evidence declared it was an equal balance, the 
 jury bi ought in their verdid for the king, and the aj)pellants 
 thtis wrongfully were calt in treble cofts. 
 
 At die Jame feflions Mary Randal brought her appeal for 
 being diftrained for fines for the abfent and decealed perfons 
 
 abovementioned,
 
 3^^ 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, only rcfort was to the quarter feffions, the in- 
 ^-^'' fiuence of the convifting juflice, the partiality 
 
 Ye^ apf-eals 
 
 ar. ; lie- abovementioned, which being clearly proved, the warrant was 
 lally mi- j^jged illegal, and the court ordered the money to be return- 
 ed, which the conviding juftice promifed to do, but never 
 did: In (lead of reflitution he fhortly after granted another 
 warrant againft her for a pretended offence of the like na- 
 ture. 
 
 Nathaniel Smith, by advice of council, brought his appeal 
 befo-e the quarter feflions of Herefordfhire ; the cafe being 
 heard, the jury went out, and returned with a verdift for the 
 appellant ; the court refufed to accept it, and fent them out 
 again ; they repeated the fame verdid Cx times fucceflivelys 
 and were as often repulfed by the court ; bin the jurors con- 
 tinuing ftedfaft in their opinion, the verdiift was at length re- 
 corded ; but the court at the fame time direfted the officers to 
 empannel another jury for the next trial. They alfo fent an 
 officer to prifon for procuring the jury a copy- of the king's 
 proclamation at their requeft. But though the verdiifl had 
 been recorded, yet afterward the juftices knowing one of the 
 jury to be of a timorous difpofition, prevailed on him to fay, 
 Ide had not cotijcnted to it, and on that pretence fent out the 
 jury again, with fuch threats as produced a contrary verdift, 
 the men being overawed by the court to adl againft their con- 
 fciences. Thus the verdieT: fix times given for the appellant 
 was annulled, and he obliged to acquieice under the charaes 
 of the appeal, added to the injuftice of his firft fuffcring. In 
 like manner at the fame fe'iions the appeal of William Owen 
 was alio fruftvated, the juftices telling the jury that the cafe 
 was like Smith's, peremptorily directed them to find for the 
 king, which was done accordingly, one of the jury being 
 heard to fay, t1:>c court is lord of our confc'iencss. 
 
 Francis Plumftcad of London was fworn againft by two 
 informers for preaching at a meeting in Devonffiire buildings 
 on the 25th of November, 1683, ^"^ ^o^ being at another 
 meeting there on the 1 5th of the fame month, whereupon one 
 Dudley North, juftice, had iiTued warrants of diftrefs for 30I, 
 He depofited that fura in the hands of the conftable, and ap- 
 pealed. His appeal was profecuted from feffions to feffions ; 
 at length affidivit was made that the faid two informers within 
 k month after the warrant was granted, came to a neighbour's 
 
 boufe,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 313 
 
 of the bench, corrupt juries, or the ncgle£l ofcH a p. 
 
 the juflices in putting their decrees into due ex- ,^_ _^^ 
 
 ecution, when in favour of the appellant, moflly ^^ 
 left them unredreiTed, or fuffering under addi- 
 tional grievances in many very clear caufes of 
 juft complaint, whereby others who had jull 
 caufe were difcouraged from trying this ineffec- 
 tual mode of relief," apprehending it more eli- 
 gible to acquiefce under the firft illegal wrong. 
 
 This people were often informed againft and Arhitn«.ry 
 illegally fined by a mifconflruftion of the word (i,uv5iion 
 Conventicles, which thousfh limited in the a£l to «f '^'^e word 
 
 -- ^ . " IT ,-conveiiUck. 
 
 nieetmgs tor worinip contrary to the liturgy or 
 
 the 
 
 houfe, snd ftnt for the f;iid Francis Plumflcad, and before 
 '.vitnefTes confefTed they had been drawn in to that wicked af!, 
 aflced forgiv-ntfs, and offered to kneel down and beg his 
 pardon, ov/ning tiien and feveral times after, that they had 
 done him 'wrotig, and fivorn falfely agaivjl htm. He alio 
 proved by two witnefies, prefent at the meeting, that he did 
 not preach there. Neverthelefs, and though no evidence ap- 
 peared againfl him, the Recorder endeavoured to invalidate 
 the teilimony of his witnefles, and fo wrought upon the jury 
 that they brought him in guilty of being at the other meeting, 
 for wliich he was fined lol. By which fine and the charges 
 of his appeal, he computed the damage by him fullained to 
 be at leali: 40!, 
 
 Henry Kendcn of London, had diflrefs made on his goods 
 for 50I. being the contents of five feveral warrants granted 
 againft him in one and the fame day ; he appealed, and was 
 call on three of thefe indifcments, by the evidence of a wo- 
 man, who was afterwards proved to be perjured, for he had 
 three fabltantia! witrieffes to teftify the contrary of v^^hat ihe 
 fwore. The other two appeals he gained ; but the whole of his 
 lofs and charges amounted to 72I. 
 
 William Collard of Southv/ark, had his goods feized by a 
 warrant with a wrong nrime, whereupon he appealed; but the 
 jury upon trial, though inclined to acquit him, being fent out 
 three times by the bench with threatening words, at laft faid, 
 they thought it mij} be for the king ; fo tliat he lolt his caufe 
 with the additional charges to the value of about 1 7I.
 
 314 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, the church of England ; yet by mercenary in- 
 XXII. formers, and mercenary and partial juftices was 
 
 ^■^^''^^ extended to comprize all ailemblies of any of 
 *^7o. thofe people *• ,; if they met merely to provide 
 
 for 
 
 * A meeting was held for church affairs, and to relieve the 
 neceiHties of the p <or, at the houfe of John Penford at Kirby- 
 Mucklow in Leiceilcrlliire. Thither came the iiiformcrs, 
 and found them in confultation about works of charity. John 
 Penford bid them look into the books of accounts then lying 
 open, that fo they might not mifreprefent the caufe of their 
 meeting. Four of them were fur.moned to appear before 
 the juftices at Market-Bofworth, who, appearing acco'-diiigly, 
 were charged with being at a feditious conventicle ; they de- 
 fired tiiat the infonners might give in their depofitions in 
 their hearing, but the juftices would not grant it ; for they 
 were fo partially difpofed, tiiat one of them told John Pen- 
 ford, who had a confiderable eftate, that he ivould reduce 
 /lim to poverty. They fined John Penford 30I. 20I. for the 
 lioufe, and lol. for a preacher, though no preacher was 
 there ; tnQy alfo fined feveral others 3!. 6s. 8d. each, fo that 
 the whole amounted to 50I. Penfo-^d and ariOther appealed 
 to the quarter feffions, nnd retained council to plead their 
 caufe. Put fo arbitrary were the juftices, that thev refufed 
 to try the appeal unlefs the appellants would take the oath 
 of allegiance ; u]>on their refufal the court awarded treble 
 damages againft them, as if thev had been caft on t.he trial, 
 though it is appare"t they had bvv and equity on their fide. 
 
 it was ufual with the people called Quakers, o'^ce a quar- 
 ter, to have a meeting at llchefter for their church-afi'?ir% 
 and making provifion for their poor, which meeting they 
 fometimes held at the Friary, where many of their friends were 
 prifoners. In September 1680, they came from feveral parts 
 o^ the county, in o'-der to hold fuch a meeting ; but Henry 
 VValrond, a juftice of the peace and captain of a troop of horfe, 
 prevented them, by caufmg the doors of the Friary to be lock- 
 fd, fo thnt reirher the prifoners could go out, nor their 
 friends come in, for which reafon they v.^ere obliged to go 
 fo the George Inr, the houfe of one Robert Abbott, where 
 many of their horfes were : there they held their meeting, 
 the men in one room and the women in another. Rut though 
 there was neither preaching nor praying at that time, yet 
 
 the 
 
 •4
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 315 
 
 for their poor, the number of whom daily in- c h a p. 
 creafed by the fc verity of this act, and the fc- ^^"•' 
 verer execution thereof; whofe accumulated ^^ 
 diftrefs neccfllirily engaged their fympathctic ' 
 tendernefs and friendly affiftance | 3 or if they 
 
 paid 
 
 jthe faid juftice V/a!'ond fined t'le faid Robert Abbott 40I. 
 for two meetings held in Iii^ houfe, and iffiied a warrant to 
 diftrain his goo.is, wlvich vid<i done ; but Abbott, to prevent ■ 
 their being carried r.way, paid down tlie n]oney and appeal- 
 ed to the quarter fcfCoas, the charge of which appeal came 
 to 20I. more. He was there caft, lo that tlie whole change 
 amounted to 60I. Abbott was not a Quaker, bnt a civil, 
 friendly m.an, and thofe who met at his houfc would not let 
 Iiim be a fuRerer for entertaining them, but repaid him his 
 (\r^^ and cods. 
 
 f On the 26th of che mir.th called Auguit, Samuel Clothier 
 in Somerfctiliire died a p-ifmer, after fuffering upwards often 
 years impriu)njnent for rot paying titlies. He finiilied his 
 life in peace, and left a good reputation behind him. Se- 
 veral perfons v.ere fiiied for attending his funeral at Alford ; 
 Robert Hunt, a juftice of peace, calling tlii^ office of refpeft 
 to the deceafed a convetiticle, though nothing was fpoken at 
 the gT-ave : the widow was fined 40s. for herfelf, her fon and 
 four relations. His brother for kinifelf and others il. 7s. 
 Several neighbours v/ho v.ere not Quakers were fined for 
 going to the funeral, and paid their fines to prevent the feizure 
 of rheir goods. 
 
 There dwelc ?t Bnckenham in Norfolk, one Robert Tillet, 
 sn ancient man, very v/eak and coifum.prive, whom fome of 
 his friends came to vifir i'l his licknei : two informers 
 obferving this cepr i'Uo their compiny, and while they 
 were fitting together, the fick man fpoke a few words to his 
 friends concerning Its own experience of the work of reli- 
 gion. Thi' the inf)rmer fwo e to be a conventicle, and the 
 fick man was fined 20I. f<jr which they took away fix of his 
 cows . 
 
 In Somerfetffiire, the widow of Philip Tyler was fi.n.ed for 
 being at his funeral, and lulfered dilVefs of two cows worth 
 9I. from fundry others, for being at faid funeral, goods were 
 taken to the amount of 82I. and upwards. 
 
 An
 
 316 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, puid a vifit to a friend in his ficknefs ; or If they 
 XXII. gathered to pay the laft office of refped", in at- 
 
 *'-'^' — ■' tending the funerals of their deceafed friends, 
 1670. there were not wanting informers hardy enough 
 to fwear fuch meetings conventicles, nor juftices 
 prejudiced againft them to iffue their warrants to 
 levy fines accordingly. And it is to be obferved 
 that where the fines impofed did not exceed los. 
 there lay no appeal, although judgment were ever 
 fo partial, or the dillrefs ever fo exorbitant. 
 
 Unfair me- + The penalty for the preacher being 20I. for 
 
 finh)o°fora the firft ofieiicc, and 40I. for the fecond, was, 
 
 preacher. jj^ 
 
 An honetl: woman at Keel in SrafFordlliire, being dead, her 
 hufband irrended to bury her in friends burying ground ; but 
 the priert of the pariOi fent him a threatening mefiage, that 
 if he did not pay his fee«, he would arreft tie co'pfe, and 
 caufe it to be buried in a ditch, faying he had ratJier fee all the 
 hereticks hovged than hfe one fixpence by them. In fhort, the 
 prietl: and fome ethers fat up all night in an houfe drinking, 
 in order to watch the corpfe : fo that the poor man, to keep 
 Jiis dear v.if? out of their hands, determined to bu*-y her in 
 hi.s own fjarden, and did fo accordingly : and he himfelf died 
 fiv days after and was buried befide her. Several of the 
 neitJ'hbours came to his funeral, and amongft the reft the 
 church-wardens ; the corpfe being interred, a friend kneeled 
 down to prayer : upon this the church-wardens grounded 
 an information, upon which the faid friend was fined 20I. 
 and feveral others in other funu ; which upon appeal being 
 returned to fome of them, fo irritated the prieft, that he 
 endeavoured to prevail upon the magift'-ate.s of the town, 
 where the friend who prayed at the func-al dwelt, to tender 
 him the oath of allegiance, but without eifeft ; whe"eupon he 
 applied to fome country juftices, who fent for him, tendered 
 him the oath, and upon his rcfufing to take it fent him to 
 priion. 
 
 \ Two informers came to the houfe of Abraham Hay- 
 worth of Rotendr.le in Lancailiire, when the meeting there 
 was breaking up j they went and made information that 
 .jamej Radc^i^f preached there, who was not at that meet- 
 ing ; however the juftices upon this evidence fined him 20I, 
 
 for
 
 PEOTLE CALLED QUAKERS. 317 
 
 in the view of thefe unconfcientioiis Informers c h a p. 
 too valuable an acquifition to the fines of 5 s. ^^^^^1^. 
 and I OS. not to be brought in, in addition there- ^^^ 
 to; for this purpofe they often fwore againft a ' 
 preacher when there was none there, nor a word 
 fpoken in the meeting ; at other times they 
 v/ould by impertinent queftions extort an anfwer 
 from fome one or other prefent, and if a word 
 was fpoken, though on fubjecls foreign to reli- 
 gion, they termed it preaching, and fwore ac- 
 cordingly ; and the informations being generally 
 made before magiftrates as ready to fine as thele 
 
 informers 
 
 for which the officers broke open five doors, and took away 
 twelve kine^ and an horfe worrh 39I. 
 
 William Claytor of Elton in NotringhamOiire, and John 
 Barker of Bingham, were together at a friend's houfe, where 
 were no others but the family ; an informer came in, and 
 aikcd William fome ufual familiar queftions, to which he 
 gave him proper anfwers : upon which he gave information 
 to a juftice, that there ivas a meeting, and tJiat M'illiatn Clay- 
 ton f poke, whereupon the juftice fined William 20I. and John 
 Barker 12I. Bel-e, v. i. p. 555. 
 
 Another time William Claytor and fome others being af- 
 fembled, and fitting together in filence, tv/o informers came 
 in, and with them feme of the town officers: one of the 
 informers faid, take their names. William Claytor aCced, 
 What wll you. take our names for ? The informer faid, for 
 a filent meeting ; Nay, faid the other informer, put him (lonvn 
 for a fpeal.er ; which they did accordingly, and he was fined 
 by juftice Whaley for fpeaking or preaching 40I. for a fe- 
 cond offence, having been formerly convl6ted on a like 
 ftratagem as before mentioned. 
 
 A parallel cafe to this was tliat of Jofc-ph Wallis, who 
 fitting filent in a meeting, one Walker, an informer, came 
 in, and afked him, IVhen fjil! you gi've over this ? Jofcpli 
 anfwered, M'hen ivilt thou give over thy trade ? Walker 
 returned, Not till you give over yours. J ofeph replied, thine 
 nvill not bring thee peace in thy latter end. For this Jofeph 
 Wallis was fined 20I. as a preacher.
 
 3i8 HISTORY of thk 
 
 CHAP, informers were to fwear, by this iniquitous com- 
 y^^^^^ bination were many of this people plainly rob- 
 1670 ^^'^ ^y [^^^ mifapplication of] an aft of parlia» 
 Some Jul- ment. 
 
 c^iira'^'e^thc ^^^^ foHie Well difpofcd juflices, apprized of 
 informers, the villainy and infamous charadlers of thefe in- 
 formers, and their readinefs to fwear at all ad- 
 ventures, to plunder without mercy, to enhance 
 their ill-got gains, had too much honour to en- 
 courage fuch a vicious difpofjtion ; with fuch 
 it hath frequently happened that thofe informed 
 againfl have been cleared, when the informer 
 miffed in his evidence either in the day of the 
 month or the like in the complaint. In London, 
 the lord mayor fitting in a court of aldermen, 
 an impudent informer made his appearance, 
 with fuch a number of informations as would 
 have wronged the parties informed againfl of 
 1500I. but the mayor, in abhorrence, adjourned, 
 the court. Yet this hardy informer, not fatis- 
 fied to let the matter fall, appeared before the 
 court again and again, and vv;is as often put off, 
 'till at lafc he was arrefled for debt^ and ended his- 
 days in prifon. 
 Geo. Fox George Fox being at this time in London,^ 
 "*"■'?" , Dubliiiied remarks upon the iniufticc of this law, 
 
 agamft the i .^ , „ , ^ -^ , 
 
 law, m order, ir polhble, to move the governm.ent 
 
 and for the ^q moderation : but at the fame time beinjr ap- 
 
 tncourage- . ,• n , <^ ^ 
 
 iiienf of prenenlivc ot an impcndmg Itorm, he wrote an 
 epiftle to his friends, to exhort them to faith- 
 fulnefs and lleadfaflnefs in their teflimony to the 
 truth, and to chridian patience, in bearing the 
 fuiTerings which might be permitted to try their 
 faith. 
 
 C H A P« 
 
 friends.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKER 319 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 Meeting-houfes in London Jhiit up. — George Fox 
 taken before the Mayor and difmijfcd. — An 
 cpifcopalian Prieji brought to preach at Gra- 
 cious-Jireet, — George Whitehead preaches after 
 him. — Proceedings at Peel-meeting. — Trial of 
 William Penn and William Mead for a Riot. — 
 Acquitted by the Jury. — The Jury fined and 
 imprifoned. — Trial of Thomas Rudyard and 
 others. — Sentence paffed on the Prifoners clan- 
 deftinely. — Imprifonment in an infected fail.-^' 
 Accomits of thefe Trials pubUfJ:>ed. — The Recor- 
 der rewarded for his Service. 
 
 U PON the commencement of this a6:'s taking chap, 
 place, in London and feveral other places, the xxiii. 
 meeting-houfes were fhut up, and a guard * — v — * 
 placed at the door, to ke.^p the people out, and 1670. 
 amongft the refl at the meeting-houfe at Grace- i,„f,f""j' 
 church-ftreet, whereupon the meeting was heldi-o"fi"f» 
 in the court. On the nexE firft day, being kept '^ "^' 
 not only out of the meeting-houfe, but alfo out 
 of the court, they affembled in the open ftreet, 
 where George Fox began to preach, but was 
 prefently pulled down ; after him another wa> 
 ferved in like manner, and both of them w^ere 
 carried before the Lord Mayor by a conftable 
 and an informer, attended by a guard of f3l- 
 diers. As they were paffing along the informer 
 
 difcovered
 
 
 320 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, difcovered himfelf by the following expreffion, 
 ^,,^^, // will never be a good world, until all the people 
 
 iG'-o ^^'''" ^^ ^'^■'^ S'^^^ ^^^ religion, that was two bun- 
 George Fox dred years ago : Upon hearing which George 
 taken before f^j J fY/y^f / a p apt ft inforiiicr. When they came 
 
 the mayor ' r tJ J , ■, r r r 
 
 anddifmif- to the court belore the mayor s home, iome cr 
 ^^'^ the people alked George Fox why he was brought 
 
 thither? He rephed, a^ that informer^ and afk 
 him his name* Upon this one of the mayor's 
 officers faid, he JhouJd tell his name before he 
 went away ; for the Lord Mayor will know by 
 what authority you intrude yourfelf %uith foldiers 
 into the execution of thofe laws which belong to 
 the civil magiftratc to execute. The informer un- 
 willing to abide the examination, flipped out of 
 the court, and was received by the populace in 
 the ftreet with a loud cry of, a papifl informer ! 
 "a papijl informer ! who were like to have hand- 
 led him roughly, had not George Fox perfuaded 
 the conftable and foldiers to refcue him out of 
 their hands. By which means he got into an 
 houfe, changed his periwig, and made his ef~ 
 cape. The informer being fled, and no body 
 appearing in that quality, the Lord Mayor, after 
 fome difcourfe with George Fox and his friend, 
 fet them both at liberty. In like manner on 
 the fame day, at Devonfnire houfe, many friends 
 were by compulfion kept out of their meeting- 
 John Burn- ^oufe. But john Bumvcat and others havine 
 
 yeat fined ,r 1 1 1 • 1 • ' 11 r i 
 
 aoi. allembled m the meeting, he began to tpeak, 
 
 but was quickly pulled down, and carried be- 
 fore the Lord Mayor, who fuied him 2cl At 
 Weftminfler feveral were grievoufly abufed, fome 
 having their clothes taken from them, as cloaks, 
 coats, hoods, fcarves, &c. fome kept prifoaers 
 
 feveral
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 321 
 
 feveral hours, and afterward taken before two chap, 
 juftices, who fined them, both men and women. ^^'"• 
 
 Various were the meafures adopted by the ma- ^ 
 giftratcs to perplex the Quakers, and deter them 
 from keeping up their rehgious meetings ; but 
 (landing upon a folid foundation, a confcience 
 void of oifence, and a dependence on divine 
 protection, they were preferved through ail their 
 fevere trials, fteadfafl and undifmayed, whereby 
 their adverfaries were fruftrated through ail their 
 efforts to diftrefs them to difperfion. The mayor 
 firfl fet guards upon their meeting-houfes ; and gj^ 
 
 they reforting thereto in point of duty, and be- ^ 
 
 ing by force kept out, held their meetings m 
 the ftreet, as near thereto as they were permitted 
 to come. Next, viz. on the 26th of the month 
 called June, he fuffered them to aifemble in the 
 meeting-houfe in Whitehart court; but v/h^ An cpifio- 
 alfembled, he contrived to procure an epifcopa- broughrto 
 lian prieft to go thither and officiate according f -c!! at 
 to their liturgy, and fent a band of foldiers to rn^rdi- 
 guard him in the performance of his office, who ^t'''-''^'^- 
 accordingly read the common prayer, and 
 preached a fermon in the gallery, eil^citing to 
 love and forbearance, from E ph. c. iv. v. 2, 15; 
 but at the fame time by his conduft did not 
 confirm his doctrine ; for the Toldicrs who 
 guarded him were rude and abufive to fome of 
 his auditors by compulfion, for making fome 
 obfervatioRS on the inconfiilency of the mea- 
 fures of the church party witii his doctrine, 
 and he neither reprefied nor rebuked their rude- 
 nefs and violence, which they dealt freely to 
 women a§ well as men. 
 
 Vol. II, X As
 
 322 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. As the novelty of the tranfaclion drew many 
 ^J^^^ people together, after the prieft had ended his 
 g fermon, George Whitehead ftood up, and preach- 
 George ' cd on the fame fubjeft, taking occafion there- 
 whitehead from to dcmonftrate the inconfiftencv of perfe- 
 terhim.for cution therewith, and with the gofpel ot peace, 
 which he IS 'jj^g mixed auditory liliened with attention, and 
 
 taken be- . . •' , . n c 
 
 fore the the meetmg contmued m an agreeable llate of 
 m^yor- quietude, until two rude fellows with foldiers at 
 their heels, laid violent hands on him and pul- 
 led him down, by their violence pufhing down 
 'f^ fome women prefent, and carried him to the 
 
 mayor's, keeping him fome time in his yard. 
 His name and the information againft him be- 
 mg given to the mayor, he prefently fent out a 
 warrant to commit him to the compter at the 
 gatehoufe in Bifhopfgate-ftreet, for making a 
 'difturbance, &c. until he fhould find fureties cr 
 be delivered by due courfe of law, without ex- 
 amining the cafe, or admitting George White- 
 head to be heard in his own defence. 
 
 George Whitehead feeing the warrant, re- 
 quefled an audience of the mayor, which being 
 obtained, he informed him, that he apprehend- 
 ed there was a miiiake in the warrant, in 
 charging him with making diflurbance, for that 
 there was no fuch thing, until the informers and 
 foldiers came in; that he made none, but on the 
 contrary quieted the people by feafonable ad- 
 vice and counfel. He was fent to the compter 
 until the evening, and then fent for to appear 
 before the mayor again ; and after fome dif- 
 courfe * the mayor in eonclufion fignified he muft 
 
 fine 
 
 * The lubftance of the difcourfe between George White- 
 head and the Mayor was as followeth; Information being 
 
 given
 
 PEOPLE CALLED Q^UAKERS. 323 
 
 fine him 40I. for a fecond offence, as having c h a p 
 been, he faid, convicted before Sir Jofeph Shel- ^.^.^^-.^ 
 
 don 
 
 given that George Whitehead flood up and preached after the 
 miniftcr had ended, but what he preached the witnefies could 
 not tell, 
 
 The Mayor faid, if the minifter had done it was a con- 
 venticle. 
 
 G. Whitehead. If I had preached fedition or difcord againfi: 
 cither the government or peace of the nation, I might juftly 
 fuffer by this law ; being an aft to prevent and fupprefs fedi- 
 t'tous conventicles. But it was no other but the gofpel of peace 
 and falvation by Jefus Chrift that I preached, to exalt the power 
 of godlinefs, direfting the people thereto, that they may not 
 remain under empty and dead forms of profeffion. 
 
 Mayor. I believe both you and others have done good — 
 Well, I muft fine you 40I. this being for the fecond offence ; 
 you were convifted before Sir Jofeph Sheldon once be- 
 fore. 
 
 G. Whitehead. Mufl I fuffer for preaching the gofpel, as 
 if I had been preaching fedition ? Doth the law make no dif- 
 ference ? Befides I was not convifted according to this law be- 
 fore jufUce Sheldon, for it was there made appear that the 
 witnefs forfwore himfelf ; for he fwore that he took, me 
 preaching, when many could teflify (as feme did) that I was 
 praying, and not preaching at that time. 
 
 Mayor. But were you on your knees with your hat off 
 •when they took you ? 
 
 G. Whitehead. Yea, I was, and the meetmg was in a 
 folemn poflure of prayer, the men with their hats off: And 
 tKe foldiers pulled me down when I was praying. 
 
 Mavor. However, yOM were in a religious exercife. 
 
 G. Whitehead. If preaching mull be accounted a reli- 
 gious exercife, not allowed by the liturgy, yet 1 do not un- 
 derfland that prayer is included in the claufe. " Every per- 
 *' fon who fhall take upon him to preach or teach in any fuch 
 ** meeting, and fhall be thereof convifted, fhall forfeit 20I.'* 
 Now here is no praying mentioned. Now 1 defire thy 
 judgment, whether preaching or teaching can be meant 
 praying ? 
 
 Mayor. No, praying is not here mentioned ; hovvevcr your 
 conviftion is recorded, you may make your appeal. 
 
 X 2 G. Whitehead- 
 
 i6-]Oi
 
 3^4 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, don before ; but it feems the fine was never 
 '^'"- levied. 
 
 ^ They purfued the like plan at the fame meet- 
 
 ing-houfe for three or four firft days fucceffively ; 
 but whatever their view might be in this in- 
 trufion of their liturgy within unconfecrated 
 walls, they foon grew tired, and returned to 
 the pradlice of placing guards at the meet- 
 houfes, and keeping the affembhes of this 
 people out in the ftreets. 
 
 ' Upon the 17th day of the 5th month, O. S, 
 
 called July, friends were kept out of their meet- 
 ing-houfe at Peele in the ftreet, by a band of 
 foldiers and a conftable, and two women friends 
 being concerned to fpeak a few words of exhor- 
 tation, the foldiers came and violently pulled 
 them away, puflied down both men and women 
 with their muikets, bruifed feveral, and tore 
 Maty Wicks's fcarf and apron, v/hereupon one 
 of the friends called to the conftable to keep the 
 peace. Toward the conclufion of the meeting 
 George Whitehead felt his heart animated with 
 fervency to call upon the Lord by prayer, in 
 v/hich as he was exercifed, the foldiers with vio- 
 lence pulled him away into the entry ; George 
 
 G. IVhitehead. To whom fnall I maice my appeal but to 
 thofe that wrong me. 
 
 Mayor. I muft do according to law ; I rtiuft fine you 
 40I. 
 
 G. Whitehead. That Taw which makes no diflirK^tion be- 
 tween preaching fedition and preaching the gofpel of peace I 
 miift d-cny, as being both againfi; reafon and againfi God, 
 and God, who judgcth righteoufly, v/ill judge between thee 
 and us in this thing. 
 
 then
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 32^ 
 
 then reafoned with them concerning their rude- chap. 
 nefs and incivility towards the women ; remark- v^,/^vO 
 ing how much belov/ the manly fpirit of foldiers ig^o. 
 they afted in abufmg peaceable men, and wo- 
 men of repute, as they had clone. Prefently after 
 they pulled John Scot and Samuel Richardfon 
 into their guard-room, and detained thofe three 
 in their cuftody near three hours ; and then a 
 great company of foldiers conducted them to an 
 ale-houfe near Clerkenwell, where two juftices, 
 Fofter and Bowles, were, with a body of the 
 king's horfe-guards before the door. Upon their 
 appearing before the juilices, George Whitehead, 
 addreihng himfeif to the jullices faid, " I am 
 " glad we are come before the civil ma^i- 
 *' llrates : We defire jultice of you againfl the 
 *' foldiers, who have kept us out of our meet- 
 *' ing in the ftreet, and taken us contrary to 
 " law, even contrary to the prefent aft of par- 
 " liament, which requires not them to meddle 
 
 a 
 
 (C 
 
 and upon certificate thereof as the act men- 
 tions: Befides, fome of thefe foldiers behaved 
 rudely, and abufedfeveral of our friends, and 
 hurt fome of the women by punching them 
 with their mufKets. In the next place, we 
 ''' except againfl thefe foldiers as witneiTcs, 
 " looking upon them as improper wifneffes 
 " againfl: us, who have broken the law them- 
 " felves." 
 
 Neverthelefs they were put to their oaths to 
 give teftimony againff the prifoners, whom they 
 had abufed and illegally apprehended, the juf- 
 tices not cautioning them to take heed what 
 they fwore, although the major (who was pre- 
 fent)
 
 ^26 H I S T O R Y OB THE 
 
 CHAP, fent) did. Their information againfl; George 
 XXIII. Whitehead, imported. That there were about 
 ''— V — ' 300 in the ftreet, that they took him preaching, 
 1670. ftanding on a bulk or flail. 
 
 George Whitehead anfwered, That is not true, 
 I was praying, (landing on the ground, but lean^- 
 iijg on a flail. 
 
 Soldiers, We took him praying, but leaning 
 on a bulk. 
 
 George Whitehead. See how confufed and con- 
 traditlory they are in their evidence, for preach- 
 ing and praying are two things ; neither is pray- 
 ine mentioned in the claufe of that aft which 
 is made againfl fuch as take upon them to preach 
 or teach. 
 
 'Jnjiice Fojier. You conjured them together 
 to the meeting. 
 
 George Whitehead. That's not true, for they 
 were gathered before I came to the meeting. 
 
 The major reproving the foldiers for going 
 beyond his order, which was to keep friends in 
 the flreet, and to keep fentry at the door, but not 
 to take them prifoners, 
 
 Jujiice Bowles^ in excufe of the foldiers, faid. 
 Sir, after you were gone 1 ordered them to take 
 thofe that preached, and I thank them. 
 
 Jujiice Fo/ler, What a devil did you come 
 there to pray for ? 
 
 George Whitehead. Do thefe words become a 
 magiflrate ? We did not meet to hear or nng 
 ballads in the flreet, nor do v^e meet at play- 
 houfes, nor at bawdy-hpufes, nor at drinking- 
 houfes to be drunk, where the devil is ferved ; 
 but fingly to ferve and worfhip the living God. 
 The major and fome more with him feeme^ 
 
 highly
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 327 
 
 lilghly offended at thefe expreflions, calling out, CHAP. 
 "Whom do you accufe ? whom do you accufe for xxiii. 
 going to bawdy-houfes ? Whereupon fome of ^-''v^^ 
 the company prefent fmiled one upon another. '670. 
 
 George Whitehead. I accufe none, but tell you 
 what meetings we do not come at, nor own ; 
 and for what end we do meet. 
 
 The information againft John Scot was, that 
 they took him preaching, which was, that when 
 they were behaving with rudenefs and violence 
 he defired them to be moderate. Againft Samuel 
 Richardfon, that he laid violent hands on one of 
 their mufl-Lets ; but this was utterly falfe, and 
 denied by Samuel Richardfon, for he was ftand- 
 ing peaceably (as he faid) with his hands in his 
 pockets. They were all committed to New- 
 prifon, guarded by a conftable, and a guard of 
 foldiers. And the next evening they fined Geo. 
 "Whitehead 20I. (but it was not leviedj and Sa- 
 muel Richardfon five flullings, and difcharged 
 them. But im.prifoned John Scot fix months on 
 the Oxford ad againft nonconformift preachers, 
 although he was no preacher, nor in any re- 
 fpeft juftly liable to be puniihed by the faid a£l. 
 
 The magiftrates of London next conceived a 
 new plan, to imprifon them, in order to bring 
 them to trial for a riot, and exert their utmoft 
 endeavours to get them convi£led thereupon. 
 They began with two very eminent memt^ers of 
 this fociety, William Penn and William Mead, 
 who were taken as William Penn was preach- 
 ing in Grace-church-ftreet on the 14th of the 
 pionth called Auguft, and both committed to 
 Newgate, from whence they were brought to 
 their trial at the feffions at the Old-Baily the ift« 
 3d, 4th and 5th of September, wherein is exhi- 
 bited
 
 32§ H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP fcited a. remarkable fpecimen of the violent ex- 
 
 XXIII. ertions of arbitrary power in the magiftrates j 
 
 '^^^'^"^'^ and of intrepid fortitude in defence of the an- 
 
 ■ ^°* cient and fundamental privileges of the people 
 
 in. the prifoners and the jury. 
 
 The indictment fet forth, that William Penn 
 and William Mead, with divers other perfons to 
 the number of 300, at'Grace-church-flreet in 
 the city of London, on the 15th of Auguft, with 
 force and arms tumultuoufly affembled together, 
 and that William Penn, by agreement between 
 him and William Mead, had preached there in 
 the publick ftreet, whereby was caufed a great 
 concourfe of people. To this indittment they 
 feverally pleaded ?ioi guilty. After which they 
 were detained there five hours, waiting upon the 
 trial of felons, and then returned to Newgate ; 
 and tv/o days after were brought before the 
 court again, when the court more openly mani- 
 fefled a preconcerted defign to treat them with 
 the utmoit feverity, and take every unfair ad- 
 vantage againft them ; for coming intd court 
 after their accuftomed manner with their hats 
 on, and the olKcers. having taken them off, 
 the lord mayor, Samuel Starling, reproved them 
 Iharply,. and ordered them to put them on their 
 heads again. Wliefeupon the recorder, Howel, 
 who appeared through the whole trial impla- 
 cably determined agaiaft them, fined them forty 
 marks each, for not taking off their hats. Which 
 occafioned William Penn to remark, That they 
 were in the court with their hi^ts oft, (i. e. 
 taken off) and if they have been put on fmce, 
 it is by ^rder of the bench ; and therefore, (if 
 any) the bench, not the prifoners, ought 10 be 
 
 The
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 329 
 
 ' The jury being fworn, and the witneiTes be- chap. 
 !ng called, depofed that they faw Willian Penn xxiii. 
 fpeaking to the people affembled in a great nuni- k^^^''-^^ 
 bier in Grace -church-ftreet, but they could not 1670. 
 hear what he faid. 
 
 The recorder then afked William Mead if he 
 was there ? Who replied, It is a maxim in your 
 own law that no man is bound to accufe hlin- 
 felf, why then dGfi; thou go about to enfnare 
 me ? The recorder, in refentment, returned. Sir, . 
 hold your tongue, I did not go about to enfnare 
 you. Then William Penn freely declared, we 
 confefs ourfelves fo far from recanting or de- 
 clining to vindicate our affembling ourfelves to 
 preach, pray, cr worfhip the eternal, holy, jull 
 God, that we believe it to be our indifpenfable 
 duty to meet upon fo good an account ; nor 
 fhall all the powers upon earth be able to divert 
 us from reverencing and adoring God, who 
 made us. Richard Brown alledged, you are 
 not here for v/orfhipping God, but for breaking 
 the law, you do yourfelves a great deal of 
 wrong in going on in that difcourfe *. To this 
 •William Penn anfvv'ered, I affirm I have broken 
 no law ; nor am 1 guilty of the indiftment that 
 is laid to my charge : And to the end the bench, 
 the jury and myfelf, with thefe that hear us, 
 may have a- m^ore direct underflanding of this 
 
 procedure, 
 
 * TMs appears to me a nice difiinSion in terms, without a 
 "difFerence in eiteft. The law alluded to by Brown was inade 
 n.gamtl: all wnriliip not according to the liturgy. Sec. The 
 Quakers wo-lTiip was, from confcientious convidion, not ac- 
 cording thereto, but fuch as they believed nioft acceptable 
 to God: Their wo'/hip being then a breach of the law, is 
 not then their worlKipping God and breaking the law one 
 2.nd the fame thing ?
 
 i3o H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, procedure, I defire to know by what law you 
 xxin. profecute, and upon which you ground my in- 
 *■ V 'didment? The recorder anfwered, Upon the 
 2670. common law. William Penn defired that com- 
 mon law might be produced, as it would be im- 
 pofTible for the jury to determine, or agree in 
 their verdid, under ignorance of the law, by 
 which they fliould meafure the truth of the in- 
 ditlment, and the guilt or contrary of the fad. 
 The recorder, provoked at his perfiftance in de- 
 manding a fpecihcation of the law, which he 
 could not tell where to find, fuffered his paffion 
 to tranfport him beyond the bounds of decency, 
 and treat a man on every account as refpedable 
 as himfelf with ill language, in this laconic re- 
 ply to his juft requifition. You are a faucy fel- 
 low, fpeak to the indidment : But William 
 Penn infilling on his right to have the law pro- 
 duced on which the indidment was founded^ 
 and the court evading it, and infifting on his 
 pleading to the indidment as it flood : At laft 
 the recorder, lofmg all patience, to abufive lan- 
 guage added a plain confefTion that he did not 
 know where the law was to be found, You are, 
 faid he, an impertinent fellow, will you teach 
 the court what law is ? Its Lex non fcripta, 
 that which many have fludied thirty or forty 
 years to know, and would you have me tefl 
 you in a moment ? Wili/am Penn. If the com- 
 mon law be fo hard to be underflood, it is far 
 from being common ; but if Lord Coke in his 
 inflitutes be of any authority, he tells us, that 
 common law is common right, and that com- 
 mon right is the great charter privileges. Re- 
 corder. You are a troublefome fellow, and it is 
 not for the honour of the court to fuffer you to 
 
 go
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 331 
 
 go on. William Perm. I defign no aliVont to c h a p. 
 the court, but to be heard in my juft plea ; and xxiii. 
 I muft plainly tell you, that if you deny me the ^-^''^^■^-' 
 oyer of that law, which you fuggeft I have ^^7o- 
 broken, you do at once deny me an acknow- 
 ledged right, and evidence to the whole world 
 your refolution to facrifice the privileges of Eng- 
 jifhmen to your fmifler and arbitrary defign§. 
 This exafperated the recorder to that degree that 
 he called to the officers to take him away. And 
 addreffing himfelf to the mayor, faid, my lord, 
 if you do not take fome courfe with this pefti- 
 .lent fellow to ftop his mouth, we fhall not be 
 able to do any thing to-night. Upon which 
 the lord mayor ordered him to be haled from 
 the bar into the bail-dock. As he was going 
 away, he made the following addrefs to the jury. 
 This I leave upon your confciences, who are 
 my jury, and my fole judges, that if thefe anci- 
 ent fundamental laws, which relate to liberty 
 and property, and are not limited to particular 
 perfuafions in matters of jreligion, muft not be 
 jndifpenfably maintained and obferved, who can 
 fay he hath a right to the coat on his back ? Cer- 
 tainly then our liberties are to be openly invad- 
 ed ; our wives to be ravifhed, our children en- 
 flaved, our families ruined, and our eftates led 
 away in triumph by every flurdy beggar and ma- 
 licious informer, as their trophies, by our pre- 
 tended forfeitures for confcience-fake. 
 
 William Mead, being left alone at the bar, 
 alfo addrefled the jury in the following fpeech : 
 *' Ye men of the jury, 1 now ft and here to an- 
 " fwer to an indidment againft me, which is a 
 f bundle of ftuff, full of lies and falfehoods ; 
 f* for therein I am accufed that I met with force 
 
 " and
 
 ii 
 
 cc 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 332 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. " and arms unlawfully and tumultuouflv. Time 
 ^ ^^ " was when I had freedom to ufe a carnal wea- 
 
 16-0 " P°^^' ^"*^ ^^'^" ^ thought I feared no man : 
 " But now I fear the living God, and dare not 
 " make ufe thereof, nor hurt any man ; nor do 
 I know that I demeaned myfelf as a tumultu- 
 ous perfon : Therefore it is a very proper 
 quedion that William Penn demanded, an 
 oyer of the law^ on which our indiftment is 
 grounded. If the recorder will not tell you 
 what makes a riot, &c. Coke tells us, a riot 
 is, when three or more, are met together to 
 beat a man, or to enter forcibly into another 
 man's land, to cut his grafs, his wood, or 
 break down his pales." The recorder, pull- 
 ing off his hat in a contemptuous manner, faid, I 
 thank you, Sir, for telling me what the law is. 
 William Mead replied, thou mayft put on thy 
 hat, I have never a fee for thee now. The lord 
 mayor faying, you deferve to have your 
 tongue cut out ; and the recorder threatening 
 to take occafion againfl him, he pleading his pri- 
 vilege as an Englifliman, the recorder rejoined, 
 I look upon you to be an enemv to the laws of 
 England, nor are you worthy of fuch privileges 
 ,as others have. Then he v.as likewife ordered 
 into the Bail-dock. 
 
 When the prifoners were gone, the recorder 
 proceeded to give the jury their charge; which 
 William Penn obferving, remonltrated againft as 
 an irregular proceeding, raifmg himfelf up by 
 the rails of the bail-dock, that he might be heard, 
 with a loud voice fpoke thus : " I appeal to the 
 " jury, and this great affembly, whether it be 
 " not contrary to the undoubted right of every 
 " Englifhman to give the jury their charge in 
 
 '' the
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 
 
 J:SS 
 
 '-' the abfence of the prifoners." The recorder c li A P. 
 anfwered fneeringly, ye are prefent, ye do hear, xxiii. 
 do you not ? William Penn. No thanks to the ^-/^^"^ 
 court that ordered me into the bail-dock: And ^^1'^' 
 you of the jury, take notice that I have not been 
 heard, neither can you legally depart the court 
 before I have been tuUy heard, having at leaft 
 ten or twelve material points to offer, in order 
 to invalidate the indidment. This fpeech being 
 very unpalatable to the court, the recorder cried 
 out, pull that fellow down, pull him down. 
 William Mead thereupon exclaimed againlt their 
 proceedings as barbarous and unjuft ; upon 
 which, by order of the recorder, thev were thruft 
 into a ftinking hole and detained there, while 
 the jury went up to agree upon their verdift ; 
 after ftaying about an hour aiid an half, eight 
 came down agreed ; but four being diliatisned 
 remained above. The bench, highly provoked nicnacc'I 
 at thefe jurymen, who obftraded their defigns, 
 threatened them with the like domineerincr in- 
 
 o 
 
 civility as they had the prifoners before, parti- 
 cularly Edward Cufhel, whom they charged with 
 being the caufe of this difagreement, and an 
 abettor of faction, with more imperious and me- 
 nacing language, unbecoming perfons in the 
 feat of juftice, or thofe of a liberal education. 
 After much abufive treatment they fent them to 
 confider of bringing in their verdicl, which af- 
 ter feme time tliey agreed to bring William Penn 
 guilty of fpeaking in Gracious-ftreet. Tliis 
 the court refufed to accept as a verdi6t : And 
 Ihove unfairly to extort expreflions from fome 
 of them, to procure a verdicl more to their pur- 
 pofe, as that he was fpeaking to an unlawful 
 ali'embly ; but Bufliel, liammond, and Ibmc 
 . ■ others
 
 334 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP. Others bravely maintained their right, and te^ 
 XXIII. fufed to admit any alteration in their verdict ; af 
 '^"'y'^ vv^hich the recorder, mayor, and others took oc- 
 '°* cafion to abufe them with moll opprobrious lan- 
 guage, and forced them up again to bring in a 
 verdi<5t they would accept. Upon their return 
 they produced their verdict in writing, figned by 
 them all, as follows, viz. 
 Verdiain " We the jurors hereafter named do find 
 wntuig. 4c William Penn guilty of fpeaking or preaching 
 to an alTembly met together in Gracious-ftreet 
 the 14th Auguft 1670, and that Wm. Mead 
 is not guilty of the laid indictment,'* 
 
 
 Thomas Veer, foreman. Charles Meilfon. 
 
 Edward Bufhel. Gregory Walklet, 
 
 John Hammond. John Bailey. 
 
 Henry Henley. William Lever. 
 
 Henry Mitchel. James Damalk. 
 
 John Brightman. William Plumlledo 
 
 This both the mayor and recorder refented fo* 
 highly that they exceeded the bounds of modera- 
 tion, reafon and civility, which drew the follow- 
 remonftrance from William Penn. 
 
 " My jury, who are my judges, ought not to 
 '• be thus menaced ; their verdi6t Thould be 
 free, and not compelled : The bench 
 ought to wait upon them, but not foreftal 
 them : I do defire that juftice may be done 
 me, and that the arbitrary refolves of the 
 bench may not be made the meafure of my 
 jury's verdi6t." This poignant vindication of 
 his right exafperated the recorder to the follow- 
 ing illiberal exclamation : " Stop that prating 
 " fellow's mouth, or put him out of the court." 
 
 And 
 
 <c 
 
 4C
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 335 
 
 And the mayor telling the jury, " That he had chap. 
 *' gathered a company of tumultuous people." xxiii. 
 William Penn, in explanation, replied. It is a v^^v->-> 
 miftake, we did not make the tumult, but they ^670. 
 that interrupted us ; the jury cannot be fo igno- 
 rant as to think we met with any defign to dilturb 
 the civil peace : We were with force of arms kept 
 out of our lawful houfe, and met as near it in 
 the ftreet as the foldiers would give us leave : It 
 is no new thing, nor with the circumfiances ex- 
 prefied in the indidment, but what was ufual 
 with us : *Tis very v/cll known that we are a 
 " peaceable people, and cannot offer violence 
 *' to any man." He infifled that the agreement 
 of twelve men is a verdid ; required the clerk 
 of the peace to record it ; and addreffing him- 
 felf to the jury, faid, " You are Engli{hmen, 
 " mind your privileges ; give not away your 
 " right.'* To which fome of them replied, 
 " Nor will we ever do it." 
 
 The prifoners were now fent back to jail, and 
 the jury to their chamber, where they were iliut 
 up all night without victuals, fire, or any ac- 
 commodation, not even a chamber-pot, the re- 
 corder having declared he would have a verdi6l 
 or they fhould flarve for it. 
 
 The next morning they brought in the fame 
 verdict ; and neither the paflionate refentments, 
 the opprobrious reflections, nor the repeated 
 menaces of the bench, could prevail upon 
 them to alter it in the leaft. Their (leadfail- 
 nefs, and the manly defence of William Penn, 
 made the recorder's paliion get the better of his 
 prudence fo far as to extort fentimcnts, which 
 policy would conceal. 'Till now^ I never under- Recorder 
 Jiaod the rcafon of the policy '^nd prudence of the ^^^^^'^^^-^^ 
 
 Spaniards inquifition.
 
 336 . H IS T O R Y or the 
 
 CHAP. Spaniards in fuffering the inquifition among them / 
 XXIII. and certainly it will never be well with us, 'till 
 "^^^"^f^^ fojiiething like the Spanifb inquifition be in England, 
 X670. You will find next feffions of parliament there 
 will be a law made, that thofe who will not con- 
 form fhall not have the protection of the law. 
 The jury after repeated menaces, were forced 
 u"Tfer'^d^P again, and fpeiit a fecond night without 
 night. accommodations as before ; no regard being 
 paid to their remonllrances, that they had all 
 agreed, and in confinnation thereof had fet their 
 hands to the verdid. Next morning the pri- 
 foners being brought to the bar, and the jury 
 called upon to bring in their verdict, returned 
 Bring in the t.oth the prifoncrs not ruiltv ; for v/hich they 
 not guilty, were fined lorty marks a man, and ordered to 
 Jury fined |3g imprilbiied 'till the fines were paid ; but fome 
 
 and impn- . ^,, \' r \ 11 / ; 
 
 ioned. tnnc alter were ailcnarged by habeas corpus re- 
 turnable in the Common-pleas, where their 
 commitment was judged illegal. The prifoners,- 
 upon being cleared by the jury, demanded their 
 liberty ; but they were remanded to prifon for 
 their fines for not taking oif their hats, to 
 which they excepted, as being arbitrarily im- 
 pofed, in violation of the great Charter of Eng- 
 land, which faith, " No man ought to be amer- 
 " ced, but by the oath of good and lawful men 
 " of the vicenage." I'lius ended this memo- 
 rable trial, wherein a noble (land was made 
 againft the illegal proceedings of defpotic ma- 
 giilrates in dangeVcus times, when reafon, law 
 and equity were equally diiregarded *. The con- 
 venticle acl was made to encourage profecutions ; 
 whereby honed people in various parts were 
 greatly oppreffed by the informers and jullices j 
 
 but 
 
 3 Neale.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 337 
 
 but the courts of judicature outrun the law chap. 
 itfelf. XXIII. 
 
 At the fame feflions thirteen more of faid people ^-'^v^'^ 
 having been fent to prifon, partly from Grace- . '"^70' 
 church-llreet, and partly from the meeting near more tried, 
 Bifhop's-gate, (amongfl whom was Thomas Rud-. 
 yard, * a man well fl%.illed in the laws of the 
 land, and a ftrenuous vindicator of the liberties 
 of the people) were brought to trial upon like 
 indictments, for meeting in a riotous manner. 
 The fame jury, who acquitted Penn and Mead, 
 had been alfo fworn in court to try thefe other 
 Qiiakers ; but were incapacitated by that extra- 
 ordinary proceeding of the court in fining and 
 imprifoning them. 
 
 Their treatment was as arbitrary and over- 
 bearing from the recorder and the reft, as that 
 of Penn and Mead had been : They were ufed 
 
 Vol. II. Y juft 
 
 * This Thomas Rndyard' was particularly obnoxious to 
 the magiftrates of London ; becaufe, as a lawyer, he hid fuc- 
 cefsfully pleaded the caufe of the opprefTed againil their ty- 
 rannical meafures, he was marked out by them as a peculiar 
 objeft of their vengeance. Previous to his trial at this fef- 
 lions, they iifued a warrant to break open his houfe in the 
 dead time of the night, to apprehend him, v.-hich v.'arranc 
 was executed bv foldicrs, and the next day he was fent to 
 Newgate, under pretence, that he Jhrred up per[ons to d'ljole- 
 Aience to t/te hiws, and uhettcd and encouraged Jnch as met in 
 unluivful and feditious con'venticles^ contrary to the late ad". 
 But his cafe being brought before the court of cotnmon-pleas , 
 by habeas corpus, ihat court gave judgment, that he was un- 
 jujlly hitprif'jned and unlai:fuVy detained. \V hereupon he 
 was let at liberty. The magiftrates, mortified at their c*if- 
 grace and difappointment, caufed an indiftnienc to be framed 
 againft him, for hindering due courfe ot lav/ againft one 
 Sanuiel Allcnbridge. On this trial he fo well defended his 
 caufe that he was acquitted. Their ctforts to puniih hira on 
 thefe accounts failing them, they next availed themfelves of 
 his religious profefTion, and com.mitted him to Newgate from 
 a meeting at White- hart cou^. \
 
 33^ H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, juft in- the fame manner, and fined for not taking 
 , xxili. off their hats, which had been taken ofFby the offi- 
 ^— v^' cers, and put on their heads again by order of 
 *^7o. the court : a fecondjury was packed to try them, 
 againjfl which they protefted, dcfiring to be in- 
 formed by what law or precedent two juries 
 could be fworn to try one and the fame faft ? re- 
 ceived for anfv/er,- " The court over-rules you.** 
 They yet urging that the law ought to be the 
 rule and guide of all courts of juftice, and that 
 arbitrary anfv/ers were not fufficient to fatisfy 
 their reafonable demajids ; the recorder, greatly 
 enraged, told one of the prifoners he fhould be 
 gagged, and deferved to have his tongue bored 
 through with a red hot iron. They objefted to 
 feveral of this fecond- jury ; but their lawful 
 challenges were rejeded by the bench, for no bet- 
 ter reafon than that the court over-ruled them* 
 
 The fubfbance of the evidence againfl them 
 was, that they were feen in Grace-church-flreet 
 among an aflembly of people, and that they 
 ftaid there after proclamation was made for 
 all perfons to depart. They freely confeffed they 
 were met at Gracious-flreet to worfhip God ; 
 but denied that they were met for the purpofes 
 alledged in the indiclment, and dejQring to know 
 upon what law the indiclment was grounded, 
 received fimilar anfwers to thofe before given to 
 Penn and Mead. The indictment having fet 
 forth, that three feveral proclamations were 
 made, the prifoners ailedged this to be a miftake, 
 for there was but one made that day. Upon 
 which the mayor demanded of one of the wit- 
 neffes, whether oye-z was not repeated three 
 times? The witnefs anfwered in the affirmative. 
 Then faid the mayor, that was three proclama- 
 tions. Thus by forced conflru6;ions, as by other 
 
 • parts.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 339 
 
 parts of their condud, the members of this CHAP, 
 court difcovered their partiality and inclination xxiii. 
 to convi£l the prifoners. The prifoners urged *>— v-*-' 
 farther their peaceable principles and demeanour; 1670, 
 and that the law againlt riots was never defigned 
 againft them, but againll popifli and other difturb- 
 ers of the public peace. To which the recorder 
 anfwered, according to the court maxims of that 
 time, That the papifts were better fubjefts to 
 the King than they, and that they were a flub- 
 born and dangerous people, and mull either be 
 brought under, or there would be no fafe living 
 by them. As this fpeech of the recorder*s was 
 a mere effufion of malice and undeferved dif- 
 like to this people, a charge againft the prifon- 
 ers, fupported by no fact, but difproved by the 
 whole tenour of their conduft, they offered to 
 vindicate themfelves from his afperfions, for 
 "which they were treated jull as their friends had 
 been before them, ordered into the bail-dock ; 
 in their abfence the jury received their charge 
 from the recorder, not lo much a fumming up 
 of the evidence, as a virulent accufatlon againft 
 them, concluding with a direction that they muji 
 bring them in guilty ; which this jury, packed for 
 the purpofe, readily did. 
 
 The next that were brought to their trial Ezduei Ar- 
 were Ezekiel Archer and Margery Fann, who ch'^r ^"d 
 having been indifted as rioters the feffions be- FamftTied 
 fore, and the evidence being infufticient to con- ^^^ fei«ny. 
 YiQi them, v/ere detained in prifon on an indict- 
 ment for felony ; but this attempt againft them 
 was fo manifeftly unjuft and malicious, th;it 
 even this jury brought them in ?iot guilty ; and 
 yet Ezekiel Archer was fined and imprifoncd 
 with the r&ft. 
 
 Y ?. Thf:
 
 340 
 
 CHAP 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 1670. 
 
 Sentence 
 jiaiTed on 
 the prifo- 
 ncrs clan- 
 deftincJy. 
 
 Imprifoned 
 in an infedt- 
 cd jail. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ^ The conclufion of their trial was of a piece 
 with the conducing thereof: At the clofe of the 
 feflions thefe prifoiiers were called down to the 
 fellions-houfe, as they expefted, to receive judg- 
 ment, and had accordingly prepared exceptions 
 in arreft of judgment to be delivered to the re- 
 corder in writing; but they were precluded from 
 the opportunity of making their defence ; the 
 bench paffing fentence without any of them 
 hearing it : So determined were they to effed: 
 their purpofe of punifning them, that they went 
 over all forms, of legal proceedings in favour of 
 the prifoners. 
 
 It appeared by the newgate book that this 
 clandeftine fentence condenmed them in fundry 
 fines, feme forty marks, fome twenty ; and as a 
 fpecial mark of their vindictive difpofition to- 
 wards Thomas Rudyard, he was fined lool. and 
 all to be committed to prifon, until they fhould 
 pay their refpeclive fines. 
 
 But it appearing that newgate was fo full of 
 prifoners that there could not be convenient 
 room for this additional number ; the court 
 entered into a confultation where to im- 
 prifon them, and being informed that during the 
 feflions the mailer of the houfe and one of the 
 prifoners had died of the fpotted fever, out of 
 the dog by newgate, they ordered thefe friends 
 to be imprifoned there ; and a keeper was ap- 
 pointed to prevent their going out on- any oc- 
 cafion. Yet through the goodnefs of divine pro- 
 vidence they v/ere preferved in health, beyond 
 the expedation of their friends or hope of their 
 enemies, who by the feries of their carriage. 
 
 Befle. 
 
 through
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 341 
 
 through the whole of their proceedings againft c 11 a p. 
 them, gave occafion to fufpecl they ihut them up xxiii. 
 ill that infeded houfe with no friendly de- ' — ^f^ 
 ilgn. . '670. 
 
 *■ An account of both thefc trials was publifhed Accounts 
 foon after, the firft by William Penn, under the"f *''ff.,"■'- 
 title or ihe reople s ancient ana jujt Liberties aj- cd. 
 ferted. To which is added, an appendix, exhi- 
 biting at large the invalidity of the evidence ; 
 the falfity and abfurdity of the indidment ; the 
 arbitrary meafures of the court ; their repeated 
 violations of the great charter, in particular the 
 abfolute illegality of their treatment of the jury; 
 in confirmation whereof he cites Judge Keeling's 
 cafe, who about thre€ years before had fallen 
 under the cenfure of the Houfe of Commons 
 upon this very account. Whereupon they paflcd 
 the following refolutions : 
 
 That the proceedings of the lord chief juf- 
 tice, in putting reftraints upon juries, arc innova- 
 tions in the trial of men for their lives and li- 
 berties ; and that he hath ufed an arbitrary and 
 illegal power, of dangerous confcquence to the 
 lives and liberties of the people of England, and 
 tending to the introducing of an arbitrary go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Secondly, tliat in the place of judicature, the 
 lord chief juftice hath undervalued, vilified and 
 condemned Magna Gharla^ the great preferver 
 -of our lives, freedom and property. 
 
 Thirdly, that he be brought to trial in order to 
 condign punifliment, in fuch manner as the houfe 
 Ihall judge moll fit and requifite. And two days 
 after, " Die Veneris, 13th December, 1667, rc- 
 
 \ 
 ^ Pcnn's Works. 
 
 '' folvcd.
 
 342 HISTORY op the 
 
 CHAP." folved, that the precedent or practice of fining 
 XXIII. " or imprifoning jurors for verdicts is illegal/* 
 >-'>^~*-' ^The account of the fucceeding trials of thefe 
 1670. people at that feffion was publifhed by Thomas 
 Rudyard, under the title of. The fecond Part 
 cf the People's ancient and juji Liberties ajferted, 
 who as a lawyer was well qualified with preci- 
 fion to point out the right of juries, and the un- 
 lawfulnefs of the proceedings then in vogue. 
 Thefe pieces were well accepted by the public, 
 particularly the former, which pafled fundry im- 
 prefTions ; for the people began now to be fufpi- 
 cious of ill defigns carrying on underhand, and 
 that the eftablifhed church was let loofe to worry 
 and perfecute the diffenters, in order that po- 
 pery and arbitrary power hand in hand might 
 feize the favourable opportunity to eftablifli 
 themfelves on the ruins of both. 
 
 When or by what means they were releafed 
 I find no particular account; but William Penn's 
 imprifonment at this time was of no long conti- 
 nuance ; for it appears he was at liberty at tHe 
 time of his father's deceafe, which happened the 
 1 6th of the fame month, viz. September 1670. 
 His father w^as at this time perfectly reconciled 
 to his fon, and left him both his paternal blef- 
 Img and a plentiful eftate : And feems to have 
 conceived a favourable opinion of his friends, 
 as appears by his death-bed exprefTions, record- 
 ed by his fon in that excellent treatife, No Crojj 
 no Crown. 
 S^^vard- -^"^ ^^-^ intemperate and extrajudicial proceed- 
 ed for his ings of the recorder were looked upon in a dif- 
 
 icrvice, 
 
 6 Sewel. 
 
 ferent
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 343 
 
 ferent light by his colleagues of the bench. Al- chap. 
 derman John Robinfon made a motion in the y^^^^jli]^ 
 fucceeding court of aldermen, " that the re- g„ 
 *' corder deferved lool. for his fervice done at ' 
 " the Old Baily the lafl: feflions ;" which mo- 
 tion was agreed to, and an order iffued to the 
 chamberlain to pay it. Thomas Rudyard, com- 
 ing to the knowledge thereof, as alfo of 200!. 
 more he had received in like manner, within 
 eight months laft paft, thought thefe tranfaclions 
 worthy of publication to his fellow citizens, to 
 apprize them of the difpofal of the public ftock, ' 
 with this ironical reflection upon it, " an ex- 
 *' cellent way to eafe the treaiury of being over- 
 " burdened with orphan's money, by which 
 *' fmifter means of difpofmg of its cafli, the cham- 
 •" ber was fo deeply in debt as was almoll in- 
 ■^' .credible." ' 
 
 TT 
 
 — ^ « — f ■ 
 
 i.v .1 ■ '- X. 
 ""* 'l * ' .. 
 
 CHAR
 
 '344 HISTORY of the 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 Illegal Proceedings at Horjly-down. — Order of 
 Council for demoUJhing the Meeting-houfe there. 
 — Cruel Abufe of Soldiers. — The civil Officers en- 
 deavour to prevent their Abufes ineffedually. — 
 Remark thereupon. — Proceedings at Ratcliff. — 
 At Wheelerfireet. — William Penn taken from 
 thence^ and after an Examination before Sir 
 John Robinfon and others committed to New- 
 gate on the Oxford Five-mile Ad. — George 
 Fox takes a Journey into the Country and is 
 ■taken ill. — Exerts himfelf to procure his Wife*s 
 Liberty with fuccefs. — Sails for America. 
 
 CHAP. -tlAVING traced the rtrbltrary proceedings of 
 XXIV. this feffion, and the confequent tranfaclions thus 
 
 ^— ^' — ^ far, we are to view meafures Hill more violent, 
 1670. tyrannical and illegal, adopted againfl this peo- 
 ple in other parts of the city or fuburbs in thefe 
 ftrange times. 
 
 reeding^Tt They had a meeting-houfe at an extremity of 
 
 Horfl/- the city, viz. at Hor fly-down, in the borough 
 of Southwark : Here, from the very beginning 
 of the perfecution under this laft aft, the mem- 
 bers of this meeting were not only profecuted 
 thereby in heavy fines and diftraints, but per- 
 fonally abufed by foldiers, who were appointed 
 to keep them out of their meeting-houfe, in a 
 
 very
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 345 
 
 Very barbarous manner : And the repeated abu- chap. 
 fes they received not anfwering the end intended, ^^^v. 
 of deterring them from keeping up their reli- 
 gious meetings, in performance of their reii- ' 
 gious duty, in the month called July, the fol- 
 lowing order was iffued by the king and council 
 for demolifliing the faid meeting -houfe. 
 
 ^* An order of the king and council for de- order of 
 " molifhing the meeting-houfb at Horfly ;i;:;;;2iiSi 
 " down in Southwark. At the court atth-m.-et- 
 " Whitehall, 29th July, 1670. ^£0,°"^ 
 
 "PRESENT, 
 
 The King's moll excellent Majefly- 
 
 " His riighnefs Prince Rupert. 
 
 " Lord Archbifhop of Canterburyo -' 
 
 ^' Lord Keeper. * 
 
 " Duke of Monmouth. ;.:;..: - 
 
 " Duke of Ormond. 
 
 " Earl of Offory. 
 
 " Earl of Oxford. 
 
 *' Earl of Anglefea. 
 
 " Earl of Bath. 
 
 *' Earl of Craven. 
 
 " Lord Aililey. 
 
 *' Mr. Treafurer. 
 
 *' Mr. Vice Chamberlain. 
 
 " Mr. Secretary Trevor. 
 
 a 
 
 ■a 
 
 a 
 
 " His Majefly being informed that there 
 have been of late frequent conventicles and 
 ^' feditious meetings, under pretence of reli- 
 gious worihip, contrary to and in contempt 
 
 " of
 
 34« HISTORY of the 
 
 CHAP." of the laws eftabliflied, at an houfe or build- 
 
 XXIV. It jj^g ^^ Horfly-down, adjoining to the Artillery 
 
 g " garden, and that the perfons who there af- 
 
 '* femble behave themfelves in fuch a riotous and 
 
 " tumultuous manner, that if their meetings 
 be any longer endured, his Majelly*s peace 
 and the quiet of his government will thereby 
 be manifeftly endangered: For prevention 
 
 " whereof, it was this day ordered, his Majefty 
 prefent in council, and by his exprefs com- 
 mand, that Chriftopher Wren, Efq; furveyor 
 general of his Majefly's works, do caufe the 
 faid houfe or building to be pulled down and 
 demolifhed, in cafe from henceforth any per- 
 fons whatfoever fhall prefume to meet or hold 
 any conventicle or unlawful aifembly therein 
 under colour of religious worfhip : And it 
 was farther ordered by his Majefty, that this 
 fignification of his royal pleafure be affixed 
 on the faid building, to the end that the 
 owners and occupiers of the fame may take 
 notice thereof, to prevent and hinder faid 
 
 *' meetings at their p^ril. 
 
 « JOHN NICHOLAS." 
 
 OrueiaLiife' The exccutlon of this order, which was 
 .<if foidiers gj.Q,jn(je^ upon no legal procefs or judicial trial, 
 was not committed to the civil power, but the 
 whole of the defpotick treatment of this affem- 
 bly was put into the hands of the military, who 
 behaved themfelves with fuch favage barbarity, 
 as if they had been let loofe to execute martial 
 law upon them. The troopers came twice to 
 the meeting there, after the affixing up of the 
 order to dilperfe the affembly : A ferjeant pluck- 
 ed 
 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 ec 
 ti 
 
 it
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 347 
 
 ed them out of the meeting-houfe, and when chap. 
 forced out, the troopers rode amongft them to xxiv. 
 difperfe them, and wounded feveral of them. ^^>^v-v-» 
 The third time, on the aoth of Augull fo call- *^7o« 
 ed, being the feventh day of the week, a party 
 of foldiers with carpenters and others came and 
 pulled down the meeting-houfe, carried away 
 the boards, windows, benches and forms, and 
 fold them. On the next day the friends came as 
 ufual, and met upon the rubbilh of the demo- 
 liflied houfe, but the foldiers came and dragged 
 them into the flreet: On the 28th a captain or- 
 dered his foldiers to knock their brains out ; 
 they pulled and haled them from th*e place, and 
 having kept them until near funl'et, carried 
 them to the marfhalfea prifon, and lodged them 
 there without any warrant from a civil magi- 
 flrate. 
 
 This dragooning of this meeting was continue 
 ed weekly for the greateft part of three months, 
 ■with encreafing aggravation ; the foot foldiers 
 beat and abufed both men and women in an 
 outrageous manner with their mufquets and 
 pikes until they broke feveral of them ; a fer- 
 jeant with his halbert laid about him like a 
 madman, ftriking and wounding feveral. After 
 the foot had perpetrated their abufe, a party of 
 horfe came on farloufly and endeavoured to ride 
 over them ; but the horfes, lefs favage than their 
 riders, being unwilling to go forward, they turn- 
 ed them about, and by curbing and reining 
 them endeavoured to force them backward, and 
 in that manner do the people what mifchief 
 they could. 
 
 Finding
 
 348 II I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP- Finding this people, though thus grievoufly 
 XXIV. abufed, not yet deterred from keeping up their 
 religious aflfemblies, being fupported through all 
 by the confcioulhefs of the fincerity of their 
 hearts towards God, and placing their confi- 
 dence in his divine prote6Hon, for the fake of 
 performing their duty to whom, they were ex- 
 pofed to this unmerciful treatment, thefe mili- 
 tary executors of illegal punifhment changed 
 their method of attack ; one of them having 
 provided himfelf with a ihovel, threw the dirt 
 out of the channels upon men and women pro- 
 mifcuoully, in a fliameful manner ; after him 
 advanced horfe and foot in a furious onfet upon 
 an harmlefs unrefifting body of people, and dealt 
 about their blows with remarkable outrage, 
 where they knew they would meet 'with no re- 
 pulfe, (hiking and knocking down ail before 
 them without regard to age or lex, to the llied- 
 dincT of the blood of many. And when fome 
 of the inhabitants, in compaffion took them into 
 their houfes to fave their lives, the foldiers for- 
 ced open the doors, haled them out into the 
 ftreets, and plucked off their hats, to ftrike on 
 their bare heads, whereby many went away with 
 heads ffrievouflv broken ; thev tore both men 
 and women's clothes off their backs, dragged 
 women through the mire by the horfes fides ; 
 ufed modeft and religious women with brutifh 
 indecency of action and expreffion. One wo- 
 man with child was (Iruck on the belly and bread, 
 in confequence whereof fhe mifcarried, and her 
 life was in great danger. A man friend was 
 dragged, after being feverely beaten, into the 
 ruins of the meeting-houfe by one of thofe 
 cruel men, who demanded his money, and en- 
 deavoured
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 349 
 
 deavoured to rifle his pockets, threatening with c 11 a p. 
 execrations he would Itab and piflol him if he ^^'^• 
 would not deliver it. ^^ 
 
 At one of thele a(Taults above twenty perfons ' 
 were wounded and forely bruifed ; at the fuc- 
 ceeding one upwards of thirty ; and at this lall 
 the number of wounded and bruifed exceeded 
 fifty. At length thefe military violations of the 
 peace of the city roufed the civil oiticers to in-T''<: civil 
 terpofe their authority ; but it was too weak t0d4vourTo' 
 protect this unarmed body againfl the number F'^^f'^^*^ 
 of armed men let loofe upon them : The fuc- orders iucf- 
 ceeding nrll day, the 16th of October, being -'^-''^"^^'y- 
 again met, and kept out of their meeting-place, 
 there came again a party of horfe and foot pre- 
 pared to fall upon them ; but a party of conlla- 
 bles being there before them to preferve the 
 peace, kept them at bay for a fhort time, it be- 
 ing conceived, it is like, a more ferioiis affair 
 to trample upon the legal authority of the civil 
 power than upon the immunities and perfons of 
 private people; but their thirft of mifchief foon 
 got the better of any flight fcruples they might ' 
 entertain on this account; they quickly broke over 
 the barriers of civil reflraint, and fell upon the 
 poor defencelefs people with their ace u domed 
 rage and inhumanity : Pdany of thon had their 
 blood fpilled plentifully about tlieir ears and 
 faces, and one of the conflables iuterpofmg in 
 endeavours to prevent the Ihedding of blood, 
 and to keep the pearce, was a fliarer with them in 
 this indifcrhninate abufe, receiving a broken 
 head for his pains. Being reprehended for their 
 cruelty, fome of them anfwered. If you knc-w 
 ivhai orders ive have, you would Jay we dealt 
 7nercifully with you j others being afl-ied, hov/ can 
 
 you
 
 35© H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 c rt A p. you deal thus with a people that have love and 
 XXIV. good will to all men, and make no refiflance or 
 
 ^■^''v^^ oppofition ? returned for anfwer. We had rather-^ 
 1670. Qfid if ci^jould be better for us, if they did refiji 
 and oppofe. This was looked upon by the luf- 
 ferers, as if they fought occafion to embrue their 
 hands more deeply in blood, and take the lives 
 and eftates of honed people for their prey. 
 
 The fubftance of this narrative of the grofs 
 proceedings of the foldiers towards this people 
 was prefented to the king and council, which 
 produced the ceffation of thefe cruelties for a 
 feafon, though they were not altogether difcon- 
 tinued. 
 
 Remark. Hitherto while the perfecuting meafures a° 
 gainlt the dilfenters in general, and the people 
 called (Xiakers in particular, had been oftenfibly 
 carried on by the parliament and the inferior . 
 magiftrates, the king appeared inclined to lenity, 
 and ufed repeated endeavours to procure a re- 
 laxation of the fevere laws enacted againft them, 
 to which it is pretended the liberality of the 
 commons in fupplying aids to his extravagance, 
 purchafed his alTent againft his judgment, his 
 inclination and his honour. But this lall fevere 
 blow appears plainly to have been inflicted di- 
 reftly from the court, and by direction or afl^ent 
 of the king himfelf, upon pretences fo ground- 
 lefs and frivolous as fhev/ an occafion was 
 fought and not given. But what fhould incite 
 him, contrary to his ufual lenity and eafmefs of 
 temper, to authorize actions of fuch glaring in- 
 juftice and fevere inhumanity againft an harmlefs 
 body of his own fubjedts, who had never com- 
 bined againft, or molefted his government in 
 the leaft, we may now be at a lois to deter- 
 mine^
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 351 
 
 mine. It was jufl: about this time that through chap. 
 the advice and fuggeftions of evil counfellors, xxiv. 
 and roufed by the more adive fpirit of his bro- '^— v*-' 
 ther, he is reported to have entered into a de- ^^1<^' 
 fign to change the meafures of his government ; 
 to free himfelf from his dependance upon par- 
 liaments, and the fetters of their reflraint y 
 and with the affi (lance of thofe miniders, advi- 
 fers and abettors of his defign, who are well 
 known in Enghfh hiftory by the denomination of 
 the Cahal^ to make himfelf abfolute, and re- 
 inftate the Roman Catholic religion in thefc 
 kingdoms. Now, how far it might be judged con- 
 ducive to fuch defigns, to turn the army loofe 
 upon a defencelefs and unrefifting part of the 
 people, in order to inure them to acts of rapine 
 and hoitility againfl their fellovs? -citizens: or, fc- 
 condly, to aggravate the fuffcrings of the fubjeded 
 party, to fliarpen their defire of eafe by any 
 means, or from any quarter, in order, by relaxing 
 the perfecution folely by the prerogative, to gain 
 the dilTenters to the court intereft, and at the 
 fame time open a door tor the gradual introducing 
 of popery, under the plaufible pretext of a general 
 indulgence to liberty of confcience : Whichever of 
 thefe defigns for whether both together) waa 
 the moving caufe to thefe arbitrary orders and 
 unwarrantable proceedings, they were the effects 
 of a barbarous and unjuit policy, wherein the 
 bounds of all laws, human and divine, were wan- 
 tonly tranfgreifed, and religion, morality and 
 humanity forced to give way to the fmifter views 
 and deceitful meafures of a vicious court, who 
 feemed at this time to have thrown off all the 
 reftraints of honour, confcience, and regard to 
 reputation. 
 
 Yet
 
 35 = 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Yet I am apprehenfive the agents in thefe ex-^ 
 XXIV. fj-a^vagai-ij- abiiies might, through party refent- 
 
 ments or evil inftigation, carry thefe opprellive 
 and injurious meafures much further than the 
 king's intention, for when a narrative of thefe 
 violences of the foldiers was prefented to him, a 
 flop was- put thereto for the prefent. 
 Proceedings There was another meeting-houfe belonging 
 atRatcJ.ff. {-Q ^}^jg fociety at Ratcliff, (alio at an extremity 
 of the city) which foon after was fubjeded ta 
 the like violence with that of Horfly-dovv'n, 
 and by Sir John Robinfon, lieutenant of the 
 tower, without any legal procefs or lawful 
 caufe, ordered to be demoliflied. On the 2d of 
 September, he came thither attended by one 
 Captain Taylor, and a party of foldiers belong- 
 ing to the king's regiment, and caufed the faid 
 meeting-houfe to be pulled down. That day 
 and the nicht followino; twelve cartloads of 
 doors, windows and floors, Vv'ith other materials, 
 were carried away. Some of the materials were 
 fold on the fpot for money and ftrong drink. 
 Thus were an inoffenfive and peaceable clafs of 
 fubjetts, not only expofed to grievous fufterings 
 under fevere laws, but to exorbitant fpoil and 
 depredation without, or even contrary to law, 
 by officers under the government, whofe duty it 
 v^^as to protect the fubjecls in pofleliion of their 
 rights and property, to execute juftice, and ex- 
 ercife legal rule, all of which Ave fee in thefe in- 
 Itances grofsly violated by them. 
 
 When their meeting-houfe was pulled down, 
 friends of Ratcliff met on tlie ruins, or as near 
 them as they would be permitted, being gene- 
 rally kept oif by conflables or other officers, 
 who mioflly either took fome of them prifoners ; 
 
 or
 
 PEOPLE CALLED qUAKERS. 353 
 
 or by information procured them to be fined C H A P. 
 and diftrained on the conventicle-aft. xxiv. 
 
 Robinfon intended to have proceeded next to ^^^ — v^^ 
 pulldown the meeting-houle at Wheeler-ilreet ; ^^7°' 
 but Gilbert Latey, in whom the title was vefled, 
 and who was then in the Wed of England, upon 
 intelligence thereof returned to London, order- 
 ed a poor friend to be put into the meeting- 
 houfe ; made a leafe to him, and foon after wait- 
 ed on the governor of the tower. Sir John Ro- 
 binfon, who looking fternly upon him, afked him, 
 *' if he owned the meeting-houfe in Wheeler- 
 *' ftreet ?" to which Gilbert replied, " he did, 
 *' and feveral more too.'* 
 
 Robinfon. And how dare you own any meet- 
 ing-houfe contrary to the king's laws ? 
 
 G. Latey anfwered, he owned that meeting- 
 houfe before the king had any fuch law. 
 
 Robinfon. I find you are a pretty fellow; pray 
 who lives in that houfe ? 
 
 G. Latey. My tenant. 
 
 Robinfon. Your tenant ! pray what is your te- 
 nant ? 
 
 G. Latey. One that I have thought fit to grant 
 a leafe to. 
 
 Robinfon. Then you have a tenant, that has 
 taken a leafe from you ? 
 
 G. Latey. Yes. 
 
 Upon this the governor looked difpleafcd, 
 and addrelling a friend who accompanied him by 
 name, faid, I think you have now fitted me, and 
 brought a fellow to the purpofe; had your friends 
 been as wife as this fellow you might have had 
 your other meeting-houfcs, and fo difmiiled 
 them. 
 
 Vol, II. Z After
 
 354 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. After this, friends taking the fame care, have 
 XXIV. generally preferved their meeting-houfes. 
 
 *— ~v — ' William Penn, during the fhort interval of li- 
 1670. berty and leifure he enjoyed this winter, pub- 
 liflied a book, he entitled, " A feafonable Caveat 
 " againil Popery," wherein he both expofes and 
 confutes manv erroneous do6:rines of the church 
 of Rome, and eltablifheth the oppofite truths by 
 found arguments : a vv^ork alone fufficient on one 
 hand to wipe off the calumny caft upon him of 
 being a favourer of the Romilh religion ; and 
 on the other to manifeft that his principle for li- 
 berty of confcience was univerfal, as he wilhed 
 it to be extended even to the papifts, under the 
 fecurity of their not perfecuting others. 
 
 But he was not fuffered to enjoy his liberty 
 long, Sir John Robinfon, lieutenant of the tow- 
 er, v/ho early diltinguilhed his difpofition to per- 
 fecute (having fucceeded Brown in the office of 
 lord mayor of the city, and endeavoured to rival 
 this intemperate m^giftrate in all his boiflerous 
 and rigorous conduct) had all along fliewn an 
 equal averfion to diffenters, and Quakers parti- 
 cularly ; was one of the bench of juflices on the 
 trial of Penn, Mead and the reft at the Old- 
 Bailey, an adive promoter of all the arbitrary 
 proceedings of that court, and the mover for a 
 reward to the recorder for trampling upon the 
 rights of the fubject. This man, aduated by 
 perfonal pique againit William Penn, had been 
 fome time watching the meetings to take him, 
 and at laft, on the 5th of the 12th month (Febru- 
 ary) having information of his being to be at 
 Wheeler-ftreet, fent a ferjeant and foldiers, who 
 planted themfelves at the door, and waited there 
 until he ftood up and preached j and then the 
 
 ferjeant
 
 PEOPLE GALLED QJJAKERS. 355 
 
 ferjeant pulled him down and led him into the chap. 
 flreet, where a conftable and his afliftants (land- xxiv. 
 ing ready to join, they carried him away to the ' — "•'"•^ 
 Tower by order from the lieutenant ; a guard ,J,p^' 
 was there clapt upon him, and a meflenger dif- Penn taken 
 patched to the lieutenant then at Whitehall, to ^^"^"JilJ'^^j 
 inform him of the fuccefs. After keeping him wheeier- 
 upon guard near three hours, he came home, ^''"*'" 
 and fent for William Penn from the guard, by 
 an officer with a file of mufqueteers." There were 
 feveral other magillrates of the fame caft prefent, 
 namely, Sir Samuel Starling, Sir John Sheldon, 
 Lieutenant Colonel Rycraft and others. Orders 
 being given that no perfon unconcerned in the 
 bufmefs Ihould be admitted up, they proceeded 
 to the examination, of which we find the follow- 
 ing account. 
 
 Although Robinfon had the mittimus already His examJ- 
 made, and his name put in, he pretended not to 
 know him, but applying himfelfto the conftable, 
 aiked, what is this perfon's name ? 
 
 Conjiable. Mr. Penn, Sir. 
 
 y. Robinfon. Is your name Penn ? 
 
 W, Penn. Doft thou not know me ? Haft thou 
 forgot me * ? 
 
 y. Robinfon. I do not know you, I do not de- 
 fire to know fuch as you are. Is that your name. 
 Sir? 
 
 W. Penn. Yes, my name is Penn, I am not 
 afhamed of my name. Next he proceeded to 
 
 » Befle. 
 * He might well afk thisqueftion, finre it was but a few 
 months fince his remarkable trial at the Old Cniley, when he 
 gave them juft occafion to remember him ; and it is proba' 
 ble the remembrance ftlrred up this fre/li perfccution of 
 malice prepenfe. 
 
 Z :*, examine 
 
 natiuEi.
 
 356' H I S TO R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, examine the conllables and others who gave evl- 
 
 XXIV. dence, that they found him at a meeting at 
 
 *— ~v~*-^ Wheeler-flreet, fpeaking to the people. 
 
 1670. Upon which Robinfon faid, Mr. Penn, you 
 
 know the law better than I can tell you, and 
 
 you know ihefe things are contrary to the 
 
 law. 
 
 W. Pemi. If thou bclievefl: me to be better 
 verfed in the law than thyfelf, I know no lav/ I 
 have tranfgrefled. Now, whereas I am probably 
 to be tried by the lad ad againft conventicles, I 
 conceive it doth not reach me. 
 
 y. Robinfon. No, Sir, 1 (hall not proceed upon 
 that law. 
 
 Vv. Penn. What law then ? I am fure that was 
 intended for the ftandard on thefe occafions. 
 
 y, Robinfon. The Oxford a61: of fix months. 
 
 W. Penn. That of all acts cannot concern 
 me ; for I was never in orders, neither epifco- 
 pally nor clafTically, and one of. them is intended 
 by the preamble of the ad:. 
 
 y. Pvobinfon. No, no, any that fpeak to an 
 unlawful aifembly ; and you fpoke to an unlawful 
 affembly. 
 
 W. Penn. An unlawful afiembly is too general 
 a wordi the a6t doth not define what is meant 
 by an unlav/ful affembly. 
 
 y. Robinfon. But other a£l:s do. 
 
 W. Penn. That is not to the purpofe. It is hard 
 that you will not liick to fome one aft, but to 
 accomplifh your ends borrow a piece out of one 
 atl to fupply the defects of another, and of a 
 different nature from it. 
 
 y. Robinfon next proceeded to require him to 
 take the oath prefcribed by the act; and upon his 
 refufmg, faid, I am lorry you lliould put me 
 
 upon
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 357 
 
 upon this feverity, it is no pleafant work to c h a p. 
 me. XXIV. 
 
 To this William Pcnn replied, not without "^ — ^ — ' 
 reafon, thefe are but words, it is manif^eft this ^^7o- 
 is a prepehfc malice ; thou hafl feveral times Tet 
 the meetings for me, and this day particu- 
 larly. 
 
 y. Robin/on. No, I profefs, I could not tell 
 you would be there. 
 
 W. Fenn. Thy own corporal told me that 
 you had intelligence at the tower, that I 
 would be at Wheeler-ftreet : It is difmcrenuous 
 and partial : I never • gave thee occaiion for 
 fuch unkindnefs. 
 
 7. Robinfdn. I vow, Mr. Penn, I am forry 
 for you ; you are an ingenious gentleman 
 all the world allows, and you have a^ plen- 
 tiful eflate ; why fhould you render yourfelF 
 unhappy- ■ -by ' alTociating with fuch a fmiple 
 people:' .■■\-r''.h\.. '■ ■ ^ ■■ 
 
 W. P'enn.- 1' confefs I hive made it my choice 
 to relinquiih the company of thofe .that are in- 
 genioufly wicked, to converfe with fuch as are 
 more honeftiy fmiple. 
 
 J. Robsr/jOfi* Well, Mr. Penn, I have no 
 ill will tovv^ards you; your father was my 
 friend, and 1 have a great deal of kindncfs for 
 you. :"'; ' '' ' 
 
 W. Pom. But thou hafl: an ill way of ex- (~„„,„,;f.j^t 
 prefling it. Which was really the cafe, for not- **> Newgate 
 withfl:anding this profeflion of kindnefs, after n"ondis on 
 fome further difcourfe he committed him, as was '"= ^''^'""'^ 
 before determined, to Newgate for fix months, 
 upon an a6t which had no relation to him, 
 but fixed on as inllicting thefevereil punifhment; 
 
 the
 
 35^8 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 c H A p. the remembrance of the trial at the Old Bailey, 
 XXIV. and the publication of their arbitrary exertion 
 ^- — ^^"*^ of power againfl law, operating more power- 
 
 1670. fully on his paflions to avenge himfelf of him, 
 than the remembrance of his father's friendfhip 
 to requite it with ads of kindnefs to the fon. 
 Upon Robinfon's fignifying he muft fend him to 
 Newgate for fix months, and when they are expir- 
 ed that then he might come out, William Penn, 
 like a man and a chriftian, repHed, " Is that all? 
 " thou well knowefl a larger imprifonment hath 
 '* not daunted me : I accept it at the hand of 
 "^ the Lord, and am contented to fuffer his will. 
 " Thy religion perfecutes and mine forgives : I 
 " delire God to forgive you all that are con- 
 " cerned in my commitment, and I leave you 
 *' all in perfed charity, wifhing your everlafting 
 " falvation." 
 
 1671. Being thus committed to prifon, he employed 
 the time of his confinement in writing. " The 
 " great caufe of liberty of confcience briefly de- 
 " bated and defended," with feveral other occa- 
 fional pieces, were the production of his pen at 
 this time. 
 
 After fome time the heat of this perfecutlon 
 abated in the city ; but in fome other parts it 
 was carried on with unrelaxed violence, which 
 occafioned George Fox to leave the city to vifit 
 his perfecuted friends in the country, to fympa- 
 thize with and comfort them in their grievous 
 futferings, and encourage them to fteadfaftnefs in 
 their religious duties, relying on divine protec- 
 tion under all the afflictions permitted to befal 
 them, for the trial of their faith and patience ; 
 reminding them, that their fevere trials were but 
 
 for
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 359 
 
 for an afligned time ; the period whereof was chap. 
 determined in the divine counfel ; that the truth xxiv. 
 is without limitation of" time ; and advifmg them ^^^^^^^/""^ 
 to live in that which doth not think the time ^^7^' 
 long. 
 
 In this journey he fell ill of a diflemper which Gcorg:e Fox 
 deprived him of his fight and hearing ; and to hi^ journey. 
 feveral that came to vifit him feemed to threaten 
 his dilTolution ; but after fome time he recovered 
 gradually ; and although perfecution was fo hot 
 in divers places, and in fome places there was 
 mueh threatening, and fome attempts to break 
 up the meetings, yet he efcaped unmolefted, 
 and having finiliied his fervice returned to Lon- 
 don, and although flill weak in body he was di- 
 ligently exercifed in his miniilerial labours 
 amongft his friends. 
 
 Having foon after his fnarriage received infor- FA-erts him. 
 mation of his wife's being imprifoned (as before- /ure^hir"* 
 noticed) he thereupon incited her daughters, wJfe's li- 
 who were in London, to apply to the king, who fj^cefs^ '^ 
 were fo fuccefsful, as to procure his order to the 
 fheriff of Lancafhire for her diicharge, which 
 he hoped would be obeyed. But upon this frelh 
 ftorm of perfecution breaking out, her enemies, 
 he underitood, had found means to detain her 
 ftill in prifon : Wherefore he now renewed his 
 endeavours for her releafe, and by the affiftance 
 of others, obtained from the king a difcharge 
 under the great feal, to clear both hcrfelf and 
 her efhate, after flie had been ten years a prifo- 
 ner, under an unjufl: fentence of premunire. 
 This mandate he fent down immediately, whereb}'' 
 her liberty was obtained. 
 
 And
 
 360 HISTORY, &c. 
 
 CHAP. And now the heat of the perfecution begin- 
 XXIV. ning to cool, he felt a draught of duty inclining 
 
 ^^-v-*-' him to pay a religious vifit to his friends in Amc- 
 167 1, yif^^ . ^^(^ apprizing his wife by letter of his in- 
 
 Anierica, tcntion, defircd her to come up to London, 
 which fhe did accordingly : And having taken 
 leave of her he fet fail the latter part of the fummer 
 for America, in company with feveral other 
 friends, and after a palTage of fomething more 
 than feven weeks landed at Barbadoes. 
 
 Book
 
 H I S T O Pv Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 From the Declaration of Indulgence to the 
 Death of King Charles II. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The Kbig publijhes his Declaration of Indulgence to 
 Di [[enters. — Heads thereof. — Meafurcs adopted 
 by the People called fakers to procure the re- 
 leafe of their Friends. — Thomas Hicks calumni- 
 ates the fakers, fo called. — Anfzcercd by Wil- 
 liam Penn. — Partial Proceedings of the Baptifls. 
 —Public Affair'.. — Declaration of Indidgcnce re- 
 'voked. — Change in the Difpofition of the Parlia- 
 ment, 
 
 X HE people called Quakers enjoyed little eafeCHAP. 
 to their perfons or fecurity of their property '■ 
 from their firfl appearance to rhis time ; and par- g 
 ticularly during ihe twelve years of this reign, 
 
 wc
 
 362 H I S T O R Y or THE 
 
 CHAP, we have feen perfecution fucceeding perfecution, 
 
 I* and one penal law added to another, whereby 
 
 ^-^'^'^ -^ they were expofed to impriibnment, premunire, 
 
 1672. g^ijg and woful depredation ; but now the Dutch 
 
 war being relblved upon and ready to break 
 
 out, the King, by the advice of his counfellors, 
 
 feizes the opportunity, under colour of promoting 
 
 domeftic peace, while engaged in a foreign war, 
 
 pTbHflfes"^ by virtue of his prerogative, as fupreme in eccle- 
 
 his indui- fiaflical affairs, to iflue his proclamation for fuf- 
 
 dSemers. Pending the execution of the penal laws againft 
 
 nonconformifts, in fubftance as follows : 
 
 1 . The King publiflies it, in virtue of his fu- 
 preme power in ecclefiajlical matters^ which is a 
 right inherent in his perfon, and acknowledged 
 by feveral acls of parliament. 
 
 2. lie declares his exprefs refoiution to be, 
 that the church of England be preferved and re- 
 main entire in her do£lrine, difcipline and go- 
 vernment, as now it ftands eftablifiied by law. 
 
 3. That no perfon fiiall be capable of holding 
 any fort of ecclefiaftical benefice, or preferment 
 of any kind, who is not entirely conformable. 
 
 4. That the execution of all penal laws in 
 matters ecclefiaftical againll whatfoever clafs of 
 nonconformifts or recufants; be immediately fuf- 
 pended. 
 
 5. He declares that he will from time to time al- 
 low fuch a fufficient number of places, as fhall be 
 defired in all parts of his kingdom, for fuch as did 
 not conform to the church of England, to meet 
 and aflemble in, in order to their public worfhip 
 and devotion. 
 
 6. That none of his fubje£ls do prefume to 
 meet in any place, until fuch place be allowed, 
 and the teacher of that congregation be approved 
 by hini. 
 
 7. That
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 363 
 
 7. That this Indulgence, as to the allowance chap, 
 of public places of worfhip and approbation of i. 
 teachers, fliall extend to all forts of nonconfor- v«— v— ^ 
 mills and recufants, except the recufants of the 1672. 
 Roman Catholic religion, to whom he will no 
 ways allow public places of worfliip ; but only 
 indulge them their fliare in the common exemp- 
 tion from penal laws, and the exercife of their 
 worfhip in private houfes only. 
 
 This declaration of indulgence, apparently hu- 
 mane and laudable in itfelf, is (tripped of all its 
 merit by the unanimous futfrage of all our hifto- 
 rians, from the confideration of the motives 
 thereto, which they confider as an open aUertion 
 of arbitrary power, in difannulling the laws of 
 the whole legillature, by the exertion of an ille- 
 gal prerogative aifumed by one branch ; ^ and not 
 fo much defigned in favour of the diifenters, to 
 whom he bore no hearty good will, as of the 
 papills, to whofe religion he was fuppofed to be 
 privately reconciled. It is alledged, ^ " the dif- 
 fenters did not approve of this difpenfmg pow- 
 er, nor were forward to accept their liberty 
 this way, being fenfible the indulgence was 
 not granted out of love to them, nor would 
 continue any longer than it would ferve the 
 *' intereft of popery. Many pamphlets were 
 " written for and againfl the Diflenters accept- 
 *' ing it, becaufe it was grafted on rhe dlfpcnfing 
 *.' power. Some maintained they fliould accept 
 " of nothing but a comprehenfton. Others en- 
 ** deavoured to prove that it was the duty of 
 " the Prefbyterians to make ufe of the liberty 
 " granted them by the King, becaufe it was 
 ** their natural right, which no legiflative power 
 
 " upon 
 
 
 Neale, v. ii. p. 684,
 
 354 H I S T O R Y F T n E 
 
 CHAP. " upon earth had a right to depriv^e them of as 
 
 ^- " long as they remained dutiful fubjefts." The 
 
 ^ latter reafon feemed to prevail, and moft of 
 
 their miniflers took out licenfes, as prefcribed in 
 
 the declaration. 
 
 After a view of the grievances which had fo 
 long afflicted the people called Quakers, who af- 
 feded not the reputation of politicians, nor 
 ranked with any political party, and only wifh- 
 ed to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all god- 
 linefs and iiouefty ; it is not to be wondered at, 
 if they readily accepted the eafe and liberty 
 granted by the King's declaration, to which as 
 peaceable fubjecls they had an undoubted right. 
 But for this temporary exemption from per- 
 fecution they were principally thankful to that 
 providential hand, which over-rules the king- 
 doms of this w^orld ; fuperintends and directs 
 the adions of men, to bring about his own wife 
 and good purpofes. 
 
 ''And in this tranfaclion we have a frefli in- 
 ftance of the affeftionate fympathy and tender 
 brotherly concern, which the members of this 
 fociety at this period entertained for each other. 
 Thofe who v;ere at liberty*'- and fet free from 
 the oppreffion of the penaMaws, could not help 
 feeling for their brethren under reftraint, many 
 
 ,, - of whom had been kept immured in uncomfort- 
 
 j\ icaiures .„ re \ at 
 
 adopiedby able priions ror leveral years. And as the pre- 
 tne Qua- |-g^|- j^ijfpofjtion of govemnient in favour of non- 
 cure the coniormilts prelented an mvitmg opportunity to 
 tbSln"^ interceed in their behalf, fome of the principal 
 fr^ion. members in London, viz. George Whitehead, 
 Thomas Moor and Thorn. as Green, attended the 
 King and council to folicit the difcharge of their 
 
 fufiering 
 
 ^ George A'^'hitehead's journal.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 365 
 
 fuffering friends in prifon, and were fo fuc- c 11 a p, 
 celsful as to obtain the King's letters patent i- 
 under the great feal, containing a pardon "^-^^^""^ 
 an4 difcharge for all fuch to whom he might Ic- ^^72- 
 gaily grant the fame, whereby all that were con- 
 vifted for tranfjjortation, upon premunire, or in 
 prifon for fines, conhl'caticns, or i'tcs, were dif- 
 charged and reflored to their families and their 
 employments, from which many of them had 
 been cruelly and unjulily feparated for fix or 
 feven years or upwards. 
 
 When the warrant to the Attorney-general to 
 make out the letters patent "was obtained, the 
 friends concerned in the folicitation thereof 
 found themfeives in a difficult dilemma in re- 
 fpcct to the fees to be paid in the fundry offices 
 they were to pafs through, underflanding they 
 would amount to a very great fum by reafon 
 of the great number (upwards of 400) to be in- 
 cluded in them. The Lord Keeper, Sir Orlando 
 Bridgeman, generoufly and voluntarily remitting 
 his fees, they thought themfeives under a necef- 
 fity to make further application to the King to 
 moderate the reft, who accordingly ilTued his 
 order, " That the pardon, though comprehend- 
 ing a great number of perfons, do yet pafs as 
 one pardon, and pay but as one." 
 Their fuccefs in this application farnilhed 
 thefe friends with an opportunity of giving a 
 remarkable fpecimen of the univerfality of their 
 charity, and difpofition to perform good offices 
 to all, as far as in their power : There were 
 fome other diflenters befides Quakers confined 
 in prifon, and their folicitors obferving the fuc- 
 cefs of this application, applied to Geo. White- 
 head for his advice und afliftance to get their 
 
 imprifoned 

 
 a 
 
 266 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A P. imprlfoned friends difcharged with his, by pro- 
 ^^__^_^ curing their names to be inferted in the fame 
 ^^_^ inftrument ; he advifed them to apply to the 
 King for his warrant for that purpofe, which 
 was accordingly obtained, and thefe were by the 
 fame inftrument reflored to liberty. George 
 Whitehead adds, " this I was glad of, that they 
 partook of the benefit through our induftry. 
 And indeed I was never backward to give any 
 of them my advice for their help, when any of 
 them in flraits have applied for it ; our being of 
 different judgments and focieties did not abate 
 my fympathy or charity, even towards them, 
 who in fome cafes had been our oppofers.'* 
 The King's pardon being thus procured, thofe 
 Quakers, who were fhut up in the ditTerent pri- 
 fons in London, were almoft immediately fet at 
 liberty : But how to extend the benefit there- 
 of to thofe imprifoncd in the country, and 
 particularly the remoter counties, occafioned 
 the friends concerned confiderable thought and 
 trouble ; for the patent containing no lefs than 
 eleven (kins of vellum, was too long to take 
 many copies, and too cumberfome to be eafily 
 carried far ; yet being heartily engaged for the 
 fpcedy releafe of all their friends, who had been 
 long confined, their care and induitry furmount- 
 ed all difficulties, and procured the liberation of 
 their friends in a general way, even to the re- 
 moteft part of the kingdom. 
 
 " The people called Quakers being by thefe 
 means freed from the feverities of perfecution, 
 and left to the enjoyment of the liberty of their 
 confciences without moleftation from the go- 
 vernment, were not long left to enjoy that cafe 
 
 refulting 
 
 - Thomas Eiwood, p. 305, &c.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 367 
 
 refulting from the King's declaration, before chap. 
 they were attacked from another quarter. Du- i* 
 ring the heat of perfecution, we have had repeat- 
 ed occafion to remark that other dilTenters, by ^^' 
 a temporizing conduct, endeavoured to fecure 
 themfelves from the ftorm. And the Quakers 
 only bore their teftimony pubHckly to that reli- 
 gion which they received as truth, and that wor- 
 Ihip they conceived to be moft acceptable to 
 God, as being the effect of confcientious con- 
 viftion ; and againfl: the unreafonablenefs of hu- 
 man laws, prefcribing or prohibiting a mode of 
 worfliip in violation of the freedom or the per- 
 fuafions of tender confciences ; by keeping up 
 their meetings duly and fully at the accinlom- 
 ed times and places, as long as they were fuf- 
 fered to enjoy the ufe of their meeting houfes : 
 And when they were kept out of them by force, 
 they affembled in the Ilreers, as near to the 
 meeting houfes as they could. 
 
 While this manly and open teftimony of this 
 fociety in their conduct gave great offence and 
 vexation to the perfecutors, as bafiiing their 
 fcheme of eftabliffiing uniformity, and ward- 
 ing off' the blow from the other fecfs of diff'ent- 
 ers, who as moff: feared and hated for the feve- 
 rities they had fuffered under their hands, were 
 principally aimed at ; it procured them the ef- 
 teem and grateful regard of the more ingenuous 
 part of other diff'enters, who were fenfible of the 
 eafe they enjoyed by the intrepidity and firm- 
 nefs of this people, which abated the heat of 
 perfecution, and blunted the edge of the fword, 
 before it reached them ; owning thofe as the 
 bulwark that kept off the force of the ftroke 
 from them, and praying that they [the Quakers] 
 
 might
 
 .^68 HISTORY of the 
 
 c II A P. might be preferved fteadfaft, and enabled to 
 
 I. break the ftrength of the enemy. And fome, 
 
 ^^-^''^'T^-^ efpecially among the Baptifts, exprefled an high 
 
 *^'^72. opinion both of the people and their principles, 
 
 which fuftained them in undergoing fufferings, 
 
 which were a terror to others to think of. 
 
 Thefe favourable fentiments in the hearers 
 raifed the jealoufy of fome of their teachers ; 
 who in the time of perfecution had lain by in 
 cautious privacy, and taken the advantage of a 
 fecure retreat behind them, while the Quakers, 
 fo called, weathered out the florm : But under 
 the fun-fiime of the King's indulgence they 
 began to quit their covert, and appear 
 openly when they had nothing to fear ; and 
 either from envy, or the fear of lofmg fome of 
 their hearers, who had dilcovered thefe favour- 
 able fentiments of this body of people, they loon 
 made their publick appearance in an lioftile at- 
 tack upon this inoffenfive fcciety, in vilifying 
 that virtue, which they had not the courage to 
 imitate **. 
 Tho. flicks ^^^ Thomas Hicks, a preacher among the 
 caiumni- . Eaptiils iu London, employed his pen in writ- 
 Oulker.-. '^^E feveral pamphlets fuccelliveiy, under the in- 
 vidious title ol A Dialogue between a Chrijilan 
 and a Shiaker ; which (as ufual in that unfair 
 method of handhng polemical fubjeds) makes 
 the fiftitious Quaker fpeak in character, or out 
 of charader, as beft anfwered the author's de- 
 fign ; which appears not to have been to invefti- 
 I gate truth, {o much as to reprefent his Quaker a 
 
 1 deformed, ridiculous and erroneous being, and 
 
 for that purpofe make him (lays Thomas Elwood) 
 utter " fonis things abominably falfe ; others fd 
 
 " ridiculoufiy 
 
 ^ Thomas Elwood.
 
 People called qjjakers. 369 
 
 ^^ rldiculoufly foolifli, as could not reafonably chap. 
 *' be fuppoled to come into the conceit, much ^• 
 *' lefs have dropped from the lip or pen of any ' — ^ — ' 
 *' that went'under the name of a Quaker." 1672. 
 
 The unfair dealing and perverfe mifreprefenta- ^ ^.^^^ 
 tions of this antagonift making a defence necef- by wiiiiam 
 fary, this bufmefs was undertaken by William ^'^""• 
 Penn, in two books, the firft entitled Reafon 
 againjl Railing; the other, The counterfeit Chrif- 
 tian dete6led. In which Hicks is not only con- 
 vidted of publifhing many palpable forgeries, 
 unfair perverfions, and groundlefs calumnies 
 againft the people called Quakers at large, but 
 having indulged his invidious difpoiition fo far 
 as to vilify fundry particular members by name, 
 as "William Penn, George Whitehead and others, 
 an appeal was made to the fociety of Baptifts in 
 and about London for juftice againfl Thomas 
 Hicks. 
 
 The principal Baptifts, being partifans ofpardai 
 Hicks, did not difcover that regard to truth F'f^^'^J'^'"^' 
 and juftice which might reafonably be expefted Baptifts. 
 from a fociety profeiTmg reformed religion, but 
 feemed chiefly inclined to fkreen a brother from 
 detedlion, more than to do juftice to the injured 
 parties for his undeferved defamation : They 
 very difmgenuouily appointed a meeting in one 
 of their meeting houfes, under pretence of hear- 
 ing the charges againft Thomas Hicks, and call- 
 ing him to account, at a time when the com- 
 plainants Wiiiiam Penn and George Whitehead 
 were both abfent from the city in places too re- 
 mote to be timely apprized of the intended 
 meeting ; wherefore fome of their friends de- 
 fn'ed it m.ight be deferred 'till they could be 
 
 Vol.. IL A a informed 
 
 Thomas Elwood's life.
 
 -.-0 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 :> I 
 
 CHAP. Informed thercoi:, and have time to return : Buf 
 !• the Baptifts, feemingly of opinion that the meet- 
 
 ^-'"^''"^ ing might be held more to their fadsfaclion, and 
 '^"^* more accommodate to their views in the ab fence 
 than the preience of the complainants, could not 
 be prevailed upon to defer it ; but making a 
 ihew of examining Kicks, and hearing his 
 defence, acquitted him ; like the judge, who 
 having heard one fide of the queftion, declined 
 hearing the other, for fear of puzzling the 
 caufe. 
 
 This partial decillon furnifhed juft pccafion 
 for a new complaint and demand of juftice. 
 For as foon as William Penn returned to Lon- 
 don, he in print exhibited his complaint of their 
 unfair proceedings, and demanded a rehearing 
 in a public meeting by joint agreement, which 
 the Baptilts, quite averfe to, with much impor- 
 tunity, and after many evafions, v/ere hardly 
 prevailed upon at laft to comply with, and even 
 v/hen conftrained thereto, Hicks would not ap- 
 pear, but fent Ives v/ith fome others of the par- 
 ty, by clamours and rudenefs to divert the com- 
 plainants from profecuting the charge againft 
 him, and carried their point, fo far as to prevent 
 the charge beirig heard, though frequent at- 
 tempts were made to read it. 
 
 "The people called Quakers, defpairing of ob- 
 taining fatisfaclion in this line, Thomas Elwood, 
 on the behalf of his friends, appealed to the 
 public in a fxngle flieet, in vvhich he reflated 
 the controverfy, and reinforced the charge of 
 foro-erv againft Thomas Hicks and his abettors : 
 And one of the Baptills, Thomas Plant, a teach- 
 er, and one of Hicks's compurgators, publiflimg 
 an apoloey for their conduct, under the title of 
 
 A Contcji
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 371 
 
 A Conteji for Chrijiianity, was alfo anfwered by c ha p. 
 Thomas Elwood, in u piece entitled Forgery no !• 
 Chrijiianity, who in conclufion of both thefe ^-^ — ^r'^ 
 productions offered a challenge to make good ^^72* 
 the charge againfl Hicks as principal, and his 
 compurgators as acceffaries, before a public and 
 irtc auditory ; but they were too wary to appear 
 further either in perfon or print. 
 
 Thus ended this controverfv, which was at- 
 tended with this confequence, that the' aim of 
 this unprovoked affault upon the principles and 
 reputation of this fociety was remarkably fruf- 
 trated^ and thefe dialogues, with their ungene- 
 rous snd unequitable method of defending them 
 and their author, promoted what they were de- 
 figned to prevent \ for not a few of their mem- 
 bers, offended at their proceedings, deferted 
 their meetings and fociety, went over to the 
 injured party, and joined them in religious feliovv- 
 fliip. 
 
 About this time, as well as formerly, they 
 were much engaged in controverfy, being cx~ 
 pofed to the invidious attacks and calumniating 
 mifreprefentations of adverfaries of different de- 
 nominations, who readily took up, and publifh- 
 ed as truth, every reproach that publick rumour 
 or private prejudice loaded them with ; which 
 obliged them in felf-defence to vindicate them- 
 feives from fuch groundiefs calumnies, to de- 
 teft the falfehoods and pervernons of thefe ad- 
 verfaries, and they generally cleared themfelves 
 and their principles from the abfurdities charged 
 upon them ; and yet we have occafion to com- 
 plain of thefe refuted mifreprefentations, picked 
 out of the works of their bittereil adverfa- 
 ries, being revived, and delivered to the world 
 
 A a 3 as
 
 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP- as authentic hiftory by fundry modern writers of 
 
 '• fome note. 
 ^^'^^^ The meafures of the court, in entering into- 
 vlmt hoftilities with the Dutch, and the confederacy 
 affairs. with the Freuch monarch, were both highly dif- 
 s-uftino-, and reprobated by the moft conhder- 
 able part of the nation, who looked upon them 
 as a defertion of the intereft of England, and 
 of all Europe, and a plain indication of the 
 Kino-'s averfion to public liberty, and predilec- 
 tion'^in favour of arbitrary rule. So that fear- 
 ino- their own privileges were in danger of being 
 weeded from them, they were not backward in 
 their difcourfes to exprefs their fears, and nar- 
 rowly to canvafs, and criticife upon, the proceed- 
 ings of the court, as replete with danger and 
 bad defigns. This temper in the people was 
 reciprocally oifenfive to the court, and produced 
 a proclamation prohibiting all unlawful and un- 
 dutiful converfation, fpreading falfe news, inter» 
 meddling in affairs of ilate, or promoting fcan- 
 dal againft the King's counfellors. 
 TheExche- Difcontcnts having more or lefs affefted all 
 querihut j.j^j^|^g of the people, the confideration thereof, 
 "^' and the unconftitutional, fraudulent and unjuft 
 
 meafure the king had lately adopted by the advice 
 of his treacherous counfellors, of raifing money 
 without parliamentary aids, by Ihutting up the 
 cxchecjuer to the diitrefs and ruin of many of 
 the fubjefts, made him and his minifters, by 
 fucceffive prorogations, evade the meeting of the 
 parliament, which they dreaded, for near two 
 years ; and during this recefs of parliament the 
 declaration of indulgence continued in force, 
 and the Diffenters held their meetings without 
 
 moleftation. „ 
 
 But
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 373 
 
 But at length, when the parliament met, the chap. 
 King in his fpeech informed them, that in order ^' 
 to have peace at home while he had war abroad ^ 
 he had ifllied his declaration of indulgence to 
 Diffenters, and had found many frood effefts to 
 refult from this meafure. That he was refolved 
 to flick to his declaration ; and would be much 
 offended at any contradiclion. Notwithftanding 
 which menace, a remondrance was drawn up 
 by the commons againft the faid declaration, in- 
 fiiling that the penal laws could not be fufpend- 
 ed but by ad: of parliament ; that this indul- 
 gence was illegal, as tending to fubvert the con- 
 ftitution, by rendering the other two branches 
 of the legiflature ufelefs, while the a6ls of the 
 three conjointly could be fuperfcded by any pre- 
 rogative claimed by one of them. 
 
 When they prefented this remonftrance to the 
 King, he defended his right to iffue the decla- 
 ration, by virtue of his acknowledged preroga- 
 tive of fupremacy in matters ecclefiaftical, which 
 he did not claim in matters of property or civil 
 rights. But the commons, having in their hands 
 a llronger argument than words, viz. the power 
 of granting money, the want of which only 
 obliged the King to convene them, knew where 
 their ftrength lay, and ufed it accordingly, re- 
 folvin<T that the monev bill fliould not precede „ , 
 the redrefs of grievances, of which they feemed ot indui- 
 
 to confider this declaration as the principal. The 8"ice re- 
 
 J • JUT-- '^'"^'^•^■ 
 
 commons appearmg determnied, the Kmg gave 
 
 up the conteft, revoking the declaration, and 
 
 breaking the feal with his own hands. 
 
 The condud of the commons in this cafcp^^^^^j.,^ 
 
 hath procured the general voice of our hillori- upon it. 
 
 jans in their favour, and it muft be acknowledged 
 
 that
 
 374 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 C HA P. that they aded corxfifliently with their duty in 
 I. oppofing the infringement of the conflitution. 
 K>^r>^ That in the prefent conteft they a£led a more 
 ^^73' manly and honourable part than in thefe pre- 
 ceding on the like fubje£l in 1662, and as late 
 as 1668, as proceeding upon founder and more 
 univerfal principles. Yet as the King's appa- 
 rent inclination to have the Difienters exempted 
 from penal laws would have merited praife, if 
 it had been fmcere, and attempted in a legal 
 way, fo the oppofition of the parliament would 
 have been entitled to the claim of greater merit, 
 if it had not originated with many of them in 
 an averlion to the principles of the declaration *, 
 (impunity to the nonconformifts) as much as 
 the grounds upon which it v/as publifhed ; and 
 if they had not laid the foundation for this con- 
 teft in the various penal lav;s, which, under the 
 influence of party pique, they had undefervedly 
 enacted and revived ; and on all occafions mani- 
 fefted a determined enmity to all diflenters from 
 the eftablilned religion ; for if they had not an 
 averlion to the principles of the declaration, 
 they had now a fair opportunity of legalizing it, 
 by converting it into an act of parliament. 
 rhajio-em Yet this parliament having kept their feats 
 tio'n''oah*e ^^o"^ the reftoration, many of the moft intem- 
 r^riiament peratc fpirits and m.oft rigid in their enmity to 
 fucJeffion^ the DilTenters had during the length of time 
 
 been 
 
 ct ocw 
 
 members, 
 
 * It is remarkable that the parliament, even yet, feem to 
 confider impunity to Difienters as the greateft grievance ; 
 for although there were far greater to complain of, 
 particularly the violation of public credit, in Hiutting up 
 the exchequer, to the irreparable injury of numbers, yet after 
 the point was carried for refcindir.g the declaration, we hear 
 nothing further of grievances.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 375 
 
 been removed by death, and men of more mo- chap. 
 deration and better temper chofen in their room, i« 
 whereby the houle of commons had undergone '^-''"v-^*^ 
 a change for the better, and were now roufed, '^73* 
 by a detection of the infidlous defigns cf the 
 court, in favour cf popery and arbitrary power, 
 to make a dliLins^lion between Protcltant DilTcn- 
 ters and Fopilh Recufants, and to endeavour to 
 give eafe to the former, v/ithout including the 
 latter. '' It is fuppofed the court had relied upon 
 gaining the intereft of the Preflryterians to fup- 
 port their meafures by the declaration of indul- 
 gence ; but that perceiving the drift thereof was, 
 under ihelter of them, principally to favour the' 
 Roman Catholicks, to whom they had the 
 firongeft averiion, they appeared far from 
 fanguine to accept of liberty by the difpenfmg 
 power. '' Alderman Love, one of the chief of that 
 party, and member of parliament for the city 
 of London, was amongft the fcremofl to con- 
 demn the declaration, fignifying that he had 
 rather go without his own defircd liberty, than 
 receive it in a way fo deftruclive to the liberty 
 of .his country, and the protedant interefl, and 
 that this v/as the fenfe of the main body of Dif- 
 fencers. Which, it is faid, made an impreflion 
 on the commons in their favour, even upon thofc 
 who for ten years together had been oppreffing 
 them with one penal law after another : Info- 
 much that they now refolved unanimoufly that 
 a bill be brought in for the relief of Proteftant 
 Diflentcrs. But this condu6l of the Prcibyte- 
 rians, while it reconciled the parliament, expof- 
 ed them to the refentment of the court, who 
 
 had 
 
 * George Whitehead's journal, p. 490. •* Neale. Smollet.
 
 376 H I S T O R Y Of the 
 
 CHAP, had reckoned upon their hearty fupport In % 
 I. meafure apparently fo favourable to them, and 
 
 ^^^-v-^ were greatly chagrined at their difappointment ; 
 J 673. and the parliament having this feffion pafled the 
 Tefl Acl, whereby the Romanifts were difquali- 
 fied from holding any office, the court too evi- 
 dently manifefted, that their generous attempts, 
 in favour of nonconformifts, were centered 
 chiefly in procuring indulgences in favour of 
 this clafs. For from this time the court intereft 
 was not only withdrawn from yielding protec- 
 tion to other diflenters, but turned againft them ; 
 whereby the endeavours of the commons for 
 their eafe was fruftrated, and encouragement 
 given to the whole train of informers, and others 
 r (who were only waiting for the fignal) to put 
 the penal laws in rigorous execution ; and al- 
 though the Quakers had no concern in any of 
 thefe political contefts, yet being fubjects of 
 thefe penal laws, and continuing to main- 
 tain their teftimony publicly, they ftill fuffer- 
 ed moft, as moft open to the iron claws of 
 perfecution, and ftanding in the way of coming 
 at the others, of whom they wanted mofl to get 
 fatisfactioHo 
 
 
 C H A I*.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 377 
 
 CHAR IL 
 
 Perfecution recommenced. — George Fox imprifoned 
 at Worccjier, together with Thomas Lower. — 
 Brought to trial at the Sejftons. — Oaths of Al- 
 legiance and Supremacy required of George Fox, 
 — For refiifmg he is remanded to Prifon. — Tho' 
 mas Lozuer difcharged. — And folicits his Fa- 
 ther'* s Difcharge in "oain. — George Fox removed 
 by Habeas Corpus. — By Barker's Contrivance 
 remanded to Worcejier. — Brought again before ' 
 the Seffions. — George Fox's Vi?idication. — Clan- 
 dejlinely condemned in a Premunire. — Falls ftck 
 in Prifon. — The King offers him a Pardon., 
 "which he is not free to accept. — Removed again 
 by Habeas Corpus and releafed. — After his 
 Releafe goes down to Swarthmore to refide, 
 
 r OR the indulgence was hardly fooner revoked, 
 than the informers, priefts and rnagiitrates bu- chap, 
 fied themfelves in ftirring up frelh perfecution. ^^' 
 A remarkable unjuft profecution of George Fox, '^— v-^-' 
 almoft immediately fucceeded, who having re- p/^j-J^^j^^ 
 turned from his vifit to America, and landed re com- 
 near Briftol about the middle of this fummer, was "^'^""'^• 
 met there by his wife, accompanied by her fonin- ^^^^j^lfiyf^! 
 law, Thomas Lower, and two of her daughters : pnfoned at 
 Herfon-in-law, John Rous, William Penn and ^^'''^"^''• 
 other friends from London alfo met him there, 
 and it being the time of the fair, many friends 
 came to it from different parts of the nation. 
 
 By
 
 37$ H I 5 T O Pv T OF ths 
 
 CHAP. By the general refort of traders of all denomi- 
 II- nations, the meetings were much crouded at 
 
 ^^-'''"v-vJ t^at tim.e (as they continue to be during the 
 ^^Ti' time of the fair) which occafioned his flay in 
 that city fome time j * from whence he went 
 through Gloucefterfhire and Oxfordfliire to Lon- 
 don, and after (laying there a while, vifiting his 
 friends in their meetings, and their children in 
 their fchools, he fet forward with his wife and 
 Thomas Lower, with intention to accompany 
 her on her way home, and to vifit his mother on 
 her death bed ; but when they came into Wor- 
 cefterfliire, he fignified to his wife his appre- 
 henlion that a prifon would be his lot there, 
 which filled her with forrow. And foon after, 
 having had a meeting at John Halford's, at 
 Armfcct, in the parifn of Tredington, Henry 
 Parker, a juftice of the peace, getting intelli- 
 gence thereof, by means of a woman friend, 
 who being employed as nurfe to a child of his, 
 allied leave to go to the meeting ; having at that 
 time in company with him a prielt, named Row- 
 land Ilains, upon hearing of the meeting they 
 plotted together to break it up ; but it being the 
 fedival of fprinkling the infant, they could not 
 prevail upon tliemfelves to leave the feafl until 
 after the meeting was over. When they came 
 they found him and Thomas Lower in conver-^ 
 fation with fome friends in a parlour, and un- 
 der pretence of their having had great meetings, 
 which might be prejudicial to the public peace, 
 Parker, without any jufl caufe or legal infor- 
 mation, took them both prifoners, and fent 
 them to Worceiler jail. Being thus by coni- 
 
 " George Fox's Journal. 
 
 pulfion.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 379 
 
 pulfion reflrained from their purpcfe of con- chap, 
 dudiiig George's wife and daughters on their ii- 
 way, they were under a necelTity to procure a "^ — "^ — ' 
 friend to accompany them, with whom they re- ^'^/S- 
 turned to her habitation at Swarthmore. 
 
 Being imprifoned very wrongfully, and cr.ufe- 
 lefsly interrupted in their journey upon their 
 lawful occafions, they applied by letter to the 
 lord lieutenant and deputy lieutenants of the 
 county for the interpolition of their authority 
 for their releafe, laying before them the ilate 
 of their cafe, and illegal manner of their im- 
 prifonment, not from any meeting, but trom an 
 houfe where they had buHnefs ; that George Fox 
 was on his way to viiit his mother, who was dc- 
 firous to fee him, not being likely to liv^ l<^''\s» 
 and by his impriibnment was reftrained fro}ri 
 paying this debt of duty and atfeclion to his 
 aged and fick parent. But this application was 
 ineffedual, the pov/er being too generally veiled 
 in thofe, who were moft deftitute ofcompafTion 
 and tendernefs to any who were guilty of non- 
 conformity : Yet Thomas Lower might have ob- 
 tained his liberty by means of his brother's in- 
 terceffion, who was one of the king's phyfici- 
 ans, and had procured a letter from Henry Sa- 
 vil, gentleman of the bed-chamber to lord Vv'ind- 
 for, for his releafe, if he had been willing to 
 accept it fmgly ; but bearing too great a refpect 
 to his father-in-law to leave him in prifon alone, 
 he fupprefled the letter, and voluntarily conti- 
 nued his companion there. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft of the month called January Brought to 
 1673, t)eing the laft day of the quarter feffionSjarUic'^'^^ 
 they were brought to the court. At their en- f^^i^io^s. 
 trance, the jullices, as if convicted in them- 
 
 felves
 
 3Bo H I S T O R Y 0? the 
 
 CHAP- felves of their unjuft and injurious treatment, 
 II. appeared confufed and pale, and were for fome 
 v.^ — ^r—-^ time filent, infomuch that a perfon in the hall 
 J 673. aiked, What! are they afraid ? Dare not the juf- 
 tices fpeak to them ? At length juftice Parker 
 made a long but very weak apology for his con- 
 dud, purporting that he thought it a milder 
 courfe to fend thofe tzuo to jail, than to put his 
 neighbours to 200/. charge, by putting the law 
 againjl conventicles in force ; as if he was under 
 an obligation to do the one or the other, al- 
 though he could do neither legally ; for there 
 •was no conventicle in the houfe when he came, 
 nor had he any evidence to convid them by. 
 The chairman, one Simpfon, proceeding to ex- 
 amine them concerning the occafron of their 
 coming thither ; they gave fo clear an account of 
 themfelves, and the reafons of their journey, as 
 obliged him to own, their account or relation was 
 n^ery innocent ; which as they had no evidence 
 to contradict it, nor caufe to doubt the truth 
 thereof, was a plain acknowledgement, that they 
 had been caufelefsly im.prifoned, and had a right 
 to their immediate releafe from their falfe im- 
 prifonment. But as this act of juftice would 
 have been a ceniure upon Parker's irregular ex- 
 ertion of his power, they reforted to the ufual 
 fure mode of finding occafion of crimination a- 
 gainft George Fox from the tenderncfs of his 
 confcience, which they could not from the te- 
 nour of his condud: ; for Simpfon, after whif- 
 pering to Parker, addrefled himfelf to George 
 OatTi« of Pox after this manner. Mr. Fox, you are a fa- 
 an?fupre- 7nous man, and all this may be true which you have 
 ^-'^yj'^- faid ; hut that we- 711 ay be better fatisfied, will you 
 
 fiiiired of •' , n n ■ i r 9 T" 
 
 G. Fox. taKC tlje cat.'js cj .allegiance and Jupremacy f 1 o 
 
 which
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 381 
 
 'ft'hich George replied, / never took an oath in my chap. 
 life ; but I have always been true to the govern- i^- 
 went ; aflertcd his allegiance in full terms; fhew- ^-^ — >^~*-^ 
 ed he had been twice imprifoned, firft at Der- ''^VS- 
 by for not taking up arms againft the king ; and 
 the fecond time fent up prifoner to Oliver Crom- 
 well under pretence of plotting to bring him in ; 
 that they knew in their confciences the people 
 called Quakers could not take an oath, becaufe 
 Chrift had forbidden it. And as to the oath of 
 fupremacy, he faid, / deny the Pope and his 
 power ^ and deny it with my heart. While he 
 was fpeaking, they cried, give him the book. For refufmg 
 He anfwered, " the book faith, fwear not at J^JlJ^^^J^V^ 
 " all.'* He was then ordered to be taken away ; to prifon. 
 but the jailer not being hafty, they were very 
 urgent with him, crying, take him away, we jhall 
 have a meeting here, the fellow loves to hear him 
 preach. The jailer then drawing him away, he 
 faid, " the Lord forgive you, who caft me into 
 " prifon for obeying the dodrine of Chrift." 
 After George Fox was taken away, the juftices, 
 afraid to proceed with equal rigour againfl Tho- Thomas 
 
 ^ ^ ^ru- ^ ri Lower dif- 
 
 mas Lower, on account 01 his more powerrul charged. 
 connexions, told him, he was at liberty. Upon 
 which he queried of them, " Why his father 
 " in-law might not be fct at liberty, as well as 
 
 he, fmce they were taken together for the 
 
 fame pretended offence." But as a proof that 
 lawlefs power and not reafon or equity was the 
 rule of their conduft, they told him they would 
 not hear him, " You may go about your bufi- 
 
 nefs, for we have nothing more to do with 
 
 you, feeing you are difcliarged," 
 
 But 
 

 
 3^2 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. But Thomas not being eafy to leave his fa- 
 il, ther in prifon, without further folicitation for 
 ^'--^'''^' his releafe, went to the juftices at their chamber, 
 ^•^/S* defiring to know, " what caufe they had to de- 
 Low"r*fo- " tain his father, that they had not againft him; 
 r'^'^'V'^,. " and why one fliould be diicharged and the 
 charec incf- " Other not ?" wifhing them to confider, whe- 
 kduaiij-. |.|^pp ^Yih difiindion in their treatment of perfons 
 in the very fame circumftances might not be 
 Jooi^ed upon as an indefenfible partiality. The 
 juftices not relifhing fuch clofe reafoning. Simp- 
 fon, thinking to deter him from further remon- 
 ftrances, told him, " if he was not content, 
 " they would tender him the oath, and fend 
 *' him to his father." A plain evidence that 
 it was not for a fccurity to government that 
 they tendered the oath ; but in the caprice of 
 power, at their meer will and pleafure, to gratify 
 private ill will in the execution of partial laws, 
 or laws never originally intended againft a peo- 
 ple not in being. Lower replied, " Ye may do 
 " that if ye will, but whether ye fend me or no, 
 " I intend to go and wait upon my father in 
 '' prifon, for that is now my bufmefs in this 
 " coantry." Juitice Parker then made an apo- 
 logy for his conduQ in the following terms, 
 " Do you think, Mr. Lower, that I had no caufe 
 to fend your father and you to prifon, v/hen 
 you had fo great a meeting ; infomuch that 
 the parfon of the parilh complained to me, 
 that he had loft the greateft part of his pa- " 
 rifiiioners ; fo that when he comes amongft 
 them, he hath fcarcely anv auditors left.'* To 
 this Thomas Lower returned, " I have heard 
 " that the prieft of that parifli comes fo feldom 
 *' to vifit his flock, but once, it may be, or 
 
 " twice 
 
 (.C
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 3 
 
 03 
 
 
 *' twice In a year to gather in his tithes *, that chap. 
 " it was but charity in my father to vifit fo for- ^i* 
 " lorn and fo forfaken a fiock. And therefore ' — -^ — -' 
 " thou hadft no caufe to fend him to prifon for ^^73- 
 " vifiting and inflruding them, who had fo Ht- 
 " tie comfort from their paflor, who comes a- 
 mong them only to feek for his gain from his 
 quarter." At this the juftices broke into a 
 laughter ; for Doctor Crowther, the prieft fpoken 
 of, was then fitting with them in the room, un- 
 known to Thomas Lower, and he had the fenfe 
 to let it pafs without any reply, either of refent- 
 ment or vindication. But when Thomas Lower 
 was gone, the juftices, highly diverting them- 
 felves at Crowther's expence, he was fo nettled, 
 that he threatened to fue Thomas Lower in the 
 Bifliop's court on an action of defamation; which 
 coming to Thomas's ears, he fent him word, and 
 
 * This prieft, called Do£lor Crowther, though thus re- 
 gard lefs of his fiock, appears to have been a rigid exnftor of 
 their tithes ; of which we meet with the following inllaiices 
 in Befle's Sufferings. In 1 676 he profecuted John Halford 
 aforefaid, on the itatute for treble damages, for a claim of 
 feven years tithes, worth about 5I, per annum, who by ex- 
 ecution, at feveral times had taken from him goods and chat- 
 tels to the value of 158I. In 1678 William Banbury was ar- 
 reftedfor tithes at his fuit, and committed to \A''orce{ler jail, 
 afterward removed to London, and committed to the Fleet pri- 
 fon; and the fame year his mother, Mary Banbury, was caft into 
 the fame prifon at his fuit, on the fame account. He profecuted 
 William Parr of Shipflon feveral times. Upon one ofthefopro- 
 fecutions he was imprifoned above a year at Worcefter, and 
 a judgment being obtained againft him for 81. he loft by dif- 
 traint four cows worth 14I. At another time for the like 
 demand of 81. he futfered by difiraint of four cov/s and two 
 horfes 30I. Crowther had the pov/cr of holding an ecclefi- 
 aftical court once in three years, to which the faid William 
 Parr v/as cited for not coming to hear common prayer, was 
 committed to prifon by writ de ejccommunicato capiendo, 
 snd detained in prifon upwards of two years and an half 
 
 afterwards
 
 384 HISTORY of the 
 
 CHAP, afterwards told him to his face, " that he miglis 
 II. " commence his fuit as Toon as he pleafed ; tha* 
 ^->'vx^ " he would anfwer it, and bring his whole pa-* 
 " rifli in evidence againft him." So the prieft 
 in conclufion thought it the wifeft courfe to let 
 it drop. 
 1674. Some days after an habeas corpus came down 
 G. Fox re- for removing George Fox to the King's Bench 
 tabcl^coJ. bar at Weiiminfler. On receipt whereof the 
 t"'- under fherifF m.ade Thomas Lower his deputy to 
 
 convey him to London, where they arrived on 
 the 2d of the month called February, and ap- 
 pearing in court, his cafe was argued, but no 
 determination come to at that time ; he was or- 
 dered into the cuilody of the marfbal of the 
 King's Bench, and another day appointed for 
 hearing it. 
 
 In the mean time Parker, who had grofsly in- 
 jured him in his caufelefs imprifonment, witli 
 perfevering enmity, to prolong his imprifonment, 
 k^r'^ccu^^' and cloak his own illegal conduft, had, in con- 
 tiiv.iiice cert with other adverfaries, difperfed a malicious 
 to wjrcef- i"Gport, " that there were many fubftantial men 
 tcr. " with George Fox, out of many parts of the 
 
 " nation, when he was taken, and that they had 
 " a defign or plot in hand ; and that Thomas 
 *^ Lower ftaid with him in prifon, long after he 
 " was fet at liberty, to carry on the defign." By 
 which, and other falfe reports, the judges, who 
 feemed inclinable to fet George Fox at liberty, 
 were prevailed upon to remand him to Worcefter, 
 only this favour was granted him, that he might 
 go down his own way, and at his leifure, pro- 
 vided he v;ould not fail to be there by the affizes,- 
 w^hich were to begin on the 2d day of the month 
 called April following. He appeared accord- 
 ingly
 
 t*EOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 3«S 
 
 mgly at the faid afTizes before judge Turner, chap. 
 who formerly paffed fentence of premunire againfl ". 
 him at Lancafter. That judge was now more "— ""^•'*'-^, 
 favourable, and feemed inclined to releafe him; '^74* 
 but Parker endeavoured to prevent it, by infi- 
 nuating " that he was a ringleader, that many 
 " of the nation followed him, and that nobody 
 " knew what it might come to." The judge, 
 though he knew better, being willing to eafe 
 himfelf, referred the matter back to the feflions 
 again, bidding the juftices terminate it there, 
 and not trouble the affizes any more. So he 
 was continued a prifoner, but by the favour of 
 fome of the juftices had the liberty of the town 
 granted him, and leave to lodge at a friend's 
 houfe until the feHions. I'he judices ot this 
 county appear to have been of diiitrent fcnti- 
 ments and difpofitions at this time, and on this 
 occafion ; one party entering into all Parker's 
 arbitrary views, and joining him in going any 
 length to fkreen his palpable abufe of power, 
 and manifeft injuftice, from meeting with de- 
 ferved cenfure; the other party, actuated by 
 principles of more honour and moderation, and 
 convinced that George Fox was very unjuflly 
 treated with this feverity, endeavoured to mode- 
 rate the malicious temper of his adverfaries, and 
 to prevent them from proceeding to extremities 
 with him, but were not able to difluade them 
 therefrom. 
 
 The time of the feffions being come, George g. For 
 Fox was called before the juftices. One 5/r6'^/ j?_^^"sht be- 
 being chairman of the feflions, opened his trial idiion. 
 with a fpeech of the like tenour with Parker's 
 vain pretences for committing him to prifon, 
 and it is probable fuggeited by him, wherein 
 Vol. II, B h by
 
 vindication 
 »f himfelf. 
 
 386 HISTORTOFTHE 
 
 CHAP, by magnifying and mifreprefenting the circum- 
 II. fiances of their rehgious meeting, in order to 
 
 '— 'v*^ infufe into the people a notion of danger to be 
 1674. feared therefrom, and to give a colourable pre- 
 text for their proceedings, he faid " That 
 *' George Fox had a meeting at Tredington 
 
 Nottruf. '''■ from all parts of the nation^ to the terrifying of 
 " the king^sfubjeits, for which he had been com- 
 " mitted to prifon, and that for the trial of his 
 " fidelity the oath had been tendered to him." 
 Then turning to George Fox, he afked him, 
 *' fmce he had time to confider of it, whether 
 " he would now take the oaths V* George Fox 
 
 G. Fox'» firfl: vindicated himfelf from the mifreprefenta- 
 tions of the chairman, repeated the relation of 
 his journey, and the caufe of it, as he had done 
 at the former feffions, when they could not help 
 acknowledging his account to be clear : That as 
 to fome being there from diii'erent parts of the 
 nation, they were principally of one family, and 
 in one company, except a friend from Briftol, 
 who cam.e accidentally or providentially, as it 
 was to him they were obliged for attending his 
 wife and daughters on their way home, when 
 Thomas Lower and he were intercepted by Par- 
 ker. That it was not true that there were per- 
 fons from all parts of the nation, nor that their 
 meeting was to the terrifying of the king's fab- 
 jeifts, deliring them to produce one evidence, 
 who could fay, they were terrilied tliereby : That 
 as to the oaths thev knew he could not take 
 
 J 
 
 them, and they knew it was from a confcien- 
 tious fcruple of violating Chrift's command he 
 could not. That he could honeftly declare his 
 allegiance to the king in clear and plain terms 
 in any alTertion fhort of an oath. But the mofl 
 
 reafonable
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. . 387 
 
 teafonable pleas find little entrance through the chap. 
 veil of prejudice, to avert pre-dctermined refo- ii» 
 lutions. For upon his refufal of the oaths they *— -v-*-' 
 proceeded in their preconcerted plan of trial to ^"^74* 
 condemnation: An indidment, ready dravv-n up, 
 was read to him, and the chairman afking him, 
 if he was guilty ? He replied, " No, for the in- 
 " didment is a bundle of lies J* The indidment 
 was delivered to the jury, who under the indruc- 
 tions of the chairman found the bill againft 
 him, which he determined to traverfe, and then 
 was required to put in bail until the next 
 feifions, but he refufed to be bound any other- 
 wife than by his promife to appear, if the Lord 
 gave him health and ftrength, and he were at 
 liberty. 
 
 So he was fent back to prifon ; but by the 
 mterpofition of the more moderate juflices (who 
 had manifefted a favourable difpofition in the 
 court, endeavouring to prevent the tender of 
 the oath and the indiftmcnt) in about two hours 
 after he had liberty given him to go at large 
 until the next quarter fefllons. 
 
 The yearly meeting in London falling out in 
 the intermediate time, he attended it. And at 
 the inftancc of fome of his friends he appeared 
 before fome of the juftices of the King's Bench, 
 and delivered to them a declaration of his fide- 
 lity to the king, and denial of the Pope's fupre- 
 macy and power, as what he could promife in 
 lieu of the oaths ; but as his cafe was under cog- 
 nizance of the quarter fefTions at Worcefter, the 
 judges were unwilling to meddle with it, not 
 being regularly before them. 
 
 B b 2 Wherefore
 
 388 
 
 CHAP. 
 II. 
 
 1674. 
 
 H 
 
 T «? n-- r^ T» 
 1 i> X V-* iw 
 
 T or THE 
 
 Clandef- 
 tir.ely con- 
 demned in 
 a premu- 
 nirc. 
 
 i'alls udc In 
 
 priion. 
 
 Wherefore when the yearly meeting was over 
 he returned to Worcester, and appeared at the 
 fuccecding quarter feffions to traverfe the in- 
 diftment ; but when he proceeded to fhew the 
 errors, which were fulticient to quafh it, he was 
 Hopped, the oath required of him again, 
 and upon his refufal to take it, the jury found 
 him guilty. And an admonition of the confe- 
 cuence of a premunire being given him in court, 
 this was clandeftinely recorded for the fentence 
 thereof, in his abfence, after he was fent out of 
 court, to evade the reproach and cenfure due to 
 their illegal proceedings, as feveral of the jufti- 
 ces, and the generality of the people condemned 
 them : Nay, his perfecutors themfelves feemed 
 at laft affecled with uneafy fenfations of com- 
 punction for the wrong they had done him, and 
 wifhed he had never come thirher to trouble 
 them, upon which George Fox obferved they had 
 brought the trouble upon themfelves : But they 
 bad gone too far to make a handfome retreat, 
 and therefore thought it lefs diflionourable to 
 perfevere in the wrorg, than to right the in- 
 jured, by owning and reverfmpj the wrong. 
 
 Under the hard fentence of premunire he was 
 remanded to prifon, where he was foon after 
 feized with a dangerous fit of ficknefs, which re- 
 duced him to great Vv'eaknefs of body, fo that 
 his recovery feemed doubtful. Upon this ac- 
 count application was made to juflice Parker, for 
 liberty for him to be removed out of the jail 
 into the city, who after much importunity wrote 
 the following note to the jailer. 
 
 i.i 
 
 Mr,
 
 46 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 389 
 
 •' Mr. Harris, 
 
 ** I have been much importuned by fome 
 *' friends of George Fox to write to you : I 
 *' am informed bv them that he is in a very 
 weak, condition, and very much indifpofed. 
 What lawful favour you can do, for the be- 
 nefit of air for his health, urav fhew him. I 
 fuppofe next term they will make application 
 to the king. 
 
 " I am, Sir, 
 
 *' Your loving friend, 
 
 " HENRY PARKER." 
 
 George Fox's wife finding him fixed in prifon m. Fox fo- 
 under the fentence of premunire, came up fromj^j'^^in^iis 
 the north to attend him, and aifo to folicit his behalf, wha 
 difcharge, and after ftaying with him three or ^"rrnt hhir 
 four months, and feeinjj no difcharp-e like to be ^ pa'J"", 
 
 ,. \ r \ • n 11 • T which he 
 
 obtamed tor him, Ihe took her journey to Lon-isnoteaiy 
 don to folicit the king in pcrfon, was kindly re- '^ '^="'^''' 
 ceived by him, and referred to the Lord Keeper, 
 who told her, ihe king could not releafe her huf- 
 band any otherwife than by a pardon^ which the 
 king would readily have granted ; but George 
 Fox was not eafy to obtain his liberty in that 
 method ; for knowing his own innocence, he 
 thought the acceptance of a pardon would be a 
 tacit acknowledgement of guilt ; wherefore he 
 declared, he had rather lie in prifon all his daysy 
 than come out in any way dijhonourable to ihe 
 truth he made profejjion of. He rather chofe to 
 have the vaiidiry of his indidnient tried before 
 
 the
 
 390 
 
 HISTORY 0¥ THS 
 
 CHAP, the judges ; and accordingly procured an kabeat 
 II* corpus * to remove him once more to the King's 
 ^-"'^''^^ Bench bar, where appearing before the four 
 1674- judges, Counfellor Thomas Corbet was employ- 
 moTe"d'by cd to plead for him, who acquitted himfelf with 
 huheascorpus ^XQ2X hououf. * He advanccd a new plea, " that 
 «d. " by law they could not imprifon any man 
 
 " upon a premunire," upon the hearing this 
 unexpeded plea, the judges required time to 
 confult their books and the ftatutes, and polt- 
 poned the hearing until next day. When find- 
 ing Corbet's opinion was well founded, they, it 
 is probable for fear of ill confequences, chofe to 
 omit further notice of the plea, and proceeded 
 to examine the indiftment, in which the errors 
 appeared fo many and fo grofs, that the judges 
 were unanimous in opinion, that the indid?nent 
 •was quajhed and 'void, and that George Fox ought 
 to be fet at liberty. And as the oaths were ten- 
 dered to fundry great men that day in court, 
 there were not wanting fome adverfaries to 
 George Fox, who moved the judges that the 
 oaths might be tendered to him again, infinu- 
 ^ting he was a dangerous man to be at liberty. 
 But that upright and confcientious judge Sir 
 Matthew Hale at this time prefided at the King's 
 Bench, who was too honefl to lend an ear to 
 
 • The Haheas Corpus being readily procured and fent 
 down to V^'orceitev, his adveifaries, as confcious of haifing 
 exerted a power which would not ftc.nd the teft of examina- 
 tion, were reluctant to comply therewith, and endeavoured to 
 evade it, pretending he Vi^as prcmunired, and of confequencc 
 deprived of the benefit of the law ; whereupon a fecond or- 
 der was procured and fent down, and then he was brought 
 lip by the fherlif. 
 
 * Sewel, p. 504. 
 
 fuch
 
 PEOPL2 CALLED QUAKERS. 391 
 
 fuch fuggeftions, faying he had indeed heard c hap. 
 fomefuch reports of George Fox, but he had alfo H* 
 heard niore good reports of him. So after a full '^— ~v— ^ 
 hearing before the four judges he was dif- ^^74- 
 charged by proclamation, alter he had fuffcred 
 an unjuft imprifonment of a year and alnioft: 
 two months, and thus obtained his liberty in an 
 honourable way, without impeachment Tov im- 
 plication) of his innocence. And Corbet his 
 advocate obtained great credit by his manner of 
 pleading his caule ; the lawyers alledging he had 
 brought that to li^^ht ivhich bad not Iceii remark- 
 ed before. And after the trial one of the judges 
 complimented him upon it, faying, you have ob' 
 iained a great deal of honour^ by your ivay of 
 pleading George Fo.x^s caufe in court. 
 
 After his releafe he went to London, and After hii 
 thence to Kingfton for the recoyery of his health, down t^"" 
 and ftaid in and about the city until the yearly ''^^^""- 
 meeting, where he had the opportunity of fee- rcrufe. 
 ing friends from moft parts of the nation, and 
 of edifying and being edified amongft them. 
 When the meeting was over, having taken leave 
 of his friends, he went down with his v/ifc to 
 her habitation at Swarthmore, by coach, not be- 
 ing able to ride on horleback, where he continued 
 for a confiderable time, witliout ^oin^A" much 
 abroad, in order to recruit his flrength ; the iii- 
 difpofition he contrafted in his lute imprifon- 
 ment having reduced him to a (late of great 
 weaknefs, from which he v/as fome time in 
 recovering. 
 
 C 11 A l\
 
 39^ 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Ferfecuiion renewed. — JneffeBual Application ta 
 the Judges for relief. — The ParHa}ne?it jealous 
 of the Court. — Bifhops promote perfecution.-—* 
 William Penn puhlifloes England's prefent In- 
 tereft. — Robert Barclay^ s Apology publifhed. — 
 Anijnadverfions on Mojheim^ s RefieElions upon it. 
 —Sufferings of William Hall. — Of Friends of 
 Nafnptwich. — Sufferings and Death of William 
 Bailey, 
 
 CHAP. J^ HE revocation of the indulgence and the 
 III. difpleafure of the court againft the diffenters, 
 ^- — y-*-/ let loofe the whole tribe of informers, and gave 
 1674. frelli fpirit to the perfecuting magiftrates. Pro- 
 Tcncwed"" fccutions now began to be renewed againft the 
 people called Quakers in all the various modes 
 of diftrefs ; and by all the variety of penal laws 
 at the capricious will of every juftice ; they con- 
 tinued to be profecuted upon the ftatute of pre- 
 munire of Jac. I. for refufmg to fwear *; upon 
 the obiolete ftatute of 20I. a month for abfence 
 from the parifti church (fo called) | and the faid 
 
 penalty, 
 
 * On the 2 I ft of the month called July, 1675, John An- 
 derdon, of Soinerfctiliire, for rk^fiifing to take the oath of alle- 
 giance had fentence of premuiiire palTed upon him by judge 
 Rain^ford, &c. &c. 
 2673. t l homas Bennet and Thomas Tyler and others were im- 
 
 prifoiied tor abfence from the national worJliip, where ther 
 
 lay
 
 PE.OPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 393 
 
 penalty, or two-thirds of a perfon's eftate feized chap. 
 by Exchequer proceis ; but the profecutions by ^^^* 
 the priefts for their tithes were enormous and ^^ — ^'~*^. 
 unceafing, taking from them frequently far more ^"?'*' 
 than their pretended due, profecuting them in 
 the ecclefiallical courts to excommunication, and 
 procuring writs de exco?nmunicato capiendo to be 
 iflued, to throw them into prifon. For keep- 
 lay eight months. The faid Thomas Bennet had alfo two- 
 thirds of his eftate feized bv exchequer procefs by the ftutute 
 uf zjEliz. againft popilTi recufants. 
 
 Several of the people called Quakers in Herefordflilre be- i5j7- 
 ing profecuted in the Exchequer on old ftatutes againft popi/li 
 recufants, fuftered much by diftrefl'es made for pretended for- . 
 feitures, of the two-thirds of the yearly value of their cf- 
 tates. 
 
 Edmund Peckover of Fakenliam, Norfolk, was profecuted 
 on the ftatute for 20I. a month, of wliich his fon gave the 
 following account. " Our adverfaties are wholly bent to 
 ** ruin us J they have diftrained for 120I. for the king's ufe, 
 *' as they fay, upon the ftatute of 20I. a month, and have 
 '" taken above forty piecc'^ of ferges and fturT, fome whole 
 ** and fome cut; alfo feventeen pieces of linen, callicoes and 
 '* Scorch cloth ; but would not let us nieafure any, fo that 
 •' we know not what they an»ount to: We have fliut up fliop 
 ** to fecure our creditors, and if there be no likelihood of a 
 ** ftop to their proceedings, we intend to keep open fliop no 
 *' more ; but to pay where it is owing." 
 
 George Gates of Buntingford, f-iertfordfliire, was ar- 1677, 
 refted on the ftatute of 20I. a mo' th for abferce from the 
 rational worlhip, and committed to prifon, where he conti- 
 nued until he died on the 5th of the 3d mo;)th O S. called 
 May, 16S0. 
 
 John Taylor of York, a man well beloved of his neigh- 
 bours, wa-^ committed to prifon, being profecuted on theafore- 
 faid ftitute of 20I. a month, on the infjrmation of John 
 Hemmingway, by one Jonas Rigdon, attorney, who got much 
 (difcedit by it. The informer publicly declared his repent- 
 ance, and faid he coald not rcfc day or ni~hc for trouble ae 
 what he had done. 
 
 in<*
 
 394 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, ing up their religious meetings they were ftill % 
 III. prey to idle and profligate informers ; men di- 
 
 ^^^'"^''■^ vetted of every principle of humanity or com- 
 *<574. j^-^Qj^ honcfty, delighting in cruelty and living 
 by plunder ; made no confcience, were rcftrain- 
 ed within no bounds of reafon or moderation 
 in the fpoil they made of their goods ; and what 
 rendered their fulferings the more fevere, they 
 had no grounds to hope for redrefs whilft thefe 
 plunderers were encouraged and urged on by 
 their fuperiors, whofe duty it was to protecl the 
 fubjecls in the unmolefted poffeihon of that 
 property, which their honell induflry had 
 earned. 
 
 iBeiTeauai Under the heavy preflure of their grievous 
 
 application . ,..•'* i-i 
 
 to the futtenngs, application was made to the judges 
 i^c" ^°'^ (before they v/ent their feveral circuits) for their 
 compaffionate attention to the hard cafes of 
 feveral of the fufferers, and to interDofe their 
 authority for their relief, in the following ad- 
 drefs. 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 <c 
 
 (( 
 
 €i 
 
 Ci 
 
 tc 
 a- 
 
 To the King's juflices appointed for the feveral 
 " circuits throudiout England. 
 
 *' Many of our friends called Quakers being 
 continued prifoners, many profecuted to great 
 fpoil by informers, and on qui-tam writs, and 
 by prefentments and indiccments for 20I. per 
 menfem, in divers counties through Eng- 
 land, only on the account of religion and 
 tender confcience towards Almighty God, we 
 efleem it our duty to remind you of their 
 fuffering condition, as we have done from 
 time to time ; humbly entreating you In the 
 circuits to enquire into the ftveral caufes of 
 
 " their
 
 « 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 395 
 
 ** their commitments, and other fufferings, chap. 
 *' which they lie under, and to extend what n^* 
 ** favour you can for their eafe and relief. ^— '^v^^ 
 " Praying the Almighty to preferve and dired ^^74- 
 " you." 
 
 But little redrefs could be obtained from the 
 judges at this time, nor is it furprizing it could 
 not, if the aiTertion of one of our hiftorians be 
 true, * that " the papifls being excluded from 
 
 places of trull, the court had no tendernefs 
 
 for non-conformiits ; the judges therefore had 
 *' orders to quicken the execution of the laws 
 ''' againft them. The high-churchmen in their 
 " pulpits were encouraged to open their mouths 
 *' as loudly as poffible againft them. One in 
 " his fermon before the houfe of commons told 
 *' them, that the non-conformifts ought not to 
 *' be tolerated, but to be cured by vengeance ; 
 *' the kieig iffued out a proclamation for putting 
 " the penal laws in full execution, which had 
 *' its effed." 
 
 The parliament, from the Reiloratlon tOThcparfia- 
 their laPc fefiions, h?.d manifefted the warmeft "'•'•''• ^*^- 
 zeal for the king and church of England, and lous or the 
 from time to time had gratified the former by '^"''"• 
 complying with all his demands for money, and 
 the latter by pafling one fevcre law after another 
 againft non-conformifts ; whereby there appear- 
 ed a great cordiality to fubftft between the 
 king, the parliament, and the bilhops ; but now 
 from their difcovery of the bad meafures, and 
 their apprchenfions of worfe defigns of the 
 courtj had conceived an incurable jcaloufy of the 
 
 * Nealc, V. ii, p. 697. 
 
 king.
 
 395 HISTORY of the 
 
 C H A. P. king, his brother and his minifters ; who in rC" 
 III. turn entertained a reciprocal averfion to the 
 
 "^-— V — ^ meeting of the parliament, ^ as they now began 
 ^<574. to turn the tide of their zeal againll the papifts 
 fingly ; and were defirous to prote6l the other 
 diiienters, as confederates in the fupport of the 
 protelf ant caufe : Upon this account the king 
 was very unwilling to meet the parliament, but 
 his neceflities obliged him to convene them ; 
 and prefently after their meeting they prefentcd 
 an addrefs defiring the king to banifli all papilts, 
 who were not houfekeepers, or menial fervants 
 to peers, ten miles froni. London, and to appoint 
 a faft for the calamities of the nation. Mif- 
 underflandings and jealoufics on both fides by 
 thefe means gathering (Irength, divided the peo- 
 ple of all ranks more than ever, and added fuel 
 to the intemperate warmth of party rage, which 
 had fo long diftracled the nation. No fooncr 
 had the parliament undertaken the protection of 
 the diflentcrs, and the perfecution of the papills, 
 than the court to thwart their meafures promot- 
 ed the perfecution of the former : The king 
 commanded an order to be made public, " that 
 " effectual care be taken for the fuppreffing con- 
 *' venticles ; and whereas divers pretend old 
 *' licenfes for preaching, and would fupport 
 " themfelves by that pretence, the king declares 
 " that long fmce all his licenfes were recalled, 
 " and that no conventicle hath any authority, 
 *' allowance or commifTion from him." 
 '675. The bifliops alfo continued their exertions to 
 
 mote perl**' p^omote the execution of the penal laws againft 
 
 ikxaLioii. them in common with the papifls, Sheldon 
 
 '' Neale. 
 
 wrote
 
 PEOPLE CALLED qiTAKERS. 397 
 
 VTote circular letters to the blfliops of his pro-^^^^^* 
 vince to caufe enquiry to be made, ift, What ^^^* 
 number of perfons by common eftimation refide 
 within the refpeclive pariflies under their care ? ^ ^^* 
 sdly, What number of popifn recufants, or per- 
 fons fufpected of recufancy ? 3dly, What num- 
 ber of other dilfenters of what fed foever, wliich 
 either obliinately refufe, or wholly abfent thcm- 
 felves from the commuuion of the church, at 
 fuch times as by law they are required ? 
 
 So that no change in the temper of the times 
 brought as yet any durable or effectual relief to 
 the fufferings of this Jociety ; they rather grew 
 heavier and more ar>-cfravated durinsr the remain- 
 
 00 o 
 
 der of this reign, to the end thereof. 
 
 Many of them continuing to be imprifoned Tn^ fufr-r- 
 for refufmjx the oath of allegiance, William '"°'* f „ 
 Penn this year wrote his Treatife of Oatns, where- tiuuei 
 in he fhews their reafons for not fivcaring at 
 all, and confirms them by numerous authori- 
 ties. 
 
 And in confideration of the unhappy diviHons vrmiam 
 and animofities prevailing in the nation, he alfo ^'^"" ""^J"^*^* 
 wrote this year, an excellent treatile, under the entitled 
 title of " England's prefent Interell confider 
 " ed,*' wherein, to allay the heats of contend- tcrdi. 
 ing parties, he Ihew^s the confiftency of a general 
 liberty of confcience with the peace of the king- 
 dom : A v/ork wherein the liberal charity of real 
 chriftianity and the candid fpirit of genuine pa- 
 triotifm are eminently confpicuous. The intro- 
 duction to which treatife is addreiTed to the 
 confideration of our fuperiors, and proceeds, 
 " There is no law of nature or of grace that 
 " forbids men to deal honedly and plainly with 
 *' the greateft in matters of importance to their 
 
 *' prefent 
 
 mcleiitra-
 
 rtod K I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 JJ 
 
 CHAP." prefent and future good ; nor do worthy minds 
 
 III. « think lefs mvourably of' honefl and humble 
 
 *^-*'^' — ' " monitors. Oftentimes princes are deceived, 
 
 X675. " nnd kingdoms prejudiced for want of them. 
 
 " Certain it is that there are few kingdoms in 
 
 *' the world more divided within themfelvcs, 
 
 •' and whofe religious interefts lie more feem- 
 
 ingly crofs to accommodation, than that we 
 
 live in ; which renders the magiftrate's talk 
 
 hard, and occafions him a diuiculty almofl 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 " invincible, 
 
 *' Your endeavours for an uniformity have 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 been numerous ; your a£ts to enforce it mul- 
 tiplied J but the confequence, whether you 
 intended it or }\0j liath been the fpoiling of 
 feveral thoufands of the freeborn people of this 
 kingdom of their unforfeited rights. Per- 
 '* fons have been flung into jails ; gates and 
 ** trunks broken open ; goods diftrained, until 
 " a flool hath not been left to fit down on ; 
 " flocks of cattle drawn off; whole barns of 
 corn feized, thrafhed and carried away ; pa- 
 rents left without their children ; children 
 without their parents, and both without fub- 
 " fifl:ence. 
 
 " But that which aggravates the cruelty, is, 
 the widow^s 7nite hath not efcaped their hands ; 
 they have made her cow the forfeiture of her 
 confcience ; not leaving her a bed to lie on ; 
 *' nor a blanket to cover her. And what is yet 
 " more barbarous, and helps to make up this 
 *' tragedy, the poor orphan's ?}iilky boiling over 
 ** the fire, hath been flung to the dogs, and the 
 " fldllet made part of the prize : So that had 
 " not nature in neighbours been Uronger than 
 " cruehy in fuch informers, to open her bowels 
 
 " for 
 
 cc 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 if. 
 cc 
 
 (C
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 399 
 
 for their relief and fubfiftence, they mull: havcc hap. 
 utterly periHied. Jii* 
 
 " Nor can thefe inhuman inflruments plead ^— v^-^ 
 confcience, or duty to thofe laws, who have ^^"5* 
 abundantly tninfcended the fevereft claufe in 
 theni; for to fee the imprifoncd hath been 
 crime enough for a jail ; and to vifit the fick, 
 to make a conventicle ; fining and dillrain- 
 ing for preaching and being at a meeting, 
 where there hath been neither, and 40I. 
 for 20I. hath been a moderate advance with 
 fome of them. 
 
 " Others thinking this way too tedious and 
 inadequate to the purpofe of a fpeedy ftrip- 
 ping them of their fubftance, alter the quef- 
 tion from, have you met ? to will you fwear ? 
 So that it hath been, in fome places, efteem- 
 ed a fufficient realbn for a premunire, that 
 men have eilates to lofe ; although they bear 
 as true allegiance to government as their ad- 
 verfaries ; and only through tendernefs of con- 
 fcience refufe the oath. 
 
 " binding then by fad experience, and a long 
 trad of time, that the very remedies applied 
 to cure diffenfion encreafe it ; and that the 
 more vigoroufly an uniformity is coercively 
 profecuted, the wider breaches grow, and par- 
 ties become more infiamed ; that the cornpul- 
 fory meafures have always procured to the ac- 
 tors the judgments of God and the hatred of 
 men ; to the lufFerers mifery ; to their coun- 
 try, decay of people and trade ; and to their 
 own confciences, extreme guilt ; I hope to 
 be excufed in offering my mite for the en- 
 creafe of your true honour, and the felicity 
 
 " of
 
 40O HISTORY OF TH5 
 
 CHAP." of my dear country, by propofing the follow- 
 in. " ing queilion, and the folution thereof. 
 
 1675. 
 
 « q^ U E S T I O N. 
 
 *^ What is mod fit, eafy and fafe, in this 
 prefent juncture of affairs, for compofing, at 
 lead quieting, differences ; for allaying the 
 *' heat of contrary interefts, and making them 
 *' fubfervient to the interefts of government, 
 " and coufiflent with the profperity of the king- 
 " doin?" 
 
 « The A N S W E R. 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 
 ce 
 
 ifl. An inviolable and impartial mainte- 
 nance of Englifh rights.'* 
 " 2d, Our fuperiors governing themfelves 
 upon a balance, as near as may be, towards 
 " the feveral religious interefls.'* 
 
 " 3d, A fmcere promotion of general and 
 " pradical religion." 
 
 Thefe propoliiions are the groundwork of 
 
 this treatife, which the author proceeds to 
 
 eflablifh by found reafoning, and a multitude 
 
 of authorities ; but reafons of (late, however un- 
 
 found and unjufl, were more forcible at this 
 
 time than the foundefl reafoning which thwarted 
 
 the pre-concerted and pre-determined meafures 
 
 of government, perfecution continued, and civil 
 
 diffenlions daily acquired new force. 
 
 Roi)ertBar- While William Penn was thus employed in 
 
 WyVub-' poin!:ing out the true interefts of the nation, 
 
 med. Robert Barclay was appropriating his labours to 
 
 the fervice of truth, and of the lociety of which 
 
 he
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 40J 
 
 he was a member ; it was in this year he pub- CHAP. 
 
 lifhed hh Apology for the true Chrijlian Divinity, ni. 
 b'eijig an explanation and vindication of the prin- ^-^'^v^'^ 
 ciples and dodrincs of the people called fakers ; ^^15' 
 to which he prefixed an epiille to King Charles II. 
 remarkable for the plain dealing and honed fim- 
 plicity of addrefs, confcientioufly in ufe among 
 this people at that time ; free from the fer- 
 vile adulation too generally ufed towards 
 princes from thofe tl'cy converfe widi, this epif- 
 tle prefents him with plain truth and pertinent 
 refleftions, worthy of his obfervation, to v/hich 
 however, he feems to have paid lefs regard, than 
 to the pernicious plans and counfels of the court 
 parafites. 
 
 The people in whofe behalf this apology was 
 written had been from the beginning grofsly 
 abufed, and their principles mifconflrued and 
 mifreprefented by the priefts and teachers of moft 
 denominations, both from the pulpit and the 
 prefs ; the confideration whereof excited him to 
 undertake and publilh this difcourfe as an effay 
 to prevent future controverfy ; to ftrip Quaker- 
 ifm of the difguife in which enmity or ignorance 
 had drelTed it up ; and reprefent it to the world 
 in its genuine fhape and complexion. A work, 
 which with unprejudiced readers anfwered the 
 end of its publication, and gained the author 
 the approbation of the ingenuous in general, for 
 prefenting the world with a rational and confident 
 fydem of the chridian religion according to the 
 fcriptures, and doctrines of the primitive church 
 therein recorded ; and although objeftions 
 may have been advanced againd fome particular 
 parts, yet as a fydem it remains unrefuted to 
 this day. 
 
 Vol. II. C c Yet
 
 402. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 I 
 
 Yet Moflieim, who in his whole account of 
 the Quakers, treats them without mercy or cha- 
 rity, as if his bufmefs as an hiftorian was 
 ^<575- only to revive every obfoiete and invidious ca- 
 v.Xntn lumny, but not one teilimony in their favour ; 
 Mofneim's ^s if hc was mortified to find that any one a- 
 rpofii!"' mongil them could defend their caufe fo well, 
 very difmgenuouily endeavours to depreciate 
 this work, and to afperfe the author unjuftly, by 
 afcribing to him a duplicity, which (by the tes- 
 timony of thofe who knew him well) was moil 
 foreign to his real character ; and to infmuate 
 that he had given a fallacious account of the 
 Quakers priiiciples, as if they were in reality 
 not thofe which he had delivered to the world as 
 fuch. For he infmuates that v/e are not to " learn 
 " the true doclrine and fentiments of Quaker- 
 ■" ifm from his apology for the true cliriftian 
 " divinity * ; this ingenious man appeared as 
 '' a patron and defender of Quakerifm, and not 
 *' a profiifed | teacher and expounder of its va- 
 
 " rious 
 
 * His hiuory would Ii^ve been more inftru>5tive, if he hid 
 informed us from what other fource we might draw a more 
 fit'sfadory knowledge of their dodttincs and fentiments; I 
 am certiiin it is not fom Doctor "v'ofhtim^ account of them. 
 
 •f Thi? extrso*-dinary paragraph wants explanation, to me 
 £t leaft ; fo'- I can invedigara ro meaning in ir, which I can 
 recorcile to truth or reality of fad : That Robert Barclay 
 did really appear as an expounder, and an hanevl: expounder 
 of this people's dot^rines, I believe very few who have read 
 his Apology can entenaiti a doubt j that he modified the 
 opinions of his fe£t after a manner iriconfiftent wuh truth, is 
 implied ; but no*^ admitted or proved ; but admirting he was 
 an advocate of his own caufe, and that of his fellow mem- 
 bers of a fociety (not odious, unlefs innocence and rigid vir- 
 tue deferve that epithet) he is ftill as defenfible in ftanding 
 
 fordi
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 403 
 
 CK 
 
 rious dodtrmes ; and he interpreted and mo- chap. 
 *' dified the opinions of his feft after the man- in. 
 *' ner of a champion or advocate, who under- ^— v— ^ 
 ** takes the defence of an odious caufe. He ob- ^^75- 
 *' ferves an entire * filence in relation to the 
 " fundamental principles of chriftianity, con- 
 *' cerning which it is of great confequence to 
 " know the real opinions of the Quakers, and 
 thus he exhibits a fyftem of Theology that is 
 evidently lame and imperfedt. It is obferva- 
 ble that Barclay touches in a flight, fuperfi- 
 cial and hafty manner, fome tenets, which 
 when amply explained, expofed the Quakers 
 
 (( 
 
 *' to fevere cenfures ; and in this he difcovers 
 
 plainly the weaknefs of his caufe. Laflly, to 
 omit many other obfervations that might be 
 " made here, this writer employs the greateft 
 *' dexterity and art in foftening and modifying 
 *' thofe invidious doftrines which he cannot 
 " conceal, and dare not difavow ; for which 
 " purpofe he carefully avoids all thofe phrafes 
 " and terms that are made ufe of by the Qua- 
 " kers, and are peculiar to their fed, and ex- 
 " prcifes their tenets in ordinary language, in 
 
 forth a chrimpion in the defence of the irjured, as thofe who 
 unprovoked appear as cliaiiipions againft tliem, to render 
 them on groundlefs accufations odious to the world. 
 
 * If this Doftor alfo h^d rot observed an entire filence, 
 what in particular thefe fundamental principles of chriftia- 
 nity are v/hich he hints at, v/hich thofe tenets Robert Bar- 
 clay touches in a (light and fupe^ficial manner, &c. his 
 meaning might have been better underftood, and the truth 
 or error mo'-e certainly owned or refuted, but as ha hath 
 thought proper to veil his fubjeft in rayftery, I own myfelf 
 unequal to the talk of unriddling his aenigmatical afler- 
 tions. 
 
 C c 2 '* terms
 
 404 
 
 HISTORY OF TH2 
 
 a 
 « 
 
 CHAP." terms of a * vague and indefinite nature, and 
 
 III* " in a ftyle that cafts a fort of mafk over their 
 
 ' — " — -^ " natural afpeft. At this rate the mofl enor- 
 
 ^^75- " mous errors may be held with impunity ; for 
 
 there is no doQrine, however abfurd, to which 
 
 a plr^ufible air may not be given by following 
 
 the infidious method of Barclay ; and it is 
 
 well known that even the dod:rine of Spinofa 
 
 *' was, with a like artifice, drelTed out and dif- 
 
 *' guifed by fome of his difciples/* 
 
 Here again we have a fpecimen of Mofheim's 
 dogmatical talent, wherein the want of can- 
 dour, of charity or decency, is too apparent. 
 What could more plainly difcover the csruge 
 7nera, the malice and prejudice, he had imbibed 
 againft a people concerning whom he was ig- 
 norant, or knew only by ihe piclures or carica- 
 tures drawn by their adverfaries, than to indulge 
 his fpleen fo far, as to compare Robert Bar- 
 clay to the difciples of Spinofa. The compa- 
 rifon is odious ; and it is to be feared, if he 
 could have thought of one more odious, he 
 would have adopted it. For it muft be ma- 
 nifefl to every perfon, who hath confidered the 
 wide dilference of their fentiments, that there is 
 no more affinity between them, than the fite of 
 the arfcic and antarftic poles. 
 
 After all, what do we find in thefe remarks 
 but mere declamation without argument ; opi- 
 nion Vv'ithout foundation, and affertion without 
 proof? And as a balance againft this doQor's 
 
 * I dare appeal to every difpaflionate reader o( Robert 
 I'arclay, wherher in any part of his Apology he hath made 
 ufe of terms of a more vague and indefinite nature, than 
 ihefe very ftn(aures upon him are couched in. 
 
 opinion.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 405 
 
 opinion, we can produce the opinions of other chap. 
 writers, not a whit inferior in foundnefs of m. 
 judgment, in mental abilities, or in literary v-/-^/-x^ 
 fame ; and much fuperior, in my opinion, in i^75- 
 juftice and liberality of fentiment. 
 
 " I cannot think Quakcrlfni inconfiderable, 
 *■* as the principles of it arc laid down and ma- 
 *' naged by Mr. Barclay. That great and ge- 
 ** neral contempt they lie under does not hin- 
 " der me from thinking the fe£l of Quakers to 
 *' be far the moft confiderable of any that di- 
 " vide from the church, in cafe the Ouakerifm 
 ^' that is generally held be the fame with that 
 " which Mr. Barclay has delivered to the world 
 *' as fuch ; whom I take to be fo great a man. 
 
 46 
 
 that I profefs freely I had rather engage a- 
 gainft an hundred Bellarmins, Hardings and 
 Stapletons, than with one Barclay." Norris's 
 
 Treat ife of divine Light. Trad 2, page 32. 
 " Je n'ai point de honte d'avouer que j'ai 
 
 " lu avec un plaifir fmgulier, L*Apologie du 
 Quakerifme par Robert Barclay : il m'a con- 
 vain^u que c'eft tout calcule, le fyftem le plus 
 raifonable, et le plus parfait qu'on ait encore 
 imagine. 
 " I am not afliamed to own that I have read 
 
 '*' Robert Barclay's Apology for Quakerifm over 
 and over again with fmgular latisfadion : And 
 I am convinced that, taken all together, it is 
 the moil reafonable and moft perfect fyllem, 
 
 " which hath ever been conceived.'* French 
 
 Encyclopedie^ word ^aker. 
 
 " I am not adiamed to own that I have with 
 
 *' great pleafure read over Mr. Barclay's Apo- 
 
 "" logy for Quakerifm, and do really think it 
 the moft mafterly, charitable and reafonable 
 
 fyftenv 
 
 4C 
 
 ii
 
 4o6 
 
 HISTORY OB THE 
 
 CHAP. " fyflem that I have ever fcen : It folves the nu- 
 in. " merous difficulties raifed by other fe£ts, and 
 ^— ^'^ — ' " by turns thrown at one another, and (hews all 
 1675. « parts of fcripture to be uniform and con- 
 " fiftent." Cato's Letters^ v. iv. p. 226. 
 Suffenngs In the courfe of this year William Hall, of 
 ofwiuiam (-Qj^gieton \\\ Chefhirc, being fined 20I. for a 
 meeting at his houfe, had his dwelling houfe 
 broken open and two cart loads of goods carried 
 away worth 40I. Befides which they took away 
 a mare of his, which mare after fome time 
 came home again : Upon which he went with 
 two of his neighbours to the chief magiftrate 
 of the place, and gave him inform>ation of her 
 return, and what field fhe was in. Notwith- 
 llanding this they caufed him to be arraigned 
 for felony, on an indidment for flealing the 
 mare : But he was acquitted upon his trial, this 
 malicious attempt to commit murder by law, 
 being too barefaced to prevail upon any judge 
 or jury to bring him in guilty. 
 of friends About the fame time catde and goods to the 
 ^ch*"^'^' value of lool. were taken from fundry perfons 
 in and about Namptwich : From Randal Elliot 
 they took the bed he lay on, and even the dung- 
 hill in his yard. When fome of the fufferers 
 on an appeal were acquitted by the jury, the 
 juilices would not accept their verdicl, but at the 
 next feiT.cns gave treble cofts againft the appel- 
 lants. The chief informer was one called John 
 Widdobury of Hankiow, Efq; who being in- 
 debted 4cl. upon bond to Thomas Brafsley, a 
 member of that meeting, upon his demand of 
 payment, was incenfed againfl him, and thus 
 vented his wrath upon his friends. Ke alfo got 
 an old excommunication revived againft Thomas 
 
 Brafsley,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 407 
 
 Brafsley, and feiit him to prifon, threatening to c h a p, 
 fend his wife after him, for afliing for his own. m* 
 
 This year William Bailey died at fea, in his ^--^'"^ 
 voyage from the Weil Indies. He had been a ^ l^'JS' 
 teacher among the baptifts at Pool in Dorfctfhire, anVdeath 
 where he was convinced by the miniflry of ''^'f ='''^°^ 
 George Fox in 1655, and entered into fociety 
 with the people called Quakers, amcngft whom 
 he became a zealous preacher, and travelicd a- 
 broad in the exercife of his mlniflerial gift, to 
 brino; others to the truth he had been convinced 
 and experienced the advantage of. In which re- 
 ligious exercife of love to his fellow citizens it 
 was his lot to participate in the fufferings of his 
 brethren, in frequent imprilonments, both dur- 
 ing the time of the commonwealth and after the 
 relloration. Firii:, he was one of the number of 
 thofe, who, by an order of the juftices in De- 
 vonfliire in 1656 (before taken notice of in its 
 place) were taken up, in the progrefs of their 
 religious vifits, for vagrants, and committed to 
 Exeter jail, at the aflizes fmed forty marks a- 
 piece for not putting off their hats, and re- 
 manded to prifcn until payment. Again in 1657 
 he was imprifoncd in HampHure, by a mittimus 
 founded in falfchood, alledging he and others 
 were charged wiih feveral mifdemeanours; 
 whereas nobody had accufcd them of any : At 
 the next afhzes they were fent W) the houfe of 
 corre^rion, and detained there fourteen weeks, 
 until they were difcharged by an order of a 
 committee of pailiament. 
 
 In 1662 he and five others ftanding quietly 
 in the ftreet near the Bull and Mouth meeting- 
 houfe in London, were taken by foldiers and 
 carried before Richard Brown, who with his 
 
 accultomed
 
 4o8 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, accuflomed rudenefs ordered their hats to he 
 in. pulled off with violence, ftruck William Bailey 
 ^-"""^ — ' feveral blows with his fift, and when William's 
 ^^'^^' wife reproved him for abufmg her hufband, he 
 ftruck her alfo, and threw her down on the 
 ground ; whereupon William cautioned him to 
 beware of abufmg her, fhe being with child; he 
 neverthelefs repeated his abufe to her in like 
 manner, and then ordered his man and other 
 rude fellows to take William to Newgate, in 
 mere wantonnefs of office, committing him to 
 prifon without the leaft fhadow of legal caufe 
 or accufation againft him. In the beginning of 
 the year 1663 he was again taken at a meeting 
 at King's Langley, and fent to Hertford jail, 
 and at the quarter feffions, for refufmg to take 
 the oath of allegiance, was recommitted, and 
 continued prifoner fome years after. In 1670 
 he was again committed to Newgate on the fol- 
 lowing occafion. In the time of the meeting at 
 Grace Church-ftreet, a fecond attempt was made 
 to bring a pried to officiate there ; who coming 
 from an adjacent alehoufe, guarded by foldiers, 
 as they came toward the meeting-houfe, flipped 
 away into the ftreet ; the ferjeant purfued him, 
 and prevailed with him to return, which he did, 
 with a double guard, to the door ; but his heart 
 failing him, he turned awav a fecond time, 
 with the derifion of the people. William Bai- 
 ley was then preaching, whom the foldiers took 
 and carried before the Lord Mayor, who com- 
 mitted him to Newgate for abufmg the prieft 
 and diilurbing him in his office, though he had 
 not fpoken a Avord to the prieft, nor had the 
 prieft attempted to officiate at all, but made his 
 retreat as aforefaid, Hs was brought to trial at 
 
 Hicks'S"
 
 PEOPLE CALLED Q^UAKERS. 409 
 
 HIcks's-hall at the fame feffion with Penn and chap. 
 Mead ; and with the other prifoners was fined ^!^\. 
 31L »3S. 4d. for a pretended charge of divers ^ 
 evil ca'riages and contempts in words and deeds, 
 by them feverally committed in and towards the 
 court ; and the court gave farther judgment, 
 that he fhould pay a fecond fine of twenty marks, 
 as being convicled of fever al trefp;ifies and con- 
 tempts, and to be committed to prifon until he 
 ihould pay his fines. And befides his frequent 
 imprifonments he fuffered much corporal abufe 
 by blows, by being thrown down and dragged 
 along the ground by the hair of his head ; his 
 mouth and jaws attempted to be rent afunder, 
 and otherwife abufed until the ground where 
 he lay Avas ftained with his blood ; trampled 
 upon by an heavy corpulent perfccutor, who after 
 he had partly fatiated his fpite by his endeavours 
 to deprive him of breath, committed him to a 
 a filthy jail, a poor place for his cure. John. 
 Crook gives him this character, " that he was 
 " bold and zealous in his preaching, being wil- 
 " ling to improve his time, as if he had known 
 " he had no long time to live, and he was as 
 *' valiant in futfering for his tefiimony, when 
 " called thereunto.'* 
 
 He had for fome time followed a feafaring Piety pro. 
 life for the maintenance of his family ; and was '""'^'''^• 
 inltrumental by his miniilerial labours to con- 
 vince and confirm in the truth many inhabitants 
 of didant countries, being concerned to propa- 
 gate righteoufnefs, wherever an opportunity pre- 
 lented itfelf. In this his lail voyage, on his way 
 from Barbadoes, he was vifited with a difeafe, 
 which terminated his exiitence in this life. 
 
 When
 
 4:0 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. When he perceived the approach of his dif- 
 ^^J!\^ folution, addrefling himfeli to the mafter of the 
 167^. veffel, he faid, " fhali I lay down my head in 
 " peace upon the waters ? Well, God is the 
 *' God of the whole univerfe; and though my 
 ** body fmk, I fliall fwim a top of the waters." 
 Afterwards, under the comfortable fenfe of di- 
 vine fupport bearing him up in this trying fcene, 
 he faid, " the creating word of the Lord en- 
 " dures for ever.** He took feveral that were 
 about him by the hand, exhorting them, " to 
 fear the Lord, and then thev need not fear 
 death : Death, faid he, is nothing in itfelf, 
 for the (ling of death is fin. Tell the friends 
 in London, who would have been glad to 
 fee my face, I go to my f^uher and their fa- 
 ther, to my God and their God. Remember 
 my love to my dear wife * ; fhe will be a 
 " forrowful widow ; but let her not mourn too 
 " much, for it is well with me." Then having 
 given the mafter fome inftruftions about his 
 outward affairs, he exprefled " that as to his wife 
 " and children, he had left them no portions ; 
 ** but had endeavoured to make God their fa- 
 " ther." Then taking his leave of the com- 
 pany, he faid, " I cannot fee one of you, but 
 
 * He married Mary FilLcr, of whom an account hath 
 been given in this work, of her being the firft of this people 
 v.'ho in company with Anne Aullin, vifited Bofton ; and after- 
 wards travelled to Adrianople to vifit the Turkilh emperor, 
 by whom fhe waj well received. She feems ro have been a 
 woman of good fenfe ; -ind being much affcaed with the 
 melancholy event of her hufjand's removal, Jlie exprefTcd her 
 affeftion to his m-.-r.ory, in an excellent teftimony to his 
 worth. Sewel. 
 
 a 
 it 
 ti 
 
 a 
 
 ti 
 
 « 
 
 wifli
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 411 
 
 " wlfli you all well." And after more fenfiblec hap, 
 obfervations, expreflive of the fcrenity of his m. 
 mind, he quietly departed this life on board '^--^r-^ 
 the Samuel of London, in the latitude of 46°. *^75' 
 
 CHAP. IV„ 
 
 Public Affairs. — Duke of Buckingham^ s Speech in 
 favour of D if enters. — Prcfc cut ions on the Con- 
 venticle Ad fubfide ; hut not for ecckfiaflical 
 Demands. — Cafe of Robert Cooper. — informers 
 generally poor. — Violent Proceedings i?i Here- 
 ford/hire* 
 
 1 HE Parliament, upon their being convened c K A P, 
 this year, continued to difcover that their jea- ^^• 
 loufy of the king, his counfellors and partifans, ^'■^'^^''"^ 
 was in no wife cured or decreafed ; they drew pj^^y]ll 
 up a new bill againfl the growth of popery, fair*, 
 and the perfons of popiih priefts : they prdented 
 addrelTes againft Lauderdale ; moved an accufa- 
 tion againft Danby ; and by all their proceed- 
 ings manifefted they were quite out of humour 
 with the court. * The courtiers, to make repri- 
 fals, brought a teft aft into the hoiife of peers, 
 which if it had paiTed into a law would have 
 been a new fource of more general fufferings to 
 the Quakers, extending the oath prefcribed by 
 
 the 
 
 * Smollet,
 
 412 HISTORY OF THg 
 
 CHAP, iht j^ve-niile ad, to be taken by diflenting mi- 
 
 IV. nifters, not only to the members of both hoiifes, 
 
 *— "v^ and all public officers, but to the electors of par- 
 
 ^^75* liament men. It was no wonder that a bill fo 
 
 iiniverfally affecting the privileges of the people 
 
 and the parliament fliould meet with great op- 
 
 pofition : It is faid to have been warmly debated 
 
 for fevcnteen days, and that the heats occafioned 
 
 thereby, and by other matters, were fo violent, 
 
 that the king fuddenly prorogued the parliament, 
 
 and fo the bill was dropped. 
 
 The parliament upon re-affembling, being 
 jealous of the encreafe of the number and power 
 of the papiils, began now more clearly to 
 fee the necellity of a coalition with the diifent- 
 ing proteftants, though it is faid the high church 
 bifhops were inflexibly determined againfl: it. 
 The Duke of Buckingham, who was now de- 
 tached from the court, introduced a bill for 
 granting an indulgence to proteftant diffenters, 
 with a fpeech in favour thereof, ^ wherein with 
 ftrength of reafoning and found argument, he 
 evinces the reafonablenefs of this propofed in- 
 dulgence, " My lords, fays he, there is a thing 
 Duke of " called libei'ty, which (whatfoever fome men 
 hanS'°" " "^^y think; is that the people of England are 
 fpeech in '^ fondcft of ; it is that they will never part with, 
 dliibn'ters. *"' ^.nd it is that his majefty in his fpeech hath 
 " promifed to take particular care of. This in 
 *' my opinion can never be done without giv- 
 " ing an indulgence to all protejlant diffenters. It 
 " is certainly an uneafy kind of life to any man, 
 ^' that hath either chriflian charity, humanity or 
 " good nature, to fee his fellow fubjeds daily 
 
 «► Nealc. 
 
 *' abufed.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 4:5 
 
 cc 
 a 
 
 abufed, divefted of their liberty and birth- C K A P. 
 rights, and miferably throv\^n out of their iv. 
 poflfefiions and freeholds, only becaufe they ^^-^z*"^ 
 cannot agree with other?* in fome opinions and ^'^'/S- 
 niceties of relinion, v/hich their confciences 
 will not give theni leave to confent to, and 
 which, even by the confeiTion of thofe, who 
 would impofe tiiem are no v/ays necefiary to 
 " falvation. 
 
 " But befides this, and all that may be faid 
 upon it, in order to the improvement of our 
 trade, and the wealth and greatnefs of the 
 nation, there is metliinks in the notion of per- 
 fecution a very grofs niiftake, both as to point 
 of government, and the point of religion ; 
 there is fo as to point of government, becaufe 
 " it makes a man's fafety depend upon the 
 wrong place, not upon the governors, or a 
 man's living well tov/ards the civil govern- 
 ment eitablifhed by law, but upon his being 
 " tranfported with zeal for every opinion, that 
 '* is held by thofe, that have power in the 
 *' church that is in fafhion. And I conceive it 
 " is a miftake in religion, becaufe it is againfl the 
 " exprefs dodrine and example of Jefus Chrift. 
 " Nay, as to our proteftant religion, there is 
 *' fomething in it yet worfe, for we proteitants 
 " maintain that none of tliofe opinions about 
 *' which chriflians dilfer are infallible, and there- 
 *' fore in us it is fomewhat an inexcufable con- 
 " ception, that men ought to be deprived of 
 " their inheritance, and all certain conveniences 
 " and advantages of life, becaufe they will not 
 " agree with us in our uncertain opinions of 
 *' religion," 
 
 I^Toving ■ 
 
 t6 
 it 
 (( 
 (t 
 
 CC 
 (C 
 
 (.C 
 (C 
 
 <(
 
 414 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP. Moving then for leave to bring in the bill, it 
 IV. was granted ; but a quarrel reviving between 
 
 '•"^-^/-^ the two houfes, occafioned an halty proro- 
 ^^75* gation, vv^hereby this bill with fome others was 
 loft. 
 
 In the latter part of this year one Matthew 
 Hyde, a perfon who had been very troublefome 
 in the meetings of the people called Quakers, 
 by oppofmg their minifters in their teflimonies, 
 and dillurbing them in their worfhip, was taken 
 fick ; and apprehending his death approaching, 
 was feized with great remorfe of confcience for 
 what he had done ; fo that he could not be eafy, 
 until he had fent for fome of that people, parti- 
 cularly George Whitehead, to v;hom he expref- 
 fed great forrov*^ for the wrong he had done 
 them, acknowledged them to be the children of 
 God, earnedly begged mercy of the Lord for 
 his wilful oppofition to known truth, in gain- 
 faying them ; and died very penitent. 
 1676. In the city of London profecutions on the 
 
 profccu- conventicle acl feem to have fubfided during this 
 
 tioDS on tae , , ^ . p^ 
 
 conventicle year ; but the diitreiies and prolecutions ror ec- 
 Lut^w/''^'^' cleiiaftical demands were numerous, and many 
 thofc for of them exorbitant ; for although the profecu- 
 l-x\^^l!t*-^^' tions upon other accounts feem at times to have 
 mands. been relaxed through the lafiitude of the magi- 
 ftrates in imprifoning and punifhing, and other 
 caufes ; yet the rigorous enforcing of the eccle- 
 fiailical laws was rarely or never fufpended ; felf- 
 interefi: and antipathy to a people v/hofe prin- 
 ciples and doftrine ftruck at tiie root of prieft- 
 craft, and at mercenary minillers, excited the 
 prielthood inceifantly to the execution of the fe- 
 vered laws in their favour. The number plun- 
 dered, eixommunicated, imprifoned, and of 
 
 thofe
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 415 
 
 thofe who laid down their lives in prifon, in c h a p. 
 confequence of thele profecutions, is too large to iv. 
 recite particularly j every year from the time of ^«--''v>k-/ 
 the Quakers being known as a people to this ^^"^* 
 period, and long after, furniui abundant initan- 
 ces of difaftrous fufferings on one hand, and 
 profecutions difgraceful to chriftianity, and the 
 church, fo called, on the other. 
 
 '^Robert Cooper of Chefhunt Hertford/hire, was cafc of 
 this year imprifoned at the fuit of Robert Win- Robert 
 cheflly, pricft, a profecutor fo rigid, that he °°^'^^' 
 gave fpecial orders to the jailer to keep him 
 clofe, and not let him go into the town for any 
 refrefliment : To fome friends pleading for him, 
 that he was a poor man, had a wife and many 
 children, this priefl returned this anfv/er, " if 
 *' his children flarve it is none of my concern : 
 " He fhall lie there and rot : I will have no 
 *' more mercv on him than on a thief ; if the 
 ** law would hang him, I would : Tilhe is my 
 " due, and 1 will have it." 
 
 Prielts of this infenfible call were a reproach T!*^« P'^'^jJ^ 
 to the order ; and yet it leems as ir at this time ed by the 
 much the greater number were of this call: : The '^.^"onj'"^- 
 clergy began now to be diflinguillied into two high-church 
 claiTes, which afterwards crave rife to the deno-^"'^'"^^'" 
 minations of hia;h church and low church : Thefe 
 of the former clafs were rigid Ilicklers for uni- 
 formitv, for reverence to the church, that is to 
 themfelves ; for the dignity of their own inde- 
 lible character ; for unlimited fuhmiirion to kingly 
 power ; and for the divine right of tithes : In 
 the pulpit nonconformity was more the fubjedl 
 of their invedives than vice j and a churchman 
 
 = BefTe.. 
 
 of
 
 4t6 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, of loofe morals, In their view, feeraed a better 
 man than the mod virtuous diifenter. They 
 promoted the enabling penal laws, and the fe- 
 vere execution of them, to the utmoll; of their 
 power ; to the church of Rome, through which 
 they derived their pretended uninterrupted fuc- 
 ceffion from the apoltles, and to the relicks of 
 which they were obliged for the pofleffion of 
 their power and emoluments, they bore much 
 more good will than to thofe diifenters whofc 
 principles were adverfe to both. The priefts of 
 this clafs were now the more numerous by far ; 
 church preferments lying on their fide, and their 
 dotlrines being moll fafhionable at this time. 
 
 But there were others of this order, although 
 the fewer in number, of a diti'erent fpirit ; thefe 
 went under the denomination of low church- 
 men, being more difpofed to moderate meafures 
 toward the diffenters ; more rational in their 
 principles, and lefs all'uming in their claims. 
 
 Although the penal laws were fufFered at pre- 
 fent to lie dormant in London, yet in feveral 
 parts of the nation they were enforced with ri- 
 gorous fevcrity, by the arbitrary proceedings of 
 fome inveterate magiflratcs. In Norwich, Tho- 
 mas Wilfon, a very poor man, who by hard la- 
 bour fupported his wife and five fmall children, 
 was fined for being at a meeting. The officers, 
 pitying his circumllances, reported to the juf- 
 tice that the man had little in the hcufe except 
 the bed he and his family lay on. The obdurate 
 magiflrate ordered them to take his bed, which 
 they did the next day, and left him and his fa- 
 mily to lie upon the flraw. His wife after this, en- 
 deavouring to maintain her children by baking 
 SL little bread, and felling it in the market, the 
 
 officers
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 417 
 
 officers made a feizure even of that, at one 
 time to the value of nineteen-pence, at ano- 
 ther to the value of fourteen-pence. So de- 
 ftrudive to humanity is an ignorant and fu- 
 rious zeal ! 
 
 When the officers came to Anthony Alexan- 
 der's houfe to make diflrefs, one of chem, Eraf- 
 mus Cooper, told his wife, who .v- ; big with 
 child, he was come to feize all they had^ and that 
 he would not leave her a bed to lie on, Tiiey 
 broke the doors with a pick-axe ; their beha- 
 viour was fo brutal, that the obf .Tvatic ■> thereof 
 drew tears from the compaffionate neighbours. 
 And in the infolence of office, commanding 
 Alexander's man to help them, and being told 
 how unreafonable it was to require a fervant to 
 take away his mafter's goods, one of them chur- 
 lifhly anfwered, they are our goods. For a fine 
 of 7I. they took away goods to near the value 
 of 1 81. The fame officers came to the houfe of 
 Samuel Duncan, bringing v/ith them Tennifon 
 the informer, and the hangman ; here they flay- 
 ed feveral days and nights, keeping Samuel's 
 wife, who was big with child, a prilbner in her 
 own houfe, not fuffering her to fpeak to any 
 perfon even at the door, nor admitting any ac- 
 cefs to her. They broke open all the doors 
 which were locked, and carried away goods to 
 the value of 42I. '^Thefe peflilent informers, be- 
 ing now encouraged and incited by the court, 
 and by the bifhops, to profecute their infamous 
 occupation to the utmofl prejudice of the non- 
 conformifls, were fo elevated with infolence, in 
 their own imagined importance, that one of 
 
 ^ Scwel. 
 
 Vol. IL D d thefe
 
 4i8 H I S T O R Y QF the 
 
 CHAP, them vauntingly faid. Til make the mayor wait 
 IV' upon ?ne as often as I will, at my pleafure, 
 ^^^'"^'""^ For both the magiftrates and peace officers, 
 1676. ^gji knowing the penalties they were fubjed:- 
 ed to, and the advantage given to thefe in- 
 formers by the lad act againil conventicles, in 
 cafe of any backwardnefs or omiffion on their 
 part in executing it to the full, were often for 
 fear of them urged to feverities to which their 
 natural feelings were reluctant, and were fre- 
 quently fined upon complaints of thefe infor- 
 mers, efpecially now, when they were favoured 
 by the court. Of this we meet with an inftance 
 at this time and place. William Poole, a con- 
 stable of Norwich, coming unwillingly with an 
 informer, who compelled him to accompany him 
 to the Quaker's meeting, and being affected with 
 the doctrine he heard preached there, cried with 
 tears in his eyes. What JJmll I do? I know the 
 power of God is among yoii. And turning to 
 the informer faid, " if there was a curfe hang- 
 " ing over any people upon earth it was upon 
 " the informers.'* 
 
 eenTrTuy' Which remark feems verified by the event ; 
 
 poor, for their ill-gotten plunder did them little fervice ; 
 
 being moftly profligates, it was generally as ill 
 
 fpent, as it was attained, in bad houfes, taverns, 
 
 ^ gaming and debaucher}\ An informer was withal 
 
 but a degree above a beggar *, a remarkable 
 
 blall 
 
 * John Jackfon, who had bufied hlmfelf as an informer in 
 Weftmoreland on every aft againft the Quakers, notwich- 
 ftanding his ill-gotten gains this way, v/as reduced to fuch 
 extreme poverty as to beg his bread, BeHe. 
 
 William Watt of Norwich had feveral years followed the 
 trade of informing, but what he got by it turned to no ac- 
 count i
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 419 
 
 blafl: attended them and their property : many CHAP, 
 of them, as they lived in infamy, died in mifery iv. 
 and extreme poverty -|- ; fome came to untimely 
 
 count; he was often feized with fuch fits of wcakneA that 
 he could •■'ot fta^d on his leg^ ; at laft he was very fiiddenly 
 removed out of this life; he was apparently quite well, and 
 on a fudden funk down to the ground, his daugiuer fhriek- 
 ing out, he juft looked at her, and iiiunediatelv expired. 
 But what was moft remarkable, his corps was fo very offen- 
 five by it< fmell, that none being willing to co;ne near it, 
 the overfeers of the poor were necelTitated to hire four men 
 to bear it to the grave. 
 
 f John Smith, a very bufy informer in Yorkfhire, was loft 
 in a gi-eat fnow in Eaftby Paftures, and after about five 
 weeks was found, having his eyes and tongue picked out by 
 vermin, and he (hink fo, that the men who brought him home, 
 complained of the naufeous fcent for many days after. 
 
 John Cullington, fi'lierman, of Harwich, and a noted in- 
 former againft meetings there, was found drowned, whether 
 by accident or through defpair is uncertain, but the latter is 
 not imp-obable ; for he had exprefTed himfelf to be under 
 grievous trouble and concern of mind for what he had done. 
 His dead body was caft on fliore at a conunon landing-place 
 near the fea-fide. 
 
 Randal Pool, a taylor, of the fam.e town, a man who had 
 been in good cedit, took up the bufnefi of an informer, 
 to follow which he negleded the care of his lawful vocation. 
 After which he habituated himfelf alfo to gaming and drink- 
 ing, ftriving bv thofe means t.) ftifle the checks of confcience, 
 which neverthelefs grew fo fining, that he was conftrained 
 to acknowledge that he was fo troubled in mind that he w'as 
 afraid he fhould be diftradted. This trouble produced re- 
 pentance, fo that he afterwards defiiled, and lived qui- 
 etly. 
 
 John Hunwick, an informer, of Braintree, had been a 
 /hopkeeper of good reputation there, but feeking to enrich 
 himfelf by the fpoil of his neighbours, he proceeded with 
 much uneafinefs. At length, when on his death bed, he fent 
 for Solomon Skinner and others whom he had profecuted, 
 intreating them to fo*-give him, and to pray to God for him, 
 telling them he was fo troubled in confcience he could not die 
 in peace. 
 
 D d 2 ends. 
 
 1676.
 
 420 K is T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, ends, and many of them were thrown into jails, 
 IV. and ended their lives there. Tennifon before- 
 
 ^-''^v-N-^ mentioned was of the number of thofe who 
 
 1676. were cafl into jail, where he confefled, he had 
 
 never profpered fince he undertook that work, and 
 
 that, if he obtained his liberty, he would never be 
 
 concerned in it again. 
 
 The diftrefles made this year in Nottingham- 
 {hire, upon the members of this fociety, for their 
 rehgious aflemblies only, amounted to 7 1 2I. and 
 upwards, many of which were exorbitant, and 
 the fines frequently impofed and levied upon 
 flight, and fometimes falfe, informations : And 
 although the law admitted of an appeal to the 
 quarter feflions, we are here prefented with a 
 frefh inftance of the ineffectual relief to be at- 
 tained by an appeal to juftices, more tender of 
 one another's honour than the grievances of the 
 fufferers. 
 
 One John Sayton was informed againft and 
 fined by juftice Thoroton 20I. for being at a 
 meeting in the parifh of Blythe, at a time when 
 he was fixty miles from thence : He appealed to 
 the quarter fefTions, and with much difficulty 
 obtained a hearing of his cafe : The jury finding 
 the matter clear, brought in a verdict for the ap- 
 pellant ; whereupon Pennifton Whaley, one of 
 the juftices, who had before manifefted his viru- 
 lence, and ignorance of the Quakers and their 
 principles, in his endeavours to enforce the aft 
 2,^ Eliz. ordered them out again, whereunto one 
 of them replied, we are agreed, and have well 
 confidered the matter. Unable to reftrain his 
 wrath within any bounds of decency, he flung 
 off the bench in a rage, expreffmg his indigna- 
 tion at this bulwark of the fubjeds' privileges in 
 
 fuch
 
 PEOPLE CALLED qiJAKERS. 421 
 
 ■fuch terms as thefe, " Tou de/crve to be hanged^ chap, 
 *' you are as bad as highivaynien ; I hope the iv. 
 *' king ivill take away Juries, for this will not S— -v-*-' 
 ^' do.'* Thus Say ton was acquitted, and this ^'^76. 
 jury difmiffed to make way for another more 
 pliant to the inftrutlions and temper of the 
 court. Next morning another jury w?.s impan- 
 neiled, and another appeal of the like nature 
 came on. The cafe was that of William Hud- 
 fon, whom the evidence could not prove to have 
 been at the meeting he was charged with, and 
 though eight of the jury were picked men, 
 known to be adverfe to the appellant, yet the 
 other four flood out, and no verdid was agreed 
 upon until eight at night, when one of the 
 four being taken ill and wanting refrefhment, Jury hardly 
 juftice Whaley told them, if they did not agree, ''^^'"^ ' 
 they fhould ftay there until they died, and as 
 one of them died the court would chufe ano- 
 ther. They were over-awed into a compliance, 
 and after the court was adjourned, privately gave 
 in a verdict againft the appellant ; when one of 
 the jurymen faid, he would gladly do equity^ 
 Thoroton, another perfecuting juftice, replied, 
 T^ou have nothing to do with eqidty. 
 
 In the city of Hereford, the fevere profecu- 
 tion of the late law againft fundry members of 
 this fociety, the partiality cf the juftiees in fruf- 
 trating appeals to the feflions for redrefs, by re- 
 fufmg to accept the juries verdids for the appel- 
 lants, being found infufficient to deter this peo- 
 ple from keeping up their meetings, the magi- 
 ftrates and priefts, feeing they could not fupprefs 
 them by the rigorous enforcing of rigorous laws, violent 
 ieem to have combined to attempt it by lawlefs p^f ecdings 
 
 VlOlence, fordihn 
 
 lire.
 
 422 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, violence, by ftimulating the populace, prone to 
 IV. mifchief, to the grofs abuie ot them. / 
 
 *>■ — V— -^ On the 2oth of the month called Auguft, 
 1676. Henry Caldicott, mayor of this city, with his 
 officers, came to the meeting there, and warned 
 the afiembly not to meet any more, telling them, 
 if they did^ let it be at their peril. The fequel 
 fully explained the meaning of this menace, be- 
 ing followed for feveral months with outrageous 
 infults and abufes from the populace. They firft 
 befet the meetinqj-houfe with confufed noife and 
 fhouting to terrify the people aiTembled within 
 it ; next, fome broke the windows ; others with 
 flaves ftruck the men's hats off their heads, threw 
 ftones among them, and one of them, laid to 
 be the mayor's fon, broke John Rea's head with 
 a Hone. At another time they fired fquibs, and 
 threw them into the meeting, caft flones through 
 the broken windows, and ftruck a woman on» the 
 head. When complaints of thefe abufes were 
 made to the mayor, the complainants were dif- 
 miffed with threats. The next time the outra- 
 geous mob, part of which were chorifters or 
 finging boys of the cathedral, encouraged, as re- 
 ported, by their fuperiors the college priefts, 
 broke in pieces the remainder of the glafs win- 
 dows, with the window-frames and fome of the 
 walls of the houfe. After the meeting broke 
 up, they purfucd the country friends, pelting 
 them with ftones near a quarter of a mile. 
 
 The next day a meeting was held in their 
 ihattered houfe for church affairs, fuch as reliev- 
 ing the poor, the widows and the fatherlefs, and 
 other acts of pure and undefded religion : Then 
 alfo affembled the rabble by found of horn, 
 throwing dirt, ftones and filthy excrements a- 
 / mongft
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 423 
 
 mongft them and upon them, whereby feveral c h a r. 
 were much hurt, and all grievoufly annoyed. iv. 
 Some mounted on the roof of the houfe and un- * — v — ' 
 tiled part of it, tumbling down ftones on one ^^1^' 
 going in. In the "midfc of thefe diforders Ed- 
 ward King and Robert Simonds, juilices, and. 
 Abraham Seward, mayor eled, came, not to quell 
 the fury of the rabble, but to fend the abufed to 
 prifon, to effe£l which, after threatening the wo- 
 men and children, they tendered the oaths of al- 
 legiance and fupremacy to eight of the men, 
 and for refufmg to fwear lent them to jail. A 
 day or two after this Walter Rogers, a preben- 
 dary, pafiing by the meeting-houfe, and obferving 
 the ruins, faid, they that did it ivere very good 
 boys, and had doJie their work better than he eX' 
 fieded. Thus evidencing plainly under what kind 
 of influence the mob committed thefe ads of vio- 
 lence and outrage. 
 
 They continued the like abufes through the 
 remainder of this year and a part of the next. 
 The fufferers having got the houfe repaired and 
 habitable ag^.in ; it was again befet by the rude 
 multitude, who threw ftones as before, being re- 
 ported to he iiifligated by the mayor's officers, 
 who are faid to have bade them, knock out the 
 ^takers brains, if they did not depart. They alfo 
 threatened the inhabitant to pull the houfe down 
 over his head. At another time one of thefe ofH- 
 cers threatened, they would fire the meeting-hoife, 
 and broil tkevi in it. 
 
 Thefe were certainly times in wliich juftice 
 was perverted, and equity could not enter, when 
 peaceable diffenters were tried and punidied as 
 rioters ior worfhipping God, without injury to' 
 any man j and real riots not only palTed by with 
 
 impunity.
 
 424 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, impunity, but were promoted and abetted by 
 
 IV. thofe, the duty of whofe office and their oaths 
 
 '^— V — ^ fliould have obliged them to prefervc the peace. 
 1676. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 George Fox leaves Szuartbtnore, and travels by eafy 
 'Journeys to London. — Goes over to Holland, 
 ' — hijiances of ahufe of the Convejiticle A61. — 
 In Chejhire^ by Peter Leicejier. — In Gloucefier- 
 Jhire, by John Meredith. — At Plymouth, by An- 
 thony Horfeman and William Tomes, Mayors. — 
 Death of William Dobfon.—Of Richard Afh^ 
 field. — Marriage of the Princefs Mary to the 
 Prince of Orange. — Violent Party Diffenfions. — 
 Perfecution continued. — Frejh Solicitation for 
 Relief 
 
 CHAP. 12*^ fhe beginning of the year 1677, while the 
 ^* roads were yet covered with fnow, George Fox 
 ^"^"y"^^ left Swarthmore, where he had moftly refided 
 Georgl'^Fox ^^^"^ ^^"^^ ^^^ rclcafe from his imprifonment at 
 haves Worcefter, and paffing over into Weftmoreland, 
 feveral friends met him at Thomas Camm*s at 
 Camfgill, to take their leave of him before he 
 left the country, where the next day he had a 
 
 very: 
 
 more.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 425 
 
 very large meeting, and was largely opened In c h a p, 
 dodrine therein. ^ ^* 
 
 From thence he proceeded on his journey, vi- ^^-^^'^^'^^ 
 fiting the meetings of his friends, and edifying ^°77- 
 them with his mmiftry, through the counties of 
 York, Derby, Nottingham, kc. palling through 
 the counties to London ; he had not yet reco- 
 vered his flrength, fmce his indifpofition at Wor- 
 cefter, fo far as to bear continual travelling, even 
 by (hort journies, without inconvenience and 
 fatigue, being aifo much deprived of reft at 
 nights by reaion of cold contracted by riding in 
 frequent rains ; but being engaged in a good 
 caufe, and depending upon divine fupport, he 
 was not difcouraged from fteadily purfuing the 
 line of his duty, and was fafely carried through all 
 attendant difficulties. i\s he had fpent near two 
 years at Svvarthmore for the recovery of his 
 health, and been little abroad amongft his friends, 
 he was received with much gladnels by friends at 
 London, where he ftayed the yearly meeting, 
 which was then approaching. 
 
 As in thofe early times moil of the bufmefs 
 of the yearly meeting was ro receive account of 
 friends fufferings, and take meafures for their 
 relief ; fo at this time accounts were received of 
 the heavy fufferings which friends in many parts 
 were expofed to (as well as by other laws en- 
 forced againil: them) by profecutions on the a<ft 
 of 23 Eliz. as popiih recufants, by which they 
 fuffered the conf.fcation of the two-thirds of 
 their eltates, whilit real recufants were little mo- 
 lefted : The parliament then fitting, a fpeclfica- 
 tion of this grievance was drawn up, and laid 
 before them, with a petition for relief ; but they 
 obtained no redrefs thereby. The meetings how- 
 ever
 
 426 H I S T O R Y ov THs 
 
 CHAP, ever were comfortably condufted in brotherly 
 V. unity, to the mutual edification of the body af- 
 ^'—^v' — ' fembled on that occafion. 
 *^77- Soon after the yearly meeting:, George Fox, 
 
 Georpe Fox . : , ■' ^ " 
 
 and o'thers accompanied by William Penn, Robert Barclay, 
 go to Hoi- George Keith and fome others, went over to 
 Hollriiid to vifit their friends in that rep'ublick, 
 of whofe fervice there, an account may be found 
 in the procefs of this work, when we come to 
 treat of the ftate of the fociety in thefe parts. 
 
 In Chcihire we meet with a frefli evidence 
 this vear of the unrtafonable ufe made of the 
 lall a6l againft conventicles, and the invidious 
 inftancesof propcnfity of fomc magillrates to plunder the 
 contended members of this fociety. Peter Leicefter, a juf- 
 a<a. tice of peace, ading the part of an informer, 
 
 came to a meeting at the houfe of William Gan- 
 r'etei Ld-^ dy, iliut the doors, and placed a guard of fol- 
 ceiier. diers at them, while he took a lift of 'about two 
 hundred names ; fined Margaret Fox and Tho- 
 mas Docwra each 2cl. for preaching, and 20I. 
 to be levied on feveral of the aifembly for the 
 houfe they met at, befides their own particular 
 fines ; for v/hich he iffued his warrants of dif- 
 trefs, threatening the confhabies, that if they did 
 not execute them to the iitmoji he would bind them 
 to their good behaviour ; bidding them fell a cow 
 for 5j. and to take enough for themfelves. The 
 ofHcerSj thus encouraged, took away for that 
 one meeti%!^, goods and cattle to the value of 
 
 200I. from fix friends. 
 
 G|oucef;cr. Th -Qlouceiterfliire, Tohn Meredith, a juflice 
 
 Ihire, ry J. r 1 v r i* i i • r ir i r i 
 
 Aieredith. oi tue peace, lignahzed himlelr by nercely pro- 
 fecuting friends : He caufed twenty-feven of 
 them to be indided at Gloucefter feiTions, for ab- 
 fence from the national wcrihip, though he knew 
 
 that
 
 PEOPLE CALLr.D QJJAKERS. , 427 
 
 that moft of them had deeply fuffered before c h a p. 
 by the a6t againit conventicles : He arbitrarily v. 
 required of Henry Pontin and Nathaniel '^■^"v^^ 
 Heikins fureties for their good behaviour, when *^77* 
 no complaint was made againfl them, and kept 
 them in prilon three months ; after which he in- 
 dicted them at the fefiions for meetings, and 
 had them fined 40I. each, and continued in 
 prifon : He beat William Bennet and William 
 Wade unmercifully with his own hands : lie 
 took John Selcock by the hair of the head, and 
 plucked him out of the meeting-houfe at French- 
 hav, into the yard ; then drew his knife, and 
 faid he would mark him, but was prevented by 
 the interpofition of his clerk and others : He 
 drew his knife at George Peace, and p"obabIy 
 had done him mifchief had not one of his own 
 fervants refirained him : He plucked John Bawn 
 out of a- meeting by the hair of his head, and 
 after that finding him in the highway, he fell 
 upon him, and beat him barbaroully : He alfo 
 beat John Fryar and Jofeph Glover, two officers, 
 becaufe they would not abufe people as mucli as 
 he would have theni. When Samuel Simmons, 
 being wrongfully fined, appealed to him for 
 -juflice, he fell furiouHy upon him and beat him 
 inhumanly: He alfo caufed the forms and benches 
 of the meeting-houfe to be cut in pieces ; and 
 with his datf broke five glafs windovvs to pieces, 
 not leaving one whole quarry. >, 
 
 At Plymouth, on the 5th of the 2d month ^tPiy- 
 called April, Andrew Horfeman, mayor, with Xn'^reV^ 
 three other juflices, and conllables attending Horfeman, 
 them, forcibly difperfed the meeting, and . fined "^"^^ °'^' 
 Richard Samble 20I. for preaching. On the 7th 
 ©f the fame month, the firll of the week, the 
 
 piayor
 
 J^ll 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, mayor and two other juftices took the names 
 V. of thcfe who were met, haled them into the 
 ^— "v-*-^ ftreet, fet a guard at the mceting-houfe door to 
 i*^??'' keep them out, detained Richard Samble until 
 evening, and then fined him 40L for preaching. 
 From that day forward they were kept out of 
 their meeting-houfe, and obliged to meet in the 
 ftreet, until the 29th of September followingj 
 an<iwii- v;hen another mayor, William Tomes, entered 
 iiamTomes. yp^j^ officc. Thc ncxt duv they met peaceably 
 in the houfe ; but afterwards this mayor follow- 
 ed the example of his predecelTor, and kept them 
 out, and they affembled in the open ftreet thre« 
 times in a week, enduring the extremity of cold, 
 and inclemency of the weather all the winter ; 
 abufck"' by the rabble of the people, and fome- 
 times by the ofHcers and foldiers of the garri- 
 fon, who threw fquibs of fire and hot burning 
 coals upon them, puftiing them up and down the 
 ftreet, and bedaubing them v/ith filthy excre- 
 ments ; all which and much more they endured 
 w ith unwearied patience for the fpace of more 
 than twelve months. Several warrants alfo were 
 granted for diftraining their goods, by one of 
 which the conftables forcibly entered the ftiop of 
 Robert Gary, and took away from him fugars 
 and ftrong waters to the value of 24I. all which 
 they fold for 4I. 13s. In many other parts the 
 members of this fociety were treated with no 
 lefs feverity : but it vv^ould be difagreeably tedi- 
 ous to give a detail of every particular. 
 Death of ^This year William Dobfon of Brightwell in 
 ibobioa Eerkfhire died a prifoner for his confcientious 
 tcilimony a^ainft the payment of tithes, upon 
 
 « Befie. Sewel 
 
 which
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 429 
 
 which account he had been a remarkable fuf- chap. 
 ferer, having been fpoiled of his goods from v. 
 time to time, during the fpace of thirteen years, ^-— v-^-' 
 and mofl of the time a prifoner. For tiihes of ^'^77« 
 the value of about 4I. los. He had goods taken 
 from him vi^orth 40I. he was imprifoned the fuc- 
 ceeding year at Reading, and removed thence 
 to the fleet in London, where he lay a confide- 
 rable time ; and lailly he was profecuted in the 
 Exchequer, and committed to prifon in Septem- 
 ber, 1675, and kept there until he died in the 
 third month called May this year. He had alfo 
 taken from him by Ralph Whilller, his profe- 
 cutor, goods worth 156I. for five or fix years 
 tithes of a farm, the yearly value of which tithe 
 had been formerly eflimated at no more than 
 
 4^- . . . 
 
 '^This year died alfo in Newgate, Richard Afh- Death of 
 
 field of Stanes in Middlefex, of whom his wi- J^Jj'j-^J,^ 
 
 dow gave the following account : 
 
 " After my dear huiband Richard Afhfield 
 
 " was convinced of the bleifed truth, as it is 
 
 " in Jefus, he was often profecuted, by excom- 
 
 " munications and feffions procefs, for non-con- 
 
 " formity ; and in obedience to the command " 
 
 " of Chrill, refufmg to take the oaths, was fe- 
 
 *' veral times imprifoned, on which account he 
 
 '* alfo fuifered a year's imprifonment in 166^. 
 
 " In the year 1676 he was again excommuni- 
 
 *' Gated for non-conformity, and refufmg to pay 
 
 church rates (fo called.) Ey the vehement 
 
 inftigation of Edv/ard Kempfiiali, a writ of 
 
 capias was ferved on him, and he carried to 
 
 ^* Newgate in the nth month, 16/6, to the 
 
 " great 
 
 £( 
 
 «(
 
 43» 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP." great grkf of many honefl people, who wept 
 
 V. " when they took their leaves of him, it being 
 
 ^^-^'y^^ « then a very cold feafon, and he aged about 
 
 1677. « fixty-five years, and much troubled with a 
 
 " cough and phthific ; this, to ufe his own 
 
 " words on his dying bed, was the occafion of 
 
 " Jhortening his days. On the nth of the loth 
 
 " month, 1677, he laid down his head, and re- 
 
 " figned his foul and fpirit in perfed peace and 
 
 " joy of the Lord, into the hands of his faith- 
 
 " ful Creator." 
 
 The nation in general appeared entirely difla- 
 tisfied with the government. The parliament 
 was divided into two parties, the court and the 
 country ; fome were inlifted into the court-party 
 by offices ; fome by penfions, and fome by in- 
 clination. Ihefe who were for fupporting the 
 meafures of the court, were now fanguine for 
 enforcing penal laws againft non-conformifts. 
 The moft active juftices were of this party, and 
 in the execution of ihe lav/s feem to have con- 
 fidered the difpofition and mandates of the court 
 as the principal rule of aftion, without giving 
 much attention to the fuperior rule of right and 
 equity. The country party, backed by popular 
 favour, had got the afcendency in the houfe of 
 commons, and carried an addrefs to the king, 
 difapproving of his attachment to France, and 
 requeuing him to enter into an alliance with 
 Holland, which he refented as an invafion of 
 his prerogative, and ordered them to adjourn. 
 Marnagcof Howcvcr being fenfible that violent difcon- 
 thc Princeis teuts prevailed in the nation, and feemed daily 
 Sc'of ' encreafmg, he refolved by a popular aft to^ at- 
 Grunge, tempt allaying the ill humour, v/hich his mifta- 
 ken politics had produced, by marrying the 
 
 Princefs
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 431 
 
 Prlncefs Mary, eldcfl daughter of the Duke of CHAP. 
 York, (whom he had caufed to be educated in v. 
 the proteilant religion) to the Prince of Orange, ^'^ — ^r-^ 
 afterwards King Wilham III. whereby a founda- ^^77- 
 tion was laid for the prefervation of the protef- 
 tant Religion, and an exemption of the diffen- 
 ters from the penalties to which they were now 
 fubjecl. 
 
 This year alfo died Archbifiiop Sheldon, a de- 
 termined enemy to non-conformity, and a prin- 
 cipal promoter of the penal laws of this reign, 
 and of their rigorous execution. He was fuc- 
 ceeded by Bancroft, who feemed on fome occa- / • 
 fions too m.uch to copy after the fpirit of his 
 predecelfor. George Whitehead gives account 
 of a conference which he and William Crouch 
 had with this lalf named prelate, in relation to 
 the great fuffcrings of their friends by informers ; 
 that defcribing the infamy of their charafters and 
 condud ; how numbers of them had forfworn 
 t he?nf elves ^ and defcrved to be indicted for per' 
 jury ; adding, what a dishonour it was to their 
 church to employ fuch agents ; to force confor- 
 mity by plunder ; and how oppofite to the na- 
 ture and defign of religion to give encourage- 
 ment to villainy. Inflcad of condemning and . 
 giving expettation of difcouraging their vile ' 
 praftices ; he feemed rather to apologize by his 
 reply, which was that, tbere muji be fome crooked 
 timber ufed in building a fbip> Upon which 
 George Whitehead aptly remarked, that the pa- 
 rallel was by no means jud : Crooked timber is 
 mofl: ufeful ill building a fliip ; but vicious charac- 
 ters are fo far from being of ufe in building the 
 church of Chrift, that they have no place there- 
 in. What church is it (faith he) which is in 
 
 danger
 
 432 
 
 HISTOE.Y OP THE 
 
 CHAP, danger (as the cry is) when it wants fuch 
 V. crooked timber as rapacious informers to fup- 
 
 '^-—v — -t port it ? 
 1678. Plenipotentiaries from the different ftates at 
 ■war being convened at Nimeguen this year to 
 treat of a peace, which after fome time took 
 place, Robert Barclay wrote an epiflle to them 
 in Latin, containing an exhortation to promote 
 the delirable end of their meeting, and there- 
 with fent his apology in Latin, to be delivered 
 one to each of the faid plenipotentiaries, and 
 one for each of their principals. 
 
 violent From this time to the end of the king's reign, 
 
 fcnuonsf" P^Tty hcats grew more and more violent ; plots 
 real or fictitious profecuted with acrimony by the 
 oppofite parties ; a fpirit of intrigue and hofli- 
 lity influencing both court and country ; conti- 
 nual diffenfions between the king and parlia- 
 ment, both ftruggling for power, which both 
 carried too far ; furious fallies of rage and re- 
 venge, to the almoft entire extirpation of tem- 
 per, found judgment, wifdom and juflice ; pri- 
 vate animofites and public confufion deform the 
 hiftory of the latter years of this reign. In the 
 mean time the diffenters in general and friends 
 in particular felt the hand of perfecution heavier 
 
 Ferfectition than ever ; the penal laws being in full force, 
 and the execution of them in the hands of their 
 inveterate enemies, whofe liatred was new edged 
 by this temper of the times ; for although the 
 fociety attached themfelves to no particular par- 
 ty, yet the parliament's taking their fevere fuf- 
 ferings under deliberation, efpecially thofe in- 
 Hided on them as popifh recufants, and intend- 
 ing their relief, was a fufficient reafon to magi- 
 
 ftrates-
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 433 
 
 ftrates fubfervient to the court; as well as to the c h a p. 
 
 court, bilhops and clergy to confider them of v. 
 
 the oppofite fide, and treat them accordingly. v.-^^v^ 
 
 1678. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Frejh Solicitation for relief of Friends. — Difco- 
 very of the Popijh Plot, — Roger Longworth 
 committed to Prifon under pretext of being a 
 concealed Papift, — Privately dif charged. — Sue- 
 cej/i've Dif appointments in the hale of di/lrain- 
 ed Cattle. — Account of Jfaac Pennington. — Par- 
 liament dijfolved, — New Parliament fummon- 
 ed» 
 
 George Fox, after his return from Holland, c hap. 
 and vifiting the meetmgs of his friends in va- ^^* 
 rious parts of England, came to London dur- ' ^'"**^ 
 ing the fitting of the parliament laft year, and p^^^j^^J,:^ 
 found his friends there engaged in frelh folicita- citation for 
 tions to them for relief from profecutions by the*"^''*"^' 
 laws made only againft popifh recufants ; which 
 although they were well known not to be, yet 
 feveral malicious magi ftrates took the advantage 
 thereof, to profecute friends with feverity upon 
 thefe ftatutes. George Fox, upon his arrival, 
 joined thefe friends in their application, but a * 
 
 fudden prorogation put a flop to their proceed- 
 Vql. IL E e ings
 
 434 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Ings at that time. When the parliament met a- 
 VI. gain, George Fox, WiUiam Penn, George 
 *-^v~^ Whitehead and others, renewed their apphca- 
 1678. tion for exempting their friends from the fevere 
 penakies of thefe obfolete laws, which were ne- 
 ver intended againfl them ; and they conceived 
 fome hopes of rehef, many of the members ma- 
 nifelling a tender andcompaiTionate regard toward 
 them, and a difpofition to reheve them, as be- 
 ing convinced they fuiFered grievoufly and very 
 unjullly, and that they were much mifreprefent- 
 ed by their adverfaries. 
 Difcovcry g^j; f^g attention of the parHament was foon 
 pifii^pio^ called off to a fubjeO: of greater emergency, or 
 fuch as they looked upon in that light : It was 
 about this time a difcovery was made of that 
 called the popifh plot. When the parliament 
 met, they made inquiry into the matter, and vot- 
 ed their fenfe, " that there was a damnable 
 hellilh plot contrived and carried on by po- 
 piih recufants agalnft the life of the king and 
 the proteilant religion." Whatever objec- 
 tions may be advanced to the characters and 
 credibility of the witneffes, as to many circum- 
 ilances of this plot, yet it foon appeared that 
 vvhilil the peaceable fociety of the Quakers, in 
 common with other diffenters, were perfccuted 
 under pretence of being feditious, riotous, con- 
 trivers of plots in their religious aifemblies, 
 "without the lealt caufe, and fubjected to the pe- 
 nalties of laws made againft popifh recufants, 
 from whom their principles were mofl; remote ; 
 and while the church (fo called) was raifmg a 
 cry of its danger from the increafe of feclaries ; 
 that its real danger arofe from this party, who, 
 under the favour and proteftion of the court, 
 
 were 
 
 66
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 435 
 
 were meditating, and fanguine In their hopes, chap. 
 to re-eftablifh themfelves and their religion In vi. 
 England in its full power and fplendor. To the ^-^^v""^ 
 fenfe of their danger the eftablifhed church at ^^78» 
 length began to be awakened ; and after a feries 
 of opprelhon and perfecution in the exercife of 
 the power in their hands, which they fondly- 
 thought they were eftabliihing, in the humbling 
 of their ahtagonllls, they had the mortification 
 to find they had been only tools to advance the 
 views and hopes of this party, in dividing and 
 weakening the proteitant intereft ; and upon the 
 difcovery, the moderate part were inclined to 
 coalefce with the dilienters, in oppofition to the 
 eftabllfhment of popery, when it had hke to 
 have been too late. 
 
 But the magiftrates, who were of the high- 
 church party, retained their malignity to dif- 
 fenters, until their hands were manacled by 
 law. Informers were encouraged to hunt after 
 their prey, and the juftices as ready to convict, 
 as they to Inform. Profecutions by the a6:s of 
 Eliz. for 20I. a month, and the feizure of two- 
 thirds of the annual rents, were multiplied agalnft 
 the people called Quakers, as the moft expedi- 
 tious mode of impoverilhing men of eftates. 
 Advantage was taken of the alarm occafioned 
 by the rumour of the popifli plot, to encreafe 
 the rigorous perfecution of a people of oppofite 
 principles and conduQ: ; under the fpecious pre- 
 text of the neceflity, in this feafon of danger, 
 to exert additional vigilance in guarding againfl 
 feditious affemblies. And in order to turn the 
 tide of the public temper agalnlt them, and ex- 
 pofe them to the refentment and abufe of the 
 undifcerning populace, fome members, v/hofe 
 
 E c 2 refidence
 
 436 HISTORY op the 
 
 CHAP, refidence, occupations and manner of life were 
 VI. well knov;n, were imprifoned, under a pretend- 
 
 ''-"v-*^ ed fufpicion of being papiils or concealed je- 
 1678. fuits, a chara6ler which, at this feafon, was in 
 a peculiar manner the objed of popular odium 
 and averfion. 
 
 Thus, while the nation in general was in, 
 confternation at the difcoveries of the plot, ^ 
 the informers were purfuing their infamous oc- 
 cupation, to the great detriment and oppref- 
 fion of honed: men, which gave occafion to a 
 writer of that time, who publiflied many parti- 
 cular inftances of their management, to remark, 
 that, truly tJje papi/is may laugh becaufe of their 
 viSfory, now they have a latv, whereby one pro' 
 tejlant fights aga'uijl another. 
 
 Roger Longworth, of Bolton in Lancafhire, 
 occafionally travelling into Chefliire, was by two 
 officious juflices fent to prifon by the following 
 mittimus. 
 
 COM. CHESTER SS. 
 
 Roger " Forafmuch as by reafon of feveral ex- 
 
 LnSed" " preiTions, which we have, in Holme in the 
 to prifon as *' couuty of Cheftcr, heard from a ftrange per- 
 a fufrcded « fon, who calls himfelf Roger Longworth, of 
 *' Bolton in the county of Lancafter, we do 
 " fufped the faid Roger Longworth is a papift, 
 and thereupon we have tendered unto him 
 the faid Roger Longworth the oath of obe- 
 dience and the oath of fupremacy, both 
 *' which oaths the faid Roger Longworth, be- 
 ing above the age of eighteen years, hath 
 
 (C 
 
 cc 
 
 (£ 
 
 « Scwcl, 
 
 « this
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 437 
 
 <c 
 
 <c 
 
 this day refufed to take. Thefe are there- chap. 
 fore in his MajeRy*s name to command and vi. 
 require you forthwith, upon fight hereof, to '^^^'v^J 
 receive into your cullody the body of the '^78- 
 faid Roger Longworth, whom we have here- 
 with fent you, and him therein fafely keep 
 *' until the next general quarter fefiions of the 
 ** peace to be held in and for this county of 
 ** Cheller, without bail or mainprize. For fo 
 *' doing this fliall be your warrant. Given un- 
 *' der our hads and feals at Holme this 20th 
 " day of February, Anno rni Caroli fecundi, -* 
 
 *' &c. tricefimo, Annoq. Dom. 1678-9. 
 
 cc 
 
 THOMAS MANWARING, Eart. 
 
 " JEFFRY SHACKERLY, Knt." 
 
 " To the Keeper of Chefler Caflle.** 
 
 After he had been left in prifon about tv/o Privately 
 months he was fet at liberty by a private or- '^'^''^'^''S'-'^' 
 der from the faidjuflice Man waring. 
 
 In Lincolnfliire we meet with a remarkable in- 
 ftance this year, of the light in which the fpoil 
 made under the conventicle aci was looked upon 
 by many people, in the cafe of Thomas Robin- Fucccffive 
 fon of Brant-Brou?hton, who was fined by Sir ^'''•'>PP°''t 
 
 O ' .-' meat m the 
 
 Chrillopher Nevill 40I. for being at a meeting at f.iie of dif- 
 Beckingham, by whofe warrant he had taken from ([g'"^*^ "'" 
 him eighteen of his befl young Iheep, one pair of 
 fleers, four draught bullocks, and four fat bul- 
 locks; worth 44I. I IS. The four fat bullocks were 
 fold to a butcher, who, hearing on what account 
 they were taken, declined the bargain. Next 
 all the fleers and bullocks were driven to Gran- 
 tham
 
 438 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, tham market, but no body would buy them ; 
 VI. again the bullocks were fold for 27I. to one 
 *" — ^ — ^ Parker, but when he underflood, how they 
 1678. ^yej.g come by, he would not be concerned with 
 them. Then they drove the beads to Lincoln, 
 but could find no chapman, for the people, ef- 
 teeming them the fpoil of confcience, would 
 not buy them. At length the conftable drove 
 them all to Sir Chriftopher Nevill, by whofe 
 warrant they were taken, who, finding no pur- 
 chafer, and being unwilling to take them him- 
 felf, reftored them to the owner ; for although 
 he might think himfelf obliged by the duty of 
 his office, and to avoid the penalty, to execute 
 the law, he appears different from many other 
 jullices of this age, to have been a man of too 
 much honour, to feek his own advantage by the 
 lofs of his neighbours. The chief promoter of 
 this profecution was John Chappie, priefl: of 
 Brant-Broughton, who perceiving the conftable 
 not forward in making diftrelTes, and breaking 
 up meetings, fent him the before recited tnenacing 
 letter*. 
 Remark Bv fuch means the pariih officers were fome- 
 
 imerfercnce ^^^^^^ impelled to act againft their inclination, 
 of priefts. the priefts exciting the juftices to punifli by fines 
 and imprifonment for neg.led of duty, fuch of 
 them whofe moderation and humanity rendered 
 them relutlant to profecute or plunder their con- 
 fcientious neighbours. The repeated inftances 
 of fuch bufy interference of priefts, in promot- 
 ing the execution of thefe penal laws, leave no 
 room to doubt, that, notwithftanding the en- 
 deavours ufed to exculpate the church, by 
 
 See note, page 302. 
 
 throwing
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKER 439 
 
 throwing the odium of thofe perfecuting laws c h a i>. 
 on the parliament, who enacted them, the clergy vi. 
 were deeply concerned, both in tlie promotion * — >^""*-' 
 of thefe laws, and the fevere execution there- 
 of. ' -; -. j^^^ 
 
 In this year Ifaac Pennington, of Chalfont in Accomitof 
 Buckinghamfhire, an honorable, ufeful and vir- 'l^^'" ^••■»- 
 tuous member or tnis lociety, departed this lire. 
 He was the elded fon of Alderman Pennington 
 of London, a noted member of the long parlia- 
 ment, who! was nominated (but never fat) a- 
 mongll the King's judges. And being heir to a 
 a fair inheritance, his education was fuited to 
 his quality and expedations in life, having all 
 the advantages which the fchools and uoiverhties 
 of his own country afforded him ; and by his 
 ftation in life at that time had the additional ad- 
 vantage of improving himfelf in the converfation 
 of fome of the mod knowing and mod confi- 
 derabie men of the age: His natural abilities 
 enabled him to avail himfelf of thefe advantages ; 
 being a man of quick apprchenfion, an acute 
 genius, found judgment and good underdand- 
 ing. His difpofition was mild and affable, free 
 from pride and affectation ; his common conver- 
 fation cheerful but guarded ; equally diveded of 
 morofenefs and levity; tempering eafy affability 
 with ferious gravity, he was no ieis pieafing in the 
 manner, than indructive in the matter, of his 
 difcourfe. 
 
 His father's dation in public employments, 
 and his rank in life, opened him a fair profpe6t 
 of worldly greatnefs, if his views had been turn- 
 ed that way ; but actuated by higher and nobler 
 confiderations, he was induced to relinquiih the 
 ihort-lived glories of this world, as unworthy to 
 
 engage
 
 44« 
 
 HISTORY OF THS 
 
 CHAP. engage the principal attention of man born to 
 VI. immortality : He fteadfaftly believed in a future 
 v.-'^v^-/ ftate ; was early imprelTed with a lively concep« 
 1679. tion of the value of everlafting happinefs there- 
 in, and early engaged in the arduous purfuit 
 thereof. With Moles he chofe rather to fuffer 
 affliftion with the Lord's people, than enjoy the 
 pleafures of fm for a feafon. 
 ifaac Pen- YoT from hls childhood he was religioufly in- 
 owf'a"-* clined, and incited in heart to a diligent fearch 
 cQunt from ^fj-gj. (-}^e ^^y {q falvation. He prayed for what 
 
 tehimony. he felt he wanted : He was frequent in reading 
 the fcriptures, and faithful in praclifmg, what 
 thereby was manifefted to his underftanding, as 
 the v/ay he was feeking after, notwithftanding 
 he met with much reproach, oppofition and 
 other trials ; for he became the wonder of his 
 kindred and familiars for his awful frame of 
 mind, and his retired life ; he much declining 
 company that might interrupt his meditations 
 and ferlous attention to the great concern of his 
 foul's well-being : Yet he found peace and ac- 
 ceptance in a life and pra£lice of fmcerity, ac- 
 cording to that degree of knowledge of the 
 divine will, which he had attained unto. 
 
 But in reading the fcriptures he perceived in 
 himfelf, and the generality of profeifed chrif- 
 tians, a great falling fliort of the power, ex- 
 perience and fpiritual attainments, the fcriptures 
 teftified to have been acquired in' former times ; 
 fo that the religion of that age, although high in 
 profeffion, appeared to him (for the mofl part) 
 but a talk, in comparifon of what was enjoyed, 
 poflelTed and lived in by the primitive be- 
 lievers. 
 
 Under
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 44* 
 
 XTnder this view he was led to feparate him- c H a p. 
 felf from the nubiic worlhip he had ufually fre- vi. 
 quented, and join a ielecl fociety,among{l whom *>— v-^-* 
 he found a good decree of fncerity, and di- ^^79* 
 vine help near them in many cafes ; but, he 
 writes, there was fomething wanting, and that 
 they fell into a miflake ; for that whilil they 
 ihould have prefied forward into the fpirit and 
 power of godlinefs, they ran too much outward 
 into the letter and form ; in confequence wher-.of 
 they became darkened in their minds, and con- 
 ful?on and a difiolution fucceeded. 
 
 Being now left alone, and conne£led with no ^ 
 vifible fociety, in a ftatc of darknefs and uncer- 
 tainty, he fell under great trouble of mind for 
 a long feafon, fecretly mourning and praying to 
 the Lord night and day. At lall he met with 
 fome of the writings of the people called Qua- 
 kers, which he cafl a flight eye over, and threw 
 afide with difdain, as falling very lliort of that 
 wifdom with which, he apprehended, the living 
 faith, he was fearching after would be attended. 
 At fome di (lance of time he had the opportunitv '''i'*^'^ ^*"" 
 or convernng with lome or them : and although minufcript, 
 f to ufe his own exprellions) thev reached the life P"i^"'f'5,'i 
 of God in him, which life anfwcred their dif- teftimony, 
 courfe, and engaged his affeftionate regard to- 
 ward them, yet he feemcd to have that advan- 
 tage over them in the power of reafoning, and 
 fuperiority of underdanding, that he could not 
 but view them in a contemptuous light, as a 
 poor, weak and defpicable generation, that had 
 fome fmatterings of truth in them, and fome ho- 
 ned defires towards God, but very far off from 
 the full underflanding of his way and will. 
 
 After
 
 442 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 After a confiderable time of folitude, being 
 invited to a meeting of this people at John 
 Crook's in Bedfordfhire, he went with a fixed 
 1679. difpofition and defire of heart to receive nothing 
 Parker's 38 truth, which was not of God, nor withfland 
 tcfUmony. ^j^y thing which was. George Fox was at that 
 meeting, who, fpoke fo clearly to his ftate, in 
 expounding the myftery of iniquity, and the 
 gofpel of peace and falvation, and with fuch 
 energy, as gained his full alfent ; and from that 
 time forward he joined the people called Quakers 
 in fociety, wherein for a feafon he under- 
 went great fpiritual conflict, and much outward 
 oppofition and reproach from his father, his re- 
 lations, the people and powers of the world ; 
 vet through the virtue of that relieion which 
 he poffefied, he was ilrengthened to retain his 
 love and affection to them under all that he 
 fuffered from them. 
 
 It was in the year 1658 that he joined in com- 
 munity with this fociety, and being well prepar- 
 ed by the religious exercifes he had pafled 
 through, previous to his convincement, as well 
 as after, he focn became a very eminent and fer- 
 viceable member therein. His piety was mani- 
 fefted in his humble and reverent adoration of 
 God, and circumfpect converfation, as in his 
 prefence ; his benevolence and chriftian charity, 
 in his diligence in vifiting and adminiftring to 
 the diftrefled and afflicted in body or mind ; his 
 hofpitaiity in opening his heart and houfe for the 
 reception of the meffengers of peace and for the 
 religious meetings of his friends. Through his 
 miniftry many were converted to the truth he 
 had received, and many confirmed in it, his 
 preaching being with divine authority, in the de- 
 
 monflration
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 443 
 
 monflration of the fpirit and of power. ITe was c h a p. 
 manifeftiy endowed with the apoflolic quahfi- "vi. 
 cation of a bifliop, given to hofpitality, apt to ^""^ — ' 
 ieacb. ^^79- 
 
 His condudl and converfation were a feal to 
 his miniitry, being an excellent pattern of piety, 
 virtue and the Itrideft morality, in every rela- 
 tion and circumftance of life. In his own family 
 he ruled well, and maintained his authority, not 
 by aufterity, to which his mild temper was 
 averfe, but by an example of gravity, fteadi- 
 nefs and circumfpedion of life, joined to feafon- 
 able inftruiStions and afi'ecting exhortations to 
 godlinefs in the meeknefs of wifdom. He was 
 a moft aifeftionate hufband ; a careful and ten- 
 der father ; a mild and gentle mafter ; a fmcere 
 and faithful friend ; compaffionate and liberal to 
 the poor ; and affable and kindly difpofed to all 
 he converfed with ; ready to do good to all men, 
 and careful to injure none. .. 
 
 In this age, when virtue without conformity 
 was treated as a crime, neither his rank in life, 
 the benevolence of his difpofition, the integrity 
 of his heart, the inculpable innocence of his 
 demeanour, nor the univerfal efteem of his clia- 
 rader, had fufficient m.erit with thofe in v/hofe 
 hands the power was lodged, to exempt him 
 from the fulTerings attendant upon the prcfeffion 
 he made. His imprifonments were many, and 
 fome of them long and fevcre, which he bore 
 with great firmnefs and ferenity, being fupport- 
 ed by the teftimony of an approving heart, 
 and the conicioufneis of fuifering in a good 
 fcaufe. 
 
 HiJ
 
 444 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. His firft imprironment was In Aylefbury jail, 
 
 VI. in the year 1661 and 1662, being committed 
 
 ^'"-"'^v"^ from a meeting in his own houfc, where he was 
 
 ^679. confined feventcen v/eeks, moftly in winter, in 
 
 a cold and very incommodious room, without a 
 
 chimney ; from which hard ufage his tender 
 
 body contraded a diftemper, fo violent, that for 
 
 feveral weeks after he was not able to turn in 
 
 his bed. 
 
 His fecond imprifonment was in the fame 
 jail, for the like caufe, viz. meeting with his 
 friends for divine worfhip, where he was again 
 detained a prifoner about the fame fpace of 
 time. 
 
 He was next imprifoned with fundry other 
 friends upon an occafion, which gives us a re- 
 newed inft ance of the arbitrary temper, and il- 
 legal exertion of power of many of the juftices 
 of this age. A friend of Amerfham being to 
 be buried, feveral friends and others of the 
 neighbourhood aflembled, as ufual, to attend 
 the funeral. It happened that one Ambrofe Ben- 
 net, ajuilice of peace, accidentally riding through 
 the town, and hearing of this funeral, alighted 
 and flaid until the corpfe was carrying to the 
 grave with the company attending it in a peace- 
 able and folid manner, becoming the occafion. 
 Upon which he rufhed out of the inn, attended 
 by fome conltables and rude people, whom he 
 had gathered about him, and having his fword 
 drawn in his hand, llruck one of the foremoft 
 of the bearers with it, commanding them to fet 
 down the coffin ; but they not being forward to 
 comply with an order, for which he had no legal 
 authority, as they were in no unlawful ad: j 
 he violently pu&ed it off their fiioulders into 
 
 the
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 445 
 
 the flireet, and there left it to the annoyance chap. 
 of all paflfengers until the evening, when it was vi. 
 forcibly taken from the widow, and buried in *— ^</-^-' 
 the unconfe^rated part of the churchyard, as it ^^79' 
 is termed. 
 
 Immediately after he had throv/n down the 
 coffin he ordered the condables and rabble to 
 apprehend the company, whereupon they drag- 
 ged or drove feveral of them to the inn : Then 
 fending for another juftice to join him, they 
 picked out ten of them, of v/hich number Ifaac 
 Pennington was one, and committed them to 
 AyiefDury jail, though the jufiices or prifoners 
 could hardly tell for what. 
 
 Here they were detained until the aiTizes, dur- Timmas 
 ing which they were brought before judge Mor- Jj^^""'^'* 
 ton, who being a morofe paffionate man, treated 
 them with rude and reviling language ; but 
 would neither hear them nor their caufe, referring 
 their cafe to the judices who committed them, 
 who after the afiizcs fent for them to their inn, 
 and committed them again to prifon for one 
 month, on the aft of banifliment. 
 
 He had fcarce enjoyed his liberty more than 
 a month when he was taken out of his own houfe 
 in a manner even more arbiirary and ground- 
 lefs than before, by military force. A rude fol- 
 dier, without any other warrant than what he 
 carried in his fcabbard, took liim before Sir Phi- 
 lip Palmer, one of the deputy lieutenants of the 
 county, who fent him with a guard of foldiers 
 to Ayleibury jail, with a very unufual kind of 
 mittimus, importing that i be jailer fl^ould receive 
 and keep him in fafe cujiody during ibe plea- 
 sure OF THE Earl of Bridgewater. This 
 Earl of Bridgewater had very caufelefsly im- 
 bibed
 
 446 HISTORToFTHE 
 
 CHAP, bibed a particular antipathy to ttiis inoffenfive 
 VI. man, to that degree, that although it was the 
 
 ^-^^v^-' year of the pUigue, which had reached that 
 ^^79- town, and the jail was fuppofed to be infedted, he 
 could not be prevailed upon, by the interceffion 
 of a perfon of confiderable rank and authority 
 in the county, to permit him to remove to ano- 
 ther houfe in the town, until the jail was free 
 from infeftion : Afterwards a prifoner dying in 
 the jail of the plague, the jailer's wife, in the 
 abfence of her hufband, gave him liberty to re- 
 move into another houfe. At laft, by the inter- 
 pofition of the Earl of Ancram, he was difcharg- 
 ed, after fuffering an imprifonment of three 
 quarters of a year, at the apparent hazard of his 
 life. 
 
 But before the end of a month another party 
 of foldiers from the faid Philip Palmer, as re- 
 ported, by order of the Earl of Bridgewater, 
 came to his houfe, feized him in bed, and car- 
 ried him to the fame jail again, where without 
 any apparent caufe, or any offence objedted to 
 him, he was imprifoned in rooms fo damp and 
 unhealthy as greatly endangered his life, throw- 
 ing him into a diiteuiper in which he lay weak 
 feveral months. During his Jong confinement 
 he was never called for at the feflions or aflize, 
 but bv fome illegal means returned on the ca- 
 lendar to remain in prifon. At length being re- 
 moved by Habeas Corpus to the King's Bench 
 Bar, when he appeared there, and no caufe of 
 his imprifonment appearing, the court releafed 
 him in 1668, vaih plain indications of furprize, 
 that a man fhould be imprifoned, and fo long 
 kept in prifon, for nothing. 
 
 Laft
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 447 
 
 Lafl of all he was imprironed at Reading In c i-i a p. 
 1670. In the excrcife of chriflian charity and vi. 
 fraternal fympathy, he had come thither to vifit ^-^'^^'^^^ 
 his friends in prifon there ; and report of his '°79» 
 vifit being made to that rigid and inlplacable 
 magiflrate Sir William Armourer, he caufed him 
 to be brought before him, and committed him 
 to prifon, in company with his friends, whom 
 he came to vifit. 
 
 Here he continued a prifoner a year and three 
 quarters, being condemned in a fentence of pre- 
 munire, under which he lay, it is probable, un- 
 til releafed by the king's letters patent in the year 
 1672. 
 
 Being through divine affiflance preferved ffead- 
 fafl in the faith, through all his trials, inward 
 and outward, in a life and converfation blamelefs 
 among men, and in the faithful difcharge of a 
 good confcience in the fight of God, by a long 
 life of virtue and piety, he was well prepared 
 for his dilfolution, which happened on the 8 th 
 of the 8th month, 1679, in the fixty-third year \ , 
 of his age, at Goodneftone Court in Kent, be- 
 ing a farm belonging to his wife, where he 
 was taken ill of a fharp and painful di {temper, 
 which terminated his exiftence in the body : 
 But the anguiih of his bodily pain gave no fhock 
 to his internal peace, fo well eftablilhed before ; 
 he died, as he livedo in tlie faith that overcomes 
 the world. His body was conveyed to London, 
 and from thence to his houfe in Buckingham- 
 fhire ; from whence his funeral was attended by 
 a great number of his friends and neighbours, 
 whofe affectionate elleem, on account of his in- 
 nocent and virtuous demeanour, he had gene- 
 rally engaged, '\ 
 
 The
 
 448 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP. The jealoufies and mirtrufls which the par- 
 VI. liament, with the reft of the nation, had im- 
 
 ^*-"v~^ bibed, of th.: meafures and defigns of the court, 
 ^^79- from the time of the confederacy with France, 
 which had been encreafmg ever fmce, were well- 
 nigh blown into a flame, by their enquiry into, 
 and the evidence they received, of the popifh 
 plot. They paffed a new teft acl this year, dif- 
 abling all perfons of that religion from fitting in 
 either houfe of parliament. The Duke of York 
 with dijfficulty got himfelf exempted ; but their 
 fears of popery had made fuch impreffions on 
 the minds of the parliament, that they conceiv- 
 
 Pa'-Uament ed a dcfign to excludc the Duke from fucceffion 
 
 diflolved af- ^ i i • •n ^i • 
 
 ter fitting to thc crown, as bemg a papiit ; upon this ac- 
 cighteen couut and their fucceeding fteps in the profecu- 
 tion of Danby, the king finding the oppofition 
 in the two houfes was grown too ftrong for con- 
 troul, prorogued the parliament, and afterwards 
 dilTolved it, near eighteen years after it was 
 chofen. 
 New par- A ncw parliament was fummoned to meet 
 early this year. The king exerted his endea- 
 vours to influence the eledions, but the temper 
 of the times defeated his utmoft efforts. The 
 fears of popery fo thoroughly poffeffed the peo- 
 ple, and the jealoufy of the king and duke's 
 having a defign to introduce it, that they thought 
 the fafety of the nation depended upon the elec- 
 tion of a parliament that v.'ould have fpirit and 
 abilities to counteracft fuch pernicious pro- 
 jeds. ' The prefbyterians were ftill numerous 
 in the corporations, and are reprefented to have 
 been very active in conjunction with the anti- 
 
 * Rapin. 
 
 courtiers.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 449 
 
 courtiers, In turning the eledions agalnfl the CHAP. 
 court intereft. This conduct feems to have en- vi. 
 creafed the king's difguft againfl them and the dif- v-^^-o 
 fenters in general, and to have (liarpened the ex- ^^79' 
 ecution of the penal laws. The new parliament 
 proceeded in the defign of excluding the Duke 
 of York from the crown ; the king propofed 
 expedients to moderate their warmth, by of- 
 fering to agree to almoit anv reltridions but 
 altering the fuccellion. The coinmons, not to 
 be fatisfied with any expedients (liort of a to- 
 tal exclufion, paiTed a bill for that purpofe, 
 which the lords rejet^led by a confiderable ma- 
 jority; the bench of biihops, lefs afraid of po- 
 pery, which dignified their order, than of the pref- 
 bytery, which rejeded it entirely, were mod of 
 them on the fide of the court. 
 
 Vol. II. F f CHAP.
 
 45® 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 C ' H A P. VIL 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 Priejls of Aberdeen endeavour to Jiir up Per- 
 fe cut ion in vain. — Alexander Skein and yohn 
 Meffer convinced. — 'New Efforts of the Priejls 
 to Jiir up Perfecution, — The King's Declaration 
 of Indulgence flops their Proceedings. — Account 
 of Alexander f affray. — Public Difpute at Aber- 
 deen. — Advantage take?! of an Order of Coun- 
 cil to imprifon Friends. — The Prifoners called 
 before the Commijfioners, — Their Defence. — 
 Several fined one quarter of their valued Ef- 
 iates. — Others in different Sums of Money, 
 
 c H A p. 1 jj E priefts of Aberdeen, whofe repeated 
 
 ^^^'-' attempts to ftir up the magiflrates to perfecute 
 
 y"^ the Quakers, had been, by the moderation of 
 
 rrieas''of ^^^ latter, moftly fruftrated, continued their 
 
 Aberdeen virulcnt cndeavours to excite the civil power to 
 
 to ik'ul'^ proceed againfl ihera with rigour ; but had ftill 
 
 perfecution the mortification to meet with a difappointment 
 
 of their aim and wifhes. For upon the coming 
 
 of the judges to Aberdeen in their circuit, the 
 
 prieil Meidrum, of whofe inimical difpofition to 
 
 this
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 451 
 
 this people feveral inftances are already related, 'chap 
 in his fermon before the judges, at the opening "^i^* 
 of the court, reprefented them, in his ufual *^^ — ^ — ' 
 manner, tf J- ^/ moji dangerous and pernicious fed, lO-ji. 
 endeavouring to prepolfefs the judges, and ex- 
 cite them to exercife the utmoft feverity againft 
 them. Not fatisfied with this, he, in company 
 with his colleague, John Menzies, waited upon 
 the judges at their cham.bers, where they met 
 with the bifliop, to them they complained that 
 the magiftratco of Aberdeen had feveral rimes 
 broke up the Quakers meetings, had imprifoncd, 
 fined and even banifhed fome of them ; and yet 
 were not able to fupprefs them. Upon which 
 the judges alking, " What they would have them 
 " do farther ?'* Menzies made a propofal fo 
 cruel, that the bifhop was afhamed, and the 
 judges would return no anfwer. And when 
 fome of the faid people, who were cited, did 
 appear before them, they declined paffing any fen- 
 tence concerning them, or to give any countenance 
 to the purpofes or defigns of the prieils, which 
 they clearly faw to be malicious. 
 
 When Alexander Skein, together with John Alexander 
 Meffer, who was convinced about the fame johirMe-;- 
 time, left the communion of their church, the ^'-' "''•'''"'^- 
 four priefts of Aberdeen were greatly alarm.ed, occafioncd 
 infomuch that upon their joint folicitations the"^'-y^""* 
 bifliop convened a fub-fyncd, who met fhortly prieiisto 
 after, and drew up an addrefs to the kins^'s coun-!?"'"Pi'"'" 
 cil at JbdmDurgh, and lent two or their number 
 to prefent it, petitioning the council to take fome 
 effeclual courfe to curb and rid the land of the 
 fakers y who were encreaf.ng among them. The 
 deputies from the fynod fpared not their utmoft 
 
 » Eeile. 
 
 F f 2 endeavours
 
 452 HISTORYoFTHB 
 
 c H A P. endeavours to obtain feme frefh order from the 
 "^'11- council againft the Quakers, but met with frefh 
 ^-'^^''"^ difappointment, the council only referring them 
 *^7^- to a precedent a£t of parliament which ordained 
 that " all, who withdrew from their parifh 
 *' church, be admoniOied by the preachers before 
 *' two fufficient witnelfes, and then after three 
 " firil days abfence they be fined one eighth 
 *' of their valued rents." Returning to Aber- 
 deen, thefe deputies reported the iffae of their 
 application to the town-council, upon hearing of 
 which the provofl made this remark, " What 
 " fignifies all this ? we had this before : Take 
 ** you care to do your own work, and we fhall 
 . *' do ours.** Two of them, George Meldrum 
 and David Lyall, therefore immediately fet about 
 their part of bringing this acl into force againfl 
 this people, and were bufily engaged in per- 
 formins: their monitory office from houfe to 
 dedarL"fon houfc, when the king's declaration of indulgetice 
 ofhidui- to all non-conformijh in 1672 reached Aber- 
 theiTprX^ deen, and put a flop to their proceedings at that 
 «ecdings. time* 
 
 The faid declaration of indulgence came very 
 feafonably to prevent the execution of an aO: 
 of council, which the priefls had prevailed upon 
 the magiflrates of Aberdeen to pafs^ by which 
 tliey had refolved " that no Quaker fiiould be 
 " made a burgefs or freeman of that city," and 
 that " whofoever received a Quaker into his 
 *' houfe without leave of the magiflrate fhould 
 " be fined 5s. And that if any perfon fliould 
 " let an houfe for Quakers, either to meet or 
 " dwell in, he fliould be fined five hundred 
 *' Scotufh marks." 
 
 About
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 453 
 
 About the fame time the CHiakers in this chap. 
 kingdom received relief from futfering, in a vir. 
 -cafe wherein their brethren in other parts Vv'crc '->'v->^ 
 greatly expofed thereto, it having been the ^^7^* 
 fettled cuftom and legal practice in that nation, 
 in fuing for a debt, where proof failed, to put 
 the defendant to clear himfelf upon oath : This 
 cullom expofed the C^iakers, who could not 
 fwear in any cafe, to be made a prey by ill de- 
 figning perfons profecuting them frequently for 
 unjull claims. The judges, perceiving the ad- , • 
 
 vantage this confcientious fcruple gave their an- 
 tagonifts in fuch fuits, regarding their cafe with 
 the equity becoming their fiation, humanely de- 
 termined that a fimple declaration of the truth 
 fliould be accepted from that people in fuch 
 caufes. 
 
 The priefts of Aberdeen, difappointed in ^ 
 their vindictive endeavours againfl the living, 
 vented their fenfelefs indignation againft the 
 dead. By their infiuence on the raagidrates, 
 they procured the demolifning the walls of a 
 burying ground, which the people called Qua- 
 kers had purchafed with their own money, and 
 wherein a child had been biiried a fev/ days 
 before. The body of this child, after three 
 days interment, by order of the provoft and 
 bailiffs, was taken out of the ground, carried to 
 a village called Futtie, and interred there. But 
 an idle rumour beirg raifed among fdly people, 
 as if the Quakers had impofed upon the magi- 
 ftrates, by taking out the child's body, and fill- 
 ing the coffin with fomething elfe, they ordered 
 the coffin to be broken open, and the child's 
 body, though fo long dead, was obferved to 
 bleed. A wonderful bufmefs truly to engage 
 
 the
 
 454 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP. the attentitDii of magidracy! as it little im- 
 VII. ported to the prefervation of peace or the pub- 
 
 ^--'>' — ' lie where the remains of an innocent child was 
 1672. \.^[^^ They neverthelefs continued this unmean- 
 ing and ofFenfive praclice of removing every 
 body that was interred, until a reprefentation 
 being made to the king's council, a private 
 check was given thereto, by which a flop was 
 put to this uncommon inhumanity, and the 
 dead bodies fuffered to lie undifturbed. 
 ^673. Notwithflianding all the endeavours of the 
 priefcs to fupprefs the grov.'th of this rifmg fo- 
 ciety, and to excite the civil power to rigorous 
 meafures again (l them, to the repeated difap- 
 pointments of their defires, they had the addi- 
 tional mortification to fee feveral more of their 
 hearers falling off from them, and encreafmg 
 the number of this hated fociety. For about 
 the beginning of this year Andrew J affray and 
 feveral others of Aberdeen and parts adjacent, 
 being convinced of this people's principles, join- 
 ed themfelves to their fociety. This frefli provo- 
 cation incited the priells to renew their attempts 
 to fubje«5i: them to periecution ; by their infliga- 
 tions the provoft and other magiftrates came to 
 the meeting on the 6th of the 3d month, and 
 took the names of all prefent, both men and 
 women, fending a lift thereof by Williarn Gor- 
 don, their agent, to the king's council. He ex- 
 ecuted his ccmmiffion with the utmoft afiidu- 
 ity. But fliortly after he went from Aberdeen 
 to Leith to hear a fermon, in the time where- 
 of he Vv'as necellitated to go out, and at the end 
 thereof was found dead. 
 
 Upon
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 455 
 
 Upon the folicitations of the faid William c 11 a p. 
 'Gordon, the council fent a fummons by a mef- vii. 
 fenger to nineteen of the faid people to appear ^>^^«^-— ' 
 before them, and fined them; the feveral fines ^^"3* 
 being affigned to one Hugh Nelfon, an apothe- 
 cary in Edinburgh, -while he was bufy in a pro- 
 ■cefs at law for the recovery thereof, a proclama- 
 tion was ifllicd by the king's commifiloners and 
 council, remitting all penalties or fi^nes for non- 
 conformity, except fuch as were already paid or 
 fecured. This cleared the C^iakers, for their 
 principle prevented thsm from paying their fines, 
 or in any manner compounding for them. Thus 
 the malicious attempts of their adverfaries were 
 ftill fruftrated. 
 
 The magiflrates notwithflanding continued 
 their application to the council ; and the prielts 
 ftrenuoufly folicited Archbifhop Sharp's patro- 
 nage ; alledging that " the Quaker's fchifm v/as 
 " prejudicial to the interefl: of the church, and 
 that by ufing a feparate burying place they 
 prevented the payment of the fees cuflomary 
 on thefe occafions." But this complaint, when 
 laid before the council, was effeftuallv obviated 
 by the reprefentation of the faid people, con-" 
 cerning the inhuman pratlice of their adverfa- 
 ries in taking the dead bodies out of their graves, 
 as before related. The council, upon hearing 
 both fides, did not think proper to interpofe 
 their authority in this cafe ; fo the priefts were 
 difmifled, and returned home again, without at- 
 taining their purpofe. 
 
 This year died Alexander Jaffray of Kingf- 
 well, who was born in the city of Aberdeen, 
 where he became in procefs of time a citizen of 
 tlie firfl rank j ferved the office of cjiief magi- 
 
 llrate 

 
 4^6 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c HAP. flrate and was one of the commlffioners deputed 
 VII. to treat with Charles II. at Breda in Holland in 
 
 ^■^-v — 1650. Being religioufly inclined from his youth, 
 .^^73- he early in life departed from the religion of 
 
 moJar^" his education, and joined in fellowfhip with the 
 prefbyterians from confcientious motives; but 
 obfcrving the difference of their condu6l, when 
 the'' had wrefted the government into their own 
 Jiands, from what it appeared to him Vv^hen he 
 firit join -J with them, that inftead of that ap- 
 parent humility and detedation of perfecutidn, 
 which they feemed tr;) difcover while fuffering 
 under it from the former powers, they in rheir 
 turn alfo betrayed a fpirit of arrogance, rigid- 
 nefs and intolerance towards others, in the ex- 
 ercife of the power they had got into their 
 hands ; from the like confcientious motive he 
 left them, and went over to the independents ; 
 but their ambition, their eager grafping at pow- 
 er, and abufnig it, betraying the infmcericy of 
 their fpecious profeffion of purity in religion, 
 gave him fuch difgufl that he left them alfo. 
 And thus difcovering, in the various profellions, 
 more of the plaufible appearance, than the rea- 
 lity of pure religion, he detached himfelf for 
 fome years from joining in any religious fociety, 
 walking alone in folitary anxiety, until he heard 
 of a people ne\Vly raifed up in England, who 
 preached up the light, grace and good fpirit of 
 Chrift in their own hearts, as the mod certain 
 teacher and leader into all truth, the tidings 
 whereof gave him great joy. And after delibe- 
 rate enquiry concerning the tenets and manner 
 of life of this people, he felt his heart mucl^ 
 ppifeifed with fentiments in their favour.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 457 
 
 In this difpofitlon of mind he heard William chap. 
 Dewlbury, by means of whole miniftry and vii. 
 converfation, being more fully fatisfied that the '^— v-*^ 
 praftice of this people correfponded with their ^673. 
 profeflion, as their principles did with truth, he 
 joined them in fociety, which nothirig lliort of 
 real conviction of the reftitude of their princi- 
 ples and pra6lice, and a perfuafion of duty could 
 have prevailed with him to do, in a time and 
 place where he was held in high repute and ef- 
 tecin, and this people in as great contempt and 
 (through mifreprefentation) in difrepute. So 
 that in joining them his fmcerity was put to a fe- 
 vere trial, it being a crofs even as bitter as 
 death : Yet for the prefcrving iiivioiate the tef- 
 timony of a good confcience, he was indued 
 with fortitude to relinquifh his power, honour 
 and repute, pcifeirions of high eftimation a- 
 mongfl men, for fuilerings, contempt and per- 
 fecution, in order to eribrace truth, and pro- 
 cure lafting peace to his inind. 
 
 Kis defection from them alarmed and exaf- 
 perated the priePts, v/ho were aimoft inceflant 
 in their endeavours to excite the magiftrates to 
 exert their authoritv to reprefs this rifmn- fe£l ; 
 the rank he had before held in their city, and 
 in their eltimation, did not exempt him from 
 his (hare in the fuiferings to Vv'hich this people 
 was expofed at that tim.e ; but he flood faith- 
 ful to his teilimony to the laft, and valiantly 
 contended for the truth he profefled, in fundry 
 conferences with the bifaop of Aberdeen, and 
 the preachers of that city. 
 
 He was taken fick the latter end of the 4tli 
 month, 1673, and during his ficknefs expreil'ed 
 ^' his joy and comfort in that trying feafon, 
 
 " that
 
 
 458. HISTORY or the 
 
 CHAP.*' that he had been counted worthy to bear tef- 
 VII. " timony to, and fufFcf for the precious tefti- 
 '^ — N-' — ' " mony of Clirill's inward appearance, by his 
 ^^7S- " light, grace and good ii^irit, Which convinceth 
 " of fin, and that it was and would be the con- 
 demnation of many, particularly of the pro- 
 feffors, that they had flighted, defpifed and 
 *' hated the light, and the witneiies thereunto.** 
 He alfo left this prediction among his friends, 
 that a winnowing and trying time was coming 
 among them, whereby hypocrites ihould be dif- 
 covered and made manifeft, but that a faithful 
 remnant fuould be preferved, and brought 
 through the fiery trial. This was judged to 
 be plainly verified in the fuiferings, which with- 
 in three years happened to the faid people at 
 Aberdeen. He fignihed that the fling of death 
 was taken away ; being, through his mercy 
 who loved him, made eafy to him, as a defira- 
 bie paffage to a better ftate : A little before his 
 departure, his expreiliohs and the comfortable 
 • frame of his mind, exprefiive of his lively hope, 
 under the feeling of divine goodnefs, owning 
 and fupporting him in his lafl moments, greatly 
 aileiSted ihofe who were prefent, and foon, by a 
 very eafy paiTage, he was removed out of this 
 life, and laid down his head in full alTurance of 
 a glorious immortality. 
 i(i7c. On the 14th of the 2d month, 1675, a pub- 
 FtiWicmf- lie diipute was held at Aberdeen between Ro- 
 S'rdcen. hcrt Barclay and George Keith on one part, 
 and feme fludents of divinity, fo called, on the 
 other : The occalion whereof was this, Robert 
 Barclay, in order to refcue the fociety, of which 
 he was become a member, from the odium un- 
 der which they lay, through mifrcprefentations 
 
 of
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 459 
 
 of their principles fr-m the pulpits, as errone-c hap. 
 ous and heretical, puhliihed his Thefes, which vii. 
 were the groundwork of his apology, giving a ^--''"^■'^^ 
 brief and plain account of the principles of the ^^''S- 
 faid people, that the public might have a fair 
 opportunity of confidering thofe principles can- 
 didly in themfelves, and not under the veil of 
 mifreprefentation, in which they were drelTed 
 by adverfaries ; at the end of which he made a 
 propofaK offering to defend thefe principles in 
 thofe places, where they had been fo mifrepre- 
 lented, and againft thofe perfons who had fo 
 often traduced them. But none of thefe, viz. 
 the public preachers, choofing to accept the pro- 
 pofal, as beneath them to concern themfelves 
 therein, that is, by a fober and fair dIfcuiTion of 
 thefe principles to iufcrm themfelves v/hat they 
 really were, although it was not beneath them to 
 mifreprefent them unknown, and vilify thofe who 
 profeffed them behind their backs, where they 
 could have no proper opportunity to vindicate 
 themfelves. Therefore this method feems to 
 have been pitched upon, to fele6t fome from a- 
 mong the Itudents, to take up the caufe, as of 
 themfelves, that if the Quakers Ihould have the 
 advantage, the confequence would be immaterial, 
 in a conteft with young men. The Quakers 
 were under no obligation to join iffue with thefe 
 youths, as it was not to them, but to the public 
 preachers, who propagated the mifreprefenta- 
 tions, the propofal was made. But as they were 
 not afraid of meeting the greatelt and ablefh of 
 their preachers, fo the truth, they thought, led 
 them not to defpife any, who might be inclined 
 to treat with them on the reafon of their hope, 
 svith the fobriety becoming the ferioufnefs of the 
 
 fubjecta
 
 46o H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. fubje6t. The difpute was accordingly held; but 
 VII. terminated, as fuch difputes generally do, in 
 
 ^-^■^/-^^ tumult and diforder, the fmdents handling fe- 
 ^^75- rious fubjeds with unbecoming levity, and vainly- 
 triumphing in a viftory they had not obtained ; 
 but having numbers on their fide, ufed clamour 
 and pcrfonai abufe, by v/ounding them with clods 
 and ftones, arguments too hard for them to with- 
 (land, finiilied the debate for that time. But 
 the refult proved on which fide the advantage 
 lay, for four of the {Indents prefent, but not 
 difputants, were at that time fo fully convinced 
 of the reafonablenefs of the Quakers principles, 
 that they joined them in fociety. 
 1676. * The council at Edinburgh having iffued a 
 declaration, reinforcing former ads of parliament 
 
 * The Duke of Landerdale, one of Charles's minifters 
 diftinguillied by the name of T/ie Cabal, a man reprefented as 
 tyrannical, vindittive and implacable, was at this time veil- 
 ed with the charafter and the power of king's commif- 
 fioner, in which capacity he conduced hinifelf with arbi- 
 trary fway, and influenced the parliament to pafs two a6b, 
 which were of the utmoft confequence to the civil and reli- 
 gious libe'^ties of the kingdom. By the one, it was declared, 
 that the fettling all things with regard to the external go- 
 vernment in the church was in the crown. That whatever 
 related to ecciefiaftical meetings, matters and perfons, were 
 to be ordered according to fuch directions, as the king (liould 
 fend to his privy council : And that thefe being publiihed by 
 them f.iould have the force of laws. The other adt related 
 ro the militia. Lauderdale by degrees became abfolute mi- 
 nifier in Scotland, and in 1670 had a fevere law enafted a- 
 gainft conventicles. Ruinous fines were impofed both on the 
 preachers and hearers in meetings held in houfes ; but field 
 conventicles were fubjeded to the penalty of death and 
 confifcation of goods. It is to be obferved by thefe conven- 
 ticle^ v/ere principally meant the covenanters, and that the 
 Quakers (vv^ho were an inconfiderable number) did not ef- 
 teem themlelves included. Hume, 
 
 againft
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 461 
 
 againft: conventicles, and recommended the ex- chap. 
 ecution to the fheriifs and magiftrates cf cor- vii. 
 porations, although the proclamation was ex- ^-^v—^ 
 prefsly relative to luch as were outlawed by the., i^?"^-. 
 council ; yet the priefls and rulers of 'Aberdeen r,ri;cs of ' 
 made an handle thereof to opprefs the Quakers, '\ij':'"'^f a 
 
 , 1 r iT ' take adviiti- 
 
 whom they well knew to be none or the per- ta^-c of 
 
 aa 
 
 of 
 
 fons mtended thercm. So raih and precipitate ., 
 
 , . ,. , f 111. council to 
 
 was tneir malice, that as loon as they had m- impriibn 
 formation cf the council's declaration they had j^'^^.j^^* 
 not patience to wait for the regular notification 
 thereof; but before it came into their hands, or 
 was proclaimed at Aberdeen, they took from 
 the meeting there, on the 12 th of the month 
 called March, twelve of the members, and com- 
 mitted them to prifon in the new Tolbooth ; and 
 continued the like pradice from time to time - 
 afterwards for the fpace of two months, by 
 which time they had encreafed the number of 
 prifoners to thirty-four. 
 
 After fome time the prifoners received a fum- The pri- 
 mons to appear before the Earl of Arrol, the |i'J^|;^'=j^^^''='^ 
 Earl Marfnal, and Sir John Keith, three of the commim- 
 privy council appointed commilhoners to put 
 in execution the acls of parliament made againfl 
 the keeping conventicles, before whom being 
 called accordingly, a long libel was exhibited 
 againft them, reciting the heads of the a<3:s of 
 the parliament convened the i8th of June 1670 
 againft conventicles and withdrawing from the 
 public worfhip. The libel being read, was to 
 be enforced by Patrick Hay fthe only lawyer 
 who could be procured to plead againft them) 
 but his oratory failing him, his pica was confin- 
 ed to this brief query, who gave yoii ^cave to 
 
 preacb f 
 
 IS 
 
 oners.
 
 4<52 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A V. preach? wliich, for want of pertinent matter, he 
 vn* repeated feveral times over. 
 
 ^'-'''"'^'^^ The witnefles produced againfl the prifoners 
 *67o. were partly divinity fludents of Aberdeen, who 
 came io. their meetings on purpofe to inform a- 
 gainll them, and partly the miigiflrates who 
 took ihem into cullody, Againit borh thefe 
 David Barclay objected, as infutficient evidence ; 
 the former as parties in the crime, and as having 
 manifefted themfelves to be prejudiced perfons 
 by a late publication, wherein they had malici- 
 oully and unjuftly accufed them of blafphemy 
 and treafon ; and the latter as being thofe who 
 put the law in execution, and therefore ought 
 not to be accufers in the fame caufe. The com- 
 miffioners however over-ruled thefe objedlions, 
 and accepted the evidence of thofe witneffes. 
 
 defence"' "^^^ prifoners in confequence exhibited their 
 defence in writing to the court ; fignifying that 
 they apprehended themfelves not to be compre- 
 hended in ihe a6ls recited in the libel, as not 
 falling under the defcription of thofe intended 
 by the act ; the reafon all;gned for which being 
 to prevent fediti^n and rcbellicn, and for that 
 part which prohibits field conventicles, becaufe 
 they are termed a rendezvous of rebellion, tend- 
 ing in an high meafure to the disturbance of the 
 public peace, did not comprehend them, v/ho 
 are a peaceable people in principle and practice ; 
 that they were well informed that when The acl 
 was framing, enquiry was made whether the 
 fakers were to be comprehended in the ad: f And 
 that the * Duke of Lauderdale faid, // zvas only 
 
 is 
 
 •While tbis appears ns an Inftance of that abfoliit? fwa^ 
 which the Duke ot Lauderdale had eftablimed to himfelf in 
 
 Scottar.d,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 463 
 
 io curb the prepyferia?u in the ivejl. Thut the C H A P. 
 king's council did never execute any of the vn. 
 faid ads againit any of their friends in that '^-— v-^ 
 city; nor in any place in the fouth and weft of '^7*5- 
 Scothind, where there v/ere frequent meetings 
 of their friends in feveral places, which had 
 been held unmolelled ever lince the acts were 
 made. That although feveral of their friends 
 were apprehended and imprifoned upon the if- 
 fuing of the late proclamation, yet they were 
 fet at liberty a few days after, upon lurety to 
 appear w^hen called for, and have ever fmce 
 kept their meetings, in Edinburp;h particularly, 
 without being called in queftion by the coimcil ; 
 that they prefumed therefore they would meet 
 with no other meafure from the king's council 
 there. That the magiftrates of Aberdeen had 
 kept them near three months in prifon, without 
 proper authority from any a6t of parliament 
 cited or proclaimed fmce, of which illegal re- 
 ftraint they hope the king's counfellors will take 
 notice, and prevent the like for the future. That 
 their meetings have no tendency to fedition, 
 
 Scotland, over a parliament which was fo abjeft as to frame 
 and model their adts at his nod, and adapt them rather 
 to his will and pleafure than the public good, it may appear 
 perhaps alfo, as if the Quakers, to fave themfelves, were 
 pointing out thefe prelbyterians as proper objeds of perfc- 
 eution : But it is certain they were enemies to perfecution '\r\ 
 every fliape, againil others as well as themfelves ; and al- 
 though they thought it hard, and not without reafon, that 
 they were not only puniflied by laws made againft them, 
 but alfo by laws never meant againil them ; yet they fre- 
 quently declared that they envied none the liberty they en- 
 joyed, nor wanted the penal laws to be turned againft any ; 
 but wliTied to all tlie full erxjoymer.t of liberty of con- 
 fci«nce. 
 
 rebellion.
 
 4^4 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, rebellion or violence ; but are held merely out 
 VII- of duty to God, who had forbidden them to 
 ^— ■>''**-' forfake the ajfcmbling themfelves together ; had 
 1676. commanded them to ftand fleadfail in the li- 
 berty wherewith Chrifl had fet them free, and 
 to prav everyzvhere. It was from confcieiitious 
 perfuafion alone that they durd not forfake 
 their meetings, and not out of any contempt 
 of authority. 
 
 After an hour or two fpent by the court in 
 deliberation on this defence, the priloners, who 
 had been ordered to witlidraw, being called 
 one by one, were feveraliy afKed, whether they 
 iDOidd oblige therjdves not to go any more to meet- 
 ings^ which every one of them refafing to do, 
 thev were airain ordered to withdraw, and after 
 fome time being called again, the fentence or 
 Several fin- jhe court v/as read to them, whereby David Bar- 
 founh'of clay, Alexander Gellie, Robert Burnet, Alex- 
 their valued jjp^Jj^j. Harper,. Alexander Skein, Andrew Jaf- 
 fray and Alexander Forbes were nned each in 
 one-fourth of their refpefi:ive valued rents for 
 their own keeping conventicles, and an eighth 
 part of their faid valued rents each for with- 
 dravv^ing from the public v/orfhip. Alfo the faid 
 Andrew j affray, Alexander Skein, and Alexan- 
 der Harper to pay an eighth part for their wives* 
 tranfgreliions, conformable to the tenour of the 
 aft of parliament. And the following, not be- 
 S^n" ffe^ i^g landed perfons, were fined in the following 
 rentiunis fums, Andrew Galloway, Thomas Mills and 
 money. Q.gQj-g,. j^^jj-j^ 30I. cach J William Sparke 40I. ; 
 James Forbes 25I. and the reft twenty marks 
 a-piece. And over and above, John Skein and 
 George Keith, becaufe they were found to have 
 
 preached
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 46^ 
 
 preached and prayed at thefe meetings, were toe H a p. 
 find caution, under pain of five thoufand marks, vii. 
 not to do the like hereafter, or ena6l themfelves ^^-^^^'^ 
 to move out of the kingdom, conform to the *^7^« 
 tenour of the a£t. And all to remain in prifon, 
 until they make payment of their refpedive 
 fines. 
 
 The fentence being read, the prifoners were 
 remanded into prifon, where their number was 
 encreafed by the repeated imprifonment of others 
 of their friends, from their religious meetings. 
 While they were kept here under clofe confine- 
 ment, fome of them were concerned at times 
 to preach to the people, who would come up 
 to the windows of the prifon to hear them ; but 
 the magiflrates of Aberdeen, to prevent this, 
 and to incommode the prifoners, caufed the 
 windows to be nailed up for a whole week to- 
 gether, and alfo removed feveral of them into 
 the higher prifon. 
 
 ib3300-ta 
 
 Voi, II, <^ g CHAP, 
 
 .>/i!.i,'f!
 
 '> :: T 
 
 466 H I S TO R Y OP TUB 
 
 .^;h5/T: h . vA to 0?.. . iu tnohus^o L:ui 
 
 •:/,]> .:>: ^iiiob^aiil V:.' \ ; tf/o 5>vorn or 
 
 -r-"" - '- ; II f; ha/: :;5:ij io iu(;/:jI 
 
 . .• ■ ^.. ::7T~-»':r. - •■ ■'!.<;i'? '■-».!» ixjifjj 
 
 CHAP. VIII. ..,Mfi 
 
 >T3fi -o ie lirjruiinlhafnf h3i£.-»- :/; pi^t v^-j fj^^'lsaijat' 
 ^oUrt Bflrclay '^^p^'isi^iQ ^the- Kin^fm rfljef.-r^ 
 
 ^^,J£-u.rL of >.Arrol\ require^ Bonds,, ^'hiph^J^i^-^^^i' 
 
 ^.Joners refu/e.-rr-Otrder^ed to :pay^,i/jelr^j^i}^s,fa 
 
 qi;Geat:ge ^MdviLr^Whajl^ngkes^ \^exceJJin^i...Pifr' 
 
 ,y.>piice Jn.p€rfecution,~^^.^£cfiyp QrJer.s^jto ir^emovc 
 fundry Prifcners to a more comnip(iio{iSr\.,]^mfon^ 
 
 but declines Co7Upriance. — Strait and hard Im- 
 prifonment. — Some ordered to be removed, and 
 fame releafed. — 'Their Treatment at Bumf more 
 
 liberal and humane. 
 
 CHAP. 1^ 
 
 VIII. i^URING this time Robert Barclay being in 
 V— -v-.w/ London, and gaining admittance to the king, 
 , 1676. delivered him a narrative of thefe proceedings, 
 Robert Bar- ^j-^ J of the fcveritv of the mao-iftrates of this 
 
 clay applies , • . . ^ . . • • 
 
 to the king city to his imprifoned friends, interceding with 
 lor relief, j^'j^^ ^.^ recommend their cafe to the favourable 
 
 notice of the council of Scotland, which narra- 
 tive the king ordered the Earl of Lauderdale to 
 recommend to their confideration. The council 
 at Edinburgh referred 'it to their fdritier com- 
 millioners, in conjundion with three others j 
 
 but
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. Afi-j 
 
 but the Earl of Arrol, who was prefiderit, re- CHAP, 
 folved their deliberations into this Angle enquiry viii. 
 of the prifoners, " Whether they were yet bet- ^-^/^n.^ 
 " ter advifed than when they were hid before ^^76. 
 *' them, and would give bonds not to hold anyroiasiin 
 " more meetings?" In reply thereto, after |^^^^*^^'"'=* 
 pointing out the hard fliip of their iraprifonment u),ich they 
 for kven months, when no feditious a6l, could '";/'^^'^ *-'^ 
 be proved againil them, nor any other caufe 
 afiigned than meeting in a peaceable manner to 
 worfhip God, they intimated, that they durjl not 
 be fo unfaithful to God, as to give any bojidy 
 whereby they fJooidd bind the?nfclves not to ivor- 
 fnp him. In the conclufion the Earl of Arrol 
 repeating, " it feems then yo.li • will not give 
 bond," John Skein, anfwered, " let never 
 that day dawn in which we fhall be fo un- 
 faithful to the Lord : But if any fhould prove 
 " fo, let neither the kinor nor his council trull 
 '* that man, for he that is not faithful to the 
 Lord, will never be faithful to his king or 
 country." 
 
 The CommilTioners decreed that they fliould f^i-derc,^ to 
 pay their refpeftive fines to one Captain George linLto' 
 Melvil, and that upon paying they fhould be J^Jjj'^g* 
 fet at liberty ; and that in default of payment 
 in the limited time, the faid Melvil was im- 
 powered to diftrain them for the fame, and that 
 when the fines were levied the prifoners flrould be 
 releafed. The Earl of Arrol, departing out of 
 town the next morning, all thofe who had 
 been imprifoned fince the reft were fined, 
 were releafed by the remaining commiffio- 
 ners. 
 
 G g 2 Melvil 
 
 (I 

 
 468 HISTORY, OPTHE 
 
 CHAP. MelvII foon after applied himfelf to the ex- 
 viii. ecution of his commillion, and from fome took 
 
 **^^^*-' goods or cattle to double, and from others to 
 1676. treble the value of their refpe£tive fines. Com- 
 
 exccfiwe'" ing to John Skein's fhop, under pretence that 
 
 diftraint* there were not goods fufficient, though three 
 times the value or ms fine, he went to his 
 dwelling houfe, where entrance being refufed 
 him, he applied to the provoft for a warrant 
 to break open his doors, and next day came 
 with fmiths and hammers to break them open ; 
 but James Skein went to the magiflrates, and 
 made a legal protell againll this proceeding, 
 and that, if the doors were broken open, they 
 mult expeO: to be accountable for the damage. 
 Whereupon they defired Melvil to defift,. and 
 fcize on the (hop goods, which he did to the 
 amount of 1 30I. by their own valuation j all 
 which were carried away to his houfe. But his 
 career was now flopped for a feafon, being 
 obliged to fecrete himfelf from the meffenger and 
 ferjeants, who were in quefl: of him for a jufl 
 debt ; fo that he durfl not appear till that de- 
 mand was compromifed. 
 
 When he had got this effefted, he returned 
 to the profecution of his commiflion in the like 
 unreafonable manner, he returned to John 
 Skein's fliop, on pretence of the former feizure 
 being defective, and took away more goods, 
 taking in the whole 230I. for a fine of lool. 
 
 In diflraining David Barclay he exceeded his 
 commifTion, the faid David living in the fhire 
 of Merns, which was out of the precin6t of the 
 commiflioners authority, under whofe warrant 
 he afted, of which l)avid was not wanting 
 timely to apprize him. But it looks as if officers 
 
 of
 
 People called qjjakers. 469 
 
 •f the loweft rank, as well as the hlghefl, in c hap. 
 this age, thought it beneath them to regard the viii. 
 pundilios of law ; for he proceeded notwith- *^— v-*-> 
 {landing to execute his purpofe by adding one ^^7^' 
 illegal ad to another. He took away ten la- i^'f^ra'"* 
 bouring oxen, in the plowing feafon (which day's u"* 
 was by adt of parliament prohibited, even in^""""? 
 cafe of a juft debt) with other cattle and corn. 
 But thefe cattle proved a troublefome acquifi- which ht 
 tion, for he could find no man that would buy "".J^^"," 
 them, and the expence of keeping them was a for/ 
 continual burden to him j fo that he feems to 
 have been tired of them, before he could get 
 them difpofed of at any rate : At laft a remark- 
 able opportunity prefented itfelf to clear his 
 hands of them. 
 
 The friends engaged, looking upon themfelves 
 to have been unhandfomely treated in the dif- 
 pute they held with the ftudents of Aberdeen, 
 and alfo in the reports thereof, publifhed an ac- 
 count of it. The ftudents thought it necefiary 
 for their reputation to publifti an anfwer, which 
 when they had compleated, they could find 
 no printer who would undertake the publi- 
 cation at his own rifque, whereby they were 
 obliged to let their performance lie dormant, or 
 print it at their own expence. Having with 
 fome difficulty raifed the money, in hopes of 
 being reimburfed by the fale of the book, they 
 had the mortification to find almoft the whole 
 impreffion left on their hands for want of pur- 
 chafers. In this dilemma they prefented a peti- 
 tion to the commiffioners, reprefenting their 
 iofs, and requefting fome relief out of the Ex- 
 chequer, which requeft, through the archbifhop's 
 influence, they fo far obtained, as that the com- 
 
 millioners
 
 VtT: 
 
 47» H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, mlflioners iffued an order upon Captain Melvil 
 
 VIII. to pay them a part of the Quakers fines in his 
 
 ^-'^V"'^ hand, upon which he gave them David Bar- 
 
 ^^7^' clay's oxen, which were at length fold to raife 
 
 the money they wanted. 
 
 The magiflrates of Aberdeen fecm now for 
 fome time to have been effedlually brought over 
 by the priefls, to exert their power in oppref- 
 fmg and perfecuting this fociety. But George 
 George Skein, the provoll of the prefent year, even ex- 
 skcm,pro- cggtied his predecefTors in malice, and cruelty to 
 fonabiyfe- this people ; almolt immediately upon his enter- 
 ing into office he caufed the prifoners to be 
 more ftrictly kept, debarring them the liberty 
 of going into the lower council houfe, a privi- 
 lege which they had at times been permitted to 
 enjoy before, and threatened fome of the offi- 
 cers with the lofs of their places for not ading 
 up to the rigour of his orders. And now ob- 
 ferving that the lofs of their fubflance did not 
 deter the members of this fociety from return- 
 ing to their meetings, he not only continued to 
 fend them again to prifon, but to render their 
 imprifonment as fevere and incommodious as 
 he poffibly could ; for which purpofe he would 
 frequently remove them from one room to ano- 
 ther, jufl to perplex them with the trouble of 
 removing their bedding and utenfils: His evil 
 difpofitioii prompting him to be flill more 
 vexatious to them, he made a propofition for 
 petitioning the commiffioners to give orders for 
 the clofe fliutting up of all the prifoners in the 
 higher part of the jail, but he could not obtain 
 the concurrence of the other magiflrates in that 
 piece of cruelty. 
 
 During
 
 PEOPLE CALXE^D QJJAKERS. 471 
 
 During there tranfacllons Patrick Livingftone chap. 
 and James Halliday, from England, in the viii. 
 courfc of a rehgiou? vifit to their brethren in "— ~v->-> 
 this nation, coming to Aberdeen, were there ., ^^?^\ 
 
 ^o ,' ' ' , Patrick \a* 
 
 apprehended, and imprifoned in the upper pri- vingftone 
 fon, where they had frequent opportunities, ef- ^"^',|J^^''* 
 pecially on maris-ct days, to publifii their doc- from Kng. 
 trine out of the prifon windows, and had more '""'^'•,^""1^ 
 hearers, than probably they would have hadpr<a'!i out 
 in their own meeting places, fo that even their j|,4'g^y^ji"^ 
 confinement, defigned to prevent it, tended top^^i^'on. 
 promote the teflimony they had to bear. At 
 this the provoll and others of their adverfaries 
 were greatly exafperated, and held feveral con- 
 fultations upon the means to prevent it ; but 
 were at a lofs to devife any feafible expedient, 
 fearing to give umbrage to the people, who 
 feemed defirous to hear them, if they fliould 
 proceed in any unufual method of feverity againil 
 them. . ; 
 
 Alexander Burnet, one of the bailiffs of Aiexanncr 
 Aberdeen, a man of like difpofition with the b^uiff, an 
 provofl, and an accomplice in his perfecuting HiStive ac- 
 meafures, being deputed to attend at a meeting pe,fecucion. 
 of the commiliioners, feized the opportunity to 
 apply hisutmofl etrbrts to incenfe them againft 
 the Quakers, and to prevail with them to take 
 fome meafures to prevent their preaching to the 
 people out of the windows of the prifon. The 
 commiffioners, willing to prevent the fuppofed ouicrTu^ 
 danger of their preaching, gave the faid bailiff ''^"'"^".[^- 
 an order to remove Patrick Livingflone, George pnioners' to 
 Keith, Robert Barclay, John Skein and Andrev.^ ^ "'•''■'= ,. 
 Jaffray out of the prifon they were in, to ano- oks priion, 
 ther out of the town, called the chapel, where '''^'^''"'": 
 
 , ■» ' complying. 
 
 the commifl'ary courts ufed to fit, and where 
 
 the
 
 471 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, the prifoners might have better accommodation* 
 VIII. This order was in nowife agreeable to the viewj 
 
 y^^'^^r^^ of the provoll and bailiff, whofe aim was not to 
 1676. alleviate, but aggravate their punilhment ; in- 
 ftead of procuring them cafe, to incommode 
 them in a greater degree ; therefore, although 
 the order was iil'ued in confequence of their fo- 
 licitation, they were not very forward to execute 
 it : Inftead thereof, they fet workmen to nail 
 up the windows of the upper prifon, and ftop 
 up the very chinks that were made to let in 
 light to the flairs. Afterwards when in com- 
 pliance with the commifTioners order, fome of 
 the prifoners were removed to the chapel, which 
 was intended for their better accommodation, 
 thefe ill-difpofed magiftrates contrived to make 
 it as diflrefTmg as in their power, by putting 
 them into a cold, narrow, dark room, where 
 there was little more than fpace for their 
 beds ; they applied for room to lay up a little 
 firing, and although it might have been 
 well fpared them, the provofl refufed their 
 requeft : A propofal was made for a window to 
 give them light, which he rejeded with indig- 
 nation. 
 
 siraitned The cafc of thofe confined in the higher pri- 
 
 and hard jp^j^ ^^ ^.j^g Tolbooth was yet more grievous : 
 
 went. They were fo Itraitned for room, that they were 
 obliged to lay their beds one above another on 
 boards. The unwholefome clofenefs of the pri- 
 fon, its darknefs, the length of their hard im- 
 prifonment, greatly endangered their health and 
 their lives, in the opinion of the phyficians. 
 Their relations, acquaintances and many of the 
 fober inhabitants of the town, commiferating 
 their inhuman ufage^ applied to the magiftrates 
 
 to
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 473 
 
 to prevent the danger, by removing them to c h a p. 
 the great room in the chapel ; but this, thefe viii. 
 two men of power for a year would by no ^^-'-v'*^ 
 means admit of. i6-j6. 
 
 •Thefe magiftrates, perceiving that their un- 
 deferved cruelty in the treatment of thefe Qua- 
 kers, drew upon them the cenfure and difappro- 
 bation of the fober and humane part of the in^ 
 habitants, endeavpured to palliate the perfecu- 
 tion, under pretence that they were reprefented 
 by the minifters as feducers ; that they were 
 popilhly afFefted, and advancers of the interefls 
 of the church of Rome. A pretence altogether 
 falfe and groundlefs ; and had they been fo in 
 reality, in all probability they would have re- 
 mained unnoticed and unmolefted by thefe ma- 
 giftrates, who at the fame time were flattering 
 and carefling the rnoft eminent papifts in the 
 nation. 
 
 But that favour, which could not be obtained 
 by any felicitation from thefe fubordinate ma- 
 giftrates, was more eafily obtained from their 
 luperiors. The commiflioners of the council, 
 meeting again at Elian, Burnet was again de- 
 puted to attend them, who ftrenuoufly endea- 
 voured to juftify their proceedings under the falfe 
 pretence that they had not room for their bet- 
 ter accommodation. But feveral perfons ap-somcof tx* 
 pearing on behalf of the prifoners, and reprc- ordered 'to 
 fenting the cruelty of their confinement, the ^^ '■'^'"<'^*=<*> 
 commiflioners iflued an prder for the removal reieaied. 
 of part of the prifoners to BamfF, and for the 
 releafe of part of them from prifon, confining 
 them to their own houfes and pariihes : Thefa 
 
 » Beflc. 
 
 laft
 
 474 H IS T OR Y OF THE 
 
 c H A p lall faid, "they did accept of their liberty; 
 VIII. *' but as to the reRriclions enjoined, they fhou'ld 
 ^'■'^^y'^-^ " not eileein themfelves under. an obligation to 
 3676. a fubmit thereto." And thofe .who were or- 
 dered to he removed to BaiTsU, being delivered 
 over to the flierifF, he alio gave, them their .li- 
 berty, on condition of their- being forth-coming 
 \vhen he fliouid appoint, in order to be con- 
 veyed thither. 
 1677. This deputy flieriff, John Forbes, was of a 
 different temper from thefe magiilrates, whofe 
 feverities have juftly merited cenfure, for he was 
 humane, and utterly averfe to perfecution : Be- 
 ing obliged, in pursuance of the order of the 
 commiflioners to take feveral of thofe who had 
 been difcharged, and remove them to the Tol- 
 booth at Bamff, he treated them with the utmofl 
 civility, ordering a guard to attend them thi- 
 ther, wirh directions to let them have all fuitable 
 accommodations on their way, and to take their 
 own time, whereby they had the opportunity of 
 feveral religious meetings, where they had fuch 
 remarkable fervice, that fome of their conduc- 
 tors were thereby effectually converted to the 
 truth tliey promulgated. ; ■ : • 
 
 "1 heir treat- At Bamff alfo they found the magiilrates of a 
 E^mff Lrr ^'^^1 ^iiffcrent fpirit from thofe of Aberdeen, 
 liberal and humanc, hbcral and courtco-us ; they not only 
 "mj"c. g^^,g j.|^gj^^ jl^g ^^^ accommodation in their 
 
 pov/er,-_ in, the Tolbooth, but alfo free permifllon 
 to make ufe of an iiin in-; the^ tov/n at their 
 pieafure, . for their better- accommodation. The 
 faid magiilrates moreover ufed all their interefl 
 and iniiuence with the commiflioners and (herilf, 
 to procure the rcleafe of the prllbners, and ceaf- 
 
 ed
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 475 
 
 cd not, until they obtained liberty for them to c h a p. 
 return arain to their feverul habitations. \n\. 
 
 But the maglftrates of Aberdeen had fufFered ^-^v/— ' 
 their fpirits to be imbittered againft this people, ^^77* 
 who had done them no wrong, to that degree, 
 that neirher the examples of others, the plain 
 difiike of the Ibber and moderate inhabitants, 
 the fiiamp tliey had incurred by their cruelty, 
 nor a reg^ard toiuftice and eauitv, had anv power 
 to move them to the femiments of humanity. 
 They procceoed to imprifon thefe people from 
 their meetings again and again, and to ren- 
 der their imprifonment grievous, even to the 
 extreme danger of their health and lives. They 
 continued to be vexatious to them more or lefs 
 for the fpace of three years, until near the. end 
 of 1679, by which time fome of the bitterell of 
 their adverfaries were removed out of life, or 
 O-it of office ; the priefls, George Meldrum, John 
 IMenzies and William Mircbel, one of ihem bv 
 death, and the other two by law, were deprived 
 of their influence, and filenced from preaching : 
 The lord of Hudda, who had threatened bv his 
 own authority to pull down their meeting- 
 houfe, was turned out of his office. 
 
 The diimal cataftrophe of Archbiihop Sharpe, 
 of whom the priells and magiftrates of Aber- 
 deen made ufe, as their principal inftrument, 
 by his power in the council, to cruffi the people 
 called Quakers, is too well known to be repeat- 
 ed here. And it is probable their fuccelTors 
 were men of more moderation and better tem- 
 pers ; for from the time above mentioned the 
 ■religious affemblies of this fociety were held at 
 Aberdeen (as they generally appear to have been 
 
 in
 
 475 H I S r O Tl Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. in other- parts of Scotland) without molef- 
 viii. tation. 
 
 ^^^^"^/"^^ It may not be improper to add, that by the 
 *^77' accounts they have leli, thefe prifoners at Aber- 
 deen, in their dcepefl fult'erings, felt divine fa- 
 vour aticnding rhem, and the good hand of pro- 
 vidence fupporthig them, fo that not only their 
 fpirits were kept chearfiil, but alfo their bodies 
 preferved in health and ilrength, under the mod 
 unhealthy confinement, beyond all human proba- 
 bility or expectation. And even the malice of 
 iheir adverfaries became, againft their wills, 
 fubfervlent to the fpreading of their do£lrines, 
 by means of the opportunities they found of 
 preaching from thofe prifons, into which they 
 were thruil on purpofe to prevent them from 
 preaching. And that during the perfecution 
 the appointed meetings were not only conftantly 
 held at the ufual times, but greatly cncreafed 
 in the numbers attending them. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 477 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 IRELAND. 
 
 Perfecution in Cork, by Mattheiv Deane^ Mayor ^"^ 
 William Penn initrpofes 171 favour of Friends. — ■ 
 — John Banks vifits Wicklozv. — The Priejl 
 endeavours to prevent his holding a Meeting 
 there. — He is brought before the Governor, and 
 virulently accufed by the Priejl. — Is committed 
 to Prifon, where he preaches to the People and 
 difcourfes on religious Subjects. — A Meeting 
 ejlablifhed there. — Friends prefent to Govern^ 
 mcnt their ffffering Cafe In refpe^ to Suits in 
 Chancery. — Oliver Sanfom^s Account of the 
 half Tear*s Meeti?ig.— ^Account of Katharine 
 Norton, 
 
 X. HIS fociety ftlll continued expofed to fuffer-c hap. 
 ings in the city of Cork ; Matthew Deane, who ix. 
 fucceeded Chriftcpher Rye in the mayoralty of,*— -^v — -* 
 that city, being of the like perfecuting fpirit. ^(-^lo. 
 * Samuel Thornton lodged at Elizabeth Erber- jn^corkTy 
 ry's, on his travels m religious fervice, fome M- r'fa"«> 
 friends came to vifit him, where, as they were"'*^**^* 
 
 » Beflr. 
 
 fitting
 
 478 HISTORY of the 
 
 CHAP fitting together after fupper, the faid Samuel, be- 
 
 IX. ing concerned to pray, was overheard by lome 
 
 v-^<x^ evil-mmded perfons, who caufed him to be 
 
 '•^70. taken by a conflable, and carried before the 
 
 mayor, who committed him to prifon, where 
 
 he was confined eight weeks. 
 
 The fame mayor caufed George Webber, Stephen 
 Harris and feveral others to be fent from their 
 meeting to prifon, with an order that they Jhould 
 have neither meat, drink nor bedding brought them, 
 and caufed a maid fervant of the faid Stephen 
 Harris, who was carrying a bed to her mafter 
 in prifon, to be fet in the flocks, and the bed to be 
 taken from her : And the faid George Webber's 
 fervant carrying food to her mafter, the mayor 
 commanded his ferjeants to take away the food, 
 and fet her in the ftocks, but ftie prevented 
 them by haftening to the prifon, before they 
 could overtake her. 
 
 While Samuel Thornton was prifoner there, 
 many of his friends came on a firft day of the 
 week, and held a meeting of worfliip : The jailer 
 locked them all in, being about eighty perfons ; 
 they were kept about twenty-four hours, having 
 no food but v/hat they drew up by a cord : Un- 
 der the room they were in the foldiers kept 
 guard, and having made a fire, the fmoke there- 
 of was like to fuffocate them ; upon which, 
 when application was made to the mayor, he 
 - fcofhngiy replied, " they are brothers and fifters, 
 " let them lie one upon another, and if they arc 
 " choaked. it is their own faults." 
 
 On another firft day, fome friends going to 
 vifit the prifoners, were by the faid mayor's 
 orders detained in prilbn, where they lay fe- 
 veral
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 479 
 
 Vttai weeks, until reieaf«iJ by the lord lieutenant c 11 a p, 
 
 and council. , _ .^.^ ..,..•. . J--'^*.,.- 
 
 ■"'TKis people .were expofeJ to fiiiferings by ini- '^-^'v — ' 
 pt-iToHment, and fines at this time' on divers „ "^7 o* 
 otner accounts, m common with their brethren i„iri,3biew 
 in' Eng;land, for. their teflimony ae;ainft tithes, [''"^^"^ 
 r6r- reruimg to Iwear,, tor not obierving the ments iiere 
 'days'-' 'tailed holidays. William Edmundfon,^J|-;J]^^'" 
 •who had frec[uently and fuccefsfully intereft- w'^ivnn 
 ■fsdhimfelf in' behalf of his fufferingy friends, ;';;'^^^'f* 
 tya^ at this tifne travelling in America. Eut favour, 
 Williahi Penri'.comihoj, over to -.Ireland this 
 '^''^ar,,'! frequently viPited his friends tn prifon, and 
 omitted no opportunity he had with rhofe in 
 authority, to fohcit llieir favour "in benklf of the fuf- 
 ferefs. Andthc half year's meetintT, in the ninth 
 rnjonth, i^^ing" hbri^in" his lodgings, aii account 
 o'f tfhe fufferings of Vtli;e members of the fociety: 
 Wcis drawn up^' m an addrers^tp'^'the lord lieute*- 
 {iiiiii:,'''prefent'e'd tp.l\'iiTl, ahd an bfdcr of council 
 c^DtMrifed for the releafe 'of thole who were im- ,,-^ 
 
 jpriloned. v . . . - -^ • . 
 
 *;^i;3^K^^,|aM5;of iHirdm^^ iri Cur«; ^SiV'' 
 r)efTi'r;cf''<:ame ^ov'^r'^'on a religious vifit to , his J"^" ^«"'^^ 
 trienas in Ireland. He^landed m Dublin at tne low from a 
 lre2;innhi^ 'of ^he Iril}". year'^s WeetiiW'.m the '>d p*-^'^"'^"^ 
 
 ,■'-''.'■» r^.^'y'i^-- A'o'.' '4'^' ■'' "l ".' .- " \Lt '■■'■• '\'^''' A" ■ \ ^ concern. 
 
 Ig 
 
 nloritH. 'and "auet^ it ^Vits,pvVf5''■■weh,t from a par 
 ffeylJii' tbricerh to Wicklow, "to get a ineetinf^^ 
 kppointed 'there the iu'cdee'din'j? firft day, 'beinfr a 
 place'wherenq meeting' of friends had been kept 
 before; Notice of t'heimeetin^ to be held that 
 daybeijUg circulated •oyer night, the report that 
 an' Engiifh Qtiakef "was come 'to preach there 
 raifed a general curiofity in tlie people, andrheprieft 
 ffreat indignation in the pried of the parifl:i ; °^^^^P"''^^ 
 who, as ufual, applied himfelf to the fecular to prevent 
 
 power,—-
 
 48o HISTORYoy YHfi 
 
 CHAP, power, one Hammond, governor of the caftle, 
 IX. and commander of the garrifon kept there, to 
 '^"'■^r-^ prevent the appointed meeting. John and the 
 '^7»» friends along with him took up their lodging at 
 an inn, from which, as they were about going 
 out to the meeting, the landlady with fome con- 
 cern intreated them not to go along thejlreet, for 
 that there was a guard of mufketeers waiting 
 at the crofs to take him, and propofed to fhew them 
 a hack way: But John replied, / accept of thy 
 love, but I muji not go any private way^ for I 
 have a tejiimony to hear for the Lord in love to 
 the people. However, they pafled along to the 
 meeting unmolefted ; but were hardly well fet- 
 tled, when a ferjeant with a file of mufketeers 
 made his entrance, and demanded him to go 
 with them before the governor ; John enquired 
 of him for his authority and his warrant ; he 
 held out his halbert, and faid this is my warranto 
 to^^'h^' He took him before the governor, with whom 
 before the was the prieft and others. The prieft was fo 
 fs°vi>uiem. diflurbed with paflion and bitternefs, that im- 
 ly accufed mediately upon his coming in, unable to reprefs 
 pncii.*^ h^s wrath, he addrefled himfelf to the governor 
 in thefe reviling expreflions, Sir, this is the de- 
 ceiver, this is the deluder, thai is come from Eng- 
 land to delude the people, I hope you will do jujiice 
 and execute the law. To this the governor, be- 
 ing a moderate man, made no immediate reply j 
 and John Banks, thinking it mofl prudent to 
 give time for his paflion to vent itfelf, forbore a- 
 while making any remarks ; but at length fpokc 
 to him in reply, thus, " Thou fayefl: I am a 
 " deceiver and deluder." The priefl interrupt- 
 
 * Rutty. John Banks's journal. 
 
 ing
 
 ii 
 cc 
 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 481 
 
 ing him with great violence, cried, " fo thou chap. 
 '' art ! fo thou art !" John proceeded, " Have ix. 
 patience, and let thy moderation appear, and "■ — "^^^ 
 hear what I have to fay in my own vindica- '^7^- 
 tion, for I fliall not admit thy alTertion as 
 proof : I have had patience to hear thee : Art 
 thou a minifter of Chrift ?" " Yes, faid he, 
 I am." John replied, but if I prove thee a 
 liar, as by the witnefs of this people thou art, 
 " in charging me with what thou canfl; bring 
 " no proof for, thou art out of the doctrine of 
 Chrift, and of confequcnce no minifter of 
 his, but of antichriif, and therefore thou art 
 the deceiver and deluder of the people." To 
 which the pried made no reply. 
 
 Several people having preft in at the door, 
 out of CLiriofi'j, as is ufual, to hear the exami- 
 nation, furniilied John with an opportunity of 
 opening to them the doctrine of this people, 
 and exhorting them to fobriety. Yet the go- 
 vernor committed him and two more to prifon; Tscommit- 
 the jailer was very civil, and allowed them the Jon, where 
 ufe of a room, and the people liberty of accefsj^e Fetches 
 to them, to whom John preached the way ofp^/'^^''"" 
 life and falvation, and feveral were convinced 
 by his miniilry. Kc was kept in prifon three 
 days, during which time he was vifited by many 
 people, who came to difcourfe with him about and dif- 
 
 i i ^ . f. .J, . , . courles oa 
 
 the prmciples ol religion. After viiitmg his religious 
 friends in the north, on his return to Dublin, fubjedi*. 
 he vilited Wicklow again, upon underftanding 
 by a letter from thence, that the people were 
 defirous of another meeting, which, notwith- 
 ftandinc: the oppofition of the prieft, was held ^\";'';«!|"f 
 peaceably, and a meeting was eitabliinea m me uierc. 
 town. 
 
 Vol. II. K h Ihe
 
 4^2 
 
 1671. 
 
 Friends pre 
 fcnt to go- 
 vernment 
 their 
 fufFering 
 cafe in 
 Chancery 
 fuits, by 
 reafon of 
 their con- 
 fcicntious 
 fcruple a- 
 gainfl 
 fwearing. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 The government having on many cccafions 
 manifefted a regard to the application of this 
 people, by granting them redrefs in many cafes 
 of fufferings, encouraged them about this time 
 to prefent to their confideration a cafe whereby 
 they were liable to be greatly wronged in their 
 property, through the diihonefty of fome peo- 
 ple, with whom they had dealing. The ca,fe 
 was this : That as thev had a confcientious fcru- 
 pie againft taking an path, as being forbidden 
 by Chrift, fuch people caufed them, in cafe of 
 claiming their juft demands, to be fabpcenaed 
 into Chancerv, where their anfwers w'ould not 
 be admitted but on oath, and by thofe means 
 evaded the payment of their jufl debts ; for in- 
 ftance, in the county of Wexford, Thomas 
 Holine having about 26ol.- due to him from one 
 Captain Thornhill, for which judgment was ob- 
 tained at common law, was fubpcenaed into 
 Chancery by the faid Thornhill, w^here he well 
 knew Thomas could not anfwer upon oath, by 
 which proceeding the Friend was defrauded of 
 his debt. And James Fade of Dublin, having 
 about 40I. due to him from one Ezekiel Webb, 
 was by faid Webb fubpoenaed into Chancery, 
 and becaufe he could not anfwer upon oath, he 
 not only loft his debt, but 70!. more to get 
 clear of the debtor. But, it is lii^e, the go- 
 vernment thought the fubjefl of too much con- 
 fequence to comply with their requeft of re- 
 drefs, not being as yet fufTiciently freed from 
 inveterate prejudice, to make fuch a conceffion; 
 neither was it in their power, I apprehend, 
 without an a6t of parliament, to alter the fettled 
 courfe of proceeding in this court. The mem- 
 bers of this fociety continued expbfed to fuch 
 
 injuries.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 4^3 
 
 injuries, until the reign of iGeorge I. when they chap. 
 were redrelfed by an aft of- parliament in their ix. 
 favour. •■'■'^ ^f v-^"v-v^ 
 
 Oliver Sanfom from Berkfinre came over from ^^7^' 
 England on a religious vifit to his friends in 
 Ireland, and in his journal gives an account- of 
 the half year's meeting there, whereby we may 
 conceive an idea of the devotion of our an- 
 ceftors in thofe days, and the prevalence of 
 divine power, which through the dedication of 
 their hearts to the divine will, and their reli- 
 gious exercife therein, covered their religious af- 
 femblies. He relates that alter the previous 
 meeting of worfhip, they met as ufual in the 
 meeting of difcipline, to deliberate on the af- 
 fairs of the church ; but the power of the Lord 
 was felt fo mightily amongft them, and their 
 minds fo raifed thereby, into ads of folemn 
 worfhip, in teftimonies, prayer and praifes to 
 the divine being, that no time remained to en- 
 ter upon the bufmefs of the day. When they 
 met the next day for the fame purpofe, their 
 meeting of bufmefs was again converted into a 
 meeting of worlhip, from the fame caufe. That 
 the third day of the meeting they proceeded to 
 the bufmefs thereof, which took up that day 
 and part of the next, when it was concluded, 
 having been tranfadied in much unity and har- 
 mony. 
 
 In the year 1678 the meetings of this people 1678, 
 were vifited by Katharine Norton, whofe maiden 
 name was Mc. Loughlin ; flie was born of Irifh 
 parents, near Colerain, from whence fhe was 
 lent to Londonderry for education : While (lie 
 lived there, a ihip coming to that city, to take 
 in paflengers for Barbadoes, llie embarked in 
 
 ....:.; H h 2 it.
 
 484 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP. It, and arriving at that ifland, was fome time 
 IX. after married there. When that ifland was vi- 
 
 ^-'^•'y-'^ fited by George Fox and others, Hie was con- 
 i^7^' vinced by their miniilry, and afterwards became 
 herfelf an able minifter in this fociety. She vi- 
 fited the meetings of her friends in the north ; 
 preached in Lurgan market in Irilh, and had feve- 
 ral meetings near Colerain, where her relations 
 lived. ^ From thence travelling fouthward, as far 
 •as Dublin, flie took fhipping there for England. 
 The character given of her is, that fhe was 
 a woman well qualified for the fervice in which 
 Ihe was engaged, being of a found judgment, 
 copious in matter, fluent in expreflion, and a- 
 greeable in her utterance ; had of her own to 
 diftribute, and did not make the gofpel charge- 
 able. 
 
 ' Rutty. 
 
 C H -4 P.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 485 
 
 C H A P. X. 
 
 HOLLAND AND GERMANY. 
 
 Sundry Friends pafs over to Holland. — Meetings 
 of DifcipUne ejiablijhed there. — Robert Barclay 
 and William Penn vifit Elizabeth, Princefs Pa- 
 latine, and the Countcfs of Homes. — Williani 
 Penn travels further into Ger?na7iy. — Writes to 
 the Prince Palatine in favour of his Friends. — 
 The Vaught having heard William Penn preach, 
 refifeth the Priejl to fupprefs the fakers. — 
 Epiftle from the Princefs to William Penn. — 
 William Penn vifits Labadie's Difciples. — Goes to 
 Embden] and foUcits the Burgomajler in favour 
 of his Friends. — Returns to Herford. — Thefe 
 Friends r£iurn to England. 
 
 oOON after the conclufion of the yearly meet- c h a p. 
 ing at London in the year 1677, George Fox, ^^Z^.,^, 
 William Peim, Robert Barclay, George Keith, ^^„ 
 and fome others, went over to Holland to vifit sundry 
 their friends in the United States and fome parts "''■•n'ls g" 
 
 TT • 1 1 1 1 r ovcrti) Hol- 
 
 er Germany, rrom Harwich they had a prol- lai-.d o u 
 
 perous and eafy palfage to the Brlcl, where they ^-j'-f' ""* 
 landed ; from whence they went dire£lly to Rot- 
 terdam, where they were received by their friends 
 with gladnefs, and had two meetings with them 
 and many of the town's-people ; and after fpend- 
 ing another day in vifiting their friends, George 
 Fox and William Penn proceeded to xVmliier- 
 dam, taking a meeting in their way at Haerlem, 
 
 which
 
 486 HISTORY of the 
 
 CHAP, which proved very large and fatisfadory ; after 
 ^' which meeting they went to Amfterdam, to be 
 ^ prelent at the quartei'ly meeting to be held there 
 the next day, for the meetings of that city, 
 Haerlem and Rotterdam, to which R.obert Bar- 
 clay and the other friends they left there, came 
 directly from the lad- mentioned place. 
 
 As the friends in Holland had only had a ge- 
 neral advice in writing refpefting the eftablifliing 
 meetings of difcipline, George Fox and William 
 Penn found occafion to explain the fubjeft more 
 fully, and to fhew them the nature, end and 
 ufe of yearly, quarterly and monthly meetings 
 of men and women. Next day they had a large 
 public meeting, in which the people were attentive 
 Meetings ^^^ fober ; and the day after, a felect meeting, 
 piine fcftied whcrein by joint agreement were fettled monthly 
 in Holland, ^jj^j quarterly meetings, and a yearly meeting to 
 be held at Amfterdam for the United Provinces *, 
 
 Embden, 
 
 * About toe year 1662 fome perfons in Eaft Friefland 
 were convinced of the truth as profefi'ed by the people called 
 Quakers. The pipifts, alarmed at the intelligence thereof, 
 convened a fypo"! oi' ecclefiallicks, which drew up a petition to 
 the court, in which were the following e:;preflions : " Where- 
 " as the wicked feci of the Quakers are found in thefe United 
 *• Provinces, and alfo fprung up here in Eaft Friefland, yo;i 
 *' are dtfired to watch atjainft it in time, that t/iut de'vilijh 
 " error might not creep in farther." This petition procured 
 a proclaniarion from the civil magifirate, forbidding Q^iakers to 
 come into the country, under penalty of being confined to 
 hard labour in the rafp-houfe for five years, &c. ; but the 
 lav/ being found inconvenient, was not long after repealed. 
 
 About twelve yei^s after the fenate and council of the city 
 of Embden v/ere influenced by the popular prejudices, which, 
 through the fubtle and falfc iniinuations of the priefts, were 
 fpreau and p-omcted, to put in practice much feverity againft 
 this people, fome of whom were cruelly beaten, fome ba- 
 nilhed, imprifoncd in a dungeon, fed only on bread and 
 
 water,
 
 1677- 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 487 
 
 Embdenf, the Palatinate ;|;, Hamburgh, § Dant- CHAP, 
 zick, and other places in or bordering upon ^' 
 Germany. 
 
 The 
 
 water, fined in greater fums of money than thev were thought 
 able to, pay. VV illiam Fenn, ever ready to advocate the inno- 
 cent caufe of hii affl:£led brethren, wote a very patL'etic 
 letter to the fenate and courcii of that city in Latin, in behalf 
 of his perfecutcd friends. Bat the perfecurion there continued 
 fevera! years after, until the vear 1 686, v/hen the magiftrates 
 perceiving their error, put a flop to perfccution, finding by 
 the decay of their trade the pernicious confequence of com- 
 pulTory meafu'es in religion j they opered their eyes to their 
 true intered:, and inltead of banifliing ufeful citizens, pub- 
 liHied an invitation to Quakers as well as others to redde in 
 their city, fignifying they had refolved to give them free li- 
 berty to live, trade and traffic there, wliich grant they olfered 
 to confirm under the feal of their city. 
 
 f Iri the year 1657 feveral perfons were convinced of the 
 doftrine of the people called Quakers about CrilTieim, in the 
 Palatinate, through the niinift'ry of Vv illiam Ames and George 
 Rolfe ; they alfo, tlir aigh t\\e inftigation of priefts, were 
 abufed by the rabble, and puniiliied by fines and inip>-!fon- 
 ment by the magiftrates j 'till at the interceflion of William 
 Ames, the rrince fuperfeded the orders of the Inferior magi- 
 ftrates, and gave liberty to Qnakers to travel in "his country 
 or rcfide there. 
 
 X At Han:burgh fume of the inhabitant-: made public pro- 
 feffion of the principles of the people called Quakers, upon 
 which account they were banifhed the city, and retired to 
 Altena, whe^e the magiftrates would not admit them, but 
 <irove them out of their town ; whereupon returning to Ha.m • 
 bu^gh, they were punifhed with a very fevere imprifopment, 
 clapt in irons, debarred from company, and otherwife haj-dly, 
 treated, to force them to leave the city ; during their impri- 
 fonmcnt the wives of fome had been persuaded to remove i; to 
 other dominions ; others continued in the city, and it doth 
 not appear that they met with any further moleftation. 
 
 ^ At Dantziclc were a few who were convinced in 1677, 
 which became no fooner known to the magiftrates than they 
 imprifo.-ed them, and afterwards procured an order of fenatc 
 to banifli them, and they were accordingly fent away.
 
 483 H I S T O R T OF the 
 
 The quarterly meedng at Amfterdam being 
 concluded, the friends from England ieparated 
 "^T on their refpe6llve fervices. George Fox fpent 
 ' ' fome days at Amfterdam in vifiting his friends 
 there, and affifling them in fome bufmefs relat- 
 ing to their meetings ; and afterwards travelled 
 through N. Holland, into the northern parts of 
 Germany, to Embden and Hamburgh, hoidmg 
 meetings with friends and others as opportunity 
 n.Barclay offered. VNTilliam Penn, Robert Barclay and 
 Tvifif to"' George Keith fet forwards lowards other parts 
 Eiiz Prin- of Germany, with a particular view to pay a 
 tine. vifit to the Princefs Elizabeth, daughter to Fre- 
 
 derick, Prince Palatine of the Rhine, fifter to 
 Sophia, Dutchefs of Hanover, and aunt to Kmg 
 George I. who being, beyond mofl: of her rank, 
 under a folicitous concern of heart to feek after 
 and acquire an acquaintance with that pure and 
 undefiled religion, whereby future happinefs is 
 attained to, a correfpondence by letter had com- 
 menced between her and William Penn ; George 
 Fox alfo wrote her an encouraging epiftle by his 
 ftep-daughter, Ifabella Yeomans, who in com- 
 pany with George Keith's w^ife paid her a vifit 
 about this tim.e, to which (he returned the fol- 
 lowing anfwer : 
 
 *' Dear Friend, 
 
 CC 
 CC 
 
 &c 
 
 " I cannot but have a tender love to thofc 
 who love the Lord Jefus Chrift, and to whom 
 it is given not only to believe in him, but 
 aifo to fuffer for him ; therefore your letter 
 and your friends vifit have been both very 
 welcome to me. 1 Hiall follow their and your 
 
 counfel. 
 
 ((
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 489 
 
 ** counfel, as far as God fliall give light and chap. 
 *' un<5lion, remaining liill v-^-l,-.^ 
 
 " Your lovingr friend, ^ 
 
 .. T^T W AT.,, |Vt„ 1677. 
 
 " ELIZABETH.'* 
 
 *' Herford, the -^oth 
 « of Auguil, 1677." 
 
 William Penn and Robert Barclay proceeded Account of 
 to Herford, the refidence of the Princefs, by 3,',^^ r "nar- 
 whom thev were kindly received. She had with c^y s viik 
 
 f ' . ■' r V 1 to the Pnn- 
 
 her as a companion a woman or quality, who ^d^ Eiiza- 
 alfo was inriuenced with an earneft defire alter ^^^^ ^^f _ 
 the attainment or pure rehgion ; her name was Homes. 
 Anna Maria de Plornes, Countefs of Homes, an 
 adherent of joi.n Labadie. The firft meeting 
 thev had with them was in one of the Princefs's 
 apartments-, to their great fatisfadion. After 
 ■which the Countefs expreifed a wiili that a meet- 
 ing might be held, where the inferior fervants 
 of the Princefs's houfehold might have free ac- 
 cefs, to partake of the benefit of their doclrine. 
 With this propofal they were ready to comply, 
 and the Princefs willingly confenting, the meet- 
 ing was held accordingly. The Princefs did not 
 appear in that meeting, in order that her fervants 
 might not be difcou raged by her prefence from, 
 giving their attendance in a general way ; but ^ 
 after tiie meeting expreffed much latisfaftion in 
 their being favoured with that good opportunity. 
 She detained Will'am Penn and P^obcrt Barclav 
 to fupper, although they modellly endeavoured 
 to excufe themfelves, propofmg to return to their 
 inn ; but as they could not handfomcly refill 
 her prelling folicitations, they confented to ftay. 
 The next day, being tlie firft of the week, and 
 another meeting being agreed upon between 
 
 them
 
 490 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 / 
 CHAP, them and the Princefs, William Penn defired 
 
 ^' that not only as many of her own family, tut 
 , O.S many of the tov/n as were defirous, might be 
 admitted. To this Pie readily confented, which 
 afforded William Penn and Robert Barclay an 
 oDen crrortunitv to prooa^ate the doftrines of 
 the gorpel, and difcharge the fervice they were 
 engaged in. Throagh divine favour and aflill- 
 ance.the opportunity proved remarkably relieving 
 to them, and edifying to the auditory. At the 
 conclufion the Princefs taking William Penn by 
 the hand, in an affeding manner exprelfed her 
 fenfe oi the divine power and prefence evidently 
 felt amongd them ; but her feelings were too 
 aifefting for utterance, for attem^pting to pro- 
 ceed, fne cried, " I cannot fpeak to you, my 
 *' heart is full.'* William Penn, in fympathy 
 with the fcnfible imprefiions upon her fpirit, im- 
 parted tender counfel, from his feeling fenfe of 
 the (late of her mind, and then taking leave of 
 her, fiie expreffed her defire of further oppor- 
 tunities of the like kind, faying, " Will you not 
 " come hither again ? Pray call hither as you 
 *' return out of Germany." To which he re- 
 turned anfwer, " We are in the hand of the 
 I;Ord, and moving under his requiring?, can- 
 not io fully difpofe of ourfelves." There was 
 alfo a French woman of quality with the Prin- 
 cefs, who had imbibed the prevailing fentiments 
 concerning the Quakers, looking upon them in 
 a contemptible light ; but being powerfully 
 reached, and deeply affected under the heart- 
 tendering miniilry of thcfe experienced preachers, 
 file became very affeftionately kind and refpeft- 
 fui to them. Upon their departure from Her- 
 ford they feparated ; Robert Barclay returning 
 
 to 

 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 491 
 
 to Amfterdam, and William Pcnn travelling chap. 
 further into Germany td Cufiel and Frankfort. ^J^. 
 Here he had feveral meetings with perfons of g 
 note, amongft the reft one at the houTe of a w. I'evn 
 young woman of noble birth, Johanna Eleanora |1;*^4' '^"'■^ 
 JVlerlane, who was fo reached by his doctrine, Germany. 
 that file faid, " Our quarters are free for you ; Frankion. 
 " let all come that will, and lift up your voices 
 '* without fear." 
 
 From Frankfort he went to Chrilheim, where chrifteim, 
 a body of his friends dwelt, who afterwards re- 
 moved among the hrft emigrants to Pennfylvania, 
 and fettled there ; and finding them fubjed to 
 fufferings both on account of their tithes, which 
 Were claimed from them, both by the proteftant 
 and popifli priefts, and alfo on account of the 
 religious meetings, which the vaught or chief 
 magiflrate endeavoured to prevent their holding, w. Pcn» 
 William Penn went to Heidelbiirg to intercede '^^Zl'J'p^f 
 with the Prince Palatine in their favour ; but as latine in fa- 
 his abfence at that time deprived William of an ^^'i.ers' * 
 opportunity of making his perfonal application, ^[^ <^oml 
 he addrefled an epiftle to him in their behalf, 
 which, with other applications, had a good clfecl: 
 upon this prince, who feems to have been no 
 friend to perfecution. William Penn returned 
 to Chriflieim, and being at a meeting there with 
 his friends, the vaught indulged his curiofity to The vaught 
 go to hear him, taking his ftand at the backheard^w. 
 door, that he might not be feen ; and William's f'"'"' >■«- 
 doftrine gaining his afient and approbation, he af- prjfs the"^* 
 terwards told the parfon, who had endeavoured to Q^i^.^^"" at 
 
 r t ^ • 1 • I'l r r 1 ^"'^ ii>ltaiK« 
 
 periuade hnn that it was his duty to iupprels he-ofthcpncft, 
 refy. That it ivas his bu./incfs, if the Shakers were 
 Hereticks^ to difcover them to be fuch ; but for my 
 party continued he, / beard nothing but good and 
 
 found 
 
 leers m 
 loi 
 luons.
 
 492 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 c H^A 'P-'J'ound dodrine^ and therefore I will not meddk 
 v_„.,^^_^_y ijohh them. William Penn having difcharged 
 1^7 J,, his duty here, returned by Frankfort, Cologn, 
 Clevcs, &c. to Amiterdam. At Cologn he re- 
 ceived the following letter from the Princefs Eli- 
 zabeth, in anfwer to one he had written to her 
 from the Palatinate : 
 
 Epimefrom " The -\ of September, 1 677. 
 
 the Princefs ^ ' '^ ^ ' ' / 
 
 to w. Penn. <' Dear Fi lend, 
 
 " I have received your greetings, good wiflies 
 " and exhortations, with much joy, and fliall 
 *' follow the latter as far as It will pleafe our 
 great God to give me light and ftrength. I 
 can fay little for myfelf, and can do nothing of 
 myfelf ; but I hope the Lord will conduct me 
 in his time, by his way, to his end, and that 
 I fhall not fnrink for his fire. I do long for 
 it ; and when he alTures my ways, I hope he 
 will give me power to bear the crofs I meet 
 " therein ; I am alfo glad to hear the journey 
 hath been profperous both in the conftitutions 
 of your bodies, to withfland the badnefs of 
 the Aveather, and in the reception you had in 
 " Caffel, Frankfort and Chrifheim. Nothing 
 ■' furprifed me there but the good old Dury, in 
 " whom I did not expect fo much ingenuity, 
 " having lately wTit a book, intitled Le 'veritable 
 " Chretien^ that doth fpeak in another way. I 
 " wifh to know what reception you have had at 
 " Frederickfburg, and if this find you at Cleves, 
 " I wifli you might take an occafion to fee the 
 *' two Pallors of Mulheim, which do really feek 
 " the Lord, but have fome prejudice againfl 
 '' your doarine, as alfo the Countefs there. It 
 
 ould 
 
 £C 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 cc 
 cc 
 cc 
 
 w
 
 PEOPLE CA:LLED QJJAKERS. 493 
 
 *' would be of much ufe for my family to have CHAP. 
 " them difabufed ; yet God's will be done in . ^_. 
 " that, and all things elfe concerning ,_ 
 
 " Your loving friend in the Lord Jtfus, 
 
 " ELIZABETH." 
 
 From Amfterdam William Penn went into '^^^ /;'"" 
 
 . vilits L'tba- 
 
 Friefland, and met George r ox at l>eewarden in die's e.nd- 
 his return to Holland. From whence he pro- [^|^'|'j^^ ^'•"^^_ 
 ceeded to Wievvert, where a fociety of the dil-fercnccwith 
 ciples of Labadie refided. Here he had an in- ''"-'"• 
 terview with Anna Maria Schurman, the Somer- 
 dykes, the French Pallor, Peter Yvon and others. 
 In their conference Yvon gave the following 
 account of Labadie : that he received his educa- 
 tion among the jcfaits, deferted them, and em- 
 braced the Protcftant religion ; that being difTa- 
 tisfied with the formal Proteitants, he with fome 
 adherents formed themfelves into a feparate 
 fociety. Afterwards Anna Maria Schurman, 
 the Somerdykes and others, related fomething of 
 their religious experience, and the means where- 
 by they were induced to join that family, retired 
 from the world. When they had done William 
 Penn, who with his fellow-labourers had under- 
 taken this journey folely with the view of dif- 
 charging their duty in propagating pure religion, 
 and to encourage an advancement therein, con- 
 defcended, in compliance with their practice, to 
 give an account of his convincement, and thence 
 took occafion to perfuade and inftrucl them to 
 purfue after fuperior attainments, and addi- 
 tional growth in the experience of the true 
 knowledge of God, and more perfect obedience 
 
 to
 
 494 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, to the law written in the heart. At parting one 
 
 ^ of their paftors enquired of him, if me truth 
 
 ^■^"y"^ j-ofe not firfl amon;^ a poor and illiterate fort ? 
 
 1 07 7 or 
 
 '■ " Yes," replied William Penn, " and it is our 
 comfort that we owe it not to the learning of 
 this world," The paftcr rejoined, " Then 
 let not the learning of this world be ufed, to 
 defend that which the fpirit of God brought 
 forth, for the mixture thereof will be apt to 
 obfcure the brightnefs of your teftimony." 
 w Pcnn WiUiam Penn having taJicn leave of them,- 
 goes to travelled by Groningen to Embden, where his 
 an!j appi'ies fficnds laboured under fevere oppreffion by im- 
 to the bur- prifonments and baniihments : Ke had before 
 behdfofh"5intere(led himfelf on their behalf in a fpirited 
 iviends letter to the maf:;i(lrates, fnewino; the unreafona- 
 
 there ^ 
 
 blenefs of Proteftants, who protefted a-irainft im- 
 pofitions and perfecations, themfelves impofmg 
 their religion upon others by perfecution. And 
 now he waited upon the burgomafter at his houfe, 
 and enquired of him, if he and the fenate had 
 not received a letter in Latin from an Englifh- 
 man concerning their fever ity towards the peo- 
 ple called Quakers ? the burgomafter owning the 
 receipt thereof, William Penn faid, " I am that 
 *' man, and I am conftrained in confcience to 
 " vifit thee on their behalf." The burgomafter 
 was more complaifant than was expeded, and 
 gave fome faint hope of changing their meafures ; 
 but the feqael difcovered the averfion of the fe- 
 nate to moderate their proceedings, for the per- 
 fecution was continued there a confiderable time 
 after. 
 Returns to From Euibdcn William Penn returned back 
 ^^5'°;'^'. to Herford, and met Vv'ith a very kind reception 
 kmdiy re- from the Princefs and the Countefs of Homes, 
 
 ceivcd by ^Vitij- 
 
 the Pnii-
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 495 
 
 with whom he had a meeting in the Princefs*s c h a i>, 
 apartment more than once ; when the deep im- ^' 
 preilions made on her mind, through the affed:- .„ 
 ing power attending his miniitry drew from ' 
 her this acknowledgment, '"' I am fully convinced ; 
 " but oh ^ my fins are great!" Ilereupon Wil- 
 ham Penn took an opportunity to impart to the 
 Princefs and Countefs, feparately, fucli counfel 
 _as appeared to hinii fuitable to their refpetlive 
 conditions, w^hich had a reaching efled: upon 
 their minds, efpecially the Countefs's. At the 
 Princei's's prelling invitation he llayed to fupper. 
 When the Countefs, from the prefent rehgious 
 impreffions on her mind, perceiving the hurt ac- 
 cruing from thofe compliances vath the world, 
 to which her rank in life accuitomed her, faid, 
 " Ilfuut que jc rcmpe, i nmft breiak off: Oh the 
 *' cumber and entanglements of this vain world 1 
 ^,'^ .they obltru6t all good." The Princefs alfo 
 .made this fenfible rcilcclion, " It is an hard 
 ^" matter to be faithful to what one knows ; I 
 . *' fear I am not weighty enough in n)y fpirit." 
 The favourable opinion (lie had conceived of 
 William Pcnn's minifterial labours, in confe- 
 quence of the impreihons {he had felt under them, 
 is plainly expreiled in the follo\ving rem/ark which 
 Ihe made to him: " Among my books I have 
 " records that the goTpel was hrii brought from 
 " England into Germany, and now it is come 
 
 " again.'* 
 
 HavinfT finiihed his fervice here, and taken a 
 ' ... 
 
 folemn leave of thefe eminent perfons, he de- 
 parted for Wefel : On his way he endeavoured, 
 at Mulheim, to procure an inlerview with the 
 Countefs of Falkenflein, who had the reputation cmmteA of 
 of a very religious perfon, on which account the ^ -"^^t*"'"!"- 
 
 Count
 
 49<5 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP. Count her father kept her in confinement, calh'ng 
 ^- her Quaker, though Ihe had no correfpondence 
 with any of that fociety. He had before ufed 
 ' ' "William Penn very roughly, when pafTmg by 
 his caftle on his way, he enquired of him and 
 his friends from whence thev came, and whither 
 they were going ; to which they anfwered, they 
 were Englilhmen come from Holland, and going 
 no further in thole parts than his town of Mul- 
 heim : But as they did not take otf their hats, he 
 thereby perceiving they were Quakers, faid, 
 '-' We have no need of Quakers here ; get you 
 " out of my dominion, you fhall not go to my 
 " town." He immediatelv commanded iome of 
 his foldicrs to fee them out of his territory ; 
 whereby William Penn and his companions 
 were obliged to lie that night in the open air. 
 But the next day he writ to the faid Count, and 
 therein told him, " For thy faying, lue want no 
 *' fakers herc^ 1 fay, under favour, you do ; 
 " for a true Quaker is one that trembleth at the 
 " word of the Lord, that worketh out his fal- 
 " vation with fear and trcmblino;.'* William 
 Penn beine now come ac^ain to Mulheim could 
 get no opportunity to accomplifli his purpofe of 
 u conference with the Countefs, and therefore 
 profecuted his journey to Duilburgh, Wefel and 
 Cleves, holding conferences with religious peo- 
 ple as he paifed along, and returned by Utrecht 
 to Amfterdam, where Georee Fox had arrived 
 before him. 
 
 Return to Not loug after thev returned for England, and 
 
 " ' after a dano-crous and tempcftuous palfage they 
 
 arrived at Harwich : and Goin? from thence to 
 
 ' o o 
 
 London, William Pcmi received there the fol- 
 
 Icv/inG[
 
 X. 
 
 1677. 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 497 
 
 lowing letter from the Princefs Elizabeth, In C H A P. 
 anfwer to one of his. \^^^vx-» 
 
 " Herford, Od.29, 1677, 
 
 " Dear Friend, 
 
 '' Your tender care of my eternal well-being 
 " doth oblige me much, and I will weigh every 
 " article of your couniel to follov/ it as much as 
 " lies in me, but God's grace mufl be afTiftant, 
 ** as you fay yourfelf, ' be accepts nothing that 
 " does not come from him.' If I had made me 
 " bare of all worldly goods, and left undone 
 " what he requires moll, I mean, to do all in 
 " and by his fon, I fliall be in no better condi- 
 ** tion than at this prefent. Let me feel him 
 lirft governing in my heart, then do what he 
 requires of me ; but I am not able to teach 
 others, being not taught of God myfelf. Re- 
 " member my love to G. F. B. F. G. K. and 
 " dear Gertrude *. If you write no worfe than 
 " your poftfcript, I can make a lliift to read it. 
 " Do not think I go from what I fpoke to you 
 " the laft evening ; I only flay to do it in a way 
 " that is anfwerable before God and man : I can 
 " fay no more now, but recommend to your 
 *' prayers, 
 
 ** Your true friend, 
 
 " ELIZABETH." 
 
 * This was Gertrude Dericks, who had vlfited the Princefs, 
 and afterwards came to live in England, and was married to 
 Stephen Crifp. 
 
 Vol. IL 1 i "P. S. 
 
 << 
 
 (C
 
 498 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 " P. S. I almoft forgot to tell you, that my 
 fifter writes me word flie had been glad you 
 ""^'^ « had taken your journey by Ofenburgh to re- 
 " turn to Amiterdam. There is alfo a Droflard 
 *' of Limbourg near this place, (to whom I gave 
 " an exemplar of R. B*s Apology) very defirous 
 *' to fpeak with fome of the Friends." 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Account received of the continued Perfecution in 
 New England. — Public Affairs. — Party Ani- 
 mofities encreofe. — New Parliament not fuddenly 
 convened. — Parry Diftindions. — Petitioners and 
 Abhorrers. — Whig and Tory. — George Whitehead 
 and Thomas Burr imprifoned and prcfccuted at 
 Norwich by Francis Bacon, Recorder. — Informir 
 difappointed. — Major Part of the Magifirates 
 moderate. — The Recorder difplaced. — Whereby 
 they obtain their Releafe. — Sufferings continued, — 
 George Fox's Declaration. — Fre/h Application for 
 Relief from Ads againfi Popifh Recifants. 
 
 ^ \^ P- George fox alfo, on his return to London, 
 v_.^,^^,l.^ received letters from New England, with an ac- 
 ^d-j-j. count of the renewed cruel proceedings of the 
 G. Fox re- magiftratcs againfi his friends there. It is pro- 
 f^nfi^e "* bable the preient fevere perfecution in England, 
 Engknd, difcoveriug them to have no patrons in the 
 ofl*hr!on- Englilh government at home, but that the king 
 
 tiiiued feve- and 
 
 ritics to his 
 
 friends.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 499 
 
 and court, by connivance at lead, if not by open chap. 
 encouragement, left them expofed to the arbi- ui. 
 trary abufe of every inferior magiftrate, might ''-"^/--'^ 
 give new vigour to the malignant enmity of their i677« 
 adverfaries in New England, as removing their 
 apprehenfions of being called to account by the 
 government here in their prerent difpofition, for 
 any feverities they might inflict upon this people 
 within the limits of the king's prohibitir,n. So 
 they proceeded not only to v.hip the Quakers, fo 
 called, but alfo fome mailers of (hips that were 
 not of that fociety, only for bringing fome of 
 them thither. But the Indians about this time 
 making an inroad upon tiiem, and flaying feve- 
 ral of their people, diverted their attention, to 
 remove from them a more formidable enemy 
 than the people called Quakers. 
 
 There was yet no relaxation of the perfecution 1680. 
 of dilfenters in England ; but the rigour where- 
 with they were treated received new force every 
 fucceeding year of this reign. Such was the fierce- Partj mi- 
 nefs of parties again ft each other, and fo gene- n'«|"'ties 
 rally was the nation divided, that there was noitrength. 
 clafs, but what either was, or was reckoned of 
 one party or the other. And although the gene- 
 ral hiflory of England be out of my line, yet a 
 view of the ftate of the nation appears occa- 
 fionaliy requifite to elucidate the hillory of that 
 part of it in which I am engaged. 
 
 Although a new parliament was elected early n<-w par- 
 in the laft year, yet, as the eledions had, in very I'.f^S ""' 
 many places, been carried againft the court in- convened, 
 tereft, the king, fearing the like oppofition from 
 this as he had experienced from the latter fef- 
 fions of the laft parliament, was not hafty in 
 convening them, but had prevented their fitting 
 
 I i 1! by
 
 roo H I S T O R Y OF THE ' 
 
 c H A p. by fundry prorogations. The interval betwixt ' 
 ^^' the diffoKition of the late parliament and the : 
 ^o convening of this for bufinefs, encreafed the iea- 
 
 lOeO. , r r 1 r L • 1-111 
 
 loiuy or that part or the nation, which had en- | 
 tertained fufpicions and fears of the defigns of i 
 which oc- the court ; thefe diflrufcs excited many corpora- 
 5bn?to^thT ti^J^s to prefent petitions to the king to aflemble ; 
 kinp to af- the parliament ; and nctv,?ithflanding the king's 
 thTm.*^ difpleafure thereat, and his publication of a pro- , 
 clamation prohibiting them, petitions were fent 
 up from all parts, earneftly foliciting for a feffion : 
 of parliament. j 
 
 Counter pe- The king and his partifans, finding lils difplca- j 
 c'uredby the fure and his proclamations ineffe6lual to put a '\ 
 court. f]^Qp {-Q []^Q petitions, had recourfe to the like po- ' 
 pular arts by which many of them were pro- i 
 cured, to procure petitions of a contrary ten- j 
 . dency from divers parts of the nation, exprefling 
 their detefiaiioyi and abhorrence of the feditious 
 practice of the late petitioners^ referring the fitting 
 of the parliament abfohitely to the king's plea- 
 fure. This lliarpened the edge of party ran- 
 cour,^ and ranged the people Into two hoftile 
 '^^d abi""^ parties, diftinguiflied by the names of petitioners 
 rcrs original and obhorrers. Thefe names were foon loft, 
 of the toi- thj-oueh the virulence of party, in the more re- 
 
 lowingpar- h r ^ u' J. 1 
 
 ty ddtmc- proacnrul diltiiictions or whig and tory, appel- 
 ^Sraud lotions affixed to each party by the hatred of their 
 tory. adverfaries, the former being the name of con- 
 
 tempt applied to the Scotch Covenanters of the 
 laft reign, and the latter a denomination of in- 
 famy applied to the bands of Irijh Robbers. 
 
 The former party diftinclions were abforbed 
 in thefe, the low-churchmen and the country 
 party were included among the whigs, and as 
 they were more moderate in their fentiments to- 
 wards 
 
 i
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 501 
 
 wards Diflenters, and averfe to perfecution, the chap. 
 Diffenters inclined to them, and were generally ■^' 
 comprehended in this party. On the other hand, .^ 
 the High-churchmen, the Court-party and the 
 Papifts compofed the body of the Tories : thefe 
 in the event had the afcendency during this 
 reign, having the court preferments on their 
 fide, and the king at their head ; to their fupe- 
 rior influence the great feverities, to which the 
 Nonconformifls were expofed in the latter end 
 of this reign, feem principally owing. 
 
 As the people called Quakers were by princi- 
 ple difengaged from all political parties, one 
 might have expeded they might have been lefs 
 obnoxious to the refentment of every party ; 
 but they continued to be harrafled ftill amongfl 
 the moft hated claffes of Nonconformills with 
 profecutions by all the variety of penal laws. 
 The firft we meet with in this year is the profe- 
 cution of George Whitehead and Thomas Burr 
 at Norwich, principally carried on by Francis 
 Bacon, the Recorder. 
 
 Thefe tvv'O men bein^ on their travels met ac- p- Y'^'j^r,, 
 cidentally or providentially near the city of Nor- umr pro- 
 wich, being both on their way from different *^^"'^';f^^'^ 
 quarters to pay a religious vifit to their friends in i".Bacon,rc. 
 that city on the fucceeding firft day of the week ; '^*^'■'''^'■• 
 where being arrived, they held the morning 
 meeting without interruption, and that in the af- 
 ternoon, for about half the ufual time, when 
 George Whitehead being preaching, a rude com- 
 pany, chiefly informers, rufhing into the meet- 
 ing with tumult and violence, pulled him down, 
 who requiring them to fhcw fome legal authority 
 for their proceedings, received only abufive lan- 
 guage from them, with an infmuation to the 
 
 people
 
 502 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP people, that he Jiiight be a Jefuit. The fherlff 
 
 ^^ coming afterward took them prifoners ; they were 
 
 ,„ brouQ-ht bc.^ore the Recorder, who was a iuftice 
 1680. r ^ - • J L r 1 • 
 
 or peace, wao exammed them, or their names, 
 
 habitations and trades ; If they were in orders^ or 
 had orders from Rome. Then queflioning them 
 about their preaching, demanded of them 20I. 
 a-piece, with which refufing to complv, he next 
 afked them, whether they would take the oath of 
 allegiance ? They replied they could take no 
 oath for conscience fake. While this examina- 
 tion was going on, the informer, whofe intereft 
 lay more in the convitting of them for their 
 Informer f.nes, than upon refufmg the oath, whifpered 
 cd.''^^*^"' the juflice, who thereupon alked them, where 
 they lodged, and where they fet up their horfes ? 
 In reply to which, giving the intelligence they 
 wanted, the informer went off to the inn ; but 
 was difappointed of his prey, the horfes being, 
 unknown to the prifoners, removed from the inn 
 Thereeor- "where they left them. The Recorder was very 
 ra " ive. j-|^^j.^j ^£ j^.^ invcftivcs, terming them feducers 
 
 and feditious. And difcovered the bitternefs of 
 his enmity by telling them there was a flatute, 
 made in Queen Elizabeth's time, yet in force, 
 to hang fuch perfons as they were ; and, being 
 interrogated, " If he could profecute them upon 
 " that law," he anfwered, " Yes, if the * king 
 
 " fnould 
 
 * The luhigs (fo called) were for confining the preroga- 
 tive within the limits of the law, and the'-efo'-e were fuf- 
 pefted bv their antagonifts of adopting republican principles : 
 the ot'-'er party, on the contrary, were for placing the king 
 above the law, or making the law fubfervient to his will, of 
 which this declaration of the recorder Is an evident inftance ; 
 for, according to him, the laws were to operate, not on ac- 
 count
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 503 
 
 It, 
 
 fhoiild give orders to have it put in execu- chap. 
 tioii I would do it, and have you hanged, if xi« 
 " you would not abjure the realm." lie then ^>— v-*^ 
 committed them to jail 'till the enfuing feirions, i^^o- 
 which were held about a month afterwards, when 
 they were fummoned to their trial ; and being 
 brought to the bar, George Whitehead addref- 
 fmg himfelf to the court faid, " We have been 
 five weeks in prifon, it is proper the court 
 (hould know for what ; pray let our mittimus 
 be read." The Recorder replied, " There is 
 no need of your mittimus being read here ; 
 rU give an account of the caufe. They had 
 gathered together a company of about two 
 
 <c 
 (& 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 *' hundred, and officers went from me to diffi- 
 " pate them but could not, and thereupon I 
 
 <c 
 <( 
 
 C( 
 
 fent the fheriff, who took them away ; and 
 they being brought before me, I protFered 
 them, if they would pay their fines, I would 
 not commit them ; and upon their refufal, I 
 tendered them the oath of allegiance, which, 
 as they were not willing to take, I fent them 
 " to jail." George Whitehead remarked, that 
 they being Engliihmen had a right to travel in 
 any part of the nation : And Thomas Burr added 
 that he being a perfon that was concerned in 
 dealing in corn, by the law of England he mJght 
 travel from place to place about his concerns. 
 Upon which the Recorder made this taunting re- 
 fledion, exprellive of his immoderate averfion 
 to this people. " Had you not better have been 
 
 courtt of d">eir fitnefs or unF.rnefs, but t^e king's pV-ifure ; to 
 lie dormant or to be put in force, not as being unjuft or juft, 
 but a' the king iliould ifTue bis orders, which is mukin> them 
 laws or no laws at the fole will of the king. 
 
 " turning
 
 504 H I S T O R Y OB the 
 
 turning your malt at home, than come hither 
 to preach. The fcripture faith, God added to 
 "'^ " the church Jvch as Jhould. he faved ; but ye 
 " draw from the church ; and the church of 
 *' England will never be quiet 'till fome of you 
 " be hanged." George Whitehead then ob- 
 ferving, how unbecoming it was, and derogatory 
 to his office as a judge, to difcover himfelf fo 
 plainly to be a party agaiufl; the prifoners, and 
 to prejudge their caufe before it was regularly 
 before him as a judge ; and as a precedent, re- 
 lating the circumfpedion of chief Juftice Huf- 
 fey, who being applied to by the king for his 
 opinion in the cafe of a traitor, declined deli- 
 vering it 'till it came judicially before him, he 
 defended his caufe fo well, and reprefenled the 
 unequal proceeding of the Recorder in fo clear 
 a light, that upon his appeal to the mayor and 
 juftices, the mayor replied, " You have appealed 
 *' to me ; truly we are trudefmen and no 
 " lawyers : We leave matters of law to the 
 " Recorder: He knows the law and we mull 
 ^/TI w' " ^cquiefce in his judgment.** The rnajor part 
 ikesin- of the juftices did not feem to approve of the 
 dined to fet recorder's conduct, but inclined to fet them at 
 
 them at li- ' 
 
 berty; but liberty. ^ The recorder, piqued thereat, as a tacit 
 cJrde^r cenfure on his conduct, infifted upon adminif- 
 mcans re- teiing the oath, and prevailed fo far, that both 
 so^S'fon! t^^ prifoners being difcharged by the court from 
 the matter contained in the two mittimufes, had 
 the oath tendered to them, and for refufal there- 
 of they were committed again *till the next quar- 
 ter fellions. As the recorder and his agents had 
 endeavoured to infinuate fufpicions of their being 
 
 => BeiTc. 
 
 probably
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 505 
 
 probably Papifts, they procured certificates, fign- chap. 
 ed by the parifli officers and feveral refponfible v^^^L, 
 neighbours of their refpedtive parifhes to the ^g 
 contrary, which they would gladly have had read 
 in the court, but the recorder would not permit 
 it. 
 
 Soon after the termination of the pafl; fefllons,Thisrccor- 
 this recorder was deprived of his office bv a vote ^^'' '"'".^ , 
 or the common council, and a perion or more his office, 
 eouity and moderation was eleded in his place; 
 in confequeiice of which change, and the inter- 
 pofition of their friends, at the next feiTions they 
 were cleared by proclamation, and difcharged Jj^^Jg^'" 
 from their imprifonment, after a confinement of 
 fixteen weeks. 
 
 To recite the various cafes of fufferings would 
 appear a needlefs repetition of fmiilar occurren- 
 ces ; in this year, as in the former, they were 
 profecutcd for not taking oaths ; as Popi(h recu- 
 fants ; on the ftatute for the forfeiture of 20I. a sufferings 
 month, or two-thirds of eftates for abfence from "'"""^'^• 
 the public worfhip ; hunted and fpoiled by in- 
 formers ; fubjeO:ed to exceffive diitraints for 
 ecclefiaftical demands ; run to excommunication 
 in the bifhop's court ; and imprifoned for contu- 
 macy (as it was termed) or on writs de excommu^ 
 nicato capltudo : and notwithlianding their iuffer- 
 ings were fevere enough this year, yet the 
 flruggle between the contending parties, into 
 which we have obferved the nation was divided, 
 being yet undecided, the fufferings of this year 
 fell (iiort of the fucceeding years, after viftory 
 declared for the court party. 
 
 The parliament, after a long interval, were fuf- 
 fered to meet, and when met, they went with 
 the fpirit of their predeceifors, into an enquiry 
 
 concerning
 
 5o5 KISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, concerning the Popifh plot ; and becaufe fome 
 
 y^^' malicious epifcopalians were very forward to 
 
 ^o rank the Quakers amoncrn: the plotters, George 
 
 I 680. _ , ^ 1 • T J 1 1 • ° 
 
 rox, who was then m London, thought it ne- 
 G.Foxpub ceflary to publifii the following declaration on 
 daration on behalf of himfelf and friends, to remove fuch 
 bdiaifoi eroundlefs fufpicions from the parliament. 
 
 friends. o i- 
 
 " It is our principle and teftimony to deny 
 " and renounce all plots and plotters againft the 
 '' king, or any of his fubjeds ; for we have the 
 *' fpirit of Chrift, by which we have the mind 
 " of Chi iff, who came to fave men's lives, and 
 not to deftroy them : And we would have the 
 king and all his fubjecls to be fafe. Where- 
 " fore we do declare, that we will endeavour, 
 to our power, to fave and defend him and 
 them, by difcovering all plots and plotters 
 (which fhall come to our knowledge) that 
 would deftroy the king or his fubjecls : This 
 we do fmcerely offer unro you. But as to 
 fwearing and fighting, which in tendernefs of 
 " confcience we cannot do, ye know, that we 
 " have fuffered thefe many years for our con- 
 " fcientious refufal thereof. And now that the 
 " Lord hath brought you together, we defire 
 " you to relieve us, and free us from thofe fuf- 
 " ferings ; and that ye will not put upon us to do 
 " thofe things, which we have fuffered fo much 
 *' and fo long already for not doing ; for if you 
 *' do, ye will make our fufferings and bonds 
 " ftronger, inftead of relieving us. 
 
 « GEORGE FOX." 
 
 Notwith- 
 
 
 (C 
 
 a
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 507 
 
 Notwithftanding the former applications on chap. 
 behalf of this fociety to the late parliament, in ^L, 
 regard to their fufterings as popifh recufants, ^^g^^ 
 and the favourable difpofition of many of the 
 members to yield them relief, they were dill ex- 
 pofed to ruinous profecutions on the obfolete 
 ftatutes of Eliz. and Jac. 1. and fundry of their 
 members being indi£^ted this year as popifh re- 
 cufants, the prefent dii]3ofition of the parliam.erit 
 to make a diltindion between thefe and protef- 
 tant diifenters, encouraged the people called 
 Quakers to prefent their cafe to the king and ^-refli ar.pi;- 
 
 ^-,. •.%, r ^' .1 • ^ ' A. ' n. cation to the 
 
 parliament. Reprelentmg their compiamt agamlt i^i„^ ^nd 
 the late profecutions in the Exchequer for two- parHam'-'nt 
 thirds of their eftates, which for two years laft f?cm a'L 
 pad had been feized into the kin;T's hands upon ^'^-^^^ 
 old ftatutes made againft popifh recufants ; and popifn rc- 
 levies daily made thereupon by the fherilfs '^"^*°''- 
 throughout many counties in England ; the un- 
 reafonablenefs whereof they proceed to demon- 
 flrate, by a particular examination of the pre- 
 ambles of thefe ads, and the occafion thereof; 
 whereby they hoped it v/ould evidently appear 
 that thefe flatutes were enaded again it ^ popilh 
 recufants only, and not againfi proi-efiant diflen- 
 ters, or any other than popifli ; and that the 
 profecution of protefLant diifenters (as they have 
 been carried on of late) is a firetcliing of tliefe 
 flatutes beyond the bounds of reafon and the in- 
 tent of the law makers ; and the parliament hav- simdry 
 injx appointed a committee to make enquiry into 'fiends at- 
 
 o rr ^ . ,- n i-,r tend a com. 
 
 the prolecutions 01 protCiCant diiicnters upoiimitteeof 
 thefe flatutes ; Copies of the aforefaid cafe were |^"^'ia"X*i'r 
 not only prefented to the members of the faid cafe b^toie 
 
 ^ ^ tlicm. 
 
 »> BelTe. 
 
 committee,
 
 5o8 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, committee, but alfo fupported by the perfonal 
 ^^^^' attendance of fundry friends of London or its 
 ^g neighbourhood upon the fittings of faid com- 
 mittee, r>articular!y William Penn, G eorge White- 
 head and William Mead % of whom the commit- 
 tee enquired, 
 
 1. If they owned themfelves protellant dif- 
 fenters ? 
 
 2. How they fufFered by laws made againft 
 popifli recufants ? 
 
 To both which queftions anfwering to the fa- 
 tisfadlion of the committee, their treatment was 
 generally refentcd as unjuft and illegal, in being 
 profecuted as popifh recufants, when they were 
 manifeflly real proteftants, while the papifls 
 themfelves were indulged and exempted from the 
 penalties of thefe laws. " Though," (faith G. 
 Whitehead) " we envied not their liberty, nor 
 " any people's elfe, notwithflanding we fuffered 
 *' deeply in their Head." 
 
 In the courfe of the committee's conference 
 
 upon this fubjeft. Sir Chriilopher Mufgrave, 
 
 though a zealous churchman, expreifed his utter 
 
 Sirchnf- diilike of the fevere ufage of this people, al- 
 
 'g^J^^/j^^/'Iedging, The pH/ons were filed ivitb ibem, that 
 
 mark in many of them had been excofiununicated and impri- 
 
 foned for fmall matters^ and that it was a Jljame 
 
 and fcandal for their church to life the fakers Jo 
 
 ■hardly on 'very trivial occafions. 
 
 '^ George Whitehead's Journal. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
 their fa 
 vour,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 509 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Bill for exempting Diffenters from Penal Laws.'-' 
 Friends attend the Committee of Parliamsnt to 
 
 folicit on behalf of their Society. — Terms offered 
 •which would not relieve the People called fa- 
 kers. — The Bill confined to excjnpting Diffenters 
 
 from 35 Eli%. — // paffeth both lioufes^ but is 
 clandejiinely fuppreffed. — Refohes in favour of 
 Diffenters. — Perfecution continued. — George Fox 
 
 profecuted for Tithes. — William Penn obtains a 
 Grant of Land in America. 
 
 IN confequence of thefe enquiries and the re- CHAP. 
 port of the committee thereupon, a bill was xii. 
 brought in for exempting the proteftant fubjefts ^-^^v^v-/ 
 diffenting from the church of Entrland from the ]^}^' 
 
 . ' r • 1 1 • \ r T Bill for ex- 
 
 penahies or certam laws ; being deligned to en- empting 
 largre the borders of the church communion, fo f'fieiitcrs 
 
 " t 1 r 1 1 • n' 1 fi'om penal 
 
 as to comprehend one part or the diilenters, and Lws. 
 to grant a toleration and exemption from the 
 penal ftatutes to the more fcrupulous, the Qua- 
 kers particularly, upon condition of fubfcribing 
 a declaration of allegiance, and aiTembling with 
 open doors. 
 
 Notwithflanding the people called Quakers Friends at 
 were palhve and patient under fuffcring, yet [^ 
 they were not fo infenfible to the benefits of their of par 
 own eafe in their perfons and poflefhons, nor to "ic'j"',n*he- 
 a fympathetic feeling for their friends under per- half of th 
 fecution, as to negiecl the favourable opportu- °"^''' 
 
 nitv. 
 
 tend the 
 .oniniittec 
 la- 
 ment to \0' 
 
 cir
 
 5IO H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, nity, now apparently prefented, for promoting 
 XII. the defirable liberty of confcience for which they 
 ^"^"^ — ' had fo often pleaded and applied in vain. Divers 
 i6So. friends in London, when the bill was com- 
 mitted, were diligent again in attending the 
 committee early and late, in order to folicit the 
 inlertion of fuch cliiufes as might give eafe to 
 the tender confciences of their friends, whofe 
 religious dilTent was fcrupulous in fome matters 
 beyond other difienters ; and were fo fuccefsful 
 in their folicitations, that befide an exemption 
 from the penalties of the laws againfl: popifli re- 
 cufants and conveniicles, they obtained a claufe 
 to be inferted for accepting a declaration of tide- 
 lity inllead of the oath of allegiance. 
 
 The other bodies of diiTenters were folicitous 
 to obtain the privileges they defired, the preiby- 
 terians, keeping an eye to the emxoluments of 
 the eftabliihed prieflhood, wanted to be compre- 
 hended within the church ; others were content 
 Terms of- ^v*ith a toleration of their religion. And fome 
 %vouid'not of the members of the houfe being of the pref- 
 rditvethe bytcrlan and independent focieties, or favourers 
 HdQua- of them, ofiered terms for the eafe of thefe fo- 
 leti. cisties, which would have left the Quakers, fo 
 
 called, Hill expofed to perfccution, viz. the 
 taking the oaths of allegiance and fupremacy ; 
 wherefore George Whitehead ^ took an oppor- 
 tunity to confer with Colonel Birch and Alder- 
 man Love (the members who had propofed the 
 faid terms) reprefenting their propofal as quite 
 inadequate to the purpofe of giving effetlual re- 
 lief to other confcientious diffcnters, as well as 
 to the (fakers, as he could not apprehci^d how 
 
 ^ Gso^Z^ Whitehead's journal. 
 
 a 
 
 thev
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 511 
 
 they could take the oath of fupremacy, and chap, 
 thereby fwear, That they folemnly declare and xii. 
 teltify, that the king's highncfs is the only in- ^ — ^^"^ 
 preme governor of this realm, as well in all fpi- 1680. 
 ritual or ecclefiaflical matters, as in temporal, 
 and at the fame time difl'ent from the church of 
 England ; thereby withdrawing their obedience 
 from him to whom they acknowledge it owing, 
 which was an inconfidency he knew not how to 
 reconcile. 
 
 Although this bill was committed, it v/as laid The bill 
 afide, the time being not arrived for perfecling Jv"n*,p'ifng" 
 this laudable defign, yet a foundation was laid diflbmers 
 for reviving and completing it in the fucceeding ^°,"^ ^^ 
 reign of king William III. At prefent the com- 
 mons contented themfelves with confining the 
 propofed bill, to exempting proteftant diffenters 
 from the penalties of the perfecuting flatute of 
 the 35th of Eliz. before noticed m.ore than 
 once, for the repeated attempts to put it in force, 
 after lying dormant many years. The repeal of 
 this bill paifed readily through the houfe of com- 
 mons,^ but is faid not to have been equally 
 precipitated through the houfe of lords ; the bi- 
 (hops yielding with relu dance to the refcinding 
 this dreadful penal law, as apprehending the 
 terror thereof might be of fervice to their 
 church, their temper feeming more difpofed to 
 compel by terrors and penalties, than to win by 
 piety, perfuafion and good example. However Pi^iTethWh 
 it pafled boih houfes, and when it fhould have {?""'" t"'- 
 been prefented to the king for his all'ent, it was *" 
 not to be found ; having (as reported) been fe- 
 creted by the clerk of the crown, who had been 
 privately direded by the king not to prefent it 
 
 *= Neale. 
 
 to
 
 512 K I S T O R T OF THE 
 
 CHAP, to him, whereby this fociety, with other dliTen- 
 
 XII. ters, were difappointed of their hopes ; and 
 
 ^--'^'^ their endeavours to procure eafe being eluded, 
 
 ^ ^' they were left expofed to profecution by all the 
 
 penal laws, the effects of which they felt as fe- 
 
 vere as ever. 
 
 Thus were the nonconforming almofl conti- 
 nually harralled during this reign, and the church 
 (fo called) had the gratification of making ample 
 reprifals upon their antagonifts and former op- 
 preifors, for their fuiferings under their hands : 
 For in all the (truggling pf parties thcfe were the 
 fufferers, and the people called Quakers, who 
 had merited no fuch treatment, fuffjred mod of 
 all. The king repeatedly attempted to grant a 
 general indulgence, the benefits of which might 
 extend to the papifls, but then the parliament ac- 
 tuated by an equal averfion to nonconformifts 
 and papifls, oppofcd it with the weight of their 
 influence ; and wlien the temper of the parlia- 
 ment was changed in the favour of the dilTen- 
 ters, their ftrcnuous oppofidon to the court, 
 their unrelaxed perfcverance in promoting the 
 bill of exclufion, and the fuppofed activity of the 
 preibyterians in the elections of the obnoxious 
 members, and favouring the obnoxious meafures 
 of this parliament, had incenfed the king, who 
 had no cordial regard to them before, fall more 
 againil them ; he feemed refolved to keep them 
 and the other fectaries, fo called, in awe, by 
 keeping in referve, and holding over their heads, 
 this fanguinary lav/, which fubjedlied them to ba- 
 nifhment or death. The court bifhops were more 
 uniform in their conduct, adding the weight of 
 their exertions and fuffrages conflantly on the fide 
 of preferment and perfecution, fo that between 
 
 the
 
 TEOPLE CALLED CnjAKERS. 5.13. 
 
 the king, the biiliops and the parliament, they CHAP, 
 held their perfonal Hberty and their juil property xii. 
 by a very precarious tenure through the extent of *^-'^/'"*^ 
 this reign. ^^S^* 
 
 The mifcarriage of their favourite bill of ex- 
 clufion, which they apprehended to be the only 
 effedual fecurity againfl the encroachments of 
 popery, as well as this repeal of 35 Eliz. en- 
 creafed the miftruft which the parliament and na- 
 tion had entertained of the defigns of the court, 
 and engaged them to enter into various meafures 
 and relolves, equally offenfive to the king, who 
 thereupon refolved to prorogue them, of which 
 gaining intelligence, previous to their proroga- 
 tion the parliament palled fundry votes, among 
 which the following, however reprefented by 
 fome writers as the refult of an angry, factious 
 fpirit, mult meet the approbation of all difpaf- 
 fionate men, as being in themfelves reafonable 
 and juil, viz. 
 
 1. " Refolved, that it is the opinion of this Rcfoivesin 
 " houfe, that the a6ls of parliament made in the dlffcntc*?-! 
 " reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James 
 
 " againft popifli recufarits, ought not to be ex- 
 *' tended againft proteftant diflenters.'* 
 
 2. " Refolved, that it is the opinion of this 
 houfe, that the profecution of proteftant dif- 
 fenters upon the penal laws is at this time 
 grievous to the fubjeft, a weakening of the 
 proteftant intereft, an encouragement to po- 
 
 " pery, and dangerous to the peace of the king- 
 " dom.'' 
 
 Thefe votes Ihewed the fenfe of the commons, 
 but did not repeal the penal laws : *" They were 
 
 ^ Sewel. 
 
 Vol. II. K k ■ ftili 
 
 a
 
 5t4 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 CHAP, ftlll in full force, and continued to be rigoroufly 
 XII. enforced upon great numbers of this fociety 
 ^^-^v"^^ for three or four years longer, by magiftrates, 
 1681. -y^ho feemed now to meet with the countenance 
 conthiued*" of their fupcriors in proportion to their feverity 
 in executing thefe laws. But ftill this perfecuted 
 people continued fteadfaft to their duty, refignedly 
 fuffering the hardfliips under which unreafonable 
 men might be permitted to bring them, for the 
 trial of their faith and patience : For they did 
 not fo much confider tbefe occurrences, as arifmg 
 from vifible caufes, the public temper and ftate 
 of the nation, as refer them to the iiipreme caufe 
 and creator of all things, who they believed ruled 
 in the kingdoms of men, in his will'they patiently 
 acquiefced, relying upon his providential arm for 
 fupport in all their fuiferings, refting in hope that 
 he would effeftuare their releafe in that way 
 and time which he fliould fee beft. 
 f^'^edT"" George Fox being ftill in and about London, 
 the F.xche- was under a profecution, in which we have a 
 SthV"'^ frefh evidence of the avaricious difpofition of 
 the claimants of tithes, of the exorbitance of 
 the tithe laws then in force and practice, and of 
 the difintereftednefs of George Fox. He and 
 his wife were fued for fmall tithes in the Exche- 
 quer, and although they proved in their anfwer 
 to the plaintiff's bill, that no fuch tithe had been 
 demanded or paid off her eftate during forty- 
 three years fhc had lived there, yet becaufe they 
 could not anfwer upon oath, they were run up 
 to a writ of rebellion, and an order of court 
 was iffued to take them both into cuftody. 
 George, underftanding a warrant was out 
 againft him, waited upon the barons at their 
 chambers, to lay the hardfhip of their cafe and 
 
 the
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 515 
 
 the Illegality of the plalntiu 's demand before chap, 
 them. When the caule came to a trial two of ^"* 
 the barons declared their opinions, that he was ,„ 
 not liable to the tithes in queftion ; but the other 
 two joining with his antagonifl's lawyers, plead- 
 ed earneftly for a fequcftration, allcdging he was 
 a public man. Here we have a frefh inltance of 
 the prevalence of that party-fpirit, which inf^efted 
 the nation at this time to fuch a degree as to 
 pollute the dreams of juftice. What figniiied it 
 to the merits ci the caufe, whether he was a 
 public or private man ? However the adverfe ba- 
 rons bringing over one of thofe who had before 
 decided in his favour, the fequcftration was ob- 
 tained, but with limitation to the fum proved 
 due, which greatly difappointed the profecu tor's 
 aim, which was to have obtained it without limi- 
 tation, that fo they might be their own carvers 
 in making diftraint. In the courfe of the trial, 
 it being made appear that George Fox had en- 
 gaged himfelf never to meddle with his wife's 
 eftate, the judges could hardly be perfuaded any 
 man would be fo difmterefted ; until William 
 Meade, who had given them the information, 
 produced the engagement under his hand and 
 leal, which raifed their admiration, as being a 
 fpecimen of felf-denial rarely to be met with in 
 thefe ages. 
 
 It was in the earlv part of this year ' that the w. Penn 
 
 !• . f~ f '. c ^ r • CO' obtains a 
 
 kmg, m conlideration oi the iervices or bir gra-t cf a 
 William Penn, and fundry deb-s due to him trait in 
 
 r , 1 ' r 1 • 1 r 1 America, 
 
 rrom tne crown at the tune ot his deceaie, by from hin-, 
 letters patent, bearing date the 4th of March, ^-^"^o^^^'^'.^^^ 
 1 680-1, granted to William Penn and his heirs vania. 
 
 ' William Penn's Life. 
 
 K k 2 that
 
 5i6 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, that province lying on the weft of the river Dela- 
 ^"- ware in North America, formerly belonging to 
 the Dutch, and then called the New Nether- 
 lands. The name was now changed by the king 
 to that of Pennfylvania, in refpedl to William 
 Penn, whom and his heirs he made governors 
 and abfolute proprietors of it ''. This favour of 
 the king is fuppofed to be principally owing to 
 the influence of the Duke of York, with whom, 
 as High Admiral of England, his father. Admiral 
 Penn, was a peculiar favourite, and who on his 
 dying bed, confidering his fon expofed to the 
 danger of fufiering for his religious principles, 
 recommended him to his proteftion, which the 
 duke promifed, and in general performed. Wil- 
 liam Penn, from a principle of gratitude, in 
 confequence of thcfe favours, was attached clofe- 
 ly to the duke's intereft, both during King 
 Charles's life, and after himfelf mounted the 
 throne, which drew upon him many fevere cen- 
 fures and groundlefs jealoufies, as we may more 
 particularly obferve in due courfe of time. 
 
 ^ Sewel. Pcnn's Life. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PEOPLE CALLF.D QJJAKERS. 51' 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Parliament convened at Oxfo?'d. — Which being 
 foon dijfolved, is fiicc ceded by a fevere Perfe- 
 ' cution. — Change of the Magiji rates of London, 
 — Informers encouraged. — George Whitehead in- 
 formed againfl and fined. — Cruel P erf ecuiion in 
 the City of Brifiol. — Chiefly carried on by She- 
 ri^ Knight, Helliar an Attorney, and their 
 AJfftants. — Meeting'houfe greatly damaged, and 
 many Perfons grofsly abufed. — Meeting-houfe at 
 Templeftreet damaged in like Manner,— Rude 
 Boys incited to affaidt the Women. — Helliar*s 
 vile Conduct. — The Prifons filled. — The Magi- 
 firates and Citizens difapprove thefe Proceedings. 
 — The Mayor protefls againjl the State of the 
 'Jail. — Certificates of the dangerous Condition 
 thereof. — Solicitation to the King for redrefs. — 
 Order iffucd for their better Accommodation. — 
 But dl/regarded by the Perfecutors, who con- 
 iinue their Exertions in various Modes of Op- 
 prcffion. — Sufferings at Plamjlead-End. — At 
 Br ought on, Leiceflerfoire. 
 
 1 TIE king foon after the prorogation of thee ha p. 
 lafc parliament dilToIved it by proclamation, and ^^J.,^ 
 foon after convoked another to meet at Oxford, ^^g^ 
 which difcovering the fame temper with the late parliament 
 parliaments, and perfifting in profecuting the bill ^'^'^'^''^'j'"'^ ^'^ 
 of exclufion, notwithftanding any conceiTions or 
 expedients the king propofed, he was at lad fo 
 provoked, that, taking the advantage of a mif- 
 
 underftanding
 
 5i8 H I S T O R T OF the 
 
 CHAP, underftanding between the tv/o houfes in Fitz- 
 ^^'^- Harris's cafe, he abruptly diiTclved them. 
 "y^^"^ The non-coniormifts, through the remainder 
 This pariia- of this icign, feit the fevere eiieds of this dilTo- 
 ment being lution, being cx^tofed to the power of their ene- 
 non-confor-rnies, and deprived or the protection or a par- 
 mifts fe- liament that M^as inchned to patronize their 
 f^'utctir*" caufe. They had been for feme time pretty 
 much at eafe in the city of London, the magi- 
 ftracy and the citizens of that city, for the major 
 part, having conneded themfelves with the 
 country party ; fo that from the year 1672 we 
 meet with few fufferings of our friends in that 
 city on any other accounts than ecclefiaftical 
 demands. But, according to a late hiftorian ', 
 the king, finding his authority abfolute, refolved 
 to humble the prefoyterians, and gratified his 
 revenge by the mod unjuftifiable methods, to 
 which he was inftigated by the violent counfels 
 of his brother. The non-conformifts were rigo- 
 roufly profecuted on the ftatutes enaded in the 
 reign of Queen Elizabeth. All the magiflrates, 
 judges, jullices of peace, and lieutenants of 
 counties, fufpecled of leaning to republican 
 principles, were difplaced, and their places filled 
 with approved tories. The clergy teflified their 
 devotion to the court by their writings and fer- 
 mons. The mutual animofities between the par- 
 ties was nov/ inflamed to rage and rancour, and 
 the king placed himfelf at the head of a party. 
 The city of London ftill maintained their inde- 
 pendency ; and the fheriffs influenced the grand 
 jury in fuch a manner as fkreened the diflfenters 
 of that capital from opprefilon. To bring the 
 
 1 Smollet. 
 
 city
 
 PEOPLE CALLED OJJAKERS. 519 
 
 city under the influence of the court, Sir Johnc hap. 
 Moore, the mayor of this year, had been gained ^^ 
 over to the court intereft, who nominated two rn 
 perfons for flieriffs that would be acceptable to 
 the miniftry ; and ahhough the citizens difap- 
 proved the nomination, and elected two others 
 by a hirge majority, the mayor, fupported by 
 the court, forced his (heriiTs upon, the public ; change of 
 and in the like irregular manner he fecured a ^^^ ""'^^j." 
 fucceffion in the mayoralty to Sir William Prit- London. 
 chard, whom he knew devoted to the king's 
 commands ; and in order to prevent all future 
 oppofition from the city, the next year the king, 
 on very flender pretences, wrefted their charter 
 from them, and reftored it only on condition of 
 his having a negative in the choice of their 
 magiftrates. 
 
 The recital of this change of the magiftracy 
 of London accounts for the reverfe of the mea- 
 fures adopted in relation to the diffenters. The 
 informers, who had been for fome time held in 
 deteftation by the citizens, and difcountenanced 
 by the magiltrates, began now to return to their 
 prey with frefh vigour and infolence, under the 
 encouragement of the court and its partizans •". 'nffrme" 
 Ihey were lymg on the watch ni molt parts or 
 the nation to make a prey of the people called 
 Quakers (as well as others) wherever they had 
 meeting's : and .vile and infamous as tlieir cha- 
 rasters were, they received encouragement, not 
 only from perfecuting magiilrates, but from 
 many of the clergy, who elteemed them ufeful 
 fervants of their church, to force conformity 
 againft convidion. Several of the priefls, even 
 
 ■^ George Whitehead, Part ii. 
 
 themfelveSj
 
 520 
 
 HISTORY or the 
 
 1682. 
 
 CHAP, tbemrelves, turned informers, aflilled in difturb- 
 ^''' ing the meetings, and by their perfonal affift- 
 ance, as well as their countenance, promoted 
 informations ruinous to many innocent perfons 
 and families. 
 G.White- George Whitehead in particular foon felt the 
 fonned"a- cffeds of the changc of temper in the magiftracy 
 gainftanu of London", being fined three or four times over 
 in this and the fucceeding year. Firft 20I. by 
 Sir John Moore, for preaching in a meeting in 
 Grace-church-ftreet, for which he had taken 
 from him goods in grocery ware out of his Ihop, 
 by James Holfworth, conftable, and others, to 
 the value of 14I. 6s. lod. according to the bed 
 eftimate the owner and others prefent could 
 make. Again, by Vv'arrant from Sir William 
 Pritchard for the like fine, he had his goods 
 'feized by the fame conftable and others to the 
 value of 2 61, (as the owner eftimated) for the 
 diflrainers would not fuifer either an inventory 
 to be taken or the goods to be weighed or ap- 
 praifed. Upon the like pretence that George 
 Whitehead did take upon him to teach in another 
 meeting or conventicle held the 23d July, 1682, 
 at the Savoy in the Strand, on a conviction made 
 and certified by Sir Clement Armiger, on the 
 information of John Hilton and Gabriel Shad, 
 ijiformers, one Manby, conRable, with three 
 others, came in a violent and furious manner 
 and broke open the back door of his fhop, and 
 fever al doors of the chambers of his hcufe, feized 
 all his beds and bedding, a confiderable quan- 
 tity of other houfehold goods and fliop goods, 
 moderately valued at 33I. but neither would 
 
 " George "Whitehead's Journal, part 2, page 541. 
 
 thefe
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 521 
 
 thefe officers fufFer an inventory to be taken, or chap. 
 the goods to be weighed or appraifed, pretending ^"' 
 the feizurc to be for a fine ot 40I. ,. 
 
 Two of his friends, John Edge and Jofeph 
 Peckover, quietly endeavouring to perluade thefe 
 conllables to moderation, and to fuifer an inven- 
 tory of the goods to be taken before they were 
 removed, were apprehended by the faid Manby, 
 and profecuted upon his evidence for a riot ; 
 for which they were fined and committed to New- 
 gate, and confined there ten weeks, to the great 
 detriment of themfelves and famihes, being meil 
 of confiderable trade, and Jofeph Peckover be- 
 ing an inhabi'uuit of Nori'olk, and above eighty 
 miles from home. 
 
 George Whitehead made his appeal againfi g wMte- 
 this lafi conviction, and alfo aeainil another '""^ ""P' 
 made by Sir Thomas Jenner, Recorder of Lon-" 
 don, for a fine of 20I. and upon trial was dif- 
 charged upon both appeals ; but only recovered 
 111. OS. 6d. on the former, Manbv havinr fold 
 all his goods for 151. and returned the juftice 
 only the above fum. The charge of profecutinp- 
 the two appeals amounted to 17I. 9s. 8d. fo that 
 he computed l:>is v. hole Icfs at 61I. 7s. beiidcs 
 the damage done to his hcufe and goods. 
 
 Several others were in like mianner defpoiled 
 in dilTerent parts 01 the city, and in moft parts 
 of the I'Jngdom ; but in the city of Brifiol a <""iei p^r- 
 perlecution or rhe members or this lociety oroke the city of 
 out, and was carried on with uncommon outrage Bnaoi, 
 and cruelty ; principally by the perfevcring m.a- 
 lice of a few intemperate fpirits, who ihrufh 
 themfelves into oflice, to diflinguiHi their loyalty 
 by an excefs of injufiice, and their zeal for tlie 
 •church, by the enormity of abufe to their inoifenfive 
 
 neighbours ;
 
 522 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A P. neighbours ; or bufily interfered in molefting, 
 yj^'^' imprilbning and breaking up their meetings, 
 go~^ when invei'ced with no legal authority. The 
 chief./ car- ^^^^ dirtinguifhed names in this band of officers 
 Tied on by and informcrs were Sheriit Knio-ht, Alderman 
 ^nY4. Ralph OiyfFe, jimior, one Helliar an attorney, 
 Heiiiaran with their fubordluate agents, Lugge, lilley, 
 andThdr Caife, Patrick, Hoare, Watkins, Brand and 
 afliitants. Higgins. They began under pretence of levy- 
 ing 5I. laid on the meeting-houfe in James's pa- 
 rifti, towards defraying the expenfe of the trained 
 Thehrg-r tands, under colour whereof they took the feats, 
 nieedr.ft- forms, ifools and chairs, breaking many of them, 
 ly d Jifaged, tc>o^ away what they pleafed, and burned the 
 ana muuy reft ; then they encouraged the boys to break 
 ^ '''■ ' the windows. A few days after Knight and Hel- 
 liar attacked the people in their peaceable meet- 
 ing, threw away the men's hats, beat Cananiel 
 Briton an ancient man with a cane, threw him 
 down and bruifed him very much, and after- 
 wards fent him to Newgate. They broke the 
 galleries, and carried away the partitions of the 
 meeting-houfe. They plundered the dwelling of 
 Elizabeth Batlio, widow, threw out her goods, 
 broke her windows, obliged her to quit her 
 houfe, which fhe held by leafe, and put another 
 perfon in poiTeffion of it. Afterwards they 
 feized the meeting-houfe fas they pretended) for 
 the king, fadencd up the door places with boards, 
 and put in men to keep polTeflion. 
 and after- Haviiig tluis by violcuce taken pofleilion of 
 rt'lvrJpS ^^-^ meeting-houfe, they proceeded to make the 
 &ICCL. " ]]xq dcvaftation at the other meeting-houfe of 
 this people in Temple-ftreet ; here they tore the 
 windovvs and galleries to pieces in fo riotous a 
 manner as to terrify the iieighbourhccd, and 
 
 after
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 523 
 
 after they raifed thefe riots, they accufed the chap. 
 perfons thus iiiiuked and abufed as the authors "^'^ 
 of them. The damage done to the meeting- ^r"*"^ 
 houfes was computed at 150I. and all this damaf>e 
 was done at the mere will of Knight and Hel- 
 liar, without any juft caufe or legal authority; 
 the pretence of charging thefe houfes to the 
 trained bands being a plain fiction to palliate 
 the illegality of their a61:ions. They ulually 
 were attended with a rabble of rude boys, whofe ^udc boys 
 propenfiiy to mifchief and abufive behaviour "i^^^'^^'jf^i^g 
 tiiey wantonly encouraged, in defiance to every women. 
 rule of decorum, inciting them particularly to 
 abufe the female part of the alTembly, even wo- 
 men of repute and ccnfideration. Helliar, as a 
 fignal to the boys to begin the attack, would 
 call out to the women, " Have a care of your 
 " hoods and fcarfs," upon which tlie boys would 
 fall upon them, and violently tear hoods and 
 fcarfs, and otherv/ife abufe them. One of them 
 impudently offering a grofs indecency to a young 
 woman of delicacy and fpirit, flue gave him a 
 box on the ear, for which Helliar feat her to 
 Bridewell. They took from [even, perfons in 
 five days above lool.'s worth of goods, fining 
 fome for the pretended poverty of oihers. They v.ir;ous 
 profecuted fifty as popiih recufants, in order to """'^« ^^ 
 run tnem to a premunire. Jonn Moon was 
 committed to prifon on the Oxford aft, and 
 Griffith Jones, a trader fiom London, being 
 taken at a meeting, had the oath of allegiance 
 tendered to him, at the motion of the bifliop, 
 and for refufing it was fent to jail. He' liar con- hcIH 
 tinued his unmanly infults on the female part of 7'l" 
 tne congregation, violatmg every fcntnnent or 
 liberality and common decency, calling them 
 
 whores. 
 
 iiar s 
 con-
 
 524 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 CHAP, -whores, tearing their hoods and fcarves as ufual, 
 
 xni. dragging them out, and fending fome of them 
 
 ^^^"'""''^^ to Bridewell, At Temple-dreet he confined the 
 
 16S2. j^gj^ ^^^ difperfed the women, driving them as if 
 
 he had been driving cattle. 
 
 Befidcs the plunder, and perfonal abufe to 
 which they were fubjecl, feveral of them from 
 time to time had been committed prifoners to 
 The prifons Newgate, whcre they were greatly incommoded, 
 *^^^'^'^' and their health endangered for want of room ; 
 wherefore thev reprefented their cafe in a pe- 
 tition or complaint addreffed to Sir Thomas 
 Earle, mayor, and the reft of the juflices, where- 
 in they complain of being fo ftraitened, as to 
 have nine beds in one room and feven in ano- 
 ther, of thirteen feet fquare ; that although an 
 order of fefhons had been made for enlarging 
 the piifcn, it had not been complied with, and 
 requeiting, for the prelervation of their health and 
 their lives, that they would fee their order 
 obeyed. 
 ATaginrates The generality of the magiilratcs and citizens 
 dLp'provr "^''^''"^ "^*^^'^ humane than to approve of the cruel 
 thefc pro- proccedinp;s of thefe forward perfecutors, the 
 mayor and aldermen feemed mollly difpofed to 
 comply with the reouell: of the prifoners, and 
 declared their diiTatisfaction at the ftate of the 
 jail, elteeming It an unf.t and unhealthy pri- 
 fon, of dangerous confequence to the lives of 
 the king's fubjecls, and required the late order 
 of feffions to be put into execution ; and Ri- 
 chard Lane, one of the fncriffs, declared his wil- 
 lingnefs to yield obedience: But it was refufed 
 and fruilvated by fiicrilF Knight, who depending 
 upon fuperior fupport in his rigorous meafurcs, 
 feemed fmgly invefted with power to controul 
 
 the 
 
 ccedirgs.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 525 
 
 the refolutions of the whole body of the magi- c h a p 
 flrates. ^ . . : ■• xiii. 
 
 The mayor, not without reafon, beinj^ piqued *>-— v^-' 
 at this overbearing infolence of an inferior ma- '^^^• 
 giftrate, declared his rcfolution that all convic- would L 
 
 avc 
 
 tions ihould be public, and not made in taverns ".^' ^"""1^.: 
 and alehoufes : He entered his proteft againfl 
 fuch convidions, and againft the jail, as abfo- g^ini^ the' 
 lutely unfit for fuch prifoners. He afterwards "=if= "* '^' 
 demanded an account of the conviclions made^^' 
 to that time, which Knight refafed : Wherefore 
 the mayor caufed a record to be made of fuch 
 demand and refufal. The mayor further declar- 
 ed that he would have no more private convic- 
 tions ; and that the goods dillrained fliould be 
 depofited in a public vvarehoufe ; that he would 
 have an account of the fale of them, that they 
 might be fold to their full value, and juilly ac- ' 
 counted for. To be checked in the exorbitance 
 of plunder, and tied down to any degree of juf^ ~ 
 tice, was fo highly difpleafing to Knight and his ",.,." 
 band of informers, that thcv threatened the ' • 
 mayor with the weight of their oppofition to his 
 intercll at the next elciiiion. 
 
 Inllead of complying with the reafonable re- 
 queil of the prifoners, and the order of the [ei^- 
 fions, thefe infulting perfecutors perfided in in- 
 commoding them ftill worfe, by a continual 
 crowding oi the jails with frcili prifoners. TheT},e^;j 
 next opportunity after their difpute with the"oudcd 
 
 •C ^ n ^u • ^ ^ f u llill more. 
 
 mayor, as ir to Ihew their contempt or all au- 
 thority, but that whereby they were fupported, 
 they fent forty-three more to Bridewell and forty 
 to Newgate. 
 
 A certificate of their treatment here was certificate 
 drawn up and publilhed by fome of the citizens '^[^^^ JJf" 
 
 ("not tl^c jail} Sec.
 
 526 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 1682. 
 
 CHAP, (not Quakers) who hearing of their inhuman 
 xm. ufap-e, accompanied fherifT Lane to view the 
 priibn, wherein they declare it altogether unfit 
 for the uncommon number of priioners crowd- 
 ed therein, eighty-five whereof were of the people 
 called Quakers, w^ho were unreafonably thronged 
 to four, five, fix, feven and nine beds in a 
 room, many necelfitated to lie on the ground, 
 in a filthy place, which had been a dog kennel, 
 to the hazard of their lives, which as the heat 
 ftiould encreafe might breed infeftious diflem- 
 pers to the endangering of the health and lives 
 of the citizens at large. But remonftrances from 
 every quarter were ineffectual with men void of 
 reafon and compafiion, and folely intent on 
 fully gratifying their unfeeling difpofition to 
 vengeance and mifchief. 
 
 When all rational and humane endeavours at 
 home were too feeble to give a check to their 
 cruelty, two friends, Laurence Steel and Charles 
 Jones, junior, took a journey to London to 
 ieek that relief, they could not procure there, 
 from the king and council, the only body that 
 were powerful enough to check the enormities 
 of thefe perfecutors at Briflol. They were af- 
 filed in their folicitations to government by 
 George Whitehead. Previous application was 
 made to Prince Rupert, and the lord prefident, 
 who difcove:ing a compafTionate concern at the 
 unreafonable fulferings of their friends, procured 
 them at their requeiL, an opportunity to lay their 
 complaint, the flate of their hard ufage and 
 petition for relief before the king and council. 
 Several of the council being averfe to the non- 
 conformifls, rather difcouraged and oppofed their 
 foUcitations ; yet their pleading of the caufe of 
 
 the 
 
 Laurence 
 Steel and 
 Charles 
 Jones, ju- 
 tiior, go to 
 Loncci. to 
 i'olicit the 
 king.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 527 
 
 the fuiTerers, and clear exhibition of the illega- chap. 
 lity and injuftice of the proceedings againft xiii. 
 them, made that impreiTion on the king and ^— >/--' 
 the generality of the council, that an order was 1082. 
 iifued to the magidrates of Briftoi to rJJow the cd for their 
 prifoners better accommodations, whereupon '""'^'' *^- 
 lome or them were removed out or Newgate tio«. 
 to another prifon, uutil they were releafed. 
 
 Notwithftanding this order, their perfecutors 
 were in nowife difcouraged from harraiTiiig them 
 by all manner of abufe, Helliar and Tilley tore Abufcs con- 
 Mary Hooper's fcarf, and pufhed her about to'''"*^'^' ,. 
 that degree, that Ihe was ill lome time after. . , 
 Mary Page, wife of Francis Page, was violently 
 pulled out of the meeting, to the danger of her 
 life, file being then far advanced in her preg--. 
 nancy. Having driven and haled them out of 
 the meeting, they encouraged the attendant rab- 
 ble of boys to follow them in their abule, by 
 pelting them along with dirt ; Kelliar, in his 
 accuftomed vulgar oratory, faluting them with i;..: .. 
 the mob-like appellations of ugly wbores, bitches. 
 Jades and the like. Thomas Lofty, an ancient 
 man, not going out of the meeting as foon as 
 they bade him, Helliar delivered him to the 
 boys to carry to Bridewell ; they grievoully a- 
 bufed him, throwing him clown feveral times 
 in the dirt. 
 
 The imprifonmcnt of this people was rdll ex- 
 tremely rirarous, and all their treatment unrea- 
 fonably illegal and unjull. Three of the prifo- 
 ners being dangcroufly ill, could not obtain the • -^•-■^ 
 favour to go home a little for the prefervation 
 of their lives or recovery of their health ; When 
 one of their v/ives was brought to bed, her 
 hufband requeiled liberty of the keeper to go 
 
 but
 
 528 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, but for an hour or two to fee her, but his re- 
 
 xni. queft would not be granted. They could get no 
 
 *• — V — > fight of the informations or conviQions againfb 
 
 16S2. them, though they employed lawyers for that 
 
 purpofe ; for the records were noc in court, but 
 
 in the cuftody of Knight, Helhar or their agents ; 
 
 and it was with the utmoft difficulty they could 
 
 procure copies of the warrants by which the 
 
 difireiles ^^ere made. 
 
 orh^'if? ^^^^ repeated complaints of thefe prifoners to 
 
 ansofthe the magiftrates, of the firaitnels and noifome- 
 
 fut^'^ofSo ^^^^ °^ ^^"^-^^ prifon, gave occafion to feveral phy- 
 
 prifun, ficians to view and examine the ftate thereof, 
 
 who certified under their hands that the jail was 
 
 lb full and noifome, and the prifoners io ftrait- 
 
 ened for room to reft, as had a tendency to the 
 
 deftroying and fuftbcating of them, to breed in- 
 
 fe61:ious diftempers, and to endanger the lives 
 
 not only of the faid prifoners, but of the nu- 
 
 m.erous inhabitants of the city. 
 
 treated Thc Certificate of the phyficians was treated 
 
 rc'-ard.' " ^^''^^^ cqual difregard with the former reprefen- 
 
 tations of the citizens. It feems thefe men, wiio 
 
 appear to have ufurped the government of the 
 
 city, paid as little regard to the difguft or cen- 
 
 fure of their fellow citizens, as they did to law, 
 
 equity or humanity : Depending upon the fup- 
 
 port of their fuperiors, who doubtlefs on the 
 
 whole countenanced their proceedings, they fet 
 
 cenfure and contempt at defiance; for about 
 
 this time the (heriif, who was at the head of 
 
 The shenir the band, was advanced by the king to the dig- 
 
 "'^ ^'^ nity of knighrhcod, a dignity which he appears 
 
 to have acquired folelv by his violent profecution 
 
 of diilenters. 
 
 As
 
 PEOPLE CA1.LF-D QUAKERS. 529 
 
 As the conflancy of this people In the great chap. 
 duty of airembling to worlhip God, while at xiii. 
 liberty, was invincible ; fo as a prifon could ^-^p'"^-' 
 not confine the freedom of their fpirits, or the ^^^^^l^_' 
 impulfe of their confciences, they continued the foners grofT- 
 pradice of this duty in their imprifonment, |y ■^•^^p^^^^ 
 meeting and fitting down together in reverence up their 
 and fear: Being fo aflembled on the 30th of the '"'"''"ss- 
 month called March, Sheriff Knight, John Hel- 
 liar, Edmund Brand and the jailer fell furioufly 
 upon them, and thruft them by violence out of 
 the room, the fheriff protefting, unlefs they de- 
 parted, he would put them in irons. He command- 
 ed Roger Holland to be ironed, and put down w 
 into the Weil-houfe, the place where condemned 
 felons are ui'ually put. At another time, being 
 affembled in the common hail, and one of them 
 (Allen Hallmark) fpeaking a few words, the 
 fheriff threw him headlong down flairs, to the 
 great hazard of his life, after which he was put 
 into the Welt-houfe, and continued there feveral 
 days. 
 
 Friends were not only thus expofed to perfonal 
 abufe and impriibnment, but this body of in- 
 formers, like the reft of their order, had an eye 
 to the emoluments of office, as well as the gra- 
 tification of their malice. From ten of this 
 people fined vol. 33. 4d. they took goods to the GHevou, 
 value of 1 i;5l. 14s. od. and agam tor about 
 79I. they took money and goods worth T53I. 
 and upwards. Of their conduft in this refpeft 
 we have the following account in a letter from 
 fome of the fufferers. " They got into Richard ^^^^^^^^^f * 
 " Marfh's * houfe and made fad havock. They ^ "'''^'' 
 
 took 
 
 * In a paper publillied unrler the litle of The Devouring 
 Vol. n. LI Informers
 
 530 
 
 H I ST O R Y OF THE 
 
 c HAP." took goods from others of our friends, of 
 ' XIII. " which we have no account yet, nor is this 
 account full, as we may have occafion to 
 
 1682. 
 
 a 
 
 Informers of Briftol, dated 2 2d of April, 1682, is the follow- 
 ing relation of the havtJtk made at Richard Mariii's houfe. 
 " for thefe two days our old informers, Mr. Helliar and 
 " company, viz. Luggs, Tilly, Cafle, Patrick, Hoare and 
 " Watkins, and their affiftants, have been levying diftrefles 
 *' upon feveral proteftant diflenters, and in the management 
 " of it behaved theinfelves with that fury, and unpa'alleled 
 " degree of violence and arbitrary force, that it fills our 
 " hearts with fadnefs. Part of them (for they divide thera- 
 *' felves into two bodies) that is, Mr. Helliar, Luggs and 
 " Watkins, with their afTiilant Summers the butcher, 
 " came to the houfe of j\'Ir. Richard Marili, who is known 
 *^ to be one of the moft conllderable merchants in this city. 
 " Thefe entering his haufe, to make a dirtrefs for lol. broke 
 " open his counter door, and fearched for money, and then 
 " went into an inward counter, and there feized and carried 
 •' away his journal, ledger, cafh and invoice books, and fe- 
 " veral other books of accounts to the number of thirty, a 
 " bundle of written papers, and feveral forts of houfehold 
 " goods : Not content with this they feized alfo the provi- 
 •' fion of vifluals in the houfe, and carried them away, ex- 
 " cept lome vi£luals and drink> which they confumed on the 
 " place, fpending near three hours time in commanding his 
 " houfe, and 7-anfacking feveral chambers, particularly the 
 " chamber of his wife, then lying-in. During this ftay in 
 " the houfe their behaviour was fo infolent that they greatly 
 " aftrighted not only his fervants, but all the fpedators, 
 " whom bufinefs or refped called to his houfe. This gen- 
 " tleman, Mr. Marfh, had formerly taken from him a ton 
 *' of wine worth 20I. v/hich was fold for 4I. and to make 
 " up the cliftrefs lol. they forced into his man's counter and 
 *' took from him upwards of 61. Their manner of levying 
 *' the diftrefs is as follows. When they enter a fhop, al- 
 " though there be abundance of goods in view, yet they break 
 *' open cbefts, counters, &c. and thence take away the 
 " money; if no money to be found, then they take either 
 " fhop or houfehold goods, and of them generally to double 
 " value. 
 
 " mention
 
 (C 
 
 C4 
 ii 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 531 
 
 " mention more of the kind, as they are like chap. 
 
 to repeat their depredations, having warrants xiii. 
 
 for 400L The quarter feffions are to be next v.-^^'-^s^ 
 
 third day, the bifhop *.is come,, and all things 1682. 
 
 feem ready for our ruin. But our hope is in 
 *' the Lord, and we commend our caufe to him 
 " alone. Thefe dillreffes are taken for a meet- , ,', 
 
 " ing whereat was no preaching or praying 
 " that they pretend to, or we can call to 
 " mind." 
 
 The quarter feffions being heki in courfe, fe- several 
 vera! of them were indided, found guilty and '^'^'^^'■^•'='^' 
 fined; but the juflices, who were not infenfible 
 of their wrongs, nor approved the proceed- 
 ings againft them, inclining to the favourable 
 fide, difcharged the greateft part, on promife of 
 appearing at the next feflions ; and by their le- 
 nity the majority of the prifoners regained their 
 liberty ; but they did not enjoy it long, for 
 Knight and HeUiar immediately returning to dif-hutfoon 
 turb their meetings, within two weeks after ^'^Ifi^'/*"^ 
 their releafe, they committed feveral of them 
 again to Newgate from their morning meeting, 
 and then nailed up the doors upon the reft, be- 
 ing fourteen men and eighty-feven women, and 
 kept them there fix hours without any conve- 
 nience for eafe or refreOiment, Thus exulting 
 in the wantonnefs of power, and glorying in in- 
 fenfibility to the feelings of men, they fet their 
 invention to work, to contrive every method 
 of vexation they could devife againil a harm- 
 
 * By the apprehenfion of this billiop's arrival it feenis 
 probable to me that he encourac^eJ the perfecutlon, and 
 perhaps it might be his fupporc which incited Knight and 
 his aifociates to their illegal proceedings-^, and to difregard the 
 diilatisfa<5lion of the other magiilrates. :J ij.^. 
 
 L 1 2 lefs
 
 532 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 lefs body of people, merely for meeting In a 
 peaceable manner, without injuring any man. 
 They continued to procure their imprilonment, 
 }^f^' until moft or all the men were in mii'erable con- 
 Joftiy in finement ; and then, becaufe the women kept up 
 ^"^ifw""^" the meeting, they proceeded to impriion them 
 men, alfo ; fo that at length the number of prifoners 
 being about one hundred and fixty, there re- 
 mained few but children to keep up the meet- 
 
 ing- 
 
 and the Thefe children, after the example of their pa- 
 
 ^^','^y",,g rents now in confinement, kept up their meet- 
 meeting, ings regularly, with much gravity and compo- 
 fure : It was furprizing to fee the manly courage 
 and conftancy, with which fome of the boys be- 
 haved on this occafion, undergoing many abufes 
 with patience : And although their age exempt- 
 ed them from the lafii of the law, yet even the 
 ftate of minority could not refcue them from the 
 furious alfaults of thefe callous informers ; they 
 put fome of them in the flocks at one time 
 three quarters of an hour, at another time two 
 hours and an half; they were unmercifully bea- 
 ten with twilled whalebone flicks. Helliar fent 
 eleven boys and four girls to Bridewell ; next 
 day they were brought before the deputy mayor ; 
 thev were cajoled and threatened, to make them 
 forbear their meetings, but the children in that 
 refpe(!it were immovable : Wherefore they were 
 fent back to Bridewell ; Helliar, to terrify them, 
 charging the keeper -to procure a new cat of 
 nine tails againfl next morning. Next day he 
 urged the juftices to have them corrected, but 
 could not prevail. So many were at length im- 
 prifoned, that there was no more room in the 
 jails. By their cruel proceedings many families 
 
 were
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 533 
 
 "were alfo ruined in their circumflances. Their chap. 
 goods were continually taken away for attend- xiii. 
 ing meetings, and to thole, who were thought to '^-''v^v.^ 
 be men of good eftates, the oath of alien iance '*5^2. 
 
 , ", . 11- 1 11 Many ruin- 
 
 was tendered, m order to brmg them under tne ^j in their 
 fentencc of premunire, and take away all at circumiUn- 
 once. And as it fetms clear that fuch pro- 
 ceedings were countenanced or concerted by the 
 court, it is fuppofed, that fome of this people 
 had given umbrage by giving their votes at elec- 
 tions in favour of men of moderation, who, 
 they expeded, would be no favourers of popery 
 or perfecution; hints being reported to be thrown 
 out, that if Mr. Penn or Mr. Whiiehead would 
 undertake for the fakers., that they jhould not "cote 
 for parliament men., there flwuld be no further 
 perfecution of them. 
 
 This year John Whitehead, an eminent friend j. whitc- 
 in the miniftry, of the Ead ridine of Yorkdiire, ^""z''' *,"'"" 
 
 J , . '~ , mitten to 
 
 was committed prifoner to Lincoln caftle by juf- jaiUsaje- 
 tice Burrel, being accufed as a jefuit, for'"''* 
 preaching at a meeting, and tried at the enfuing 
 affizes at Lincoln before Baron Street ; but as 
 that accufation could not be made good, the 
 cuftomary fnare was reforted to, of tendering 
 the oath of allegiance, for the refufal o'i which 
 he was indicted, and though he pleaded abiy 
 againfl the unreafonablenefs and illegality of ac- 
 cufmg and trying him for one crime, and then 
 indicting him for another, he was convicted and 
 premunired, and in confequence cad into pri- 
 fon, where it is fuppofed he was detained until 
 the general releafe in 1686. FHcndsper- 
 
 The perfecution thus encouraged at court, ctli^^anc 
 
 fevcre with 
 
 y^ 
 
 and carried on by magiftrates devoted to the -^^-'i'^^ ^^thcr 
 
 •1111 • r • ^ ^ uiUentcrs 
 
 court party, with all the rigour ot a violent n,eet dan. 
 
 DartV dcftinely to 
 I * "' efcape per* 
 
 fecuuon.
 
 534 H I S T O R Y o? the 
 
 c H A p party fpirit, had in a great meafure deterred the 
 XIII. oiher claiTes of proteftant diffenters from keep- 
 ^^ — ^^-^-^ ing up their meetings, or ailembling publickly 
 1682. for worihip ; and although m.any of their minif- 
 ters had betrayed an invidious difpofition to- 
 wards the Quakers, and fet them off in unjufl 
 and difagrecable colours, to render them odious 
 and ridiculous, yet in their nocturnal meetings 
 they would pray God, that it ?night pleafe him to 
 keep the fakers Jleadfaji^ that fo they might be as 
 a -wall about them, in order that other diffenters 
 might not be rooted out. And their fteadfaftnefs 
 in fuffering was fuch, that fome of their perfe- 
 cutors began now to defpair of fubduing them 
 to their wills, being heard to fay, that the fa- 
 kers could not be overcome, and that the devil him- 
 felf could not extirpate them. Several of their 
 teachers, and particularly George Fox, were 
 much engaged by their exhortations and epiftles 
 to encourage them to fieadfafmefs and perfever- 
 ance ; and what was really remarkable, many of 
 thofe, who travelled about at this time in the 
 work of the miniftry, efcaped the purfuit of the 
 informers, and accomplilhed their fervices with- 
 out moleilation. 
 
 Although I have been particular in the nar- 
 ration of the perlecution of friends in Briftol, 
 yet perfecution was not peculiar to that city, 
 but in moft parts was carried on with great ani- 
 s.fferings mofity. ^ At Flamfteid-end in Her'tfordiliire, 
 ftead-end, the julHces and conflables broke the forms, gaU 
 Hmford- lej-ies, \yindows and doors of the meeting-houfe 
 all in pieces ; and after the door was repaired, 
 they broke it again and burned it, whereby 
 they fet fire to the chimney piece, to the ter- 
 ror of the neighbourhood ; and one of the juf- 
 
 tices
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJTAKERS. 5^^ 
 
 tices was heard to declare, tbat if he could be C H A P. 
 fwe, it would burn nothing but the meeting-houfe, ■^lu. 
 it Jldould not be extinguijhed. At Broughton in '^--^v'^ 
 Leicefterfhire endeavours were ufed by perfonal 1^82. 
 abufe and barbarous cruelty to diffolve the ton, L^Kcf- 
 meetlng there. The principal promoters of'"^'"^*- 
 thefe abufes were WiUiam Cotton, pried of the 
 parifh, and the parilli officers, who encouraged 
 certain rude young fellows to infult and abufe 
 the perfons alfembled. Of thefe, two women, 
 Elizabeth Hill and Elizabeth Hilton, were fo 
 grofsly abufed, that the former was left for 
 dead, and the latter fo hurt and bruifed that 
 fhe lay there near three weeks before flie reco- 
 vered ftrength to go home, about two miles. 
 When they were abufing Elizabeth Hill, and 
 dragging her through the dirt, fome of the 
 neighbours afKing them, if they meant to kill the 
 •woman, they anfwered, ivhat care ive, Mr, 
 Cotton bade us. As fhe feemed expiring, one of 
 them faid, let us fee if her teeth be fct ; ano- 
 ther, putting his finger into her mouth, and per- 
 ceiving her breathe, faid, let us at her again, 
 the devil is in her yet, and ive will fqueeze him 
 out. One of thefe youths, gathering up dirt, 
 threw it in the face of Elizabeth Hilton, then 
 took a handful of dirt, and following her, caught 
 her by the hood, holding her behind the head 
 with one hand, cramming the dirt into her 
 mouth with the other. Being Vr'ith fome diffi- 
 culty got into a neighbour's houfe, and appre- 
 hended to be near expiring, the conftable was 
 fent for to keep the peace, but he came not; 
 but one of the youths coming in, upon feeing her 
 faid, / think fhe is dying indeed, but if f}:>e do, 
 fhe is fitter for the devil. 
 
 The
 
 ^35 H I S T O R Y OF ths 
 
 CHAP. The men, after being fpoiled of their fub- 
 XIII. fiance by one Smith an informer, had been al- 
 y^^^^-^^ moil all fent to prifon by the inftigation of the 
 1 63 2. f^n^g priefl. This is indeed a remarkable fpe- 
 cimen of the temper of too many of thefe no- 
 minal paflors of the high-church party, and the 
 morals imbibed by their inftrudions. 
 
 Many more extraordinary cafes of their fuffer- 
 ings might be produced in this year j but we 
 fuppofe the foregoing fufficient. 
 
 — -T' fMMi i'TT Tl""" 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Seven hundred of the People called fakers in 
 Prifon^ — Perfecut'ion at Bri/iol continued. — Cru- 
 elty of Ifaac Dennis^ Jailer^ who on his Death- 
 bed is feized with Horror in refle^Iing on his 
 pajl Condud. — Profecution of Richard Vickris on 
 the Statute of 2,5 EH'^al^eth. — Removed by Ha- 
 beas Corpus to the King^s Bench bar, and ac- 
 quitted. — Perfccution in London coiitinues. — Per-. 
 fccution in Somerfetfliire, 
 
 In the year 1683 perfecution continued rather 
 
 j^^_^*_^ encreafmg in many places, the number of pri- 
 
 j^g-_ foners of the people called Quakers in the dif- 
 
 Seven hun- fercnt parts of England being computed upwards 
 
 drcdprifo- of feven hundred. But ftill that carried on in 
 
 the 
 
 I
 
 PEOPLE cAHEij QJJAKERS. 537 
 
 the city of Bridol feems as generally affefling chap. 
 the members of this fociety as in any part of the xiv. 
 nation, or more fo. They were not only cad *^ — ^^"^ 
 into prifon in great numbers, but inhumanly ^^ '683. 
 
 r , 1 1 Tr • 1 TT IT I Perfccution 
 
 treated there, not only by knight, Jrielliar, and ^ Eriaoi 
 their affiftants, but the jailer, whofe name was '-•'""i»"<^J- 
 Ifaac Dennis, in imitation of his fuperiors, madeCrud^y °f 
 their imprifonment as diftreffing and uneafy as nil^jaiior] 
 pofTible. Some of the prifoners defiring to work 
 at their callings for their fubfiftence in jail, he 
 would not allow them the liberty. One Richard 
 Lindy, a blind-man near ninety years of age, - -' 
 being carried to jail, was forced for want of a 
 bed to fit up three nights in a chair, though " 
 others oifered to pay for his lodging, if a con- 
 venient place had been allowed him. Some in 
 prifon fell fick of the fpottsd fever, of whoni 
 three died. Whereupon friends defired Dennis 
 that rhey might go out in order for their reco- 
 very ; he pretended he was willing, if the ma- 
 giftrates would confent ; but when they wrote to 
 the magiflrates, he ufed his endeavours to pre- 
 vent the fuccefs of their application, and was the 
 means of fruftrating them of obtaining their re- 
 Gueft. To fome friends Vv'ho were taken iick he 
 behaved with great inhumanity, refufmg one the 
 ufe of his friend's fire, to another the liberty of 
 removing out of the didracling noife of fvvearers 
 and drunkards, although the new ilierilT ordered 
 him to do it, yet he detained him in his uncom- 
 fortable lodging 'till he died. He, his wife and 
 underkeeper were mod rudely abufive to them, 
 though many of them were people of account, 
 both with hands and tongue, pulling the men 
 by the hair, throwing them down ftairs, rudely 
 Jialing, and kicking women, and throwing them 
 
 dov/n.
 
 538 H I S T O R Y OF THS 
 
 CHAP down, to the hurting them grievoufly, calling 
 xiv. them by opprobrious nick-names, rogues^ whoresy 
 ^"-""^r-'^ cheats, and fuch like. 
 16^3. gut fj-oji-i j-he difmal catadrophe of this un- 
 feeling jailer we may draw this inference, that 
 although, under the impuife of our paffions, and 
 our gratification of them, we may for the fea- 
 fon Hience the reproofs of the monitor in our 
 own breails, lull confcience alleep, and blunt its 
 flings, yet a time will come, when it will awake, 
 make itfelf heard, new point its fting, and ftrike 
 The jailer it to the heart. This poor man, about the mid- 
 b«ft£f ^^^ Pf Oaober, vvas taken fick, when the re- 
 wJtiihor- fle£lion upon his pad life filled him with incon- 
 Sing oii ceivable anguifh of mind, under which he ex- 
 hispaftcon-prefled his wiih, that he had never fee?! the infide 
 of the jail, for it had undoyie him. He defired 
 the Quaker prifoners, whom he had mifufed, to 
 forgive him for what he had done; to which 
 they anfwered, they did forgive him, but he fjould 
 api forgivmefs cf God. But flill his anguifh en- 
 creafed to torture, to fuch a degree as to caufe a 
 fear that he would go diflraded. The phyfi- 
 cians ordering him to be bled, he fignified to 
 this effecl: : None of their prefcriptiom would do 
 him any good, his difiemper being beyond their 
 reach ; his day ivas over, and there was no hope 
 of mercy from God for him. Some of the friends, 
 pitying his condition, charitably endeavoured to 
 adminifter a ray of comfort, hinting, that they 
 -hoped his day was not over, feeing he was fo fully 
 fenfible of his condition. To which he replied, 
 " I thank you for your good hope ; but I have 
 :". no faith to believe." Whatever was thus 
 fpoken to relieve him gave him no eafe, but 
 languiiliing in all the anxiety of defpjiir about a 
 
 month.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 539 
 
 month, he died without difcoverh^.g any hope or c h a p. 
 fign of forgivenefs. Now although we prefume ^^v- 
 to form no judgment upon thofe, who are ium- ^-^ — ^'~*-' 
 moned to an higher tribunal than that of fal- *^^3- 
 lible man, yet this paflage may furnifli us with 
 an eftimate of the incomparable value of a con- 
 fcience void of offence towards God and man, 
 A wounded confcience who can bear ? 
 
 All the abufe and lofs of fubftance this people 
 had already fullained * not being fufficient to 
 fatiate the vindiclive fpirits of their perfecutors, 
 many of them were returned into the Exche- 
 quer on the ftatute of io\. for abfence from the 
 national worfhip, the amount of whofe fines 
 came to the enormous fum of 1 6,440!. ^ for 
 which feveral were diltrained ; but how much 
 was actually levied of thefe fines 1 find no cer- 
 tain account. Not fatisfied with depriving them 
 of their liberty, property and pcrfonal eafe, 
 thefe perfecutors proceeded next to eflay, how 
 far they could fucceed in an attempt againft 
 their lives. 'I'hey began with Richard Vickris, Proferution 
 who had before felt the efFefts of their malevo- vicVHs on 
 lence in fines, imprilbnments and perfonal abufe. ^^^'^ ^ame 
 He was the fon of Robert Vickris, formerly Account o*f 
 merchant and alderman of Briifol, and after- ^^'n^- 
 ward of Chew-magna in Someifetfliire ; he was 
 convinced of the principles of this people in his 
 youth ; to divert him from joining in fociety 
 with whom, and coming under the opprobrious 
 appellation of a Quaker, his father fent him 
 abroad to travel in France, but v/as difappointed 
 of his intention ; for Richard, through diigufl 
 at the fuperilition of the ceremonious religion 
 
 » BefTe. ^ J. Whiting. 
 
 of
 
 54© H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A P. of that country, was more confirmed in his 
 XIV. adoption of one, which rejected ceremony and 
 
 ^— V — ' vam Ihew, in puriuit of the fubftantial part ; 
 ^^^S' and therefore upon his return openly embraced 
 the profeilion of tliat religion, of the reafonable- 
 nefs whereof he had been convinced. Herein 
 his hncerity was indifputable, fnice with this 
 profeilion he embraced a variety of fuiTerings 
 and hardiliips, when he might have been other- 
 wife in eafe, opulence, and a diitinguifhed cir- 
 cumftance of life. In the year 1680 he was 
 imprifoned upon an excommunication ; he was 
 afterwards fubjecled to frequent fines and dif- 
 traints for attending meetings ; and nov/, lafl 
 of all, they proceeded to put the ftatute of 
 35 Eliz. in force againft him, the penalty of 
 which hath been already recited, and that the 
 iaft parliament repealed it, but the royal aflent 
 was eluded. 
 
 At the feflions, previous to the time called 
 Eafler, Richard Vickris was indifted on that 
 (latute ; but demurring to the jurifdiclion of the 
 court, and reiufmg to plead, he was committed 
 to prifon. At a following feffions he was ad- 
 mitted to bail, on fecurity given to anfwer the 
 indictment ; between that and Midfummer fef- 
 fions he procured an habeas corpus to remove his 
 body and caufe out of that court. 
 
 At an adjournment of the faid feffions, on the 
 20th of 6th month called Auguft, he prefented 
 his habeas corpus, had his recognizance difcharged, 
 and was delivered to the cuftody of the flieriff. 
 Yet notwithftanding, at the inltigation of Sir 
 John Knight, he was hurried to his trial at the 
 dole of ihe feifions on the 23d of the fame 
 month, and though he requefled not to be fur- 
 prized
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKER 541 
 
 prized into an unexpected trial for his life in the c 11 v p. 
 abfence of his couufel, but to be allowed time xiv. 
 to prepare for bis defence, the court, under the — "" — * 
 influence of Knight, Helliar and others of the ^^^3* 
 like call, would grant him no favour, juftice or 
 delay. He found means however to retain coun- 
 fel, who ably pleaded his caufe, afligned a va- 
 riety of errors in the indictment, flievved clearly 
 that the witnelfes had not proved him an offen- 
 der againft the ftatute upon which he v/as in- 
 dided. That the witneifes had fworn he was at 
 a meeting on the day mentioned in the indict- 
 ment ; but he had been punifiied already by the 
 conventicle act for the fame meetinsr, which aft 
 enafted, That no perfon punifiied by this act 
 fiiall be punifned for the fame offence by virtue 
 of any other law or (liatute whatfoever. But the 
 cleareit aro-uments lofe their force with men whofe 
 
 O 
 
 paffions are warmly engaged on the oppofitc fide 
 of the queltion. The court over-ruied every 
 plea, in the molt arbitrary manner, and the jury*, 
 
 felected 
 
 * Trial by jii^y is efteemed the bulwark of the Engliin- 
 man's life and liberty ; but we meet with inanv inflances ia 
 this reign that the forms of a free conftitution niay be prer 
 ferved, and yet under thefe forms real injuftice and arbi- 
 trary fvvay be exercifed. For when corruption generallv pre- 
 vails it faps the foundations of a free government, and under 
 the fnade of the form the fubftance is frequently loft : And 
 when nhe fpirit of party is joined to corruption of manners, 
 fma'l is the fecurity the vancjuifhed party derive from confti- 
 tutional pnvileges. For corruption hardens the confcience, 
 and party rage biafles the judginent, and with juries under 
 this defcriptio", too often the popular humour, the direq-f 
 tions of the court, and the gratification of their own preju- 
 diccj, arc of more confideration than the nature of the evi- 
 dence or the obligatiou of their oaths. It is a peculiar and 
 
 valuable
 
 544 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, lived there in reputation and honour, confpr- 
 XIV. cuous for his virtue and benevolence, an orna- 
 
 ^--v--^ ment to his place and flation ; when Helliar 
 16S5. ■was no more, having finilhed his wretched life 
 in great horror and perturbation of mind, under 
 the torture of an accufmg confcience. '^ Oliffe is 
 reported alfo to have been fo uneafy in his lad mo- 
 ments, in his retrofpeclion of his imprifoning and 
 defpoiling this people, that he wifhed reftitution 
 to be made to them, when it v/as out of his pow- 
 er ; and fo under the fenfe of the wrong he had 
 done, without the means of rectifying it, he 
 breathed his lad. And Knight proving himfelf 
 all along a determined foe to liberty of con- 
 fcience, became difaffeded to king James for his 
 difpennng with the penal laws, not fo much, if 
 we may judge by his confequent conduft, upon 
 the account of the illegality thereof, as that his 
 hands were tied up from, gratifying his pride and 
 his malice, In domineering and diftreffing his 
 fellow-citizens. Turning v.ith the tide, he fa- 
 voured the revolution, but when he found the 
 confequence thereof to be a general toleration, 
 he ranked wdth the malecontents in king Wil- 
 liam's reign ; and that meafurc, he had meted out 
 to others, was more julliy meafured out to him 
 again, being himlelf, for fome offence againfl 
 government, Imprifoned in the fame jail to which 
 he had in the zenith of his power committed fo 
 many honed people ; after his releafe, being re- 
 duced in his circumdances, he lived in obfcurity 
 in a village in Somerfetdiire ^ 
 
 It Is not fo much from any fatlsfacllon we re- 
 ceive in diefe narratives of the catadrophe of our 
 
 «! J. Whiting. " Ibid. 
 
 perfecutors.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 545 
 
 perfecutors, that we preferve them on record, as c h a p. 
 that by contrafting them with the peaceful exits xiv. 
 ^of virtuous and reUgious perfons, who have made '--•^^^■'^-' 
 it their ftudy through life to preferve a confci- ''^^^3- 
 ence void of offence, many of which are de- 
 fcribed herein, we may form a jull eftimate of 
 human life ; of the value of a good confcience, 
 and of the inconceivable advantage of a life 
 of felf-denial, even to the fuffcring of per- 
 fecution ; over that fpent in the full gratifica- 
 tion of the fenfual appetites, irregular paflions, 
 ambitious luft, and abufe of power, in that 
 hour which puts a period to our exiftence 
 here, and reduces all the ranks of mankind to a 
 level. 
 
 This perfecutlon in Briflol continued 'till king 
 James iffued his proclamation for a free pardon, 
 with his fpecial warrant for comprehending the 
 Quakers therein : Upon which they were let at T 
 liberty, and from thenceforth the perfecution in 
 this city for their religious meetings entirely 
 ceafed. 
 
 In London in this year numbers were Imprlfon- PerfecutSon 
 ed from the fundry meetings, fined as rioters, and contiTues? 
 imprifoned again for their fines ; diflrained by 
 Exchequer procefs for abfence from the national 
 worfhip ; harralTed and plundered by informers 
 and foldiers ; particularly John Elfon being fined 
 201. for the Peel meeting-houfe, and 1 ol. for an 
 unknown preacher was diftrained by Yates, 
 Headborough of Clerkenwell and * Gabriel Shad, 
 
 informers 
 
 * Not lono- after I meet with the following account of 
 this Shad, a notorious informer, that he was committed to 
 newgate for ftealing goods from one William Lemman to the 
 
 Vol. IL M m value
 
 544 HISTORYoFTHE 
 
 CHAP, lived there in reputation and honour, confpi- 
 X!V. cuous for his virtue and benevolence, an orna- 
 
 ^-*N^^ ment to his place and ftation ; when Helliar 
 1683. -was no more, having finifhed his wretched life 
 in great horror and perturbation of mind, under 
 the torture of an accufmg confcience. ^ Oliffe is 
 reported alfo to have been fo uneafy in his laft mo- 
 ments, in his retrofpeclion of his imprifoning and 
 defpoiling this people, that he wifhed reftitution 
 to be made to them, vi'hen it v/as out of his pow- 
 er ; and fo under the fenfe of the wrong he had 
 done, without the means of rectifying ir, he 
 breathed his lad. And Knight proving himfelf 
 all along a determined foe to liberty of con- 
 fcience, became difaffcded to king James for his 
 difpenfmg with the penal laws, not fo much, if 
 we may judge by his confequent conduct, upon 
 the account of the illegality thereof, as that his 
 hands were tied up from gratifying his pride and 
 his malice, in domineering and diftreifing his 
 fellow-citizens. Turning v.ith the tide, he fa- 
 voured the revolution, but when he found the 
 confequence thereof to be a general toleration, 
 he ranked with the malecontents in king Wil- 
 liam's reign ; and that mcafurc, he had meted out 
 to others, was more juftly meafured out to him 
 again, being himlelf, for fome offence againfl 
 government, imprifoned in the fame jail to which 
 he had in the zenith of his power committed fo 
 many honeft people ; after his releafe, being re- 
 duced in his circumllances, he lived in obfcurity 
 in a village in Somerfetfhire ^ 
 
 It is not fo much from any fatisfaction we re- 
 ceive in diefe narratives of the catallrophe of our 
 
 ■ d J. Whiting. « Ibid. 
 
 perfecutors,
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJ A K E R S. 545 
 
 perfecutors, that we preferve them on record, as c h a p. 
 that by contrafting them with the peaceful exits xiv. 
 of virtuous and religious perfons, who have made '--^'v^^ 
 it their fhudy through life to preferve a confci- ''^^^3- 
 ence void of offence, many of which are de- 
 fcribed herein, we may form a jull ellimate of 
 human life ; of the value of a good confcience, 
 and of the inconceivable advantage of a life 
 of felf-denial, even to the fuffering of per- 
 fecution ; over that fpent in the full gratifica- 
 tion of the fenfual appetites, irregular pailions, 
 ambitious luft, and abufe of power, in that 
 hour which puts a period to our exiftence 
 here, and reduces all the ranks of mankind to a 
 level. 
 
 This perfecutlon in Briflol continued *till king 
 James iflued his proclamation for a free pardon, 
 with his fpecial warrant for comprehending the 
 Quakers therein : Upon which they were let at 
 liberty, and from thenceforth the perfecutlon in 
 this city for their religious meetings entirely 
 ceafed. 
 
 In London in this year numbers were imprlfon- Perfecutlon 
 ed from the fundry meetings, fined as rioters, and [ 
 imprifoned again for their fines ; diftrained by 
 Exchequer procefs for abfence from the national 
 worfhip ; harraffed and plundered by informers 
 and foldiers ; particularly John Elfon being fined 
 20I. for the Peel meeting-houfe, and lol. for an 
 unknown preacher was diftrained by Yates, 
 Headborough of Clerkenwell and * Gabriel Shad, 
 
 informers 
 
 * Not loner after I meet with the following account of 
 this Shad, a notorious informer, that he was committed to 
 xiewgate for ftealing goods from one William Lemman to the 
 
 Vol. II. M m value 
 
 n London 
 continues.
 
 54(5 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, informers and afliflants, upon two warrants 
 XIV. granted by Peter Sabbs, juftice. They broke 
 
 '^^'^^^-^y open his doors in his abfence, after feven o'clock 
 1683. at night in October, kept poiTeiTion of his houfe 
 all night, eating, drinking and caroufmg to ex- 
 cefs of what they found in the houfe, faying, 
 all was the king's. The woman of the houfe, 
 Mary Elfon, was obliged to fit up all night, nor 
 would they fuffer any neighbour to bear her 
 company, a foldier of the gang threatening to 
 fcab fome of them, who were defirous to go in. 
 They feized four cartloads of houfehold goods, 
 a chefl belonging to a lodger, in which were 
 writings of importance ; the fervants' wearing 
 apparel, and feveral things belonging to two wi- 
 dows Twhich Mary Elfon apprized them were 
 not her hufband's property) and eight loads of 
 timber and boards out of the yard. The meet- 
 ing houfe, for which the feizure was made, not 
 being the property of the faid John Elfon, he 
 made his appeal, and got his goods again, upon 
 payment of 30I. into the hands of the faid juf- 
 tice Sabbs ; but before the time of trying his 
 appeal the juftice abfconded, and the money was 
 loit. 
 
 George Whitehead, in his Journal, page 543, 
 gives the following account of fome part of 
 friends fufferings in London at this time : 
 
 value of :^ool. and upon his trial was found guilty of felony ; 
 but by the favour of his powerful f'iends he was freed from the 
 gallows, having obtained the benefit of clergy, he was burned 
 in the hand and difcharged. He then purfued his former oc- 
 cupation J fuchiike infamous charafters even at this time being 
 only to be procured to fill an office too odious and too dif- 
 honeft for confcientious and reputable perfons to have any 
 concern with. Sewel, p. 587. 
 
 " Our
 
 a 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 547 
 
 " Our being fhut out of our meetlng-houfes c h a p. 
 *' for divers years in and about the cities of xiv. 
 " London and Weftminfler, and our meetings '— ~v — ' 
 kept in the ftreets, in all forts of weather, 16&3. 
 was a trial and hardfhip upon us, even upon 
 old and young, men and women. But that 
 trial was not fo great as to have our eftates 
 and livehhoods expofed to ruin by a pack of 
 ravenous informers ; although it was no fmall 
 hardfhip to our perfons to be kept out of 
 doors in the great, fevere and long froft and 
 fnow in the year 1683, for about three months 
 together, when the river Thames was fo 
 frozen, that horfes, coaches and carts could 
 pafs to and fro upon it, and a (Ireet be erefted 
 *' and ftand over it.** 
 
 In Chefhire, Thomas Needham and Philip F-'gWr"' 
 Egerton, juflices, committed at one time about m"tL'^afrom 
 eighty perfons to Chefter Caftle from a meeting "nc meeting 
 at Newton, where they could find neither rooms cuftic!^ 
 nor lodging for fuch a number, fo that they 
 were obliged for two nights, fome of them to 
 walk about, others to lie on tables and benches, 
 and fome on flags fpread on the floor. At 
 length thirty of them were put into a filthy dun- 
 geon, out of which the felons were then re- 
 moved. 
 
 But having too many inflances of the arbi-CafcofEiiz. 
 trary or cruel proceedings of the juftices in this if^fon.'^ 
 reign, I am pleafed when I meet with accounts 
 of others influenced by temper and mode- 
 ration, as in the following cafe : Robert Blen- 
 nel, pried of Fen-Stanton in Huntingdonfhire, 
 profecuted Elizabeth Gray in the ecclefiallical 
 court for tithes. She was a poor widow of 
 about eighty years of age, and fo infirm that 
 
 M m 2 file
 
 548 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A p. (he could fcarce go out of her houfe ; yet the 
 XIV. profecutor was fo hard-hearted as to apply to 
 
 *• — V — ' the juftices to fend her to prifon, fhe being cer- 
 '^^^3- tified by the ecclefiaftical court as contumacious. 
 But the juftices refufed in regard of her age, 
 remarking, tbat JJje was an objed Jitter for her 
 grave than a prifon. The prieft being difap- 
 pointed of his defign againft the ancient woman, 
 cited her fon William Gray into the court for 
 the fame claim of tithes, and procured a certi- 
 ficate of contumacy againft him ; but upon exa- 
 mination before the juftices, it appearing, he was 
 only a fervant to his mother, they difcharged 
 him, though the prieft's advocates exerted their 
 ftrenuous efforts with the juftices to fend him to 
 prifon. Thus both the mother and fon efcaped, 
 the one an im.prifonment unreafonably cruel, 
 and. the other unjuft and illegal ; which illuf- 
 trates the advantage derived to the fubject, by 
 having the proceedings of ecclefiaftical power 
 fubjefted to the controul of the civil magi- 
 ftrates, when they are men of moderation and 
 humanity. 
 
 Perfecution Jn Somerfetfhire feveral of the maeiftrates and 
 
 in Somcrfet- .^ ip , ^ r i 
 
 (hire. mrormers were alio very not proiecutors or the 
 members of this fociety upon the different penal 
 laws, and without and beyond the law. To 
 particularize the various means of vexation they 
 ufed towards them would be nearly a repetition 
 of the relation of the perfecution in Briftol, 
 being fubjefted in fome parts to the defpotic 
 power of Helliar, who was under-fheriff of the 
 county this year, and in others to that of Henry 
 Walrond, a captain of militia and juftice of 
 peace, who was well nigh equal to Helliar in his j 
 
 feverity
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 549 
 
 feverity and hatred to this people. They were chap. 
 iraprifoned in great numbers, informers were xiv. 
 encouraged againft them and protected in per- '^^^^'^"'^ 
 jury ; they were fined, dillrained ana excom- ^^^Z' 
 municated ; their meeting-houles defaced, and 
 the forms broken or burned. 
 
 1 680. Giles Barnardifton, of Clare, In the 1680. 
 county of Suffolk, who iinifhed his courfe in g^^,^''^^J-j'" 
 an honourable and ferviceable life this year, ton. 
 was an eminent inftance of the efficacy of pure 
 religion in a heart divinely influenced thereby. 
 He was born about the year 1624, of parents 
 well defcended, and of confiderable account in 
 the world. He received a liberal education, 
 •fuitable to his rank in life, both in feminaries of 
 literature, and at the univerfity, where he fol- 
 lowed his ftudies fix years, being defigned for 
 the minifterial office "". But when he had ac- 
 quired the age and attainments reckoned fuit- 
 able for admittance thereinto, and had an ofler 
 of preferment in the church (fo called) he felt 
 a relutlance in himfelf to undertake the charge, 
 from a confcloufnefs of wanting that internal 
 purity and fpiritual wifdom, which he conceived 
 the fcrlptures poiiit out as effential qualifications 
 of gofpel minifters ; and looking at the function 
 as too weighty an undertaking for him to enter 
 upon in the prefent ilate of his mind, he re- 
 filled the folicitaiions of his friends to accept 
 of the place provided for him, whereby he 
 incurred their difpleafure. But knowing himfelf 
 imfit for this important charge, he was fearful 
 to take it upon him, being perfuadcd that they 
 who do fo from lucrative motives, without the 
 
 qualifications 
 
 * J. Whiting.
 
 1 680. 
 
 550 H I S T O R Y OF THE 
 
 c H A r. qualifications to difcharge the arduous duties 
 ^^'^'' thereof with diligence and propriety, both by 
 example and precept, have the more to anfwer 
 for. 
 
 Notwithftanding thefe juft and ferious reflec- 
 tions refpefting the prieil's office, he had not 
 yet attained to that liability in religion as to 
 refift the allurements of pleafure ; indulging for 
 a feafon in fenfual gratifications, in the paftimes 
 and recreations of the age ; but being followed 
 by the convictions of the grace of God, which 
 appeareth to all men, thefe fleeting pleafures 
 conveyed a very tranfitory fatisfaftion, being 
 certainly attended with an intermixture of pain- 
 ful remorfe, and fucceeded by the bitternefs of 
 anguifh. 
 
 After the breaking out of the civil war he 
 obtained a coloners commiffion in the army ; 
 but the military life, attended with violence and 
 bloodfhed, conveyed Hill lefs fatisfaction, and 
 therefore he foon grew weary thereof, and laid 
 down his commiflion. 
 
 He then retired to Wormingford Lodge in 
 EiTex, where in privacy and folitude he applied 
 his heart to wifdom, which Solom^on faith is 
 better than weapons of war. Here, denying 
 himfelf of his former amufements, he com- 
 menced a flrider life than before ; and being 
 incited by a religious regard to the well-being 
 of his immortal part, he became ferioufly 
 thoughtful about the way to life and falvation, 
 and earneflly defirous of alTociating with fome 
 body of people who were fmcerely engaged in ' 
 invefligating the right way. About the year 
 1661 he felt an inclination to acquaint himfelf 
 with the principles of the people called Quakers, 
 
 and
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS. 551 
 
 and invited fome of them to his houfe. George CHAP. 
 Fox the younger being then at Colchefter, xiv. 
 paid him a vilit in company with George We- *^>'v>^ 
 therly, and was kindly received ; when enter- ^680. 
 ing into rehgious converfation, George Fox 
 difcourfed concerning the light of Chriit Jefus, 
 who tajied death for every man, and enllghteneih 
 every man that cometh into the world, that they 
 might have life ; this fcriptural doctrine agree- 
 ing with Giles Barnardiilon's own experience, 
 he embraced it as truth, took up his crofs to 
 his fondnefs for fenfual delights, broke off his 
 connexion with his former aflbciates, relin- 
 quilhed the glory and friendfhip of the world, 
 and defpiling the fhame, joined himfelf in foci- 
 ety with the people called Quakers, at the very 
 time when they were expofed to that cruel abufe 
 in Colchefter which is before defcribed '', when 
 neither his rank in life, his qualifications, nor 
 his refpeftable charader, were of fufficient con- 
 fideration to exempt him from participating in 
 the fufferings of that time and place ", He 
 willingly bore his part in that florm of perfe- 
 cution, in the hottell time of which he con- " 
 
 ftantly attended the religious meetings of his 
 friends without fhrinking at the danger, and 
 undauntedly hazarded tiis life for the teilimony 
 of a good confcience. 
 
 In the year 1669 he removed his refidence to 
 Clare in Sutfolk, the place of his nativity ; and 
 here alfo, in conjunction with his brethren, was 
 obnoxious to fuffering. For in the next year, 
 upon the laft conventicle ad coming in force '^, 
 Robert Dawkins, a pariih officer of Haverill, 
 
 and 
 
 b See vol. ii. p. 22, &c. *■ BefTe. ^ Ibid.
 
 552 H I S T O R Y OF the 
 
 CHAP, and Elias Dowty, an informer, were very a6live 
 XIV. in coming to the meetings there, which were 
 ^— ^^'-^ conftantly held, and taking the names of the 
 1680. perfons prefent, gave information to Gervas El- 
 ways, a juflice of peace, who readily granted 
 his warrants for dillrefs, which were executed 
 with the utmof} rigour. Giles Barnardiflon 
 with two others had the value of 32I. 5s. taken 
 from them in a few months, Dawkins aforefaid 
 urging on the other informers and officers, fay- 
 ing, Come^ Sirs, let us do what we do quickly, 
 
 for this trade will not lajl long. After futfering 
 fpoil of their fubflance they were debarred of 
 the ufe of their meefing-houfe, and obliged to 
 meet in the ftreet during the cold winter, where 
 they received much perfonal abufe. 
 
 ^ In the fame year he made his appearance in 
 the miniftry, and proved an able minifler of 
 the gofpel ; not of the letter, but of the fpirit, 
 and in the exercife of his gift he acquitted him- 
 felf with faithfulnefs, fervency and wifdom, 
 whereby many were convinced, and converted 
 to righteoufnefs. Notwithftanding he had but 
 a tender conftitution, yet his devotednefs to the 
 divine will, to the caufe of truth, and to the 
 promotion of the eternal well-being of man- 
 kind, animated him to travel many journeys in 
 divers parts of England and in Holland, for 
 the purpofe of propagating pure religion amongft 
 his friends and others. His motives, and the 
 ends he had in view, he himfelf hath declared 
 to the following purport, viz. ^ " It is but a 
 *' fhort time and we fliall have done with this 
 
 . ;" world J and I defn-e that I may be faithful to 
 
 " the 
 
 ^ J. Whiting. f Piety Promoted.
 
 i6 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS. 553 
 
 *' the end, that I may enjoy that of the c ha?. 
 *' hand of the Lord, which I received truth xiv. 
 *' for. If it had not been to obtain peace "- — ^^"^ 
 " of confcience while I am in this world, and ^^So. 
 " hopes of everlafting reft with God in the 
 *' world to come, I would never have left the 
 " glory and pleafure of this world, which I • 
 " had, and might have enjoyed my fhare of, 
 *' with thofe who are delighting themfelves 
 *' therein ; neither would 1 now leave my habi- 
 " tation, where I have an affectionate wife, 
 and every domeftic comfort, which a man 
 fearing God need defire, if it was not to 
 obey the Lord, and to make known his truth 
 " unto others, that fo they may come to be 
 " faved. For this caufe do I forfake father and 
 " mother, wife and ellate ; and whofoever 
 *' thinks otherwife of me, with the reft of my * 
 *' faithful brethren whom God hath called into 
 '* his work, are all miftaken concerning us, 
 *' and I would they knew us better." At laft, 
 after all his labour, in which he difcharged him- 
 felf with fidelity, to the fpiritual advantage of 
 many, after all his trials and fufferings and tra- 
 vels, he was taken ill in his return from Lon- 
 don to Chelmsford, and after a fhort ficknefs, 
 in which he exprelTed his rcfignation, loat the 
 Lord %uas bis portion, and that he was freely 
 given up to die, which was gain to him., he de- 
 parted this life in peace the 1 1'*" 1 1"*^ 1680. O.S. 
 about fifty.fix years of age, leaving behind him 
 deep impreflions of grateful refpect and honour- 
 able efteem of his memory in the hearts of 
 many of his furvivors. 
 
 n^l:
 
 554 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 1681. 
 
 Life of 
 
 CHAP. 1 68 1. Thomas Taylor, an ancient and faith- 
 XIV. ful minifler in this fociety, died in the courfe 
 of this year. Ke was born at or near Skipton 
 in Yorkfliire about the year 1616, and received 
 Thomas a liberal education at the univerfity of Oxford, 
 Taylor. jj^ order to qualify him for the priefthood. He 
 was firlt a lecturer at Richmond in Yorklhire, 
 and afterwards obtained a living in Weftmore- 
 land, where he officiated as a national teacher, 
 and fometlm.es refigned his pulpit to John Aud- 
 land and Francis Howgill to preach in before 
 they were convinced. Being, as well as many 
 others at that time, fcrupulous in refpeQ: to 
 fome ceremonies retained in the eftablifhed 
 church, he declined the ufe thereof; for he 
 would neither baptize children at the font, nor 
 fign them with the fign of the crofs ; and de- 
 fended his practice in a difpute with the priefts 
 at Kendal with, fuccefs. He was in confequence 
 numbered amongfl the puritans, and his audience 
 was principally compofed of this clafs of the 
 people: But the bilhops being at this time, in a 
 good meafure, deprived of their jurifdicfion, he 
 retained his benefice till the year 1652, when he 
 relinquiihed it voluntarily. For George Fox be- 
 ing come into thefe parts, he, in company with 
 fome other priefts, had an inclination to have an 
 interview with him, and for that purpofe went 
 over to Swarthmore. His companions oppofed 
 George Fox's fentiments with fome marks of 
 refentment: but Thomas Tavlor beiner convinced 
 of the truth of his doftrinc, yielded alTent there- 
 to, and joined him as a companion in travel and 
 in miniiterial labour : And being now perfuaded 
 of the unlawfulnefs of preaching for hire, he 
 refigned his living, and preached Chrift freely, 
 
 according
 
 PEOPLE CALLED (QUAKERS. 555 
 
 according to his divine command. He travelled chap. 
 in many parts of England, by his doctrine to ^'^* 
 propagate pure religion and righteoufnefs. At ^"^T"""^ 
 Oxford he maintained his principles againd the 
 exceptions of John Owen, at that time vice- 
 chancellor of the univerfity ; and even the fcho- ' 
 lars ^ admitted Thomas had the advantage in ar- 
 gument, being fuftained by a povv^er and wifdom 
 fuperior to that of fchools and feminaries. 
 
 But his travels vi^ere interrupted by a fucceiTion 
 of imprifonments, the common lot of the mem- 
 bers of this fociety, as well under the alledged 
 tolerating government of the independents, as 
 the fucceeding intolerance of epifcopacy. In the 
 year 1657, conceiving it his duty to deliver an 
 exhortation to the people alTembled in the pub- 
 lic place of worfliip at Appleby in Weflmorland, 
 and effaying to difcharge himfelf in this appre- 
 henfion of duty, he was apprehended and caft 
 into prifon there, in the fixth month, 1657, and 
 detained till the year 1659. ' In the next year, 
 1660, in the general imprifonment of the mem- 
 bers of this fociety, upon the infurredion of 
 Venner and his party, he was again imprifoned in 
 York caftle, in company with a very large number 
 of his friends, five hundred and upwards, taken 
 in like manner as hath been repeatedly remarked 
 upon that imprifonment in other parts, many 
 from their peaceable meetings, feme on the 
 highway, fome from their lavv'ful occupations, 
 and fome out of their beds ; they continued in 
 prifon till about the 9th 2'"". O. S. called April ; 
 and after lying in prifon, fome two months and 
 fome three, were generally difcharged. In the 
 
 next 
 
 '' J. Whiting. i Beflc, vol. ii. p. 103.
 
 55^ HISTORY of ths 
 
 c H A p next year, 1661, travelling in Leicefterfhire on 
 XIV. the road toward Swanington he was met by a 
 
 ^^^^"y^y company of foldiers, and pafling by them with- 
 i68i. Qm- pulling off his hat, fome of them cried out 
 a fanatick, and riding after him brought him 
 back, kept him prifoner all night, and next day 
 after hurrying him from place to place, at length 
 met with two country jultices, who tendered him 
 the cath of allegiance, and for his confcientious 
 refufal to take it committed him to Leicefter jail ; 
 hov/ long he was detained I find no account : 
 ^ But in the fucceeding year, 1662, he was again 
 iuiprifoned in Stafford jail, and at the enfuing 
 aflizes was indided for refufmg to take the oath 
 of allegiance, and had fentence of premunire 
 pafTed upon him, under which he continued a 
 prifon.r about ten years, till King Charles II. 
 iffued his letters patent for the general difcharge 
 of the Quakers from prifon in 1672. ' In the 
 year 1679, being occafionally at the houfe of 
 William Heawood at Keele, three or four friends 
 and fome neighbours came in, to whom Thomas 
 felt fomething on his mind to communicate by 
 way of exhortation, v/hich having done, he af- 
 terwards prayed. One Ralph Boflock, clerk to 
 juflice Snead, informed his mafter thereof, who 
 fent for two of the neighbours that were prefent, 
 and obliged them to make oath of the fame ; 
 upon which he fined Thomas Taylor for preach- 
 ing 20I. from William Heawood, Humphry 
 Morgan and John Smith, he caufed dillrefs to 
 be taken to the value of 7I. los. 
 
 Thus 
 
 *" J. Whiting, and Beffe, vol. i. p. 651. ' BefTe, do.
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QJJAKERS, 557 
 
 Thus fpending much of his time while at H- chap. 
 berty in religious labour, to the ipiritual benefit xiv. 
 of many people ; and in his fucceffive imprifon- ' — *v — J 
 ments, for mofl part of twelve years, being fup- 1681. 
 ported by the confcioufnefs of futfering in a 
 good caufe, and in patient acquiefcence in di- 
 vine difpofal, he held his integrity to the laft, 
 and finifhed his courfe in a virtuous and fervice- 
 able life in Stafford the i8th t"'°. i68i, O. S. 
 being about fixty-five years of age, leaving be- 
 hind him a good report amongft the inhabitants 
 of that town, where he had refided for feveral 
 years. 
 
 End of the Second Volume.
 
 g i ii!ima a ajiuiMmMfjj-aii.Miaiisai^ tsmamm 
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 X 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND VOLUME. 
 
 A. 
 
 A: 
 
 BERDEEN, Quakers im- 
 prifoncd tliere, called before the 
 commilTioners, p. 461. — Their 
 defence, p. 462. — Fined, p. 
 464. — Ordered to pay tiieir fines 
 to Geo. Melvil, 467. — Who 
 levies exceflive diftraints, p. 468. 
 — Straitened and hard impnfon- 
 ment, p. 472. — Some releafed, 
 p. 473. See Bamff. 
 
 Abufes of the conventicle aflr, p. 
 426, 427, &c. 
 
 Adt called the Oxford five mile 
 ad, p. 147. See Conventicles. 
 
 Alexander (Judge) impofes heavy 
 fines on feveral of the people 
 
 called Quakers In Ireland, p. 
 265. 
 
 Ambiofe, Alice, with Mary Tom- 
 kins and Anne Coleman, whipped 
 throiiph three towns in New 
 England, p. 37. — Violently a- 
 b^ifed by two conftables, ibid. 
 
 Ames, William, account of him, 
 p. [2, Sec. 
 
 Appeals. See conventicles, &c. 
 
 Armourer, William, a juHice in 
 Berkfliirc, his violent proceed- 
 ings, p. 200, 5:c. 
 
 Aflifield, Richard, account of iiis 
 death, p. 429. 
 
 Andland, John, his death and ch.i- 
 rader, p. 83, Sec. 
 
 AulHn, John, and others, cruelly 
 abufcd at Portfmouth, p. 16. 
 
 B. Bailey,
 
 N D 
 
 X. 
 
 B. 
 
 Bailey, William, p. 407. 
 Banks, John, in Ireland, vifits 
 Wicklow, 479 — Is oppofed and 
 accufed by tlie prieft. — Com- 
 mitted to prifon, where he 
 preaches to the people, and dif- 
 courfes on religious fubjeds, 
 p. 481. — A meeting eftablifhed 
 there, ibid. 
 Baptills, their partial proceedings 
 in refpc6l to a complaint againll: 
 Thomas Hicks, p. 369. 
 Barclay, Robert, account of his 
 birth, education, convincement, 
 &c. p. 217, &c. — Publiflieth his 
 Apology, p. 400. — Animadver- 
 fions on Mofheim's re{le<5tions 
 upon it, p. 402, &c. — He and 
 G. Keith difpute with fome (tu- 
 dcnts of Aberdeen, p. 458. — 
 Applies to the king to relieve 
 friends in prifon at Aberdeen, 
 p. 460. — Goes over to Holland, 
 p. 485. — Pays a vifit in com- 
 pany with W. Penn to Eliza- 
 beth, princefs Palatine, p. ^^g. 
 
 , David, convinced, p. 26c. 
 
 — Imprifoned at Aberdeen, p. 
 461. 
 Barnardiflon, Giles, account of 
 
 him, p. 549. 
 Bii'hop. See Sodor and Man. 
 Billiops, defign of toleration op- 
 pofed by them, p. 294. — Pro- 
 mote perfecution, p. 396. 
 Brifiol, cruel perfecution there, 
 from p. 521, to p. 533, and 
 from p« 53G to p. 544. 
 Broughton, Leiceflerlhire, fuffer- 
 
 ings of friends there, p. 535. 
 Bru'h, Edward, tranfported to Ja- 
 maica, p. 130. 
 
 Buckingham, Duke of, his fpeecii 
 againft perfecution, p. 412. 
 
 Burnet, Alexander, bailiff of Aber- 
 deen, an adive perfecutor, p. 
 471. 
 
 Burnyeat, John, fined 20I. for 
 preaching, p. 320. 
 
 Burrough, Edward, his death and 
 charadter, p. 5, &c. 
 
 Callow, William, a friend in the 
 Ide of Man, and Evan Chriften, 
 fuffer fevere imprifonment for 
 trivial demands, p. 275. — After 
 tranfportation and being feveral 
 times fent back is fhipped for 
 Virginia, but landed in Ireland, 
 
 Caton, William, his death, p. 145'. 
 
 Clapham, George, prielt of Mount- 
 melick, his extreme virulence, 
 p. 266. See W. Edmundfon. 
 — Is fummoned to appear before 
 the privy council, and fharply 
 rebuked, p. 26S. — His vindic- 
 tive proceedings, p. 269. 
 
 Cheevers, Sarah. See Catharine 
 Evans. 
 
 Clergy diftlnguinied into high- 
 church and low-church men, 
 p. 415. 
 
 Coale, Jofeph, dragged out of 
 Thomas Curtis's and imprifoned 
 till death, p. 204. 
 
 , Jofiah, his death and 
 
 chara,^l:er, p. 235. 
 
 Colchefter, perfecution there, p. 
 
 Coleman, Anne. See Alice Am- 
 brofe, — Cruelly whipped, p. 45. 
 
 Conventicles, acl againit them, p. 
 Ill, 296. — Executed with fe- 
 
 verity
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 verity beyond the law, p. 311. 
 — Appeals generally incffcdual 
 
 for procuring redrcfs, p. 312 
 
 Arbitrary miiconftrudion of con- 
 ventides, p. 313. 
 
 Cooper, Robert, his hard treat- 
 ment by a pried, p. 415. 
 
 Curtis, Thomas, of Reading, vio- 
 lently perfecuted by William Ar- 
 mourer, 198. — Arbitrarily flop- 
 ped from going to Brillol fair, 
 p. 202. — His whole family in 
 prifon, p. 203. 
 
 , Anne, the oath tendered 
 
 to her, which ilie remonflrates 
 againft, p. 206. 
 
 D. 
 
 Deane, Matthew, Mayor of Cork, 
 a rigid perfccutor, p. 478. 
 
 Declaration of indulgence, p. 19. 
 — Oppofed by the parliament, p. 
 20, 362. — Revoked, p. 373. 
 
 Dennis, Ifaac, jailer of Brillol, 
 his cruelty, p. 537. — On his 
 death-bed feized with horror, p. 
 
 538- 
 Derby, Earl of, proprietor and 
 
 governor of the Ifle of Man, at 
 
 the iniHgation of the bifhop very 
 
 fevere to the people Quakers, 
 
 p. 278, 281, 284. 
 Difcipline, differtation thereupon, 
 
 p. 161. 
 
 --, obje(5ts thereof, p. 168, 
 
 &c. 
 
 1. Attendance of Meetings, 
 p. 169. 
 
 2. Love and unity, p. 171. 
 
 3. Education, p. 173. 
 
 4. Tithes, 177. 
 
 5. Attending vain fports, &c. 
 p. 177. 
 
 Vol. II. 
 
 6. Juflice in commerce, p. 
 
 179. _ 
 
 7. Mai riages, Scz. 184. 
 
 8. f are of tlie poor, s 89. 
 
 9 Manner of de:.'ing with 
 tra;il:;ie,'lljis, p S93. 
 Difpute bet«'cen Robf;rt Barclay 
 and George; Keuh, and lome 
 ffudents of Aberdeen; p. 438, 
 &c. 
 Dobion, William, difd a prifoncr 
 for tithes, p. 428, 429. 
 
 Ecclefiaftlcal demands rigoroufly 
 enforced, p. 414. 
 
 Edmundionj William, impriwned 
 in the general imprifournent upon 
 the infurre<5lion 1660, p. 263. 
 — Solicits and obtains a o<-ueral 
 releafe for his friendsj ibid. — 
 W^ithout paying iees, p. 7.6,\. — 
 Excommunicated I'vprocurcmcnt 
 of George Claphani, prieft of 
 Mountmelick, p. i66. — Lays a 
 narrative of Clapham's proceed- 
 ings before the government, p. 
 267. See Clapham, George. — 
 Applies again to tiie lord lieute- 
 nant and coi^ncii, &c. p. 270. 
 
 Elfon, John, cruelly plundered 
 for illicit iines, p. 545. — Ap- 
 peals, upon paying the lines ob- 
 tains his goods, p. 346. — The 
 juftice abfconds, and the money 
 is lo't, ibid. 
 
 Evans, Catharine, and Sarah Chee- 
 veis, travel into Italy, p. 5 1 — 
 Intending for Alexandria are 
 put into Malta, p. 52. — Put in- 
 to the inquifition, 53. — Their 
 fufrerings there, {» j'^, &c. — 
 Relcaffcd by the mediation of 
 N n Lord
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 X. 
 
 Lord D'Aubigny, p. 6i, 62. 
 — Are kindly entertained at Leg- 
 horn and Tangier, p. 62. 
 
 Farnfv.'orth, Richard, his death 
 and charader, p. 222. 
 
 Fell, Margaret, fummoned before 
 fome ju(Hces, p. 29- — Who ten- 
 der her the oath, and inipriion 
 her, p. 30. — The prifon very in- 
 commodious, ibid. — Her trial, 
 p. 92 — Sentence of premunire 
 paft upon her, p. 98. 
 
 Filher, Samuel, for refufing to 
 fwear committed to Newgate, p. 
 15. — His death and cliarader, 
 p. 141. 
 
 Flamltead-end, HertfordOiire, fuf- 
 fcrings of friends there, 534. 
 
 Forbes, William, for publiHiing an 
 excommunication againll James 
 Urquhart, contraiy to convic- 
 tion, falls under great trouble 
 of mind, p. 256. Afterwards 
 being about to publilh one againft 
 his own daughter is prevented 
 by fudden death, 257. 
 
 Fox, George, writes a paper dif- 
 claiming all ])lots, p. 25. — Sun- 
 dry atterr.pts to take him, p 26. 
 — Committed to L;inca(ler caftle, 
 p. 29. — His trial before judge 
 Twifden, p. 81. — Clandeltinely 
 condemned in a premunire, p. 
 91. — Removed from Lancafter 
 in a weak condition, p. 150. — 
 And imprifoned in Scarborough 
 cadle, p. 152, where his mipri- 
 lonment is very fevere. — At lart 
 releafcd by an order from the 
 king, p. 155. — Tiavels under 
 great weakncfs of body to efta- 
 
 blifh monthly meetings, p. 159, 
 160. — His arrival in Ireland, p. 
 372. — Taken before the mayor 
 
 and difmiiTed, p. 520. — Travels 
 to vifit his friends under perfecu- 
 tion, p. 358. — Taken ilt in his 
 iourney, p. 359. — Exerts him- 
 felf to procure his wife's liberty 
 with fuccefs, ibid, — Sails for 
 America, p. 360. — Unjultly im- 
 jtrifoned at Worcetler, p. 377. 
 — Removed by habeas corpus, 
 p. 384 — Remanded to Wor- 
 cefter, ibid. — Brought before the 
 felfion, p. 385. — ClandelHnely 
 condemned in a premunire, p. 
 388. — Again removed by habeas 
 corpus and releafed, p. 390. — 
 Cioes down to Swarthmorc to 
 refide, p. 391. — Leaves Swarth- 
 more and travels to London, p. 
 424. — Goes over to Holland, p. 
 426, 485. — Proceeds in com- 
 pany with William Penn to Am- 
 ilerdam to a quarterly meeting, 
 where they explain the nature 
 and ufe of meetings of difcipline, 
 p. 486. — Travels into North 
 Holland and Germany, p. 488. 
 — Returns to England, p. 496. 
 — Receives Letters from New 
 England relating the renewed 
 persecution there, p. 498. — His 
 declaration on beiialf of friends, 
 p. 506. — Profecuted in the Ex- 
 chequer for tithes, 514. 
 Fuce, Jofeph, dies in the White 
 Lvon prifon, Southwark ; his 
 life and charader, p. 145. 
 
 G. 
 
 Grange (near Charlemont) meet- 
 ing fettled there, p. 262. 
 
 Gray,
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 X. 
 
 Gra}', Elizabeth, and her fon, 
 thronjjh the candour of the juf- 
 tice refcued from imprifonment 
 at the fuit of a prieft, p. 547. 
 
 H. 
 
 Halhcad, Miles, p. 221. 
 
 Hall, William, his fufFerings, p. 
 
 406. 
 Harding, James, tranfported to 
 
 Jamaica, p. 130. 
 Haydock, Robert, convinced, p. 
 
 221. 
 Hayes, Robert, put aboard a fliip 
 
 in order to be tranfported, dies 
 
 there, p. 131. — His charadter, 
 
 ibid. 
 Heliiar, , a notorious perfe- 
 
 cutor in Briilol, p. 522. 
 Hereford, violent abide of friends 
 
 in that city, \>. 421, &c. 
 Hicks, Thomas, calumniates the 
 
 Quakers, p. 368. See Bap- 
 
 tifts. 
 Holland and Germany vifited by 
 
 feveral friends, p. 485. 
 Hooton, Eliz. removes to Bofton 
 
 with the King's licence, p. 39. 
 
 — Set in the flocks at Dover, 
 
 and in^prifoned at Cambridge, p- 
 
 39. — Whipped through three 
 
 towns, p. 40. — Again whipped, 
 
 ibid. — Again, p. 41. 
 Horfly-down, illegal proceedings 
 
 there, p. 344. See Order, Sic. 
 
 — The meetmg-houfe demolifh- 
 
 ed, p. 347. — Barbarous abuie of 
 
 the meetings by foldiers, p. 347. 
 
 &c. 
 Howgill, Francis, taken out of 
 
 the market at Kendal and im- 
 
 prifbned, p. 31. — His trial, from 
 
 p. 96 to 108, — Sentence of pre- 
 
 mnnire pafl, ibid. — His death 
 and character, p. 236. — His 
 epilile to his daughter, p 242. 
 Hubberthorn, Richard, dies in 
 Newgate, his life and charafler, 
 p. 2, &c. 
 
 I. 
 
 Jaffray, Alexander, convinced, p. 
 255. — His death and charader, 
 
 Jad infecled, feveral Imprifoned in 
 it, p. 340. 
 
 Jenkins, Walter, and others, grie- 
 voufly abuf-'d- p. 251. 
 
 Informers profligate and infamous, 
 p. 307. — Often perjure them-' 
 felves, ibid. — Are exorbitant in 
 their diifraints, and encouraged 
 thereto by the jul'tices, p. 311. 
 See Juifices. — Generally poor, 
 p. 418. — Encouraged to renew 
 their occupation, p. 519. 
 
 Ireland, account of friends in that 
 kingdom, p. 262 to 268. — Ge- 
 neral imprifonment in 1660, p. 
 263. — Wiiiiarn Edmundfon fo-. 
 licits and obtains their rclcafe, 
 ibid. 
 
 «— governed by men of mo- 
 deration, p. 267. — Expcfed to 
 fufFerings, p. 479. — Prefent to 
 government their fufrering c;:fe 
 in Chancery fuits, p 482. 
 
 Ifle of Man, perfecution grievous 
 there, from p. 274 to 292. See 
 Sodor and Man. 
 
 Jury, for not altering their verdiff, 
 fix of them bound over to the 
 King's Bench, p. izn, 
 
 fined and impriioncd, p 336. 
 
 Juflices and informers flretch their 
 power beyond the law, p. 311. 
 N n 2 — Very
 
 INDEX. 
 
 — ^Very partial in deciding ap- 
 peals, p. 312, &c. notes. 
 Judges, inefiTeclual application to 
 them, p. 394. 
 
 K. 
 
 Keeling, Judge, his fpeech agamft 
 th-' people called Qu^akers, p. 
 
 King Charles II. See Declara- 
 tion. 
 
 Keith, George, joins R. Barclay 
 in his dispute with the ftudents, 
 p. 458 — Goes to Holland, &.c. 
 
 P 48^ 
 Knight, John, {henff of Bnftol, 
 
 an unmerciful perfccutor, p. 522, 
 
 &c. — Is knighted, p. 528. 
 
 Life of Richard Hubberthorn, p. 
 2. 
 
 222. 
 
 ■ Edward Burrough, p. 5. 
 
 John Audland, p. 83, Sec. 
 
 Samuel Fifher, p. 141. 
 
 Jofeph Fuce, p. 143. 
 • Richard Farnfworth, p. 
 
 Jofiah Coale, p 231. 
 
 ■ Francis Howgill, p. 236. 
 
 Thomas Loe, p. 229. 
 
 ■ William Bailey, p. 407. 
 
 • Ifaac Pennington, p. 439. 
 
 ■ Alexander Jaffray, p. 455. 
 Giles Barnardifton, p 549. 
 
 ■ ' Thomas Taylor, p. 954. 
 Loe, Thomas, his death and cha- 
 
 ra<5ter, p. 229. 
 London, the city laid wafie by 
 
 fire, p. 156. 
 • , yearly meeting efcabliihed 
 
 there, p. 16^. 
 
 London, meeting of fufFerings, p. 
 
 164. 
 , change of the magiftracy, 
 
 P-5'9- 
 Longworch, Roger, committed to 
 
 piifon as a fufpec^tcd papitl:, p. 
 
 436. — Privately difcharged, p. 
 
 437- 
 
 M. 
 
 Marfli, Richard, his fufFerings, p. 
 
 530- 
 Mead, William, his trial, p. 328. 
 
 Meetings of' difcipline tflablifhed, 
 p. I c8, &c. — The firit meet- 
 of difc-pline at Skipton in York- 
 fhire. p. 161. — In Ireland, p. 
 271. 
 
 , monthly, p. 162. 
 
 , quarterly, p. 163. 
 
 , preceded by a meeting 
 
 of worfhip, 167. 
 
 Meeting-houfe at Bull-and-mouth 
 deftroyed, p. 156. 
 
 , new one at Grace- 
 
 church-dreet builr, p. 157. 
 
 Meeting of Sufferings. See Lon- 
 don. 
 
 Meldrum, George, and John Men- 
 zics, priefls of Aberdeen, en- 
 deavour to excite the magiftrates 
 to perfecute, and the mob to 
 abufe friends there, p. 258, &c. 
 — Procure the imprifonment of 
 Andrew JafFray, p. 259. 
 
 Meffer, John, convinced, p. 451. 
 
 Mollefon, Margaret, convinced, p. 
 256. 
 
 Moore, William, with John Philly, 
 travels into Hungary to vifit the 
 Hortelche brethren, p. 6^. — 
 They travel into Upper Hunga- 
 ry, p. 64. — William Moore goes 
 
 to
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
 D E 
 
 X. 
 
 to Comora where he is appre- 
 hended, p. 65. — John Philly al- 
 fo aj.'prehendcd, 66. — They are 
 brought before the inqiii(it"-r and 
 examined, p 67. — Put to the 
 torture, p. 69, 2cc. — Sentenced 
 to be burned, 73. — Sentence not 
 
 executed, ibid. Threatened 
 
 with the execution of the fen- 
 tence znd various tortures, ibid. 
 — Wil!iiim Moore fecrered in a 
 convent, p. 79. — Releafcd, p. 
 81. 
 
 N. 
 
 New England, perfecution continu- 
 ed there, p. 33 — Sufferings of 
 Alice Ambrofe, Mary Tomkins 
 and Anne Coleman, p. 35, ccc. 
 — Elizabeth Hooton, p. 38, &c. 
 — Edward Wharton, p. 42, 
 &c. 
 
 Nottinghamfhire, irregular proceed- 
 ings of the juftices in that coun- 
 ty, p. 420, 421. 
 
 o. 
 
 Order of council for demoliihing 
 the meeting-houfe at Horlly- 
 down, p. 7,:^y 
 
 ■ P. 
 
 Parliament, change therein, p. 374. 
 — Jealous of the court, p. 39J, 
 41 1. — Diifolved, and a new one 
 fummoned, p. 448. 
 
 Penn, William, account of his 
 birth, education and convince- 
 ment, &c. p. 212, &c. — Is im- 
 prifoned in the tower, where 
 
 he writes his No Crofs No 
 Crown, p 229. — His trial at 
 the Old Bailey, p. 32S, Sic. — 
 Is taken at Wheeler-lheet, p. 
 35c.— Examined by Sir John 
 Ilobinfon, ibid p. 356, 357. — 
 Committed to Newgate for fix 
 monrhs on the Oxford ad, p, 
 357. — Writes his Great Caufe 
 of Liberty of Confciencc, p. 
 SS^ — Anfwers Hicks's Dia- 
 logues, p 369. — Writes Eng- 
 land's prefent Inrerefl, p. 397. 
 — He goes over to Holland in 
 company with George Fox and 
 others, p. 48^. — Paj^s a vifit to 
 the Princefs Iilizabeth and the 
 Countefs of llorncs ai Plerford, 
 p. 488, 489 — PiiiTes on toCaf- 
 fel, Frankfort and Crifiieim, p, 
 491. — Ivetiirns to Amrteidam, 
 p. 492. Thence to Fricfland, 
 p. 493. — Vifits Labadie's difci- 
 ples, ibid.— Goes to Embden, 
 and applies to the burgo-maiter 
 on behalf of friends there, p. 
 494. — Returns to Herford, ibid. 
 — Returns to England, p. 496. 
 — Obtains the grant of Penfyl- 
 vania p. 5 16. 
 
 Pennim^ton, Ifaac, p. 439, Sec. 
 
 Peifecution at Portfmouth, p. 17. 
 
 — At Co'chcfier, p 23, &c. 
 
 In New England, continued 
 from p. 33 to 50. — At Cork, p. 
 477. — in Northamptonlhire, p. 
 210. — Generally renewed, p. 
 
 393- 
 
 Phiiiy, John. See William Moore. 
 
 Phips, Jofeph, his trial, p. 209. 
 
 Plague breaks out in London, p. 
 135- — Enctcafes, p. 139. — Fif- 
 ty two friends die in Islewgate, 
 notwidi.landing which the pri- 
 
 ions
 
 N D 
 
 X. 
 
 fong are crowded with frefii pri- 
 funers, p. 140. 
 
 Popifli Plot, p. 434. 
 
 Prior, Francis, with (even othersj 
 fentenced to tranrportation, p. 
 119. — The inafier of the fliip 
 being compe!]ed to take them, 
 difmifL's them, p. 120. — In- 
 forming the king and council of 
 their difmiffion they are impri- 
 foned, p. 121. 
 
 Priefts of Aberdeen endeavour to 
 fiir up perfecution, p. 450. 
 
 Prifoners, twenty die in Newgate, 
 p. 2. — One hundred and twenty 
 condemned to tranfportation, p. 
 1 3 7. — Fifty-five taken from New- 
 gate to be tranfported, p. 137, 
 138. — Twenty -fcven of whom 
 die of the plague on fhip-board, 
 ibid. — The ihip taken by a Dutch 
 privateer, and the prifoners fet 
 free, p. 139. — Prifoners releafed 
 by the declaration of indulgence, 
 
 Public affairs, p. 411, 43c, 431, 
 432, 44R, 449, 499, 500, 
 501, 518. 
 
 Quakers (fo called) the greateil 
 fufferers by the conventicle ad, 
 p. 112. — Their patience under 
 filtering, p. 133 — They fuiTtr 
 alio by the iive-n)ile adt, though 
 not made againft them, p. 1^9. 
 — Their general imprifonment in 
 the lile of Man, p. 276. — They 
 are excommunicated v.'ithout 
 procefs, and delivered over to 
 the fecnlar power, p. 278. — 
 Order for their tranfportation, 
 ibid. — Several times fbipped off, 
 
 and fent hack again, from p. 
 279 to 288.~Snll the greateft 
 fufferers, p. 305. — Many of 
 them greatly fpoiled, p. 306. — 
 Generally releafed from impri- 
 fonment by the King's declara- 
 tion of indulgence, p. 365, 566. 
 — Apply to the king and parlia- 
 ment for relief from acls made 
 againfl: popifh recufants, p. 507. 
 
 R. 
 
 Ratcliff meeting-houfe pulled down, 
 
 P- 352- 
 
 Remarks upon the conventicle aft, 
 p. 298, &c. — Upon the abufe of 
 friends of Koriiy-down meet- 
 ing, p. 350- 
 
 Refolves of parliament in favour of 
 diffenters, p. 5 13. 
 
 Robinfcn, John, alderman, and 
 lieutenant of the Tower, moves 
 for a reward for the recorder, p. 
 343 . — Canf?th the meeting-houfe 
 at Ratclifi to be pulled down, 
 p. 352. — Hath the fame defign 
 upon tiiat at Wheeler-ftreet, 
 553. — But is prevented by Gil- 
 bert Latey's afferting his title 
 thereto, ibid — Watcheth the 
 meetings for William Pcnn, who 
 is talen, p. 354. — And by him 
 committed to Newgate, p. 357. 
 
 — , Thomas,* of Brant- 
 
 Bioughton, his cattle diftrained, 
 and partly for want of a pur- 
 chafer, returned, p. 437. 
 
 Sabbs, Peter, a juftlce of peace, 
 grants wari'ants of diflrefs againft 
 John Elfon for 30I. p. 546. — 
 
 which
 
 N D 
 
 X. 
 
 which being lodged with him in 
 order to appeal lie abfconds with 
 the money, p. ^^6. 
 Scot, John, wrongfully imprifoncd 
 on the Oxford iive-rnlle ad, p. 
 
 327- 
 Scotland, account of friends in 
 
 that part of Great Britain, p. 
 255. — Sheldon (archbifhop) pre- 
 vents the defign of a comprehcn- 
 fion and toleration, p. 294. — 
 Promotes the fevere execution 
 of the conventicle a6l, p. 301. 
 
 Shrewft)Uiy, fufferings of friends 
 there, p. 253. 
 
 Skein, Alexander, convinced, p. 
 451. 
 
 , John, imprifoned at Aber- 
 deen, p. 464. — Suffers by ex- 
 ceffive diftraints, p. 468. 
 
 , George, a violent perfecu- 
 
 tor p. 470. 
 
 Smith, Humphry, dies a prifoner 
 in Winchefter jail, p. 18. 
 
 Sodor and Man, bifhop of, in- 
 flances of his cruelty, p. 278, 
 282, 283, 285, 287, 288. 
 
 Sometfetfhire, fufFerings of friends 
 there, p. 548. 
 
 Taylor, Thomas, account of him, 
 
 P 554- 
 
 Tithes, fufferings on account there- 
 of, p. 247, notes; and fee p. 
 415, 429. 
 
 Tomkins, Mary. See Alice Am- 
 brofe. 
 
 Trahern, Samuel. Ste Fr. Prior. 
 
 Trial of George > Fox, p. 89, 
 &c. 
 
 ■ Margaret Fell, p. 92, 
 
 Francis Howgill, p. 96. 
 
 Trial of Eight perfons, on the con- 
 venticle act, for tranfportaiion, 
 p. n6. 
 
 twenty-fix prifoners atNcw- 
 
 buiy fcfllons, cf whom twenty 
 are condemned in a prcmunire, 
 and two to be tranfported, p. 
 206. 
 
 Joseph Phipps, p. 209. 
 
 Henry Adamfon, p. 225. 
 
 William Penn and Wil- 
 liam Mead, p 328, &c. 
 
 Thomas Pvudyard and o- 
 
 thers, p. 337. 
 Ezekiel Archer and Mar- 
 
 gery Fann, ibid. 
 
 rigg, Hannah, 
 ment, p. 1 27, 
 
 Trigg, Hannah, her fevere trcat- 
 
 U. 
 
 Verdicfl, an unjud one againft Hen- 
 ry Adamfon, p. 225. 
 
 Vincent, Thomas, a prefbyterian 
 preacher, viliiies friends, who 
 demand a meeting to vindicate 
 
 o 
 
 theniitlvcs, p. 227. — The meet- 
 ing is interrupted by the rude- 
 ncls cf fonic of the r.uditory, p. 
 228. See William Penn. 
 
 Vickers, Richard, profecuted on 
 the Itatute of 35 Eliz. p. 539. 
 Brought in guilty and condemn- 
 ed, p. 542. — Removed by ha- 
 beas corpus to the King's Bench, 
 and acquitted, p. 543. 
 
 Uiquhart, James, being convinced, 
 is excommunic;:ted by the picf- 
 bytcry, p. 256. 
 
 w. 
 
 Wales, early fufferings of friends 
 there, p. 2 -JO, £<.c. 
 
 Y\ harton,
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 X. 
 
 Wharton, Edward, whipped thro* 
 three towns in England, p. 44. 
 — Again at Sale^n, p. 45. — Or- 
 dered to be whipped again 
 through Bofton and Lvnn, p. 
 46. — Barbaroufly whipped at 
 Bofton, p. 49. 
 
 Whitehead, George, for preach- 
 ing at Grace-church-ftreet after 
 a prieft who had read the com- 
 mon prayer and preached there, 
 is taken before the mayor, &c. 
 p. 322. — Is imprifoned at Nor- 
 wich, together with Thomas 
 Burr, 501. — Tried at the Sef- 
 
 fions and recommitted, they re- 
 gain their liberty, p. 505. — In- 
 formed againft and fined, p. 520. 
 — Appeals, p. 521. 
 
 Whitehead, John, committed t» 
 prifon as a jcfuit, p. 533. 
 
 Williams, John aad Philip. See 
 Walter Jenkin. 
 
 Winfon, Francis, a poor man, his 
 lutferings, p. 251. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yearly meeting. See London.
 
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