THE JOURNAL
OF
GEORGE FOX
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUME ONE
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
FETTER LANE, E.G.
C. F. CLAY, MANAGER
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llontjon: HEADLEY BROTHERS, BISHOPSGATE
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All rights reserved
Sw
THE JOURNAL
OF
GEORGE FOX
EDITED FROM THE MSS
BY
NORMAN PENNEY, F.S.A.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
T. EDMUND HARVEY, M.A
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR WEST LEEDS
\ X
>/ ,
Cambridge :
at the University Press
191 1
3X
Fl
v. i
(EamfcrtUge :
PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A.
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
PREFACE
edition of The Journal of George Fox differs from
all its predecessors in that it is printed, verbatim et
literatim, from the original manuscripts, whilst the first
edition, which has been followed in all subsequent ones, was
much edited and altered, though based upon the same
manuscripts.
Permission to print the manuscripts was readily granted
by the owner, Robert Spence, of London and North Shields,
and students of history are under great obligation to him
for making possible the publication of this Quaker classic
in its original form.
The manuscripts were transcribed for the press by
J. Guthlac Birch, of London. The printers proofs have
been checked by me with the originals and a few textual
notes have been added. It is hoped, therefore, that an
accurate representation is now before the reader.
The notes to be found at the close of each volume are
the result of a considerable amount of research into many
obscure and hitherto unpublished sources. I am greatly
indebted to William Charles Braithwaite, B.A., LL.B., of
vi Preface
Banbury, Joseph J. Green, of Hastings, William I. Hull,
Ph.D., of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, and others in
various parts of the British Islands and the United States,
for valuable help. I should heartily welcome further infor
mation bearing on the persons referred to in The Journal.
NORMAN PENNEY
FRIENDS REFERENCE LIBRARY
DEVONSHIRE HOUSE
BISHOPSGATE
LONDON, E.G.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME I
George Fox, aged 30 frontispiece
From Holmes s engraving of Honthorst s picture, painted in 1654.
George Fox s signature ....... p. xlii
Specimen of the writing of George Fox .... to face p. 68
VOLUME II
George Fox frontispiece
From a photograph of a painting by Sir Peter Lely now at Swarthmore
College, Pennsylvania.
[The painting was purchased in England in 1858. Upon removing the
ancient frame, the words "Geo. Fox" were found written on the
canvas. There is no external evidence thai Fox ever sat for his
portrait, and it does not seem probable that a court painter of renown
would devote time and skill to a subject so far removed as was Fox
from the outward position occupied by many other persons painted
by Lely.]
A page of the Narrative Portion of The Journal . . to face p. 37
INTRODUCTION
When George Fox breathed his last in the house of
Henry Gouldney, the good Gracechurch Street merchant, the
Quaker Society which had started on its voyage amidst the
storm of persecution was already passing into quieter waters :
EXPLANATION OF SIGNS
Words omitted from all previous editions, and now first printed (see page xl),
are enclosed within brackets, thus [sobriety].
Interlineations by contemporary hands (see page xxxvi) are enclosed within
braces, thus (caled Lyndall}.
Parentheses are reproduced as given in the original, thus (but his freind).
siiouiu ue nrst su omitted to tne judgment ol their fellows
for counsel and, if need be, for correction, by being brought
before a meeting consisting of the Quaker ministers and elders
able to attend it. This was held at regular intervals on
the second day of the week and was known as " the Second
day morning meeting" or "the morning meeting."
INTRODUCTION
When George Fox breathed his last in the house of
Henry Gouldney, the good Gracechurch Street merchant, the
Quaker Society which had started on its voyage amidst the
storm of persecution was already passing into quieter waters :
the penalties of the old penal laws had disappeared with the
Act of Toleration, and the new peace was welcome to men
who had grown grey in constant imprisonments. Old critics
remained active and new ones joined them : Faldo, Leslie
and Bugg were writing fierce diatribes to prove convincingly
that the Quakers were no Christians, but it would seem
that this was no longer the generally received opinion.
The mantle of respectability that has so often stifled the
spirit of prophecy was already beginning to be wrapped
around the Society of Friends.
Partly to guard against the danger of enthusiasm
unchecked by any other than an individual sense of
responsibility, partly to express the collective relationship
of the Quaker Community to its preachers or " Public
Friends," the practice had grown up that all printed
literature of a religious character issued by Quaker writers
should be first submitted to the judgment of their fellows
for counsel and, if need be, for correction, by being brought
before a meeting consisting of the Quaker ministers and elders
able to attend it. This was held at regular intervals on
the second day of the week and was known as " the Second
day morning meeting" or "the morning meeting."
x Introduction
This body, whose minutes from its origin are still extant
at Devonshire House, though possessing only a moral
authority, came to exercise before long a very careful
censorship over Quaker literature, and not infrequently
tracts offered to it for printing (in many cases doubtless
at the general expense) were returned to their authors for
correction, or after perusal by a committee were judged
unsuited for publication and laid aside.
To this Meeting naturally fell the important task of
editing for the press the numerous papers which George Fox
left behind him, many of which he had expressly desired
should be published, and chief among them the "Great
Jornall " which he had prepared with the object of giving
a faithful record of his public ministry and religious
experience.
There can be little doubt that the quiet years from
1675 to 1677 which he spent at Swarthmore Hall were
largely utilised for gathering together scattered manuscripts,
and for completing up to date this unique religious auto
biography, which is supposed to have been begun during
his last long imprisonment in Worcester jail in 1673 74,
when his son-in-law and fellow prisoner Thomas Lower
acted as his scribe. The fact that full notes of Fox s two
trials at Lancaster, based on verbatim reports, occur in The
Journal, corroborates the view that it was compiled in its
present form at Swarthmore Hall.
The tradition that The Journal was originally dictated
in Worcester jail is supported by the large number of
documents relative to George Fox s trial and imprisonment
there which are included in the original manuscript".
The Journal proper ceases shortly afterwards, leaving
Fox at Swarthmore Hall, and in one of the papers which
follow occurs the phrase, "and still the Lord s truth is over
a It may also be noted that the Short Journal closes in 1664, when
Fox had been about a year in Lancaster jail.
4
Introduction xi
all and His seed reigns and His truth exceedingly spreads,
unto this year 1676." There were doubtless a number of
short notes and letters which Fox s editor afterwards made
use of, in preparing The Journal for the press, which have
not been preserved, but it is to be regretted that for the
sake of uniformity he considered it desirable to throw the
record of Fox s later years into the form of narrative written
in the first person, as he had done in the case of the docu
ments from which the part of The Journal dealing with
Fox s visit to America is compiled. Readers of the printed
Journal must almost always have observed the marked
falling off of interest in the last part of the second volume ;
and have felt the absence of the little vivid touches which
light up the earlier pages. We now see that this later
portion is not Fox s own work in the sense that the earlier
pages are, though it gives a useful summary of the activities
of his later life : The Journal proper closes in 1675. It is
matter for great regret that the manuscript as we now have
it lacks the opening pages, giving the account of George Fox s
earlier years, and it is not too much to hope that some day
these may yet be recovered ; but in spite of this loss the
new material provided by the portions of the manuscript
omitted in previous editions is of great interest.
It must not be supposed that The Journal as we know
it from previous printed editions was prepared without
much forethought, and extant records show how great was
the care taken in its first publication.
It was needful that the material which George Fox had
provided should be carefully edited, for the various MSS.
contained a certain amount of repetitions, while here and
there persons were referred to, the mention of whose names
might cause offence to living people. In 1685 Fox himself a
had made careful provision for the editing of his papers and
See ii. 348 seq.
G. F. b
xii Introduction
for the putting together of his " Great Jornall" and other
works, noting that there were " many errors and mistakes
in the printing and writing," which might be amended.
By subsequent dispositions he made further provision for
carrying out this intention, bequeathing his books and
papers to his stepchildren William and Sarah Mead and
Thomas Lower a .
The Morning Meeting had been charged by a post
humous letter of George Fox with the duty of carrying on
his correspondence on religious matters with Friends in
different parts of the world, and this doubtless gave it
additional influence in other ways. Soon after his death
the Meeting began to prepare a collection of letters and
testimonies concerning Fox and to collect his letters and MSS.
from different parts of the country. On the 14th of 1 mo.
1691/2 a memorandum is entered on the minutes of the
Meeting, " That it be considered and enquired into what is
done and is to be done relateing unto G. ffox s books and
Papers." The Meeting had evidently already arranged for
the editing of these, as at the next sitting (4. ii. 1692)
occurs the minute : " Steven Crisp is desired to write unto
Thomas Ellwood to have an Answer from him agst. ye next
Meeting how ye Case of G. F. s papers stand. And Whether
a part may not be sent up for ffriends here to peruse and
put to print while ye other is doeing." The following week
appears the entry : " Two Letters from Tho. Ellwood to
Steven Crisp relateing to dear G. ffox s Journall giving an
Account he hath Transcribed about 200 sheets and hath
spent more time in perusall and comparing then writing,
by reason whereof he hath gott no further then 1666, And
desires to know whether he shall bring up what is done
now or at ye Yearly Meeting. Ye latter is agreed to
because he cannot goe forward if he send ym up. S. Crisp
is desired to answer him and request him to be here some
a ii. 350, 356.
Introduction
Xlll
dayes before the Yearly Meeting and bring up with him by
Coach or otherwise the writtings."
Thus we learn that the main work of transcribing and
preparing for the press the various MSS. of which the printed
Journal is composed had already been entrusted to Thomas
Ellwood, doubtless with the concurrence of George Fox s
literary legatees. The choice was a wise one ; Milton s old
pupil and friend was a man of considerable learning, and
at his country home at Hungerhill, near Beaconsfield, in
Buckinghamshire, he was able to give his time uninter
ruptedly to his task. It was no light work, involving as it
did the perusal of a mass of papers and the piecing together
of the disjointed documents out of which the later part of
The Journal is composed. The Morning Meeting decided
on the title of the work on the 6th of 4 mo. 1692, when it
was entered in full upon the minutes, the entry being as
follows :
The History of G. F. s Journall and Progress in y e
Lord s Work Entituled The Everlasting Gospell Preacht
Againe And Truth s Progress in these latter dayes Power
fully Witnessed In The great Labours Travells Tryalls
and Sufferings, of The Antient ffaithfull Servant and
Minister of Christ George fox the Elder who departed this
Life in Peace, y e 1 3 th day of the ^ 1690/1."
Then follow the Scripture texts quoted on the printed
title-page and the entry concludes, " Agreed to be put to
the Press as soon as Conveniently may be."
The year 1693 came and still the work was not ready
for the printer; the Meeting minutes its concern at the
delay, and Friends are deputed to communicate with
William Mead to urge the need of greater expedition;
Mead was apparently unwilling to have the sheets read
by the Meeting until his brother-in-law, Thomas Lower,
should be in London ; possibly wishing Lower, as Fox s
b2
xiv Introduction
original amanuensis, to have the last word in deciding the
final form of the transcript". At length the work was
ready for perusal, and on 12th of 4 mo. 1693 we find
the entry :
"The ffriends desired by G. S. to View his Journall
are desired to meet this Afternoon at this place about
fourth hour to prepare it for the view of this 2 d dayes
meeting."
Then follows :
26th of 4 mo. 1693" The Beading of G. ffox s Journall
to be begun about 8 th hour in the forenoon next 5 th day
and this Meeting Adjourns till then for the said Service."
Details of the revision are not recorded but doubtless
many changes in the text were made by or after consulting
the Morning Meeting or its committee, as is shown by the
care subsequently taken by the Meeting to omit the inac
curate passage relating a narrative of Ellen Fretwell s
which was printed in the earlier issues of the first edition,
and for which another leaf omitting the incident was
substituted in all copies which the Meeting was able to
control.
On the 8th of 11 mo. 1693/4 George Whitehead reports
to the Meeting that the perusal of The Journal for the press
is complete. William Mead, who conducts the negotiations
with the printer, advancing the necessary money to com
mence the work, is however dissatisfied with William Penn s
preface, and a special meeting has to be summoned to which
he and Thomas Lower are invited, to read the preface and
decide whether it is to be printed with The Journal, or
with a subsequent volume of Fox s works. After several
attempts at conference however the committee had to
a The numerous MS. corrections in Lower s handwriting show the care
and interest with which he revised the MSS. of The Journal.
Introduction xv
report : " W m Meade Refuses to hear it Read being Resolved
it shall not be printed with the Journall If he can help it.
It s therefore agreed to deliver it to the Author and
Informe him it may be printed w ch was the Agreem t of
this meeting formerly."
William Mead continued to be somewhat difficult to
deal with, for when in a month or two s time difficulty
arose as to the inaccuracy of the narrative of Ellen Fret well
and it seemed desirable to reprint the page containing it,
he said he did not consider it his duty to do any more and
would leave it to Friends to do as they saw meet.
It is probably due to his objection to the printing of
Penn s preface with The Journal that a number of printed
copies lack that noble introduction, which gives us perhaps
the most striking and attractive picture of Fox left us by
any of his contemporaries.
It will be seen from these records that a series of
editorial committees were concerned in the issue of The
Journal, but the later minutes of the Morning Meeting
show much more elaborate provision for the collection and
revision of George Fox s doctrinal works and epistles which
were later issued as two volumes supplementary to The
Journal. In their case the responsibility is apparently
much more widely shared, the main editorial work of The
Journal having clearly lain with Ellwood alone. In com
paring, as we are now able to do, the largest section of the
original MS. with the first printed edition, it is possible for
us to realise how difficult and responsible the task was that
fell to Ellwood s pen. Compression and abbreviation were
a necessary part of that task, and on the whole well carried
out : the portrait which the manuscript Journal gives us is
essentially the same as that of the printed edition, yet, in
comparing the two, one is sensible that here and there the
cautious care of the editor has removed some rough vigorous
touch : the whole is quieter, a shade less naif, a shade nearer
xvi Introduction
the conventional. Sometimes some picturesque detail which
Fox had recorded disappears as unnecessary, sometimes some
incident or saying which contemporaries might misunder
stand is omitted : occasionally some obvious slip is corrected,
and in other cases fear of political or theological misunder
standing has led to longer passages being omitted. Ellwood
was evidently anxious to avoid giving occasion of attack to
opponents and accordingly omits various details which might
be taken to be proofs of fanaticism ; instances of this are the
mention of James Nayler being "under a fast fourteen days"
(i. 51), Richard Hubberthorne s great fast (i. 105), Fox s
"Sounding the day of the Lord" alone on the top of Pendle
Hill (i. 40), and on another occasion lying out in the fields
all night (i. 114), and again Solomon Eccles fasting for
seven days on the voyage to America (ii. 184).
Probably a like desire to avoid offence led to the
omission of such a passage as Fox s severe comment on
the contrast between the conduct of the Independents,
Baptists, and Presbyterians at their first rise and after
they came into a position of authority during the Common
wealth (ii. 1).
Ell wood s Quaker caution showed itself in frequently
omitting references to the continued faith of converts which
it might not have been easy to verify: such phrases as
"and they died in the truth," "was convinced and stands
to this day," "who remains a Friend to this day," accord
ingly were removed by him from his printed version, and
for similar reasons he omits the report of the manner of
the death of John Love at Rome at the hands of the
ecclesiastical authorities (i. 183). A similar prudent judg
ment probably is accountable for the omission of several
records of "Judgments" upon opponents, such as the per
secuting Lord Mayor of whom George Fox wrote "and his
name became a stink and the Lord cut him off" (ii. 162),
or his occasional severe comments on the Puritans abuse
Introduction xvii
of their opportunities "in that which they called their
gospel times" (i. 237), and his belief that they would
renew their persecutions if they had the power, though
he gleefully adds, "But old Cain s sword and arms were
taken out of his hand and Judas had lost his bag " (i. 390).
Ellwood was, it may be, too cautious in omitting more
than one interesting passage which might be thought to
savour of superstition, some of which may be considered
evidence of an abnormal imagination, but one or two of
which are surely instances of the remarkable psychic powers
of spiritual insight and sympathy which we find elsewhere
at work in George Fox s life. The most striking of all
these passages is perhaps that which follows his outburst
of indignation, when a prisoner in Derby jail in 1651, at
the way in which men were put to death for thefts of cattle
and money: "and two men suffered for small things: and
I was moved to admonish them for their theft, to encourage
them concerning their suffering, it being contrary to the
law of God ; and a little after they had suffered their spirits
appeared to me as I was walking and I saw the men was well."
It is interesting to note that as The Journal was first
written the words "to admonish them for their theft" were
not part of the narrative ; they were doubtless added later
to avoid a misunderstanding of the encouragement Fox had
given to these poor victims of the law. Sometimes the in
sight given to George Fox was more painful in character, as
when he "saw a dog like nature" in the Scottish clergyman
near Staithes (i. 24), or when, as he was returning across
the channel from Ireland where he had narrowly escaped
arrest, he says, "but I felt the power of darkness 20 miles
afterwards, as I was at sea" (ii. 1 47). It was more cheering
when, on his American journeyings, as he spied from his
coasting vessel a strange sail which filled the sailors with
alarm, he was able to say, "I felt from the Lord she was
not an enemy and would do us no hurt" (ii. 247), and so
xviii Introduction
too on the voyage home was cheered by a vision and in
timation of like purport (ii. 254).
At another time the premonition was a warning of
coming danger, as when he records upon a journey in 1656:
"I then felt and saw I was a prisoner about 10 miles
before I came to Ives where we was taken " (i. 208). Some
times the premonition concerned the public good rather
than his own, as when he notes that in the year 1657 he
" saw General Monk that he was as a man that bowed under
O: P: and had a covering over him ; and take away that
covering and then he was the man as he was before : as
he did fulfil it in a few years after" (i. 302, 303).
If Ellwood felt it wisest to omit such passages we
cannot be surprised that he should have done the same
with one or two curious dreams or visions recorded by Fox;
his vision of the spiritual nature of the New Jerusalem
during his long illness in 1671, with his warning vision
during the same illness : "So in my deep misery I saw
things beyond words to utter, and I saw a black coffin, but
I passed over it" (ii. 169), and the still more curious dream
or vision about the same period, of the woman buried in a
vault with treasure beside her (ii. 175). We note that
several cases of healing following Fox s ministrations are
omitted by Ellwood, amongst them two cases of mad
women brought back to sanity (i. 140), and another of
a child "grown almost double" restored to normal life
(i. 140, 141). One curious popular belief which Fox records,
his editor also omitted: "and it was a noted thing generally
amongst people that when I came still I brought rain, and
it had been so for many years, "..."and the like observation
and expectation they have beyond the seas : when there
is a drought they generally look for the Quakers general
meetings for then they know they shall have rain : and as
they receive the truth and become fruitful unto God they
receive from Him their fruitful seasons also" (i. 273).
Introduction xix
Several of the most interesting passages in the manu
script Journal omitted in the printed editions have been
made known by the remarkable series of etchings to
illustrate them made by Mr Robert Spence, the present
owner of the manuscript.
In a number of cases somewhat naif records of the
effect produced by Fox upon his hearers are suppressed by
his editor : instances of this are such an exclamation as
"this man is a pearl" (i. 340), or the trooper s statement,
" here is more people flock after him than are about my
Lord Protector s Court" (i. 355), or the outcry of the
people as Fox is arrested in Gracechurch Street : " have a
care of him, he is a princely man" (ii. 156) ; the statement
of the old Justice in Barbados that " George Fox was a
very famous man" (ii. 233); the woman who called out
"he is a worthy man and worthy to be heard" (ii. 238),
and Elizabeth Trelauney who said with a loud voice, "George
is over all" (i. 204). Beside these passages we may also
place the outcry of the crowd of hostile undergraduates at
Cambridge as Fox rode unhurt through them : " O said they,
he shines, he glisters" (i. 190).
At an earlier page Fox had noted : and as I was
walking I heard old people and work people to say : he is
such a man as never was, he knows" people s thoughts "
(i. 50); as later he records of the progress of Quakerism
in Monmouthshire : " the very Justices said never such a
man came into their country, that had reconciled neighbour
to neighbour and husband to wife, and turned many people
from their loose lives " (ii. 120).
Possibly Ellwood may have felt that in passages like
these an opponent would see something of egotism, and
it may have been a like feeling which made him omit
Fox s description of the book confiscated by the authorities
while in the printer s hands : "It was such a teaching book
as hardly was ever given forth " (ii. 7), or his record of
xx Introduction
Edward Burrough having said upon his death bed: "If
he had been but an hour with me he should have been
well" (ii. 9).
Elsewhere Ellwood s hand has smoothed away some
trait of what looked like hardness, as when Fox had
written "my natural father" (i. 157) or "my father in
the flesh," which Ellwood simply prints as " my father " in
both cases.
Opponents had scoffed at Fox s leathern dress, and
probably on this account Ellwood omitted such passages as
that in which a captain asked Fox in jest where his
leathern breeches were : " and I let the man run on awhile,
and at last I held up my coat and said here is my leather
breeches which frightens all priests and professors" (i. 52),
or where again he says : " sometimes they would turn up
my coat and see for my leather breeches and then they
would be in a rage" (i. 170).
The account given by Fox of the reason for his marriage
to Margaret Fell (ii. 154), and of the "jumble in some
minds about it," may well have been omitted out of respect
for her feelings, and possibly some thought of avoiding
misunderstanding led the good editor also to omit the
reference to Margaret Fell and her daughters joining Fox
on his journey for a short time in 1663 (ii. 34), and her
daughters Sarah and Susanna meeting him on another
journey in 1669 (ii. 135).
For many omissions there appears to have been no
other reason than the desire of abbreviation, though this
sometimes involved the loss of a picturesque touch, as
when the jailer at Carlisle beats Friends " as if he had
been beating a pack of wool" (i. 126), or where the in
former in 1670 would not tell his name when challenged,
"but began to gnaw his fingers ends" (ii. 157), or again
the outcry of opponents of silent Quaker meetings : " look
how these people sets mumming and dumming " (ii. 28).
Introduction xxi
On the other hand Ellwood had necessarily to omit many
letters, some of which though of much interest were neither
written by or to Fox, but to Margaret Fell by various
hands, thus incidentally providing further evidence of The
Journal having been compiled at Swarthmore Hall. Of
the omitted letters by Fox the chief interest attaches
to those written to Cromwell, which were probably passed
over by Ellwood on political grounds ; indeed the reader
would probably have been content had the editor sacrificed
many of the letters which he actually printed, and given
us in exchange such brief incidents as that in which
George Fox, who did not take tobacco, showed his " unity
with the creation " by putting to his mouth the young
smoker s pipe (i. 44) ; or where the bailiff s son at Scar
borough came to dispute and spoke Hebrew to him whereat,
nothing daunted, Fox " spoke in Welsh to him and bid
him fear God," adding for us the information " who after
became a pretty Friend." Or again such a curious incident
as the omen of the owl, preceding the death of the Droit-
wich informer (ii. 168), or the story of the encounter
between the Quaker youth and the drunken Sir Geoffrey
Shakerley (ii. 135, 136).
There remain to be dealt with certain passages which
were probably omitted by Ellwood to avoid political or
theological misunderstandings and controversies.
Amongst the former may perhaps be included the
interview between Fox and Sir Harry Vane at Raby Castle
in 1657 (i. 312 316), which shows that Fox recognised that
Vane s views at an earlier date had been more in harmony
with his own (i. 313). But the most interesting are un
doubtedly the series of references to Oliver Cromwell which
Ellwood felt it best to omit. These passages make it quite
clear that George Fox looked to Cromwell in the Protector s
early years with trust and sympathy, as sent in the Provi
dence of God for the good of the nation, and that this
xx ii Introduction
earlier trust was replaced by a feeling of disappointment
and estrangement.
Possibly the letter immediately following that addressed
"to the heads and general of the army from G. F. 1652,"
which begins, " Friend of the truth of God and owner and
lover of it, whom God hath enlightened," was addressed to
Cromwell : it is without endorsement, but its contents and
the context both point to this destination.
In 1654 we find Fox sending Cromwell a brief note
warning him of danger from seeming friends (i. 160) :
followed by the remarkable " testimony " against carnal
weapons which to orthodox readers both in the seventeenth
and nineteenth centuries seemed proof of a disordered mind
or of a claim which they deemed blasphemous (i. 161, 162).
The confidence which Fox at this time set in Cromwell is
shown by another letter of the same year in which he
addresses him as " Dear Friend," giving him spiritual
counsel and holding forth the prospect that the Protector
shall " have to throw down the rubbish and quell all the
bad spirits under " his " dominion," while Cromwell is
promised the abiding blessing of the peace of God if he will
obey the Divine guidance (i. 163 165). A little later came
the interview with the Protector which Ell wood printed
almost without abridgement, though he omitted the sub
sequent comment of Captain Drury to Fox, " and my Lord
says, he says, you are not a fool ; and said he never saw
such a paper in his life as I had sent him before by him."
When George Fox writes again to Cromwell in 1656,
" concerning doffing hats," the changed feeling is evident :
he still speaks with reverence of Cromwell s position, as he
bids him " come down to the witness of God in thee," but
he is now addressed not as "Dear Friend" but simply as
"Friend" (i. 217219). Fox s subsequent letter "to Oliver
Cromwell and the Parliament" of 1656 contains no sugges
tion that their power did not rest upon a just foundation,
Introduction xxiii
but is a prolonged appeal to them to judge aright and to
avoid persecution (i. 263 266). The tone of the letter
however is one of warning, and Fox records before he
inserts it "and then O: P: began to harden and several
friends was turned out of their offices of Justices and
turned out of the army."
The original Journal gives in fuller detail than Ellwood s
edition does the account of Fox s warning to Cromwell not
to accept the offer of the crown ("and I met him in the
park and told him that they that would put him on
a crown would take away his life : and he asked me, what
did I say : and I said again that they that sought to put
him on a crown would take away his life, and bid him mind
the crown that was immortal : and he thanked me and bid
me go to his house," i. 267).
One further reference to Cromwell of a sadder nature is
the passage in which Fox tells how, after the Restoration, he
stood by the dishonoured corpse of the great Protector at
Tyburn and recalled the words of a vow of Oliver s at the
time of Dunbar fight, of which we appear as yet to have no
other record, that if the Lord gave him the victory he would
take away tithes, " or else let him be rolled into his grave
with infamy." There is little trace of George Fox s earlier
feelings towards Cromwell in his grim record of the
barbarous revenge of the Cavaliers : " But when the King
came in they took him up and hanged him : and buried
him under Tyburn where he was rolled into his grave with
infamy. And when I saw him hanging there I saw his
word justly come upon him" (i. 385). It is a sad close to
the hopes of earlier days and one cannot help feeling that
the bitter memories of continual imprisonments and of the
hardships suffered in a hundred jails by Quaker prisoners
for conscience sake made Fox somewhat too severe on the
failure of Cromwell and the Puritan leaders, though one is
glad to read his words in another passage : " For we did
xxiv Introduction
not seek any of their places, gifts nor honors but their
salvation and eternal good, both in this nation and
elsewhere."
There remain to be dealt with the passages which
were omitted by Ellwood to avoid theological controversy :
amongst these should be also included perhaps the testimony
to Cromwell already referred to, in which Fox speaks of
himself as he " whom the world calls George Fox, who is
the son of God, who is sent to stand a witness against all
violence..." (i. 161).
Two years earlier than this remarkable testimony of
1654 is the account of Fox s examination before Judge Fell
and the Justices of Lancaster Quarter Sessions, now first
published. The account was taken as Fox tells us from
" an old torn book " (i. 62), which possibly may have
belonged to Judge Fell himself: it was unfortunately im
perfect when Fox incorporated it among the manuscripts
of The Journal and has since then been still more injured,
but in spite of this, it forms, with the document which
follows it, a contribution of the highest importance to our
knowledge of early Quakerism. It is clearly a transcript
of verbatim shorthand notes of the examination of Fox on
the charge of blasphemy, giving us a vivid picture of the
bench of justices divided amongst themselves, Judge Fell
and Colonel West friendly disposed to Fox and examining
critically into the inconsistencies of the witnesses, or
criticising the legality of the charges brought against him,
Sawrey and Dr Marshall eager to secure his conviction
(i. 63 68). The importance of the whole document in
casting light on the religious views of Fox during this
formative period of Quaker history is the greater in that
it represents a contemporary transcript of his words and
not merely his recollection of what happened twenty-three
years before, written down when his views had matured
and the theological position of the Quakers generally had
Introduction xxv
become more clearly defined. The leaf which immediately
follows (i. 68 70) is in Fox s own hand throughout and
appears to be a contemporary answer to the charges of
blasphemy brought against him.
It is interesting to note that James Nayler, who takes
part in the dialogue in Court, appears to be endeavouring
to insist on the reality of the Divine communion with the
believer in a way which foreshadows those later develop
ments which caused such bitter trouble to himself and his
friends. The danger which showed itself in James Nayler s
sad story had as yet clearly not been perceived by Fox, and
although he does not tell us in his Journal of his own
attitude having been altered by seeing the unhappy error
of his friend, it is evident that he must have been pro
foundly affected by it. It is hardly possible to imagine
him in later years using the language of the " Testimony "
of 1652, or of this examination. It is no easy task to
examine to-day in the dry light of scientific theology the
rude and artless utterances of an intense spiritual conviction,
which strove to give expression to a deep inward experience.
Fox was no theologian trained to analyse, to explain in
scientific terms these great realities of which he was
conscious. He was not primarily concerned in the intel
lectual expression of truth, but in* its realisation in
practical life. His words must not be taken as an accurate
intelligible symbol of his thought, but rather as flashes
revealing imperfectly depths that the theologian may
describe but cannot fathom. We may well imagine the
horror felt by the orthodox divines of George Fox s day
at this new theology, which was in fact no theology at all,
but the imperfect attempt to express the untranslatable
spiritual truths which had taken hold of his life. Some
theologians may venture to step in and boldly ascend
those spiritual heights where the human and Divine meet
together : others will rather fence about the slopes of
xxvi Introduction
Sinai, and take off their shoes from their feet, knowing
that they are very near to holy ground.
It remains for the future historian of the Quaker
movement to take note of these landmarks in George Fox s
life, reading them in connection with the large mass of
contemporary correspondence preserved in the Sw T arthmore
MSS. now at Devonshire House a . From these documents it
is clear that many of the early Quakers, amongst them
Margaret Fell and her family, thought and wrote of Fox at
this time in a way which would hardly have been possible
to themselves or other members of the Society of Friends
at a somewhat later date, when the painful experience of
James Nayler had taught them the danger of forgetting
that the vessel in which the Heavenly Light shone was an
earthen one, and fragile. "Friends keep low" became an
injunction that rightly and needfully accompanied the
exhortation to " dwell in the Light."
Before turning from this subject one other passage of
importance should also be noticed in the account of Fox s
trial at Lancaster in 1664. After the words, which Ellwood
prints, " before I came to the bar I was moved to pray that
the Lord would confound their wickedness and envy and
set His truth over all and exalt His seed," Fox continues,
" The thundering Voice said : I have glorified thee and
will glorify thee again : and I was so filled full of glory
that my head and ears was filled full of glory : and then
when the trumpets and judges came up again they all
appeared as dead men under me" (ii. 76). Evidently
this was an experience which meant much more to Fox
than the mere recollection of the words in the Fourth
Gospel (John xii. 28, 29) applied to his own circumstances.
a The letter of Humphrey Norton to Fox in 1656 printed in this
volume (i. 245), is an instance less strong than many in the papers here
referred to of the intense and almost idolising affection of his friends
for Fox.
Introduction
XXVll
The last passage of this category is perhaps one which
occurs in the account of the homeward voyage from
America in 1673: Fox had noticed the sailors dread of
strange ships and prayed that they might see no more till
they came to England, and adds: "and the Lord God
said into thy hand and power I have given thee the ship,
and Paul s words carne into my mind, and all that is in it,
that it should come safe : and I told the company that
I believed in God ; and when we came near home the Lord
God said unto me, after he had given the ship into my
hand canst thou give up thyself, ship and all that is in it
now to be taken by the pirates, so that all the ships that
are behind in Virginia and Maryland might come safe to
England ? and I freely did it : and in the twinkling of an
eye it was given again and the blessed God brought us well
and safe home" (ii. 254). To be captured by Algerine
pirates was the fate which only too frequently befell the
seventeenth century voyager : it was characteristic of the
width of heart of Fox that he was ready to meet this
himself, if thereby he might save from the dreaded disaster
the company of unknown travellers and seamen upon the
ships behind him.
The manuscript now reproduced for the first time in
its entirety through the action of the authorities of the
Cambridge University Press was doubtless regarded by
George Fox rather as the rough material than the final
form of the work to be printed after his death, but we
cannot but be grateful that through the liberality of the
Syndics and the loving care of its present editor it is
possible for the reader to possess an exact transcript of the
original work, with all its errors uncorrected. We are able
thus to form an estimate of the character of George Fox
and of the history of the Society of Friends during his
lifetime which no incomplete edition would give us.
Especial importance attaches to the light thrown on
G. P.
xxviii Introduction
the earlier years of the Quaker movement by the new
material now published for the first time. It has been
already remarked that the deep spiritual experience through
which the early Quaker preachers passed was one to which
they were unable to give an adequate intellectual expres
sion. The opposition which they encountered from the
scandalised orthodoxy, which knew of no direct revelation
to the individual, but could only speak of the experience of
the saints in the past, was indeed inevitable, yet it was
rendered stronger by the rough and imperfect language
of Fox and his friends, which their opponents failed to
understand.
An unprejudiced mind like that of Judge Fell might be
able to discern the essential sanity of Fox, where a clerical
opponent like Dr Marshall might only see madness or
blasphemy; but we cannot wonder that there was mis
understanding. Indeed the early Quakers seem sometimes
almost to have delighted, when engaged in controversy, in
putting intellectual obstacles in the path of their adversaries.
In the earlier years of his ministry Fox on at least two
occasions asserted the Divine sonship of the believer in a
way which must have given offence when left unexplained.
At a later period when confronted with the danger
of misconceptions as to the fundamental doctrines of
Christianity as held by Friends he was willing to explain
with elaborate care his theological position, as his letter to
the Governor of Barbados demonstrates.
Yet there is no sign that he disapproved of his earlier
position when he came to compile his Journal, and had
he done so we can scarcely imagine that he would have
incorporated in it his "testimony" to Cromwell and the
account of his trial before the Lancaster Justices without
adding some word of explanation.
In conclusion we may ask ourselves how far The Journal
as we now possess it enables us to form an accurate portrait
Introduction
XXIX
of Fox as a man. We gain many little details which
hitherto were lacking; here and there we may regret a
certain note of seeming harshness, or what appears to be
too great an insistence on Fox s personal part in the story.
But this is more than counterbalanced by the intense
reality of all the narrative : it is instinct with a sense of
truthfulness. Fox was not one of those great souls who do
not realise their strength ; he was too sincere to hide what
he saw and did in any cloak of mock humility, and there is
no trace of this in his Journal. But that he was truly
humble of heart when face to face with the eternal realities
we can realise as we read Penn s memorable words : "Above
all he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and weight of
his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and
behaviour, and the fewness and fulness of his words have
often struck, even strangers, with admiration.... The most
awfull, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must
say, was his in prayer". " Nor was this inward attitude
without its reflection in the ordinary intercourse of George
Fox with his fellows, of which Penn wrote : " He was of an
innocent life, no busie body, nor self-seeker, neither touchy
nor critical... So meek, contented, modest, easie, steady,
tender, it was a pleasure to be in his company 6 ."
In one other most important respect the portrait of
George Fox given us in his Journal is incomplete and must
be supplemented by contemporary correspondence and the
evidence of those who knew him. We realise, as we read
his narrative, something of the magnetic power which
attracted his hearers, but only here and there have we
a glimpse of that tenderer side of his nature of which
we read elsewhere. "Dear George" he was to a wide
circle of friends, both before and after his death, and
even the cold minutes of the Morning Meeting use the
words "dear George Fox" to express the feeling which
Preface to first edition of The Journal. b ib.
XXX
Introduction
instinctively came to men s minds at the thought of their
departed elder. Hardly more than a hint is given in The
Journal of his strong family affection. His mother, to
whose sickhed he was journeying in 1673 when he was
arrested and thrown into Worcester jail, was so closely
bound to her son that she did not survive the shock of
the news (a fact which we now learn for the first time) ;
his stepdaughters and their husbands all loved and revered
him, habitually writing of him as their father : his wife s
deep affection for him is well known, while The Journal
scarcely alludes to their married life, and we have to turn
to private letters and papers which still survive amongst
the Swarthmore manuscripts and elsewhere, for a record
of the warm love which united husband and wife. We
may regret that Ellwood only quotes a few of the letters
written by Fox to his " Dear Heart," as he called her, and
that he could find no place for any other record of their
happy family life. But this was indeed inevitable from
the nature of The Journal, which was never intended to
be an autobiography in the full sense of the word. Yet
if the picture which The Journal gives is necessarily in
complete, it is more living and convincing than many a
fuller portrait of themselves which other writers have left.
As we read its pages there stands out clearly before us
the great, strong personality of its writer, with all his
shrewdness and simplicity, his untiring devotion to his
message and his power of passing it on to others. The
prophet s fire, the wise man s counsel, stirring record of
hardships bravely borne, quaint and homely touches of
human kindness, all are here.
T. EDMUND HABVEY
HAMMERSMITH
ix mo. 1911
EDITOR S INTRODUCTION
1. History 5. Preparation for the Press
2. Contents 6. Printed Editions
3. Time and Place of Writing 7. Collation with Printed
4. Authenticity Editions
8. Note respecting the Calendar.
1. HISTORY.
The various documents reduced to print in the following
pages originally formed part of the collection of manuscript
accumulated and preserved at Swarthmoor Hall, in Furness,
North Lancashire, the home of the Fell family and also
of George Fox after his marriage with Margaret Fell.
From the beginning of her connection with the Quaker
movement, Margaret Fell carried on an extensive corre
spondence with the travelling ministers and others who
needed advice or who desired to inform her of the progress
of their work, and, fortunately for the historian, large
numbers of these letters and of other documents were care
fully laid by in the muniment room at the Hall. At the
death of Margaret Fox (formerly Fell), these Swarthmoor
Papers were safeguarded by the youngest daughter, Rachel,
and her husband, Daniel Abraham, who resided at Swarth
moor, and, later, they came into the possession of John
Abraham, their only surviving child.
At the sale of the Swarthmoor estate in 1759, the
Papers were dispersed among various members of the
family ; portions of the collection are still in the possession
of John Abraham s descendants, while, from time to time,
xxxii Editor s Introduction
the major part has found its way by gift and purchase
into the Friends Reference Library at Devonshire House,
London.
We are concerned with one portion only of these
Papers that which includes the recital of George Fox s
labours and travels. Of this, we read "the Journal and the
documents which accompanied it passed from his [John
Abraham s] widow, Sarah Abraham, to Dodgshon Foster,
the son of her eldest brother, and from him, at his death
in 1782, to his son, Robert Foster, of Hebblethwaite
(afterwards of Newcastle-upon-Tyne), descending in 1827 to
his son, James Foster. After the death of James Foster
in 1861, the Swarthmore MSS., as they were then called,
were given by Rachel Foster, his widow, to his nephew.
Robert Spence, of North Shields, from whom they descended
in 1890 to his son [Charles James Spence, of North
Shields]," ("A Brief Account of the Manuscript Journal of
George Fox," by Charles J. Spence, in The Essayist and
Friends Review, First Month, 1893). On the death of
C. J. Spence in 1905, the MSS. came into possession of
his son, Robert Spence, artist, of London and North
Shields, who placed them on loan at Devonshire House in
1906 and by whose permission they have been transcribed
and printed.
2. CONTENTS.
In order to preserve them carefully, the manuscripts con
taining The Journal, and the various illustrative documents
inserted here and there among them, were entrusted by
Robert Spence, the elder, to the care of Thomas W. Waters,
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who had each leaf separately inlaid
(i.e. framed in paper), and the whole bound in two volumes
in red russia, richly gilt tooled. The paper used bears date
Editor s Introduction xxxiii
1878. Errors in binding are noted in i. 170. 2, 323. 1,
363.1, 372.3, 373.4; ii. 43.1, 48.1, 52.2, 65.1, 310.3,
324. 2, 344. 1. These volumes are now known as Spence
MSS. i. and ii. There are indications that the papers were
bound in one volume at an earlier period fragments of
rough millboard covers are still in existence, and tradition
ascribes the attachment of a pair of clasps (Jnl. F. H. S.
viii. 50). The general condition of the MSS. is excellent
and betokens great care on the part of the various owners.
Each volume, as now bound, contains 230 leaves, the
MSS. measuring about twelve inches by seven and a
half. The narrative portion (which can be traced through
the two printed volumes by means of footnotes, see
i. 4, 9, etc.) occupies 270 leaves, most of which are paged
consecutively to 411, the remainder being additions in the
same handwriting, unnumbered, and often with devotional
endings (see i. 138. 1 ; ii. 8. 1). The first sixteen of the
numbered pages are, unfortunately, missing, and also two of
the later leaves, perhaps those mentioned ii. 105. 1. Several
of the illustrative documents referred to in the narrative
have also, at some period, become detached (see i. 71 n.,
296 n., 386. 1 ; ii. 24 n., 85. 1, 105. 1, 134. 1, 153. 1, 154. 1,
163. 1, 169. 1, 170. 1, 176. 3, 262. 2, 284. 1, 313. 2, 341. 1),
but two of these have been recovered and their contents
printed (ii. 85. 1, 105. 1).
The sixteen pages missing from the beginning of the
MS., if written in the same hand as p. 17, would contain
about 10,000 words, whereas there are about 17,500 words
from the beginning of the printed editions to the point
where the narrative in the MS. begins. It is evident,
therefore, that the earliest portion of the printed editions
includes material from other sources in addition to the
material in the missing sixteen pages, a method adopted
through the remainder of The Journal. The only references
noted in The Journal to anything recorded in the printed
xxxiv Editor s Introduction
editions prior to 1650 and, therefore, probably contained
in the missing pages, are to be found in notes i. 14 a, ii.
19. 1, 110. 1.
3. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING.
It has generally been stated that The Journal was
written in Worcester Jail, during the imprisonment of
George Fox and Thomas Lower, between Tenth Month,
1673, and Twelfth Month, 1674/5. Charles J. Spence
writes, " There can be little doubt that the Journal was
dictated by George Fox to his son-in-law, Thomas Lower,
and there is some evidence in its arrangement which would
show that it was one of the many writings undertaken
during the long imprisonment at Worcester, where Thomas
Lower was his constant companion " (Essayist and Friends
Review, 1893). We know that the Worcester imprison
ment was a time of active literary work (see ii. 311, 485).
Lower wrote to his wife from Worcester, xi. 1673 (Jan.
1673/4), "It is much as I can do to get a little spare time
...by reason of the many visitors we have, and the many
papers to write" (Webb, Fells, 1865, p. 287). From internal
evidence (i. 41. 2), The Journal could not have been written
before August, 1674, which leaves three months only
between that time and the date of Lower s departure
shortly before Fox s liberation in the following February.
Fox states that he was sent forth to preach the gospel
"& have continnued in it this 27 yeere" (i. 250), which
would place the date of this writing in 1674 or early in
1675, if we reckon 1647 as the opening year of his
ministry.
It is quite possible that some preparatory work may
have been done at Worcester, but, from the following
Editor s Introduction xxxv
internal evidence, it is clear that The Journal could not
have been completed before Fox s release in 1674/5.
(a) ii. 105. 3 Barbara Fleming died in April, 1675.
(b) i. 111. 2, 292 John Wilkinson died xi. 1675.
(c) ii. 312 In the margin of a numbered page appears
the date 1676, written, apparently, at the same time as the
rest of the page.
(d) ii. 325 "now 1676." The Annals for the years
1649 to 1657 are written on pages numbered on, following
the close of the narrative portion, but the style of Lower s
hand is somewhat different.
(e) ii. 338. 3 This survey of the rise and progress of
Truth appears to have been written about the same time as
the narrative (the watermark of the paper is the same), and
it closes with "this yeere 1676."
(/) ii. 312 The latest date of the tracts referred to
here on numbered pages as written at Swarthmoor is
Seventh Month, 1676 (but see ii. 312. 15).
There is no evidence of a break which might indicate
a change of locale. It is not likely that Fox would have
with him in Worcester the various papers referred to in
the earlier portion of the narrative (i. 62, 116, 163) as then
at hand. It seems, therefore, more probable, in default of
any known external evidence, that the whole of the narrative
portion was written at Swarthmoor during the leisure of
Fox s visit there from iv. 1675 to i. 1677, when surrounded
by many important personal and literary helps and in
harmony with his own statement, " As many things lay
upon me to Write, both for publick and private Service,
I did not stir much abroad... but when Friends were not
with me spent pretty much time in writing Books and
Papers for Truth s service " (printed editions).
This series of MSS. has, according to the historical
account before given, been preserved in its present con
dition for many years. C. J. Spence writes, " The Journal
xxxvi Editor s Introduction
proper has only once been opened to the printer since it
was originally edited for the first folio of 1694. This was
in the course of a controversy which divided the Society
in the former half of the present century [the Beaconite
Controversy, 1836]. Access to the manuscripts was then
allowed to some of the disputants, and careful search was
made for any matter calculated to impair the authority of the
early Friends" (Essayist and Friends Review, 1893). One
of the above "disputants" was Elisha Bates, of Ohio, U.S.A.,
who issued An Appeal to the Society of Friends, in 1836
(i. 425). In an introduction to this pamphlet by Robert
Benson, he states : " That they [The Journal MSS.] are
genuine is a fact which admits of no doubt.... They carry
with them undeniable evidence to this effect, both internal
and external."
4. AUTHENTICITY.
There is no doubt that the narrative portions of the
MSS. (with the exception of p. 17 to the middle of p. 20
and, perhaps, also of the lost sixteen pages) were written by
Thomas Lower (1633 1720), step-son-in-law of George Fox.
They are in the same hand as in many papers and letters
signed by him, extant in D. and elsewhere, and it is well
known that he was with George Fox in Worcester and
also at Swarthmoor, near which latter place he had a
residence.
The writer of the first few pages is not known, but
the paper used has the same water-mark as that on which
Lower continues and Lower has added to and corrected these
pages. The writing on the numbered sheets was probably
done at fairly consecutive periods, bearing evidence of hurry
as if the matter was dictated, and then, later, these sheets
received correction and addition by Lower, in a smaller and
more upright style. Except in about a dozen places, by at
Editor s Introduction xxxvii
most two contemporary hands (i. 135 n., 137n., 182n.,285n.,
288n.,299n.;ii. In., 36n., 80n., 130n., 165ri., 170n.), Lower s
work has not been altered ; many of the addenda documents
are endorsed by Lower, and there are evidences in many of
them of his corrections and additions (see e.g. i. 1. 2, 2. 1,
68. 3, 72. 1, 75. 1, 299. 1, 357. 2, 367. 1, 375. 1, 381. 5;
ii. 48. 1, 85. 1, 105. 1, 170. 3, 187.1, 288. 2).
Contrary to general expectation, there is very little of
Fox s own writing in his Journal. One paper only was
completely written by him (i. 68. 3) and only occasionally
do a few words of his appear (i. 343. 1 ; ii. 105. 1, 159. 1,
288. 4), but many papers and letters received his endorse
ment (see e.g. i. 5. 1, 68. 3, 77. 1, 116. 2, 120. 1, 178. 1,
206. 1, 239. 1, 263. 3, 301. 1, 372. 3 ; ii. 20. 1, 43. 1, 57. 1,
72. 1, 102. 1, 2, 159. 1, 196. 2, 256. 1, 265. 5, 268. 2, 296. 2,
309. 1, 327. 2). The only place where the handwriting of
both Fox and Lower appears on the same sheet (except in
endorsements) is ii. 105. 1.
Excluding autograph letters and the testamentary
papers, it is computed that the two volumes contain about
fifty different handwritings (thirty in one and twenty in
the other). Among the writers identified are Sarah Fell,
Bridget Fell, Ellis Hookes, Gervase Benson, John Stubbs,
Richard Richardson, Mark S wanner. There is no appear
ance of modern handwriting on any of The Journal MSS.
The Journal as here printed bears little, if any, evidence
of having been preceded by any form of diary, regularly
written up, although Ellwood states that Fox "himself kept
a Journal" (Ell. edd. at end), but when dictating his life
history Fox was, doubtless, able to avail himself of notes
of travel and other documents including original letters.
Memoranda in Fox s writing are preserved in D., but most
of these refer to events later than 1675 and include the
" Little Jornall Books " mentioned ii. 348. Numerous
documents and letters are found among The Journal MSS.,
xxxviii Editor s Introduction
which were referred to in the compilation of The Journal
(see i. 63, 67, 68, 160, 299, 367, 375, 378 ; ii. 43, 48, 57,
60, 72, 85-89, 102, 137, 159, 176, etc.).
In addition to the above sources, there is, in D., a
manuscript endorsed by Fox, and usually known as the
Short Journal, which contains an orderly record of his work
and suffering to the year 1664. William C. Braithwaite, in
his forthcoming work, Beginnings of Quakerism, cites some
passages from it and notes the similarity between these
and passages in the " Great Journall."
5. PREPARATION FOR THE PRESS.
In his testamentary dispositions George Fox makes
mention of " y e great Jornall of my Life, Sufferings,
Travills, and Imprisonments " (ii. 347), doubtless in refer
ence to the preceding dictated narrative, and he appoints
certain Friends to attend to the printing of the same. In
the minutes of the Morning Meeting (the body of Friends
appointed to examine MSS. and approve or disapprove
of the printing of the same), soon after Fox s death, we
learn that the work of transcription for the press was
undertaken by Thomas Ellwood, and in Second Month,
1692, Ellwood states that he "hath Transcribed about
200 sheets" and "gott no further then 1666." Two
months later a minute recites the proposed title for the
work " The History of G. F. s Journall and Progress in y e
Lord s Work Entituled The Everlasting Gospell Preacht
Againe And Truth s Progress in these latter dayes Power
fully Witnessed In The great Labours Tra veils Try alls
and Sufferings, of The Antient ffaithfull Servant and Minister
of Christ George ffox the Elder, who departed this Life in
Peace, y e 13 th day of the ^ 1690/1." There were many
delays, however ; the transcription took a longer time to
finish than was anticipated and before the " copy " was
Editor s Introduction xxxix
committed to the printer, it was carefully read and re-read
in order, as Ellwood writes, " That nothing may be omitted
fit to be inserted, nor any thing inserted fit to be left out "
(Barclay, Letters, p. 213 ; see Friends Quarterly Examiner,
1902), so that, as William Penn put it, " It might not sound
uncouth and unfashionable to nice ears." One object of the
present work is to present The Journal as first written, not
as smoothed and modified by Ellwood and the editorial
committees. " The native greatness of Fox asserts itself
convincingly through all the ruggedness of the Great
Journal and if there are touches of self-importance and
extravagant mystical language, we feel that they too,
under the conditions of the age, are a natural part, such
as we should expect to find, of his commanding personality "
(W. C. Braithwaite, Beginnings of Quakerism).
Further evidence that the Spence MSS. formed the basis
of the Ell. edd. is to be found in the change of style
noticeable in the latter at about the year 1675, when the
"Great Journall" closes, there being from that time a
preponderance of epistolary matter and mere itinerary, as
to which Ellwood writes, " Some years remain still to be
digested, yet being the latter part of his time they will
yield less matter than the former years have done " (Barclay,
op. cit. p. 213).
6. PRINTED EDITIONS.
The Journal thus edited, appeared in 1694 (see thereon
ii. 109. 4, 349. 2).
Subsequent editions were brought out in England in
1709, 1765, 1827, 1836, 1852 and 1891 (with reprints
in 1901 and 1902) and in America in 1800, 1808, 1831
and 1833 (see Appendix to reprint of 1901), but the original
manuscripts do not appear to have been consulted in the
preparation of any of these later editions.
xl Editor s Introduction
7. COLLATION WITH PRINTED EDITIONS.
Considerable care has been exercised in the collation of
the manuscript Journal with the Ell. edd., and an attempt
has been made to distinguish the matter omitted from the
latter, and therefore printed for the first time, by enclosing
it within brackets.
A study of these omissions enables us to classify them
roughly, as follows :
Personal references to Fox, mostly laudatory : i. 1, 2,
13, 15, 20, 26, 41, 43, 50, 52, 61, 62, 107, 114, 125, 140,
162, 168, 185, 190, 204, 208, 267, 273, 274, 276, 307, 340,
355 ; ii. 7, 9, 22, 27, 76, 78, 98, 112, 120, 132, 147, 154-
156, 165167, 169, 175, 222, 230, 232, 233, 238, 310.
Statements made, but doubted or disproved later : i.
9, 14, 39, 107, 149, 180, 181, 184, 187, 189, 190, 194,
196, 200, 201, 205, 210, 231, 242, 243, 255, 269, 308, 310,
353 ; ii. 33, 284
Curious customs, superstitions, statements, etc. : i. 17,
38, 108, 126, 260; ii. 9, 166, 168, 170.
Difficult readings: i. 21, 90, 157, 248, 343; ii. 104,
210, 293.
Omission of names, in some cases those of ex-Friends :
i. 10, 40, 44, 56, 198, 245, 291, 308, 357, 386; ii. 3, 124,
125, 133, 156, 158, 162, 169, 176, 197, 212, 262, 312.
Omission of dates: i. 2, 24, 55, 139, 148, 160, 165, 180,
182, 211, 261, 317, 348, 389; ii. 10, 72, 91, 119, 222239,
284, 285, 310.
Statements regarding persons for various reasons un
desirable to print: i. 29, 41, 44, 51, 79, 166. 2, 181, 183, 231,
245, 302, 343, 360, 384; ii. 1, 4, 8, 42, 162, 163, 284.
References to documents omitted from Ell. edd. : i. 62,
79, 360; ii. 19, 24, 56, 57, 80, 84, 102, 106, 176, 262, 284.
References to contemporary literature : i. 197, 208,
214; ii. 3, 196, 313.
Editor s Introduction xli
Lengthy omissions from narrative portion: i. 140f.,
285 ff., 312 ff.; ii. 135 f., 153 ff.
It must be borne in mind by those who use this
edition of The Journal of George Fox that it is the
reproduction in print of a certain collection of MSS. and is
not based upon editions of The Journal previously printed,
and especially that the text of this edition covers the
period of Fox s life from 1650 to 1675 only.
8. NOTE RESPECTING THE CALENDAR.
It may be well to mention that, until the year 1752,
what is known as the Julian Calendar, under which the
year began on the 25th of March, was in use in the British
Isles, whilst other nations of Western Europe computed the
year according to the Gregorian Calendar, which made the
year begin on the 1st of January. For more than a century
before the latter Calendar was introduced, the dates from
1 January to 24 March inclusive were often given according
to both Calendars, thus 16 January, 1656/7.
Those writers who discarded the names of the months,
some of which had a pagan origin, and who described
the months by number, began the year with March and
called the whole of that month First Month, although,
according to the Julian reckoning, only the last seven days
formed part of the new year. Friends followed the lead of
some other nonconforming bodies, hence the right under
standing of this method of reckoning is essential to the
student of the first hundred years of Quaker history.
An examination of the dates of consecutive records of
Friends shows the care which official Quakerism took in
this matter. In the minutes of the Meeting for Sufferings
(MS. in D.), for instance, we find 22nd of 12 mo. 1676, 1st
of 1 mo. 1676, 22nd of 1 mo. 1676, 12th of 2 mo. 1677, also
9th of 11 mo. 168f, 16th of 11 mo. 1684, 27th of 12 mo.
xlii
Editor s Introduction
168f, 6th of 1 mo. 168f , 20th of 1 mo. 168f, 27th of 1 mo.
1685.
By the Act of 24 George II, "for regulating the com
mencement of the year and for correcting the Calendar now
in use," it was enacted that the first day of January next
following the last day of December should he " reckoned
taken deemed and accounted to be the first day of the
year of our Lord, 1752, and so on from time to time."
It was also enacted that, in order to correct the
Calendar, which, in process of time, had become eleven
days out, the day after the 2nd of September, 1752, should
be reckoned the 14th of September.
The Friends Yearly Meeting of 1751 directed that
arrangements should be made for compliance with the
provisions of this Act, and in Seventh Month (Sept.),
a circular was sent out to Friends in Great Britain,
Ireland, and America on the subject, including the fol
lowing table :
Eleventh
January
First
Twelfth
February
Second
First
March
Third
The
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Month
called
April
May
June
July
August
September
shall be
reckoned
and
stiled
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth
Month of
the next
and every
succeeding
year
Eighth
October
Tenth
Ninth
November
Eleventh
Tenth
December
Twelfth
George Fox s signature
THE JOURNAL OF GEORGE FOX
a After this I was moved to go into Derbyshire, where the
mighty Power of God ivas among friends. And I went to
Chesterfield where one Britland 1 was Priest. He was one,
that saw beyond the common sort of Priests ; for he had "
2 beene convinced whoe was above ye Preistes 3 & had
spoaken much in behaulfe of Truth & soe ye Preist of ye
Tpwne being dead Hee had gott ye parsonage & choaked
himselfe with itt, & soe I was mooved to speake to him &
ye people, In ye great love of God, & hee was not able to
oppose, & soe they had mee before ye Maior & sent mee
{with some others} to ye House of Correction, but ye
Judgments 4 of ye Lord came on y* preist soone after &
hee was cutt off & dyed. And in ye Night they putt Us
out of Towne with Watch men, but there were severall
convinced of ye Lords Truth & ye Lords Power began to
spread mightyly & his Truth up and downe in those
partes [& then f Preist Stevens 5 of Dray ton my Native
Place, hee Preached & tould my Relations y* I was
carryed up with a whyrlewind Into Heaven, & after I
was found full of gould & sillver, & soe my Relations
wrote a letter to mee to come & shew myself, & soe I
Answered ye letter, & they shewed itt To ye Preist, & ye
Preist said Aney one might write a Letter but where
was ye Man? & soe my Relations did conclude itt was
soe, for said They when Hee went from Us hee had a greate
deale of gould & sillver about him, neveryelesse they sent
to mee againe, & after I went homewardes, & one or two
... From the first Ellwood edition 1694, page 30.
G. F. 1
2 Arrival at Derby [leso
went along with mee till wee came to a Towne where wee
mett many Professors, & many were convinced {at Kidsley
Parke 1 }].
[1650.] And Then wee came to Darby & Lay att a
Doctors House his wife was convinced & severall in ye
Towne, & as I was walkeing in my Chamber ye bell rung
& itt struck at my Life at ye very heareing of itt, &
I asked ye woeman of ye House what ye bell Rung for ?
& shee said there was to bee a great Lecture y* day &
aboundance of ye Officers of ye Armie & Preists & Preachers
were to be there & a Collonell y 1 was a preacher, & I was
mooved of ye Lord to goe up to them, & when they had
done, I spake to them what ye Lord commanded mee ; &
they were pretty quiett & there came an Officer to mee
& took mee by ye hand & said I must goe before the
Magestrates & ye other 2 y 4 * were with mee, & soe when
wee came before y m about ye 1 st bower I tould them All
their Preaching, Baptisme, & sacrifices would never sanctifie
them & had many words with y m ; & I tould y m y* they
were not to dispute of God & Christ but to obey him, & ye
power of God was thundred Among y m & they flew like
Chaff, & they putt mee in & out from ye 1 st bower to ye 9
hower at night in Examinations having mee backward &
forward & said y* I was taken up in raptures as they cald
itt & soe att last they asked mee whether I was sanctified ?
& I said, sanctified ; yes, for I was in ye Paradise of God,
& they said had 1 noe Sinne ? Sinne said I Hee hath
Taken away my sinne (viz : Christ my saviour) & in him
there is noe sinne, & many such like words 2 {they had with
mee as in ye foloweinge examination may bee seene}, & soe
They committed mee upon That as a Blaspheamer, & {as by
ye mittimus may bee seene} a Man havinge noe sinne &
committed Another man 3 with mee to ye House of Correction
for six Monthes [& then many People came far & neer to
see a Man y* had noe sinne], & then did ye Preistes Eoare
up for Sinne in their pullpitts, & preach up sin {y* people
said never was ye like hearde}. Itt was all their workes to
plead for itt, & soe then after some tyme y* Man y* was
imprissond with mee did not stand but gott in with ye
keeper & made way to ye Justice to goe see his Mother {&
soe gott his liberty}, & then they reported y* hee should
!65o] Professors Plead for Sin 3
saye y* I had bewitched him & deceived him [& some
ffreinds wold have removed mee to ye Parliament itt being
y en in the Dayes of ye Common Wealth], & then my
Spirit was doubled upon mee when y fc Man was gone, &
y n ye Preistes & Justices & Professors & Keeper were all
in great Bage against mee & watched my words & asked
mee questions to ensnare mee, sometimes would ask mee
{such silly questions as} whether ye Door was latched &c
things, to gett somethinge to make sinne of itt, but I was
kept watchfull & Chaste, & they Admired at Itt [& severall
tymes I had motions {from ye Lorde} to goe Into ye Towne
in tyme of ffaires & Marketts to speake to ye People {though
I was in prison}, & I would tell ye Keeper & aske him to
lett mee goe & bee would not, & then I said to Him, y en
lett it be upon thee, ye Iniquitye of ye People bee upon
thee, & ye Lord said to mee y* I was not to be remooved
from y<> place yet, but was sett as a King for ye bodie 8
sake & for ye true hope {f doth purify} & ye true ffaith
{y* g ives ye victory} & ye true Beleife {y i overcomes ye
worlde}].
And soe when professors came to mee to dispute &
discourse I shold feele y m before they came to plead for sin
& imperfection, & I asked them whether they beleived?
& they^ said yes, y n I asked y m : In whome ? & they said,
In Christ, & I said to y m : if you beleive you are past from
Death to Life, & soe from ye sinne y* bringeth Death {&
they saide they beleived noe such thinge y fc any coulde bee
free from sin while upon ye earth}. Then I bid y m Keep from
babling about ye Scriptures which were holy mens Wordes,
whilst you plead for Unholynesse, & y n (it may be) another
Company of Professors would come & they also woulde bee
pleading for sin, & I wold ask y m whether they had hope ?
& they wold say, yes, god forbid else, but y t wee shold
have hope, & I asked them what hope is it? did itt
purifye you As hee is pure? Christ in you ye hope of
Glory? & they could not endure to hear of puritye {or being
made pure heere} & then I bid y m keep from talkeing of ye
Scriptures ye holy mens words {for ye holy men pleaded
for holynesse in hearte & life & conversation heere} & you
pleading for Impurity & sin which is of ye Divell {what
have you to doe with ye holy mens words}.
12
4 The Name " Quaker " [isso
And y n (it may be) another Company would come, y fc
wold bee talkeing of ye Scriptures & pleading for sinne, & I
would aske y m have you any faith ? & they Avoid say, yes,
& y* they were Christians. And I said what Faith is it ?
will it give Victorie over sin ? & over ye Divell ? & Purifie
your heartes? & bring you to have accesse to God againe?
& to please God, which ffaith is held in a pure Conscience,
& they could not Endure to hear talke of puritye nor victory
over sin & ye Divell {heere upon ye earth}, & then I bid
them also Give over talkeing & babling of ye Scriptures y fc
were Given forth by holy Men, as they were moved by ye
holye Ghost, & ye keeper beinge a great Professor was in
A mighty rage against mee, yet itt pleased ye Lord to strike
him soe one day y* as I was walkeing in my Chamber I
heard A dolefull Noise & I made a stand, & hee was speake-
ing to his wife How y* hee saw ye Day of Judgment & hee
saw Georg there & Hee was afraid of him because y fc Hee
had done him soe much wronge & spoke {soe much} against
him to Professors & Justices {& ye Preists} & in Tavernes
& Alehouses, &c & soe toward Evening hee came up
into my Chamber & said to mee, I have bin as a ^ Lyon
against you, but Now I come like a Lamb, & come like ye
Goaler y* came to Paul Silas trembling & desired y 1 hee
might Lye with mee, & I tould him y fc I was in his power,
hee might doe what hee would, & hee said nay, hee wold
have my Leave, & hee could {desire to} be all ways with mee,
but not {to have mee} as a Prisoner, & said y fc hee had bin
plagued, & his house was plagued for my sake [like Pharohs
& Abimelecks concerning Abraham & Isaack], & soe I suffred
Him {to lye with mee}, & then hee tould rnee all his heart &
beleived what I said to be true of ye true faith, & hope &c,
& wondred y* ye other man did not stand to itt y fc was putt
into prisson with mee & said Hee was a knave & I was an
honnest man &c, & soe hee went to ye Justices & tould
y m hee & his house had been plagued for my sake & ye
Justices said that ye plagues was one y m too {for keepinge
mee in prison}, this was Justice Bennett 1 of Darby y fc first
called Us Quakers because wee bid y m tremble att ye Word
of God 2 & this was in ye year 1650.*
a Narrative continued on page 9.
A
i65o] Letter to Justice Bennett 5
[Collonell Bennett that called the
servants of the Lord Quakers
G. F. paper to him: Collonell hennett
of darbe 1650 1 .
friend
The lord will persue thee though thou run to the
uttmost parts of the Earth, & be lifted upp Among the
princes which are but as dust, thou wast the first man that
turned Against the truth one of them in the north, and
thou saids thou prisonest one they call george ffox for
saying that Christ that dyed att Jerusalem was A rogue,
this thou saids when thou wast att London A parlement
man and declared it ther Abroad when sence that time to a
men was sent out of the north, Robert Whither 2 and James
Tayler 3 {& another} to queery at the Goale, wher hee was
prisoned, and to see the mittymus and query the country and
the towne, for thou keeping him In prison twelve month
(within three weekes). If Any such thing had bine, the
Country the towne the keepers of the prisone whould have
knowne it, but noe such thing Ever could bee heard, others
have queeried in the same towne, and gon to the priest, which
was one that did Examine him, and hee declared and gave
it under his hand (Baker 4 by name) that hee never hard Any
such thing, neither was ther Any such word spoken, and
gave it under his hand to Myles Halehead 5 , now thou being
in place to doe Justice, and A publisher of lyes to the nation
when thou wart a parlament man, now in this thou dis-
honourest thy place (who bends thy tongue to tell lyes)
thou wast the first man in the nation that gave the people
of god the name quaker And Called them quakers, when
thou Examinest George in thy house att Derbey (which they
had never the name before) now A Justice to wrong name
people, what may the brutish people doe, if such A one A
Justice of peace give names to men, but thou art Lifted
upp proud and haughty and soe turnest Against the Just
one given upp to misname the saints, and to make lyes for
others to beeleve : for all the Country people and the toune
and the priests and Jayler cleared George from thy lyes
a Altered to three in another hand.
6 A Begetter of Reproaches
and slanders, and did not god bring his plagues uppon thee
whiles hee was in prison, and uppon the Jayler both, was
not sume of you made to conffess it, was not sume of your
housis plagued, did you not see and feele the hand of god,
and sayd the plague of god would never bee ofe you whiles
you kept him, now did thou, the plague being A lettle off
thee bend thy tongue to fforch lyes Againe in the cheiffest
Assembly in the nation, will not this ffall uppon thee.
Unto the wittnes in thee doe I speake of god dids not
thou render thy self odyous beeffore men and god, canst
thou hide thy self from his presents (or his children) but
both will fiend thee out, oh man the day will come uppon
thee that thou wilt ffeele, thou hads better never bine borne,
oh man what hast thou sowen in the nation how many
Eeprochers scoffers & mockers through Every towne in
the nation, hast thou beegotten yee the very tables and
housis and feasts" thy children mockers and scoffers, for thou
wast the first man that gave the children of god that name
of qwakers, and soe it spread over the nation, the Lord will
rewards thee According to thy workes, and what thou hast
sowen, that that thou must Eeape, and thou hast the bigest
crap In the nation to Reape (of Reprochers) of one seeds
man, ffor all the whole Reprochis in the nation have come
upp in that kiends, through thee (as quakers), thou art the
man and father that hath begotten all thees reproches and
the day of thy Lementation is come, for they that are
reproched as quakers by thee they with that which cannot
bee shaken which Are of the Riall seed of gods Elect, and
pretious before the world was made, thou hast opened all
mouths in strets and townes and highways and all the
dronkards and brutish people to shut and mocke, and call
quaker and heares thy ofspring and of thy stocke and
roote and heare is thy worke and fruit of thy geneation
Ismaells first borne, and all the mockers and scoffers uppon
the Earth, that gives the name quaker to the people of god
thou wert the father of, soe the father of mockers scoffers
scorners, and scorners they all ly uppon thee, and thou
canst never gett that downe which thou hast begotten in
all mockers scoffers and reprochers throout the nation,
a An ancient copy of this letter (Spence MSS. iii. 5) reads streets
i65o] The Royal Seed of God 7
and nations and all theer dominions, ffor the sober people
follow thee not, neither doe they Learne thy doctrine, but all
the Light prophaine heady Earthly proud ungodly people,
thees receve thy doctrine of Reproch, for Long 1 before thou
In scorne called them quakers, hath the people of the Lord
god bine knowne About Mansfeild Notinggham, and sume
parts of Lester sheare, and ther Abouts.
Now all the Reprochis in the world in this thing, will be
thy begetting, for of it art thou Author and farther, to us
the people of God, whos burden thou must beare, for thou
hast filled the mouth of scorners with Reprochis, and soe
made the people of god in scorne bee called by that name
thorowout all thees nations, and this is thy worke thou
hast brought forth the 30 day of October 1650 In Darby,
who was the first Reprocher and scorner and giving the
name to the people of god (quaker) which sence in the
nation thou mayest see what fruit it hath brought forth,
and how many children thou hast in all the streets, and
townes, and how many deciples thou hast drane After
thee, which hast caused the truth to bee Evell spoken of,
and soe all may see heare, that thou hast sowen to the
flesh, that soe much corruption thou must reape In all towns
streets markertts, and steple housis and see if this state
must not quake, Among you, before the seed of god be
raysed upp over all, and will not this word be Redeemed
from the people of god who are of the Ryall seed of god,
that wittneseth wher ther is noe shaking types nor figuirs
nor shadows.
And must not thou who first gave the name quaker to
them of the Ryall seed of god quake, is not that word to
thy self and all the Reprochers scoffer mockers proud Earthly
ones fatt dronken lust full ones, beastly people that follow
pleas wer, headdy high miended and haughty and covitious
given upp to Uncleanenes hath they word quaker in their
mouths Against the Ryall seed must not they quake, Is not
the word quake to them, and tremble both from the Lord
god, fighters strikers persequtors hath gott the word quake
to the Royall seed, now is not the word quake to all them
And tremble both and shake before they know the seed of
god (that they say quake to) doe the Ryall seed of god
quake must not thou and all thy Children that have Learned
8 Quaking and Trembling [i650
thy doctrine know quaking and trembling before they know
soulvation wrought out, and all mockers scoffers and miss
namers of people is not this all in the transgression, out of
the saintyfied state, and is it not of Ishmaells stocke, and
yett you are Ignorant of the scripters, and the holy men
of gods words and his power which wrought uppon them
which made them to tremble, make proud flesh to tremble
that is the soulvation and workes out the seed, the heir
of the promis of god, Mosis trembled, David trembled,
Habaccok trembled, Job trembled, the Alarhum is sounded
in the holy mountain, the Trumpet is sonded out of Syon,
which shall make the Inhabitants of the Earth tremble, the
day of the Lord is Appered and A sword is drane, and the
battle of the Lord is begone with all the Inhabitants of the
Earth, his fury is gon out (woe) is pronounced, the vialls
are powering out the thunders untering Eathquakes shall
bee downe and art knowne a the kings of the Earth the
beast and the false prophett and the ould dragon shall Eise
Against the Lambe the saints but the Lambe the saints
shall gett the victory and they shall be taken and cast A
live in to the Lake of fier hee shall they slay with the
sword that comes forth of his mouth, soe thou hast bine
one of the beasts heads, that gives the names which doe
not the saints nor Apostles nor Christ teach Any such
docktrine, that the saints should doe soe, but all this Giving
of names Among people is come upp Among you from them
that are Apostatised, the di veils geneation and the dragons
power and soe to cause the people to give names on to
Another, wher by to Envy one another and to hate one
Another, and this they are Ignorant off that they ware all
off one blood and mould that dwell uppon the face of the
whole Earth, and Ignorant of the doctrine of Christ and
the Apostles which is Love, and stopts that which causes
Envy and hatreed, soe that which went out of the truth and
aboad not in truth is the Enmyty is the cause of people
hating one Another, and the quakers now in scorne called
soe shall make the nations Tremble.
G. F.]
Or might be read un krowne The other MS. reads Earth Quakes
shall be knowen and are knowen
i65o] A Penitent Gaoler 9
*[G. F. hearing y* Phillip Bennet 2 a Justice of peace of
Darby, after he had prisoned G. F. wrongfully & keept about
a year, after he being a parlement man, he Reported at
London : that he had Imprisoned G. F. for calling Christ
Rogue & this was about 3 years after y fc g. f. was first
Imprisond by him : & g. f. wondered at this slander he
should cast upon him, that he sent 3 substantiall men out
of ye north to Darbie town wher I was in prison to ye geole
and to ye preist, who took a Coppie of my mittimus & ye
examination as is here inserted wher all may see, how this
Justice Benet of Darby had wronged g. f. in say he had
spoke those words, which he never said nor thought : but
abhor ed in his heart : & this both Geollers & ye preist &
ye people of ye town testified, that was at ye examination.
g-f-]
a And soe hee confest all to mee how that when I had ye
severall Motions {from ye Lorde} to goe out to speake to
People & hee wold not Lett mee goe & when I layd itt upon
Him y t y n hee was distracted & Amazed for an hower after
& was much troubled & in such a Condition for a tyme [y fc
one might have killed him with a Crabb {as hee saide}], & ye
Justice gave Leave y b I shold have Liberty to goe A Myle, &
I perceived their end, & I tould ye Goaler y* if they would
sett {doune to} mee how farr a mile was, I might walk in it,
but its like they thought I would goe Awaye, but I tould
Him I was not of y* spirit, & ye Goaler confest it after y*
they did itt with y* Intent to have had mee gone away {to
ease ye plague from them}, & they said I was an honnest
man, & this Goaler had a sister y* was a tender young
woeman, & shee.came up Into my Chamber {to visett mee},
and went downe [& a little after Dyed], & shee spake before
& tould them y* an Innocent People wee were & did
none any hurt but did good to all, & to them y fc hated us and
Desired Them to bee tender towards Us [& soe shee Dyed].
And a great Judgment was upon ye towne & I saw ye
Power of God went away from them as ye Waters ranne
[from ye Towne {damni] when ye floode gates were uppe 3 },
Narrative continued from page 4, hee ye keeper.
io Visit of a Conjurer [1650
for they were an hardened People, & yett there were some
convinced in ye Towne.
And there was a young woeman y fc was to bee putt to
death for robbing her master & Judgment was Given & a
grave made for her & shee carryed to Execuon & I was
made to write to ye Judg & to ye Jury about her, & when
shee came there they had not Power to Hang her {as by ye
paper which I sent to be reade at ye gallowes may bee seene},
but shee was brought back againe, & they came with great
rage against mee {into ye prison}, but afterwards this yong
woeman came to be convinced.
1 And soe I was allowed a mile to walke out by my selfe :
& one time whilsst I was in goale there was a Conjurer
brought to prison & hee threatned how hee woulde talke
with mee {& what hee woulde doe to mee} : a wicked
ungodly man : but hee had never power to open his mouth
unto mee : & one time ye goaler & hee fell out & hee
threatned ye goaler to raise ye Devill to breake his house
doune & made ye goaler afraide : & I was moved off ye
Lorde to goe in his power & thresh him in it : & to say
Come letts see what thou canst doe & bid him doe his
worst : & tolde him ye Devill was raised high enough in him
already but ye power of God chained him : & hee slunke
away & went from mee.
And when I had liberty I went into ye markett &
streets & warned people to repentans, & soe returned to
prison againe.
And my relations came to mee & was much troubled y fc I
shoulde bee in prison : for they lookt upon it to bee a great
shame to y m for mee to bee in goale & It was a strange
thinge to bee Imprisoned then for religion & some thought
I was madde, because I stoode for purity & perfection &
righteousnesse.
And there came on [Rice Jones 2 ] {a souldyer} of Notting
ham y* had beene a baptist & severall others with him :
whoe was goeinge to Worcester fight : says hee to mee
thy faith stands in a man y* dyed att Jerusalem & there
was never any such thinge & I saide unto him did not Christ
suffer without ye gates at Jerusalem through ye professinge
Jewes & cheife preists & pilate : & hee denyed it y fc ever
II
1650] -Rice Jones
Christ suffered there outwardely : then I askt him whether
there was not cheife preists : & Jews & pilate {there out
wardely} : then hee saide I was a cheife preist : but I tolde
him if hee did confesse there was a cheife preist & Jews
there outwardely : then hee must needs confesse y fc Christ
was persecuted & suffered there outwardely under y m :
which as to ye preists outwardely beinge there hee woulde
not deny : & saide hee woulde say litle to y fc : & from this
man & his Company was the slaunder raised upon us y fc ye
Quakers shoulde deny Christ y* {dyed &} suffered att Jerusa
lem : which was all utterly false : & never ye least thought
of it in our heartes [butt itt was these baptists y* thus
cast it upon our ffreinds : & they nor never any other learnt
any such principle amongst us].
And also hee saide y* never any of ye prophetts nor
Apostles nor holy men of God sufferd any thinge outwardely:
butt all there suffringes were inwardely. And I Instanced
to him many of ye prophetts & Apostles : how they sufferd
& by whome they sufferd {& soe I brought ye power of ye
Lorde over his imaginations & whimsysj : & soe hee went
his ways.
And there came another Company y fc pretended they
were tryers of Spiritts : & I askt y m a question what was
ye first steppe to peace : & what Itt was by which a man
might see his salvation : & they was uppe in ye ayre &
saide I was madd : soe such came to try Spiritts as did not
know y m selves nor there owne {Spiritts}..
And daily tryalls & disputes had I with professors of all
sorts : & soe Worcester flight came on & my time beinge
out of beinge committed 6 monthes to ye house of Correction :
& then they filled ye house of Correction with persons y fc
they had taken upp to bee souldyers : & then they woulde
have had mee to bee Captaine off y m to goe foorth to
Worcester fight & ye souldyers cryed they woulde have
none butt mee : soe ye keeper of ye house of Correction
was commanded to bringe mee upp before ye Commissioners
& souldyers in ye inarkett place: & there they profered
mee y fc preferment because of my virtue as they saide with
many other complements : & askt mee If I woulde not take
upp armes for ye Commonwealth against ye Kinge. Butt
I tolde y m I lived in ye {virtue of y*} life & power y fc tooke
12 In the House of Correction
away ye occasion off all warrs : & I knew from whence all
warrs did rise from ye lust accordinge to James his doctrine :
& still they courted mee to accept of there offer : & thought
y fc I did butt complement with y m but I tolde y m I was come
Into ye Covenant of peace which was before warrs & strifes
was : & they saide they offerd it in love & kindenesse to
mee because off my virtue & such like : & I tolde y m if y*
were there love & kindenesse I trampelde it under my
feete.
Then saide they take him away goaler & cast him Into
ye Dungeon amongst ye roages & felons : which they then
did putt mee into ye dungeon amongst 30 felons in a lousy
stinkinge place without any bed : where they kept mee
almost a halfe yeere : unlesse Itt were att times : & some
tymes they woulde lett mee walk in ye garden for they had
a beleife off mee y fc I woulde not goe away.
[And one time hee y fc shoulde have beene ye Leifetenant
but refused it they cast him Into prison alsoe : & ye goalers
wiffe saide shee woulde lett him goe out to walk with mee
in ye backesyde : & as I walked a litle before him I hearde
ye hedge cracke : & I stept backe to him & askt him why hee
woulde offer to doe soe : & soe brought him in : soe hee went
foorth noe more with mee : but when hee walkt foorth by
himselfe : hee rann away : butt they fetcht him againe soone
after.]
And there was severall sorts of religions in prison : & on
ye first days when I gott out I woulde goe & visitt y m in
there meetings in the prison on ye first days.
And when I was in ye house of Correction : there came a
trooper to mee & saide as hee was settinge in ye steeplehouse
hearinge ye preist hee was in {an exceedinge} great trouble &
ye voice of ye Lorde came to him sayinge what dost not thou
know y fc my servant is in prison goe to him for directions :
& hee came & I spoake to him & opned his under-
standinge & setled his minde in ye light & spiritt of God
in hirnselfe : & tolde him y fc which shewed him his sin &
troubled him for it : woulde shew him his salvation : for
hee y* shews a man his sinns is hee y fc takes it away : & soe
ye Lords power opned to him soe as hee began to have
great undestandinge of ye Lords truth & mercyes : & begann
to speak boldely in his quarters amongst ye souldyers &
i65o] The Death Penalty 13
others {concerneinge truth} : & ye Scriptures was very much
opned to him : soe y fc hee saide y* his [two] Collonell[s Barton 1
& Saunders 2 ] was as blinde as Nebuchadnesar to cast mee ye
servant of ye Lorde Into prison : soe they begann alsoe to
have a spite & malice against him : y* when hee came to
Worcester fight & ye two armyes lay one nigh ye other :
two came out of ye kinges army & chalenged two out of ye
parlament army to fight with y m & then his two Collonells
made choice of him and another : to goe and fight with y m :
& they went foorth to y m & his companion was killed &
after hee drove ye two within muskett shott of ye townde
& he never fired his pistoll att y m : this hee tolde mee out
of his owne mouth : butt when ye fight was over hee sawe
there deceite & hypocrisye & hee layde doune his armes &
sawe to ye ende of fightinge : and how ye Lorde had
miraculously preserved him.
And when I was In ye house of Correction my relations
came to mee : & went to ye Justice y* cast mee in prison :
& woulde have beene bounde in one hundred pounds : & others
in Darby 50 1. a peice y* I might have gonne home with y m :
& y* I shoulde not come noe more amongst y m : to declare
against ye preists : & they had mee uppe to before ye Justice
with y m : & because I woulde not have y m to bee bounde :
for I was Innocent from any ill behaviour : & had spoaken
ye worde of life & truth unto y m : Justice Bennett gott uppe
Into a rage : & as I was kneelinge doune to pray to ye Lorde
to forgive him hee rann upon mee with both his handes
& struck mee : & cryed away with him goaler : take him
away goaler [& many times when they was settinge mee
at liberty then was I moved of ye Lorde God to write 3 unto
y m & then there rage woulde bee uppe & then they woulde
keepe mee in prison againe].
And in this time I was exceedinge much oppressed with
Judges & magistrates & Courts 4 : & was moved to write to
ye Judges concerneinge there puttinge men to death for
Catle & for money : severall times : howe contrary to ye
law of God it was : & one time when I did write to y m
I was under such a burden for there takeinge away mens
lifes for such small thinges which was soe contrary to ye
law of God : y* I writt to lett y m see howe contrary to ye
law of God it was & I was under great sufferinges through
14 Liberation from Derby Prison [1650
it : butt when I came out of it : ye heavens was opned &
ye glory of God shined over all [& two men sufferd for
small thinges : & I was moved {to admonish y m for there
theft} to Incourage y m concerneinge there suffringe it
beinge contrary to ye law of God & a litle after they had
sufferd there spiritts appeared to mee as I was walkinge & I
saw ye men was well].
And I alsoe writt to ye Judges what a sore thinge it was
y fc prisoners shoulde lye soe longe in goale : & howe y* they
learned badnesse one of another in talkinge off there bad
thinges : & therefore speedy Justice shoulde have beene
donne : for I was a tender youth in ye feare off God & I was
greived to heare there bad language : & was made often to
reprove y m for there words & bad Carriage each towards
other.
And soe ye people did admire y i I shoulde bee soe pre
served & kept : for they could never catch a worde nor
action : for almost a whole yeer from mee : to make any
thinge off: for ye Lords Infinite power uphelde & pre
served mee all y* time [butt many turned off y l had beene
convinced because of ye persecution] .
And sometime they woulde have had mee uppe before
ye parlament & another time they woulde have banished
mee to Irelande att first they caled mee a deceiver &
seducer & a blasphemer & then when God brought his
plages upon y m then they saide I was an honest virtuous
man : butt there good report & bad report there well nor
111 speakinge was nothing to me for ye one did not lift mee
uppe nor ye other cast mee doune praised bee ye Lorde.
Soe att last I was sett out freely in 1651 : & when I
was foorth I passt through ye Country towards my owne
Country where I had meetinges & ye Lords power & spiritt
accompanyed mee : soe I came through ye Countryes Into
Leistersheer : where ye preists reported I was taken uppe
above ye Clouds & after found again full of golde & sylver :
y* they might see there lyes : & this was preist Steephens
aforesaid that had saide to Purphury 1 aforesaid a y fc never
such a plant was bred in Englande.
a That is Colonel Purefoy, probably referred to in the missing pages
of the MS. The spelling of the original has been altered by another hand.
i65i] "Ye Bloody Citty of Lichfeilde" 15
x And when I came out of Darby prison I carne to neere
Burton upon Trent where some was convinct & soe to
Bushell house 2 where I had a meetinge : & I went uppe Into
ye Country where was freindely people but there was a
rageing wicked professor had an Intent to have donne mee
a mischeife but ye Lord prevented him.
3 And as I was one time walkinge in a Close with severall
freinds I lift uppe my heade & I espyed three steeplehouse
spires & they strucke att my life & I askt ffreindes what they
was & they saide Lichfeilde & soe the worde of ye Lord
came to mee thither I might goe : & I bid freindes y* was
with mee walke Into ye house from mee & they did & assoone
as they was gonne for I saide nothing to y m {whether I
would goe} butt I went over hedge & ditch till I came
within a mile of Lichfeilde & when I came Into a great
feilde wher there was shepheards keepinge there sheepe I
was commanded of ye Lorde to putt of my shooes off a
sudden & I stoode still & ye word of ye Lorde was like
a fire in mee & beinge winter I untyed my shooes & putt
y m off : & when I had donne I was commanded to give y m to
ye shepheards [& was to charge y m to lett noe one have
y m except they paide for y m ].
And ye poore shepheards trembled & were astonished &
soe I went about a mile till I came Into ye townde &
assoone as I came within ye townde ye worde of ye Lorde
came unto mee againe to cry : Woe unto ye bloody citty of
Lichfeilde : soe I went uppe & doune ye streets cryinge Woe
unto ye bloody citty of Lichfeilde & beinge markett day I
went Into ye markett place & went uppe & doune in severall
places of it & made stands cryinge Woe unto ye bloody citty
of Lichfeilde & noe one touched mee nor layde hands off mee.
[And soe att last some freindes & freindely people
came to mee & saide alacke George where is thy shooes
& I tolde y m Itt was noe matter] soe when I had declared
what was upon mee & cleared my selfe I came out of ye
tounde in peace about a mile to ye shepheards : & there
I went to y m & tooke my shooes & gave y m some money
& ye fire off ye Lorde was soe In my feete & all over mee y fc
I did not matter to putt my shooes one any more & was att
a stande whether I shoulde or noe till I felt freedome from
ye Lorde soe to doe.
1 6 Preaching in the Midlands [i65i
And soe att last I came to a ditch & washt my feete
& putt on my shooes & when I had donne I considered why
I shoulde goe & cry against y* citty & call it y i bloody
citty: though ye parlament had ye minister" one while and
ye Kinge another while & much bloode had beene shed in ye
townde yett y fc coulde not bee charged upon ye townde
butt as I went doune ye tounde there runn like a Channell
of bloode doune ye streets & ye markett place was like a
poole of bloode this I saw as I went through it cryinge woe
to ye bloody citty of Lichfeilde.
Butt after I came to see y* there was 1000 martyrs in
Dioclesians time was martyrd in Lichfeilde & soe I must
goe in my stockinges through ye Channell of there bloode &
come Into ye poole of there bloode in there markett place.
Soe I might raise uppe ye bloode of those martyrs y*
had beene shed & lay colde in there streets: which had
beene shed above a 1000 yeeres before.
Soe ye sense of this bloode was upon mee for which
I obeyed ye worde of ye Lorde : & ye auntient records will
testify how many of ye {Christian} Britaines sufferd there.
And much more I might write to this thinge & of ye
sense of ye bloode of ye martyrs y* hath beene slaine in this
nation both in & under ye ten persecutions & since for ye
name of Christ sake but I leave it to ye Lord & his booke
out of which all shall bee Judged out off, for his booke is a
true recorde : & his spiritt is a true register : or recorder.
And then I passt uppe & doune & had meetinges amongst
ffreindely people in severall places : & my relations was
offended att mee : soe after some time I came Into
Nottingham sheere againe & to Mansfeilde & Darby sheere
visitinge freindes : & preacht repentans through Doncaster
& severall other places : & then after came to Balby :
where Rich: fames worth 1 was convinct & severall others:
& soe passt through ye Country s to severall places : preach -
inge repentans & ye worde of life to y m : & went Into ye
Country about Wakefeilde where James Naylor 2 lived, where
hee & Tho: Goodyeere 3 was convinct & Will: Dewsbury 4 :
& many more & from thence I passt through ye Country
towards Captaine Pursloe 5 by Selbye & one John Leeke 6
minister = minster.
i65i] In Beverley Minster 17
there had beene to visitt mee in Darby prison beinge con
vinced: & I had a horse but was faine to leave my horse
{not knowing what to doe with him} : ffor I was moved to
goe to many great houses to admonish y m & to exhorte
y m to turn to ye Lorde.
And soe as 1 passed on I was moved of ye Lorde to goe
to Beverly steeplehouse a great professinge place & beinge
very wett I went to an Inn : & assoone as I came to ye
doore : a young woman came to ye doore : & saide what is
it you saide shee : as though shee had seene mee before :
come in : saide shee : for ye Lords power bowed there
hearts : soe I refreshed my selfe : & went to bed & ye next
morninge my cloaths was sore wett : & in ye morninge I paide
for what I had & went uppe to ye steeplehouse : & there
was a man preachinge & when hee had donne 1 I was moved
to speake to him & ye people in ye mighty power of God &
turned y m to there teacher {Christ Jesus}: & ye power of ye
Lorde was soe stronge as it strucke a mighty dreade amongst
ye people : & ye maior came doune to mee : & spoake a few
words to mee but they none of them had any power to
medle with mee & soe I passed away out of ye tounde : &
in ye afternoone about 2 miles off I went to another steeple-
house : & when ye preist had donne I was moved to speake
to him & to ye people very largely & showed y m ye way of
life & {truth & ye way of} reprobation & election : [& howe
y fc they shoulde finde Esau & Ishmael in y m selves though
they founde soe much fault off y m without y m y*] ye preist
saide hee was but a childe & coulde not dispute {with mee} :
& soe I tolde him I did not come to dispute butt to holde
foorth ye worde of life & truth unto y m y* they might all
knowe ye one seede which ye promise of God was to both
in ye male & female.
And ye people was very loveinge & they woulde have
had mee come againe in ye weeke day & preacht amongst
y m : but I directed them to there teacher Christ Jesus & soe
passt away [& came to an Inn where they was loath to
receive mee unlesse I woulde goe first to a constable {which
was ye custome of there Country} : & I was not free soe to
doe : but tolde y m I was an innocent man & shoulde lye
out rather soe at last they received mee : & I staide there
all night] & ye next day came to Crantsicke to Capt Pursloes.
G. F.
1 8 Interview with Justice Hotham [i65i
And hee went with mee to Justice Hothams 1 : a pretty
tender man y fc had had some experiences of Gods workeinge
in his hearte : & after y fc I had some discourse with him off
ye thinges of God hee tooke mee Into his Closett & saide hee
had knowne y t principle this 10 yeere : & hee was glad y*
ye Lorde did now publish it abroade to people : & soe after
a while there came in a preist with whome I had some
discourse concerneinge ye truth but his mouth was quickely
stoppt for hee was nothinge but a notion & not in possession.
And after a while there came in a great woman of
Beverley : y* had some busnesse with Justice Hotham : &
shee saide unto him y fc ye last saboth day as shee caled it
there was an Angell or Spiritt came Into ye body of ye church
meaneinge ye steeplehouse : & spoake strange thinges & ye
wonderfull thinges of God to ye astonishment of all y* were
in ye steeplehouse : & when hee had donne Itt or hee passed
away : & y* they did not knowe whence hee came nor
whether Itt went : but Itt astonished all ye preists &
professors & magistrates of ye tounde : & soe Justice
Hotham gave mee this relation [but I said nothinge to him
till ye woman was gonne.
And when shee was gonne] I gave him a full relation
howe I had beene att ye steeplehouse & had spoaken to ye
preist & people ye last first day which was ye day shee
spoake of to him.
And there was some great high preists {& other Doctors} in
ye Country y* Justice Hotham had acquaiitans with & woulde
faine have y m speake with mee & saide hee woulde sende for
y m under pretence [y fc there was a patient att his house y*
wanted physicke] : but I tolde him Itt was noe matter for
sendinge for y m upon y* account : & y* hee shoulde not doe soe.
Soe when ye next first day came : Justice Hotham walkt
out with mee Into ye feilds & then Capt: Pursloe comeinge
uppe after us : {Justice} Hotham {left us &} went home &
Capt Pursloe went Into ye steeplehouse with mee.
And when ye preist had donne I spoake to ye preist &
people : & declared unto y m ye worde of life & truth &
directed y m where they might finde there teacher ye Lorde
Jesus Christ : & some then received ye truth at y* place
{& were convinced & stands to this day & have a fine
meetinge thereaways}.
i6Bi] "Come doune thou Deceiver" 19
And in ye afternoone I went to the great high preist
there doctor {y* Justice Hotham saide hee woulde sende for
to speake with mee} to ye steeplehouse 3 miles off where
hee preacht : & sate mee doune in ye steeplehouse till ye
preist had donne : & hee tooke a text which was oh Every
one j* 1 thirsteth lett him come freely without money &
without price &c.
And soe I was moved {of ye Lord God} to say unto him
Come doune thou deceiver for dost thou bid people come
freely & take of ye water of life freely : & yett thou takes
300 1. a yeere off y m {for preachinge ye Scriptures to y m } :
maist not thou blush for shame : did ye prophett Esaiah &
Christ doe soe y* spoake those words & gave y m foorth
freely ffor did not Christ commande his ministers freely
you have received freely give.
And soe ye preist like a man Amased packt away [& this
was ye man Justice Hotham woulde have sent for to have
spoaken with mee {as aforesaid}].
And soe {after ye preist had left his flocke} I had as
much time as I coulde desire to speake to ye people &
directed y m to ye grace of God y fc woulde teach y m & bringe
y m salvation & directed y m from darknesse to ye light & to
ye spiritt of God there free teacher.
And after att night I came to Justice Hothams house
againe & hee tooke mee in his armes & saide his house
was my house : & hee was exceedinge glad att ye worke of
ye Lorde & his power.
And when I turned backe againe to Hothams house hee
tolde mee what reasoninges hee had in him{selfe concerninge
his not goinge with mee to ye steeplehouse} : for if hee had
gonne to ye steeplehouse with mee ye officers woulde have
putt mee to him {& then hee shoulde have beene soe putt to
it & hee shoulde not have knowne what to have donne}: &
when Capt: Pursloe came uppe hee was glad j* hee was come
to goe with mee : though neither of y m was drest : nor had
there bands about there neckes : & it was a strange thinge
then to see a man come Into ye steeplehouse without a bande :
yett Capt. Pursloe went in without his bande : ye Lords
power & truth had soe affected him hee such thinges".
a Edge of sheet worn away. Ell wood editions give minded it not
22
20 In York Minster [i65i
And afterwards I passed away through ye Country & att
night came to an Inn : & there was a rude Company of
people & I askt ye woman if shee had any Meate to bringe
mee some : & shee was somethinge strange because I saide
thee & thou to her : soe I askt her if shee had any milke
but shee denyed it : & I askt her if shee had any creame &
shee denyed y fc also [though I did not greatly like such
meate but onely to try her].
And there stoode a churne in her house: & a litle boy
put his hande Into ye churne & pulled it doune : & threw
all ye creame In ye floore before my eyes : & soe Itt manifested
ye woman to bee a lyar {& ye woman was amased : & tooke
ye childe & whipt it sorely : & blesset her selfe : but I re-
prooved her for her lyinge & deceite} : & soe I walkt out of
her house after ye Lord God had manifested her deceite &
perversenesse : & came to a stacke of hay : & lay in ye hay
stacke all night : beinge but 3 days before ye time caled
Christmas in snowe & raine.
And soe ye next day I came Into Yorke where there
was severall people y* was very tender : & upon ye first
day I was commanded of ye Lorde to goe to ye great
Minster & speake to preist Bowles 1 & all his hearers in there
great Cathedrall : & soe when ye preist had donne I tolde y m
& him I had somethinge from ye Lorde God to speake to ye
preist & people : then say one quickely says a professor for
it was very colde weather of frost & snowe.
And soe I tolde y m this was ye worde of ye Lorde God
unto y m that they lived in words : but God Almighty lookt
for fruites amongst y m : Soe assoone as ye words were out
of my mouth they hurry ed mee out & threw mee doune ye
staires but I gott uppe againe without any hurte & soe I went
to my lodgeinge againe & severall was convinct there : & ye
very groanes of ye weight & oppression y* was upon ye
Spiritt of God in mee woulde open people & strike att y m &
make y m confess y fc my very groanes did reach to y m for my
life was burdned with there profession without possession &
words without fruite.
And soe I passt out of Yorke after severall had received
ye truth & was convinct of Gods truth & his teachinge.
And I saw towards Cleveland there was a people had
tasted of ye power of God : & I saw then there was a seed
i65i] "Formes without Life" 21
[in Holland a ] {in y fc country} & y* God had humble people
there.
And y* night I passed on & a papist overtooke mee &
tolde mee of his religion & of there meetinges : & I lett him
speake all y fc was in his minde {and y fc night I stayde at an
ale house} : & ye next morninge I was moved of ye Lorde to
speake ye worde of ye Lord to him {& I went to his house}
& declared against his religion & all there ways : & tolde him
y fc God was come to teach his people him selfe : & this putt
ye papist in such a rage : y fc hee coulde not Indure to stay
in his owne house.
And ye next day I came to Burrabey 1 & there was a
preist & severall freindely people y* mett togeather & the
people was convinced & have stoode ever since & there is
a great meetinge in y* tounde : & ye preist was made to
confesse to truth.
And ye next day I passed to Cleveland amongst those
people y* had tasted of ye power of God but was all scat
tered to peices : & ye heads of y m turned ranters.
No we they had had great meetinges : soe I tolde y m y*
after they had had such meetinges they did not waite upon
God to feele his power to gather there mindes togeather to
feele his presence & power & therein to sitt to wait upon
him for they had spoaken y m selves dry & spent there
portions : & now they had spent there portions & not lived in
y fc which they spoake : & now they were dry : they had
some kinde of meetinges but took tobacco : & drunk ale {in
y m : & soe grew light & loose}.
Butt my message unto y m was from ye Lorde y fc they
might all come togeather againe & waite to feele ye Lords
power & spiritt in y m selves to gather y m to Christ & to bee
taught of him whoe says learne of mee.
For after when they had declared y fc which ye Lorde had
opned to y m then ye people was to receive it {& ye speakers}
& they was to live in y* y m selves.
Butt when they had noe more to declare butt to goe to
seeke formes without life : y* made y m selves dry & barren
& ye people : & thence came all there losse : for ye Lord
renews his mercyes & his strength if they woulde waite
a The district of that name in Lincolnshire.
22 Oppression of Tithes [i65i
upon him but ye heads of y m all came to nothinge : but most
of ye people came to be convinced : & stands a meetinge to
this day & received Gods everlastinge truth & setts under
ye Lord Jesus Christ teach inge there saviour.
And soe upon ye first day after ye worde of ye Lorde
came to mee to goe to ye steeplehouse : & soe when ye
preist had donne I spoake ye truth to him & ye people &
directed y m to there teacher Christ Jesus there free teacher
y* bought y m & soe ye preist came to mee with whome
I had a litle discourse but hee was soone stopt & silent
after which I passed away haveinge had several! meetinges
amongst those people.
After this I passed through ye Country to a markett
tounde where I mett with many professors with whome
I had a great deale of reasoninge & I askt y m many ques
tions & they were made to confesse they had never such
deepe questions askt in there lifes : & It beinge very deepe
snowe I passed through ye Country to a place caled Staths :
wher I mett with many professors : & ranters : & great meet
inges I had amongst y m and a great convincement there was
& one olde man about 100 yeeres olde & a Cheife Constable :
& a preist one Phillippe Scafe 1 received ye truth: y* since is
become a pretty minister of Gods free Gospell.
And then I went to ye steeplehouse where was a high
preist yt did much oppresse ye people with tyths: &c.
And when I spoake unto him ye preist fled away : after
I had layde his oppressinge of ye people upon him.
For if ye people went 100 miles of a fishinge hee woulde
make y m pay the ty th money : though they catcht ye fish
att such a distans & carryed ye fish to Yarmouth to sell : &
ye cheife of ye parish was very light & vain.
But after I spoake ye worde of life to them I sleighted
y m seeinge they did not receive it.
But ye worde of ye Lorde stuck with some of y m soe y*
at night some of ye heads of ye parish came to mee : & was
most of y m convinced & satisfy ed & confesst to truth : & soe
ye truth begann to spreade uppe & doune y fc Country : &
great meetinges wee had soe y* ye preist begann to rage &
ye ranters began to bee stirred : & they sent to mee y fc they
woulde have a dispute with mee both ye oppressinge preist
& ye leader of all ye ranters 2 : & a day was sett : & ye ranter
i65i] The Ranters Vision 23
came & his company : & another preist a Scott 1 but not ye
oppressinge preist aforesaid : & ye preist y fc was convinced &
a great number of people mett : & soe when wee were set ye
ranter saide to rnee y fc he had a vision of mee : y* I was set
ting in a great Chaire : & y^ hee was to come {& putt of his
hat} & bowe doune to ye grounde before mee : & soe hee
did & many other words hee saide : & when hee had donne
I saide unto him {Itt was his figure : &} repent thou beast &
hee saide Itt was Jealosye in mee {to say soe} : & then I askt
him ye ground of Jealosye & ho we it came to bee bred in man
& ye nature of a heathen what made it & howe y fc was bred
in man : for I saw him directly in y t nature of ye beast : &
therefore I woulde have knowne from him howe y i came to
be bred in him soe I tolde him hee shoulde give mee an
account of thinges donne in ye body : before wee came to
discourse of thinges donne out of ye body.
Soe I stopt uppe his mouth y* hee coulde say noe more
& all his fellow ranters were stopt uppe for hee was ye heade
ofy m .
Then I caled for ye oppressinge high preist but hee came
not but onely ye Scotch preist aforesaid : & his mouth was
{soone} stoppt presently with a very Ifew words as beinge
out of ye life of what hee did professe.
And then I layde open ye ranters in Sodom & all ye
preists I manifested {y m to bee} amongst all there fellow
hirelinges & bearinge rule amongst people by there meanes
seekinge for there gane from there quarter & teaching for
there gaine & filthy lucre & divineing e for money & soe
brought all ye prophetts & Christ & ye Apostles on ye heads
of y m & shewed y m howe they {to witt ye prophetts Christ
& ye Apostles} had discovered y m by ther markes & fruites.
And soe all was quiett & there mouths stopt : though it
broiled within but ye life had stopt it uppe it coulde not
breake out.
And soe I directed people to there teacher Christ Jesus
there savior when these mountaines was layde low & soe
did sett uppe Christ in ye heartes of his people ^& soe after
ye meetinge was donne this Scotch preist desired mee to
walke with him a toppe of ye Cliffes soe I tooke his brother
law 2 alongst with mee which was convinced & tolde him it
may bee hee will report y* after I am gonn y t which I did
24 A Dangerous Walk [i65i
not say to him & therfore I desired to have some freindely
man by, to heare what wee did say: soe as I went hee askt
mee concerninge ye light of Christ : & what ye soule was : &
I aunswered him fully soe hee goes away: & meetinge with
ye other preist y fc was convinced : in madnesse broake his
Cane upon ye grounde & saide if ever hee mett mee or saw
mee againe hee woulde have my life or I shoulde have his :
& hee woulde give his heade if I was not knockt doune
within a month : & soe freinds perceived his Intent was when
hee desired to have walked with mee alone : it was either
to have thrust mee doune over Cliffe or to have stabbed mee :
& when y fc was frustrated that made him rage & madd
[for before this came to passe I beinge one day att his house :
I saw a dogge like nature in him : & I was moved to tell
him hee was a dogge : & soe his nature shewed it selfe] :
but I feared not his prophesyes nor his threats but I feared
God Almighty though many weake freinds feared much y fc
this preist would have donne mee some mischeife {or have
sett on others}: butt after some yeeres this Scottish preist
& his wiffe came to bee convinct & I was att there house
about 12 yeeres after this.
[1651.] After this there came another high preist to mee
which was reputed above all in ye Country : & soe as I was
speakinge in ye meetinge y fc ye Gospell was ye power of
God & ho we it brought life & immortality to light {in men}
& soe turneing people from ye darknesse to ye light this high
preist saide ye gospell was mortall : but I tolde him ye true
minister saide ye Gospell was ye power of God : & howe
coulde hee make ye power of God mortall : upon y fc ye other
preist y fc was convinced & had felt ye power of God which
was immortall tooke him uppe & reproved him & soe a great
dispute ye convinct preist & ye high preist had : ye con
vinct preist holdeinge y fc ye gospell was immortall : & ye
other high preist helde y fc it was mortall : but ye Lords
power stopt his mouth & these thinges mightily convinct
ye people : to see ye darknesse y fc was in ye high preist &
ye light y* was in ye other convinct preist.
[But people generally waited to see ye fulfilling of ye
other Scotch preists prophesy : y t I shoulde bee knoct doune
before ye months ende : & some were afraide : but I bid y m
feare God : & not man for I was not afraide of him.]
i65i] The Yorkshire Wolds 25
And then there was another preist sent to have a dispute
with mee : & freinds went with mee uppe to ye house where
hee was & when wee came there : hee went out of ye house
& hidd him under a hedge : & when they went to looke for
him they founde him but coulde not gett him to mee {& I
went to a steeplehouse there & ye preist & people was in
a great rage : & this preist had threatned freinds : but when
I came there hee woulde not stande but fled ye Lords
power soe came over him & y m } : & soe wee passt away
to Whitbay {& Scarborough} where wee had some service
{for ye Lorde & there is become large meetinges there
since}: & from thence I passt over ye Woules to Malton
where wee had great meetinges & att ye toundes there
abouts.
And there was a preist hee chalenged to dispute with
mee : & ye Lords power seised upon ye people : & one whoe
had beene a wilde drunken man : was reacht therewith soe
as hee came as lowly as a lambe : though hee & his Com
panions sent for drinke of purpose to make ye rude people
drunke : butt ye Lord confounded y m all.
And soe I went to meete ye preist {aforesaid} but hee
woulde not come foorth ye Lorde confounded him & y m all
{& I was moved to goe to a steeplehouse there & ye Lordes
power came over y m all}.
And ye first day there came on of ye highest Independant
professors a woman : & shee was confounded & convinced &
stands a freinde to this day : y* saide before shee was con
vinced y* shee coulde willingely have gonne to ye hanginge
of mee.
And soe I turned to Malton againe: & very great meet
inges there was & severall people woulde have come but
they durst not for there relations for it was a strange thinge
then to preach in houses & not to goe to Church {as they
caled it} : & much desired I was to goe to there steeplehouses :
& there was a high preist kept a lecture there & another
preist had written to mee & Invited mee to his steeplehouse
calinge mee his brother 1 : & soe I went Into ye steeplehouse
& there was not passinge 1 1 hearers : & ye preist was
preachinge to y m & after it was knowne in ye tounde y fc I
was in ye steeplehouse Itt was presently filled with people.
And when ye cheife preist had donne there beinge 2
26 Justice Robinson [i65i
preists in ye steeplehouse : ye preist y* had beene preachinge
sent another preist y* sent ye letter to mee to have mee
come & goe uppe Into ye pulpitt : & I sent backe worde
unto him y* I neede not go uppe Into it : then hee sent mee
worde again hee desired mee to goe upp Into it for it was a
better place & there I might bee seene of ye people : & I sent
him worde againe I coulde bee seene & hearde well enough
there for I came nott to holde uppe those places nor there
maintenans & trade : & then they begann to bee in a rage
& saide the false prophetts shoulde come in ye last times
because I woulde not goe upp Into there pulpitt.
And y* greaved many of ye people to heare y m say soe
upon which I started uppe & desired all to bee quiett : &
stept uppe in a high seate & declared unto y m ye markes of
ye false prophetts : & howe they was come & sett ye true
prophetts Christ & ye Apostles over y m & shewed y m howe
these were out of ye stepps of y m & then directed all
people to there teacher Christ Jesus : whoe would turne y m
from ye darkenesse to ye light : &c.
And opninge ye Scriptures to y m & bringeinge them to
ye Spiritt of God in y m selves by which they might know
y m & soe had a large time amongst y m & parted in peace.
And after sometime I went Into ye Country to Pickeringe
where ye Justices kept there Sessions in ye steeplehouse
Justice Robinson 1 beinge Cheife : & I kept a meetinge in ye
schoolehouse att ye same time : & aboundans of preists &
professors came to it askinge Questions & were aunswered
to there satisfaction: & 4 Cheife Constables & aboundans
others were convinced y* day.
And soe news was carry ed in to Justice Robinson y i his
preist was overthrowne & convinced y* hee had a love unto
more then all ye preists.
And soe after ye meetinge was donne wee went to an
Inn : & many preists came in & Robinsons preist woulde
have paide for my dinner [& would have wipet my shooes]
but I charged freinds y* noe such t hinge shoulde bee donne :
but hee ofred to freinds y fc I should have his steeplehouse to
preach in if I woulde come : but I denyed it : & tolde him
& ye people y* I came to bringe y m of from such thinges to
Christ : & soe ye next morninge I went uppe with ye 4
Cheife Constables & some others to see Justice Robinson :
i65i] Election and Reprobation 27
& hee mett mee at his Chamber doore & I tolde him I
coulde not honor him with mans honor : & hee saide hee did
not looke for it : & soe I went in to his chamber & tolde him
ye state {of ye false prophetts &} of ye true prophetts Christ
& ye Apostles & sett y m over ye other & directed his minde
to Christ his teacher : & opned to him ye parables : & howe
election & reproobration stoode : & y* election stoode in ye
second birth : & reproobration stoode in ye first : & what ye
promise of God was to : & what ye Judgementt of God was
to : & hee confesst all : & hee was soe opned with ye truth
y 1 one other Justice opposeing a litle hee Informed him.
And soe att my partinge hee saide Itt was very well y fc
I did exercise y fc gift which God had given to mee : & hee
caled ye Cheife Constables asyde & woulde have given y m
some money to have given mee saying hee woulde not have
mee bee at any charg in there Country : & ye Cheife Con
stables tolde him y* they y m selves coulde not gett mee to
take any money : & soe they refused his money & accepted
of his love & kindenesse.
And from thence I passt uppe Into ye Country with ye
preist aforesaid y fc caled mee brother : in whose shcoole house
I had declared in : & as wee passt through ye Country : &
came Into a tounde to baite ye bells runge & soe I askt y m
what ye bells runge for & they saide for mee to goe & preach
in ye steeplehouse.
And soe as I walkt uppe to ye steeplehouse ye people
was gathered about ye steeplehouse yarde : & ye olde preist
woulde have had mee to have gonne Into ye steeplehouse &
I saide nea It was noe matter but It was somethinge strange
to people y fc I woulde not goe in to ye house of God as they
caled it.
Soe I declared to ye people : y* I came not to holde uppe
there Idolls temple nor tyths nor preists but to declare
against y m : & opned to ye people all there traditions : & y fc
peice of Grounde was noe more holy then another peice of
Grounde : & y* they shoulde know y* there bodyes were to
bee ye temples of God & Christ & soe to bringe y m of all ye
worlds hirelinge teachers to Christ there free teacher : &
directinge y m to ye Spiritt & grace & ye light of Jesus y* they
might knowe both God & Christ & ye Scriptures & soe
passed away quiett & many was convinced there.
28 Sermon from a Haystack [i65i
Arid then I passed on where there was another great
meetinge & this olde preist went alonge with mee & there
came all sorts of professors to it purposely to dispute : & I
sate of a hey stacke : & spoake nothinge for some houres :
for I was to famish y m from words : & soe ye professors
spoake to this olde preist & askt him several! times when
I woulde speake & begin : & hee bid y m waite & tolde y m y t
ye people waited upon Christ alonge while before hee spoake.
And at last I was moved of ye Lorde to speake & they
was all reacht by ye Lords power & worde of life & there
was a generall Convincement amongst y m : & from thence I
passed alonge with ye olde preist & severall others.
And as we was goeinge some people caled to ye olde
preist & saide M r Boys wee owe you 20 la for tyth : come &
take it : & ye olde preist threw upp his handes to y m &
saide hee had enough : hee woulde have none of it : they
might keepe it {& praised ye Lorde hee had enough}.
And soe wee passt on to this olde preists steeplehouse
in ye moores 1 & when wee came to it ye olde preist w r ent
before mee & helde open ye pulpitt doore & I forbad him &
tolde him I shoulde not goe Into it : & ye steeplehouse was
exceedinge much painted & I tolde him & ye people y t ye
painted beast had a painted house : & opried to him ye
grounde of all those houses & there superstition & there
ways : & ye ende of ye Apostles goeinge Into ye temple &
synagogues which God had commanded which was not to
holde y m uppe : but to bringe y m to Christ ye substans : &
soe was my ende of comeinge there not to holde uppe
these temples preists & tyths which God had never com
manded but to bringe y m off all these t hinges to Christ ye
substans & soe shewed y m ye true worshippe which Christ
had sett uppe & Christ ye true way from all ye false ways :
& opninge ye parables to y m turninge y m from ye darknesse
to ye light y fc with it they might see y m selves & there
sinns & Christ there saviour y* saves y m from there sinns.
And soe after we passed away to one Birdetts 2 house
where wee had a great meetinge : & this preist accompany ed
mee : & left his steeplehouse : for hee had beene lookt upon
This letter appears to have been originally /, but was altered some
what later into s. Ellwood editions have some Money
i66i] Priest Boys 29
as a great high preist above common prayer men & presby
ters & Independants : & many times hee woulde have gonne
Into there steeplehouses to have preacht before hee was con-
vinct & they woulde complaine to Justice Hotham of him :
& hee woulde bid y m distraine his horse for travaileinge on
ye first days : for Hotham spoake y fc to putt y m off with for
they knew hee used none but travailed on foote [soe att last
hee woulde gett Into ye steeplehouse & gett Into ye pulpitt :
& after ye psalme was sunge upp woulde Boys start to
preach : for hee had beene a Zealous man in his way : before
hee was convinced & I had severall discourses with him
before hee came to bee convinced : & one day I askt him
a question which was : what it was y fc Christ putt his sheepe
foorth from : y* hearde his Voice & followed him : for y m y*
was unputt foorth by Christ coulde not heare his Voice :
which sett ye man soe y* hee coulde not aunswer it with
other such like questions].
And after this I came upp through ye Country towards
Crantsicke to Capt: Pursloe & Justice Hothams : & Justice
Hotham was glad y fc ye Lords power & truth was spreade
& soe many had received it : & y fc Justice Eobinson was soe
civilly & moreover he saide if God had not raised uppe this
principle of light & life {of ours} : ye nation had beene over
spread with rantisme & all ye Justices in ye nation coulde
not stoppe it with all there lawes : because they woulde
have saide as they saide & donne as they commanded y m {&
yett kept there principles still} : but this principle of truth
overthrew ye roote & grounde of there" principle : & over
threw there principles which they coulde not have donne
with all there lawes {as hee saide & hee was glad ye Lorde
had raised uppe this principle of life & truth}.
And from thence I passed uppe Into Holdernesse : &
came to a Justice his house : one Pearsons 1 where there was
a very tender woman y t beleived in ye truth & saide shee
coulde have left all & followed mee.
And from thence I passed to Oram to George Hartises 2
where many of y* tounde was convinced.
And on ye first day I was moved to goe Into ye steeple-
house & ye preist had gott another preist to helpe him : & a
many professors & contenders was gathered : but ye Lords
power was over all & a great deale of good service I had for
30 A Night among Furze Bushes
ye Lorde : & ye preist fledd away & some of those great
professors was convinct & stoode honest faithfull men men
of account.
[And from thence I passt uppe In ye Country & had
some service in ye toundes att night amongst people] & ye
next day nreinds & freindely people had left mee & I passt
alone : [sometimes by ye sea syde amongst people] & some
times in ye toundes declareinge ye day of ye Lorde unto y m
& warninge of y m to repent.
And soe I turned Into a tounde towards night caled
Patringeton : & as I was goeinge alonge ye tounde I warned
ye preist {y* was in ye street} & people to repent & turne to
ye Lorde & it grew darke before I came to ye ende of ye
tounde & a great deale of people gathered about mee & I
declared ye truth & ye worde of life to y m .
And after I went to an Inn : & desired y m to lett mee
have a lodgeinge & they woulde not : & desired y m to lett
mee have a litle meate & milke & I woulde pay y m for it
but they woulde not.
Soe I walked out of ye tounde & a Company of fellowes
folowed mee & askt mee what news & I bid y m repent &
feare ye Lorde.
And after I was passt a pretty way out of tounde : I
came to another house & desired y m to lett mee have a litle
meate & drinke & lodgeinge for my money but they woulde
not neither but denyed mee.
And I came to another house & desired ye same but
they refused mee alsoe : & then it grew soe darke y fc I
coulde not see ye high way: & I discovered a ditch & gott a
litle water & refresht my selfe & gott over ye ditch & sate
amongst ye furse bushes beinge weary with travailinge till
it was day.
And at breake of day I gott uppe & passt one in ye
feildes & there came a man with a great pike & went alonge
with mee to a tounde : & hee raised ye tounde ye Constable
& Cheife Constable : before ye sun was uppe & soe I declared
Gods everlastinge truth amongst y m & warned y m to repent
& y fc ye day of ye Lord was comeinge upon all sin & wick-
ednesse.
And they sseised upon mee with watch bills & pikes
& stakes & halberds & garded mee backe againe to this
1652] At Patrington 31
Patrington about 3 miles : & when I came there all ye
tounde was upp in an uproare & ye preist & constables : &
soe I had an oppertunity to declare ye worde of life & truth
amongst y m {againe} & warned y m to repent : & at last a
professor a tender man caled mee into his house : & I tooke
a litle breade & milke haveinge not eaten before for some
days : & then they garded mee about 9 miles to a Justice &
when I was come neere his doore there came a man rideinge
after mee & askt whether I was ye man y fc was appre
hended : & I askt him wherfore hee askt & hee saide for
noe hurte & I tolde him I was & hee ridd away to ye Justice
before mee : & before I was brought in before him ye garde
saide It was well if ye Justice was not drunke before wee
came to him for hee used to bee drunke {very early} : & when
I was brought before him because I did not putt off my
hatt & saide thou to him hee askt ye man whether I was
not Mased or fonde : & hee saide noe : Itt was my prin
ciple : & soe I warned him to repent & come to ye light y fc
Christ had enlightned him withall y* with it hee might see
all his evill words & actions y* hee had donne & acted &
his ungodly ways hee had walked in & ungodly words hee
had spoaken : & soe returne to Christ Jesus whilst hee had
time & whilst hee had time to prise it : & then saide hee
I: P : says hee ye light y i is spoaken of in ye 3 d of Jhon.
And I desired him y* hee woulde obey it & minde it
{for I layde my hande upon him & admonished him & hee
was brought doune by ye power of ye Lord} : & all ye
watchmen stoode amased : soe after hee tooke mee Into a
litle parlor with ye other man & desired to see what I had
in my pocketts of letters or Intelligens : & I pluckt out my
linnen : & shewed him y t I had noe letters : soe hee saide
hee is not a vagrant by his linninge.
Soe hee sett mee at liberty & I went backe againe to
Patrington with ye man aforesaid y* askt whether I was ye
man y* was apprehended whoe lived at Patringeton : &
when I came there hee woulde have had mee had a meetinge
at ye crosse & I saide It was noe matter his house woulde
serve : & hee desired I would goe & ly doune upon a bed
or in ye bed : for they had gott a report y fc I woulde not ly
a /: / = aye, aye.
32 Forgiveness for Injury [1652
in any bed : y* hee & his wiffe might say they had seene
mee lye in a bed {or upon a bed : because att y fc time I lay
many times without doores}.
Soe on ye first day I had a great meetinge there att his
house : & I went out of ye meetinge & saide nothinge to
any one & went to ye steeplehouse & declared ye truth to
both preist & people & ye people did not molest mee soe I
brought ye power of God over y m & came againe to ye
meetinge where there was many y fc was convinced of ye
Lords everlastinge truth & stands to this day : & they was
exceedinge sorry & greived y* they shoulde not receive mee
nor give rnee lodgeinge.
Soe I passed through ye Country to ye farthest lande in
y fc Country : warninge people to repent both in tounds &
Country : & directed y m to there teacher Christ Jesus.
And on ye first day I came to one Collonell Overtons 1
house : & had a great meetinge of ye prime of ye people of
y fc Country : which was generally convinct : & they received
ye truth & ye worde of life & many thinges was opned to
y m off ye Scriptures y* 1 they never hearde in there lifes : &
soe many was convinced & setled in Gods truth.
And soe I came to Patringeton againe : & visited those
freinds y t was convinct : & they Informed mee howe y* {a
taylor &} some wilde blades had made y* warrant to carry
mee before y* Justice : & soe ye taylor came to aske mee
forgivenesse : fearinge I woulde trouble y m & ye Constables
was afraide least I should trouble y m : but I forgave y m &
warned y m to mende there lives & turne to ye Lorde.
And when I was at Oram before in ye steeplehouse
there came a professor & gave mee a push in ye brest in
ye steeplehouse & bid mee gett out of ye Church : alack
poore man saide I dost thou call ye steeplehouse ye Church :
ye Church is ye people whome God has purchased with his
bloode : & not ye house.
And Justice Hotham hearinge of {ye abuse of} this man
{unto mee} hee sent a warrant for him : & bounde him over
to ye sessions : hee was soe affected with ye truth & {Zealous
to keepe} ye peace of ye Country.
And hee had askt mee before : whether any people had
medled with me {or abused mee} : but I was not to tell him
any thinge but was to forgive all.
1652] In Lincolnshire
33
And I went to severall great houses warninge y m to
repent & some received mee loveingely & some sleighted
mee.
And soe I passt through ye Country & att night came
to another tounde & desired lodgeinge & meate & I woulde
pay for it : & soe they woulde not lett mee lodge except I
would goe to ye Constable which was ye Custome they saide
of all lodgers {att Inns If strangers}: soe I tolde y m I
shoulde not goe : for I was an Innocent man : & y 1 Custome
was for suspicious persons but I was Innocent & if they
woulde lett mee have lodgeinge {& meat} I woulde pay for it.
And soe I warned y m to repent & declared unto y m
ye day of there visitation & salvation & turned y m to ye
light {of Christ} & Spiritt of God & soe passed away {& ye
people was somethinge tenderd & troubled afterwards} : &
when It grew darke I spyed a hey stacke & sate under it
all night till morninge.
And ye next day I passed Into Hull : & admonished &
warned people as I went of there salvation & to turne
to Christ Jesus.
And att night I gott lodgeinge : butt was very soare
with travelinge a foote soe farr.
And soe after I passt through ye Country & came to
Balby: & soe visited ffreindes uppe & doune in those
parts : & then passed Into ye edge of Nottingham sheere &
visited freinds there & soe passed Into Lincolnesheere &
visited freinds there.
And one ye first day I went to a "steeplehouse a this
syde of Trent : & in ye afternoone I went to another on ye
other syde of Trent declareinge to y m ye worde of life &
bringeinge y m to there teacher Christ Jesus whoe was there
saviour & dyed for y m y* they might heare him.
And soe went Into ye Country & had severall meetinges
upp & doune thereaways : & came to a place where there
came a {great} man & a preist & many professors : but ye
Lords truth came over y m all : & they went there ways : &
soe I went Into ye meetinge & there came a man y t had
beene att a meetinge & hee raised an accusation & made a
noice uppe & doune ye Country & saide y 1 I saide I was
Christ.
And I went to Gainsborough & there a freinde haveinge
G. F.
34 A Priests Slander [1652
beene speakinge in ye markett there ye markett & tounde
was all uppe in an uproare.
And I went Into a freindely mans house : & ye people
rusht Into it : & it was filled with professors & disputers.
And soe this false accuser came in before y m all & ye rude
people : & accused mee openly before all ye people y fc I saide
I was Christ & had brought a many wittnesses to prove it &
soe sett a rage in ye people y* they had much to doe to
keepe there hands off mee.
And in ye eternall power of God 1 was moved of ye
Lorde God to stande uppe atoppe of ye table & tell y m y fc
Christ was in y m except they were reprobrates : & it was ye
eternall power of Christ : & Christ y fc spoake in mee y i time
to them : & generally with one Consent all ye people did
acknowledge ye thinge & gave testimony to it & confesst to
it : {yea even ye very professors & all y m y* was in a rage
against mee : & I saide} y fc if ye power of God & ye seede
spoake in man or woman Itt was Christ.
And soe I caled him Judas : & all was satisfyed except
himselfe & a professor & his owne false wittnesses : soe I
tolde him agairie y fc hee was Judas & y fc it was ye worde of
ye Lorde & of Christ to him : & Judas his ende shoulde bee
his.
And soe ye Lords power came over all & all ye people
parted in peace : but this Judas went away & hanged
himselfe {shortly after} : & a stake was driven Into his grave.
And after ye wicked preist went & raised a slander upon
us & saide y fc a quaker had hanged himselfe {in Lincolne-
sheere} & had a stake driven through him : & this they
printed to ye nation addinge sin unto sin which ye truth
was cleare of : for hee was noe more a Quaker then ye preist
^ printed it 1 .
And soe I passt out of y fc Country in ye Lords power &
came in to Yorkesheere again : but many was convinced of
ye Lords everlastinge truth : & setled therein in Lincolne-
sheere & received ye Lords teachinge & Gospell.
And after this I went to Warms worth steeplehouse in
Yorkesheere in ye forenoone : & they shutt ye doore of mee
& after a while they lett in Tho: Aldam 2 & then shutt it
againe.
Soe ye preist fell upon him askeinge him questions : soe
1652] Rough Treatment at Doncaster 35
att last they opned ye doore & I went in : & assoone as I
came in hee stopt his preachinge & I saide nothinge to him :
though hee askt what have you to say : what have you
to say : hee was in such a mase & cryed come come I will
prove y m false prophetts saide hee in Mathew : but hee
was soe confounded hee coulde not finde ye chapter.
And soe hee fell askinge mee questions again & I stoode
still all this while not makeinge any disturbans amongst y m
& at last I saide seeinge here is soe many questions askt
I may aunswer y m : & assoone as I begann to speake ye
people violently rusht upon mee & thrust me out of ye
steeplehouse again : & lockt ye doore on mee : & assoone
as they had donne & were come foorth : ye people runn
upon mee & knockt mee sore with there [Crabbe tree]
staffes : & abused mee sore & threw Clotts & stones att
mee {& ye preist beinge in a rage layde violent hands on
mee himselfe}: but I warned y m {& him} of ye day of ye
Lorde & turned y m to Christ & to repent {but I received
not much hurte : for ye Lords power was over y m all}.
And soe after I went to another steeplehouse in ye after-
npone but ye preist had donne before I came there & soe I
did admonish y m & turned y m to their teacher Christ Jesus :
& soe after returned backe againe to Balby : & went to
Doncaster where formerly I had preacht repentans unto y m
on a market day: which had made a great noice {& a dreade}
in ye Country.
And on ye first day I went to ye steeplehouse & after ye
preist had donne I spoake to him & ye people what ye Lorde
God commanded mee : & they was in a great rage : & hurry ed
mee out & threw mee doune ye staires : & haled mee before
ye maior & ye magistrates : & a great examination I had & a
great deale of worke with y m & they threatned my life if
ever I came there againe y fc they would leave mee to ye
mercy of ye people.
Neverthelesse I declared truth to y m & turned y m from
ye darknesse to ye light of Christ whether they woulde
heare or forbeare & how y*> God & Christ was come to teach
his people himselfe.
And after a while they putt mee out amongst ye rude
multitude & some freindes was with mee: & they threw
stones at us doune ye streets & there was an Innkeeper y i
32
36 A Blow from a Bible [1652
was a bailiffe came & tooke us Into his house : & they broake
his heade y* ye bloode runn doune his face with ye stones
y* they threw at us: & wee stayde there a while in his
house & shewed ye people ye preists fruites : then we went
away to Balby about a mile off: & ye rude people layde waite
& stoned us doune ye lane but blessed bee ye Lorde wee did
not receive much hurte: & then ye next first day I went to
Tickill & there ye freinds of y* syde gathered togeather &
there was a meetinge & a mighty broakennesse with ye
power of God there was amongst ye people.
And I went out of ye meetinge to ye steeplehouse & ye
preist & most of ye heads of ye parish was gott uppe Into
ye chancell & soe I went uppe to y m & when I began to
speake they fell upon mee & ye Clarke uppe with his bible
as I was speakinge & hitt mee in ye face y fc my face gusht
out with bloode j* I bleade exceedingely in ye steeplehouse
& soe ye people cryed letts have him out of ye Church [as
they caled itj: & when they had mee out they exceedingely
beate mee & threw mee doune & threw mee over a hedge : &
after dragged mee through a house Into ye street stoneinge
& beateinge mee : & they gott my hatt from mee which I
never gott againe {& I was all over besmeared with bloode}.
Soe when I was gott upon my leggs I declared to y m ye
worde of life & showed to y m ye fruites of there teachers &
howe they dishonored Christianity.
And soe after a while I gott Into ye meetinge againe
amongst freinds & ye preist & people comeinge by ye house
I went foorth with freinds Into ye Yarde & there I spoake
to ye preist & people : & the preist scoffed at us & caled us
Quakers: but ye Lords power was soe over y m all : & ye
worde of life was declared in soe much power & dreade to
y m yt ye preist fell a tremblinge himselfe y* one saide unto
him looke howe ye preist trembles & shakes hee is turned a
Quaker alsoe.
And ffreinds was very much abused y* day by ye preist
& his people y t ye Justices hearinge of it two or three of y m
came & sate to heare & examine ye busnesse: & hee y fc had
shed my bloode was afraide of havinge his hande cut off for
strikeinge mee in ye steeplehouse but I forgave him & did
not appeare against him: soe I came without my hatt to
Balby : about 7 or 8 mile.
1652] Early Followers 37
And ye preist of Warmsworth procured a warrant for
mee & Tho: Aldam from, ye Justices : & itt was to bee executed
in all ye west rideinge in yorkesheere : & I had a Vision of a
beare & two great mastiffe doggs l : y * I shoulde passe by y m
& they shoulde doe mee noe hurte & soe I did : & the Con
stable tooke Tho: Aldam with ye warrant & carryed him to
Yorke : & I went with Tho: Aldam towards Yorke 20 mile:
& hee had ye warrant for mee but hee saide hee saw mee
but hee was loath to trouble men y fc were strangers but Th:
Aldam was his neighbor : & soe ye Lords power restrained
him y t hee was not able to medle with mee till wee came to
Lieutenant Ropers 2 : where wee had a great meetinge of many
considerable men : & ye truth was wonderfully declared
amongst y m & ye Scriptures & Christs words & ye parables
was opned unto y m & ye state of ye Church in ye Apostles
days & ye Apostacy^ since : & ye truth was mightily opned
to y m y* those great men did generally confesse {& beleived}
y* this truth must goe over ye whole worlde.
And there was Jam: Nailor Tho: Goodyeere & W:
Dewsberry y* had beene convinced ye yeere before & Rich:
ffarns worth {& ye constable aforesaid & Tho: Aldam stayde
ye meetinge & afterwards went towards Yorke {yorke
prison} : but did not medle with mee}.
And soe I went to Wakefeilde : & there on ye first day
after I went to a steeplehouse where Ja Naylor had beene
a member of an Independant Church.
And when I came in when ye preist .had donne ye people
bid mee come upp to ye preist & when I came upp & began
to declare ye worde of life to him & shewed y m ye deceit of
ye preist they rusht mee out of a sudden att ye other doore
& fell a punchinge & beatinge of mee & called lett us have
him to ye stockes : but ye Lords power was over y m & they
was not sufferd to putt mee in.
And soe I passed away to ye meetinge where was a
great many professors & freindely people gathered & a great
Convincement there was y* day: & people satisfyed with ye
Lords teachinge which they was turned to: & wee had
layne out 4 of us under a hedge ye night before for there
was few freindes to receive us there.
And ye same day II : ffarnsworth went to another high
preists steeplehouse to declare unto y m ye worde of truth :
38 More Slanders [1652
& a great service hee had amongst y m [y fc ye people saide
wee made more noice in ye Country then ye comeinge uppe
of ye Scotch army 1 ] ye Lords dreade & power was soe mighty
{over all}.
And this preist {his name was Marshall 2 whome ye Lorde
not longe after cutt off in his wickednesse} (& Ja: Naylor was
a member of his church) {whome hee excommunicated not
longe after : & hee} raised a many wicked slaunders upon mee
y* I carry ed botles & made people drinke {of my botles} & y fc
made y m to follow mee : & y fc I ridd of a great black horse :
& y fc I was seene in one Country upon my black horse in one
houre : & in ye same houre in another Country 3 score miles
of : & y* I shoulde give a fellow money to folio we mee when
I was on my blacke horse.
And with these hellish lyes hee fed his people to make
y m speake evill of ye truth [which was in Jesus] y fc I had
declared amongst y m for I was & went on foote & had no
horse att y* time.
But by these his lyes hee preacht many of his heerers
away from him & ye Lords power came over y m all &
delivered us out of there hands {& cutt him off in his
wickednesse as aforesaid}.
After this I came to a place caled High Tounde : where
there was a woman {had beene} convinced a litle before: &
soe wee went to her house & had a meetinge & ye tounds-
people risse : & wee {declared ye truth to y m & ye worde of
life &} had some service with y m {for ye Lorde} : & they
passed away.
And there was a widow woman one Greene 3 in ye tounde
went to a great man caled a Gentleleman y fc had killed two
men & a woman : & Informed him against us : though hee was
noe officer & ye next morninge wee drew uppe some Queryes
to sende to ye preist & when wee had donne & were
passinge away : & Just as wee were pasinge away ye toundes-
people came uppe running & some freindely people & tolde
us y 1 this murderinge man was sharpninge a crook to plucke
us out of ye house & pike to stabbe us : & was comeing uppe
with his sworde, but wee were passinge away & soe misst
him : but wee were noe sooner passt away but hee came to
ye house: which people concluded if wee had not beene
gonne : hee woulde have murdered some of us.
1652] A Half-quoted Text 39
And soe y* night wee lay in a wood Itt beinge exceedinge
rainy & wee were much wett : & in ye morninge I was moved
to come backe to y fc toimde again & they gave us a full
relation of this wicked man: & soe wee passed away to
Bradforde & there wee came to a house where wee mett
R: ffarnsworth again from whome wee had parted as before.
And soe when wee came In they sett us on meate & as
I was goeinge to suppe [of there posset] ye worde of ye Lorde
came to mee eate not thy breade with such as has an evill
eye : & I gott uppe from ye table : & soe eate nothinge : & ye
woman was a baptist & after I had admonished her & ye
people to turne to ye Lorde Jesus Christ & hearken to him
there teacher {I passed away}.
And soe wee passed through ye Country preachinge
repentans to ye people & came into a markett tounde on ye
markett day: & there was a lecture.
And I went Into ye steeplehouse where there was a
many preists & professors & people: & ye preist tooke his
text out of Jeremiah ye 5 th ye later parte of ye Chapter : ye
people love to have it soe : & left out ye other parte of ye
verse ye preists beare rule by there meanes & ye people love
to have it soe.
And soe I shewed to ye people his deceite & directed y m
to Christ there true teacher & warned y m of ye day of ye
Lorde & y* God was come to teach his people himselfe & to
bringe y m of all ye worldes teachers & hirelinges & y fc they
might come to receive freely from him.
And soe I passt away from thence without much per
secution : & att night wee came to a country house & there
was noe alehouse neere: but they desired us to stay all
night where wee had a good service there for ye Lorde
declareinge his truth amongst y m & ye next day wee passed
on : for ye Lorde had saide unto mee : if y* I did but sett
uppe one In ye same Spirit j^ ye prophetts & Apostles was
in y* gave foorth ye Scriptures hee or shee shoulde shake all
ye country in there profession ten miles about y m . [And
if they did owne God & Christ & his prophetts & Apostles :
they must owne him or her.]
ffor all people had ye scriptures but was not in y* same
light & power {& spiritt} y* they was in y* 1 gave foorth ye
scriptures & soe they neither knew God nor Christ nor ye
40 People in White Raiment [1052
prophetts nor ye Apostles nor Scriptures neither had they
unity one with another {beinge out of ye power & spiritt of
God}.
And soe wee passed on warninge people as wee mett y m
of ye day of ye Lorde y* was comeinge upon y m & as wee
went I spyed a great high hill caled Pendle Hill & I went on
ye toppe of it with much adoe Itt was soe steepe: butt I
was moved of ye Lorde to goe atoppe of it : & when I came
a toppe of it I saw Lancasheere sea : [& there a toppe of the
hill I was moved to sounde ye day of ye Lorde] & ye Lorde
lett mee see a toppe of ye hill In what places hee had a
great people: & soe one ye hills syde I founde a springe 1 of
water & refresht my selfe for I had eaten litle & drunk litle
for several! days.
And soe att night wee came to an Inn & declared much
to ye man of ye house & writt a paper to ye preists &
professors concerneinge ye day of ye Lorde & howe God &
Christ was come to teach people himselfe by his power &
spiritt & to bringe y m off all ye worlds ways & teachers to
his owne {free} teachinge whoe had bought y m & was there
Saviour.
And ye man {of ye house} did spreade ye paper uppe &
doune & was mightily affected with truth.
And ye Lord opned to mee at y fc place: & lett mee see
a great people in white raiment by a rivers syde comeinge
to ye Lorde: & ye place was neere [John Blayklinges 2 where
Bich: Robinson* lived].
And ye next day wee passed on & att night wee gott a
litle fames {or brackens} & lay upon a common : & ye next
morninge went to a tounde & soe there Rich: ffarnsworth
parted with mee & then I was alone {againe}.
Soe I came upp Wensydale : & att ye markett tounde in y fc
dale 4 there was a lecture on ye markett day : soe I went Into
ye steeplehouse & after ye preist had donne I declared ye
day of ye Lorde to ye preist & people : & turned y m from ye
darknesse to ye light & from ye power of Sathan unto God
y* they might come to God & Christs teachinge freely: &
declared freely & largely ye worde of life to ye people & had
not much persecution : & after passt uppe ye dales warninge
people to feare God & declaring his truth to y m & att last I
came to a great house where there was a schoolemaster &
1652] Major Bousfield 41
they gott mee Into ye house & I declared ye truth to y m
& askinge y m questions about there religions & worshipps : &
they had mee Into a parlor & lockt mee in : & saide I was
a younge man y fc was madd & was gott away from my rela
tions & they woulde keepe mee till they coulde sende to my
relations but I convinced y m of y fc & they lett mee foorth :
& they woulde have had mee to have stayde : but I was not
to stay: but admonished y m & turned y m to ye light of
Christ by which they might come to see there salvation.
Soe in ye night I came to a litle alehouse where there
was {a company} drinkeinge & because I woulde not drinke
with y m they gott uppe Clubbs & was strikeinge att mee in
a rage: & when I had cooled y m & warned y m I walkt out
upon ye common in ye night & one of ye fellows came out
with [a bacch of] knifes [by his syde] & under pretence y fc
hee woulde have whisperd with mee : but I kept him off &
warned him to repent: soe ye Lord preserved mee by his
power from him & hee went Into ye house againe & ye next
morninge I passt away: & came through other dales &
warned & exhorted people to repent & turne to ye Lorde &
severall was convinct {& I came to one house a kinsman of
Jo: Blayklinges & hee woulde have given mee money but I
woulde not receive it}.
Soe I came through ye dales to Major Bosfeilds 1 where
hee & severall more received mee there & some was con
vinced {& stands to this day : & I passed through Grysdale
& severall other of those dales : where some was convinct}.
But before I came to Major Bosfeilds I came to a mans
house one Tennants 2 & I was moved to speake to y m & as I
was turninge away from y m I was moved againe to turne
againe & to declare Gods everlastinge truth to him & hee
was convinct & his family & lived dyed in ye truth : & after
this I went Into Dent where many was convinct {alsoe}.
And from Major Bosfeilds I came to Rich: Robinsons:
[& as I was passinge alonge ye way I askt a man which was
Rich: Robinsons: & hee askt mee from whence I came & I
tolde him from ye Lorde] & soe when I came in to Rich.
Robinsons I declared ye everlastinge truth to him [& yett
a {dark} Jealosye risse uppe in him after I was gonne to bed
I might bee some body y* was come to robbe his house
& hee lockt all his doores fast}].
4 2 At Sedbergh Fair [1652
And ye next day I went to a seperate meetinge 1 at
Justice Bensons 2 : where ye people was generally convinct :
& this was ye place y* I had seene a people comeinge foorth
in white raiment: & a mighty meetinge there was & is to
this day {neere Sedbarr which I gathered in ye name of
Jesus}.
And in ye weeke day there was a great feare for hireinge
servants: & I went to ye faire & declared through ye faire
ye day of ye Lorde: & after I had donne I went Into ye
steeplehouse yarde : & most of ye people of ye faire came to
mee & aboundans of preists & professors : & there I declared
ye everlastinge truth of ye Lorde & ye w r orde of life {for
severall houres} & y t ye Lord & Christ Jesus was come to
teach his people himselfe & to bringe y m of all ye worlds
ways & teachers to Christ there way to God: & layde open
all there teachers & sett uppe ye true teacher {Christ
Jesus} : & how they was judged by ye prophetts Christ & ye
Apostles & to bringe y m off ye temples made with hands y fc
they y m selves might know they was ye temples of God : &
never a preist had power to open his mouth : butt at last a
Captaine saide why woulde I not goe Into ye Church (& I
saide unto him I denyed there Church) for y tt was a fitt
place to preach in {hee saide} : & there stoode upp a seperate
preacher one ffrancis Howgill 3 y* had not seene mee before :
& soe hee began to dispute with ye Captaine but hee helde
his peace : & then saide ff: H: this man speakes with
authority & not as ye Scribes : & soe I opned to ye people
y* y fc grounde & house was noe holyer then another place
{& y* house was not ye Church butt ye people which Christ
is ye heade of} : & soe after a while [y* I had made a stand
amongst ye people] ye preists came uppe to mee & I warned
y m to repent : & one of y m saide I was madd : & soe they
turned away: butt many people was glad at ye hearinge of
ye truth declared unto y m y t day which they received gladly
[& soe I passt away.
And I came Into a house : & there came in] on Capt.
Warde 4 [& hee saide my very eyes peirced through him &
hee] was convinced of Gods everlastinge truth & {lived}
dyed in it & many more was convinced there att y fc time.
And ye next first day I came to fforbanck Chappele 5
where ff: Howghill & Jo: Audland 6 had beene preachinge in
1652] Firbank Chapel
43
ye morninge : & Jo: Blayklinge & others came to mee &
desired mee not to reprove y m publickely for they was not
parish teachers but pretty sober men butt I woulde not tell
y m whether I woulde or noe though I had litle in mee to
declare publickely against y m but tolde y m they must leave
mee to ye Lords moveinges: & ye Chapphell was full of
people & many coulde not gett in : & ff: H: saide hee
thought I lookt Into ye Chappell but I did not : [& y fc I
might have killed him with a crabbe aple] ye Lords power
had soe surprised him.
Soe they had quickely donne {with there preachinge to
ye people att y fc time} & they {& ye people} went to there
dinners & aboundans stayde till they carne againe & I went
to a brooke and gott mee a litle water & soe I came & sate
mee downe a toppe of a rocke [{for ye worde of ye Lorde
came to mee I must goe & sett doune upon ye rocke in ye
mountaine even as Christ had donne before}] & in ye
afternoone ye people gathered about mee with severall
[seperate] teachers : where It was Judged there was
a{bove a} thousand people & all those severall [{separate}]
teachers were convinct of Gods everlastinge truth y fc day :
amongst whome I declared freely & largely Gods ever
lastinge truth & worde of life about 3 houres & there was
many olde people y* went Into ye Chapell & looket out of
ye windowes & thought it a strange thinge to see a man to
preach on a hill or mountaine & nott in there church as
they caled it soe y fc I was made to open^to ye people y fc ye
steeplehouse & y fc grounde {on which it stoode} was noe more
holyer then y* mountaine & those temples & dreadefull
houses of God as they caled y m was not sett uppe by ye
commande of God {nor Christ} : nor there preists as Arons
preisthoode [& there temple was] : nor there tyths as theres
was: butt Christ was come whoe ended ye temple & ye
preists & ye tyths & Christ saide learne of mee & God saide
this is my beloved son heare yee him for ye Lord had sent
mee with his everlastinge gospell to preach & his worde of
life to bringe y m of all those temples tyths preists & rudi
ments of ye worlde y* had gotten uppe since ye Apostles
days: & had beene sett uppe by such whoe had erred from
ye spiritt & pouer ye Apostles was in : soe that they might
all come to know Christ there teacher there councelor there
44 " Unity with ye Creation " [1652
sheaphearde to feede y m & there bishope to oversee y m &
there prophett to open to y m & to know there bodys to be
ye temples of God & Christ for y m to dwell in.
And soe I opned ye prophetts & ye figures & shadowes
& turned y m to Christ ye substans & then opned ye parables
of Christ & ye thinges y* had beene hid from ye beginninge
& shewed y m ye estate of ye Epistles howe they was written
to ye elect : & ye state of ye Apostacy y fc has beene since
ye Apostles days & howe ye preists has gotten ye scripture
& are not in y* Spiritt which gave y m foorth : whoe makes
a trade of there words & have putt y m Into chapter & verse
& howe y* ye teachers & preists now was founde in ye stepps
both of ye false prophetts cheife preists scribes & pharisees
such as both ye prophetts Christ & his Apostles cryed
against: & soe are Judged by ye prophetts Christ & ye
Apostles Spiritt & all y* was in it coulde not owne y m .
And soe turninge ye people to ye spiritt of God & from
ye darknesse to ye light y i they might beleive in it & become
children of ye light & turneinge them from ye power of
Sathan which they had beene under to God & y fc with ye
Spiritt of truth they might be ledd Into all ye truth of ye
prophetts Christ & ye Apostles words.
And soe after ye meetinge was donne I passed away
to John Audlands [& there came Jo: Story 1 to mee &
lighted his pipe of Tobacco : & saide hee will you take
a pipe of Tobacco sayinge come all is ours : & I lookt
upon him to bee a forwarde bolde lad : & tobacco I did
not take : butt It came Into my min.de y* ye Lad might
thinke I had not unity with ye creation: for I saw hee
had a flashy empty notion of religion : soe I took his pipe &
putt it to my mouth & gave it to him again to stoppe him
least his rude tongue shoulde say I had not unity with ye
creation].
And from thence I came to Preston Patricke Chappell 2 :
where there was a great meetinge appointed & I went Into
it & had a large meetinge amongst ye people & declared ye
worde of life & ye everlastinge truth to y m & shewed y m y*
ye ende of my comeinge Into y fc place was not to holde it
uppe noe more then ye Apostles goeinge Into ye Jewish
Synagoges & temples was & Dianas but to bringe y m of all
such thinges as they did : for ye Apostles brought ye Saintes
1652] Poverty Relieved 45
of ye true a temple & Arons preisthoode [& after they mett
in houses]: & {tolde y m } y* there bodyes was ye temples
of God & y t Christ was there teacher.
And soe from thence I came to Kendall where a meetinge
was appointed in ye tounde hall: & when I had declared ye
truth & worde of life to y m & shewed y m howe they might
knowe Christ & ye scriptures [& what woulde bee there
teacher] & what woulde bee there condemnation I passed
away after I had staide awhile in ye tounde : & several 1 was
convinced there : soe one Cocks 1 mett mee in ye streete &
woulde have given mee a wrole of tabacco {for people was
much given to smoakinge tobacco} soe I accepted of his love
but denyed it.
And from thence I came to Underbarrow to one Miles
Batemans 2 & [as I came on ye way] severall people came
alonge with mee & great dispu tinges I had with y m
especially with Ed: Burrough 3 & att night ye preist came &
a many professors to M: Batemans & a great deale of dis-
putinge I had with y m .
And supper beinge provided for ye preist & ye rest I
was not to eate with y m but tolde y m if they woulde
appoint a meetinge the next day att ye steeplehouse &
acquainte ye people with it I might meete with y m : & a
great deale of reasoninge they had about it : & some was
for it & some was against it.
And in ye morninge I walkt out after I had tolde y m
concerninge ye meetinge & they was in much reasoninge &
doubting of it & mee & as I was walkeinge upon ye toppe of
ye banke there came severall poore people travailers y* I saw
was in necessity and they gave y m nothinge but saide they
was cheates but when they was gonne in to there breakefast
Itt greived mee to see such hardeheartednesse amongst
professors y fc I rann after ye poore people a matter of a
quarter of a mile & gave them some money: & they came out
again & seeinge mee a quarter of a mile off they saide 1
coulde not have gonne soe farr in such an Instant except I
had winges : & then ye meetinge was stoppt they was soe
filled with strange thoughts & y* quite putt ye meetinge
out of there mindes & they was against it : ffor they coulde
a True should probably read Jewish as in the Ellwood editions;
immediately following, true" preist has been altered to Arons preistkoode
46 James Dickinson Convinced [1652
not beleive I coulde have gonne soe farr In such a short
space.
And then there came Miles 1 & Steephen 2 Hubersty moore
simple hearted men & they woulde have ye meetinge : & I
tolde y m I rann after those poore people to give y m some
money & I was greived att there harde heartednesse y fc gave
y m nothinge.
Soe I went to ye [steeplehouse or] chapell att Under-
barrow & ye preist came & a great meetinge there was &
after a while ye preist fledd away: & many {of Crooke &
Underbarrow} was convinced y* day : & received ye worde
of life & stands to this day under Christ [& Gods] teachinge.
And soe after I had declared ye truth to y m some houres
& ye meetinge was donne: ye Cheife Constable & some other
professors fell a reasoninge with mee in ye steeplehouse
yarde : & I took a bible & shewed & opned to y m ye scrip
tures [& shewed y m chapter & verse] : & dealt with y m as one
woulde deale with a childe [in swadling cloaths] : for they
y fc was in ye light of Christ & spiritt of God did know 7 when
I spoake scripture though I did not mention chapter &
verse after ye preists forme unto y m .
And from thence I passt with an olde man {James
Dickisons 3 } : y* was convinced of ye truth y* day & dyed in
ye truth : to his house & from thence I came to James
Taylors 4 {of Newton in Cartmell in Lancasheere} : & on ye
first day I went to one preist Camelfords 5 chappell & after
hee had donne I began to speake ye worde of life to y m &
Camelforde was in such a rage & such a frett & soe peevish
y* hee had noe patiens to heare but stirred uppe ye rude
multitude & they rudely haled mee out & strucke mee &
punched mee & tooke mee & threw rnee headelonge over a
stone wall : but blessed be ye Lorde his power preserved
mee {[ye kirke warden] was one Jo : Knipe 6 whome ye
Lorde after cutt off whoe threwe mee doune headelonge
over ye wall}.
And there was a youth y fc was writeinge after ye preist
& I was moved to speake to him & hee came to bee convinct
& became a fine minister of ye Gospell whose name was
John Braithwaite 7 .
And soe I went uppe to an alehouse where many people
resorted betwixt ye time of there preachinge : & had a great
1652] First Visit to Swarthmore 47
deale of reasoninge with y m & shewed unto y m howe y 1 God
was come to teach his people himselfe & to bringe y m of
such teachers as were Judged by ye prophetts Christ & ye
Apostles : & many received ye worde of life y fc time &
standes to this day.
And ye afternoone I went about 2 or 3 miles to another
steeplehouse or chappell {caled Lyndall} & when ye preist
had donne I spoake to him & ye people what ye Lord
commanded mee : & there was great opposers & they after
came to be convinct : & after I came to one Capt: Sands 1
which hee & his wiffe : if they coulde have had ye worlde
& truth they woulde have received it : but they was
hypocrites & hee a very chaffy light man [& ye way was to
streight for y m ].
And when I had admonished him of his lightnesse & of
his Jeastinge howe it was not seemely for a great professor
as hee was : hee aunswered & saide hee had a son one his
death bed did alsoe reprouve & warne him of it : butt hee
neither obeyed ye admonishment of his son nor of ye spiritt
of God in himselfe.
And from thence I came to Ulverstoii & soe to Swarth
rnoore to Judge ffells 2 .
And there came uppe preist Lampitt 3 which I perceived
{had beene &} was {still} a ranter {in his minde} & I had a
great deale of reasoninge with him : for hee (w)oulde talk
of high notions & perfection & thereby deceived ye people :
& hee woulde have owned rnee butt I coulde not owne
him nor Joine with him hee was soe full "of filth.
ffor hee saide hee was above John & made as though
hee knew all thinges but I tolde him howe y fc death reigned
from Adam to Moses & hee was under y fc death & knew not
Moses: for Moses saw ye paradice of God & soe hee neither
knew Moses nor ye prophetts nor John: for y fc crooked
nature stoode in him & ye rough & ye mountain of sin &
corruptions.
And ye way was not prepared in him for ye Lord soe
hee confest hee had beene under a crosse in thinges but now
hee coulde sing psalmes & doe any thinge : & I tolde him
now hee coulde see a theife & Join hande in hande with him :
& hee coulde not preach Moses nor ye prophetts nor Christ
nor John except hee was in ye same spiritt as they was in.
48 The Fell Family [1652
And soe Margarett fell 1 had beerie abroade & att night
[when shee came home] her children tolde her y* preist
Lampitt & I disagreed : & Itt struck somethinge att her
because shee was in a profession with him : though hee hidd
his dirty actions from them : soe att night wee had a great
deale of reasoninge & I declared ye truth to shee & her
family.
And ye next day Lampitt came againe & I had a great
deale of discourse with him before Margarett fell whoe soone
then discerned ye preist cleerely & a convincement came upon
her & her family of ye Lords truth : & there was a humiliation
day {shortly after within a day or two} kept att Ulverston
& m: if: askt mee to goe to ye steeplehouse with her : for
shee was not wholely come off & 1 saide I must doe as I am
ordered of ye Lorde butt I walked in ye feilds & then ye
worde of ye Lorde came to mee to goe to ye steeplehouse
after y m & when I came ye preist Lampitt was { a singinge with
his people a } & his spiritt & his stuffe was soe foule y* I was
moved of ye Lord to speake to him & ye people {after they
had donne singinge : & ye worde of ye Lorde was to y m hee
was not a Jew y fc is one outwarde : butt hee was a Jew y 1 is
one inwarde : whose praise was not of man but of God : &
howe y fc God was come to teach his people by his spiritt &
to bringe y m off all there olde ways religions churches &
worshipps : for all there religions & worshippes & ways was
but talkeinge of others mens words but they was out of ye
life & spiritt y* they was in y* gave y m foorth : & one Justice
Sawrey 2 cryed take him away : & Judge ffells wife saide to
ye officers lett him alone why may not hee speake as well as
any other : & Lampitt saide for decepte lett him speake &
soe att last when I had declared a pretty while ye Constable
putt mee out}.
And this Justice {John} Sawrey [a rotten professor whoe
was very full of hypocrisy & deceite & envy] hee caused mee
to be putt out of ye steeplehouse : & I spoake to ye people
in ye steeplehouse yarde [& after came uppe to Swarth-
moore hall] : & upon ye first day after I was moved to goe
to Auldenham steeplehouse & when ye preist had donne I
spoak to ye preist but hee gott away & I declared to ye
a ... a Altered in the same hand from blusteringe on in his preaching e
1652] Thomas Lawson
49
people ye worde of life & warned y m to returne to ye Lorde
& after I had declared ye truth & ye worde of life to y m I
passed to Ramsyde & there was a Chapell in which one
Tho: Lawson 1 used to preach y* was a high preist : & hee
very loveingely spoake in ye morninge to his people of my
comeinge in ye afternoone : & when I was come all ye
country gathered thereaways : & soe I saw there was noe
place more convenient {to declare to ye people there then in
ye Chappell & soe} I went Into ye Chapell & all was Quiett
& ye preist Tho : Lawson went not uppe Into his pulpitt but
left all to mee & ye everlastinge truth was largely declared
y* day which reached & entred Into ye heartes of people &
ye everlastinge day of ye eternall God was proclaimed [& all
was Quiett] & received ye truth in ye love of it & this preist
came to bee convinct & stands in truth & grew in ye wise-
dome of God mightily & remaines to this day mighty
serviceable in his place & threw off his preaching for hire &
his Chapell & came to preach ye Lord Jesus & his kingedome
freely.
And after y* some rude people thought to have donne
him a mischeife & cast scandalls upon him butt hee was
carryed over all.
And after I returned back to Swarth moore againe : & ye
next first day I went to Dalton {steeplehouse} & after ye
preist had donne I declared ye worde of life to ye people
turneinge y m from darknesse to light & from ye power of
Sathan to God : & bringeinge y m of there superstitious ways
& there teachers made of man to Christ there way & to bee
taught of him.
And from thence I went Into ye Hand of Wana 2 & after
ye preist had donne I spoake to him who gott away & I
spoake to ye people {ye truth [as it was in Jesus]} & ye
people were somethinge rude.
And soe I went to look for ye preist att his house & hee
woulde not bee seene but ye people saide hee went to hide
himselfe in ye haymowe : & they went to look for him there
but coulde not finde him there : & then they saide hee was
gonne to hide himselfe amongst ye standinge corne but
after they had looked for him there they coulde not finde
him there neither : soe I came to James Lancasters 3 whoe
was convinct in 13 Ilande & from there I returned to
G. p.
50 An All-night Conference [1652
Swarth moore again : where ye Lords power seised upon
Margarett & her daughter Sarah & severall of y m & then
I went to Baecliffe where Leo: ffell was convinct & hee
became a good minister 1 & severall others was convinct
there : & came Into truth : & ye people coulde not tell howe
to dispute as they saide but woulde faine have putt on some
other to holde a talk with mee : but I bid y m feare ye Lord
& not in a light way to holde a talke of ye Lords wordes {but
practise y m }.
[And as I was walkeinge I hearde olde people & worke-
people to say : hee is such a man as never was hee knowes
peoples thoughts] for I turned y m to ye divine light of
Christ & his spiritt y fc lett y m see all there thoughts words
& actions y* was evill y fc they had thought or acted : with
which light they might see there sinns & with ye same
light they might see there saviour {Christ Jesus} to save y m
from there sinns & y* there was there first steppe to peace
to stande still in ye light y fc showed there sin & trans
gressions : & shewed y m howe they were strangers to ye
covenant of promise without God in ye worlde & in ye fall
of olde Adam : & in ye darknesse & death & with ye same
light they may see Christ y* dyed for y m whoe is there way
to God & there redeemer & saviour.
And after this I went to a Chapell beyonde Gleeston
which was built but never preist had preached in it : where
all ye country uppe & doune came & a quiett peaceable
meetinge it was where ye worde of life was declared amongst
y m & many was convinced about Gleeston & from thence
I returned to Swarthmoore again.
And after I had stayde there a few days : & most of all
ye family was convinct : I went from thence back againe
Into Westmorelande.
And preist Lampitt had beene amongst ye professors att
Kendall syde & mightily had Incensed y m against mee : &
tolde y m I helde many strang thinges & soe I mett with
them y* hee had incensed & sate upp all night with y m {at
James Dickisons house} & aunswered all there objections &
then they was throughly satisfyed both with ye truth y*
I had declared & disatisfyed with Lampitts lyes y* hee had
divulged soe y* hee cleerly lost ye best of his hearers &
folowers & they came to see his deceite & to forsake him.
1652] Justices Friendly and Unfriendly 51
And soe I passt on to Jo: Audlands and Jarwis Bensons
& had great meetinges amongst those people y fc was convinct
before & to Jo: Blayklinges & Eich: Robinsons & had
mighty great meetinges there & soe uppe towards Grisdale.
And after this Judge ffell was come home & Margarett
sent for mee to returne thither & soe I came through ye
country back to Swarthmoore againe : & ye preists & pro
fessors & y fc Justice Sawrey had incensed Judge ffell & Capt:
Sands much against ye truth with there lyes : & after dinner
I aunswered him all his objections & satisfyed him by scrip
ture soe as hee was throughly satisfyed & convinct in his
Judgement.
And hee saide art thou y t George ffox y* Justice [Luke]
Robinson aforesaid spoake soe much in commendation off
amongst many of ye parlament men : for hee had saide y fc
all ye preists & professors in ye nation was no th Inge to him
& 1 tolde him I had beene with Justice Robinson & Justice
Hotham in Yorkesheere whoe were very loveinge & civill
to mee & were convinct in there Judgements by ye Spiritt of
God: & they did see over ye preists of ye nation soe y* hee
& many others now came to be wiser then there teachers
[& came to bee taught of God & Christ: & soe outstript
there teachers] : & then Judge ffell was satisfyed y fc I was
ye man : & hee came alsoe to see by ye Spiritt of God in his
hearte over all ye preists & teachers off ye worlde himselfe
& did not goe to heare y m for some yeere before hee dyed :
for hee knew it was ye truth & y fc Christ was ye teacher of
his people & there saviour : & hee wisht" y t I was a while
with Judge Bradshaw 1 to convince him : & there came over
y fc Capt: Sands a wicked man to incense him & hee was full
of envy against mee : & yett hee coulde use ye Apostles
words & say beholde I make all thinges new : & I tolde him
then hee must have a new God for his God was his belly.
And then y* envyous Justice Sawrey hee came to
Swarthmoore alsoe & I tolde him his hearte was rotten &
hee was full of hypocrisy to ye brim & severall people came
alsoe & I discerned there conditions & spoak unto y m : &
Rich: ffarnsworth & Ja: Nailor was come to Swarthmoore
alsoe to see mee & ye family [& Ja: Nailor was under a fast
14 dayes]: & Judge ffell {for all there opposition} lett ye meet-
inge bee kept att his house : & a great meetinge was setled
42
52 The Man in Leather Breeches [1652
there in ye Lords power to ye tormentinge of ye preists &
professors {which has remained above 20 yeeres to this day 1 } :
hee beinge satisfyed off ye truth: & after I had stayde
a while & ye meetinge was setled I went to Underbarrow &
had a great meetinge there & from thence to Kellett & had
a great meetinge at Rob: Withers & many was convinct
there wbere severall came from Lancaster & some from Yorke.
[And there was a Captain stoode uppe after ye meetinge
was donne & askt mee where my leather briches 2 was & I
lett ye man runn on awhile & att last I helde uppe my Coate
& saide heere is my leather briches which frightens all y r
preists & professors.
And Margarett ffell had a vision off a man in a white
hatt y* shoulde come & confounde ye preists before my
comeinge Into those parts {& a great dreade there was
amongst ye preists & professors concerninge ye man in
leather breeches}.
And another man had a vision of mee y fc a man in
leather briches shoulde come & confounde ye preists : & this
mans preist was ye first y l was confounded & convinct,]
And on ye first day I went to Lancaster & had a great
meetinge in ye street of souldyers & people & declared ye
worde of life & ye everlastinge truth to y m & shewed y m
there teacher Christ Jesus & all ye traditions y* they had
lived in : & all there worshipps & religions & y* there pro
fession was good for nothinge y fc lived out of ye life & power
of y m y fc gave foorth ye Scriptures & soe turned y m to ye
light of Christ ye heavenly man & to ye Spiritt of God in
there owne heartes & where they might finde God & Christ
& his kingedome {& knowe him there teacher}.
And soe in ye afternoone I went uppe to ye steeplehouse
att Lancaster : & when I had declared ye truth to both
preist & people & shewed y m ye deceiptes they lived in &
ye power & spiritt of God y l they wanted : they haled mee
out & stoned mee alonge ye streets till I came to Jo: Law-
sons 3 house.
And one ye markett day before I spoake through ye
markett in ye dreadefull power of God & declared ye day of
ye Lord to y m & against all there deceitfull merchandise &
preacht righteousnesse & truth which they shoulde all walk
& live in & follow after : & where they might finde ye spiritt
1652] Priest Whitehead 53
of God to guide y m to it : & severall people came to my
lodgeinge & many was convinct there & standes to this day
{& a meetinge there was setled in ye power of God which
stands to this day}.
And another first day I went to another steeplehouse by
ye waters syde to one preist Whiteheade 1 & declared ye
truth to ye preist & people in ye dreadefull power of God : &
there was a doctor came to mee whoe was soe full of envy &
saide hee coulde finde in his hearte to runn mee through with
his rapier though hee was hanged for it ye next day : yett
this man came to bee convinct afterwards & was loveinge to
ifrends & some people was convinct y* way & stoode faithfull
to God & Christ & his teachings.
And soe I returned backe Into Westmoreland again &
spoak through Kendall upon a markett day in ye dreadefull
power of God y fc people flew like chaffe before mee into there
houses & warned y rn of ye mighty day of ye Lorde & how y 1
ye Lord God was come to teach his people himselfe & many
people tooke my parte & severall was convinct 2 : & some
people att last fell to figh tinge about mee & I went & spoake
to y m & they parted again {& ye first day after I had
a mighty meetinge at Miles Batemans aforesaid where many
was convinct}.
And I was moved to declare to ye people howe all people
in ye fall were from ye image of God & righteousnesse &
holynesse : & they was as wells without ye water of life :
cloud es without ye heavenly raine : trees without ye heavenly
fruite & in ye nature of beasts & serpents : & tall cedars &
oakes & bulls & heifers soe they might reade this nature
within as ye prophett described to people y t were out of
truth : & howe y* they was in ye nature of doggs & swine
biteinge & rentinge : & ye nature of bryars thistles &
thornes : & like ye oweles & Dragons in ye night & like ye
wilde asses & horses snuffeinge uppe : & like ye mountaines
& rockes & crooked & rough ways : soe I exhorted y m to
reade these without within in there nature : & ye wan-
dringe stairs : reade y m without & looke within all y* was
come to ye bright & morninge starr : soe as there fallow
ground must bee plowed uppe before Itt beared seede to y m
soe must ye fallow grounde of there hearte be plowed uppe
before they beare seede to God.
54 Messages from God [1652
Soe all these names were spoaken to man & woman since
they fell from ye Image of God : & as they doe come to bee
renewed againe upp Into ye image of God they come out of
ye nature & soe out of ye name.
And many more thinges of this nature was declared to
y m & they turned to ye light of Christ by which they was
turned to Christ : by which they might see him there sub-
stans & there way salvation & free teacher.
And Jam: Naylor [hee travailed uppe & doune in many
places amongst people y* was convinct : & att last hee] &
tf: Howghill were cast Into prison by ye malitious preists &
magistrates {Into Apelby goale}.
And after I had travailed uppe* & doune In those
countryes & had great meetinges I came to Swarthmoore
again.
And after I had visited ffreindes a while In those parts
I hearde of a great meetinge of preists at Ulverstone att
a lecture day & I went doune : & went Into ye steeplehouse
in ye dreade & power of ye Lorde & when ye preist had
dorine I spoake amongst y m ye worde of ye Lorde : which was
as a hammer & a fire amongst y m & though Lampitt had
beene at variance with most of ye preists before yett against
ye truth hee & they all Joined togeather : & ye mighty
power of ye Lorde was soe over all : y* preist Bennett 1 saide
ye steeplehouse shooke & hee was afraide {& trembled &
thought y*} ye steeplehouse woulde fall on his head & went
his ways out for feare : speakinge a few confused words : &
ye Lords power was over y m all though there was a many
preists & they had noe power as yett to persecute.
And after I came uppe to Swarthmoore & there came
uppe 4 or 5 preists & I asked y m whether any of y m coulde
say they ever had a worde from ye Lorde to goe & speake to
such or such a people : & none of y m durst say soe : but one
of y m burst out Into a passion & saide hee coulde speake his
experiences as well as I : butt I tolde him experience was
one thinge but to goe with a message & a worde from ye
Lord as ye prophetts & ye Apostles had & did : & as I
had donne to y m this was a nother thinge : & coulde any off
y m say they had such a commande or worde from ye Lord
att any time : but none of y m coulde aunswer to it : butt
I tolde y m ye false prophetts & false Apostles & Antichrist
1652] Convincement of Thomas Taylor 55
coulde use ye words {& speake of other mens experiences} y t
never knew or hearde ye voice of God & Christ : & such as
they might gett ye good words & experience of others.
And att another time there were several! preists att
Judge ffells & hee was by : & I askt y m ye same question :
whether ever they had hearde ye voice of God or Christ to
bid y m goe to such or such a people to declare his worde {or
message unto y m | : for any y* coulde but reade might declare
ye experiences of ye prophetts & Apostles.
And Tho: Taylor an auntient preist did ingeniously a con-
fesse before Judge ffell y 1 hee never hearde ye voice of God
nor Christ to sende him to any people but hee spoake his
experiences & ye experiences of ye saintes & preacht y^ :
which did astonish Judge ffell : for hee & all people did
looke y fc they were sent from God & Christ : & soe this
Tho: Taylor came to bee convinct att y fc time 1 : & travailed
with mee Into Westmorelande : & wee came to Croslande
steeplehouse : & there ye people was gathered & they woulde
have had mee gonne Into ye steeplehouse & I saide Itt was
noe matter : & there came another preist & a high Con
stable : & this was ye seconde day after Tho: Taylor was
convinct : & ye Lorde opned his mouth there amongst ye
people y* hee begann to declare how hee had beene {before
hee was convinct & like ye pharsee y fc was converted t<3 ye
kingedome brought foorth thinges new & olde to ye
people} & tolde y m how ye preists was out of ye way : which
did torment ye other preists : & some litle discourse I had
with y m but they fled away : & a pretious meetinge there
was & ye Lords power was over all & people was turned to
God by his spiritt : with which they came to know Christ
& God & ye Scriptures.
And soe I passed to severall meetinges visitinge freindes
& had mighty meetinges in Westmoreland : & about this
time ye preists begann to prophesy y* within a month wee
shoulde bee all scattered againe & come to nothinge.
[1652.] About this time Cristo: Taylor another minister
Tho: Taylors brother was convinced alsoe of truth 2 : & they
both became ministers of ye gospell & great sufferers they
were : & they came to know ye worde of ye Lord & was
Ellwood editions read ingenuously
56 Meetings set up in Lancashire [1652
commanded to goe to many steeplehouses & markets & places
& preach Christ freely.
And about this time Jo: Audland & ff: Howghill &
Jo: Cham 1 came foorth to bee faithfull ministers & Ed:
Burrough {& Rich: Huberthorne 2 & Miles [& Steephen]
Hubersty} & soe continued till there deaths {& Miles
Halhead & severall others}.
[And ff: Howghill & Ed: Burrough dyed prisoners for
ye Lords truth.
And multitudes was turned to ye Lorde & soe] after
a time I returned Into Lancasheere againe : & went to
Ulverston & though Lampitt had preacht & sayde y* there
was a people y fc did owne ye teachinges of God : & y fc men
& women shoulde come to declare ye Gospell : & after Itt
came to be fulfilled hee persecuted it & y m : & I went to
Lampitts house where there was aboundans of preists &
professors gathered after there lecture & there I had great
disputeinges with y m concerneinge Christ & ye Scriptures
which they were loath to lett y fc trade goe doune which they
made of (Jhrists & ye Apostles & prophetts words : but ye
Lords power went over ye heads of y m all : & his worde of
life was helde foorth though many of y m was exceedinge
divelish & envyous.
And many preists & professors came to mee farr & nigh :
which ye simpleminded & innocent was satisfy ed : & sent
away refreshed but ye fatt & full was fedd with Judgement
& sent empty away.
And y* was ye worde of ye Lord to bee devided to y m
& then Lampitt begann to rage when meetinges was sett
uppe & wee mett in houses & saide wee forsooke ye temple
& went to Jeroboams calfes houses : soe y* many professors
began to see howe hee was degenerated from y fc which hee
formerly helde {& preacht}.
And it was declared both to professors preists & people
how y* there houses caled churches was more like Jeroboams
Calfe houses which they had sett uppe {in ye darke times of
popery which they helde uppe} which God never commanded :
for y* temple which God had commanded at Jerusalem
Christ came to ende : And they y* beleived in him there
bodyes came to bee ye temples of God & Christ & ye holy
ghoast : for y m to dwell in y m & walke in y m : & all such
1652] What is a Church? 57
was gathered Into ye name of Jesus whose name was above
every name : & there was noe salvation by any other name
under ye whole heaven butt by ye name of Jesus : & these
mett togeather in severall dwellinge houses which was not
caled ye temple nor ye Church but there bodyes was ye
temples of God & ye beleivers was ye Church which Christ
was ye heade off: soe Christ was not caled ye heade of an
olde house which was made by mens handes : neither did hee
come to purchase & sanctifye & redeeme {with his bloode}
an olde house which they caled there church but ye people :
which hee is ye heade off 1 .
ffor a great deale of worke had I with preists & people
with there olde houses which they caled there churches
which was made by mens hands : for ye preists had perswaded
people y fc it was ye house of God & ye Apostle saide Christ
purchased his Church with his owne bloode & Christ calls
his Church his Spouse & his bride ye lambes wiffe : soe this
title Church & Spouse was not given to an olde house butt to
his church y* was his people & true beleivers & ye Apostle
saith whose house wee are : soe ye people are Gods house &
dwellinge.
And after this off a lecture day I was moved to goe to
Ulverston steeplehouse where there was aboundans of pro
fessors & preists & people.
And I went uppe neere to Lampitt whoe was blusteringe
on in his preachinge : & one Jo: Sawrey a Justice of peace
came to mee after the Lord had opned my mouth to speake:
& saide If I woulde speake accordinge to ye scriptures
I should speake & I stranged att him for speakinge soe to
mee : And I tolde him I woulde speake accordinge to ye
scriptures & bringe ye scriptures to prove what I had to
say : for I had some thinge to speake to Lampitt {& y m } : &
then this Sawrey saide I shoulde not speake contradictinge
his owne sayinge where hee saide I shoulde speake if I
woulde speake accordinge to scriptures.
Soe off a sudden all ye people in ye steeplehouse was in
an outrage & an uproare : y* they fell upon mee in ye
steeplehouse before his face : & knockt mee doune & kikt
mee & trampeld upon mee before his face : & people tumbled
over there seates for feare : & att last hee came & tooke mee
from amongst ye people again : & led mee out of ye steeple-
5 8 Broken Heads [>52
house & putt mee Into ye hands of ye Constables & other
officers hands & bid y m whippe mee & putt mee out of ye
tounde & then they led mee about a quarter of a mile some
takeinge holde by my collar & some by ye armes & shoulders
6 shooke & dragged mee & some gott hedge stakes : & holme
bushes & other staffs : & many freindely people y fc was come
to ye markett : & some came Into ye steeplehouse to heare
mee : many of y m they knockt doune & broake there heads
alsoe [& ye bloode rann doune severall people soe as I
never saw ye like In my life : as I lookt att y m when they
was dragginge mee alonge].
And Judge ffells son 1 runninge after to see what they
would doe with mee : they threw him Into a ditch of water
& cryed knocke out ye teeth of his heade.
And when they had ledd mee to ye common {mosse} &
a multitude of people followinge : there they fell upon mee
with there staifes & hedgestakes & ye constables & officers
gave mee some blowes over my backe with there willowe
rodds & soe thrust mee amongst ye rude multitude: & they
then fell upon mee as aforesaid with there stakes & clubbs
& beate mee on my heade & armes & shoulders till they had
mased mee & att last I fell doune upon ye wett common : &
when I recovered my selfe again & saw my selfe lyinge on a
watery common & all ye people standinge about mee I lay a
litle still & ye power of ye Lord sprange through mee & ye
eternall refreshinges refresht mee y fc I stoode uppe againe in
ye eternall power of God & stretched out my armes amongst
y m all & saide againe with a loude voice strike againe heere
is my armes my heade & my cheekes: & there was a mason
a rude fellow a professor {caled} hee gave mee a blowe with
all his might Just a toppe of my hande as it was stretched
out with his walkinge rule staife: & my hande & arme was
soe nummed & bruised y fc I coulde not draw itt in unto mee
againe: soe as ye people cryed out hee hath spoiled his
hande for ever haveinge any use of it more {& I looket att
it in ye love of God & I was in ye love of God to y m all y*
had persecuted mee}.
And after a while ye Lords power sprange through mee
again & through my hande & arme y* in a minute I re
covered my hande & arme & strength in ye face & sight of
- all.
1652] In inversion Marketplace
59
And then they begann to fall out amongst y m sel ves : &
some of y m came to mee & saide if 1 woulde give y m money
they woulde secure mee from ye rest but I was moved of ye
Lord to declare unto y m ye worde of life : & showed y rn
there false Christianity & ye fruites of there preists & howe
they were more like heathens & ye Jewes & not like
Christians.
And soe I was moved of ye Lord to come uppe againe
through y m & uppe Into Ulverston markett : & there meetes
mee a man with a sworde a souldyer: sir saide hee I am
ashamed y* you should bee thus abused {for you are a man
saide hee soe} hee was greived & saide hee woulde assist
mee in what hee coulde : & I tolde him y fc it was noe matter
ye Lords power was over all.
And soe as I walkt through ye people in ye markett
there was none of y m had power to touch mee.
[And this man with his sworde walkeinge after mee &]
some of ye markett people abuseinge some freindes in ye
markett & I turned mee about & I saw ye souldyer amongst
y m with his naked rapier : & I runn amongst y m & catcht
holde of his hande y* his rapier was in & bid him putt uppe
his sworde againe if hee woulde come alonge with mee : & soe
hee came to ye toundesend with mee & I came uppe to
Swarthmoore againe : & there they was dressinge ye heads
& hands of freindes & freindely people y* was broaken y* day
by ye professors & hearers of preist Lampitt.
And my body & armes was yellow blacke & blew with
ye blowes & bruises {y*} I received amongst y m y t day.
And within a few days after seven men fell upon this
souldyer aforesaid & beate him cruelly because hee had
taken my parte : for Itt was ye Custome of this Country to
runn 20 or 40 people upon one man : & they fell soe upon
ffreindes in many places y* they coulde harrdely passe ye
high ways: stoneinge & beatinge & breakeinge there heads.
And then ye preists began to prophesy again y* within
a halfe yeere wee shoulde bee all putt downe & gonne.
And about a fortnight after I went Into Wana & Ja:
Naylor went with mee & wee stayde over night att a litle
tound a this syde {caled Cockari} & had a meetinge {where
there was one convinced} & after a while there comes a man
with a pistoll: & ye people rann out of doores & {hee caled
60 Forty to One [i652
for mee &} I went out to him & hee snapt his pistoll att
mee but It woulde not goe off: & there was a great bustle
with ye people about him {& some people tooke hold on him
to prevent him from doeinge mischeife} & I was moved in
ye Lords power to speake to him: & hee was soe struck
with ye Lords power y* hee went & hidde himselfe [in a
cellor] {& trembled for feare}.
And soe ye Lords power came over y m all though there
was a great rage in ye Country.
And ye next morninge I went over in a boate to James
Lancasters & assoone as I came to lande there rusht out
about 40 men: with stafes clubbs & ffishinge poles & fell
upon mee with y m beatinge punchinge & thrust mee back-
warde Into ye sea : & when they had thrust mee almost Into
ye sea & I saw they woulde have knockt mee doune there
in ye sea : I stoode uppe & went uppe Into ye midle of y m
againe butt they all layde att mee againe & knockt mee
downe {& mased mee} & when I was doune & came to my
selfe I lookt uppe & I saw Ja: Lancasters wiffe throweinge
stones att my face & J: Lancaster her husbande was lyinge
atoppe of mee to save ye blowes & ye stones off mee 1 .
Soe att last I gott uppe in ye power of God over y m all
& they beate mee doune Into ye boate: & soe Ja: Lancaster
came Into ye boate to mee: & soe hee sett mee over ye
water.
And Ja: Naylor wee saw afterwards y i they was beatinge
of him for whilst they was beatinge off mee hee walkt uppe
Into a feilde & they never minded him till I was gonne &
then they fell upon him & all there cry was kill him kill him.
And when I came on ye other syde off ye water to ye
tounde againe: all ye tounde risse uppe with pitch forkes
fleales & staffes [& mucke hookes] to keepe mee out of ye
tounde & cryed kill him knocke him in ye heade bringe ye
cart & carry him away to ye grave yarde.
And soe they abused mee & guarded mee with all those
weapons a pretty way off out of ye tounde & there [att last
the Lords power beinge over y m all] they left mee.
And then Ja: Lancaster went backe againe to look after
Ja: Naylor: soe I was a lone & came to a ditch of water &
washed mee for they had all dirted mee & wett {& mired}
my cloaths face & handes.
1652] Persecutors Convinced 61
Soe I walkt a matter of three miles to Tho: Huttons 1
where Tho: Lawson ye preist lodged y fc was convinct : & I
coulde harrdly speak to y m when I came in I was soe bruised
& soe I tolde y m where I left Ja: Nailor & they went &
tooke each of y m a horse & went & brought him thither y 1
night.
[And I went to bed but I was soe weake with bruises I
was not able to turne mee] & ye next day they hearinge
of it att Swarthmoore they sent a horse for mee [& as I was
rideinge ye horse knockt his foote against a stone & stumbled
y fc ] it shooke mee soe & pained mee [as Itt seemed worse to
mee then all my blowes my body was soe tortured] : soe I
came to Swarthmoore : & my body was exceedingly bruised.
t/ t/ O t/
And Justice Sawrey & Justice Thompson 2 of Lancaster
graunted foorth a warrant for mee : but Judge fell comeinge
home they did not serve it upon mee: for hee was out of ye
country all this time y fc I was thus abused & cruelly used.
And soe hee sent foorth Warrants Into Wana: to ye
Constables to apprehende all those riotous persons: & some
off y m fledd ye Country: & destruction is come upon many
of y m {since & James Lancasters wiffe came after to bee
convinct & many of those bitter persecutors alsoe: & ye
Judgements of God fell upon some of ye persecutors}.
And Judge ffell askt mee to give him a relation of my
persecution & I tolde him they coulde doe noe otherwise
they was in such a spiritt: & they manifested there preists
fruites & profession & religion: & soe hee tolde his wiffe y fc
I made nothinge of it & spoake as a man y fc had not beene
concerned.
Butt ye Lords power healed mee againe & I went to
Yelland where there was a great meetinge: & there came a
preist in ye Eveninge with his pistoll in his hande under a
pretence to light a pipe of tobacco: & ye maide tolde her
master & hee clappes his handes a both sydes ye doore posts
& tolde him hee should not come in there: & hee lookes
uppe & spyes a great company of men over ye wall : & spyes
on with a muskett & others with stakes.
Butt ye Lord God prevented there bloody designe y fc
they went there ways {& did noe harme}.
And after this I went to Lancaster with Judge ffell to
ye sessions where Jo: Sawrey {aforesaid & Justice Thompson}
62 Charge of Blasphemy [1652
had given foorth a warrant to apprehende mee : soe I
appeared att ye sessions upon ye hearinge of it: but was
never apprehended by there warrant [& there mett with
Collonell West 1 another Justice].
And there appeared against mee 40 preists : & they
chused one preist Marshall 2 of Lancaster to bee there orator:
for two preists sonns & a preist had sworne against mee y*
I had spoaken Blasphemy.
Butt as I was goeinge a longe to Lancaster with Judge
ffell : hee saide to mee hee had never such a matter brought
before him before : & hee coulde not tell well what to doe in
ye busnesse: & then I saide unto him when Paul was
brought before the rulers & ye Jews & preists carne doune
to accuse him & layde many false Charges against him : Paul
stoode still all y fc while: & when they had donne ye
governor {ffestus & Kinge Agrippa} beckoned to him to
speake for him selfe which Paul did & cleered himselfe of all
those false accusations: & soe hee might doe by mee.
And soe when they were sett in there sessions they
hearde all y fc ye preists coulde say & charge against mee: &
there orator y fc sate by : & explained there sayinges.
And when they examined ye one of y m upon his oath
then they examined another: & hee was soe confounded y*
hee coulde not aunswer directly but saide ye other coulde say
it : which made ye Justices say : have you sworne it upon
your oath & now say y t hee can say it & Itt seems you did
not heare those words spoaken {yourselfe though you have
sworne to it} & soe these witnesses was confounded amongst
y m selves [as in ye followinge relation may more fully
appeare].
[Severall plotts & snares ye preists layde against mee &
some of ye Justices y* were in office & many sought after
my life & lay in waite to have murdered mee.
And at last these preists & preists sons forged these
thinges against mee which heere is some of y m : y fc was
taken out of an olde torne booke : att a sessions helde at
Lancaster: 1652.] a
Narrative continued on page 70.
1652] Lancaster Sessions 63
[The examination of George ffox att ye Sessions att
Lancaster before Judge ffell & Coll. West & other
Justices: 1652 1 .
Cor: West: Are you scholar and soe irrationall as to
say That wee were talkeinge and after he said that hee
was equall with god ; sett some face upon what you have
sayd; were you a partie to ye discourse, and can you
remember one parte and forgett annother; hath not this
M r Smith shewed greate zeale, and sayd hee wished it
were in. his power to have disposed of George ffox.
W: If hee had had power hee said that hee would have
made him to have forsaken his profession, and to have
denyed that he had the spirit of god and if hee had had
George ffox in his power hee would have taken away
his life.
Smithe: I deny that I sayd that I would have taken
away his life; But hee was callinge of mee Divele and Child
of Perdition, and I asked him howe I became a divele : and
he said that he was the Judge of the World. And I said
if it were in my power I would have made him recall that
word.
Cor: West: Did hee {say}: I George ffox am ye Judge of
the Worlde.
Rowland Penney to Smithe: Thou said to mee, little
didst thou thinke thou should have seene mee in y* minde;
when thou and I was in Scotland.
...Lawson: Hee said if hee had had him in his power
hee would have taken away his life.
Judge ffell: First yee say that he was equall with god,
and then yee say hee lett fall theise wordes that he was
equall with God.
Judg ffell: To ye second Question That God taught
deceipt.
Robert Withers: Hee spoke against all Teachers, but
God himselfe that teacheth purely and perfectly.
Smithe: Wee were speakeinge of ye Bible and I affirmed
it to be ye word of God and hee asked how I could witnes
it, and I answered by itselfe and hee said that was without,
and I said it was within, because Gods spirit wittnessed
with myne.
64 A Theological Discussion [1652
Judge ffell: Thatt you confesse Gods spirit doth
witnesse {but} where doth it witnesse in ye Churche or
pulpitt: Goe on.
Smith: Upon that hee said God taught deceipt.
Judge ffell: Hee might say thou holds out deceipt.
Justice Sawrey: It was taken notice of by Robert
Whithers, that he sayd god taught deceipt.
Robert Withers: I heard noe such word as I am a
Christian.
Smithe: George spoke theise wordes, and Robert put
forth his hand and said God forgive thee, and after Robert
said hee means this That God teaches to knowe deceipt.
Judge ffell: It is not probable that any such wordes
should followe. Now for a man to say y fc god teaches
deceipt, there is noe dependance upon theise wordes.
Question : What say you to the third Question : That
ye Scriptures....
Smithe: Hee asked mee what ye word was, I had a
Bible... and hee said that was Antichriste.
Atkinson: Hee affirmed y i ye Scriptures were carnall,
and y b it was Antichriste.
Thomas Rawlinson 1 : Hee said The Bible was a declaration
of God.
Smithe: Hee was condemninge & callinge mee divele,
and I asked him how comes thou to iudge soe, and hee said
I am ye Judge of the World, and at that I was much troubled
within mee.
Judg: ffell: And thereupon you would take away his
life {woulde you}.
Smithe: 1 said if I had had power in mee I would have
made him to have renounced theise wordes which were
spoken.
Judge ffell: What say you to y fc that he was as upright
as Christ.
Smithe: That hee said that he was as upright as Christe.
Judg ffell: You are a single Witnesse to that, & that
{hee saide} God taught deceipt you are but a single witnesse
to that also. So to three {of your accusations} heres {but}
a single witnesse onely.
Geo: ffox: That was not soe spoken that I was equall
with God, hee that sanctifyeth and hee that is sanctifyed
1652] " Equall with God" 65
are {all of} one, they are one in ye ffather & ye Sonne, & of
his flesh, & of his bone, this ye scripture doth witnesse, and
yee are ye Sonnes of God, and ye ffather and ye Sonne
are one &c.
Judge jffell: Equality showes Twoe distincte.
Do: Marshall: But he saith they are one they are equall.
J: jffell: But he doth not say That he is equall with God.
D: Marshall: But he saith he y* sanctify eth & them
which are sanctifyed are one they are equall.
Judge jffell: I cannott tell what you should make of that,
the same thinge cannott bee equall.
D: Marshall: Many may bee one.
J: jffell : But they are not equall, onenesse argues unitie,
theres an unitie with God, and where there is an unitie,
there may be equallity.
Answere to ye Question That God taught deceipt.
Geo: jffox: That is false, and was never spoken by mee,
God is pure.
Q: What say you to that that ye Scriptures are
Antichrist.
Geo: jffoxe: That is false. But they which professe ye
Scriptures, and live not in ye life and power of them, as
they did y t gave them forth, that I witnesse to bee
Antichriste.
Question: That he was the Judge of the World.
Answ: Geo:jffox: The saints shall Judge the World, the
Scriptures witnesse it whereof I am one, and I witnesse ye
Scriptures fullfilled.
Question: That hee was as upright as Christe.
Answere: As hee is soe are wee in this present World:
That the Saintes are made the righteousnes of God.
Judge jffell: Hee that sanctify eth & they y* are sancti
fyed are one, they are united.
Cor. West: All this is not to say That he is equall
with God.
Geo.jffox: The ffather and the Sonne are one.
Mich: Altham: I beleeve that he will say That he is
sanctifyed and then hee is equall with God. {Mark this
preist whoe woulde make it to bee blasphemy to say ye
Saintes are santifyed.}
Judge jffell: The words charged are not proved but by
Q. F. 5
66 The Blasphemy Act [1652
a single Wittnesse ; here was a warrant out against him
chardgeinge him to bee guiltie of blasphemie, and here are
none of ye wordes y* he is charged with within the wordes
of the Acte, and I am perswaded many of theise things are
putt upon him.
Geo: ffox : As hee is soe are wee in this present World.
Do: Marshall: Art thou equall with God.
Geo: ffox : My Father and I are one, and as hee is soe
are wee in this present world. {And is not this scripture
speakinge of Christ, for if hee bee in his people is not hee
one with his father.}
James Nayler: Dost thou aske him as a Creature or as
Christ dwellinge in him.
Do: Marsh : I am sorrie that it is not involved within
ye Act, for tis blasphemie it is fitt that it should bee added
to ye Acte.
Cor: West: God hath ye Rule within himselfe, and wee
must iudge accordinge to ye Rule ; and wee are soe in
dulgent in discharginge our dutie, if wee meete with this
or any man within our Rule, that wee should not dare to
meete y* God in ye face to spare him : and therefore I would
not have you goe to conclude that wee will not iudge
accordinge to the Lawe.
Do: Marshall: I professe before yee entred into any
Examinaons, if theise thinges were not within ye Acte,
I am soe satisfyed, That they are soe diametrically against
that which is gods glory, That it is pittie that they are
not in ye Acte. {See how this preist sought for bloode.}
Geo: ffox : I have that spirit dwellinge in mee {of ye
father which speakes to you}.
{Many more words were spoaken which are lost and
torne out of ye booke.} a
Doet: Marshal : They may bee one and not equall.
Ja: Nayler : Freinde is there anythinge sanctified but
ye Sonne, and if nothinge be sanctifyed but ye Sonne, and
ye Sonne beinge one in all, then ye thinge sanctifyed is
equall in all ; And it is not of seedes but of one.
Do: Marshall : That is but one Christe.
a The rest of this page is absent, having, apparently, been cut off
before the words in the last paragraph, which are in the writing of
Thomas Lower, were written.
An Illegal Warrant 67
Ja: Nayler: And y fc one Christ is in all his Saintes.
Justice Sawrey : I conceive theise wordes are proved.
Judge fell : If they were Consider if they bee within
ye Acte : if you have committed an Error tis not good to
insist in it.
Cor: West : The Law is Expressly in Causes of Crimina
tion, That the Examina5one should bee taken at lardge in
paper.
Judge fell: First goe to ye poynte of ye Witnesse,
Whether there bee any more then y fc single man, can you
make no Twoe Witnesses : yee have but one Witnesse and
contradicted with many.
Justice Sawrey : Will you supersede the Warrant.
Judge ffdl: Tis to bee understood that you would con-
forme to act accordinge to the Lawe. I aske this Question,
when yee see you should have Twoe Wittnesses, and yee see
there is but a single Wittnesse to three of the firste And
for my part I thinke your proceedings have beene very illegall
and uniuste ; and contrary to ye Lawe of the Eomans : And
I thinke it was to give Countenance to your proceedings
before that were uniuste : yee see here should bee twoe
Wittnesses, and ye have but one, and yet will persist in it :
And the Act is by the oathe of twoe or more Wittnesses : I
conceive you may consider whether yee have dealt accordinge
to iustice in this or noe : and soe it is cleare the Warrant
which is out is very illegall : and whether this bee a suffi-
tient Wittnesse or noe, a man that said, hee would have
taken away his life, if hee had had him in his power, and
that but one, and there ought to have bene Twoe.
Cor: West: And it may bee remembred too That
M r Altham what hee said to Eobert Withers, how hee
was brought into this busines, hee ] a
l [Geo: fox : I speake not
D: Marshall: Now hee..
J: fell: Will you not ta and he y fc is sa if wee
doe not
Oeo: fox : He y* is ioyne
a Remainder of page has been cut away.
52
68 The Divine in Man [i652
Do: Marshall : I acknowledge it is union
Judge ffell : It is an ea
Geo: fox: That same who reade ye Scr but y fc
which gave there were y fc speakes from hee y*
takes Churches & walkes in
D: Marshall : The wor
Geo:ffox: The wo
Doc: M. : The word
Cor: West : Then any
M r Jacques 1 : The Lett
Cor: ffell: Then he
M r Jaekques : I say
Cor: ffell: Fly not said, then
M r Jaeqs: I say not y fc ed
Cor: West : You ma
Judg: ffell & Cor. West: yee say ye
M r Jaekques : It is
M r Schoolecroft 2 : with which
Cor. West: Joel & ^
M r Jaekques: I propo said the
Judge ffell: Yee
M r Jaekques : The sp
Judg ffell: I see
MaiorRippon: Id upon to ye pa before
cryinge Children without ye
was as a sheepe, dumbe uld seeke peace, and
he had never medled.
within and not soe
they disturbers
ripture and shall whether thou bee a
Antichriste christe they love blies
denyed it uphold such things
some Teachers to whom tribute
nnot M r bee not yee called M r
to ye Scriptures inge but ]
3 [first that he did aferrn that he had the devenety ecen-
shelly in him.
A. for the word esanshally it is a expreshon ot tner one
but that the seants ar the tempells of god & god doeth
dwell in them that i witnes & the criptuer doeth witnes : &
^>
w .
^ , -
&J&*i Iff
I,*-* *1-Wrl
* , V .^r^* i. ?! ^ > F tfC
^ v L^y rV-4 ? r viL ^%
K* 5^ r >J I s^^vj^iM^
M
.i.^?IH-
1
^
t.
v
.
I
7
f-S."5 -I r MfV^P^ *-
VD ^.
!
-y ar^-" ^
<*>
va
A
5
j
a
Or\
K
?A
1652] Sacraments and the Scriptures 69
if god doeth dwell in them the devenety dwelleth in them
& the criptuer seath ye seants shall be maed partakers
of the devin nator this i witnes (2) corn 6: 16. epef 4: 6.
2 peter 1: 4.
2. boeth baptisme & the lords super ar unlowfull.
A. as for the word unlowfull it was not spoken by mee
but the sprinkling of enfants i deny & ther is no criptuer
that speaketh of a sakrement but the baptismee that is in
krist with one spreat in to won body that i confes & the
bread that the seants breake is the body of krist & the cup
that the drinke is the bloud of iesus krist this iwitnes
glath (Gal.) 3: 27. ihon 6: 53 8. (2) coran 10: 16.
3. he did desward men from reading the criptuers teeling
them that it wos carnall.
A. for des warding men from reading the criptuers it is
foles for the wos given to be read as the are & not to be
mad a trade upon but the leter is carnall and keelleth but
that which gave it forth is spreatall & eternall & giveth life
& this i witnes (2) coran 3. 6.
1. that hee wos eqall with god.
A. that wos not so spoken but hee that sanktifieth &
the that ar sanktified are all of won in the father & the
sonn & that ye ar the sonns of god & the father & the sonn
is won {& wee} of his fleash & of his bons this the criptuer
doeth witnes hebrews 2: 11. 5 fles 30 (? Eph. 5. 30).
2. that god tought deseat.
A. that is foles & never wos so spoken by mee.
3. that the criptuers wos ante krist.
A. that is foles {& was never spoken by mee} but the
which profes the criptuers Sperit & live not in the &
pouer of them as the did which gave them forth that
iwitnes to be ante krist.
4. that hee wos the iudge of the world.
Aneser : the seants (s)hall iudge the world the criptuer
doeth witnes wherof i am won & i witnes the criptuer fulled
(1) coran 6: 2: 3.
5. that hee wos as upright as krist.
An : thoes words wos not so spoken by mee but as hee
is so ar wee in this present world & that the saintes are
mad the rightns of god that the seants are won in the
father & the sonn that wee shall be like him the i of ihon
70 The Testimony of Colonel West [less
ye 2 a that all teaching which is given forth by krist is to
bring the seants to perfection even to the mesuer statuer &
fuellnes of krist this the criptuer doeth witnes & this i doeth
witnes to be fuelfled (i) ihon 4: 17. epeshons 4: 1 13.
when wonce you deny the trouth then you ar given over
to belevef lyes & speake evell of them which leaveth in the
trouth & youer enveing & lies lay upon them the righteous
woes imdes b are evenus & soes the sead of envi & makes
others envies o ther for trembell be for the Lord ye hipkrits
& mind the light of god in you which shew you the deaseat
of youer hearts & obe that ther youer teacher desobeing
that ther is your condamnashon hating that light yoou hat
krist.]
And soe I cleered all these thinges which they charged
against mee {as aforesaid} & severall other people y* were att
ye meetinge when they sayde I spoake those words they
charged against mee : they wittnessed y fc ye oath they had
taken was altogeather false & y fc noe words like those they
had sworne against mee was spoaken by mee at ye meetinge :
for Indeed there was att y fc meetinge most of ye serious men
of y* syde of ye country att y i time whoe were att ye
sessions & had hearde mee att the meetinge aforesaid & att
other meetinges.
And Coll: West stoode uppe whoe had longe beene
weake & blesst ye Lord & saide hee never saw soe many
sober people & good faces togeather all ye days of his life :
& saide y fc ye Lorde had healed him y* day & saide George
if thou hast anythinge to say to ye people thou maist freely
declare it in ye open sessions.
And soe I was moved of ye Lord to speake : & assoon as
I begann preist Marshall there orator goes his ways : & this
I was moved to declare y* ye scriptures was given foorth by
ye spiritt of God & all people must first come to ye spiritt
of God in y m selves by which they might know God & Christ
of whom ye prophetts & ye Apostles learnt : & by ye same
spiritt they might know ye holy scriptures & ye spiritt
which was in y m y* gave y m foorth : soe y fc spirit of God
Perhaps the reference is to 1 John 3. 2.
b Perhaps whose mindes Neither writing nor meaning is clear.
c Narrative continued from page 62.
1652] A Day of Everlasting Salvation 71
must bee in y m y fc comes to knowe y m again e by which
spiritt they might have felloweshippe with ye Son & ye
father & with ye scriptures & one with another {and without
it they cannot knowe neither God nor Christ nor ye
scriptures nor have felloweshippe one with another}.
And I had noe sooner spoaken these words but there
was 6 preists burst out Into a passion {y* stoode behinde my
backe} & there was one preist Jacqes saide y* ye letter & ye
spiritt was Inseperable.
And I saide if soe then every one y* has ye letter has ye
spiritt & they may then buy ye Spiritt with ye letter of ye
scriptures.
Upon this Judge ffell & Coll West reproved ye preists
seeinge there darknesse : & tolde y m y* then they might carry
ye spiritt in there pocketts {as they did ye scriptures} & then
all ye preists rusht out in a rage against ye Justices because
they coulde not have there bloody ends {upon mee seeinge
they was soe confounded}.
And then Judge ffell spoake to {Justice} Sawrey &
Thompson aforesaid & superseded there warrant & showed
y m ye errors of it [as folio weth a ].
And multitudes of people praised God y* day : for it was
a Joyfull day: & there was Justice Benson there out of
Westmorelande whoe was convinct & major Rippan 1 whoe
was maior of ye tounde of Lancaster {whoe was convinct
alsoe} : & it was a day of everlastinge salvation to hundreds
of people for ye Lord Jesus Christ ye .way & free teacher
was sett uppe: & his everlastinge gospell & word of life
preacht {over ye heades of ye preists & such money preachers}.
And soe ye sessions broake uppe 2 : & severall freindely
people & professors: spoake to ye preists in there Inns & in
ye streets : & ye Lord opned y fc day aboundans of mouths
to speake his worde {of life} unto y m .
And they fell like an old rotten house & ye cry was
amongst all people fair & nigh y fc ye Quakers had gott ye
day {& y* ye preists was falen}.
And many was made ministers of ye everlastinge worde
of life {& of ye gospell at} y fc time {&, they preacht it freely}.
And Tho: Briggs 3 was convinct y fc day & declared against
a No list of errors is now attached to the MS.
72 In a Fast [1652
his preist Jacques: for before y* time hee had discoursed
with a freinde concerneinge truth : which freinde {one
J: Lawson} helde perfection: & Tho: Briggs saide unto him
dost thou holde perfection & hee uppe with his hande &
{woulde have} strucke ye freinde a box in ye eare but att
this day this T. Bjriggs} came to bee convinct & became
after a faithfull minister of ye gospell & stands to this day.
And I was in a fast this time & I was not to eate untill
this worke of God was accomplished : & soe ye Lords power
was wonderfully sett over all: & gave mee dominion over all
to his glory {and his gospell was freely preacht y fc day over
ye heades of 40 hirelinge preists} & I stayde two or 3 days
in Lancaster afterwards & had some meetinges: butt ye
rude {& baser sorte} people plotted togeather to have drawne
mee out of ye house & to have throwne mee over Lancaster
bridge but ye Lord prevented y m .
And then they Invented another stratagem after a
meetinge was donn in Lancaster they brought doune a
distracted man [in his wastcoate] & another man [in his
wastecoatj with a company of birch rodds bounde togeather
{like besomes} for y m to have whippt mee with y m : but I
was moved to speake to y m in ye Lords mighty power which
chained him & y m : which brought him like a lambe & I bid
him throwe his rodds Into ye fire & burne y m & hee did {soe
& I made him confesse to truth & ye light of Christ Jesus
&} soe ye Lords power came over all : soe as wee parted in
love & peace."
[{And about this time G: ff: gave foorth a paper Con
cerneinge ye worde & another to y m y* professe ye Scriptures
to bee there rule as folio weth.}]
[G: F: concerning the word. 1652 1 .
In the begining was ye word, and none knowes this
word, but who are come to ye begining. Now all people
and Priests : who can witness this ? who are come hither ?
who are come hither into the begining ? what our hands
have handled and what our eyes have seene, what was from
a Narrative continued on page 76.
1652] "Concerning the Word" 73
ye begining : ye word of life, this declare we unto you :
who knowes this word are pure, are made cleane through ye
word, are washed by ye word, are sanctified by ye worde,
are cut to pieces by ye word, and are divided asunder by
ye word, and this word is a hammer, beating downe every
thing y* ye seed of God may arrise upp, and come to ye
begining, and all who know this word are come into ye be
gining, it is as a fyre burning up all corruptions, and this
is ye word y fc is nigh thee in thy heart ; and this is ye word
which all ye prophets spoke from ; and this is ye word y*
became flesh, and dwelt among us, (saith ye Saints) : And
this is ye word of life which ye Apostles preached, ye sub
stance of all figures tipes and shadowes, and this is ye word
which makes all ye Saints one, y* reconciles their hearts
togather to ye Lord ; this is ye word by which all things
stands and remaines, and are upheld by his word and power,
and this is ye word which doth endure for ever, all who are
borne againe of ye Imortall Seed witnesses this word with
me; and now ye word is made manifest ye same as ever
was, which gathers together ye hearts of people, which
divides assunder ye pretious and the vile, and of twaine
hath made one, and this is ye word y* lets see y fc all flesh
is grasse, and this is ye word which was before any Letter
was written; and all who have not this word, puts ye Letter
for ye word, and are in Cains nature, envying and murdering,
runing on swiftly {to evill}, and Cains sacrifice God doth not
accept, and all ye preaching, and all ye praying, and all
your reading, and all your singing and all your expounding,
and all your churches and all your worships, and all your
Teachers and all your Baptismes which are invented from
ye Letter ye Carnall minde invents them ; all this is for ye
fyre, your profession must be gathered together in bundles,
and cast into ye fyre for they are the workes of ye flesh ;
proceeding from ye first nature, and all you who Live in
ye first nature not knowing ye word of God, but only the
Letter ; yee crucifye ye Just and ye gets up into ye Justs
place ; quenching ye Light within you ; ye deceit trans
forming in his place ; as Cain did when he slew his Brother
Abell. He got up in his brothers place and said am I my
Brothers keeper. Soe all you who crucifies ye Just : yee are
as Cain, for it is ye righteous y* God doth accept ye second
74 Spiritual Freedom [i652
birth; as you read ; Cains sacrifice God did not accept, but
Abell ye second God did accept, for he was righteous, and
Cain slew Abell because Abells workes was righteous ; and
Cains was evill. Now all you who are in ye first birth are
Cain, in envy, manslayers, and your sacrifice God doth not
accept : now all that comes to ye word comes before Cain
was : all ye Prophets of ye Lord spoke from this word, and
then ye false Prophets got ye true Prophets forme of words :
but had not ye word, then the Lord sent his Prophets which
had his word, to cry against the Prophets that speake a
divination of their owne brain, & steale my word from their
neighbor : and use their tongues and saith : the Lord saith,
when ye Lord hath not spoken unto them, and as it was
then, soe it is now, all ye Teachers of ye world speakes a
divination of their owne braine, and not from ye mouth of
ye Lord : ye Lord is against them : now I witness it by ye
same word as ever was, and soe they draw people unto
ye Letter, and tells them it is ye word, and to hearken
to them, who speake their vaine Imaginations of it, soe they
beare rule by their meanes over ye poore people, which ye
Lord was ever against : for God is free, and will have his
people soe, and his gosple is a free gospell & his mercies
are free : & his grace is free, his gosple is free to every
creature and his grace is free to every creature : his grace
is not ye Letter, ye Gosple is not ye Letter, his glad
tidings is not ye Letter, for many poore troubled soules
may be under death and condemnation and have ye Letter,
& these teachers of ye Letter, and there lye wounded but
no peace, till Jesus Christ come ye glad tidings ye free
Gosple, then will you witness with me y* ye Gosple is a
free Gosple, and not to be bought and sould for money,
and ye grace of God is free : hoe every one y* thirsteth,
come to ye water of life, he y* hath no money, come buy
wine and milke without money and without price, and
hearken diligently y* your soules may Live, and I will make
an everlasting Covenant with you : even ye sure mercies
of David.
Soe all people consider, and see if you can witnesse
your soules raised out of death, and you brought into
this everlasting Covenant, soe who can witness their soules
brought out of death, are come in to ye begining, but thou
1652] The Authority of Scripture 75
that hast nothing but ye Letter, and art spending thy
money and thy Labour and not satisfyed, spending thy
money for y fc which is not bread, thou art following
ye greedy dumbe doggs, which can never have enough.
Baalls priests which have forsaken ye right way, goeing
after ye error of Baalam, runing after ye way" of Cain
who loved ye wages of unrighteousnes, who ever slew ye
just in ye particular, despiseth ye birth right* Cain like
slaying the righteous, and who slayes it in ye particular,
ye same nature slayes it in ye Generall where ye righteous
seed guides and rules & is ye head, soe ye generation of
Cain is but one : which is ye first birth ; Now loving ye
Light it will guide, it will guide you from all men y fc you
need never looke at man more.
G.ffi]
[To all y* professe ye Scripture to bee if rule. 1652 1 .
To all you who professe the scriptures to bee your
Rule & your touchstone to try with all, who fine men
becase the will not put of there hatts at your sisies, &
at your sessions, & at your cowarts ; when did ever any
of ye heathenish kings, or magistrates, in all ages set up
such lawes.
Reede the Chronickles throughout & give an example,
also you may shew yourselves to out stripp all ye heathenish
kings.
Where did ever Mosies, who was the Judge of all
Israeli, comand any people y fc came before him to put of
there hatts & fine them if they would not bow to him ;
where did ever Sullamon who was A kinge comand any
to put of there hatts and fine them if they would not doe
it, where did ever David who was A kinge comand any
likewise to put of there hatts which came beefore him & fine
them if they would not doe it, here you may see how you
out stripp all ye heathenish kings, who had not Receved
ye law from god, but who had Receved the law from god, it
said, thou shalt not bow downe to any, But the lord god :
though there was A time y* Jacob bowed to Esau, & there
was A time y fc Israeli bowed to Pharoah, & there was A
a An ancient copy of this piece has the interlinear insertion Esau &
76 "Sauls Errand to Damascus" [1652
time when Pharoah was distroyed, & his host, and Isarell
songe over Pharoah, must Isarell bow then to Pharoah when
he is distroyed, then came ye comand from god, when
Isarell was brought out of Egipt sayinge thou shalt not
bow, & hee y* doth Respect persons transgresseth this law,
many will bow to great men who have fine apparell & A
great deall of ye earth, but not to A pore man, who hath not
fine apparell, & there hee is A transgressor of ye law who
Respects persons & comitts sin, & there was A time, that
Hamon made gallowes, & who would not bow might bee
hanged, & hee who had Receved the Righteous law, could
not bow to him, and there was A time that Hamon was
hanged himselfe, there was A time when Nebucednezer
made an Image, & all y* would not bow was cast into
ye fire furnace, & there was A time that his kingdome
might bee Rent, whose head was gould, whose brests was
silver, whose bellye was brasse whose leggs was iron & feete
part iron part clay, ye stone cut out of ye mountaine with
out hands, struck at ye feete of ye Image, & hee comes
to bee heuen downe with ye stone cutt out of ye mountaine
without hands, & Nebucadnezer canot understand his
dreame, but Daniell who was A trembeler understood thee
stone, & saw ye kindone & dominon y* endures for ever,
& saw his kingdome who would have had all to have bowed
to him come as ye grasse to wither away, soe all carnall
ones who stumbeles at this corner stone {take warninge
att this}.]
a [!652. And when ye Justices had beene in a rage
against mee at Lancaster & sevrall petitions they had
drawne uppe both in Westmoreland & Lancasheere & sent
to ye parlament: as you may see in ye booke entituled
truths defence l & ye aunswer to ye Westmorland petitions
& in Sauls errand to Damascus with his perchett of letters 2 .]
But when ye preists saw y* they was overthrowne at
ye sessions att Lancaster {as aforesaid} some of ye preists &
envyous Justices Informed ye Judge Windham 3 against mee:
& in ye open Courte ye Judge made a speech against mee
att Lancaster assises: & Coll West beinge Clarke of ye
a Narrative continued from page 72.
1652] Letter to Justice Sawrey 77
Assises ye Judge Commanded him to graunt out a warrant
for mee: & hee spoake to ye Judge boldely of my Innocency:
& ye Judge commanded him againe either to write a
warrant or goe off his seate : & hee tolde ye Judge plainely
hee woulde not doe it hee shoulde doe it himselfe if hee
woulde: & hee woulde offer uppe all his estate & his body
for mee: soe hee stoppt ye Judge & ye Lords power came
over all: & stoppt ye envy both in preists & justices.
And att night I comeinge into Lancaster at ye assises &
hearinge of a warrant y fc was to bee graunted out for mee :
I judgd it better to profer my selfe then they to seeke mee :
I went to Judge ffells & Coll: Wests chamber & assoone as I
came in they smiled att mee & Coll: West said what was I
come Into ye Dragons mouth : soe I walkt uppe & downe ye
tounde & noe one questioned mee nor medled with mee &
stayde there till ye Judge went out of tounde.
And thus ye Lords blessed power y fc is over all carryed
mee over all & gave mee dominion over all in his glorious
worke & service for his great names sake. a
g f to John saro (Sawrey) the greatest percuter in the north
of ingland this tvas sent to him 1652 whoe after was
drounded l
ffreind
Thou was the Beginner of all the persecution in the
north. Thou was the Beginner & Maker of all the people
tumultuous. Thou was the first stirrer of them up against
the righteous seede, the truth of God, and was the first
strenghener of the hands of evill doers against the innocent
and harmlesse, and thou shalt not prosper. Thou wast the
first stirrerr up of Strikers, stoners, persecutors, stockers,
mockers and Imprisoners in the north, and of Revilers,
Slanderers, raylers, and false accusers and Scandallers. This
was thy worke and this thou stirredst up, soe thy fruites de
clares thy spirit [what is stirred up, that before mencioned],
instead of stirringe up the pure mindes in people, thou hast
stirred up the wicked, malicious and envious, and taken hand
with the wicked: thou hast made the peoples mindes envious,
Narrative continued on page 79.
78 A Strong Indictment [i652
up and downe the Countrey; this was thy worke; but God
hath shortned thy dayes, and limitted thee, and set thy
bands, and broken thy Jaws, and discovered thy Religion to
the simple and Babes, and brought thy deeds to the light ;
How is thy Habitation fallen, and become the Habitation of
divels, & how is thy beauty lost, & thy glorie withered, how
hast thou shewed thy end that thou hast but served God
with thy lips, and thy heart far from him, and thou in the
hypocricy : how hath the forme of thy Teachinge declared it
selfe to bee the markes of the false prophets, whose fruites
declares it selfe, by there fruites they are knowne : how are
the wise men turned backward : read thy dayes, and take
notice with whom thou hast taken part with all, that in thy
conscience will tell thee, (the Ancient of dayes) this con
sider, how hath thy Zeale appeared to bee the blind Zeale,
a persecutor, which Christ and his apostles gave noe such
command to his to follow. How hast thou strenghtend the
hands of the evill doers, & beene a praise to them, & not to
them that doe well, how like a mad man and a blind man
didst thou turne thy Sword backwards against the saints
against whom there is noe law, how willt thou bee gnawed
and burned one day when thou feeles the flame, & hast the
plagues of god powred upon thee, when thou beginnest to
gnawe thy tongue, for the paine, because of the plague ;
thou shalt have thy Reward accordinge to thy worke; thou
canst not escape, the lords righteous Judgments shall finde
thee out, the witness in thy conscience shall answer it.
How hast thou caused the heathen to blaspheme, and gone
on with the Mulltitude to do evill, & ioyned hand in hand
with the wicked, how is thy latter end worse then thy
beginriinge, that art come with the dogge to bite [and
devoure], thou art turned a wolfe to devoure the Lambs :
how hast thou discovered thy selfe to bee a man more fitt to
bee in a place to be nurtured, then to bee put in a place to
nurtur : how was thou exalted and puffed up with pride : &
now how art thou fallen downe with shame, that thou
comest to be covered with that which thou stirred up &
brought forth, Let not John Sawrey take the words of
god in his mouth, till hee bee Reformed, Let him not take
his name in his mouth till hee depart from iniquity : let him
not make a proffession, (hee and his Teacher) of the Saints
1652] "To ye Longe Parlament" 79
words, except they doe intend [at the Markett Crosse] to
proclaime themselves hypocrites, whose lives shewe another
then the Saints [whoe is proclaimed theire and everywhere] ;
whose Church did make it selfe manifest to bee a cage of
unclean birds, that they have the forme of Godlinesse ; and
not^the power whoe have made them that bee in the power
theire derision, youre by word and youre talke at youre
ffeasts, & soe the unsavor the country about have smeld,
and the unchristian Cariage ; of whom all that feare god
have beene ashamed, and to them thou hast beene agreife :
in the day of account thou shalt know it in the day of con-
demnagon; thou was mounted up, and set thy nest on high
but never got higher than the ffowles, & now art runn with
the ffbxes & ffallen into the earth, that ye earthlynesse and
Covetousnesse hath swallowed thee up, and thy Conceited-
nesse would not carry thee through, in whom was found the
selvish principle hee hath blinded thy eye and thy backe
must bee bowed downe alwaies, thy Table is become a
snare.
G: ff:
"And this persecutinge Jo: Sawrey att last was drouned
[& ye vengans of God overtooke ye other Justice Tompson y t
hee was strucke with ye deade palsey upon ye bench &
carryed away off his seate {& dyed}]. b
[{And about this time G: if: gave foorth a paper to ye
longe parlament & ye officers of ye army & another to ye
generall & oncers of ye army & heades of ye nation: &
another to ye worlde & another to preist Tatham & others
as folio weth.}]
[g: ff: to ye longe parlament & ofaers of ye army. 1652 1 .
To All the Magistrates and them in authority in these
nations and ye dominions thereunto appertaineing for them
to read this.
Yee Magistrates yee rulers who have knowne the power
Narrative continued from page 77.
b Narrative continued 011 page 103.
8o Watchfulness and Humility [1652
of ye lord in giveing of you dominion below : keepe low :
least yee abuse the power that yee once tasted of & waite
for wisdome ye wisdome of god that in it & with it yee
may be ordered to ye glory of god & not abuse his power
for the mighty day of ye lord hath been seen in this age
& hath brought forth much to his glory in giveing you
victory over much & throwne downe much & sett yee
above much y fc them that ye power of ye lord hath thrown
downe of ye power of ye lord they may take notice now
yee that have knowne this power the power of ye lord be
not lifted up least ye same power throw you downe that
hath throwne others downe befor you for ye same power
throwes downe that which is exalted as befor it did.
Be not high minded but feare & be watchful 1 unto prayer
least yee run into wantonnes & cry aha your owne hands
hath done this & ye other I have done & this I have
done & soe boast & take glory to your selves, & soe robb
god of his honour and honour one another, such god will
staine their honour & glory & deface it & bring it into
contempt and overthrow it with ye same power he over
threw his enimies befor the same power overthrowes that
who are Joyned together (as a harlot) & make yee to knowe
that he raigiies ye ruler of heaven and earth the creator
of heaven & earth whose power is dreadfull, whose power
is dreadfull in overturning shakeing downe removing &
defaceing & takeing ye glory to himselfe & ye honour to
whome it belongs & ye feare to whome it belongeth therfor
boast not yourselves none of you but be watchfull and
meeke & learne ye true humility which goes befor ye
honour for it is an honour for a king to find out a mater
& search it out & lett there not be an eye in none of you
nor an eare amongst none of you .that will respect persons
or have persons respected for in such cases there will be
a will that is brikle earthly changable wanting ye patience
to Judge rightly selfish & stubornenes & preiudice & sideing
to perties more then to truth & right Judgment is blinded
in these & ye true measure is wanting & ye true weight
to weigh withall & ye true measure to measure withall
while there is preiudice in ye officers Judges Justices or
rulers whilst he is passionate out of ye humblenes & humillity
out of ye mercie out of ye patience in ye willfullnes in ye
1652] Righteous Judgement 81
stubornenes sturdynes highmindednes minding ye persons
respecting that under this doth ye Just grone & under this
doth ye Just feell ye weight which feells ye want of ye true
measure & cryes for ye true measure & putts up petitions
to ye lord who heres and answers the cryes of the oppressed
& removes the oppressor & brings him to shame & contempt
though for a time he hath a day of honour & glory but such
ye lord of glory there day doth shorten often in turneing
them out & cutting them off bringing his righteous
Judgments upon them who rightly hath not Judged such
fod measures their wayes god gives to them measure &
ust weight according to their workes therfor all yee
rulers of ye earth be awakened with ye measure of god
be awakened to righteousnes & to ye measure of god all
take heed to give your minds up to god wherby yee may
stand all in gods Counsell to receive that from god which
shall never be shaken wherby with it yee may answere
that of god in every man & be to ye lord a praise & a terror
to ye nations aboute yee for true Justice & Judgment being
sett up & being in the hands of such as have ye true
measure to reach that of god in every man then that of
god in every man shall answere his measure & haveing ye
true weight to weigh things aright that of god in every
man shall wittnes his weight to be Just & his measure not
to shorte for he gives to every man his due & every man
his weight here is equitty here ye righteous is glad ye
righteous^ reioyceth ye evill doer y<> raigneth which is a
terror to it from ye lord god of heaven & "earth I am moved
to charge all to be meeke to be humble to be patient & not
to be rash nor to be heady nor to be feirce but to be gentle
& feare befor ye lord god wherby you may receive his
wisdome that in all Countries wherever yee come where
yee are Judges Justices rulers & magistrates yee may be
a praise in ye Country where yee are & where ever yee
come & a good savour to ye lord god answering that of
god in every man which will exercise the consience towards
god & towards man for consience sake & not for wrath
that all may come subiect to ye higher marke ye higher
power which is above that power that abode not in ye
truth but is out of ye truth out of ye life which is
the light & that is ye power of darknes & there is ye
G. F.
82 The Higher Power [1652
spirituall wickednes & there is ye rulers of darkenes out
of ye truth which is out of the light that doth enlighten
every man that cometh into ye world the light that every
man is enlightened withall that cometh into ye world will
wittnes to him ye higher power who a terror to him is if
he doe evill & soe yee all knowing & comeing into ye higher
power to which ye soule must be subiect.
Yee that are come to this yee are in that that is above
ye spirituall wickednes that is above ye rulers of darkenes
of ye world yee come to be on topp of all in ye whole world
yee will be a dread & terror to all ye world yee will be
in ye higher power yee will reach over nations tongues
kindreds people & languages and sound a dread & terror
over them all yee will be in ye higher power higher then
ye powers of darkenes higher then the spirituall wickednes
higher then all ye heathenish gods & rulers higher then the
rulers of darkenes in the highest places of ye world and
them all on top of them all & chaines them all & answers
that of god in all & the fashions of it ye lusts of it
which wars against ye soule marke which against the soule
warrs {it Judges} therfor whose soule soever is subiect to ye
hio-her power above the power of him that abode not in ye
truth none of them that be here doth ye lust of ye divell
that is out of ye truth but they are in ye power above him
ye higher power which chaines overturnes brings downe
brings under putts downe all ye powers of darkenes ye
spirituall wickednes who are in ye higher power they are
in the throne of god & they be in that which is honourable
& in that which doth remaine they be in that which limitts
and stopps & setts bonds to that which is out of ye higher
power which comes under the Chaine ye bridle ye Yoake
ye gage ye rule which would destroy devoure teare to
peeces ye higher power over that hath dominion & all that
warrs against ye soule to which ye soule must be subiect &
where this rules there is peace & ye burden is taken of ye
Inocent reioyceth ye simplicity is glad ye righteous praiseth
& magnifieth god where this rules & where this rules such
as be in it they knowe the kingdome of ye most high
ruleing in men & his dominion hath noe end & his scepter
of righteousnes & his throne is exalted & ye kingdome
where there is noe end knowne seene & inJoyed who be in
1652] Light and Power from Christ 83
this be in the honourable power throne dominion which
hath noe end which moves throwes down & shakes all ye
contrary which power reacheth to the seed of god & to that
of god in every man who is here him cometh to knowe who
upholds all things by his worde & power & comes under
ye goverment of ye lord Jesus Christ & are ye help
magistrats for him who hath all power in heaven & earth
in his hand given to him whose kingdome is now sett up &
setting up to whome all glory is given I will not give it to
another saith ye lord god but to his sonn & such as are
here they be in the higher power they seeks ye honour
onely that comes from god & honours ye son & ye father
such as receives honour one of another & honour themselves
receive honour from men be such as be without the un-
beleiveing not under Christs goverment therfor waite all in
ye light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withall
that with ye light yee may see Christ Jesus from whence
it comes & receive power & may receive power from Christ
who hath all power in heaven & earth given to him which
if yee have ye light & doe not beleive in it which yee are
enlightned withall which light letts you see marke ye
light letts you see your deeds whether they be wrought
in god or noe ye light doth lett yee see that comes to
Christ him by whome ye world was made befor it was
made this light will lett you see whether your workes be
wrought in god but hateing this light which letts see it
will be your condemnation soe stopp not ye eare against
that which letts you see what you see what you have been
& tells yee what yee have done & tells ye what yee have
said & tells yee what wayes yee have walked in & what
actions yee have acted & what deeds yee have comitted stop
not ye eare against y fc but lett ye eare be open to that
least yee remaine in ye uncercumcised & unconverted state
& ^ ye unhealed state in ye transgression strangers from ye
life of god his covenant of light life & of peace therfor close
not your eye which letts you see your words your wayes
your actions for not closeing ye eye not stopping ye eare ye
eye open ye eare open gods Counsell is heard god secretts
is received out of ye transgression you come & healling yee
wittnes of ye wisdome & ye secretts of ye lord god & ye
renewing of your minde you will here come to wittnes &
62
84 The Ideal Magistrate [1652
that stirred & brought up y* bringeth to stand in ye Counsel!
of ye lord god & to doe his will & ye eye being unclosed to
that which letts you see & ye eare being unstopt to that
which cryes to ye lord ye lords voice is heard which keepeth
you tender & from hardnes of hearte & to you this is ye
worde of ye lord god & with y fc yee answere y fc of god in
every man, this shall stand for a wittnes to yee or against
yee & yee that have knowne ye power of god take heed of
getting out of it & then that nature which is gone out of
it setts up such in authoritty as ye power hath throwne
downe which are out of it least ye lord god sweep you both
away with his power who Joyneth to that which ye power
of ye lord formerly hath overthrowne ye oppressors which
woulde have raigned which ye lord overthrew & would not
have him to raigne therfor ye lord layd it as ye dust & as
ye ground with his power therfor keepe yee in y fc power
& if any of them come into repentance & doe accknowledge
ye power which hath throwne them downe & removed &
converted them then yee are in unity then yee are one m
that which makes plain ye way of god & layeth downe
mountaines y 1 ye lord alone may be exalted & his house
established on top of ye mountaines & none is worthy to
have ye name of a magistrate that is proude pevish selfish
Crabbed or that is wilfull or wicked or y* is heady or high-
minded for ye higher power is to chaine such from their
Intents and mischeivious ends that they would doe & wronge
the Inocent with their unrighteous Intents & such as touching
Judgment are blind that be perverse & full of ambition &
pride such forgetts god & he is not in their thoughts these
feell not ye burden of ye oppressed these feell not ye burden
that ye Inocent beares & grones under for such as be there be
in that nature that burdens ye Just in particuler & in ye
Generall befor whose eyes ye feare of God is not who
makes a prey upon ye Just of whome ye lords eye behoulds
who should be a terror to ye evill doer & a prayse to them
that doe well which they all be that be in ye higher power
befor whose eye is ye feare of god whose eye they behould
that watcheth over y m ye Allmighty with whom they
have peace in acting things that is righteous that of god
in every man answereing.
Now as Consenting preists & teachers who will not
1652] Preachers for Money 85
preach without a sum of money of whome they looke for it
of you & with petitions to you come or send which them
selves have not heard ye voice of ye lord the worde of ye
lord such as cornes with petitions & have not heard ye voice
of ye lord nor his worde which was in ye begining are to
stand by ye worde commands them silence as it was in ye
dayes of Jeremiah such ye higher power silenceth that
usseth their tongues whose doubdts is for outwarde main
tenance & takeing thought for that such are in ye state of
ye Jentiles ye kingdomes of ye world & seeking for that &
not for ye kingdome of god & ye righteousnes of it first which
ye other things follow if this were found & a worde from ye
lord received & his counsaill stood in people would be turned
from their evill wayes there would be noe want for outwarde
things but if they be preists & readers of ye law to ye
people then they must have their pullpitt of wood & a
thinge made ready to their hand & boast in other mens
labours but this was not ye practise of ye Apostles but
such are excluded out of that kingdome ye boasters are
from their owne measures with which they should reach
that of god in every man & such be they who would have
ye mouth stopped & would stopp ye mouth of them that
have ye voice of ye lord Imediatly from his mouth &
speakes his worde by which all things was made without
money or prise freely.
Soe as yee all magistrates be kept in ye feare of god
& in ye higher power in ye true understanding & true
wisdome which is pure gentle from above easy to be en
treated it will bring you to ye true Instructions & there
being in y m it will bringe you to enstruct all others where
ever you come or be in ye wisdome wayes of god peace
righteousnes & truth & meekenes & patience wherby yee
may all come to love as ye family of god and noe frowardnes
nor bitternes but with wisdome & order rule ye Creatures
by which they were Created by which they must all be
Governed to ye glory of god ye Creator with ye wisdome by
which all thinges are Created. G. if.]
86 Letter to Priest Burton [1652
\To Burton & Lamport & Ottways brother from
G: ff: 1652\
Ye word of ye Lord to y ee O Burton 2 .
I was moved of ye lord to come into thy asemblie at
Sedburge I found y ee in ye chiefest seat in ye asemblie : in
ye steps of ye fareses which was against Christ as y u may
read Math 23, one y* stands praying in ye sinagougs which
our lord Jesus Christ cryd woe against who art one y fc would
quench ye spirit which ye minister of god said quench not
ye spirit & prove all things & thou cryd out to ye stocks
with him {shew som scripture for y fc or else confese thou
art in Cains way} here thou hast shewed to all ye people y u
art one of y m y* goes in Cains way as y u may read Peter 22. a
& Jud: {& art one of y m y* goes for gifts & rewards in
Balaams way ye wages of unrighteousnes} & here with ye
scriptures y u art Judged & ye light condemned whose
mouth must be stopt an evill beast a slow belly minds earthly
thinges, as ye apostle speaks of, who lives in ye lust & filth,
as y u manifests it who art for condemnation & destruction
who darst not say all thinges ye apostles said if any thinge
be revealed to him y fc stands by (1 cor: 14: 30) let ye first
hould his peace & then crye cary him to stocks, o blush y u sot
& be ashamed & cover thy lips & stop thy mouth for ever
mencioning ye Apostles practice, who art one y* beares rule
by thy means which ye lord sent Jer(emiah) to cry against
Jer: 5. & ye people love to have it soe who art one y* seeks
for thy gain from thy quarter, a greedie dumb dog which
ye lord sent Esia to cry against & ye hirelinge which ye
Lord sent Mica to cry against & such a one as ye lord sent
Ezekell to cry against which makes a pray upon ye people
& devoures y m , & heere thou art found amongst y m which
ye lord sent his holy profets to cry against: & heere with
ye Scripture y u art Judged & all people here seartch these
scripturs & you will find this man amongst those which ye
lord sent his profets & his sonn to cry against I doe comand
& charge in ye presents of ye livinge god give over de-
ceving ye people, to y fc in thy conscience I speake : I am
a This may be intended for 2 Peter 2.
1652] Letter to Priest Lampitt 87
ye light of ye world & doth enlighten every one y fc cometh
into ye world saith Christ, y l light which shewes y ee sinne
& evill is from Christ, it will let y ee see y u art a stranger
to ye life y fc gave forth ye scripturs & this is thy con
demnation ye light, & to y ee this is ye word of god {when
y u art in thy torment} remember y u was warned in thy
life, now while y u hast time prise it, when y u art in ye
lake Dives his end then remember me.]
x [Ye word of ye lord to all you people y 1 houlds up such a
decever before mencioned read ye scripturs before mencioned
& with them prove him try him, & then see whether you
will owne such as ye lord sent his profits apostles sonne to
cry against or ye profits sonne & apostles, to ye light which
Christ Jesuse hath enlightned you with all in yo r consciences
I speake {y t with it you may see yourselves & what you
hould up} : there is your teatcher lovinge it a there is your
condemnation hatinge it, & when your condemnation is
come remember your warned in your life time, to y fc in your
conscience I speake which never changes, which will witnese
me eternaly & you condemne & it will teatch you when
you are goeinge up & downe & lyinge in your bed & to you
this is ye word of ye lord, & if you love ye light which corns
from Christ & walke in it there is your way to salvation to
Christ from whence it corns; but if you hate this light there
is your condemnation ye light y* hate it whose deeds is
evill & hould up such teatchers as thay who dwell in ye
light crye woe against & to you this is ye word of ye lord
& if you did love ye light you would com to see ye light of
life & to abid in ye vine which is Christ & sitt under ye vine
but you y fc hate ye light & folow oaths & drunckenese
lyinge & scouldeinge & swearinge are for condemnation &
are goeinge on into ye lake & ye fire y fc burnes exept you
speedily repent & to you this is ye word of ye lord & if ever
your eye com to see repentance you will witnese me a frend
of your soale & your eternal good.]
2 The word of ye lord god To y ee o Lampert who art a
decever surfeted & druncke with ye earthly spirit ramblinge
a Probably as above; the writing is very small and the letters in
many places are onty partly formed.
88 To the Followers of Lampitt [1652
up & downe in ye scriptures ramblinge & blendinge thy
spirit amongst ye saints conditions who had a profesey as
thy father Balaam had who art erd from it as thy father did
one [yt is curst from Christ & ye living god] whose fruit hath
withered I witnese it & many others which hath knowne
thy fruit sees ye end of it y* its withered & sees where y u
art in ye blind world blind leadinge ye blind a beast
smotheringe & tumblinge in ye earth & lust & one y* is erd
from ye spirit of ye lord who art of ould ordained for con
demnation, who art in ye seat of ye fareses, cald of men
master, & stands prayinge in ye sinagougs, hath chiefest
seat in ye Asemblies, in ye steps of ye fareses & in there
way of thy fathers a hipocrite & hipocrits which our lord
Jesus Christ cryd woe against, such with his light thou art
comprehended & seene, which is thy condemnation eternaly
to y ee this is ye word of god, for in Christs way y u art
not but in ye fareses as y u maist read Mat. 23, & all y* 1
owne Christs words may see y ee there y fc y* Christ which
dyd at Jerusalem cryd woe against such as y u art, & Christ
ye same today yesterday & for ever, ye woe remaines upon
y ee eternaly & from under it thou canst never com : to y ee
this is ye word of god to y t in thy conscience I doe speak
which shall witnes me eternaly & y ee condemn, & when y u
art in thy torment, thoug now y u swelst in thy vanitie &
livest in thy wickedness remember thou wast warned in thy
life time when ye eternal condemnation is reatched over
y ee , y u shalt witness this is ye word of ye lord god to y ee ,
& if ever thy eye should see repentance y u would witnesse
me a frend of thy soule.
ye word of ye lord god to all yee people y fc folow
Lampert who is a blind guid yee are such as are turnd from
ye light of Christ within which he hath enlightned you
withall you are such as folow y* which Christ cry woe against
y t goes not in Christs way but in ye fareses way as you
may read Math: 23 which our lord Jesus Christ cryd woe
against he is ye same today yesterday & for ever which you
owne not which folow such as he cryd woe against, but
under a coler you make a profesion & Lampert a trad of
Christ & ye saints words as his fathers ye fareses did make
a profession of ye profits words & Moses words woe was
1652] "A Cage of Uncleane Birds" 89
unto y m which had not ye life, soe woe is unto you y fc have
not ye life y* gave forth ye scriptures as your fruits hath
mad manifest for when ye Lord hath moved some to com
amongst you freely you have knocked downe bet & puncht
& hailed out of your sinagougs & asemblies & such a people
serves y ee O Lampert to make a pray upon, & there is thy
fruits. O let shame shame strike y ee & you all in ye face,
who makest a profesion of his words thou & they & stoners
& strikers & mockers & scofers, let all see if this be not a
cage of uncleane birds spoken of in ye scripturs which who
had ye life of ye scripturs spoke of & such a company of
people thou deceivest & feedest y m with thy fancies & make
a trad of ye scripturs & takes y m for thy cloake, but y u art
manifest to all ye children of light y fc cloake will not cover
y ee for thy sceirts are seene & thy nakednese apeares, & ye
Lord mad one to goe naked amongst you a figure of thy
nakednese & your nakednese before your destruction cometh
as a figure amongst you y fc you might see y* your naked
from truth.
To ye light in all your consciences I doe speake which
Christ Jesus doth enlighten you withall, it shew you ye
time you have spent & all your evill deeds you have
done in y fc time who folow such a teatcher y fc acts contrary
to this light & leads you into ye ditch & when you are
all in ye ditch together teatcher & people [to ye light in
your consciences I doe speake which never changes], re
member you was warned in your life time : & if ever your
eye come to see repentance & owne ye light of Jesus Christ
in you you will witnese me a frend of your soules & eternale
good & owne your condemnation & y t you must all owne
before you com into ye new world where there is noe end, &
this to be deare love to you, but you y fc hate ye light whose
deeds be evill this light is your condemnation when your
condemnation is come upon you remember you was warned
& if you love this light it will teatch you walkinge up &
downe & lyinge in bed & never let you speake a vaine word,
but lovinge it you love Christ & hatinge there is ye con
demnation of you all ye light & to you this is ye word of
god from under it you can never pase & never escape ye
terour of ye lord in ye state you are in, who hate ye light.
90 Two Warnings [i652
x To ye light in thy conscience I speake y u child of ye
devill y u enime of righteousnese ye lord will strike y ee
doune [& strike y ee dead] though now for awhile in thy
wickednesse y u may raigne : & ye plaugs of god is due who
hardens thyselfe in thy wickednese againe ye pure truth of
god, with ye pure truth of god thou art to be threshed
downe which y ee doth comprehend which is eternale & with
ye light y u art seene which is thy eternale condemnation &
a y i beast thy wife a hipocrite [& faresey] a murtherer of ye
just, with y* which is eternal shee is seerie & comprehended
her hart tryd & seartched & condemned", to ye light in
conscience I doe speake which will witness me eternaly &
let y ee see y fc y u art as a beast for y* is a beast y fc is gone
from ye truth, to light in y ee I speak which never changes
which shall condemn y ee eternaly, which will let y ee see y fc
y u art not borne (of) god & if ever thy eye see repentance
y u wilt witnesse me a frend of thy soule & eternale good.
2 [To y* in thy conscience I doe speake frend which let y ee
see as a swine thou lives with out ye feare of ye livinge god
& knowest him not, ye teror of ye lord y u shalt never escape
for it will all ways pursue y ee {when y u art in thy bed} &
ye hand of ye Lord is against y ee , & to y ee this is ye word of
ye lord god who pufs in thy wickednese & swells in thy
vanitie blearinge out thy tonge like a beast or a dog as y u
manifests thyselfe & Judges ye saints to be as vackabonds,
{but from such a tree we looke for no other fruit}, but with
ye eternale Judgment of god y u art Judged eternaly an evil
beast & soe stop thy mouth for ever for makinge a profession
of god & of Christ who art a profane person {to y t in thy
conscience I speake} a cuning hunter as thy father Esau
was, who despised his birthright as thou dost, therefore
mind his end for thy end & way is his in ye way thou art
goeinge in, & he sought it with teares & there was noe place
of repentance found as y u maist read in ye Hebrews : & to
ye light in thy conscience I speake which shall witnese me
eternaly & y ee condemne eternaly: & when y u art in thy
... a Above appears to be the original reading of the MS., but there
are several erasures. The Ell wood editions modify the wording and make
it refer to both husband and wife.
1652] Letter to Priest Tatham 91
teror & torment remember I warned y ee in love to thy soule
in thy life time, & when y u art in ye fire with thy father
Dives remember thou dost now bost I doe y ee comprehend
to y fc in thy conscience I speake which shall witnese me &
against y ee who art for Judgment & condemnation.]
lr The word of ye Lord to y ee Tatham 2 who art found out of ye
doctrine of Christ, chefest place in ye Asemblie cald of men
master stands prayinge in ye sinagouges in ye steps of ye
phareses which our lord Jesus Christ cryed woe against in his
way thou art not, but in ye way of ye scribes & fareses [out of
his comand], I charge y ee in ye presents of ye lord god as thou
maiest read Mathew 23, there Christs words Judges y ee , ye
scripture itselfe, thou art such a one sues men at ye law for
tythes & profeses thy selfe to be a minister of Christ, which
Christ never sent his to doe soe, neither did any of ye Apostles,
& heare I charge y ee againe in ye presents of ye livinge god to
be out of there doctrine [& to be a foule & a lyar & not a
wise man] & ye evill beast ye scripture speakes of, y fc minds
earthly thinges which ye life of ye scriptures against, who
art for destruction where thou standest, ye state y u art in
eternaly thou shalt witnese me, to y* in thy conscience I
speake, who art one y fc goes on in Caines way in envie, an
enemie of god, from ye comand of god, & one y fc goes in
Balaams way from ye spirit of god, for gifts & rewards ye
wages of unrighteousnese, thou sonn of Balaam thou art
worse then thy father, for he loved- ye wages of un
righteousnese but durst not take itt, but thou takes it &
sues men at ye law if they will not give the itt, which never
did minister of Jesus Christ, therefore stoop thy mouth for
ever & never make mention of them, or profesinge thy selfe
any, with ye light thou art seene & comprehended [which is
thy condemnation from them all], who art light and vaine &
spea,kes a divinition of thy owne brain e : & deceves ye
people y* in thy concience will witnese me & y ee condemn
who art one y* beares reaule by thy meanes, which ye lord
sent Jer(emiah): to cry against Jer. 5 th & so houlds up ye
horible & filthy thinge comited in ye land, soe they are ye
foulish y fc doe not tremble at ye word of ye lord, y* houlds
y ee up [which ye lord sent Jer: to cry against Jer: 5]. & they
are sotish children & have noe understandinge ; they are
92 To People Scattered Abroad [1652
wise to doe evill, but not to doe good, which are deceved by
y ee [Jer: 4: 22], & such a one thou art y fc seekes for thy gaine
from thy quarter, a greedie dumb dog y fc never hath enough
as thy practize makes manifest, as ye lord sent Esia to cry
against Esia 56: 11: 12: & thou art such a one as ye lord
sent Ezekiell to cry against, which feedeth with ye fatt &
cloatheth with ye wooll & makes a pray upon ye people, but
ye lord is gatheringe his sheepe from thy mouth, y fc to y ee
they shall be a pray noe longer, thou enimie of god here this
profesie is fullfild upon y ee Ezeke 34, & thou art one of them
I charge it upon y ee in ye presents of ye living god a hire-
linge they y fc doe not putt into thy mouth thou prepares
war against them, who hates ye good & loves ye evill, which
ye lord sent Mica to cry against Mica: 3, cover thy lipes &
(s)topp thy mouth for ever thou child of darknese for with ye
light thou art comprehended & seene to be amongst all them
which ye holy men of god cryd woe against & in ye witch
craft & socery, with ye holy men of god there life thou art
Judged to be amongst all them which ye lord sent his
profit ts to cry woe against, with ye same light of god
which they was in will ye see and comprehend, thy race
& compase is knowne & seene with ye light which is
thy condemnation, to ye light in thy concience I speake
which shall witnese me eternaly & condemne y ee eternaly
which art out of ye comands of Christ & out of ye doctrine
& life of ye Apostles, thou art proved & tryed & to y ee
this is ye word of god & to y ee itt shall be as a hamer fire
& sword, & from under itt thou shalt never com, a who art
with ye light to be condemned in j^ estate where thou
standest, & if ever thy eye see repentance this thy con
demnation thou must owne [to ye light in thy concience
I speake].
x [The word of ye livinge god to all yee people scatred
abroad to ye light in all your conciences I doe speake which
you are enlightned withall, Christ Jesus saith I am ye
light of ye world & doth enlighten every one y* cometh into
ye world, & if you doe love ye light which comes from Christ
& walke in the light, with ye light youle see Christ from
Ellwood editions insert unless thou repent
1652] Hireling Shepherds 93
whence ye light doth come, but if you doe hate this light
which shewes you when you doe evill & your evill deeds ly
sweare cousen cheate feight quarell, whore be druncke
folow pleasures acordinge to ye course of ye world, scofe,
mocke, raile & backebite, with ye light all these deeds you
know to be sine & evill, soe with ye light which shewes you
them, which comes from Christ, you are to be condemned
which acts them: if you love it & walke in it you shall
have ye light of life, & come to heare ye word which became
flesh & to heare ye profit Moses spake of who said Acts: 7
like unto me will god raise up a profitt him shall you heare,
when he was come ye noice came from heaven & said this is
my beloved sune in whome only I am well pleased heare yee
him, & god who at sundry times & in diverse rnanours spoke
in times past to ye fathers by ye profitts, hath in these last
days spoke unto us by his sune, whome he hath apointed
heire of all things by whome alsoe he made ye world, Heb: 1.
but yee y fc hate this light which Christ hath enlightned you
withall heareth not the beloved sone of god, but such as he
cryed woe against who are in ye steps of ye fareseis reade
Mat: 23. chefest seats in ye asemblies & stands prayinge
in ye sinagougs & caled of men master in ye stepes of ye
fareses & seats out of Christs comands & soe not his ministers.
Arid you doe folow such as seeke there gaine from there
quarter, greedie dumbe dogs y* never have enough Esa: 56
& such as beare reaule by there meanes, & hould up ye horible
& filthie thinge in ye land, & take away there meanes &
they will not beare reaule & you doe folow such y fc are hire
lings & they preatch peace to you, but if you putt not into
there mouths they prepare ware against as you may read
Mica: 3 which ye lord sent him to cry against them, & are
ye sotish children foulish people, wise to doe evill but to doe
good have noe understandinge, as you may read Jer: 4. &
folow such as seeke for ye fleece & devoure you, which ye
lord sent Ezekiel to cry woe against Ezeke: 34: but saith ye
lord I will gather my sheepe from there mouths, they shall
be a pray to them noe longer, & here with ye life of ye holy
men of god are you Judged amongst such as they cryd
against, & with ye light ye ar al sene y* hould up such befor
menshoned & men cales y m ministers of Christ which ar
found amongst y m which ye holy men of god cried wo
94 Revealed by the Light [1652
against ; & with ye light ye ar al sene & with the light they
ar al condemned, so cover your lips & stop your mouths for
sham for ever saing such as ye ar ar ye minists of Christ
whom ye lord sent his profits to cry against & his son with
ye scripturs they ar all proved & seen & you y* hould y m up
& such y* receive gifts & rewards ye wagis of unrightousnes
which ye lord sent his holy aposels to cry against which
through covetnes & fained words mad marchandis of you
hear with ye light & life of ye scrip tur you & they sene &
condemned with the light who hat ye light & act contrary
to ye life & y fc profes ye scripturs to be your rule, with ye
light they ar al sene to be strangers from ye life of god
amongst such as ye holy aposels & profits cried against &
you y fc folow such ar sili women y fc ar led captive & never
abele to com to ye knowleg of the truth, sum ar learning-
twenty 03 -04 -06 yeares & upward ever learning & never
able to come to ye knowleg of ye truth as you may red in
Thimathy & Peter 22 & Jud: & you y* folow such doth not
hear ye son of god, hear with ye light you ar al sene y fc ye
light to hould up such & folow such as do hat ye light which
was in al agis cried against & conemned with the light
this is ye condensation ye light in al those deds befor men-
shoned acted in y fc natur contrary to ye light & to you this
is ye eternall word of god & hear is your teacher loving it
ye light which comes from Christ which never changis which
shewes your evell deds & al your daies & al your time & al
your actones you have acted contrary to ye light which
never changis with ye light ar al sene & condemned which
never changes to it in you al I speak y* with it you may al
se Christ & com to witnes ye unchangebell presthod, & denie
ye changebl y fc had comaund to take teytes, as ye saints
did y fc witnesed him as you may red Ebrues: 7 so al who
dweles in ye light which comes from ye unchangebl prest
which ye light him sees & doth confese & deney ye chang-
able as ye aposels did who said ye changabl prest is
changed & ye law also as you may red Ebreues ye 7 so you
y 1 hould up ye changabel presthod ye doth take tythes &
you y* do take tyethes ar turned from ye light which comes
from ye unchangabel prest Christ Jesus & Christ Jesus is
not your way which turnes from ye light which comes
from ye unchangable prest and turnes to ye changable
1652] Conflict between Flesh and Spirit 95
Judas is your way to pardishon & with ye light you ar con
demned which comes from ye unchangabl, to ye light
which comes from Christ in you all I speake, y fc you may
se what way you walk in who is a frend of your soules &
of your eternall good this is ye day of your visitation &
salvation now ye have tyme prise it if you love ye light
which comes from Christ hear is your way to salvation if you
hat it hear is your way to destrucion & you y fc hates it hates
Christ from whence it comes.]
1 [frend of ye truth, yeat thy minde goes out from ye
truth & is stronge in ye flesh & ye deceipt, & livest in ye
lust, which darkens ye understandinge, & therein y u art
out of ye feare of ye feare of ye lord, & art not in ye feare
of him, but ye darke powre & ye prince of ye ay re is
stronge in ye many strong houlds, wilt y u find & see if
y u dost waite in y^ which is puer in y ee as god hath given
y ee a measure of his spirit by which y u dost aprehend
things & see ye decepts, now ye minde goeing furth from y 1
which lets y ee see decepts which is pure ye simplicitie is
insnared {& then god is not in thy though-cs with ye}...
of perdiction in y ee sitinge in ye temple of god where hee
ought not to sitt now with ye brith of ye lord is descovered
& with ye brightenes of his cominge he is consumed y fc man
of sin in y ee is revealed & soe y u shalt witnese ye scripturs
fullfild, but y u must wait in y fc which is puer which will
shew ye goeings furth of thy minde, which leads y ee into
disobedience & to sett up Baals preists without y ee before
god & y* brings a distraction in ye minde where there is a
haltinge betwixt tow, for all ye trubles are without in ye
world in me yee shall have peace saith Christ. Now if y u
waitest in Christ & mindest him in y ee {& there waitest for
his apearing} & kepest within, & dost not folowe loe heares
Christ loe theres Christ without y ee y u wilt have peace
presently & witnese him who is ye substance of ye profits &
apostles & the scripures mad manifest in y ee to guide to ye
father ye lord god of heaven & earth, & waitinge for ye
spirit of ye lord within y ee to guid thy minde y u wilt find
thy strenth dayly renewd they one spirit which gave furth
ye scripturs & theres noe confusion {but perfect peace}, &
this spirit baptiseth into ye one body, & this spirit is ye
96 Letter to the Army [1652
unitie of ye saints tho they be absent in body yeat present
in spirit, all beinge mad to drinck into one spirit & this
spirit circumsiseth & puts of ye body of sinne : & yee are
sanctified through ye obedience of ye spirit & so comes to
witnes ye scripturs pure & cleare as they are without any
mixture, as holy men posesed y m & gave y m furth, soe holy
men poseseth y m & gives y m furth againe & witneseth y m
againe; o doe not read these things without nor louke at y m
to be hard but at ye love of god to y ee in shewinge y ee thy
condition, for all ye scripturs weare given furth from an
inward principle : & ye lord god of power blese & direct,
there is a blesinge if y u be faithfull & wait.
There must be y i conceringe pore blind people & y 1
concerninge families writeri to be sent with this note.]
[To ye heades & generall of ye army from G: ff: 1652 1 .
To ye heads & generall of this land to stand in ye
counsaile of god y* you may be directed by his wisdome
which orders all things for by it all things weare made & if
you make a law with your owne wills over ye consciences of
men y fc god will throw downe you & your laws : for y 1 which
exerciseth ye conscience is ye pure light of god which leads
up to god out of all filthines coruptions & uncleannes which
ye law of god takes hould upon he or them y t are contrary
to a pure conscience, let every soule be subiect to ye higher
powers for all powers are of god for conscience sake: now if
a law be mad over ye conscience y fc is pure y* law is against
god & therefore {many kepinge there conscience cleare did
sufer}, as god hath given to every one a light & a mesure to
profit withall mind every one y* which is of god in you to
teatch you to walke to god & before him, & as it teatcheth
you & inlightens your understandings it will teatch you how
to direct others : & soe to Judge of things eternale, soe far as
y fc is borne up in your understandings which is eternale, and
as every one hath a mesure soe every one to prove his talent,
& not limit god to learned men {as hath longe bene}, which
hath learned but there naturale languages: soe there
originale ground & religion is externale, there word & light
is externale, & there gifts preatchings is an externale gift
& they goe to you magistrate wiio hath an externale law to
97
1652] The True Ministry
uphould y m in there externale ministerie for your law doth
alter & change which is externale: now y* which is ex
ternale with it to Judge things eternale, y fc canot be {but
limit god}, for he y* hath ye first gift of god hath y* which
is perfect, & y fc which is perfect is eternale, & such hath a
diserninge to know ye gift of god from ye gift of man, &
who are sent to preatch ye ever lastinge gospell hath y fc
which is eternale, y* which is ever lastinge hath noe end &
he y* Judgeth of these things is eternale, y fc can diserne ye
ever lastinge gospell from words, & ye promise was y l ye
seed of ye woman should bruise ye serpents head, now y 11
y fc can witnese ye head of ye serpent bruised in y ee & ye seed
of ye woman head in y ee , which is Christ, witneses ye promise
of god fullfild which is ye glad tidings to ye soule & ye
soule comes out of death & hears Christ Jesus reveled within
& this ministery is not of man nor by man but by ye will of
god, which ye will of man knows not, for ye naturale man
knowes not ye things of god : now every man in his first
birth & state may see himselfe to be naturale & not able to
Judge of ye things of god, ye spirituale man Judgeth all
things yea ye depe things of god but this is ye second man,
therefore all frends & felow creature take heed of Judging
with evill^ thoughts; y* minde y 1 doth respect persons
Judgeth with evill thoughts, & it is ye carnale part within,
who is out of ye faith of our lord Jesus Christ which was
without respectinge of persons, & therefore as god hath given
you a measur of light within : let y* guide your minds & kep
you in ye feare of ye lord : & if you love y * light & walke in
it you love Christ & there is noe ocasion of stumblinge, & if
you hat y fc light ^ then you stumble at noneday & there is
your condemnation: lovinge this light & brininge your
works to this light, soe far as this light hath Judged you in
particular soe far it may Judge in ye generale, for ye Judge
is but one, & waitinge in ye light which keps you in ye
feare of ye lord upon ye lord waitinge to be mad partakers
of ye precious faith, for ye mistery of faith is held in a pure
conscience, & walkinge in this light it enlightens your
consciences & understandinges, walkinge in it you have union
one with another for ye light is but one which will discover
all imagned light false worships ways & churches & draw
you up to ye church in god ye fountaine of light & there
G. F.
98 Waiting in the Light [1652
faith is but one which purifies ye hart which stands in god
which is a mistery held in a pure conscience & all whoe are
in it are one if they be ten thousand, god almighty blese &
direct you how to wait upon him & walke before him &
be low & stand in ye counsaile of god y* whatsoever you doe
may prosper, if you goe out of ye counsaile of god you goe
into prid high-mindednese opresion & grindinge ye face of
ye pore; now your mind beinge guided by y fc which is pure
it is crose to ye carnale which opreseth ye pure : in particular
if it be not crost, & out of it riseth prid, if ye pure spirit of
ye lord be ye head & guid, & if there be noe opresion within
there is none without, for woe is to him y* is covered but
not with ye spirit of ye lord, therefore mind all what you
are covered withall.]
^frend of ye truth of god & owner & lover of it whome
god hath enlightened waite in y fc light in measure to guid
thy mind to god ye fountaine of light over all which will
kepe y ee always in his feare & to stand in his counsaile & ye
feare of ye lord is ye begininge of pure wisdome, for as ye
hart is purified ye wisdome of god is put into y ee whose
wisdome orders all ye creation, there fore be low to waite
for this wisdome of god to be put into y ee to guide y ee & ye
lord god of power kepe blese & prosper y ee , in ye measure of
yt which is of god to god & waitinge & loukeinge to ye light
of god in y ee , it will shew y ee all thy thoughts & imaginacions ;
& when darkenese corns into y ee through ye mind goeinge
out from ye light & loveinge ye light y u loves Christ &
hateinge ye light y u hats Christ, for he is ye light & there
is thy teatcher ye light within y ee , & there is thy condemna
tion ye light, & it will shew y ee all temptations loveing it &
walkeinge in it, there is noe ocasion of stumblinge, for all
stumblinge is of beinge disobedient to it; & it will shew ye
goeings furth of thy minde from god, o waite upon god for
his power for there is a seed of god in y ee , o take heed of thy
owne wisdome for y* y u wilt find to be an enimie, or ye
comprehendinge ye things of god in thy minde, but waite
for ye power of ye most high god to throw downe & to
shake downe all both reason & wisdome, for as ye earthly part
is throwne downe in y ee , ye pure seede is raised upp, soe ye
sun of god within riseth through death to destroy death in
165 2] Address to Ulverston 99
man, & raignes over death & ye most high god reaigneth &
reauls & ye wisdome of ye world & man destroyd, o wait
upon god to have these things fulfild within y ee moved of ye
lord & written from ye spirit of ye lord : o ye mighty day of
ye lord is cominge & this is ye day of thy visitation &
salvation, now y u hast time prise it.]
1 [The death which hath passed over all men is but one,
& Christ Jesus touke upon him not ye natur of angels but
ye seed of Abraham, which ye death hath past over, now y u
y fc hath not ye same spirit y l raised up Jesus Christ from ye
death is none of his & all ye promises of god is to ye seed,
which seed is but one which is Christ in you, who are of faith
are of Abraham cald out of theire heithinish nature & wor
ships & out of their native cuntry as Abraham was & are
of Abraham & thousands to witnese it : one faith one seede.]
g ff to Ulverston 1652*
O People consider who bee within ye parishe of Ulverston :
I was moved of the Lord to come into your publiq place to
speake amonge you to ye directing of your mindes to God,
beinge sent of the Lord That where you might find your
Teacher, That your mindes might bee staid alone upon
god, and you might not gad abbroade without you for a
Teacher : ffor ye Lord god alone will teache his people, and
is cominge to teache them, and to gather his people from
Idols Temples and the customary worshipp which all ye
world is trained up in : [and the Lord god alone wilbee ye
teacher of his people], And god hath given to every one of
you a measure accordinge to your abbillity, Lyar, Drunkard,
Whoremonger and Theife and who followes filthy pleasures,
you have all this measure in you, and this is ye measure
that shewes you sinne, and shewes you evile, and shewes
you deceipt, which letts you see lyeinge is sinne, theft,
drunkennesse and uncleanenesse, All theise to bee the
workes of darkenesse : Therefore minde your measure for
nothinge that is uncleane shall enter into ye kingdome of
God.
And prize your tyme while you have it, least ye tyme
come that you say you had tyme when it is past : o why
72
ioo Deeds of Evil [1352
will you dye, why will you chuse your owne waies, why will
you followe ye course of ye world and why will you followe
Envie, malice drunkennesse, and foolish pleasures : Knowe
yee not in your Conscience That all theise are evill and sinne,
and such as act such thinges shall never enter into ye
kingdome of god : oh that you would consider and see the
tyme you have spent, how you have spent it and see ye
tyme that you doe spende and whom you doe serve ye
wages of sin is death, doe not you knowe that whatsoever is
above yea and nay is evill. Oh yee drunckards whoe live in
drunckennesse doe you thinke to escape the fire and
Judgment of god though you swell in vennom and lust
awhile : but god will finde you out ; and bringe you to
Judgment therefore love ye light which Christ hath en
lightened you withall who saith I am ye light of ye world
and doth enlighten every one y* comes into ye world one
hee loves ye light and bringes hill a workes to ye light and
there is noe occasion att all of stumblinge and ye other hee
hates ye light because his deedes is evill and ye light will
reprove him, thou that hates this light thou hast it thou
knowes lieinge is evill, drunckenness is evill, Sweareinge is
evill Whoredome, Theft, and all ungodlinesse and all Un-
righteousenesse is evill, Christ Jesus hath given thee as
much light as will let thee see this is evill and this light
will teach thee if thou lovest it, it will teach thee holynesse
and righteoussnesse, without which none shall see god, and
hatinge this light it is your condemnation and here is
Christs words true amonge you fullfilled thou that hats
this light sett up hirelings and the Idols temples [without
thee], and such Priests as beare rule by their meanes, and
such shepherds as hould up such things, & such as is called
of men maisters, and have ye chifest place in the Assemblies,
which Christ cry d woo against, Math, ye 23. and such as
go in ye way of Caine in Envy and after ye error of Balaam
for wadges guifts and rewards and theise have beene your
teachers, and these you have held up, but who love the light
ar Taught of God, and ye lord is coming to Teach his people
himselfe and gather his from hirelings and such as seeke for
theire gaine from Theire Qarter, and from such as beare rule
So written, but doubtless intended for his
1652] False Christs 101
by theire means, ye Lord is openig ye eys of foolish people
yt ye gna n se such as beare rule over them, but all whose
eys are shutt have eys and see nott but are foolish which
hold up such things, therefore poore people as you love your
owne soules consider the love of god to your soules while
you have time and doe not turne the grace of god into
wantonness, that which shewes you ungodliness and worldly
lusts there is your teacher for saith the saints the grace of
god is our teacher which taught them to live soberly and
godlily in this present [evill] world, and yee that are not
sober this grace of god hath appeared to you & you turne it
into wantonness and soe setts up teachers without you who
are nnot holy, are not sober, not godly, heare you are left
without Excuse : when ye righteousness of god shall bee
revealled upon you all who live ungodlily, therefor to ye
light in you I speake y* when ye Booke of Conscience is
opened then shall you wittness mee and you all Judged out
of it, soe god allmighty direct your mindes who loves
honesty and sincerity y* you may receive mercy in ye time
of need, your teacher is within you, looke not forth, it will
teach you lieinge in bed, goeing abrode to shon all ocasion
of sinne and evill.
\_g ff to the foles christs & prest lampard of Ulverstom
in lanksher 1652 1
ffalse christs are they that are not the seed which is
christ in the male & female : false christs are they that the
seed bruises under & are inwardly ravenous. The wolf hath
the sheeps clothing, that which clothed the sheep, whose
fruits are bryars & thornes & thistles, these bee the false
christs. Now mark thy fruits, whether they bee the fruits
of the seed of the true christ or the fruit of the false christ,
bryars & thornes which growes out of the earth ; Now are
not these the fruits of the false christ & not of the true
christ the seed ; so are not they known by their fruits ;
have not thy fruits now appeared bryars, thornes, inwardly
ravenous; yea hast not thou & you had the sheeps clothing;
but now are not your fruits appeared & manifest to the
seed ; how canst thou look upon thy self & thy fruits, but
iudge thy self to bee the false christ, & one that is in the
102 A Raiser of Scandal [1652
steps of them that the true chr 1st cry ed wo against Math. 23.
yea dost not thou make a trade of the sheeps clothing, the
lambs, the babes words, & thou wolf wouldst worry them ;
hast not thou stirred up the wolves ; Whose fruits have more
appeared to bee the false christs than thine in the north part
of this nation ; But god hath limited thy bounds, & broke
your Jawes, & stopt your waves, whose madnes, foolishnes
& fury hath appeared. So never cry out of false christs thy
self & your selves, who are manifest & found in the steps of
all the false prophets, which the true prophets christ &
the apostles cryed wo against, disapproved by them in all
ages, as the scripture of truth declares ; so with the life of
the prophets, christ & the apostles, are yee found in the
steps of the false christs, prophets & apostles.
Was not thou & thy church the beginner of all persecution
in the north, the first raiser of lyes & slanders & scandalls
& false reports, making of peoples mindes envious, deceiving
the people, making them belieive lyes, stirring them up to
bee evill minded, & raising of scandalls ; hath not this been
thy work ; have not thy fruits declared it, & have not these
been the fruits of the false christs, were not yee the first
raisers of scandalls, & false reports, making of peoples mindes
envious, deceiving the people, making them believe lyes,
stirring them up to bee evill minded, & raising of scandalls ;
hath not this been thy work, have not thy fruits declared
it ; And have not these been the fruits of the false christs,
were not yee the first raisers of scandalls, & false reports in
the north ; & think yee not that yee must gather your seed
into your barn that yee have sowne, that you may bee
rewarded according to your workes, that god will bee
avenged, for his elects sake on you ; But now are yee found
& seen in whose stepps yee walk & yee may as well speak
nothing as speak against truth, for that is over your heads :
& your high wandering starres are fallen into the earth, &
your pride is defacing & your beauty marred : And thou
wandering star & filthy dreamer art reserved for blacknes
& darknes, who art of old ordained for this condemnation
by the light; who the high words hast spoken in hypocrisy:
who hast professed the thing as the Jewes did, who hast
said sons & daughters shall prophesy, & when the thing
was come, said they were all mad men & full of new wine,
1652] A Night Attack 103
as the Jewes said, And the Jewes professed a christ was to
come, & when hee was come said hee was the prince of
di veils : & thou hast professed, god would pour out his
spirit upon all flesh, his sons & daughters should prophesy ;
now when the thing is come thou calls it a spirit of delusion.
Now thou mayest read thy unholy root, fruit, & unholy
branches ; & thou art grafting in the earth among thy den
of dragons bryars & thorn es.
But the light in all your consciences shall witnes mee
& let you see what you are, & what you have done : So
there is your teacher the light loveing it : & there is your
condemnation hating it : for the lord is coming to teach his
people him self, & to bring them off all the worlds teachers
& churches & waies, to bee taught of god. I am the way
to the father, saith christ, & to the church in god the father
of our lord Jesus christ.]
"And from Lancaster I returned to Rob: Withers & from
thence I went to Tho: Lepers 1 to a meetinge in ye eveninge:
& after ye meetinge was donne which was a very blessed
meetinge In ye evening I walked out a foote to Rob: Withers:
& I was noe sooner gonne butt there came in a company of
disguised men to Tho: Lepers with swords & pistolls : cut-
tinge & hackeinge amongst ye people off ye house : & putt
out all ye candles : & ye people helde uppe ye chaires before
y m to save y m selves : & after a while they drove all ye people
of ye house out of ye house [in ye night] & searched & lookt
for mee : whoe was ye person onely they looked for : & layde
waite in ye high ways which I shoulde have come in if I
had ridden to Rob: Withers.
And soe when ye meetinge was donne they came in &
thought to have founde mee in ye house : but ye Lord
prevented y m as abovesaid.
And soe when I was come to Rob: Withers some freinds
came from ye tounde where Tho: Leper lived & gave us ye
relation of this {& they were afraide least they shoulde
come to search Rob: Withers house alsoe for mee to doe
mee mischeife but they came not}.
a Narrative continued from page 79.
104 Escape from Drowning [1652
And ffreindes perceived they was some of y m frenchmen
& S r Rob: Binleys 1 servants : for some of y m saide in there
nation they used to tye ye protestants to trees & whippe
y m & destroy y m : & these used often to abuse freindes in
there meetinges & goeinge from there meetinges : for they
tooke Rich: Huberthorne & severall others out of ye meet-
inge & carryed y m a good way off in ye feildes & there
bounde y m & left y m bounde in ye winter season {& one of
his servants came to ff. fflemminges 2 house & thrust his
naked rapier In att his doore & att his windowes : & there
came a cousen off ff. fflemminges with a cudgell in his hande
which was noe freinde : & hee bid him putt uppe his rapier
but hee woulde not but vapored with it att him & was
rude : & hee uppe with his staffe & kriockt him downe [soe
as hee made him sprawle one ye grounde] & hee tooke his
rapier from him : & had it not beene for freindes hee woulde
have runn him through with it & soe freindes preserved his
life y t woulde have destroyed theres}.
And after this I went to see Justice West & Rich.
Huberthorne went with mee : & wee ridd uppe ye sands 3
where never noe man ridde before a very dangerous place :
& swimmed over ye water {not knoweinge ye way nor ye
danger of ye sands} : & came to Wests house : & when wee
were come in hee saide to us did you not see two men
rideinge over ye sands : I shall have there cloaths anon
{for I am ye crowner} for they cannott escape drowneinge
& wee tolde him y fc wee was ye men {& hee was astonisht
att it & wondred howe wee escaped drowneinge}.
And then ye preists & professors raised a report & a
slaunder {upon mee} y* neither water coulde drowne mee :
nor coulde they draw bloode of mee : & y* surely I was a
witch.
ffor when they beate mee with great stafes they did
not much drawe my bloode but bruised my heade & body :
& thus ye Lords power carryed mee over there bloody
murderous spiritts in whome ye ground of witchcraft was
y t kept y m from God & Christ.
Butt all these slaunders were nothinge to mee as
knowinge y* there forefathers ye Apostate Jews caled ye
master of ye house Belzebub & these apostate Christians
from ye life & power of God coulde doe noe lesse {to his
1652] Alexander Dixon 105
seede} [soe it was noe strange thinge for y m to say soe of
ye members of Christ whoe was heires of him.
And about this time Rich: Huberthorne was in a great
fast : & after was very weake : Insomuch as people thought
hee was dead & it was reported y fc hee was deade & severall
freindes was sent for & before they gott to him ye Lordes
power had soe raised him uppe y fc they mett him with a
botle goeinge for water to drink soe y t freindes did admire
att ye wonderfull power & worke of God therein.]
And soe I came backe to Swarthmoore & visited freindes
y fc aways : & brought ye Lords power over all ye persecutors
& after this I went Into Westmorelande : where a company
of men layde waite for mee with pikes & stafes att a bridge
& they light off some freindes & misst mee but after they
came to ye ineetinge {with there pikes & stafes} : butt Justice
Benson beinge there & many considerable people they was
prevented from doeinge y fc mischeife they Intended [& ye
Lords power stoppt y m ] soe y t they went away & did noe
hurte but raged much.
And soe I came to Grayrigge where ye preist came to
ye meetinge {att Alexander Dicksons 1 house which preist}
was a baptist & a parish preist : & ye Lord confounded him
with his power & some of his people stoode upon ye syde of
ye house & tumbleld doune some milkeinge pailes : ye house
beinge soe crammed : but after a while ye preist & his
company went away beinge confounded : & raised a slaunder
& saide ye Divell frightned him & took a syde of ye house
doune where wee was in ye ineetinge : which was all lyes
butt such as served ye preists & professors {turne} to feede
upon {& they printed it in a booke} 2 .
And another time this preist came to another meetinge
[a toppe of ye hill] & fell a Jangelinge first hee saide ye
scriptures was ye worde of God : & I tolde him they was
ye wordes of God but not Christ ye worde : & bid him
prove it by scripture what hee saide : & then hee saide Itt
was not ye scripture & soe sett his foote upon {ye bible &
saide Itt was but copyes bounde upp togeatherj & a great
deale of unsavory words came from him not worth mention-
inge : soe wee had a blessed meetinge {afterwards} & ye
Lords power & presence was felt amongst us & hee went
his ways: & then after hee sent mee a Challenge to meete
io6 Bennett, of Cartmel [1652
him at Kendall: & I sent him worde I woulde meete him
in his owne parish: & hee neede not goe as farr as Kendall:
soe wee sett ye houre & mett & aboundans of rude people
was gathered to it : & some of his members baptised people :
& they Intended to have donne mischeife y b day butt God
prevented y m .
And when wee mett I declared ye day of ye Lord to
y m : & turned y m to Christ Jesus : & hee out with his bible
& saide Itt was ye worde of God : & I tolde him it was ye
words of God butt not God ye worde : his aunswer was hee
woulde prove ye scriptures to bee the God before all ye
people : soe I had a man y* coulde write to take doune both
what hee saide & what I saide [as may bee larger seene in
my booke of letters].
Butt when hee had spoaken a great while & coulde not
prove it for I kept him to ye scripture for chapter & verse
for it : & keepinge him to prove y fc one thinge hee had
asserted : & in goeinge to prove y* one error hee runn Into
20 : & ye people gnashed there teeth & saide hee woulde
have mee anon.
Butt when hee coulde not prove it : then hee saide hee
woulde prove it a god : & thus ye Baptist preist teared
himselfe till hee sweate and broiled himselfe & his company :
all beinge full of wrath & I hept his assertions one ye heade
of him & y m all soe y fc at last they went away confounded
& coulde prove nothinge y l they asserted.
ifor I tolde y m what ye scriptures saide of y m selves :
they was ye words of God but Christ was ye worde.
And soe ye Lords power came over all {& confounded
there mischeife which they Intended against mee} & freindes
was established in Christ & the people saw the folly
of there teacher {y* were his followers}.
{And} after this I came through ye country visitinge
ffreindes : & preist Bennett of Car tm ell had sent a challenge
to dispute with mee : & upon ye first day I came to his
steeplehouse & there found him preachinge & when hee had
donne I spoake to him & his people but ye preist woulde
not stande to tryall butt went his ways : & a great deale
of discourse I had with ye people : & when I came foorth
Into ye steeplehouse yarde : & was discourseinge with ye
professors & declareinge of ye truth unto y m one of y m setts
1653] A True Prophecy 107
his foote behinde mee & two off y m runn against my breast
& threw mee doune against a grave stone wickedly & mali-
tiously seekinge to have spoiled mee . butt I gott uppe againe
& was moved of ye Lorde to speake to y m & there was one
Roper one of ye bitterest professors ye preist had was very
firce & Zealous in his contention & soe I went uppe to ye
preists house & a many people followed after mee & I de
sired him to come foorth seeinge hee had chalenged mee
butt hee woulde not att all come out or bee seene.
And this Roper 1 after came to bee convinct of Gods
eternall truth : & became a fine minister & continnued faith -
full to his death : soe ye Lords power came over y m all
which was very great.
1653. Soe I came to Swarthmoore againe & went to
a meetinge att Gleeston : & there was another professor &
hee chalenged a dispute butt I went to ye house where hee
was & caled him foorth but hee durst not medle : soe ye
Lords power came over him alsoe.
And soe after a while I visited many meetinges in
Lancasheere : & th... James Milner 2 & Rich: My er 3 went
out Into Imaginations & a company folowed y m & they
sent for mee & I was Moved of ye Lorde to shew y m there
goeinges foorth: & they came in againe [& dyed in truth].
And about this time I was in a fast about 10 days:
& as Judge ffell & Coll: Benson was in Swarthmoore hall
I was moved to tell y m as they was talkeinge of ye news
in ye news booke of ye parlament: &ci y* before y* day
fortnight ye longe parlament should e be br oaken uppe &
ye speaker shoulde bee pluckt out of his chaire.
And y* day fortnight Coll: Benson came againe & was
speakinge to Judge ffell {& saide} y* now hee saw George
was a true prophett for Olyver had broaken uppe ye parla
ment by y* time 4 .
[And many opninges I had of severall thinges which
woulde bee large to utter.]
And James Milner & some of his company had true
openinges att ye first : but after gott uppe Into pride &
soe runn out : but they after came to see there folly & con
demned it.
And after I went to a meetinge att Arnesyde where
there was a many people : & I was moved of ye Lorde to
io8 Anthony Pearson [less
say to Rich: Myer amongst all ye people : prophett l Myer
stande upp upon thy leggs for hee was sittinge doune : &
hee stoode uppe & stretcht out his arme which had beene
lame a longe time : & saide : bee it knowne unto you all
people & to all nations y* this day I am healed.
And after ye meetinge was donne his ffather & mother
coulde hardely beleive Itt was made whole : & had him
Into an house & took off his doublett : & then they saw
Itt was true : & hee came to Swarthmoore meetinge & there
declared how ye Lord had healed him.
And after ye Lord commanded him to goe to York with
a message from him : butt hee disobeyed ye Lorde : & ye
Lorde strucke him againe soe as hee dyed about 3 quarters
of a yeere after.
And great threatninges there was in Cumberland y fc If
ever I came there they woulde take away my life butt
when I hearde of it I went Into Cumberlande {to one Miles
Willingtons 2 } Into ye same parish but they had not power
to touch mee.
And also about this time Anth: Pearson a great per
secutor of ffreindes [att Apelby] hee was convinct [(over
whose heade they carryed a sworde when hee went to ye
bench)] : & comeinge over to Swarthmoore I beinge at Coll
Wests they sent for mee {& I came & Coll West saide goe
George for it may bee of great service to ye man} : & ye
Lords power reacht him : & about this time ye Lorde opned
severall mouths to declare {ye truth} to preists & people :
soe y fc severall was cast Into prison.
And after this I went againe Into Cumberlande &
Anthony Pearson & his wiffe & severall freindes went
alongst with mee to Bootle.
And upon ye first day I went Into ye steeplehouse &
Anthony Pearson went on to Carlisle sessions for hee was
a Justice of peace in three countyes : & soe when ye preist
had donne I begann to speake : but ye people was exceedinge
rude & strucke mee & beate mee in ye steeplehouse yarde
& one gave mee a very great blow over ye wrist {[with his
full strength] soe y fc people thought hee had broaken my
hande to peices} : & soe ye Constable was very serviceable
to keepe ye peace : & woulde have sett some of y m y fc
strucke mee by ye heeles : soe I went to Joseph Nicholsons 3
1653] Antichrists and Deceivers 109
house : & ye Constable went a litle way with us to keepe ye
rude multitude off us : & in ye afternoone I went upp againe :
& ye preist had gott another high preist y fc came from
London to helpe him.
But before I went Into ye steeplehouse I sate a litle
upon ye crosse & freindes with mee whoe were all moved
of ye Lorde to goe into ye steeplehouse : & after a while
I went in after y m And there stayde till ye preist had
donne : whoe gathered uppe all ye scriptures {y* spoake} of
ye false prophetts & Antichrists & decevers & threw upon us :
butt when hee had donne I recollected all those scriptures
againe & brought y m backe upon him : & ye people fell
upon mee in a rude manner: & ye Constable charged y m
to keepe ye peace : & then all was quiett : butt ye preist
begann to rage & saide I must not speake there & then
I tolde him hee had his houre glasse by which hee had
preacht : & haveinge donne ye time was free for mee as
well as for him for hee was butt a stranger.
And soe I opned ye scriptures to y m & lett y m see y t
those scriptures described y m & there generations y* spoake
of ye false prophetts & Antichrists & deceivers which be
longed to y m y fc were founde walkinge in there stepps &
bringeinge foorth there fruites & not unto us : & ho we they
w r ere out of ye stepps of ye true prophetts & ye Apostles :
& soe shewed it cleere by ye fruites & markes & stepps
y t they were of those y* those scriptures spoake of {& not
us}: & all was quiett whilst I declared ye truth & ye worde
of life to ye people & I directed y m to Christ there teacher.
Soe when I had donne I came foorth & both ye preists
were in such a frett & rage y* they foamed att ye mouth
for anger against mee 1 but ye Lords power came over y m
all: & I went doune againe to Jos: Nicholsons house : & ye
next day there was a rude wicked man woulde have donne
violens to a ffreinde but ye Lords power stoptt him.
And I was moved to sende James Lancaster to appoint
a meetinge att one Jo: Wilkinsons steeplehouse whoe had
three parishes under him : & was a preist in great repute &
esteeme & soe I staide att Bootle in Millom 2 till hee came
backe againe.
And some of ye gentry In y* country had made a plott
against mee & as I was in ye feilde they came to ye house
i io A Company of Witches [1653
where I came from & they lighted on Jam: Lancaster but
did not much abuse him : but they came to Jo: Nicholsons
house & had given a litle boy a rapier & hee shoulde have
donne ye mischeife : but I beinge in ye feildes & they
not findinge mee in ye house after a while they went
there ways.
And soe I walked uppe & doune in ye feildes y fc night &
did not goe to bed as very often I used to doe : & ye next
morninge wee passed away : & ye next day wee came to ye
steeplehouse where Ja: Lancaster had appointed ye meetinge
& there was a dozen souldyers & there wiffes which was
come from Carlile : & all ye country people came in like
as to a fayre : & I lyinge shorte att a house sent all freindes
before mee & there was some wicked women in a feilde
harde by ye house & I saw they was witches & I was moved
to goe unto y m & declare unto y m there conditions & y fc they
were in ye spiritt of witch craft.
And then I walkt doune towards ye steeplehouse where
I founde Jam: Lancaster speakeinge under an ye we tree &
Itt was full of people soe as I feared they woulde break it
doune. And I lookt upp & doune for a place to stande
upon to speake unto ye people for they lay like people att
a leagre all upp & doune : & after a while y fc I was dis
covered & I saw y* there was noe place convenient to speake
to ye people from a professor came to mee & askt mee
whether I woulde goe Into ye Church & I tolde him yes.
And soe ye people rushed in after mee & when I came
in ye pulpitt & house was soe full of people y fc I had much
to doe to gett in : butt they y* coulde not gett in stoode
about ye walls.
And when ye people was setled I stoode uppe & ye
Lorde opned my mouth to declare his everlastinge truth
& his everlastinge day : & to lay open all there teachers &
there rudiments traditions & Inventions y* 1 they had beene
in in ye night of Apostacy since ye Apostles days : & to
turne y m to Christ there teacher & to sett uppe & direct
y m to his worshippe : & where to finde ye spiritt & truth y*
they might worshippe God in & opned Christs parables to
y m : & directed y m to ye spiritt of God in them y fc woulde
open ye scriptures & parables to y m : & how all might come
to knowe there saviour & sett under his teachinge & come to
1653] Priest Larkham 1 1 1
bee heires of ye kingedom of God & largely did I declare ye
worde of life to y m for about 3 houres time & all was still &
quiett & satisfyed: [turninge y m from ye darknesse to ye
light & ye power of Sathan unto God] soe y fc every one
might come to knowe whoe there teacher was Christ Jesus
& ye Lorde God as ye prophetts & ye Apostles & ye true
church did & soe to knowe both God & Christs voice by
which they might see all ye false shepheards & teachers
they had beene under & see ye true shepheard preist
Bishoppe & prophett Christ Jesus whome God commanded
y m to heare.
And after I had more fully declared ye worde of life to
y m [{then is heere mentioned}] I walkt foorth from amongst
ye people & ye people passt away mightily satisfyed [&
Anth: Pearson was att ye meetinge which was come from
ye sessions] : & there was a professor foloweinge of mee &
praiseinge & commendinge of mee & his words was like a
thistle to mee & att last I turned about & bid him feare
ye Lorde : & there was 4 preists gathered togeather which
came after ye meetinge was donne & one preist Larkam l
saide : Sir why doe you Judge soe saide hee you must not
Judge & I turned to him & saide : ffreinde does not thou
discerne an exhortation from a Judgement : for I admonished
him to feare God & dost thou say I Judge him.
And soe I {manifested him in discourse with} him to bee
amongst ye false prophetts {& covetous hirelinges} & hee &
ye two preists gott soone away & severall people was moved
to speake to y m .
And then preist Wilkison 2 y fc was preist of y fc parish &
two other parishes in Cumberlande when they was gonne
hee began to dispute against his owne conscience severall
houres till generally ye people turned against him : & hee
thought to have tyred mee out butt ye Lordes power tyred
him out & ye Lords truth came over all & many hundreds
was convinct y fc day & received ye Lord Jesus Christs free
teachinge with gladnesse : & many stands to this day &
has dyed in truth under Christs teachinge.
And ye souldyers was convinct & there wives & con-
tinnued with mee till ye first day : & on ye first day I
went to Cockermouth steeplehouse where the preist Larkam
[ye preist y i first opposed mee as aforesaid] lived : & when
ii2 Wilkinsons Steeplehomes [less
ye preist had donne I began to speake & ye people began to
bee rude : & ye souldyers tolde y m wee had broaken noe
law & then they was quiett.
Soe I begann to speake to ye preist & layde him open
amongst ye false prophetts & hirelinges att which worde ye
preist gott his ways {& saide hee calls mee hirelinge} which
was true enough for all ye people knew it.
And some of ye great men of ye tounde came to mee
& saide : Sir wee have noe learned men to dispute with
you : I tolde y m I came not to dispute but to declare ye
way of salvation & ye way of everlastinge life : & soe I
declared largely ye way of life & truth {to y m } & directed
y m to there teacher : y fc had dyed for y m & had bought y m
with his bloode : & when I had donne I passed away about
2 miles to a nother great steeplehouse of Wilkisons y fc stoode
in a feilde 1 & ye people was mightily affected & woulde have
putt my horse in ye steeplehouse yarde & I saide noe ye
preist claimes y* : carry him to an Inn.
And when I came Into ye steeplehouse yarde I saw
people comeinge as to a fay re : & abundans was already
gathered in ye lanes & about ye steeplehouse : & beinge
very thirsty I walkt about a quarter of a mile to a brooke
& gott a litle water & refresht my selfe.
And as I came uppe againe I mett ye preist Wilkison
& as I was goeinge by him Sir saide hee will you preach
to day : if you will says hee I will not oppose you not in
worde or thought : but I saide oppose it if thou wilt I
have somethinge to speake to ye people : & thou carryed
thy selfe foolishly ye other day & spoakest against thy con
science & reason soe as thy hearers cryed out against thee :
soe I went away & left him : for hee saw It was in vaine to
oppose ye people was soe affected with ye Lords truth soe
I came Into ye steeplehouse yarde : & not seeinge any con
venient place to speake over to ye people : & a professor
came againe & askt if I woulde not goe Into ye Church
{as he caled it} & I saw y fc woulde bee ye convenierist place
to speake unto ye people from : soe I went in & stoode uppe
in a seate after ye people was setled : & ye preist came In
but did not goe uppe Into his pulpitt : & soe I declared
Gods everlastinge truth & worde of life for about 3 houres
to ye people & all was quiett & brought y m all to ye spiritt
1653] Discernment of Witches 113
of God in y m selves by which they might knowe God &
Christ & ye Scriptures & to have heavenly felloweshippe
in ye spiritt : & showed y m howe every one y fc comes Into
ye worlde was Inlightned by Christ ye life with which light
they might see there sinns & Christ there saviour whoe was
come to save y m from there sin with which light they might
see there preist y 1 dyed for y m there shepheard to feede
y m & there great prophett to open to y m : soe with ye light
of Christ they might see Christ always present with y m
whoe was ye author of there faith & ye finisher thereof.
Soe opninge ye first covenant & sheweinge y m ye types
& ye substans & bringeinge y m to Christ ye 2 d covenant
& howe they had beene in ye night of Apostacy since ye
Apostles days : but now ye everlastinge Gospell was preacht
againe y* brought life & immortality to light & ye day of ye
Lorde was come & Christ was come to teach his people
himselfe by his light Grace power & spiritt And many 100s
was convinct y fc day.
And after I went to a village & many people accom-
panyed mee & I was setting in a house full of people &
declareinge ye worde of life unto y m : I cast my eye upon
an uncleane woman & tolde her shee was a witch : & I was
moved in ye Lords power to speak sharpely to her & soe
shee went out of ye roome : & people tolde mee y* I had
descovered a great thinge : & all ye Country lookt upon her
to bee a witch.
And alsoe att another time there came in such an one
Into Swarthmoore hall In ye meetinge & I was moved to
speake sharpely to her & tolde her shee was a witch alsoe
& ye people confessed to ye same thinge & saide all ye
Country lookt upon her to bee such an one alsoe.
And there came in another woman & stoode a litle off
from mee & I cast my eye upon her : & I saide shee had
beene an harlott : for I perfectly saw ye condition & life
of ye woman : & ye woman aunswered & saide : many coulde
tell her of her outwarde sinns but none coulde tell her of
her Inwarde : but I tolde her her hearte was not right
before ye Lorde {& from ye inwarde came ye outwarde} : but
after ^ this woman came to bee convinct of Gods truth &
remained {a freinde).
Soe from y fc village we came uppe to Tho: Bewleys 1 [butt
G. F.
ii4 Many Baptists and Soldiers Convinced [1653
when night came I walked out & layde out all night] : &
from thence haveinge some service there for ye Lorde I
passed to a markett tounde where I had a meetinge at
ye crosse l : & all was pretty quiett : & when I had declared
ye truth unto y m & turned y m to Christ there teacher: wee
passt away & had another meetinge upon ye borders 2 in a
steeplehouse yarde: where many professors & Contenders
came but ye Lords power was over all : but after ye worde
of life was declared some received ye truth there & att ye
markett tounde aforesaid : & from thence wee passed Into
Carlile.
And ye pastor of ye baptists came to mee there to ye
Abby with most of his hearers where I had a meetinge
& declared ye worde of life amongst y m : & many of ye
baptists {& souldyers} was convinced.
And after ye meetinge was donne ye pastor came &
askt mee what must bee damned beinge a highnotionist
& a flashy man : & I was moved of a sudden to tell him
y fc which spoake {in him was to bee damned} which stoppt
ye pastors mouth: & ye wittnesse of God was raised up in
him 3 : & I opned to him ye state of election & reprobration
y fc hee saide hee never hearde ye like in his life.
And after I went uppe to ye castle amongst ye souldyers
& they beate a drum & caled y m togeather : & I turned y m
to ye Lord Jesus Christ there teacher: & warned y m of
doeinge any violence to any man & y fc they might shew
foorth a Christians life & turned y m from ye darknesse to
ye light & from ye power of Sathari unto God : & I lett y m
see what was there teacher & what woulde bee there con
demnation : & had noe opposition but from ye serjant whoe
afterwards came to bee convinct.
And on ye markett day I went uppe Into ye markett
to ye crosse & ye magistrates had threatned & sent there
serjants {& ye magistrates wiffes saide} y* if I came there
howe they would plucke ye haire off my heade & y* ye
serjants shoulde take mee uppe yett neverthelesse I obeyed
ye Lord God & went upon ye Crosse : & there declared unto
ym yt ve day O f y e Lord was comeinge upon all there
deceitefull ways & doeinges & deceitfull merchandise : & y*
they was to lay away all couseninge & cheatinge & keepe
to yea & nea & speake ye truth one to another : soe I sett
1653 1 "Keepe thy Eyes off mer II5
ye truth & ye power of God over y m : & ye people beinge
thronge ye serjants coulde not gett to mee soe I passt
away quietly after I had declared ye worde of life to ye
people: & many people & souldyers came to mee & some
baptists y fc were bitter contenders f one of there deacons
cryed out ye Lords power beinge over y m : & I sett my eyes
upon him & spake sharpely to him in ye power of ye Lorde
& nee cryed dont peirce mee soe with thy eyes keepe thy
eyes off mee.
And on ye first day after I went Into ye steeplehouse l :
& alter ye preist had donne I spoake ye truth to y m &
declared ye worde of life amongst ye people : & ye magis
trates desired mee to goe out of ye steeplehouse but ye
preist gott away: but I still declared: & tolde y m I came to
speake ye worde of life & salvation from ye Lord amongst
y & a dreadefull power of ye Lord there was amongst y m
m ye steeplehouse y* ye people trembled & shooke : & they
thought ye steeplehouse shooke & thought it woulde have
lalen doune y fc ye magistrates wiffes was in a rage & tore
& rent to have beene att mee but ye souldyers & freindely
people stoode thicke about mee.
Att last ye rude people of ye citty risse & came with
states Into ye steeplehouse & cryed doune with these rounde-
headed rogues & threw stones: butt ye governor sent a file
or two of musketeers Into ye steeplehouse & commanded ye
souldyers all out : & ye souldyers tooke mee by ye hande
very freindely & saide they woulde have mee a longst with
them then: & soe when wee were in ye street all ye tounde
was of an uproare. And ye governor came doune : & ye
souldyers for standinge against ye tounds people some of
y m was cast Into prison & for standinge by {& for} mee.
Soe there came ye Leiutenant y* had beene convinced
& had rnee to his house where there was a baptists meet-
mge & there freindes came alsoe & wee had a very quiett
meetmge : & they hearde ye worde of life gladly & received it,
And ye next day I went to a baptists house & ye
officers & Justices & magistrates of ye tounde was gathered
togeather {att ye hall} & they graunted a warrant for mee
{& sent for mee} : & I went uppe to ye tounde hall to y m
where a many was gathered : & many rude people there
was y had sworne strange thinges against mee : & a great
82
n6 Letter to Sir Wilfrid Lawson [less
deale of discourse I had with y m & shewed y m the fruites
of there preists preachinge : & howe voide they were of
Christianity though such great professors but without
possession 1 .
And soe after a longe examination they sent mee to
prison [as ye circumstances & farther relation thereof
heereafter folio weth]. a
[g f to loson of Carly 16 53*
Oh Lawson 3 oh Blood sucker oh Esau who would slay
the Righteous, and slayeth them in thy hart, who swallowes
upp ye earth lord Esau who would slay Jacob, & persecute
him, but hee is preserved out of thy hands oh thou cunning
ffox who seeks to devoure ye lambs of Jesus Christ, oh
Herod hard hart who would see Jesus but to destroy him :
but god will throwe the downe thou oppressor of ye Just,
oh thou serpent who art painted outwardly with the saints
words but a murtherer, and killer of ye Just, oh thou viper
who art in the viperous generaon full of venome, spueing
it forth, against the Righteous seed, barken to y fc in thy
Conscience, which should exercise it, it will lett y ee see
howe thou hast spent thy tyme, for to y* doe I speake
which shall eternally witnes mee when ye booke of conscience
is opned, and condemne y ee when it doeth aryse. Therefore
Cumber not ye ground, Cumber not ye ground doe not call
this rayleing language for if thou knowest the letter, it
speaks the same. This I am Moved to write y fc thou
mayst see thy selfe, y* while thou hast tyme thou may
repent.
Nether count this hard language nor rivile at it, its the
love of ye lord god to thee.]
[ff ff triall at Carly 1653 publeck leter^
Dear brother my dear & tender love unto thee in the
Lord Jesus presents it selfe unto thee, hopeing in the lord
that thou abids in the truth & in the love of it, and those
a Narrative continued on page 124.
1653] Carlisle Imprisonment 1 1 7
that are sufferers for it as thou hast shewed thy selfe
heretofore, and I am sure thou needs not be ashamed of it
for it shall stand when all the deceitfull devices of man
shall fall, though all the powers of the earth combine them
selves & gather togeather against ye Lord & his anoynted,
yet will he be glorified in his saints & in the destruction
of his enemies as they shall find and see when it will be to
late.
I sent thee up A note from my dear brother George &
Robert Widders & likewise ye warrant, by which the
persecutors of the truth did aprehend him, & I did expect
to have hard something from thee concerning him before
this, the iudges at the Assizes would not suffer him to
come before them, but did revile him & scofe towards him
behind his backe, and did give what incorragement they could
to ye Justices to exersise their cruelty upon him he was
then in the Jelors house, but kept close up in ye Assize
weeke ; & no freinds suffered to goe to him both Collonell
Benson & Justice Pearson was denyed, but all drunkards
& lude persons was suffered to goe in : the next day after
ye iudges went forth there was command to the Jelor that
lie should be put in the common Goall amongst theeves &
murderers, & the most odious place that ever man was put
into, & there he is now, Lawson that is the shereffe of the
county is his greatest enemy & was one of them that was
the greatest cause of his committment though he had no
power to act then, he being the sheriffe of the county, but
all such uniust actions is suffered, &* all such tyranes is
upheld by those that are in Authority, and the truth only
suffers & is imprisoned by them never was the like horrible
blaspheming of god & dissembleing with him as in these
dayes by those that professe A god in words & in all then-
actions fights against him {which is blasphemie indeed which
they soe much speake on}, & his truth & the spreading
abroad of it ; O let all profession & great words and boastings
of light & high formes, let them all blush and be ashamed
before the lord, who will not be mocked with them, though
they falsely pretend that they stand for liberty of conscience
& propigation of the Gospell & keepes those men in Authority
under them, who watches & lyes in waite for an opportunity
to destroy those whom ye Lord sends forth to preach the
1 1 8 Sufferers for Conscience Sake [1053
everlasting Gospell some the stone some they beate &
shamefully use, & ever when they can have any collour
casts them into prison, most part of the Goalls in the North
part of England hath some friends of the truth in as Yorke
Carelile Apulby Lancaster, now be ye iudges your selves
ye pretenders of liberty of conscience & consider what
liberty you give to tender consciences which never com
mitted any offence to any man but for conscience sake ;
O how dare you professe reforma9on when cruelty & tyrany
rulles in ye Land ; oh looke backe & see if ever there was
the like in all ye Kings or Bishops time since queen Maryes
dayes that slew the Marters, that soe many Goalls was
furnished with prisoners meerly for conscience sake, or was
there ever any that suffered for conscience, that was put
among theeves & murderers, or scarce ever was there except
it was popish preists or Jesuits that ever was kept in prison,
but they either spoke treason againe king or State, or gave
some other offence more then meerly conscience, which no
man can ever accusse any of these iustly with, but meerly
they suffer for ye truthes sake & by the Immediate moveing
of the lord doe speake against ye abominations of the times,
& the filthy deceites of the Idolatrous worshipes which is
holden up, which is abominable to the Lord : but hee is
comeing to confound & throw downe that filthy Idoll which
they call their worshipe which is odious in his sight, he will
destroy it by the spirit of his mouth & the brightnesse of
his comeing ye decree is gone out from ye Lord distruction
is comeing upon it & all the upholders of it there let ye
powers of the earth stand out as long as they can the woe
& the curse is upon them that strives with there maker
& he will overturne them root & branch, they shall not
escape the Judgement of God, for he is the same God that
ever he was & he will not give his glory to another, & now
his glory suffers by the persecuters of the truth, but he is
comeing who rules with A rod of Iron which shall dash to
peeces all his enemies but who may abide the day of his
comeing or who can stand when he appeares for terrible wil]
he be to his enemies.
Dear hart I cannot but let thee know ye cruelty of
these tyrants, Oh these Acts and pretences that they have
to act by is odious to all that hath but common honesty.
1653] Banishment or Death 1 1 9
That the state should pretend love to the truth and yet
suffer such things to be of force that ail bloody persecutors
may have their wills soe fare as ye lord gives them power
upon those that lives in ye truth : They intend banishment
to George or else to ye takeing away of his life if it be in
their power now at their sessions for the Judges left him to
them to proceed against according to ye Acte & Lawson was
in hopes to have gotten his life now taken away at ye sissezes
& gave it out that he would corne to be tried for his (life),
though that they had nothing to ly against him at all but
what they had gotten their false witnesses to swear & there
was nothing that they swore that is within the Act yet
they thurst soe for his Blood, that their wills will be their
lawes if the Lord doe not prevent them by some meanes or
instruments that he will raise up. doe what ye lord moves
thee and what he makes way for thee for it is no mans
strength nor power y* we looke at but the lord alone who
is ye same to us that he was to Daniell in ye midst of ye
Lions & the three children in ye firy furnas, the same power
doe we dwell & stand in & ye same power will deliver us
out of the hands of all bloody persecutors & it is but to
make up their iniquity & to fatt them for distruction for
that is their porcon that that he spoke there before them
A thousand will wittnesse the same thing with him & sub
scribes their names & lay downe their lifes & is not afraid
of no men whatsoever everlasting praises be to our father
for ever.
Here is some hints of ye passages hat Justice Pearson
& Justice Benson tooke of the proceeding of those they call
iudges but it may be they will hereafter send them more
at large, he that runes may reed their iniustice their
baisnesse was observed in all the Country where they come
which is little credite for them that set them A worke now
I have let thee know how things is, I am discharged and let
my heavenly father worke how he will, & by whom he will,
& as thou acts for the truth thou shalt be preserved by the
lord of truth, and if thou neglect any opportunity that is
offered to thee, the lord will require it at thy hands, ffor
he takes strict notice of you though you may take liberty
to your selves yet never any pretended such high things for
god as you doe which is the highest dissembleing with the
120 John Stubbs to Margaret Fell [1653
lord which he will be avenged of, let your high formes &
great professions consider now who is parsecuted for the
truth who it is that persecutes them, they have long stooden
in their formes but never was there any persecution till now
that the power of truth is made manifest which will
confound & breake to peeces all their formes, now doth the
lord of glory suffer indeed in his saints by those that pro
fesses him in words & denyes his power but their power is
limitted & he will recover his glory out of their hands which
shall be to the confusion of all his enemies and to his
exaltation of his great name upon the earth, they shall find
the lord of the vinyard is comeing to looke for fruits & will
reward every man according to the deeds for the keeper of
Israeli neither slumbers nor sleepes but takes notice of all
the actions words thoughts & Intentions of his enemyes soe
let them act what they can their compasse is knowne their
time is but short.]
\J: Stubes to m ff of g ff at Carly dongon 1 653 l
Deare sister in the truith of god
My love presents it selfe unto y ee and to the rest of thy
famyly I read y m dayly y u are soe written in my heart.
Geo: and I are well, and kept in our ffathers will with
great boldnesse though the enemyes rage be great, some
threats mee, and some hath beat mee, soe I witnesse in
some measure y* perfect love casts out feare, they straitned
soe much as that they tooke pen and inke from George, &
the under Goaler beat him in prison, a,nd alsoe they beat
thre of our ffriends y fc came out of Westmereland, for
lookeing in att ye window, Justice Pearson, comeing ye
same day and heareing of there Cruelty, Committed ye under
Goaler to prison and there hee is till hee find surety for
his good behaviour, hee hath alsoe left a warrant with John
Stubbs to deliver To the Sheriffe, and ye Goaler to sett
George att liberty: as they will Answere it To ye Contrary,
wee are to deliver it to ye Sheriffe or ye Goaler upon
Monday when there is a Coppy of it taken.
There was ffriends about Cockermouth sent George for
his Table 14 s 6 d but it was not received but sent backe
165s] Justices Craston and Studholm 121
againe : by the next oppurtunity I shall give y ee accompt
of the warrant: And soe tyme permitts not to write any
more att present, but ffarewell.
Thy Brother in
the lord
Sep fc . 11 1653. Tho: Rallison.
They brought a fidler in to George because hee would
not dance, they beat him.
I have bought him a shirt.
pretious heart :
fforgett not ye requests of one who soe earnestly write
to y ee in his last to present him in thy prayers to ye Mercy
seat, where hee himselfe cannot have recoursse, because hee
knowes nothing but Blacknesse and darknesse, all his
Imaginary light is put out.
Thy distressed ffriend
Jo: Stubbs 1 .
Coll: Bensons wife remembers her selfe to y ee , she passeth
away this day Towards her owne house, not forgetting her
deare love to thy family.]
G: ff: paper to ye Justices at Carlile y f cast G: ff:
in prison & persecuted ff rends. 1653 2 .
fFriends Thomas Craston & Cuthbert Studholm 3 .
Your noyse is come up to London what havock what
Imprisonment is come up before ye sober people what
Imprisonment what bridling what Making havock and
spoyling the Goods of people have you made within these
few yeers, unlike men as though you had never read
scriptor to bee men y* minded y m is this the End of Carliles
Heligion, is this the End of your ministry and is this the
End of your church Christiannity profession, you have
shamed itt by your folly and madness and blinde Zeale was
it not alwayes the worke of ye blinde Guids watchmen and
Leaders and false prophetts to prepare war against them y e
122 Priests Pack-horses [1653
would not putt into thire mouthes and have you not binn
the priests pack horses and Executionners when they spurr
you up to beare ye Swoard against ye Just doe you not
Runne on against Creatures that cannot hould up such as
always ye scriptures did testifie against, yet will you lift up
your unholy hands and call upon god with your poluted lips
and pretend afast which is full of strife and debate.
Did your harts never burne within you was you never come
to Question your Condition are you wholy given up to doe
the Divills Lusts persecute where is your loveing Ennimies
where is your Entertaying strangers where is your over
coming Evell with good where are your teachers that cann
stopp ye Mouthes of gainesayers and Convince Gainesayers
and such as oppose them selves have you noe ministers
of ye spirit noe souldirs with Spirittuall weapons hanging
forth Christ Cullers but all ye Draggons the murderers
ye persecutors Arme of flesh Caynes weapons Cheife
preists Counsells Judas multitude with soards and staves
Sodoms Company Rageing aboute Lotts house like preists
and princes against Jerymy [who cryed against them y 1
would bee ruled by thire meanes] like the Draggon beast
and greate whoare and false church which should cast
into prison and Kill and persecute whose weapons are you
bearing should not ye false church ye whoare make mar-
chandize of [Beaves and] Cattle and oyle to the very soules
of men and hath not all this binn since the true church
went into the wildernesse read Revelations ye 12 th doe
you not Reade and see what a spiritt you are of and
what apitt you are in bottomles and have you not Dis
honored the place of Justice and Authority what turned
your swoard backwards like mad men who are aprayse to
the Evell Doer and would bee aterror to the good with all
force and might to stop the way of Justice doeth not the
Lord thinke you behould your actions, how r many have you
wronged how many have you prisoned persecuted and putt
out of your sinagoges are you them y* must fulfill ye
prophicy of christ Matthew ye 23 th John 16 th Read the
Scriptures and see how unlike you are to the prophetts
Christ and his appostles and what a visage you have like
unto them that persecuted ye prophetts Christ and ye apos
tles and found in their stepes wresling with flesh and Bloud
1653] Persecution Blind and Mad 123
and not with principallitys and powers and sprittuall wic-
kednes [ a in high places" but flesh and bloud] and your teachers
prisoning and persecuting for outward things and you their
Exicutinors which have not binn the like in all the nation,
the havock made the spoyling the goods of people taking
Away thire oxen heaves sheepe Corne woole and houshold
goods and give them to the preists, them that have donrie
noe worke for them more like moss troopers then ministers
of the gospell, they take y m from freinds sueing y m in your
Courts and fineing them because they will not breake the
Commands of christ y fc is because they will not sweare and
thus you acte against them that Doeth not lift up ahand
against you and as much as you turne against them you
Turne against christ but hee is Risin that will pleade their
Cause and you cannot bee hid for your workes is come to
light and ye End of your ministry is seene what it is for,
for means, and yee have Dishonnored the truth ye Gospell
and are them that make it chargeable, you have lost your
Glory you have Dishonored your Selves persecution was
Ever blind and madd Read the apostle what hee saith of
him selfe when hee was in your nature Exalltation and
.pride and your lifting up your Selves have Brough you to
this not being humble not Doeing Justice nott loveing
mercy and when such as have binn beat and brused by your
Rude Company (to whome you are apraise) have come and
layd things before you y* you might have Done Justice
preserved and keept peace (you as knowing they would nott
sweare) have putt an oath to them and* this have binn your
Trickes and Cover whearby you would not doe Justice to the
Just but by this meanes have gone on still further to
Encoradge the Evill Doer but the lord sees your harts if
you was not men past feeling you would feare and treamble
before him the god of the whole Earth who is Risin who will
stayn your Glory and Marr your pride and Deface your
Beautey and lay it in the Dust though you may swell in
your pride and Glory in your shame and Make a Mock of
gods Messengers that is become your prey (that reproves
sinne in the gates) for atime, you will feele the heavy hand
of god and his Judgments att last.
a ... a These words have a line through them.
124 Tithes and the False Church [1653
ffrom alover of the truth (and of your soules) and
Righteousnes but awittness against all such as make a trade
of the prophetts [words] christ and the Appostles words
and are found e in ye stepts of them that persecuted the
prophetts christ and ye appostles life who will persecute
them y* will not hould you up and put into your moueths
and give you meanes, for tithes was before ye law and tith
is in the law and tithes since the dayes of the appostles
have binn a all since the falle a now christ who comes to End
the law and End the warr redeemes men out of the ninthes
againe (they shall Hayne upon the Earth and knowe the
Election which was before the worle began), and tithes now
since the dayes of the appostles have binn sett up by the
papists by them y fc went forth from ye appostles into the
world soe sett up by the falce church that made marchandize
of people since the true church went into the wilderness but
now is the Judgment of the Greate whoare come and ye
beast and falce prophett ye old Draggon taken and cast into
ye fire and the lambe and saintes shall have the victory and
now is christ come who will make war in Righteousness and
Disstroy with ye swoard of his Mouth all these Inventers
and Inventions y fc have binn sett up since the dayes of the
appostles and ye true church went into the wilderness and
ye Everlasting gospell shall bee preached againe which is the
power of god to all nations and Kindreds and Toungs in
this the lambes day which you shall Appeere before to
Judgment and you have noe way to Escape the first and
last the bigining and the Ending the Alpha and Omega hee
giath appeared} y fc was Dead is a live againe and lives for
vermore.
& And ye two Joalers were like two beare heards: &
when ye heade goaler had mee uppe Into a great chamber
& tolde rnee I shoulde have what I woulde in y i roome but
I tolde him hee shoulde not expect any money from mee : &
y fc I woulde not lye in none of his beds nor eate none of his
victualls.
And then hee putt mee Into a nother roome where I gott
a thinge to lye one after a while.
... a Ellwood editions read only, since the false Church got up
b Narrative continued from page 116.
1653] Visitors to Carlisle Gaol 125
And ye Assises came on : & all ye news was & crye in ye
country y fc I was to bee hanged & ye high sheriffe saide one
{Sir Winfred} Lawson y fc hee woulde guarde mee to my
execution & stirred y m much uppe to take away my life : &
they was all in a blacke darke rage & they sett 3 musketeers
upon mee : on att my chamber doore & another att ye
stayres foote and another att ye streete doores & woulde
lett none come att mee except one to bring mee some
necessary thinges.
And att nights they woulde lett upp preists about
1 a clocke att night they woulde bririge in droves off y m
& exceedinge rude & divellish they were but ye Lorde in his
power gave mee dominion over y m all: & I lett y m see both
there fruites & there spiritts.
And great Ladys & countesses came to see a man y fc
they saide was to dye [& ye preists woulde temptingely aske
what must I die for there sinns which manifested y fc they
was in ye nature of y m y fc crucifyed him y fc dyed for ye sinns
of ye worlde] : & there was a company of bitter Scotch
preists & presbyterians made uppe of envy {& malice whoe
were not fitt to speake of ye thinges of God : they were
soe fowle mouthed}.
And soe when they was contriveinge both Judge Sheriffe
& Justices of puttinge mee to death ye Judges Clarke started
a question {to y m } y fc confounded y m all : after which they had
not power to call mee out before ye Judges l : butt they
continnued in there rage & gave order ^y* I shoulde bee put
in ye dungeon amongst ye mosse troopers : & soe they did :
where men & women was putt togeather & never a house of
office : in a nasty & very uncivill manner which was a shame
to Christianity: but ye prisoners was made all of y m
very loveinge to mee & some of y m were convinced as ye
publicans & harlotts {of olde were} : soe y fc they were able
to confounde a preist y fc might come to ye grates to dispute.
And Justice Bensons wiffe 2 was moved of ye Lord to
come to visitt mee & to eate noe meate but what shee eate
with mee att ye barrs of ye {dungeon} window : a good
honnest woman whoe after was Imprisoned her selfe {att
Yorke} for speakinge to a preist when shee was great with
childe & had childe in prison : & shee continnued a good
freinde till shee dyed.
i26 James Parnell [1653
And whilst I was in ye dungeon a litle boy one James
Parnell 1 about 15 yeeres olde came to mee & hee was con-
vinct & came to bee a very fine minister of ye worde of life
& turned many to christ : & att last hee was Imprisoned
himselfe in Colchester & ye goaler was cruell with him &
made him climbe uppe & doune {for his victualls} Into a place
caled litle ease {or ye oven} where they kept him & hee fell
doune ye roape breakeinge & broake his heade soe as hee
dyed & then ye wicked Independant preists made a booke
of it & saide hee fasted himselfe to death : which was all
lyes.
Butt I continnued in ye dungeon amongst ye prisoners
whoe were exceeding lowsy 2 : & ye litle parlament 3 hearinge
y fc a younge man was to dye for religion att Carlile : they
writt doune {to ye Sheriffe & magistrates} a butt Itt came
after I was sett at liberty". But ye goaler continnued
exceedinge cruell soe y fc hee beate frends & freindely people
exceedingely with great cudgells [as if hee had beene
beatinge a packe of wooll] .
And I coulde gett uppe to ye grate where sometimes I
tooke my meate & ye goaler was offended & came in a rage
with his great staffe : & hee fell a beatinge of mee though I
was not att ye window att y fc time : & cryed come out of ye
window though I was farr enough of it : & as hee strucke
mee I was made to singe in ye Lords power & y* made him
rage ye more : & then hee fetcht a fidler & brought Into
ye dungeon & sett him to play : & when hee playde I was
moved in ye everlastinge power of ye Lord God to singe :
& my voice droned y m & strucke y m & confounded y m y fc
made y m give over {fidlinge} & goe there ways.
And ye governor & {Justice} Anth: Pearson came doune
& Itt was such an 111 savor & a shame to ye magistrates y t
ye goaler shoulde doe such thinges : y* they caled for ye
goalers Into ye dungeon : & they came doune Into ye
dungeon to mee & they bid ye goalers finde suretyes for ye
good behaviour & soe they putt ye undergoaler Into ye
Dungeon with mee amongst ye mosse troopers whoe had
beene such a cruell fellowe.
And many preists y fc came to mee woulde bee askinge
a ... a These words have a line through them.
1653] A Paper to Magistrates 127
questions & sayinge ye scriptures was ye worde : & I askt
y m ho we many gods there was {& they saide one} : & I
askt y m whether y fc God was not ye worde & they woulde say
yes : & soe I lett y m see howe they did confounde y m selves :
for there was not a prisoner but was able to confute y m .
Soe after a while I was sett att liberty by ye Justices &
ye Lords power came over y m all. a
[A paper of g: ffs: to ye magistrates in ye longe
parlaments time. 1653 1 .
ffreinds
Is it not knowne throughout ye nation the people of god
which are of the seed of god scorne called quakers are
peaceable people & meete peaceably & is knowne to the
cheife magistrates of the nation j^ they doe not fight with
carnall weapons nor draw out the carnall sword bat theire
weapons are , & y* they are against murderous plotts, now
for you to busy yourselves to come with armed men upon
simple inocent people to make a pudder & a noise with a
strange kind of warrant dated the 2 d May like men beeside
your senses or witts, unrationable, & to call theire meetinge
tumultuous which was not soe, & for saying the meeting
was preiudiciall ye doth but shew y* you are preiudiciall
to the Comonwealth, which is to protect theire meetings, &
had any tumultuous people come to disturbe them you
should have executed the Law, & kept peace if you were
true executors of it, for them who you in scorne call quakers
theire meetings are peaceable, but often tumultuous people
& preiudiced people have assaulted them & you partiall have
not executed the law on one side as well as the other, for
the law doe not respect persons nor a particculer people, for
when some of them have beene moved of the lord according
to scripture & true doctrine & come into the assembly of
the preists & something have beene revealed to them, &
bidden the other hold his peace, or after hee have done,
spoke, preists & people have beene all of heapes & all
tumultuous (which lets us see y fc you have neither true
Narrative continued on page 134.
128 The World of Pleasure [less
Church nor true ministers rior true order neither as you
may reade in the 14th chapk of the first of Corinthians) &
it may bee send them to prison or hale them out (though
wee seeke the reveng of noe mans person); but did you not
see hundreds of tumultuous people in streetes at pleasures,
yea many hundred in many of your greate townes, most
streets full, are those Civill meetings, gapeing shouting &
makeing a noyse, looke through all your greate townes at
such idle times, & see if there bee not many y* come out of
many townes & it may bee Countries for pleasures, & if all
those hundreds y fc meete together to play (allmost streetes
full) it may bee sweareing lying curseing & at vaine sports &
talkes & jests, now if all these met together in the feare of
god & stood up & declared the lords secrets for them y* feare
him & to them hee reveals them, would you send a guard of
soldiers & Cunstable to fetch them away, to make a disturb
ance amongst them & call them a tumultuous meeting, doe
you heere put a difference beetweene the precious & ye vile,
the holy & prophane, the godly & ye prophane, them y*
feare the lord & them y^ feare him not, or turne your sword
backward, are not those blind men y* doe soe: who is it
y fc feares the lord y fc can say otherwise, but who is it y fc can
say otherwise but y fc there was a plott among you against
the inocent whose warrant was dated ye 2 d May soe long
beefore the meeting, is not this takeing counsell against the
lord & against his anointed, whose cords hee breakes to
peices & is not your Cords broaken to peices, the lord open
your understandings & let you see what you are doeing &
whose worke & open your understandings & forgive your
iniquity y fc you may doe iustly & justice & walke humbly
beefore him, & bee a praise to them y fc doe well & a terror
to them y* doe evill, for them y fc doe well are led by the
spirrit of god & in it worship him, & there comes into the
service of god & in the spirrit they meete & in it have
unity, which is the bond of peace, & them y 1 doe evill goe
from the spirrit of god soe the powers of wickedness & darke-
ness & powers of flesh gets up then, which the higher power
goes upon, which higher power is higher then all the powers
of wickedness & darkeness & powers of ye flesh which is
in transgression, over which the higher power goes with
terrour to them y fc doe evill, which goes from ye spirrit of
129
]653 1 Tumultuous Meetings
god in them, which spirrit of god the higher power answeres
which cutts downe the Contrary y* goes from it, soe yee y*
bee soldiers minde a soldiers place, doe violence to noe man
& accuse noe man falsely, for violence is not righteous just
nor truth nor equity, if you doe falsely accuse you goe from
the witness of god in yourselves, & if you doe violence you
goe from the witness of god in yourselves, & then you will
turne against the lambs of Christ & god, hee will plead
theire cause, & soe the lord forgive you & let you see your
worke, what worke you are doeing.
(And indeed it was reported y fc some of the soldiers
were pretty Civill) now you f bee Justices take heed of
malice & envy & preiudice, but mind soberness & gravity
seasonedness & soundness, f you may bee of good report
among them yt feare god & to them y fc doe well a praise &
to them that doe evill a terrour, then in your generation
you wilbee a blessing, but on the contrary you wilbee a stinck
& ill savour, & m acting against the just you leave the uniust
& the world which lyes in wickedness wilbee on your parte
which ever hated Christ & loved not the Children of light
but hated them, & they loved theire owne, & soe if wee
were of the world the world would not hate us, but wee are
not of the world, therefore the world hate us beecause christ
have chosen us out of the world & prepared a place for us, the
habitation of rest, therefore doe the world hate & not heare
us beecause wee testify against the world & the workes v* are
evill, but they y* are of god heare us: .but they y* are not
of god heare not us : now the apostles & christ were looked
upon as tumultuous (by them, who had theire ministers
established & tythes, temples, pulpits & synagougs), &
makers of msureccons, which when indeed they were the
makers of inspections & tumults against the apostles &
heard [?] not with patience, & they were in tumultuous
meetings in the synagouges & temple which haled out of the
synagouge & temple & prisoned & beate & whiped, those
were called tumultuous meetings or meetors those y*
went into synagouges & the temple to draw people of the
temple synagouges tythes pulpitts preists types figurs
shaddowes, & they mett together y* come of the temple
tythes preists to christ the everlasting preisthood, & these
had theire meetings in severall houses or places, & these all
G. F.
130 To Such as seek the World s Honour [iwra
were to speake one by one, if any thing was revealed to him
y fc stood by, y fc they all might learne, bee comforted & edified
& this was order in the Church of god never looked upon as
tumultuous meeting by god the prophets, Christ nor his
apostles throughout scripture : & soe these Temples tythes
preists pulpitts schooles Colleeges was set up by the pope,
the popes names are to the Colleeges & steeple houses yet &
is marked on the topp or the end of them yet with the
Cross & soe they were set up by tumultuous people y fc
drunck the blood of the martyres the prophets & the saints
& imprisoned them stocked them stoned them & made
inquisi9ons whose reliques appeare now against them y fc
meete peacably though moved to cry against deceit, see there
is the man of sin that must bee tormented beefore his time,
but the righteous are glad the day of the lord is appeareing
& sprunge, & y fc which Christ said should come John saw
was come (& the whole world gon after it) which made warr
with the saints but now over it the Lambe & saintes have
victory.]
[<?: ff: to such as seeke for ye worldes honnor. 1653 1 .
Behould you Eulers & harken proud men & women who
have let in ye spirit of ye world into your hearts whereby
you are lifted up in ye earth, Heare what truth saith you
have gained Eiches, & you seeke worldly glory, An evill
Covetousnes to your selves. And these Idols being set up in
your owne hearts to be worshiped, you rage & wonder why
ye Children of light will not worship your gods you have
set up, & fall downe before ye glory of this world in you,
soe you are angry. But why are you soe blind to thinke y*
such who have denyed to bow to ye same spirit & pride in
themselves & have through ye Crose obtained power from
above to cast out ye same Idolls out of their owne hearts,
& can they bow to them in another, Nay ye day is come &
ye Children of light have found ye liveing god to worship,
& there is none besids him to us. And now in vaine is ye
Idols preached, we cannot worship with you, however you
be tormented, It is of God to famish ye worlds Idols, & he
alone will be worshiped who is mighty to save, what have
!653] Humility above Pride 131
we to doe any more with Idoll vanity. Pride cannot save
us, nor can ye worlds glory preserve in ye houre of tempta
tion though we should bow thereto, we cannot trust in
uncertaine riches, nor may we take counsell at silver or
gold, flocks or heards, we have proved your Idolls & knows
what is in them. And we have found them distroyers &
not saviours, whatever your glory promises you (who most
seeke it) we know in its right hand is a lye, flattery &
falsehood, & all who loves it comes short of ye glory of
God. Humility is our glory, & he is our saviour who saith
learne of me for I am lowly & ye shall find rest to your
souls & this we have proved & we find his words truth,
& all loftynesse a lye, so haveing found ye truth, ye truth
hath made us free, free from pride, fre from vaine glory,
fre from y fc spirit y fc puts it on & would have it worshiped,
fre from ye maners of ye Gentiles, who exercise Lordship in
y t nature which is out of ye light & doctrine of Christ ;
soe ye truth haveing made us free in y fc liberty we stand
fast, & may not be Intangled againe with your yoake of
bondage nor ye manners of ye Gentiles.
And then you say its our pride & stobornnes & many
such^ accusations you cast on us. Alas what darkenes
is this, & how have you lost your Judgment, what is Mordeca
become prouder then Hammon with you, Is he proud who
denys to worship pride, & he y fc would be worshiped free,
Is not this to put light for darkenes & darkenes for light,
to condeme ye Inocent, to hide ye offender, come downe to
y fc of God in your consciences & let yt Judge & let pride be
seene & ashamed where it is.
And then you plead scripture & say Let every soule be
subiect to ye higher powers, And be subiect to every
Ordnance of man for ye Lords sake &c : Now this we say
also & ownes ye scriptures, But mans pride is not ye higher
power : In humility we find a power above pride, higher then
opression, higher then mens wills, higher then ye Lusts of
ye Eye, yea higher then all y fc in man would exalt against
it, soe we deny ye lower, y* we may subiect our soules to y*
which excelleth, & which is Ordained of God.
And to every Ordnance of man we are subiect for ye
Lords sake, But should we bow to ye spirit of pride we
should betray ye Lord & give his honour to another, & y fc is
92
132 God s Presence makes Honourable [1653
not for ye Lords sake, so what we see for ye Lord & of
him in every ordnance of man, we subiect to for ye Lords
sake, & what is against him, for his sake we deny, & with
him suffer under it, as witnesses for him against it.
Soe we give Ceser his due, & Custome to whom it belongs,
but all glory & worship to god alone to whom it is due.
But say you y* worship we plead for is Civill, not
religious; but where doe you read in scripture of Civill
worship, we find honour all men in ye Lord & y fc which
is in ye Lord is religious, & y fc which is not in ye Lord is
Idolatrous, Is there any thing honourable in man but ye
Image of god which is spirituall & he that worships where
y fc is not worships ye beast or y 1 which is worse, ye Devill.
And if any bow to y fc of god in man how comes it not
to be religious, & yet you say for conscience sake, & not
religious, & is not y fc religious y fc bindes ye conscience, soe
your distinktions will not gaine worship from them who
knows god & his Image, & ye beast & his Image in their
severall apearances, And by this are they known for ever,
He thats from above seekes not honour from man but y
honour which is of god alone, gods presence in him makes
him honourable in ye hearts of all f loves god, soe god
gives him grace & glory & honour, but ye other must have
none from god, who abids not in y* which is honourable &
soe becomes as ye beast, seekeing honour by force from such
as he hath power over, & rage if he cannot have it, & this
nature hath noe right to it, though ye false prophet Joyne
with him to plead for it, who must into ye lake togather, &
all y fc worship ye beast & his Image must drinke of ye wine
of ye wrath of god powered out without mixture, as saith
ye scripture.
Soe you y fc are in place to rule & seeke for honour, seeke
first y fc which is honourable & none can hould you from
honour, & know it is ye gift of god onely to such as honour
him & not themselves : seeke y* glory & honour y 4 hath
Imortalitie & eternall life which is obtained of god by con
tinuance in well doing, seeke Humility y* goes before honour,
exalt Justice, set up rightiousnes, & truth, in Judgment,
hould forth gods sword to all people under you & not your
owne wills, then you honour god & he will honour you,
seeke first ye kingdome of god y* he may rule in your owne
1653] The Example of King Saul 133
hearts over your pride, over your passion, over lust, over
covetousnes, over respect of persons, & over all unrightious-
nes, soe shall you set up ye higher power in you for every
soule to be subiect to, which y fc of god in every conscience
shall answer to, then are you ministers of god, & he shall
add to you y* honour which is of god, which is spirituall,
which is Imortall, binding every Conscience & soule in sub-
iection to your athority which all y* resist receive damnation
to themselves, & this is religious & an ordnance of god, &
receives not its honour from man, but from god alone, who
hath ever honoured holy men & women y fc ruled for god,
with god, as you may read in ye scriptures, who never
needed to seeke it from men while they retained god, But
Saul when god was departed from him through covetousnes
& disobedience, cryed honour me before ye people, who had
lost ye kingdome of god, had lost his honour, had lost
y* which binds ye conscience, & to which ye soule is {not}
to be subiect, who cryed honour me before ye people, from
whom god was departed, who had departed from god, who
sought honour to himselfe without god, ye kingdome of god
being rent from him, his honour departed ; soe you y fc would
have honour seeke god, & retaine him, exalt his kingdome
in your hearts, & he will add honour thereto, but if you be
disobedient & your owne soules be not subiect to ye higher
power, then another power rules, to which ye rightious soule
cannot subiect for conscience sake ; Then gets up he y*s out
of gods kingdome & crys honour me before ye people, & this
is he y* sought Davids life, & seeks ye life of his seede,
who is disobedient, who is covetous, who is gredy of honour,
who is a rnurthered, who keeps not ye word of god nor
abode in ye truth, to keepe dowiie pride, & vaine glory,
Then ye false prophet crys worship this, soe such as be out
of ye faith of Christ, disobediente to ye law of god & in
respect of persons, such as be flatterers, lyars, scorners,
fighters, suers, drunkards, swearers, & such as be out of
ye kingdom of god, whose soules are not subiect to ye
higher power for conscience sake, such bow & worship with
putting of hats & bowing of knees to ye person,... ye
soule of such is not subiect to ye power j* 1 is of god for
conscience sake, yet such is ye Darkenese of many rulers
as to account that subiection to Authoryty, whilst such
134 A Baptist Teacher Convinced [1653
whose soules doe truelj bow to ye power of rightiousnes,
Justice & equitie where ever it is, without flattering where
it is not, are condemned for unmannerlynes, disorder & suffer
as disobedient to Authoritie.
But to y t of God in every Conscience doe we apeare
whether such rulers exalt ye power which is of god & seeke
his honour or their owne.
And soe as you honour god, with god shall you be
honoured, but seeke it as egerly as you will without him
It will fly from you, though flattery you may obtaine which
will corrupt your Judgment, & let in upon you everlasting
dishonour ; wherefore turne to ye Lord with your whole
hearts & seeke his glory alone, That he may put upon you
his spirit of humility & rightious Judgment, y fc you may be
covered therewith as with a garment, soe shall you frely
have our soules subiection, which now in secret morns for
you with prayer & teares before god & openly suffers under
you for a testimony against you.
And now you that are not in place to rule & seekes to
be worshiped of us, what is it you would have us bow to in
you or upon you. Gladly would we see humilitie apeare
in you, & behould you covered with ye spirit of god that in
our soules we might subiect thereto & soe in ye Lord honour
you. But should we bow to your gold & silver lace, your
costly aparell, or earthly riches, To that of god in you all
we apeare if we should not worship Id oils, & breake ye law
of god, for which doing, how we should be excused before
god at ye day of account let such as feare god more then
man Judge.]
"And then after a time I went to Tho: Bewleys & there
came a baptist teacher to oppose mee : who was convinced &
Rob: Withers beinge with mee was moved to goe to Colbecke
steeplehouse : & ye baptist teacher went alongst with him
ye same day & they almost killed Rob: Withers & tooke ye
baptist sworde from him & beate him sorely : & they sent
Rob: Withers to Carlile goale: & ye baptist aforesaid had ye
inheritans of an Impropriation but hee went home & gave it
uppe : & Will: Dewsbury went to another steeplehouse
Narrative continued from page 127.
1653] Refusals to receive Tithes 135
harde by : & they almost killed him they beate him soe :
butt ye Lords power was over all & heiled y m againe & Rob:
Withers after a while was sett at liberty alsoe.
And soe I went Into ye Country & had mighty meetinges
& ye everlasting Gospell & ye worde of ye Lord flourisht &
thousands was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ & to his
teaching & severall y* tooke tyths as Impropriators denyed
ye receiveinge of y m & delivered y m uppe to ye parishoners :
& soe I came uppe Into Westmoreland & at Strickland heade
I had a large meetinge & att other places : where a Justice
of peace out of Bishopricke one Henery Draper 1 came uppe
& a many Contenders : & y* day many freinds went to ye
steeplehouses to declare ye truth to ye preists & people &
ye Lords power was over all.
And soe I came through freindes visitinge ye meetinges
till I came to Swarthmoore againe & then I hearde j^ ye
baptists & professors in Scotland had sent to mee to have a
dispute & I sent to y m y* I woulde meete y m in Cumberland
att Tho: Bewleys where I went but none came.
And another time as wee was passinge from a meetinge
& goeinge through Wickdon 2 one a markett day : there was
a guarde sett with pitch forkes & there was some of ye
neighbors with us & they kept us out of ye tounde & woulde
not lett us passe through ye tounde : under a pretence of
preventing ye sicknesse : when there was noe occasion for
any such thinge : & soe they fell upon us & had like to have
spoiled us & our horses : but ye Lord did prevent y m y*
they did not much hurte : & soe wee past away.
And another time as I was passinge betwixt olde Tho:
Bewleys & Jo: Slees 3 some rude fellows lay in waite in a lane
& exceedingely stoned & abused us : but att ye last through
ye Lords power wee gott through them : & had not much
hurte : but this was ye fruites of ye preists teachinge which
shamed Christianity.
And after I had visited y* Country & freinds I went
through ye Countryes Into Bishopricke & had large meet
inges & had a very large meetinge att Justice Pearsons
house where many was convinced : & soe I passed through
Northumberland to Daban a water 4 where there was great
Altered, in another hand, to Darran
136 Disputes regarding Perfection [1653
meetinges & ye preists threatned to come but none came :
& ye everlastinge worde of life was freely preach t & freely
received & many hundreds were turned to Christ there
teacher.
And there came many to dispute in Northumberland &
pleaded against perfection but I declared unto y m y* Adam
& Eve was perfect before they fell & all y* God made was
perfect & ye Imperfection came by ye Devill & ye fall : &
Christ y* came to destroy ye Devill saide bee yee perfect :
butt on of ye professors saide y i Job saide what shall mortall
man bee more pure then his maker : ye heavens are not
cleere in his sight God charged his angells with folly : but
I shewed him his mistake y* Itt was not Job which saide
soe but those which contended against Job : for Job stoode
for perfection & his Integrity & they was caled miserable
Comforters : & they saide the outwarde body was ye body of
death & sin : butt I lett y m see there mistakes & howe y fc
Adam & Eve had a body before ye body of death & sin gott
Into them.
And man & woman woulde have a body when ye
body of sin & death was putt off againe : when they were
renewed uppe Into ye Image of God againe by Christ Jesus
as they was in before they fell.
Soe many glorious meetinges wee had in ye Lords
power & soe wee passt to Hexam : where wee had a
great meetinge a toppe of a hill where ye preist came not
though hee had threatned : & all was quiett : & ye ever
lastinge day & renouned truth of ye everlastinge God was
sounded over those darke countryes {& his son sett over
all}.
And all y* had made a profession of ye son of God now
ye day was come they might receive him : & as many as did
receive him to y m hee woulde give power to become ye sons
of God as hee had donne to mee : & hee y* had ye son of
God hee had life eternall : & hee y fc had not ye son of God
lett him professe all ye scriptures from Genesis to ye Reve
lations hee had not life.
And after y* all was turned to ye light of Christ : by
which they might see him & receive him & knowe where
there teacher was : & ye everlastinge truth largely declared
wee passed away through Hexam peaceably & soe came
1653] Worship without Words 137
Into Gillslande a {where some in that} country {were very
theeivish}*: where a freinde spyed ye preist & went to speake
to him & hee came doune to our Inn & ye tounds people
came about us : & soe ye preist saide hee woulde prove us
deceivers out of ye bible but could not finde noe scripture for
his purpose : soe hee went Into ye Inn & after a while came
out & brought y fc Scripture : ye doctrines & commandements
of men touch y m not & tast y m not for they perish with ye
useing : which poore man was his owne condition for wee
was persecuted because wee woulde not tast nor touch nor
handle there doctrines which wee knew perished with ye
useinge.
Soe I askt him what hee caled ye steeplehouse: oh : saide
hee ye dreadefull house of God ye temple of God : & I lett
him & ye poore darke people see y i there bodyes shoulde
bee ye temples of God : & Christ never commanded these
temples but had ended y fc temple att Jerusalem which God
had commanded : & soe ye preist gott away : & ye people
began to tell us y* they feared wee woulde take there purses
or steale there horses : & Judged us like y m selves whoe are
naturally given to theiveinge & ye next day wee came
through y* country Into Cumberlande againe where wee had
a general! meetinge of many thousands of people a toppe of a
hill 1 heavenly & glorious itt was : & ye glory of ye Lord did
shine over all : & there was as many as one coulde well
speake over there was such a multitude & there eyes were
kept to Christ there teacher & they came to sitt under there
vine y* a freinde afterwards ff: HowghilP in ye ministry
went amongst y m & when hee was moved to stande uppe
amongst y m hee saw they had noe need of words : for they
was all sittinge doune under there teacher Christ Jesus :
soe hee was moved to sett doune againe amongst y m {with
out speakeinge any thinge} 2 .
And soe great a Convincement there was in Cumberland
Bishopricke Northumberland & Yorkeshere & Westmorland
& Lancasheere & ye plants of God grew & flourished soe
by ye heavenly raine & Gods glory shined upon y m y* many
mouths ye Lord opned to his praise yea to babes & sucke-
linges hee ordained strength.
a ... The words were, originally, a thievish country The alterations
are in a contemporary handwriting which appears several times in the MS.
b The words or two stood previously in the place offf: Howghill
138 A Reward of Faith/illness [1653
*And the preists & ye professors they prophesyed
mightily against us {about this time} for before they
prophesyed wee should bee all knockt doune within a
month {as aforesaid} & then after they prophesyed within
halfe a yeere : & then there prophesyes not comeinge to
passe : they prophesyed y* wee woulde eate on another out :
for many times after ye meetinges many tender people y fc
had a great way to goe : & ye houses not haveinge beds
they stayde att ye houses & lay in ye hay mowes : & Cains
feare possest y m : y* when wee had eaten one another out :
y fc wee shoulde all come to bee maintained of ye parishes
ere longe & y^ they woulde be troubled .with us.
But after this when they saw y fc ye Lord blest & In
creased ffreindes : as hee did Abraham both in ye feilde &
in ye baskett : & att there goeinges foorth & comeinges in
riseinges uppe & lyienges doune : & y l all thinges begann
to be blest unto y m : then they saw ye faileinges of all these
there prophesyes : & y* it was in vaine to curse where God
had blest.
Butt att ye first convincement when freinds coulde not
put off there hatts to people nor say you to a particular but
thee & thou : & coulde not bowe nor use ye worldes saluta
tions nor fashions nor customes : & many freindes beinge
tradesmen of severall sortes : they lost there custome at ye
first : for ye people woulde not trade with y m nor trust y m &
for a time people y* were tradesmen coulde hardely gett
money enough to by breade butt afterwards when people
came to see freinds honesty & truthfulnesse & yea & nea att
a worde in there dealinge & there lifes & conversations did
preach & reach to ye wittnesse of God in all people & they
knew & saw y* they would not cuzen & cheate y m for
conscience sake towards God. And y* at last they might
sende any childe & bee as well used as y m selves att any of
there shopps.
Soe then ye thinges altered soe : y* all ye enquiry was
where was a draper or shopkeeper or taylor or shooemaker
or any other tradesman y fc was a quaker then y fc was all
ye crye Insoemuch y* freindes had double ye trade beyonde
any of there neighbors : & if there was any tradeinge they
had it Insoemuch y* then ye cry was of all ye professors
& others : If wee let these people alone they will take ye
tradinge {of ye nation} out of our handes.
1653] Many Steeplehouses Emptied 139
And this hath beene ye Lords doeinges {to his people}
which my desire is y<> all may bee kept In his power & spiritt
faithful] to God & man: {first} to God in obeyinge him in all
thinges & {secondely in doeinge unto all men} y fc which is Just
& righteous true & holy & honnest to all men & women in
all things y fc they have to doe with or to deale withall with
y m y* ye Lord God may be glorifyed in there practiseinge
truth holynesse godlynesse & righteousnesse {amongst y m in
all there lifes & conversations}.
[ a And this was from ye yeeres 1652tol656& since. a ]
And after I was putt out of Carlile prison I was moved
to goe to preist Wilkisons steeplehouse againe : & was in
ye steeplehouse before him : & when hee came in I was
declareing ye truth to ye people : & wee had a meetinge
harde by where one Tho: Stubbs 1 was declareinge ye worde
of life to y m y fc there was not many people in ye steeple-
house : for ye best & most of his hearers were turned to
Christs free teachinge : & ye preist came in & opposed mee :
and there did wee stay all ye day: for when I began hee
opposed mee : & soe if any law was broaken : hee broake it :
& hee thought to have wearyed mee out : & hee shamed
when his people was halinge mee out y* wee might see his
fruites which Christ spoake of : they shall hale you out of
ye synagoges : & then they woulde leave mee alone & there
did hee stand till It was most night Jangelinge & opposeinge
{of mee & woulde not goe to his dinner} but att last ye Lords
power & truth came soe over him y fc hee packt away with
his people : & soe ye Lords power & truth came over y m all &
after I went to freindes y* was turned to ye Lord Into there
meetinge [& about this time many of ye Steeplehouses was
empty lor such multitudes of people came to Christs free
teachinge & knew there bodyes ye temples of God].
And soe after ye great meetinge in Cumberland as afore
said I passt out of Cumberland : through ye countryes where
I had great meetinges with ffreindes & of ye world es people
& I establishtt y m upon Christ ye rocke & foundation of ye
true prophetts & Apostles butt not of ye false.
a ... These words have a line through them.
140 Remarkable Cures [1653
[ x And after I came out of Carlile prison aforesaid I went
Into ye Abby chamber : & there came in a madd woman y fc
sometimes was very desperate : & shee fell doune of her
knees : & cryed putt of your hatts : for grace grace hangs
about thy necke : & soe ye Lords power runn through her y fc
shee was sensible of her condition & after came & confesst
Itt to freindes.
And I came to another place In Cumberland : where a
mans wiffe was distracted & very desperate : attempting att
times to kill her Children & her husbande but I was moved
of ye Lord God to speake to her : & shee kneeled doune of
her bare knees & cryed & sayde shee woulde worke of her
bare knees if shee might goe with mee : & ye Lords power
wrought through her : & shee went home well.
And in Bishopricke whilst I was there they brought a
woman tyed behinde a man y fc coulde neither eate nor speake
& had beene soe a great while : & they brought her Into ye
house to mee to Anthony Pearsons : & I was moved of ye
Lord God to speake to her : y* shee eate & spake & was
well : & gott uppe behinde her husbande without any helpe
& went away well.
And as I came out of Cumberland one time I came to
Hawkes heade : & lighted att a freindes house : & there was
younge Margarett fell 2 with mee & Will: Caton 3 : & Itt beinge
a very cold season wee lighted & ye lasse made us a fire her
master & dame beinge gonne to ye markett & there was a
boy lyinge in ye cradle which they rockt about 11 yeeres
olde : & hee was growne almost double : & I cast my eye
upon ye boy : & seeinge hee was dirty : I bid ye lasse wash
his face & his hands & gett him uppe & bringe him unto
mee.
Soe shee brought him to mee & I bid her take him &
wash him againe for shee had not washt him cleane then I
was moved of ye Lord God to lay my handes upon him &
speake to him : & soe bid ye lasse take him againe & putt
on his cloaths : & after wee passt away.
And sometime after I caled att ye house : & I mett his
mother but did not light : oh stay says shee : & have a
meetinge att our house for all ye country is convinct by ye
great miracle y fc was donne {by yee} upon my sonn for wee
had carryed him to Wells & ye Bath & all doctors had given
1653] [Morgan] Lloyd 141
him over for his grandefather & father feared hee woulde have
dyed & there name have gonne out haveinge but y* son :
but presently after you was gonne {says shee} wee came home
& founde our son playinge in ye streets : therefore saide shee
all ye country would come to heare if I woulde come backe
againe & have a meetinge {there} : & this was about
3 yeeres after y t shee tolde mee of it & hee was growne
to bee a streight full youth then : & soe ye Lord have ye
praise.
Butt as wee was turneinge from ye house & comeinge
towards Swarthmoore wee overtooke many rude markett
people who did stone us & abuse us : but ye Lords power
carryed us over y m all soe as wee had noe harrne.]
And soe when ye Churches was setled in ye north : & ye
Lord had raised uppe many & sent foorth many Into his
vineyarde to preach his eveiiastinge gospel! : as if: H. & E: B.
to London : J: C{ham} & J: Audland to Bristow through ye
countryes Rich: Huberthorne & G. Whitehead 1 towards
Norwich: & Tho: Holmes 2 Into Wales : y* a matter of 70
ministers did ye Lord raise uppe & sent abroade out of ye
north Countryes.
And there was a preist att Rexam in Wales one ffloyde 3 :
hee sent two of his preachers Into ye north to try us & see
what a manner of people wee was : but they were convinced
both by ye power of ye Lord & turned to Christ : & they
staide a time & went backe againe : & one of y m stands a
fine minister for Christ to this day : .one John appe John 4 :
but ye other did not continnue {a freinde}.
And ye preists began to bee in a mighty rage att New
castle & att Kendall : & uppe & doune in most countryes : &
one Gylpin 5 y* had sometimes come amongst us att Kendall
whoe rann out & which ye preists made use of att times
against us but ye Lords power confounded y m all.
And about this time 0: P: oath was to bee tendred to
ye souldyers [when ye longe parlament was turned out] : &
many of ye souldyers was turned out because in obediens to
Christ they coulde not sweare 6 : as J: Stubbs for one : whoe
was convinct when I was in Carlile prison : whoe became a
faithfull minister : & travailed much in ye service of ye Lord
in Holland Ireland Scotland Legorne Rome Aegypt America
& ye Lords power preserved him over ye heads of ye
142 To Friends in the Ministry [1653
papists though many times {hee was} in great dainger of ye
Inquisitions.
And ye rest of ye souldyers y* had beene convinced in
there Judgements but comeinge not Into obedians they tooke
O: Ps. oath & they went Into Scotland to a garrison : & ye
garrison thought they had beene there enimyes & they shott
att y m & killed {many of} y m which was a sad Judgement.
And ye Lord God cutt off two of those persecutinge
Justices at Carlile : & ye other after a time was turned out
of his place & went out of ye tounde.
And soe after when I had visited ye Churches in ye
north & all was setled under Gods teachinge & ye glory of
ye Lord shined over y m : I passt from Swarthmoore to
Lancaster & soe through ye countryes visitinge freindes till
I came to Senderland greene 1 where there was a meetinge
appointed 3 weekes before : & soe left ye north fresh &
greene under Christ there teacher {where this followinge
paper was given foorth to ffreindes in ye ministry}. a
G: ff: to ffreinds in ye ministry. 1654 2 .
All freinds every where know ye seed of god which
bruseth ye seed of ye serpent and is a top [of ye seed] of the
seed of ye serpent which seed sins not but bruseth ye
serpents head which tempts to sin and doth sin [to] which
seed gods promise [is] [to] gods blessinge is to which seed is
one in the male and in the female where it is the head hath
brused the head of ye other to the begininge you are com,
and the yonger is knone and he that is servant to the
yonger, and the promise of god fullfilled which is to the
seed and fullfillinge and the scripture corns to be opened,
the flesh of christ knone who took upon him the seed of
Abraham accordinge to the flesh, ye everlasting preisthood
knowne ye everlasting covnant [knowne the first preisthod
seene, which offered fibr the sin, which could not continew
by reason of death, which was above the seed, which was
the clensinge of the flesh, but] christ taks upon him the
seed & him that is without father without mother begining of
Narrative continued on page 147.
6 Ell wood editions insert of Abraham, and is a Priest after the Order
of Melchizedeck
1654] The Power of the Cross of Christ 143
dayes marke, or end of life, this is the preist that ever lives
he that is the covnant of life of lite and peace, and the ever
lasting offering heere is knone once ffor all, which offering
overthows that nature that offered which the preisthood rose
out of that could not continew by reason of death. And
heere is the other offreing knowne the everlasting offeringe
which perfects for ever them that are sanctified which
offering blotted out the handritetinge of ordinences triumphs
over them, above all princepalities and powers assends, now
he that hath the sperit of Jesus sees this and heere is the
love recived of god that doth not reioyse in iniquity but
repents from it.
So this is the word of the lord god to you all ffreinds
every where abrod scattered know the power of god in
one another and in that reiose, ffor then you reioyse in the
Grose of christ, him who is not of the world which Cross
is the power of god to all them that are saved soe you
that know ye power & feele the power you feele the Cross
of Christ you feele the gospell which is ye power of god
unto salvation to every one that beeleeveth, now hee that
beeleeves in the light beeleeves in the everlasting covenant
in the everlasting offering comes to ye life of ye prophets
and Moses comes to se Christ the hope the mistery which
hope perisheth not but lets you see the hope that perisheth
which is not this mistery & the expectation in the other
hope fades, & where this hope is wittnessed the Lord comes
to be sanctified in the heart and you come to the beegning
to Christ the hope which perisheth not but the other hope
& the other expectation that perisheth, soe all of you knowe
the perishing of the other & the faileiDg of the expectation
and that which perisheth not that you may be ready to
give a reason of this hope with meekenes & feare to every
man that asketh you, Christ the hope the mistery that
perisheth not, the end of all perishing things the end of all
changeable things the end of the decaying covenaunt, the
end of that which waxeth old and doth decay, the end of the
prophets & Moses the righteousnes of god, Christ Jesus the
son, his throwne you will knowe heires with him you will
bee who a makes kings brings a to knowe his throwne & his
a ... Ell wood editions read makes his Children Kings and Priests to
him, and brings them
144 Christ the Seed [i654
power there is no Justification out of the light, out of the
light out of Christ, Justification is in the light, here is the
doer of the will of god here is the entering into the king-
dome : now beeleeving in the light becomes A childe of light
and heres receiving the wisdome which is Justified of her
children, here beeleeveing in the light you shall not abide
in darkenes but shall have the light of life & come every
one to wittnes the light that shines in your hearts which
light will give you the light of the knowledge of the glory
of god in the face of Jesus Christ, with which light you will
see him reigne who is the prince of life, of peace, which light
turnes from him that is out of the truth & abode not in it
where there is not the peace ; freinds bee not hasty, for hee
that beeleeves in the light makes not hast, here the grace
is received by which you come to be saved, the election is
knowne which obtaines the promise, the will is seene that
wills, the minde is knowne that runnes which obtaines not,
but stopps & dulls, now that with the light beeing seene &
judged & stoppt, the patience is here knowne which the
Crowne obtaines and the Imortallatie come to light, soe
all them now that act contrary to the light and in it doe
not beeleeve to Justification, they doe not come.
And all freinds if you goe from the light, from wayteing
to have the promise of god fullfilled to the seede whereby
you may knowe Christ reigne you there bring on your selves
Changeable Garments & comes to weare the Changeable
Garment, & the strange flesh, which leades to Adultery
which the lawe goes upon which shutts out of the kingdome
and out of this will doth proceed the worke that is bult upon
him which worke is for the fire where you come to suffer the
losse, therefore the light love which doth that condemne,
and receiving ye power from the Lord with which you stand
over that, and doe it condemne, feeleing & seeing that which
gives you the victory over the world, and to see out of time
beefore time, & againe freinds knowe Abraham that must
obey the voyce of Sarah that beares seede, which casts forth
the bond woman and her son, doe not goe forth, there will
the wildenes lodge, knowe that which beare the wilde son
& its mother, not Sarah, for the promise is to the seede not
of many but one, which seede is Christ & this seede 1 now
you come to witnes stand on the topp of all, yea the heade
1654] Light and Life from Christ 145
of the serpent, & soe all, as I sayd beefore, who this comes
to feele & wittnes comes to the beeging & this to all the
seede of god the Church that it you may all come to knowe,
where there is no blemish, nor spott nor wrinkle, nor any
such thing, which is that which is purchased with the Blood
of Jesus, & to the father presented out of all that doth
defile, which is the pillar & the ground of truth, and none
comes to this but such who come to the light, which from
Christ doth come who purchased this Church, they which
goe from the light are shutt out and condemned though
they profess all the Scripture declared forth from it, there
fore walke in the light that you may have fellowshipp with
the son & with the father and come all to wittnes his image
his power and his law which is his light, which hath con
verted your soules & brought them to submitt to the higher
power, above that which is out of ye truth, that you may
knowe here the mercy & truth & the faith that workos by
love, which Christ the Authour of is, who lighteth every
one of you a which is perfect a & that which the ministers of
god received from god is that which is perfect & that which
they are to minister is for the perfecting of the saints till
they all come into the unity of the faith, unto A perfect
man soe this is the word of the lord god to you every one
in the measure of life wayte that with it all your mindes
may bee guided up to the father of life, the father of spirits,
[with your hearts Joyned together up to god the father of
spirits] all to receive power from him.& wisdome that with
it you may be orderd to his glory to whom be all glory ffor
ever, al keepe in the lite & life that Judgeth downe that
which is contrary to the lite & life.
So the Lord god almity be with you all and keepe you
meetinge every where being guided with that of god, with
that you may se the Lord god among you, him who lighteth
every man that cometh into the world by whom the world
was made that men that be come into the world might
believe, he that doth not the light condemns him, he that
beliveth corns out of condemnation so this light which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world which they
that hate it stumble at it which is the light of men.
a ... a El] wood editions read which Faith gives the Victory. Now that
which gives the Victory, is perfect
G. F.
10
146 The Unchangeable Covenant [i654
All ffreinds that speake abrode se that it be in the life
of god ffor that begets to god, the ffruts of that shall never
weather and this sowes to the sperit, which is in prison, and
of the sperit reaps life, and the other to you this is the
word of the Lord God sowes to the flesh, and of the flesh
reaps corruption and this you may se all ye world among
these seedsmen what may be reapt in the ffeild that is the
world, thereffore in the sperit of ye lord god waite which
cuts out and downe all this the roote and branches of it, so
in that waite to recive power, and the lord god allmity
preserve you whereby you may come to ifeele the light
which comprehends time and the world and it fferdoms"
which beleiving in gives you the victory over the world :
and heere the power of the lord is recived which subdues
all the contrary and puts of the garments that will steaine
and polute with which life you com to reach the light in every
man which christ enlightens every man that cometh into
the world withall and heare things of christ cometh to be
knone and the profe & of christ heard keepe in the light the
covenant of peace and walke in the Covenant of life there is
that which maketh mery over the wittnese of god and there
is that which maks merry in the Lord, which reioyceth over
that which reioyceth over it of that take notise you who be
in the light such the Lord doth beatify whose trust is in
his strength and the Lord doth se such and them that be
in his light but such as be from the light whose eyes are
after there abominations and Idols, which eyes are to be
blinded and there beatifiinge Idols and there abominations
distroyed and with the light condemned which they have
made from the life in there owne strength, which is with
the lite seene and overthrowne with the power of god. And
if that you can change my covenant which keeps the day in
its season and the night in its season marke my covenant
the light if you can change this then may you change the
covenant of god with his seede so al freinds that be to the
light turned which cometh frrom him by whom the world
So written. An ancient MS. containing this paper, endorsed by
George Fox (Swarthmore MSS. ii. 2) reads it fathom, as also do the
Ellwood editions of "The Journal."
6 Ellwood editions have Voice but proofs appears in several contem
porary copies of this paper.
1654] Thomas Taylor [of Brighouse] 147
was made beffore it was made christ Jesus the saviour of
your soules [with which light you come to se him which
corns from him with which light you will se all sin and
evell and corruption that are contrary to it and] standinge
still in that light you wil se your salvation which is wals and
bulwarks against that the light discovers waiteing in the
light you will recive the power of god which is the gospell
of peace that you may be shod with it and know that in
one another which raiseth up the seede of god and sets it
over the world and the earth and the affections and lusts
crusified and the truth corns to regne which is the girdle.
"Butt before I came to Sunderland greene wee past
through Halifax a rude tounde of professors : & came to
one Thp: Taylors 1 whoe had beene a captaine where wee
mett with some Janglers but ye Lords power was over all :
for I travailed in ye motion of Gods power.
And when I came to Sunderland greene there was a
mighty meetinge some thousands of people as Itt was
Judged & many persons of quality was there as captaines &
other officers : & there was a generall convincement : & ye
Lords everlastirige power & truth was sett over all & noe
opposition.
And there was {one} Rice Jones & his company whoe fell
a prophesyinge {against mee} y* then I was att ye highest
& y* after y* time I shoulde fall doune as fast : & hee sent
a bundle of raileinge papers 2 from Nottingham Mansfeilde
Clausen & ye toundes thereabout full of Judgeinges against
ffreindes for declareinge ye truth in ye marketts & in ye
steeplehouses : which I aunswered : & his & there prophesy
came upon y m selves for soone after they fell to peices : &
many of there folowers came to bee freindes & stands to
this day: & in ye Lords blessed power his truth Increased &
has Increased & I was prerserved in ye everlastinge seede y fc
never fell nor changhes : & R: Jones turned a swearer : for
hee tooke ye oaths which was putt to him : & disobeyed ye
Commande of Christ.
And many such false prophetts has risen against mee
but ye Lord has blasted y m & will blast y m all whoe rises
against ye blessed seede & mee in it : my confidens is in ye
Narrative continued from page 142.
102
148 Convincement of Lady Montague [1654
Lord y fc whoesoever did I sawe there ende & howe ye Lord
woulde corifounde y m before ye Lord sent mee foorth.
And att night wee had a great meetinge againe in
Tho: Stacy es 1 house: ffor people came from farr: & coulde
not soone departe & ye high sheriffe of ye County tolde
Capt: Bradforde 2 y* hee had Intended to have come uppe
with halfe a dozen of his troopers to ye meetinge butt ye
Lord prevented him & stoppt him.
And soe I stayde some meetinges thereaways & after
passt uppe & doune In Yorkesheere as farr as Holdernes to
ye Lands ende visitinge ffreindes & ye churches of Christ
which were finely setled under Christs teachinge : & came
att last to Capt Bradfords house where many raunters
came from Yorke butt they was confounded : & there came
ye Lady Mountague 3 whoe was then convinct & lived &
dyed in ye truth.
4 [1654.] And I came againe to Tho: Taylors within
3 miles of Halifax where there was a large meetinge : & there
came about 200 people from Halifax & many rude people &
butchers : & several of y m had bound y m selves with an oath
to have killed mee before they came out : & one man of y m
{a butcher} had killed a man & a woman : & they came in a
very rude manner & made a great disturbans in ye meetinge :
& Itt beinge in a close : Tho: Taylor stpode uppe & saide unto
y m if they woulde bee civill they might stay & if not hee
charged y m to begonne off his grounde butt they was ye
wirse & saide they woulde make it like a common & yelled
& made such a noise as if they had beene come to a beare
beatinge & thrust ffreindes uppe & doune & ffreinde(s)
beinge peaceable ye Lords power came over y m all:
though severall times they thrust mee off from ye place
I stoode on with ye crowdeinge of ye people togeather
against mee & still I was moved {of ye Lord} to stande uppe
a gaine as I was thrust doune.
And att last I was moved of ye Lord to say : y* if they
woulde discourse of ye thinges of God lett y m come uppe to
mee one by one : & if they had any thinge to say or any thinge
to object I woulde aunswer to y m one after another : & then
they was all silent & had nothinge to say : & then ye Lords
power came soe over y m all & reached ye wittnesse of God
1654] A Conspiracy of Butchers 149
in y m y* they was all bounde by ye power of God : & a glorious
powerfull mee tinge wee had & his power went over all : & ye
mindes of people was turned by ye spiritt of God in y m to
Christ & God there teacher & soe ye powerfull worde of life
was largely declared y fc day soe y* in ye life & power of God
wee broake uppe our meetinge.
And those rude company went there ways to Halifax :
and ye people askt y m why they had not killed mee accordinge
to ye oath they had sworne : & they malitiously sayde I
had soe bewitched y m they coulde not doe it : & soe ye
Devill was chained : butt freindes tolde mee y fc they used
to come & breake stooles & chaires & make fearefull worke
butt ye Lords power had bounde y m & presently after y fc
Butcher y fc had killed ye man & woman aforesaid & y fc was
one of those y* had bounde himselfe with an oath to kill
mee killed another man & then hee was sent to Yorke
goale : & another of ye Butchers aforesaid y fc had sworne to
kill mee: y* used to putt his tongue out of his mouth to
ifreinds when they went by him hee dyed with his tongue
soe swolene out of his mouth y fc hee coulde not gett it Into
his mouth {againe till hee dyed} & severall strange {& sudden}
Judgements came upon many of these conspirators against
mee which woulde bee to large to declare : but Gods
vengans from heaven came upon ye blood thirsty whoe
sought after bloode ffor all such spiritts I layde before ye
Lord & left y m to him to deale with y m whoe is stronger
then y m all : in whose power I was preserved & carryed on
to doe his worke & ye Lord has raised a fine people in those
parts y fc hee hath drawne to Christ & gathered in his name :
whoe feeles Christ amongst y m {& setts under his teachinge}.
And soe I passt through ye countryes till I came to
Balby & severall freindes from thence went with mee Into
Lincolnsheere where I had formerly beene & some went to
ye steeplehouses & some to ye seperate meetinges.
And there came ye sheriffe of Lincolne 1 & severall with
him to ye meetinge : & hee made a great contention &
Jangelinge for a time butt ye Lords power strucke him y fc
hee received ye worde of life & was convinct {& severall
others y* did oppose} : [& hee & his wifie {&] they} did abide
in ye truth till they dyed.
1 50 The Sheriff of Lincoln [i654
And great meetinges & convincements there was in
those parts & many was turned to ye Lord Jesus & came
to sitt under his teachinge: & left there preists & there
superstitious ways & ye day of ye Lord flourished over all.
And there came on S r Rich: Wrey 1 : & hee was convinct
& his brother & his brothers wiffe : whoe dyed in ye truth
though hee afterwards runn out.
And after I had visited those countryes I came Into
Darbysheere & ye sheriffe of Lincolne came with mee Into
Darbysheere [where two of Judge ffells daughters mett
mee].
And wee had some opposition in one meetinge but ye
Lords glorious power gave mee dominion over all.
And att night there was a company of bailiffes &
serveinge men plotted togeather & came in ye night &
caled mee out & I went out to y m & some nreindes with
mee & they were exceedinge rude & violent : & had Intended
to have carry ed mee away in ye night with y m & to have
donne mee a mischeife but ye Lords power chained y m
& went over y m soe y* att last they went away.
And ye next day Tho: Aldam went to ye knights house
whose servants some of these men were & layde before him
ye bad cariage of his servants : & ye knight seemed to
rebuke y m & did not alowe of there {evill} cariage towards us.
And soe wee came after this Into Notinghamsheere to
Skegby where wee had a great meetinge of all sortes oi
people & ye Lords power went over all: & all was quiett
& ye people was turned to ye spiritt of God by which they
came to receive his power & to sitt under Christs teachinge
there saviour : And a great people ye Lord had y fc aways.
And then I passt towards Kidsley parke where there
was a many ranters came : but ye Lords power stoppt y m .
And then I went uppe Into ye Peake Country towards
Tho: Hammersleys 2 where there came all ye ranters in ye
country & high professors & ye ranters opposed mee & fell
a swearinge & when I reproved y m for swearinge then they
woulde bringe scripture for it : & saide Abraham & Jacob &
Joseph swoare & ye preists & Moses & ye prophetts swoare :
& ye Angell swoare.
And I aunswered & saide unto y m I confesst all these
did soe as ye scripture recordes it butt I saide againe to y m
1654] An Unsworn Foreman of a Jury 151
y fc Christ saide before Abraham was I am : & hee says sweare
nott att all.
And Christ ends ye prophetts & ye first preisthoode &
Moses & reignes over ye house of Jacob & Joseph whoe
saith sweare nott att all.
And god saith I bringe furth my first begotten Into ye
Worlde lett all ye Angells worshippe him to witt Christ y l
saith sweare nott att all [{as in Mathevv ye 5 th }].
And for mens swearinge to end there strife Christ
destroyes ye Devill & his workes whoe is ye author of strife
hee saith sweare nott att all : & God saith this is my beloved
son heare yee him in whome I am well pleased soe ye son
is to bee hearde whoe forbidds swearinge & ye Apostle
James y^ did heare ye son of God & preacht him & followed
him hee forbidds all oaths as in Jam: ye 5 th .
And soe ye Lords power & his son was sett over all &
ye worde of life was fully & richly preacht & many was
convinct y fc day.
And y* Tho: Hammersley hee served as foreman of a
Jury without swearinge : & ye Judge did confesse : hee had
beene Judge soe longe butt never hearde such an upright
verdict as y* Quaker brought in: & much might be spoaken
of these thinges butt time would faile to declare y m but
e Lords power & truth came over all whoe is worthy of
all} praise & glory for ever.
And after this I came through Darby sheere visitinge
freinds : And then came to Swanington in Leistersheere
where there was a generall meetinge: & many ranters came
& other professors & baptists & great Jangelinges there had
beene with y m & ye preists in y* tounde : & severall
freindes came from severall parts to y fc meetinge as Jo:
Audland: & ff: Howghill & Ed: Pyott 1 from Bristoll : &
Ed: Burrough from London & severall was convinced in
those parts : & ye ranters y* came to ye meetinge made a
disturbans & was very rude butt att last they was con
founded & ye Lords power came over y m all.
And ye next day Jacob Bottomley 2 came from Leister a
great ranter but ye Lords power stoppt him & came over
y m all.
And there came a preist alsoe butt hee was confounded
by ye Lords power : & ye preists & professors & ranters
i5 2 Jangling Baptists [1054
& baptists & people was all very rude about this time : &
stirred uppe ye rude people.
And wee sent to ye ranters to come foorth & try there
God & there came aboundans whoe was rude as aforesaid:
& sunge & whistled & danced but ye Lords power soe
confounded y m y* many of y m came to be convinct.
And after this I came to Twy Crosse & there came some
ranters againe & they sunge & danced before mee but I was
moved in ye dreade of ye Lord to speake to y m & reprove
y m & ye Lords power came over y m soe as some of y m was
reacht & convinced & received ye spiritt of God & are come
to bee a pretty people {& lives & walkes soberly in ye truth
of Christ}.
And I came to Anth: Bickeifes 1 in Warwickesheere
where there was a great meetinge : & severall people
& baptists came & Jangled but ye Lords power came over
y m -
And after this I went to Dreyton in Leistersheere to
visitt my relations : & assoone as I was come in ye preist
had gotten another preist & had given notice to ye country :
& hee sent doune to mee y* I must come uppe to y m for
they coulde not doe any thinge till I came.
And I haveinge beene three yeeres away from my
relations & knew nothinge of there designe & Intentions :
but att last I went uppe Into ye steeplehouse yarde :
where ye two preists aforesaid was : & they had gathered
aboundans of people.
And when I came there they woulde have had mee goe
Into ye steeplehouse & I askt y m what I shoulde doe there :
& they sayde Nathan: Steevens {ye preist} coulde not beare
ye colde : & I tolde y m hee might beare it as well as mee :
& att last wee went Into a great hall & there was Bich:
ffarnesworth with mee : & a great dispute wee had with
those preists concerneinge ye practise of ye preists howe
contrary they were to Christ & ye Apostles : & ye preists
woulde knowe where tyths was forbidden or ended : & soe
I shewed y m out of ye Heb : ye 7 th howe {not onely tyths
but} ye preisthoode y fc tooke tyths was ended & ye lawe
was ended & disanulled by which ye preisthoode & tyths
was {made &} commanded to bee paide : & then ye preists
stirred uppe ye people to some lightnesse & rudenesse : &
1654] Dispute with Eight Priests 153
I knew this preist from a childe soe I layde open his
condition & ye manner of his preachinge & howe hee like
ye rest of ye preists did apply ye promises to ye first birth
which must dye : but ye promises was to ye seede : not to
many seedes but ye one seede Christ whoe was one in male
& female : for all was to bee borne againe before they coulde
enter Into ye Kingdome of God.
Then hee saide I must not Judge soe but I tolde him
hee y* was spirituall Judged all thinges : & then hee con
fessed y* y fc was a full scripture butt neighbors says hee:
this is ye busnesse : George ffox Is come to ye light of ye
sun : & now hee thinkes to putt out my starr light-
[Butt I sayde Nathaniell give mee thy hande] {then}
I tolde him I woulde not Quench ye least measure of God
in any much lesse putt out his starr light : & further
sayde if hee had anythinge from Christ or God {hee ought}
to speake it freely & dont take tyths from ye people for
preachinge seeinge Christ commanded his ministers to give
freely as they had received freely : & soe I charged him to
preach noe more for tyths or a hire : & hee [pluckt his
hande out of my hande &] saide hee woulde not yeilde
unto y*.
^ And soe after a while ye people began to bee rude &
vaine soe wee broake uppe though some was made loveinge
to truth y* day.
And I tolde y m y* I shoulde bee att ye tounde y fc day
seven night againe : & I went into, ye Country & had
meetinges & y* day sevennight came there againe & then
this preist had gotten {7 or} 8 preists to helpe him for preist
Stevens had given notice on a markett day att a lecture
att Aderston y fc there woulde bee such a dispute & meetinge
with mee though I knew nothinge of it but onely y fc I saide
I shoulde bee in tounde y* day sevenight againe.
And these 8 preists had gathered severall hundreds of
people even all ye country thereabouts : & they woulde have
had mee Into ye steeplehouse againe butt I woulde not goe
in : but gott on a hill & there spoake to y m & ye people.
And there was Tho : Taylor with mee y* had beene a
preist & Jam: Parnell & severall other freindes : & they
thought y fc day to have trampeld doune truth : but ye
truth came over y m .
154 "Come to Argument, to Argument" [1654
Butt at last they were soe rude & the people & would
not stande to tryall {with mee} : butt woulde bee con-
tendinge heere & there a litle with one freinde or other.
Soe at last ye preist brought his son & another to
dispute with mee but his mouth was soone stoppt & when
hee coulde not tell howe to aunswer hee would goe aske
his father but his father was confounded alsoe {when hee
came to aunswer for his son}.
Soe after they had toyled y m selves they went away
in a rage {to ye preist Steephens house to drinke} : & as
they went {away} I saide I never came in a place where soe
many preists togeather woulde not stande mee : & after a
while they & there wiffes came about mee {& layde holde
off mee & fauned about mee} & saide what might I have
beene had it not beene for freindes & then they fell a
pushing of freindes uppe & doune {to thrust y m from mee:
& to plucke mee to y m }.
Butt att last severall fellowes gott mee uppe in there
armes & carryed mee to ye steeplehouse porch to carry mee
Into ye steeplehouse {by force} : & a great heape of y m fell
doune {as they were carryinge of mee} & I under y m ye
doore beinge lockt.
But att last I gott from under y m & gott {backe} to my
hill againe : & then they gott mee from that place againe
& carryed mee to ye steeplehouse wall & sett mee on (a) basse
like a stoole: & all ye preists stoode under & ye people:
& the preists cryed come to argument to argument.
And I saide I denyed all there voices for they were ye
voices of ye hirelinges {& ye stranger} : & they cryed prove
it prove it.
And I directed y m to ye 10 th of John: there they might
see what Christ saide of such whoe saide hee was ye true
shepheared y fc layde doune his life for his sheepe & his
sheepe hearde his voice & followed him butt ye hirelinge
woulde fly when ye wolfe came because hee was an hirelinge :
& they were such hirelinges.
And then ye preists pluckt mee off from my basse
againe & then they 8 gott upon basses under ye steeple-
house walls.
And then I felt ye mighty power of God arise over all
though ye people began to bee a litle rude.
1654 ] The Testimony of Scripture 155
And I tolde y m if they woulde butt give audiens &
heare mee I woulde shew y m by ye Scriptures why I denyed
those 8 teachers or preists y* stoode there before mee {& all
ye hirelinge teachers of ye worlde whatsoever} & I woulde
give y m scripture for what I saide.
And soe both preists & people consented.
Soe^I shewed y m out of ye prophetts Jerem: Esai: Esek:
Malachi : Michah & other prophetts how they were {in ye
stepps of} such as God had sent his true prophetts to cry
against.
For you are such as beare rule by your meanes : & ye
people loved to have it soe : which was a horrible filthy
thirige committed in ye lande {Jerem: ye 5 th }.
And you are such as they y* used there tongues &
sayde thus saith ye Lord when ye Lord never spoake to
y m & such as followed there owne spiritts & sawe nothinge
but spoake foorth a divination of there owne braine & by
there lyes & lightnesse had caused ye people to erre
{Jerem: [23 th ]"}.
And they were such as you y* seekt for there gaine
from there quarter : y* were as greedy dumb doggs y t could
never have enough : whome ye Lord sent his prophett
Esai: to cry against {Esai: 56 th }.
And they were such as you as taught for handefulls
of barley & peices of breade : j^ sewed pillowes under
peoples armeholes y* 1 they might lye soft in there sins
{Ezek: 13 th }.
And they were such as you y i taught for ye fleece &
ye woull : & made a prey off ye people {Ezeke 34 th }.
Butt ye Lord was gatheringe his sheepe from there
mouths & from of there barren mountaines & bringinge of
y m to Christ : ye one shephearde which hee had sett over
his flockes as in Ezek : aforesaid.
And they were such as you y fc devined for money &
preacht for hire & if a man did not putt Into there mouths
they prepared warr against y m as there fruites declared
{Micha ye 3 d }.
And soe I went largely through ye prophetts which will
bee to large to repeate.
a Ellwood editions refer to Jer. 14 here but give 23 th of Jeremiah as
on page 156. The paragraph is probably a reminiscence of both passages.
156 Scribes and Pharisees [i54
And then through ye new testament of Christ & ye
Apostles : & shewed y m howe they were like ye cheife
preists & scribes & pharisees such as Christ cryed woe
against Math: 23 th .
And such false Apostles as the true Apostles cryed
against as taught for filthy lucre : & such antichrists &
deceivers as they cryed against y fc minded earthly thinges
& served not ye Lord Jesus Christ but there owne bellys :
for they y* served Christ gives freely & preaches freely as
hee commanded y m .
And they y fc wont preach without hire tyths & outwarde
means serves there owne bellyes & not Christ: & through ye
good words of ye scripturs & feigned words they made
merchandise of ye people {then as you doe nowe}.
And when I had largely quoted ye scriptures & shewed
y m howe they were like pharisees loveinge to bee caled of
men masters & to goe In longe robes & to stande prayiiige
in ye syriagoges & {to have} ye uppermost roomes at feasts
& ye like.
And soe when I had throwne y m out in ye sight of ye
people amongst ye false prophetts & scribes & pharisees &
shewed howe {such as} they was Judged by ye prophetts
Christ & ye Apostles & haveinge largely spoaken to y m
I turned y m to ye light of Christ Jesus who enlightens
every man y fc cometh into ye worlde to lett y m see whether
these thinges were not true as had beene spoaken.
And soe when I spoake to y fc of God in there consciences
& ye light of Christ Jesus in y m they coulde not abide to
heare tell of y fc : but then a professor saide George what
wilt thou never have donne : & all was quiett till hee
spoake.
And I tolde him I shoulde have donne presently & soe
after I had donne & cleered my selfe in ye Lords power all
ye preists & people stoode still for a time.
And at last one of ye preists saide y* they woulde reade
ye scriptures y* I had quoted : soe I tolde y m with all my
hearte : & they begann to reade ye 23 th of Jeremiah : &
there they saw ye markes of ye false prophetts y* hee cryed
against : & when they had reade a verse or two & some-
thinge more then I had quoted : I saide take notice people
{& then they saide holde thy tongue George & I then} bad
1654] Private Conference with Priest Stephens 157
y m reade ye whole chapter throughout for it was all
against y m & then they stopt & woulde reade noe farther
but askt mee a question.
And I tolde y m I woulde aunswer there question ye
other beinge {first} graunted {y t I had charged y m with} y fc
they were false prophetts {false} teachers & antichrists {&
deceivers & such as ye true prophetts Christ & ye Apostles
cryed against}.
And a professor saide nea : & I saide yea : for you
leaveinge ye matter & goeinge to another thinge seemes to
consent to ye prove of ye former {charge}.
Soe I aunswered there question which was : That those
false prophetts were Adulteraters & whether did I Judge
preist Steephens an Adulterer.
To which I saide hee was adulterated from God like
those false prophetts & Jews in his practise.
Soe they stoode not to vindicate him but brake uppe ye
meetinge.
And then ye preists whisperd togeather & then preist
Stevens came to mee : & desired y* my [naturall] father &
brother might goe asyde with him & ye rest of ye preists
to keepe ye people off y* hee might speake with mee
privately.
But I was very loath to goe {asyde with him} : butt ye
people cryed : goe George doe George goe asyde with him :
& I was afraide if I did not goe they would say I was dis
obedient to my parents.
And soe I went & ye rest of ye preists was to keepe ye
people off: butt ye people drew close to us for they coulde
not keepe y m off ye people beinge willinge to heare.
And I askt ye preist what hee had to say to mee & hee
saide : if hee was out of ye way I shoulde pray for him : &
if I was out of ye way hee woulde pray for mee : & hee
woulde give mee a forme of words what I should pray
but I aunswered him & saide Itt seemes preist Stevens
does not knowe whether hee bee in ye right way or noe
neither doth hee knowe whether I am in ye way or noe
[but if: & soe].
Butt I know y* I am in ye everlastinge way Christ
Jesus which hee is out of.
And hee woulde give mee a forme of words to pray by
158 A Plant bred in England [1054
& yett denyes ye Common Prayer [& why may I not take
ye common prayer booke] to pray by : as well as his forme
of words. Is not this a denyinge ye Apostles practise of
prayinge by ye spiritt whoe saide hee woulde pray in ye
spiritt & holy ghoast as it gave words & utterans.
And soe ye people fell a laughinge & I was moved to
speake to him severall other words & after wee all parted
I tellinge y m I shoulde bee in ye tounde y fc day 7 night
againe {& upon those wordes ye preists packt away}.
And many people was convinct y fc day & ye Lords
power came over all {& whereas they thought to have
confounded truth y t day many was thereby confirmed in ye
truth & came to bee convinct of it & stande in it} : & a
great shake Itt was to ye preists & my ifather [in ye flesh]
thwackt his Kane on ye grounde & saide : well saide hee
I see hee y* will but stande to ye truth Itt will carry him
out : though hee was a hearer & follower of ye preists.
And soe I passt Into ye countrye & y* day 7 night
I came againe wee had apointed a meetinge att my
relations house : & there came another preist & preist
Stevens againe & they had gott a company of troopers &
they sent for mee & I tolde y m our meetinge was appointed :
& they might come to mee if they woulde butt ye preist
came not but ye troopers came & a many rude people &
this was ye preists plott : soe ye troopers was to take every
ones name & then to commande y m to go home & if they
woulde not then to carry y m away with y m .
And soe when they had taken severall names they came
to take my name : soe my relations made aunswer y fc I was
at home already : & soe they coulde not take mee away y fc
time {nevertheless they tooke my name} : & soe ye Lords
power came over all & they went away {both preists profes
sors & troopers} vext & crosst because they had not there
endes {butt severall was convinct y fc day & admired ye love
& power of God}.
And this was ye preist Stevens y* saide never such a
plant was bred In Englande : & y* I was carryed uppe In ye
clouds & after found full of golde & sylver : & a many lyes &
reports hee raised one mee but ye Lord swept y m all away.
And ye reason I woulde not goe Into there steeplehouse
was because I was to beare my testimony against it : & to
1654] Before Colonel Hacker 159
bringe all of such thinges to ye spiritt of God y i they might
knowe there bodyes to bee ye temples of ye holy ghoast : &
to bring y m off all ye hirelinge teachers to Christ there free
teacher y i had dyed for y m & purchased y m with his bloode.
And after this I went Into ye country & had several)
meetinges & came to Swanington & there ye soldyers came
againe : but ye meetinge was quiett & ye Lords power was
over all & they did not medle.
And after I went to Leister & from Leister to Whetston
& before ye meetinge began there came a matter of 1 7 troopers
of Coll: Hackers 1 with his marshall {& they tooke mee uppe
before ye meetinge though severall freinds was gathered} for
there was severall freinds come out of severall parts & before
ye meetinge I tolde y m they might lett all these freinds goe
& I would aunswer for y m all : & soe ye marshall tooke mee
{& lett ye ireindes all goe} & A: Parker went alongst with
mee.
Soe att night they had mee before Coll : Hacker & his
major & captaines & a great company of y m : & a great deale
of discourse wee had about ye preists & meetinges & att this
time there was a noise of a plott against Oly ver Cromwell :
and much reasoninges I had with y m about ye spiritt of Christ
whoe Inligthneth every one y fc cometh Into ye worlde: &
Coll: Hacker askt whether Itt was not this light of Christ
y* made Judas betray his master & after ledd him to hange
himselfe & I tolde him noe y* was ye spiritt of darknesse
which hated Christ {& his light}.
And then Coll: Hacker saide y* 1 I might goe home &
keepe att home & not goe abroade to meetinges & I tolde him
I was an innocent man from all plotts & denyed all such
workes.
And then his son Kneedome 2 saide: ffather this man
hath reigned to longe Itts time to have him cutt off.
And I askt him for what: or what had I donne or
whome had I wronged from a childe for I was bred & borne
in y 15 country & whoe coulde accuse mee of any evill from a
childe.
And then Coll : Hacker askt mee againe if I woulde goe
home & stay att home : I tolde him If I shoulde promise him
soe y* woulde manifest y* I was guilty of somethinge for to
goe home & make my home a prison: & if I went to
i6o In Charge of Captain Drury [i654
meetinges they woulde say I broake there order : butt I tolde
y m I shoulde goe to meetinges as ye Lorde ordered mee : &
therefore coulde not submitt to y* : butt saide wee were a
peaceable people.
Well then saide Coll: Hacker I will send you to morrow
by six a clocke to my Lorde protector: by Capt: Drury 1 one
of his life guarde.
And soe y* night I was kept a prisoner att ye marshalsy :
& ye next morninge by ye 6 th houre I was ready & delivered
to Capt: Drury.
And soe I desired they woulde lett mee speake with
Coll Hacker & hee had mee to his bed syde : & hee was
att mee againe to goe home & keepe noe more meetinges
& I tolde him I coulde not submitt to y* but must have
my liberty to serve God & goe to meetinges.
Then hee saide I must goe before 0: {L d } P { tr }: soe
I kneeled one his bed syde & desired ye Lord to forgive
him for hee was Pilate though hee woulde wash his hands.
And when ye day of his misery & tryall should come upon
him I then bid him remember what I saide to him. a
[to olefer protecter by gff 165 J^
To Oliver Protector
Friend the wisdome of God minde, and let not them
that pretend to be thy ffriends come to nigh thee, nor thy
enemyes, for there is danger. G. if.
Isaiah: 8: Cap*; Should men run unto ye Dead for
ye Livinge. If any man want light let him looke
upon ye Law and the Testimony whether they
speake not after this meaninge : if he doe not this
he suffers hunger, he is out of patience, & Blaspheme
his kinge & his God.
This was taken out of ye 1 1
bible at Gravesend 3 J J
[Upon the 5 th day of the first month] Captaine Drewry
who brought G. ff. up to London by order from Collonell
a Narrative continued on page 162.
1654] A Testimony against Carnal Weapons 161
Haggar, did come to the Inn into the Chamber where
G. ff. lay, and said that it was required of G. ff. from Oliver
Crumwell, that hee would promisse that hee would not take
up A sword against the Lord Protector or the Goverment
as it is now, And that G. ff. would write downe the words in
Answer to that which the Protector required, & for G. ff. to
set his hand to it [the fift day of the first month G. ff. was
moved of the lord to give out these words following, which
were given to Oliver Crumwell, & G. ff. was then presently
brought before him by Captaine Drewry].
gff to olefer croumull 1654 1
I [who am of the world called George ffox] doe deny the
carrying or drawing of any carnall sword against any, or
against thee Oliver Crumwell or any man in the presence
of the lord god I declare it [god is my wittnesse, by whom I
am moved to give this forth for the truthes sake, from him
whom the world calls George ffox, who is the son of God],
who is sent to stand A wittnesse against all violence &
against all the workes of darkenesse, & to turne people from
the darkenesse to the light, & to bring them from the
occassion of the warre, & from the occassion of the Magis
trates sword, which is A terrour to the evill doers [which
actes contrary to the light of the lord Jesus Christ, which
is A praise to them that doe well, which is A protection
to them that doe well, and not the evill and such souldiers
that are putt in that place no false accussers must bee,
no violence must doe, but bee content with their wages,
and that Magistrate beares not the sword in vaine, from
under the occasion of that sword I doe seeke to bring
people, my weapons are not carnall but spirituall, And my
kingdome is not of this world, therefore with the carnall
weapon I doe not fight, but am from those things dead, from
him who is not of the world, called of the world by the
name George ffox, and this I am ready to seale with my
blood, and this I am moved to give forth for the truthes
sake, who A wittnesse stands against all unrighteousnesse,
and all ungodlynesse, who A sufferer is for the righteous
seed sake, waiteing for the redemption of it, who A crowne
that is mortall seekes not for, that fadeth away, but in the
G. F. 11
1 62 End of Colonel Hacker [1654
light dwells, which comprehends that Crowne, which light
is the condemna9on of all such ; in which Light I wittnesse
the Crowne that is Immortall that fades not away, from him
who to all your soulls is A friend, for establishing of righteous-
nesse and cleansseing the Land of evill doers, and A wittnesse
against all wicked inventions of men & murderous plotts,
which Answered shall bee with the Light in all your
Consciences, which makes no Covenant with death, to which
light in you all I speake, and am clear.
ff. G.
who is of the world called George ffox
who A new name hath which the world
knowes not.
Wee are wittnesses of this Testimony whose names in the
flesh is called
Tho: Aldam. Robert Creven.]
"And this preist Stevens {aforesaid with ye rest of ye
preists & professors} had stirred him uppe [whoe had saide
soe off mee before y* never such a plant was bred in England]
& yett heere his envy was manifested when they coulde not
overcome mee by there disputes nor arguments nor resist my
spiritt then they gott souldyers {to take mee uppe}.
Now when this Coll: Hacker was in ye tower of London:
a day or two before hee was hanged Itt was tolde him what
hee had donne against ye innocent & hee remembred it &
confesst to it to Margarett ffell & saide hee knew well
{whome shee meant} : & hee had a trouble upon him for it
[whoe after was hanged at Tybourne {when ye Kinge came
in] : & soe his son & his father y fc thought I had reigned to
longe & woulde have had mee cutt off see howe soone hee
was cutt off afterwards}.
And soe I was carryed uppe by Cap* Drury aforesaid
from Leister : & when wee came to Harborough : hee askt
mee if I woulde goe home & stay a fortnight I should have
my liberty if I woulde not goe to nor keepe meetinges but I
tolde him I coulde not promise any such thinge & severall
a Narrative continued from page 160.
1654] A Letter to Oliver Cromwell 163
times upon ye roade did hee aske & try mee after ye same
manner: & I gave him ye same aunswers : & soe hee brought
mee to London to ye Myrmaide over against ye mewes at
Charinge Crosse.
And I was moved of ye Lord to warne people att ye
Inns & places as I went off ye day of ye Lord {y 11 was
comeinge upon y m } : & Will: Dewsbury & Mjarmaduke} Storr *
was In prison att North hampton & hee lett mee visitt y m :
& when I was att London hee left mee att ye Myrmaide
& went & tolde O: Cromwell off mee.
[And I gave foorth a paper & bid him carry it to Olyver,
which is here as followeth: a
[to olefer cromul by gff abought 1654*
Deare Friend
Be still, & in the Gouncill of God stand, and that will
give thee wisdome, that thou mayst frustrate mens ends, &
calme mens spirits, & Crumble men under, & arise and stand
up in ye power of the Lord God, & the Lambes Authority.
And feare not the face of man, but feare & dread the Lord
god, then his presence & wisdome & Counsell thou shalt
have to throw downe the Rubbish & quell all the badd
spiritts under thy dominion & feare them about thee ; live
in the lords power & life, then to thee he will give wisdome,
and the pure feelinge thou wilt come into, whereby thy
soule will be refreshed and it will be thy delight to doe ye
will of god, & thy meat, & drinke : as thou in ye pure eternall
power, Councell, will, & wisdome of god dwells. Things all
will be made plaine before thee, for thee & to thee from ye
Lord God. In what thou doth for ye Lord God thou shalt
have peace {& ye blessinge} and in that soe doinge all the
sober, true hearted people will be one with thee in all
travells, sorrowes, & paynes, in feelinge, and then in that a
blessinge from the Lord will come upon thee, will abound
thee & cover thee as thou lives, and art kept in ye power &
dread of the Lord God of heaven & Earth, where wisdome
is not wantinge nor peace lackinge : but peace enjoyed &
counsell and Instruction from the Lord God given : And the
Narrative continued on page 165.
112
1 64 The Word of the Lord to Cromwell [i654
helpinge arme & hand that stretcheth over all the Nations
in the world thou wilt feele it. And with that thou wilt
come to breake downe all mens ends, that they have to
themselves, and the worshipps that men Invent & Images
they have sett up : ffor the Arme of ye Lord helpes the
Eighteous, by his hand he carryes his Lambes, which arme
is turned against the wicked, stretched over them, and the
hand of ye Lord against those that doe evill, In which hand
ye Soule is, and brings it into peace.
Therefore live in the power of ye Lord god, and feele
his hand that is stretched over the nations^ for a mighty
worke hath ye Lord to doe in other Nations, and their
Quakinge & shakinge is but enteringe : soe this is the word
of ye Lord God to thee, and a Charge to thee from the Lord
God, in the presence of the Lord god, live in ye power of
ye Lord God of heaven & earth, that will make all Nations
to tremble and Quake : ffor those are Gods enemyes that be
out of his power & councell. And be thou faithfull to god
singlely, without respectinge any mans person : but respect
ye Lord & his worke : and be obedient to his will singlely
without any end to thy selfe. Livinge in ye pure wisdome,
counsell, & Instruction from god : then wilt thou see gods
enemyes : that lives out of his wisdome power Counsell fall
in their pitts, snare themselves, feare where there is noe
feare, slayinge themselves with their envy. And the power
of ye Lord will stave all ye wicked of of thee as thou lives
in it and art kept in it. And this is the word of the lord
god to thee. And live in the wisdome & the life of god,
that with it thou inayst be ordered to his glory : and Order
his Creatures to his glory. And be still & silent from thy
owne wisdome, witt, craft, subtillty, or pollicie that would
arrise in thee, but stand single to ye Lord, without any end
to thy selfe : then God will blesse thee {& prosper thee in his
wayesj- thou wilt feele his blessinge in thy Generation: and
thy mind stayed upon the Lord, thou wilt be kept in perfect
peace : without any Intent to thyselfe to the glory of god :
and there wilt thou feele noe want, nor a Never fayling, nor
nor forsakinge ; but the presence of the Lord god of life
with thee. ffor now the state of this present age is, the
lord is bringing his people into ye life the scriptures were
given forth from, in which life people shall come to have
1654] Colonel Packer s Purchase of Theobalds 165
unity with god, with scriptures & one with another, for
the stablishinge righteousnes truth & peace in which is the
Kingdome of god.
From a lover of thy soule & eternall good
George ffox.]
a [!654] And aboundans of professors preists & officers
& all sorts of people came to see mee.
And there came one Coll: Packer 1 & his officers to see
mee: & there came one Cobbe 2 & a great company of ranters
came in that time alsoe & they begann to call for drinke &
tobacco : & I desired y m to forbeare it in my roome : if
they had a minde of it they might goe Into another roome.
And one of them cryed all is ours & an other saide all
was well : butt I reply ed howe is all well when thou art soe
peevish & envious & crabbed : for I saw hee was of a peevish
nature. And soe I spake to there conditions {& they knewe
it & looket att one another wondringe}.
And then Coll: Packer hee begann to talke with a light
chafy minde of God & Christ & ye scriptures : & y fc was a
great greife to my soule & spiritt when I hearde y m talke
soe lightly soe I tolde him hee was to light to talke of ye
thinges of God & hee did not knowe ye solidity of a man :
upon which ye officers raged & saide woulde I say soe to
there collonell : & then Packer & ye ranters bowed & scraped
on to another : & this Packer was a. baptist.
And it was ye way of ye ranters to bee soe extreame in
there complements y* Packer bid them give over there
complements & I tolde y m they was fitt to goe togeather
for they was both of one spiritt.
3 And this Coll: Packer had gotten Tybballs 4 & was
made a Justice of peace there : & there sett upp a great
meetinge of ye baptists in Tybballs parke : & hee & a company
of officers had purchased it : & they was exceedinge high &
railed against freindes & truth & threatned to apprehend
mee with there warrants if ever I came doune there : &
Narrative continued from page 163.
1 66 Conversion of [William] Chandler [i654
I was moved of ye Lord God to goe downe to Tiballs &
appointe a meetinge harde by y m where a many of his
people came to it & many of his hearers & was convinct :
& ye Lords power came over him soe as y* hee had not
power to medle with mee & severall of his hearers beinge
convinct of Christ ye way & free teacher {& came off from
him} & y* made him rage ye more.
Soe I went to Waltham 1 & there was a meetinge but
ye people were very rude & they broake ye windowes &
gathered about ye house : & I went out to y m with ye bible
in my hande & desired y m to come in : & I woulde shew y m
scripture both for our practise & principles : & shewed y m
y 1 there teachers were in ye stepps of such as ye prophetts
Christ & ye Apostles cryed against : & soe I turned y m to ye
light & spiritt of God in there heartes y* by it they might
come to know there free teacher ye Lord Jesus Christ.
And they went away all satisfyed & quieted [& from y fc
time after they never made any disturbans : soe as] since
there is a large meetinge setled in there tounde [which were
gathered in ye name of Jesus to under Christs free teachinge.
And after this Coll: Packer when ye Kinge came in
losst all his offices & lande which hee had bought of ye
Kinges : whoe had saide before ye Quakers shoulde have
liberty hee woulde draw his sworde to bringe in Kinge
Charles : butt when ye Kinge was come in hee had ye
rewarde of his envy & wickednesse : & thus ye Lords power
wrought for his lambes & truth : & many such as hee was
overthrowne in there folly].
[And about this time there was one Chandler 2 : a great
ranter y* had beene a preist & one whoe had runn Into
much wickednesse y* hee lay as a spectacle to all people : &
hee cryed out that hee was in hell fire : & noe one could
minister any Comfort to him & I was moved to bid Ed:
Burrough to goe to him & turne him to ye light of Christ :
& setle his minde upon Christ : & soe hee did ffor hee went
{foorthwith} & his message was effectuall : & hee became a
very fine freinde & gave foorth many bookes {for ye truth}
& dyed in truth.]
And after a few days I was had before Oliver Cromuell
by Capt: Drury : & hee brought mee in before him before
1654] Visit to the Protector 167
hee was dresst : & one Harvey 1 : y fc had come amongst
freinds but was disobedient hee waited upon him.
And soe when I came before him 2 I was moved to say
peace be one this house : & I bid him keepe in ye feare of
God y* hee might rec... wisedom yt by it hee might be
ordered : & y fc with it hee might order all thinges under his
hande to Gods glory.
And I spoake much to him off truth & hee saide wee
quarreld with ye preists : & I tolde him I did not quarrell
with y m : but they quarreld with mee & my freindes.
And such teachers & prophetts & shepheards y* ye
prophetts Christ & ye Apostles declared against : if wee
owned ye prophetts Christ & ye Apostles wee coulde not
holde y m uppe but must declare against y m by ye same
power & spiritt.
And ye prophetts Christ & ye Apostles declared freely :
& they declared against y m that did not declare freely :
& such as preacht for filthy lucre & devined for money &
preacht for hire & were covetous & greedy like ye dumbe
dows y t coulde never have enough : & such preists as did
OO J O L
beare rule by there meanes & ye people y fc loved to have
it soe.
[And now to make a trade of Christ ye prophetts &
Apostles words y* spoake y m foorth freely & whoe declared
against all such as aforesaid whoe did not declare freely.]
Now they y t have ye same spiritt y fc Christ & ye
prophetts & Apostles had coulde not but declare against all
such {now as they did then}.
And severall times hee saide Itt was very good & truth
& I tolde him y* all Christendome soe caled had ye scriptures
but they wanted ye power & spiritt y* they had y fc gave y m
foorth : & therefore they was not in feloweshippe with ye
son nor with ye father nor with ye scriptures nor one with
another.
And soe many more words I had with him: & many
people begann to come in y t I drew a litle backewarde & as
I was turneinge hee catcht mee by ye hande & saide these
words with teares in his eyes :
Come againe to my house : for if thou & I were butt an
houre in a day togeather wee should bee neerer one to ye
other : & y* hee wisht mee noe more ill then hee did to his
1 68 At Liberty again [1654
owne soule : & I tolde him if hee did hee wronged his owne
soule : & soe I bid him hearken to & heare Gods voice y fc
hee might stande in his counsell & obey it & if hee did soe
y* woulde keepe him from hardnesse of hearte : & if hee did
not heare Gods voice his hearte woulde bee hardened {&
hee said Itt was true}.
And soe I went out & hee bid mee come againe & then
Capt: Drury came out after mee & tolde mee his Lord
Protector saide I was at Liberty & might goe whether I
woulde 1 [& my Lord says hee says you are not a foole &
said hee never saw such a paper in his life as I had sent
him {before by him}].
And soe I went to ye Inn againe : & this Capt: Drury
was an enimy to mee & truth & opposed it & when professors
came to mee & hee was by : hee would scoffe at tremblinge
& call us Quakers : as ye Independant & Presbyterians had
nicknamed us before.
And hee came to mee on time & tolde mee as hee was
lyinge on his bed in ye day time to rest hee fell a trembleinge
y* his Jointes knockt togeather & his body shooke soe hee
coulde not gett off ye bed : & hee was shaken soe y fc hee
had noe strength left & cryed to ye Lord : & hee felt his
power was upon him y* hee tumbled off ye bed & cryed to
ye Lord & saide hee woulde never speake against ye quakers
more & such as trembled att ye worde of God.
And one time a Company of officers desired mee to pray
with y m 2 : & I was loath but att last I felt ye power &
spiritt of God : & ye Lords power did soe shatter y m & shake
y m y* they wondred though they did not live in it.
And thus ye Lord God of heaven carryed mee over all
in his power : & sett his power & truth over ye nation.
And then after this I went into ye Citty of London &
great & mighty meetinges wee had : & many times I coulde
hardely goe alonge ye streets : for ye tumults of people : nor
hardely gett to a meetinge nor from a meetinge for ye
tumults of people & ye truth spreade exceedingely.
And ye sheriffe of Lincolne & Tho: Aldam & divers
freinds came upp to London & A: Parker 3 abided with
mee.
And I went to Whitehall & was moved to declare ye
day of ye Lord amongst y m : & how ye Lord was come to
y
h
1654] False Reports in the News Book 169
teach his people himselfe both to ye officers & such as were
caled Olivers Gentlemen {of his guarde}.
And there was a preist (as O: P: had severall preists y fc
were his newsmongers) : but there was one {y fc opposed} when
I was declareinge ye worde of ye Lorde amongst y m y* was
an envious preist : & I bid him repent : & y fc hee putt {In
his news book ye next weeke y fc I had beene at Whitehall
& had bid a godly minister repent}.
Butt when I went againe I mett with him & aboundans
fc gathered about mee & I silenced ye preist & manifested
im to bee a lyar in severall thinges y fc hee did affirme
then : & Alsoe y* hee putt in ye news booke : & y fc I
woare sylver buttons which was false for they was butt
Alchymy.
And after hee putt in his news booke y fc I hunge ribans
one peoples armes which made y m to followe mee : which was
another of his lyes : for I never woare nor used ribans in
my life.
And 3 ffreinds went to examine this preist y t gave foorth
this false Intelligens & to know of him where hee had y fc
Information : & hee tolde y m {Itt was a woman tolde him
soe &} when they came againe hee would tell y m ye womans
name : butt when they came againe hee saide Itt was a
man : but woulde not tell y m his name then but if they
would come againe hee woulde tell y m his name & where
hee lived : but when they came againe {ye 3 time} hee saide
if I woulde give it under my hande there was noe such
thinge hee woulde putt it in ye news booke : & ye freindes
carryed it under my hande to him but hee would not putt
it in but was in a rage & threatned y m with ye constable :
& this was ye deceitfull doinge of this forger of lyes & these
lyes they spreade over all ye nation in ye news bookes to
render truth odious & to putt evill in peoples mindes
{against freindes & truth : which may be seene more at
large in ye printed booke : of cleeringe ye slaunderous lyes
& reports against freinds & truth 1 }.
And these preists ye newsmongers were of ye Indepen-
dante sect like those in Leistersheere but ye Lords power
came over all there lyes {& many came to see y m } ye Lords
power went over ye nation {insoemuch} y* many ffreindes
was moved to goe Into most parts uppe and doune ye nation
170 To All Professors t [1654
about this time : & Into Scotland : & ye glory of ye Lord
was sett over all to his everlastinge praise.
And a great convincement was in London & many in
O: P: house {& family} 1 .
And I went to see him againe but coulde not gett to
him ye officers begann to bee soe rude.
[And sometimes they would turne uppe my coate & see
for my leather briches & then they woulde be in a rage.]
And ye Presbyterians & Independants & baptists was
in a great rage for many of there people came to bee turned
to ye Lord Jesus Christ : & sate under his teachinge &
received his power {& felt it in there heartes}. And then
they was moved of ye Lord to declare against ye rest of y m .
Soe ye Lords day was sett over all & I appointed a
meetinge in ye feildes neere Ackton where ye Lords power
came over all & his worde of life & truth was declared
freely {& about this time G: ff: gave foorth a paper to all
professors : & to ye pope & all ye kinges in Europe : & to
all such as followes after ye worlds fashions : & to 0: P &
such as were to try ye ministers : as is hereunto annexed}.* 1
A paper off g: ffs: to all professors. 1654 2 -
All the that professed Jesus Christ in words and heard
Math. him not, when he was come, they said he was A deceiver
27 - and A devill ; the cheife preists were them which called
him soe, soe the jewes said he hath A devill & is mad
why doe yee here him; and other said these are not the
words of him that hath A devill, can the devill open the
eyes of the blind, and the jewes doubted whether he was
the christ or noe ; and soe all jewes in the knowledge, in
the notion that professeth A Christ without ; where Christ
John 10. is risne the doe not owne him but doe doubt of him the same
Christ now & for ever ; Jesus Christ said I and my father
am one and then the jewes tooke up stones to stone him ;
and where Jesus Christ is now come & made manifest, the
jewes in the outward in the profession have the same hard
harts inwardly now, that they had then, and doe cast stones
at him where he is risne, Jesus said for which of these good
a Narrative continued on page 180.
1654] The Results of Confessing Christ 171
works doe ye stone mee, the jewes answered and said for
thy good works we stone thee not ; but for blasphemie and
that thou being A man makest thy selfe god, Jesus answered
them and said is it not written in your law I say you are
gods, and the scripture cannot be broken, say ye of him
who the father sanctifieth and sent into the world thou
blasphemest because I say I am the son of god : The jewes
said to him say we not well that thou hast A devill : Jesus
answered I honnor my father and ye dishonour mee, and
they that were in ye synagouge arose up and thurst him
out of the City and tooke him up to ye edge of the hill, Luke 4.
where the city was built to cast him downe head long : the
pharises saith he casteth out devills by the prince of devils :
Jesus Christ was called A gloutton & A drunkerd A friend
of publicans and siners : but wisedome is justified of her
children ; then answered the officers of the high preists &
Pharises and said unto them why have ye not brought him,
the officers said never spoke man like this man : the pharises
said are ye also deceived doth any of the rulers or of the
pharises beleeve in him : but this people which knowes not
the law are Acursed : Nicodemus said unto them he that
came to Jesus by night; doth our law judge any man before John 7.
it hear him.
When Steven confessed Jesus the substance of all figures
and types and was brought before the cheife preists to his
tryall, he tould them the most high dwelleth not in Templs
made with hands and brought the prgphet to wittnes and
tould them they were stife necked and uncircumsised hearts
and resisted the holy Ghost as their fathers did : and Steven
was full of the holy Ghost and said he saw Jesus and they
runne upon him and stoned him to death calling upon the
lord.
When Paul confessed Jesus Christ and his resurrection
ffestus said he was mad, and when Paul preached the
resurrection some mocked : the jewes pers waded the people
and stoned him & drove him out of the city & thought he
had bene dead : the Jewes stired up the Gentiles to make
their minds evell affected towards their bretheren : the
jewes stired up the devout and honorable women and the
cheife of the city, and raysed up persecution against Paul
& Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts and there
172 " Earth feeds upon Earth" [1654
was an asault made both of the Gentiles and of the jewes
with their rulers to use them despistefully & to stone them,
and all Jewes in the notion doth stire up the rulers & stire
up the ignorant people and incence them against Jesus
Christ where he is rissen, to stone them all with one con
sent : it is that the scripture might be fullfilled & the
blindnes of the people might be descovered and the same
power now is made manifest & doth overturne the world
and did overturne the world to the exalting of the Lord
and to the pulling downe of the Kingdome of Satan and of
this world and setting up of his owne kingdome to his ever
lasting praise. The Lord is now exalting of himselfe and
throwing downe selfe the proud ons hand* is aloft fearing he
should loose his pride and his crowne the preists the incense
all the ignorant people for fear their trade should goe downe.
And the professors they shew forth what is in them full
of rage that Jesus Christ the substance is not there but A
stony heart to stone the pretious where it is rissn that ye
carnall mind feeds upon the carnall Letter and soe earth
feeds upon earth and that vinyard is not drest but is full of
venemous beasts swines & dogs ; breaires and nettles, wolves
and lyons and all venemous creatures lodgeth in that habita
tion that house is foule and is not swept : these are the
persecutors of the just & enemies of the truth, and the
enemies of Christ, these are blasphemers of god and his
truth, these are they that call upon god with their lips and
their hearts are farre from him ; these are them that feed on
lyes preist & people, these are them that insense all the
people and stire up envy for it begets it owne one like it
selfe, these are they that are ye weaves of the sea foowming
out with shame, these are they that have double eyes
whose bodyes are full of darkenes, these are them that
paints themselves with the prophets with Christs & with the
Apostles words ; most fair whited walles you are painted
sepulchers you are, murderers of the just you are, your eyes
are double, your minds are double, your hearts are double :
ye flattrers repent from your carnall ends who are full of
mischeife ; pretending god and godlynesse, takeing him for
your cloake but he will uncover you : and he hath uncovered
* Ellwood editions have head
1654] Realisations 1 7 3
you to his children, he will make you bare and descover
your secrets and take of your crowne & take away thy
mantle, and thy vaile and unstrip thee of thy cloathes that
thy nakednesse may appeare, and how thou sittest deceiving
the nation : thy abomination and thy falsenesse is now
made manifest to they who are of god who in his power
triumphs over you, rejoyces over you, the beast, the dragon,
the false prophet the seducer the hopocrite the mother of
all harlots : now thou must fill thy cup thou must have it
double give it to her double sing over her, you righteous
ons sing over them all ye saints triumph in glory triumph
over the deceite sing the song of the lambe, trapple over
the world spread the truth abroad, come ye captive
ons out of prison & rejoyce with one accord for ^ the joy-
full dayes are comming let us be glad and rejoyce for
ever, singlenes of heart is come, purenes of heart is come,
joy and gladnesse is come the glorious god is exalting him-
selfe and truth hath bene talkt of but now it is possessed :
Christ hath bene talkt of but now he is come & possessed :
the glory hath bene talkt of but now it is possessed and the
glory of man is destroyed, the son of god hath be talkt of
but now he is come & hath given us an understanding,
unity hath bene talked of but now it is come, virgins hath
bene talked of but now they are come with oyle in their
lamps, he will be gloryfied alone where pride is thrown
downe earth and the fleshly will is throwne downe and the
pure is raised up there alone is the Lord exalted.
Let the heaven bow downe to him : and the earth reale
to and fro and stager up & downe ; the Lord is setting up
his throwne and his crowne throwing downe the crowne of
man & be alone will be glorified to whom be all honour &
glory all praise & all thanks, who gives his children wise-
dome and all strength knowledge & vertue power & riches
blessing & endurable substance & an eye to descern and an
eare to hear things single [for they are pure as the are
righteous as they are clear as they are] & brings downe the
pride of mans heart turne the wicked out of the Kingdome,
the righteous ons inherite righteousnesse : the ^ pure ons
purenesse : the holy ons holynesse : praises praises be to
thee whose glory now shines ; Whose day which is hid
from the world : hid from all wise ons & all the prudent,
174 To the Pope and all Kings in Europe [1654
hid from the foules of ye aire hide from all vultrous eyes &
all venemous beasts, and all lyars and all dogs & all swine
but to them that fear thy name, the secrets of thee are
made manifest, the treasures of wisedome is opened and the
fullnesse of knowledge for thou thy selfe dost make thy selfe
manifest to thy children.
Gr:ffs paper to ye Pope & all ye Kinges in Europe. 1654 1 .
ffreinds yee heads and Rulers & kings & Nobles of all
sorts : Be not bitter, nor hastie in persecuteing the lambs
of Christ : neither turn yourselves against ye viseitacons of
god and his tender love & mercies from on high, who sent
to viseit you : least the lords hand arm & power take swiftly
hold upon you, which is now stretched over ye world, that
is turned against kings & shall turn wiseinen backward :
and will fetch of their crownes to ye dust, & lay them low
and levell with ye earth : God & christ will be king who
gives crownes to whom obeys his will.
And this is ye age, that the lord god of heaven & earth
the pride of man is staineing & his glorie is defaceing.
Soe you y* professe christ and doth not love your enemies :
but 011 ye contrarie doth shut them up and imprison them
who are his freinds, thees be marks y* yee be out of his
life & doth not love christ who doth nott the things he
commands. The day of ye lords wrath is kindlinge, his fire
is goeinge out to burn up the wicked, which will neither
leave roote nor branch : therfore they y^ have lost their
habitaon with god be out of ye spirit y t gave forth ye
scriptures, and from ye light that Jesus christ hath them
enlightened withal, and soe from ye true foundation.
Therfore be swifte to heare & slow to speak e & slower to
persecute, for of all ye worlds wayes to christ ye way is ye
lord bringing his people to himselfe, & from all the worlds
churches to ye church which is in god ye father of our lord
Jesus christ, and of all ye worlds teachers, to teach his
people himselfe, by his spirit : And of all the worlds Images
into ye image of himselfe [& shapes into his own shape], and
likenesses into his own likenes : & all ye worlds crosses,
stone or wood, into his power, which is ye crosse of christ :
1654] The Worlds Fashions 175
for all thees Images & crosses & shapes are amongst them
that are apostatated from ye Image of god, the power of god
which is ye crosse of christ, which now fathoms over ye
world & is throwing down ye contrarie, which power of god
never changs : let this goe to ye kings of france Spain &
Pope for them to prove all things & to hold that which
is good : And first to prove that they have not quenched
ye spirit, for ye mightie day of ye lord is corned & comeing
upon all wickednes & ungodlynes & unrighteousnes of men,
who will plead with all flesh by fire & by sword. And ye
truth and ye crown of glorie [ye kingdom of god], & ye
scepter of righteousnes over all exalted, which shall answer
that of god in every one on ye earth though they be from it.
I am ye light of ye world & doth enlighten every one
that cometh into the world, that all through him might
beleeve : he that feeleth ye light that christ hath enlightened
him withall. he feeleth christ in his mind, which is the power
of god, the crosse of christ & shall not need to have a Crosse
of wood or stone to put him in the mind of christ : or his
crosse which is ye power of god.
G: ff: to such as followed after ye fashions of ye world.
1654 1 .
The worlds fashions.
What A world is this how doth ye divell garnish himselfe
& how obedient are people to doe his will & mind that they
are altogether carryed with fooleryes *& vanityes both men
& women that they have lost ye hidden man of ye heart, &
ye meeke & quiett spirit which is of ye Lord of great price
they have lost ye adorninge of Sarah, they are putinge on
gold, gaye apparrill plaiting ye heier, men & women they
are powderinge it, makinge their backes as if it were baggs
of meale & they looke soe strainge that they cannot looke
at one another, they are soe lifted up in prid, prid hath soe
lifted them up, & is flowne up into their head, they snufe up
like wild asses, & like Ephrime they feed upon wind & are
gotten to be like wild hephers, who feed upon the mountaines,
& prid hath puft up every one, they are out of ye feare of
god, men & women younge & ould, one pufes up another,
they are not in ye fashion of ye world else, they are not in
esteeme else, they shall not be respected else, if they have
176 Ribbons and Hair Powder [1654
not Gold & silver upon their backes, or his heire bee not
powdered, or if he have a Company of ribions hunge about
his wast, red, or whit, or blacke, or yellow, & about his
knees, & geets a Company in his hatt, & powders his hayer,
then he is A brave man, then he is excepted, then he is noe
Quaker, because he hath rebons on his backe, & beely, & knees
& his haire powdered, this is ye aray of the world, but is not
this ye lusts of ye eye, ye lusts of ye flesh & ye prid of life.
Likwise ye women, haveinge their gold, their spots on
their faces, noses, cheekes, forheads, haveinge their rings on
their fingers, wareinge Gold, haveinge their cuffes dubell
under & about like unto a butcher with whit sleeves haveinge
their ribons tyed about their hands, & three or fower Gold
laces about their Clothes this is noe Quaker saith they,
this is that that pleaseth ye world this aray, this atyer
pleaseth ye world, & if they cannot get these things they
are pervers, but this is not ye atyer of Sara, whose addorninge
was in ye hidden man of ye heart of a quiet & meeke spirit,
this is ye addorninge of ye heathen not of ye Apostle nor ye
saints, who said not wareinge of Gold nor play tinge ye hayer,
but of a meeke & quiet spirit, which was of ye Lord, of
great price, & here was ye Soberity & good orniment, which
was of ye Lord accepted, this was Pauls exhortation &
preachinge but we see ye talkers of Pauls words lives out of
Pauls command & example of Sarah, but are found in ye
steps of ye great heathen who came to examine ye apostles
in his gordious apparell.
Now are not all theise that have gott these rebons hunge
about their armes, backes, wasts, knees, hatts, hands, like
unto fidlers boyes, & shewes that you are gotten into ye
Basest Contempable life as be in ye fashion of ye fidlers
boyes, & stagplayers, & quit out of ye Paths & steeps of sollid
men, & in ye very Steeps & paths of ye wild heads which
gives themselves up to every invention & vanity of ye
world that apeares is inventinge to gett upon their backes
heads feet & legs, & say if it be out of ye fashion it is
nothinge worth, are not these ye spoylers off* ye creation,
& hath the fatt & ye best of it & wasts & destroyes it,
doth not these cumber gods earth, let that of god in all
consciences answer & who are in ye wisdom e Judge : &
further to gett apare of breeches Like acoate & hange
them about with poyntes & up allmost to ye midle &
1654] Truth s Adorning 177
a pare of cluble cuffes upon his handes, & a fether in his
capp, heeres a gentelman bowe before him put of your hatts
bow, getts a Company of fidlers, a sett of musicke & women
to dance this is a brave fellow up in ye Chamber, up in ye
Chamber without & up in ye Chamber with in, are these your
fine Christians, yea say they : they are Christians, yea but
saith ye seryous people they are not of Christs life, and out
of ye apostles commande & out of ye saints ornyment : & to
see such a Company as is before mentioned as are in ye
fashions of ye world, as is before mentioned a Company of
them gett a cuple of bowles in their hands, or tables, or
shufelbord, or A horse with a Company of ribons on his head
as he hath on his owne & a ringe in his eare, & soe goe to
horseraceinge to spoyle ye creature, oh these are Gentelmen,
these are bread up gentellmen, these are brave fellowes &
they must have their recreation, & pleasures are lawfull ; &
these in their sports sett up their shouts like unto ye wild
ases, are like unto ye kine or bease when they are put to
grass loweing when they are full, & heeres ye gloryinge of
them before mentioned, but it is in ye flesh not in ye Lord
& these are bad Christians, & shewes that they are glottened
with ye creature, & then the flesh reioyceth & heere is
bad breedinge of youth & younge women, who are carryed
away with ye vanityes of the mind & their owne inventions,
prid arrogancie lust gloutenie uncleanness, so eate & drinke
& rise up to play, this is ye generation which God is not
pleased withall, but their eyes are full of adultery who
cannot cease from evell these be they that live in pleasures
upon earth, these be them which are dead while they live,
which glory not in ye Lord but in ye flesh, these bee them
that bee out of ye life that ye scriptures was given forth
from who lives in ye fashion & vanityes of ye world (& out
of its" adorninge), & in ye divells adorninge who is out of
truth, & not ye adorninge of ye Lord, which is a meeke &
quiet sperit which is of ye Lord of great price, but this
orniment & this adorninge, is not put on with them which
be adorned &. have ye orniment of him that is out of ye
truth, which is not accepted with ye Lord, & that which is
accepted with their eye [& owned.
Thomas Rallison].
a Ell wood editions have Truth s
G. F. 12
178 To Cromwell and the Triers [1654
gff to Oliver cromull & the, justes to try minsters 1654 1
frr-ends yow that bee Justices in Comission to try 2
ministers which hath soe long beene in the vineyard of
god, now see if they bee accordinge to the Scriptures the
prophets Christ & the Apostles, that they disapproved,
then see how yow can stand in the sight of god to lett
such goe into his vineyard, & approve of them which will
admire your persons because of advantage, & if yow doe
not give them advantage they will not admire your persons
(that Jude speakes of) and see if they bee not such as teach
for filthy lucre, for the love of money, covetous such as loves
themselves, who have the forme of godlinesse, but deny
the power, from such the Apostle bidds turne away, The
Apostle saide their mouthes should bee stopt that served
not the lord Jesus but their owne bellyes, evill beasts slow-
bellies which mind earthly things : Paul gave Timothy an
order to try ministers & hee said they must not bee covetous
given to wine nor filthy lucre nor a novice least they bee
lifted up into pride & fall into the condemnation of the
devil], & these hee was to try & prove without partiallitie :
& take heed now of your approveinge such as hee disap
proved, for since the Apostles dayes such as hee disapproved
have had their libertie.
And they tould us their tongues was their Original! the
Orthodox men, & the steeplehouse with a Crosse on the
top of itt was the Church the papists masse house, yow
may looke on the top of itt & see the signe : & the scrip
tures tell us all the earth was of one language before the
buildinge of Babell, & when Pilate crucified Christ, hee sett
the tongues of Hebrew greeke & lattine on the top of him ;
& John tells us that the beast had power over the tongues
kindreds & nations, & the whore sitts upon the tongues,
which all nations have drunke her cup, & the kings of the
earth have Committed fornication with her : & John said
the tongues are waters, & Christ gives the marks to the
disciples & multitude, how to [know &] try them, they
are called of men maister, love the Cheifest seat in the
Assemblies & said they shall put yow out of the synagogues,
& bee sayers & not doers, & gives out seaven woes against
them, & soe disapproved of them, & Christ said false pro-
1654 J A Forced Maintenance 179
phetts should come, & John saw they was come, which
went forth from them, & since the world went out after
them [the beast & the false prophetts, & god pronounced
seaven woes against them], & Babilon must bee confounded
& the mother of harlotts, & the devill taken, with him the
beast & the false prophet must bee cast into the lake of
fire, the Lambe & the saints over all must reigne & have
the victorie.
Arid the prophetts the Lord god sent to cry against
the shepperds that sought for the fleece Eze: 34. & to
cry against such shepperds as seeke for their gaine from
their quarter & never have enough Isa. 56 : & to cry
against such as bear rule by their meanes, A filthy &
horrible thinge Jer: 5. & give (yow) them riot means & see
how long they will bear rule, And did they prosper in the
old time, that gave not their tythes, & had A stoorehouse
for the fatherlesse strangers & widdows to come in & bee
filled: & did not Christ come to putt an end to that
preisthood tythes temple & Preists? & doth not the Apostle
say that, that preisthood is changed, the law is changed &
the Comandement disanulled, might not these have pleaded
the law of god that gave them tythes ? And have ever
any of the preists prospered that take tythes since by the
law of man ; was not the first auther of them the pope ?
did the Apostles cast men in prison for tythes as your
ministers doth now; as Instance Ralph Hollingworth 1 Preist
of Phillingham for petty tythes not exceedinge six shillings,
hath cast into Lincolne prison A poor Thatcher called Thomas
Bromby 2 , where hee hath beene about 38 weeks, & still re-
maynes, & the Preist Petitioned the Judge that the poor-
man might not labour to gett a litle money in the Citty
towards his maintenance in prison, is this a good savour
amongst yow, that are in Comission to Chuse ministers, is
this glad tidings to cast in prison A man that is not his
hearer, because hee could not putt into his mouth : Can
such as bee in the fear of god & his wisdome owne such
things, the ministers of Christ are to plant A vineyard, &
then eate of the fruitt, plow, sow & thresh, & gett the
Corne, & then lett them reap & not cast them into prison
for whom they doe no worke : Christ when hee sent forth
his ministers hee bad them give freely, as they had received
122
i8o A Dinner with the Gentry [1655
freely & into what citty or towne soever they came into,
enquire who were worthy & there abide, & what they sett
before yow that eat, & these came backe againe to Christ
& hee asked them if they wanted any thinge & they said
no, & they did not goe to A towne and call people together
to know how much they might have by the yeare, as those
that are apostatised doth now : The Apostle said have I
not power to eat & to drinke, but hee doth not say to take
tythes, easter reckonings, midsummer dues, augmentations
& great Sumes of money, but have not I power to eat & to
drincke : but hee did not use that power amongst the
Corrinthyans : but them that are apostatised from him
will take tythes great summes of money, easter-reckonings
& midsummer dues & cast them into prison that will not
give itt them, whom they doe no worke for, & the oxe
mouth must not bee muzled that treads out the Corne,
but see if the Gorne bee trodden out in yow & the wheat
be in the garner.
from A lover of your soules
& eternall good. G. ff.
a [1655] And after when I had cleered myselfe in ye
Citty I was moved of ye Lord to goe Into Bedfordsheere
to Jo: Crookes 1 ": where there was a great meetmge &
people generally convinct of ye Lords truth.
And Jo: Crooke tolde mee ye next day severall gentle
men of ye Country woulde come to dine with him hee beinge
a Justice of ye peace & to discourse with mee : & [ they
{came &} was all convinct of c ] Gods eternall truth [& dyed
in it] 2 : & severall freinds went to ye steeplehouses y* day.
And there was a meetinge in ye Country: where Alex:
Parker went to it : & towards ye midle of ye day Itt came
upon mee to goe though Itt was severall miles distant : &
Jo: Crooke went with mee.
And when wee came there there was one Gritton y
a Narrative continued from page 170.
b The side-note Luton of the first, second, and third Ellwood editions
has been incorporated in the text of the 1836 and later editions, to John
Crook s house, at Luton
c ... c Ellwood editions read / declared to them
1655] Interview with a Fortune Teller 181
had beene a baptist butt hee was gotten higher then
y m & caled himselfe a tryer of spiritts & tolde people
there fortunes & {hee pretended to} discover to people when
there goods were stolen or houses broaken uppe {whoe ye
persons were} with which hee had gotten Into ye affections
of many people y fc aways.
And hee was speakeinge & makeinge a hideous noice over
ye younge convinced ffreindes when I came in & hee bid
A: Parker give a reason of his hope.
And because hee did not speake presently to him hee
cryed his mouth was stoppt : but Alexander Parker tolde
him Christ was his hope : soe then this Gritton directed his
speech to mee for I stoode still & hearde him.
And hee spoake many thinges which was not scripture
& then I asked him whether hee coulde make those thinges
out by scripture which hee had spoaken & hee saide yes yes.
Soe then I bid ye people take out there bibles to search ye
places hee might quote for proofe of his assertions : butt hee
coulde not make any thinge good by scripture hee had saide
soe hee fled out of ye house & was ashamed. And his
people was generally convinced : & his spiritt was discovered
& hee came noe more amongst y m .
And [alsoe a there was a booke printed of his fortune
tellinge & ye like butt a ] when his people came to be con
vinced of Gods truth they gave foorth a booke against him
& denyed his [ a booke & a ] spiritt & false discovery es.
And many was turned to Christ Jesus y* day & came
to sitt under his teachinge.
And att this time ye Judges were in a great rage in
Bedfordsheere & many off ye magistrates because there-
was so many turned from ye hirelinge preists to ye Lorde
Jesus Christ free teachinge {butt Jo: Crooke by ye power
of ye Lord was kept over all though hee was turned out
from beinge a Justice}.
And then att last I turned uppe through ye country to
London againe: where ffreindes was finely establisht in ye
truth & great comeinges in there was.
And after a while I passt Into Kent & came to Cram-
borough where there was a great meetinge of severall
souldyers : & many was turned to ye Lord y t day.
a ... a These words have a line through them.
1 82 Ministry in Kent [1655
Butt after ye meetinge some of ye souldyers were some
what rude but ye Lords power came over y m .
And about this time ye preists & professors stirred up
ye magistrates to whippe Jo: Stubbs & Will: Caton att
Maidston for ye declareing Gods truth unto y m { a as you
may see att large in a printed Booke of mine 1 "}.
Butt as I went Into Kent they kept a guarde att
Rochester & there they were examininge people butt ye
Lords power came soe over y m y* wee past by y m & was
not stoppt.
And In Kent there was one Tho: Howsigoe 2 y fc was an
Independant preacher was convinced & became a faithfull
minister for ye Lord Jesus.
And there was one Capt: Duncke 3 was convinced & hee
went with mee to Rye: where wee had a meetinge & ye
major & officers & severall captains came in. And they
tooke what I saide In writeinge & I was very glad of it :
& all was quiett & affected with truth.
[1655] And about this time severall freinds went be-
yonde ye seas to declare ye everlastinge truth of God.
And after I went to Rumney 6 : they haveinge know
ledge of my comeinge a pretty while before. And there
was a mighty meetinge of people : & Samuell ffisher 4 whoe
was a head pastor of ye baptists & a parish preist layde
doune his parsonage worth about 280 1 a yeere c : & ye power
of ye Lord was mightily over ye people & y m & there was
another pastor of ye baptists & aboundans of there people :
& many was shaken with ye power of God & ye life sprange
uppe in y m & one of ye pastors of ye baptists hee was soe
amased att ye Lords power y fc hee bid one of our freindes y l
was soe wrought upon have a good conscience.
And I was moved of ye Lord to bid him take heed of
hypocrisy & deceit & hee was silent : & a great convincement
there was y* day & many was turned from ye darknesse to
ye devine light of Christ & came to see there teachers error
& to sitt under ye Lord Jesus Christs teachinge & to knowe
him there way & there covenant of light y fc God had given
a ... a This interlineation, though ancient, is not in the handwriting of
Thomas Lower.
b Altered from Lyd in the same hand but with a thicker pen.
c Ell wood editions read about two hundred pounds a year
1655] Convincement of Samuel Fisher 183
to bee there salvation to ye ends of ye earth : & they was
brought to ye one baptisme & ye one baptiser Christ Jesus.
And when ye meetinge was donne Sam: ffishers wiffe
saide now saide shee wee may discerne this day betwixt
flesh & spiritt & spiritual! teachinge from fleshly : but 1
walkt away & people was mightily satisfyed & ye two
baptist pastors & there company fell to reasoninge when
they was gonne from ye meetinge amongst ye people.
And Sam: ffisher & diverse others reasoned for ye worde
of life y* was declared y fc day & ye other pastor {& his party}
reasoned against it: soe it cutt & devided y m in sunder:
& cutt y 111 in ye midst.
And a freinde came & tolde mee y fc ye baptists were
disputinge one with another & hee desired mee to goe uppe
to y m butt I bid y m lett y m alone: for ye Lord woulde
devide y m & they y fc reasoned for truth woulde bee to harde
for ye other & soe Itt was.
And Sam: flisher [denyed all &] came to bee a faithfull
& free minister & preacher {of Christ & his truth} & was often
in prisons in Englande & att last dyed a prisoner for ye
Lords truth.
And hee went {(beinge moved of ye Lord to declare his
worde of life)} to Dunkirke & to Hollande Italy Legorne
Home : & yett ye Lord preserved him & Jo: Stubbs over
there inquisitions.
And att y t time Jo: Love 1 was In prison in ye Inquisition
att Home [& there as it was reported .by ye nunns in ffrance
they hanged him in ye night time not y fc they had any
thinge against him but y fc they saide hee was a daungerous
person & might doe hurt to there religion.
And then after they had hanged him they reported y*
hee had fasted himselfe to death 2 : & much might be written
of these thinges butt Sam: flisher continnued till ye kinge
came in & dyed a prisoner for ye Lords truth].
And from Rumney a I past to Dover: & neere unto Dover
there was a governor y* was convinct & his wiffe y fc had beene
baptists : & att Dover I had a meetinge where severall was
convinced : & ye baptists were very much offended & envious :
but ye Lords power came over all.
a Altered from Lyd in the same hand but with a thicker pen.
184 Passing through Sussex [1655
And there Luke Howarde l was convinct which became a
faithfull minister & soe I passt to Canterbury where there
was a few honnest hearted people turned to ye Lord : whoe
stands to this day [& are become a great meetinge since] .
And soe I came to Cramborough againe where I had a
great meetinge & one y* was with mee went to ye steeple-
house & was cast Into prison 2 butt ye Lords power came
over all & his truth spreade.
And from thence I passt Into Sussex where I came to a
lodge neere Horsham 3 : where there was a great meetinge
& many was convinced.
And from thence I passt to Stanninge 4 where wee had a
meetinge in ye markett house: & severall was convinced y*
a ways & ye Lords power came over all.
And severall meetinges I had y* a ways & there was
a meetinge appointed att a great mans house : & hee & his
son went to fetch severall preists y* had threatned to come &
dispute : butt when ye time came none of y m woulde come
ye Lords power strucke y m : & a glorious meetinge wee
had: & the man of ye house & his son were vext because
none of ye preists woulde come: soe ye heartes of people
was opned by ye spiritt of God & they was turned from
ye hirelinges to Christ Jesus there shephearde whoe had
purchased y m without money & woulde feede y m without
money or price: & Nicholas 66 Bearde 5 & many others were
convinct y t day y t came to heare ye dispute.
And soe ye Lords power came over all & his day many
came to see : & aboundans of ranters & professors there was
y* had beene soe loose in there lifes y* they began to be
weary of it & had thought to have gonne Into Scotland to
have lived privately & soe ye Lords truth 6 catcht y m all &
there understandings was opned by his light spiritt &
power through which they came to be setled upon ye
Lord : & soe became very good freinds in ye truth & became
very sober men y fc great blesseinge & praiseinge ye Lord
there was {amongst y m & admiration in ye Country}.
And from thence I passt through ye Countryes till I
came to Readinge & there was a few y* had beene con-
a Nicholas has been substituted for Major in the same hand but with
a thicker pen.
6 Ellwood editions have net
1655] Great Meeting at Reading 185
vinced: & on ye first day In Geo: Lambells 1 orcharde almost
all ye whole tounde came togeather & there came two of
Judges ftells daughters to mee: & Geo: Bishoppe 2 with his
sworde by his syde : & a glorious meetinge it was & a great
convincement of people there was y fc day: & people was
mightily satisfy ed.
And many baptists & ranters came privately after
meetinge reasoninge & disputinge butt ye Lords power
came over y m all : & ye ranters pleaded y fc God made ye
Divell {but I denyed it} & I tolde y m I was come Into ye
power of God & ye seede Christ which was before ye Devill
was & bruised ye heade of him : & hee became a Devill by
goeinge out of truth & soe became a murderer & a destroyer :
& soe shewed y m y* God did not make ye Divell for God is
a God of truth & made all thinges good {& blest y m but did
not blesse ye Divell} & ye Divell is bad & was a Iyer & a
murderer from ye beginninge & spoake of himselfe & not
from God: & soe ye truth stoppt y m & bounde y m & came
over all ye highest notions in ye nation & confounded y m
for with ye power of ye Lord God I was manifest & seekt
to be manifest to ye spiritt of God {in all} which they
vext & squenched & greived y fc with it they might bee
turned to God : as many was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ
by ye spiritt of God & to sett under ye Lord Jesus Christs
teachinge: & there was a great meetinge setled there.
And from thence I passt uppe to London: & after I had
stayde there a while & had large naeetinges I passt Into
Essex & came to Cocksell [where there was a fine younge
man a minister y l had beene lately dead 3 ] : & there was about
2000 people att a meetinge {as it was Judged} & Amor
Stodart 4 & Rich: Huberthorne was with mee & a glorious
meetinge there was: & ye worde of life freely declared &
people were turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ there teacher
& saviour there way there truth & there life sever all houres
Itt lasted [& after meetinge was donne I walkt out Into ye
feildes as I used to doe.
And when I was gonne there came two or three Justices
of ye peace & they came rideinge uppe {fiercely} to mee in ye
feilde & there they stoppt {when they came att mee} : & I
turned & lookt att y m & they then turned {& spoake never
a worde to mee} & one of y em saide to ye other what will
1 86 Sufferings and Death of James Parnell [1655
you goe away {Sir} saide hee yes saide the other : & soe they
went to ye house & ffreindes had some bookes of our principles
& they bought some of ye bookes & went there ways :
but they had mischeife in there hearts for they were a
kinde of presbyterian Independent Justices y fc had sent Jam:
Parnell to Colchester prison].
And from thence I went to a place neere Colchester where
ye first day wee had a mighty meetinge & ye Lords power
came over all & people was mightily satisfyed & they was
turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ free teachinge : & they
received it gladly : & many of these people had beene of ye
stock of ye martyrs.
And on ye 6 th day before I had a meetinge neerer
Colchester where ye Independant teachers came & many
professors: & when I had stept doune from ye place {where}
I spoake on of ye Independant teachers began to make a
Jangelinge & Capt Stodart beinge with mee {saide} stande
uppe againe George : for I was goeinge away & did not at ye
first heare y m : soe I stoode uppe againe & after a while ye
Lords power came over y m & they was confounded & ye
Lords truth came over all : & a great flocke of sheepe has
ye Lord Jesus Christ in y* Country y fc feedes in his pasture
of life.
And as I went through Colchester {I went to visitt}
Jam: Parnell In prison but ye cruell goaler would hardely
lett us come in or stay with him.
[{Now} The manner of his castinge into prison was thus
hee was att a meetinge att Cockesell aforesaid & ye In
dependant Justices & preists then kept a fast day there &
they sent for James from ye meetinge Into ye steeplehouse :
& when hee came in under a pretence to reason with him &
to dispute with him a Justice of ye peace clapt him on ye
backe & saide hee arrested him & soe sent him to ye goale.]
And there ye goalers wiffe threatned to have his blood
& there they did destroy him as before is mentioned {as in
ye booke of his life & death l may bee more fully seene}.
And from thence I came to Ipswich where wee had a
litle meetinge but exceedinge rude: but ye Lords power
came over y m & I saide after ye meetinge if any had a
desire to heare further they might come to ye Inn.
And there came in a Company of rude butchers y* had
1655] In East Anglia 187
abused freinds but ye Lords power soe chained y m y fc they
coulde not doe mischeife. And I writt & gave foorth a paper
to ye tounde warninge y m of ye day of ye Lord & to repent
of ye evill they lived in & turninge y m to Christ there
teacher & way & from there owne {hirelinge} teachers.
And from thence wee passt to Mendlesham where Rob:
Dunken l [& his wiffe] lived where wee had a large meetinge
{yt was quiett} & ye Lords power was over all.
And from thence wee passt to Capt: Lawrens 2 where Itt
was Judged there was above a thousand people : & a many
people of quality were there.
And a great convincement there was they beinge turned
to Christ there way & there teacher : & they setts under him
there vine to this day: & all was quiett: & there wee left
Amor Stodart & some more freindes : to meete us againe in
Huntington sheere.
And from thence wee passed {about ye 2 d houre in ye
morninge} to Norwich : where Chrst: Atkins 3 y fc dirty man
had runn out & brought dishonr upon ye Lords truth &
his name : butt hee was Judged & denyed by freinds & after
gave foorth a paper of condemnation of his sin & evill.
And soe wee came to Yarmouth & stayde there a while
where there was a freind one Thomas Bonde 4 in prison for
ye truth of Christ: & there wee had some service for ye
Lord : & some were turned to ye Lord In y fc tounde.
And from thence wee passed to a nother tounde about
20 miles off & there was many tender, people in y fc tounde
& I was moved of ye Lord as I sate upon my horse to
speake to ye people in severall places as I passed alongst.
And from thence wee went about 5 miles to another
tounde : & soe wee went to an Inn & sett uppe our horses
haveing travaled 45 miles y fc day: Rich: Huberthorne
beinge with mee.
And there was some freindely people in ye tounde : & we
had a tender broaken meetinge amongst y m in ye Lords
power to his praise : & wee bad ye hostler to have our horses
rady by 3 of ye clocke in ye morninge for wee was to ride
to Lyn about 33 miles next morninge.
Butt when wee was in bed att our Inn about 11 a
clocke att night came in ye constable & officers with a great
rabble of people Into ye Inn : & saide they were come to
1 88 A Charge of House-breaking [1655
%
search for two horse men y* ridd upon grey horses & in
grey cloaths with a hue & cry to apprehend {us a house
beinge broaken ye 7 th day at night} from a Justice who
lived neere y i tounde about 5 miles off : where I had spoaken
to ye people in ye street {as I passed alonge}.
And soe they sett a guarde with forkes & pikes upon us
y* night : & made many of those freindely people to watch
us with others & wee tolde y m wee was honest & Innocent
men & scorned & abhorred such thinges : & ye next day
wee was uppe betime & ye constable with his guarde carryed
us before a Justice of peace {about 5 miles off}: & wee tooke
two or three of ye sufficient men of ye tounde with us y fc
had beene with us at Capt Lawrens att ye great meetinge
& they coulde testify y* I lay ye 7 th & ye first day night
att Capt: Lawrens ffor they saide ye house was broaken
uppe y fc night.
Now there was "about 10 a Indeperidant Justices y* Capt:
Lawrens brought to mee att London when I was brought a
prisoner to London to ye Myrmaide [{& had before Oliver}]
& a greate deale of discourse I had with y m y fc greived y m for
they pleaded for Imperfection & sin as longe as they lived &
did not like to heare of Christs teachinge his people himselfe
& makeinge people as cleane as Adam & Eve was before
they fell heere whilst upon ye earth.
And soe they had plotted togeather this mischeife
against mee in ye country : & pretended & forged a house
was broaken & soe sent this hue & cry after mee: there
malice was soe against ye righteous & ye just: & they
was vexed & troubled to heare of ye great meetinge att
Jo: Lawrens aforesaid: for there was a Collonell convinct
there y fc day : ~y l lived & dyed in ye truth : but ye Constable
& his guarde carryed Rich: Huberthorne & mee to a Justice
about 5 miles of {as aforesaid} In our way towards Lyn :
whoe was not an Independant Justice as ye rest.
And when wee were brought before him hee begann to
bee angry because wee woulde not putt off our hatts to
him: & I tolde him I had beene before ye Protector &
hee was not offended att my hatt : & why shoulde hee bee
offended att it whoe was but one of his servants.
a ... a Ell wood editions read several
1655] Joseph Fuce, Ensign 189
And soe hee reade ye forged hue & cry for ye pretended
house breakeinge.
And ye constable tolde him y fc wee had good horses & if
it pleased him hee woulde carry us to Norwich goale.
Butt I tolde ye Justice y fc y fc night they pretended ye
house was broaken I was att Capt: Lawrens & these men
coulde testify ye truth thereof: & ye Justice after exami
nation {of us & y m } saide hee was sorry hee had noe more
against us : for hee beleived wee was not ye men {y fc had
broaken ye house}: butt wee tolde him hee ought not to bee
sorry for not haveinge evill against us : but rather bee glad
for to rejoyce when hee gott evill against people for house
breakinge & ye like y* was not a good minde in him.
Soe Itt was a good while before hee woulde resolve either
to lett us goe or sende us to prison : & ye wicked constable
stirred him uppe as aforesaid : but after wee had admonished
him to feare ye Lord God in his day : & hee confessed wee
were not ye men: soe hee lett us goe: & ye Lords power
came over him & there snare was broaken.
And after a great people came out of y fc tounde to ye
Lord [& were convinct & stands to this day]: where I was
moved to speake to y m in ye street & from whence this hue
& cry came.
And from thence wee passt to Lyn : & came there about
3 a clocke in ye afternoone: & set up our horses: and wee
light of Joseph ffuce 1 whoe was an ensigne : & wee bid him
speake to as many people of ye tounde y fc feared God & ye
officers & captains to come togeather: & wee had a very
glorious meetirige amongst y m & turned y m to ye spiritt of
God by which they might know God & Christ & know ye
Scriptures & soe to learne of God & Christ as ye prophetts
& Apostles did & many was convinced there y t day: & it
became a fine meetinge y* setts under ye Lord Jesus Christ
teachinge : & is come off ye hirelinges.
And soe wee desired Jo: ffuce to gett us ye gates opned
by three a clocke in ye morninge it beinge a garrison: for
wee had 40 miles to ride ye next day.
And soe about ye 11 th or 12 th houre ye next day wee
came to a tounde neer ye Ille of Ely caled Sutton where
Amor Stodart & his Company mett us againe.
And a multitude of people was gathered there & there
190 Uproar at Cambridge [1655
was 4 preists & ye preist of ye tounde & a great Jangle hee
made butt ye Lords power soe confounded him y* hee passed
away : & ye other 3 preists stayde whereof one of y m was
convinct.
And one of ye other two whilst I was speak inge came
to leane upon mee : & I bid him sett doune seeirige hee was
soe sloathtull & a great convincement there was y* day: &
many hundreds was turned from ye darknesse to ye light
& from ye power of Sathan unto God: & from ye spiritt of
error to ye spiritt of truth to leade y m Into all truth.
And people came to this meetinge from Huntingeton &
beyonde & ye maiors wiffe of Cambridge & they were setled
under Christs teachinge & knew him there shepheard to
feede y m [& they dyed in truth] & a glorious meetinge it was
& ye worde of life was freely declared & gladly received.
And ye meetinge ended in ye power of ye Lord & in
peace : & after Itt was donne I walkt away [& desired y m to
give our horses some provender for wee had ridden a great
way] & I walkt uppe Into a garden : & a freinde came to
mee & saide several! Justices was come to breake uppe ye
meetinge : butt many people was gonne away : & soe they
mist there designe & after they had stayde a while they
passed away in a frett.
And after this I passt to Cambridge y fc eveninge 1 &
when I came Into ye tounde ye schollors was uppe hearinge
of mee : & was exceedinge rude : but I kept on my horse
backe & ridd through y m in ye Lords power: [oh saide
they hee shines hee glisters :] but they unhorst {Capt} Amor
Stodart before hee coulde gett to ye Inn : & when wee was
in an Inn they was exceedinge rude in ye Inn & in ye
Courtes & in ye streetes.
The miners & colliers & cart men could never bee ruder :
& there Jo: Crooke mett us att ye Inn.
And the people of ye house askt mee what I would have
for supper as is ye usuall way of Inns : supper saide I :
were it not y* ye Lords power was over these rude schollors :
lookt as if they woulde make a supper of us : & plucke us
to peices : for they knew I was soe against there trade :
which they were there as Apprentices to learne ye trade of
preachinge y* they raged as bad as ever Dianas Craftsmen
did against Paul.
1655] Return to London 191
And within night ye maior of ye tounde beinge a freinde 1
hee fetcht mee to his house & as I walkt through ye streets
all ye tounde was uppe but they did not knowe mee Itt
was darkeish : but they was in a rage not onely against
mee but ye maior alsoe : soe y fc hee was almost afraide to
walke ye streets with mee for ye tumult.
And soe when I came In to his house wee sent for all ye
freindely people & had a fine meetinge in ye power of God
amongst y m y fc night & there I stayde all night.
And ye next morninge I ordered my horse to bee ready
sadled by ye 6 th houre in ye morninge & soe wee passed out
of tounde & ye Lords power came over all : & ye destroyers
were frustrated ye next morninge for they thought I would e
have stayde in ye tounde & they thought to have donne
mischeife.
And soe wee passt through ye Countryes to Bishoppe
Statforde & there was some convinct : & soe to Hart ford e
where there is some convinct alsoe & Is become a fine
meetinge.
And soe from thence wee returned backe to London
where freinds gladly received us & ye Lords power carry ed
us through many snares & daingers & wee had great service
for ye Lord : & many hundreds were turned to sett under ye
Lord Jesus Christ there saveours teachinge & to prase ye
Lord through him.
And then wee stayde att London a while visitinge
frreindes: & ye Lords power was over all: & Jam: Naylor
was come uppe to London : & wee had great disputes with
professors of all sorts : & many reproaches they cast upon
truth : & lyinge slaunderous bookes they gave foorth against
us : but wee aunswered y m all & cleered Gods truth & sett
it over y m all.
And this yeere came out ye oath of abjuration from
0: P. by which many ffreindes suffered : & severall ffreinds
went to speake with him butt hee began to harden &
ye wicked preists presbyterians & Independants raised lyes
upon us as y fc wee shoulde carry botles which wee gave
people to dririke which made y m to folio we us {& thereupon
a paper was given foorth to ye magistrates as followeth}."
a Narrative continued on page 194.
1 92 The Oath of Abjuration [1655
A Popper of G: ffs: to 0: P: concerneinge his makeinge
people to suffer for not takeinge ye oath of abjuration.
1655\
The majestrate is not to bear ye sword in vaine : which
is aterror to ye evill doers : Butt ye majestrate bearing ye
sword in vaine, are not aterror to evill doers, soe they are
not apraise to them y* doe well : soe god hath raised upp a
people with his spiritt, whome people & priests & majest rates
without ye feare of god scornefully cales quakers, which
doe crie against drunkennes, for such are they y fc destroyes
gods creatures ; & doe crie against oathes, for because of
such ye land mournes, & they wee see are att libertie to
which ye sword should be aterror & for crying against
such ar many cast into prison, & their pride & filthynes, &
for crying against their deceiptfull marchandize in marketts
& their cousening & their cheating [& their pride] & their
excesse & naughtines, boullings & shoullabords, & their cards
& dices & their pleasures, for whoe liveth in pleasures ar
dead while they live : whoe live in wantonnes killeth ye just,
this wee know by ye spiritt of god, which gave furth ye
scriptures, which ye father [of power & of spiritts] hath given
to us his righteous lawe in our harts, which is aterror to
evill doers which is according to y fc of god in evrie mans
conscience, that which acts contrarye to ye measure of god
in evrie mans conscience casts ye lawe of god behind their
backs & walkes dispitefully against ye spiritt of grace, &
soe ye majestrate sword (wee see) is borne in vaine &
ye evill doers att libertie, & them y* crye against such are
punished by ye majest rates, whoe hath turned his sword
backward against ye lord, and nowe ye wicked one fencethe
him selfe whoe persecutes ye innocent, whoe cries against sin
openlye in ye marketts & highwayes & against unrighteousnes
& ungodlines, as vagabonds & wanderers or railours, because
they tell y m what judgment will folio we y m y fc followe such
practices & hear they y fc departe from iniquitye are become
aprey & few layes itt to hart : Butt god will thrash ye
mountaines & beate ye hills & cleave ye rocks & cast into
his presse which is troden without ye cittye & bath his
sword in ye bloode of ye w r icked & unrighteous ; soe they
y fc have drunke ye cupp of abhominacon, ahard cupp have
less] Sufferings for Refusing to Swear 193
you to drinke, whoe are ye enemies of god, & of you hee
wilbee avenged, whoe bee his enemies.
Nowe to ye, where somthing of god is remaining, to con
sider if ye sword was borne not in vaine, & turned against
ye evill doers, then ye righteous would not suffer & be cast
into holes, dungeons, corners, & prisons, & houses of correcon
as peace breakers, for crying against sin openlye, as they
are commaunded of ye lord, & to crie against ye covetousnes
of ye preists & their false worshipps, which takes money
nowe of poore people y* they doe noe worke for ; oh whear
will you appeare in ye day of ye lord, or how will you stand
in ye day of his righteous judgment, how many goales &
houses of correcon are places nowe made to putt ye lambes
of Christ in, for following him & his commaunds, which are
too many to menon : The royall lawe of Christ is troden
under foote to doe as you would bee done by, soe y fc men
can professe him in words & talke butt crucilye him whear-
soever hee appeares, & caste him into prison as ye talkers
of him alwayes did in ye generacons & ages past : And ye
laborers which god hath sent into his vineyard ye father of
ye harvest, doth now ye cheife of ye priests & ye rulers take
councell together to cast into prison, & hear is ye fruites of
priests & people & rulers without ye fear of god : the day is
come & coming y* every mans worke doth appeare & shall
appeare, glorie be to ye lord god for ever : soe see & consider
ye daies you have spended & the daies you spend, this is ye
daie of visitacon. And many hath suffered greate fynes
of money because they could not swear, but in Christs
doctrine doth abide, whoe saith sweare not att all, & by y fc
meanes are they made aprey upon, for abiding in ye com-
maund of Christ. And now many are cast in prison, & are
made aprey upon, because they cannott take ye oath of
abjuracon, though they denye all y i is conteined in itt, &
by y* meanes, manye of ye messengers & ministers of ye
lord Jesus Christ are cast in prison, because they will not
swear, nor goe out of Christs commaunds, therefore o man
consider, to ye measure of ye life of god in y ee I speake, &
manye lyeth in goales because they cannott paye ye priests
tythes, & manye hath their goods spoiled, & of them have
taken treble damage, & manye are whipte & beate in ye
houses of correon, without breach of anye lawe [& in
G. F. 13
i 9 4 At Whetstone again [i665
marketts for writing or speaking against ye deceipts &
warning people to turne from unrighteousnes & ungodlmes],
& these things are done in thy name, to protect them in
those acons.
If men fearing god did beare ye sword (& covetousnes
hated) & men of courage, then that would bee aterror to
evill doers & apraise to y m that doe well & not cause y m to
suffer : hear equity would be heard in our land, & righteous-
nes would stand up & take place which gives not place to
ye unrighteous, but judgeth itt, to the measure of god in y 6 *
I speake, to consider to come to rule for god, to bee answer
able to y fc of god in evrie mans conscience, for y* is y* which
bringeth to honour all men in ye lord, therefore consider
[with ye measure of god] for whome thou dost rule, y fc thou
mayest come to receive power from god for him to rule,
& all y* is contrarie to god may bee with his light con
demned.
nrom a lover of thy soule & eternall good.
f:g:
a And after a while I passed doune through ye countryes
to Bedfordesheere & Northhamptonsheere : & att Wellinge-
borough I had a great meetinge & ye Lords everlastinge
power & truth was over all : & many in y* county was
turned to ye Lord though a great rage was amongst ye
professors but ye power & spiritt & truth of God kept
ffreindes over ye rage of people : & great spoleinge of goods
there was upon nreindes for tyths : by ye Independent &
Presbyterian preists & some baptist preists y* had gotten
Into Steeplehouses : as ye bookes of sufferinges 1 will declare
\r* ^1 TY1 f~*
Soe I went Into Leistersheere where Coll: Hacker saide
if I came doune there hee woulde Imprison mee againe
{though O: P: had sett mee at liberty} butt I came doune to
Whetstone where his troopers had taken mee before &
Coll: Hackers wiffe & his marshall came to ye meetinge &
was convinct [{whoe remaines a freinde to this day}] : & ye
glorious powerfull day of ye Lord was sett over all.
* Narrative continued from page 191.
1655] " A Nailor hath confuted them all" 195
And many was convinct y* day att y fc meetinge where
was two Justices of peace {Peter Price 1 & Walter Jenckins 2 }
y fc came out of Wales y fc was convinct {& came to bee
ministers of Christ}.
Soe I passt from thence to Seilby to Will: Smyths 3 where
there was a great meetinge & there came severall baptists :
& there was one of there baptistts teachers convinct y fc saide
hee had baptised 30 of a day: & came to ye Lords teachinge
by his spiritt & power.
And I passt from thence to Dreiton my native tounde
where all ye preists & professors gathered soe much against
mee [through which I was sent to Oliver] & never a preist
or professor did appeare & I askt some of my relations where
was all ye preists & professors nowe : & they saide y fc ye
preist of Non Eaton was deade & there was 8 or 9 of y m
sekeinge to gett Into his benefice : & they will lett you alone
now : for they are like a company of crowes when a rotten
sheepe is deade they all gather togeather to plucke out his
puddinges & soe doe ye preists for a falen benefice & this
was some of there owne hearers saide soe of y m : & soe they
had spent there venome against mee & ye Lord delivered
mee by his power out of there snares.
And then I went to Bagley where there was a great
meetinge from many parts {& many came farr to it} : & many
was convinced & turned to ye Lord : & they y fc was convinct
came under Christs teachinge & {were setled} upon him
there foundation & there rocke.
And from thence I past Into Nottingham sheere & had
large meetinges there & soe Into Darby sheere where ye
Lords power came over all : & many was turned from ye
darknesse to ye light & from ye power of Sathan unto God
6 came to receive ye holy ghoast & great miracles by ye
power of ye Lord was donne in many places by several! 4 .
And there Ja: Nailor mett mee in Darby sheere where
7 or 8 preists had chalenged him to a dispute & I had a
travaile in my spiritt for him & ye Lord aunswered mee : &
I was moved to bid him Goe on : & y fc God Almighty would
goe with him & give him ye victory {in his power} : & soe
ye Lord did y fc all ye people sawe ye preists was nothinge &
foiled : & cryed a Nailor a Nailor hath confuted y m all : soe
after hee came to mee againe praisinge ye Lord.
132
196 Stocks at Evesham [i656
And soe ye Lords day was proclaimed & sett over all : &
people began to see ye Apostacy & slavery they had beene
under there hirelinge teachers for meanes : & they came to
know there teacher ye Lord Jesus whoe had bought y m
& purchased y m & made there peace betwixt y m & God.
And freindes came out of Yorkesheere to see us : & was
glad of ye prosperity of truth.
And after this I passed Into Warwickesheere through
freindes visitinge there meetinges & soe Into Worcester-
sheere : & had a meetinge att Brumigem as I went : where
there was severall convinct & turned to ye Lord [& stands
to this day].
And soe I came to one Coales 1 house in Worcestershire
neere Chattan y i gave an Independant {preacher} a meetinge
place : & ye Independant came to bee convinct & a great
meetinge it was : & ye meetinge place woulde not holde ye
people : & many was turned to ye Lord y* day : & this Cole
ye olde man gave ye Independant preacher when hee was
convinct a 100 a yeere : but ye Independant preist after
hee was convinced layde asyde his preachinge.
And then ye time of tryalls came : & this Independant
did not stande to y fc which did convince him & then ye
olde Cole tooke away his 100 11 a yeere from him againe : &
ye old man dyed in Gods truth.
And I hearde at Eversham y* ye magistrates there
had cast severall of my freindes in prison : & they had hearde
of my comeing & they made a paire of stockes [a yarde &
halfe high with a trappe doore to come to it] : & I sent for
Ed: Pittaway 2 y fc lived neere Esom 3 [& hee came to mee about
15 miles] & I asked him ye truth of ye thinge & hee saide it
was soe : & y * night I went backe againe with him to Esom :
& att night wee had a large pretious meetinge & ffrendes &
people were refreshed with ye worde of life & ye power of
ye Lord : & ye next morninge I gott uppe & ridd to on of
ye prisons & visited ffreindes & Incouraged y m : & then
I ridd to ye other prison where there was severall In prison
& on freinde y fc had beene a preist {one Humfry Smyth 4 } but
was become a fine minister {of Christ} : & as I was turned
away from ye prison & goeinge out of tounde I espyed ye
magistrates comeinge upp ye tounde to have seised on mee
in prison but the Lord frustrated there Intents y* ye
1655] A Rabble at Tewkesbury 197
Innocent escaped there snare & ye Lord Gods blessed
power came over y m all.
And exceedinge rude & envious were ye preists &
professors about this time [as ye bookes of ye suffringes of
freindes att this Evesham 1 doe shew it].
[And as I was goeinge ffreindes askt mee whether I
woulde goe & I tolde y m to Worcester] & when wee came to
Worcester wee went to an Inn : & had a pretious meetinge
& quiett : & soe as wee came douwne ye street some of ye
professors fell a discourseinge with ffreindes & like to have
made a mutiny in ye citty.
And as wee went Into ye Inn they all cluttered in ye
yarde but I went doune amongst y m & gott y m quieted &
ye next day I went Into ye tounde & had a great deale of
discourse with some professors concerneinge Christ & truth
one of which denyed y fc Christ accordinge to ye flesh was of
Abraham a & y t accordinge to ye spiritt hee was declared
ye son of God unto which I aunswered {y* hee was of ye
seede of Abraham & made of ye seede of David accordinge
to ye flesh : & accordinge to ye Spiritt declared to bee ye
Son of God as in Bom: ye 1 st } & after I writt a paper to itt a .
And soe from thence I went to Tewksbury : & att night
had a great meetinge & there came in there preist with a
great deale of rabble & rude people & ye preist boasted hee
would see whether hee or I shoulde have ye victory : & I
turned ye people to ye devine light which Christ ye heavenly
& spirituall man had Inlightned y m withall : y fc with y*
light they might see there sinns : & how that they were in
death & darknesse & without God in ye worlde : & with ye
same light they might see Christ from whence it came there
saviour & redeemer whoe had shed his bloode for y m & dyed
for y m : whoe was there way to God there truth & life: & ye
preist began to rage against ye light & denyed it. And soe
went away : for ye light of Christ they coulde not Indure to
heare speake off neither preist nor professor : & soe hee left
his rude company amongst us but ye Lords power came
over y m though mischeife was in there heartes.
a ... The original text was & y* accordinge to ye spiritt hee declared
hee was not ye son of God unto which I aunswered & after I writt a books
to itt. This was altered and added to as above in the same hand but at
a later date. Ellwood editions follow the altered text.
198 A Rude Multitude at Warwick [less
And from thence wee passt backe againe through ye
country to Warwicke & went to an Inn : & att night had a
meetinge att a widow womans house where many sober
people came togeather : & a pretious meetinge wee had in ye
Lords power : & severall was convinct & turned to ye Lord
& stands there to this day : & after ye meetinge was donne
as I was walkinge out some of ye baptists begann to Jangle
& ye bailiffe {of ye tounde} & his officers came in & saide
what does these people heere att this time of night: & soe hee
secured Jo: Crooke & Amor Stodart {& mee & Ger: Roberts} :
but wee had leave to goe to our Inn all y fc was strangers &
was to come foorth in ye morninge : & ye next morninge
there came many a rude people Into ye Inn & Into our
chambers : desperate fellows : but ye Lords power gave us
dominion over y m & Ger: Roberts & Jo: Crooke went uppe to
ye Bayliffe to speake with him & to knowe what hee had to
say to us : & hee saide wee might goe our ways hee had
litle to say to us : & Itt lay upon mee as wee ridd out of
tounde to ride to his house & freinds went with mee to
speake to him & to tell him howe y* 0: P: had given foorth
an Instrument of goverment In which liberty of conscience
was graunted : & Itt was very much y 1 hee woulde trouble
peaceable people y 1 feared God contrary to ye Instrument
of goverment : & ye rude people gathred about us & gott
stones : & one of y m tooke holde off my horse bridle & broake
ye bridle but ye horse drew backe & threw him under him :
& ye bailiffe did not as much as rebuke or stoppe ye rude
multitude y* it was very much wee was not slain in ye
streets amongst y m .
And soe wee passt alongest ye tounde ye people
throweinge stones & strikeinge att us [& there was Capt:
Stodart & Justice Crooke & Ger: Roberts 1 a merchant of
London].
And when wee was cleere out of tounde I tolde freindes
Itt was upon mee from ye Lord I must goe backe Into ye
tounde againe and if any one of y m felt any thinge upon y m
from ye Lord they might followe mee : & they y 1 did not
might goe on to Duncowe.
And soe I passt uppe through ye markett in ye dreade-
full power of God & Jo: Crooke followed mee declareinge
ye worde of life to y m : & some strucke att mee but ye Lords
less] A Woman raised up at Baldock 199
power was over all: & gave mee dominion over all: & I
shewed y m ye unworthynesse of ye name of Christians: & of
there teachers y* had not brought y m Into more sobriety: &
what a shame they was to Christianity.
And from thence I passt to Coventry : & when wee came
there they was closed uppe {with darknesse}: & I went to
a professors house y fc I had formerly tabled att his house &
hee was drunke : & Itt greived my soule soe as I did not goe
Into any house in ye tounde but ridd Into some streets of
ye tounde & Into ye markett place : & sett ye power of ye
Lord God over ye tounde.
And from thence I came to Duncowe & there I had a
meetinge y* night : & there was some turned to ye Lord by
his spiritt : & many att Warwicke & att Tewksbury before
mentioned.
And soe wee lay att ye Duncowe all night & there wee
mett with Jo: Chamm a faithfull minister: & in ye morninge
there was gathered a rude company of preists & people : &
they behaved y m selves more like beasts then men {for
some of y m came rideinge a horsebacke into ye roome where
wee was} but ye Lord gave us dominion over y m all : & soe
wee came Into Leistersheere where w^ee had a great meetinge
againe att ye place where I was taken as aforesaid : & soe
backe Into Warwickesheere to Bagley 1 & to Swanington &
Highham : & soe through ye Countryes Into Northampton
sheere & Bedforde sheere : haveinge great meetinges & many
was turned to ye Lord by his power &. spiritt.
And wee was at a place caled Baldocke & I saide to y m
Is there nothinge in this tounde : noe profession & they tolde
mee there was some baptists & a baptist woman : & Jo: Rush 2
went alongst with mee to visitt her : & when wee came there
was a many people in ye house y* was tender about her : &
they tolde mee shee was not a woman for this worlde & if I
had any thinge to comfort her concerneinge ye worlde to
come I might.
Soe I was moved of ye Lord God to speake to her : & ye
Lord raised her uppe y* shee was well to ye astonishment of
ye tounde & country : her husbandes name was Baldocke 3
[of Baldocke] .
And soe wee went to our Inn againe & there was two
desperate fellows fightinge soe y fc noe one durst come nigh
200 A Fear concerning James Nayler [1655
y m to part y m {but I was moved in ye Lords power to goe to
y m }. And when I had loosed there hands I helde on by one
hande & ye other by ye other hande : & I shewed y m ye
evill of there doeinges & convinced y m & reconciled y m each
to other : y* they was loveinge & very thankefull {soe y*
people admired at it}.
And this baptist woman & her husband came to bee
convinced : & many hundreds of people has there beene att
meetinges att there house {since} & great meetinges & con-
vincement there was uppe & doune In those parts of people
y* has received ye worde of life : & y* are come under Christs
teachinge there saviour.
And from thence I passt through ye country to Markett
Street where God had a people & to Albans & soe to London :
where freindes were glad of ye glorious prosperity of truth
& ye Lords power y fc delivered & carryed us over all : & after
a while when I had visited ye meetinges there & all thinges
was well : onely there was one Toderlby 1 runn out y* had
beene convinced & ye preists tooke occasion from thence &
made a booke of it with many lyes to render truth odious in
peoples eyes & mindes : & they Intituled it ye foote out of
ye snare : & this man came to see his folly & aunswered ye
preists booke againe & manifested all their lyes & folly &
came over y m [{& dyed in ye truth}] : & ye Lords power came
over y m all & his everlastinge seede reigned & reignes to
this day.
And after a while I went out of ye Citty: & left Jam:
Nailer behinde mee in London.
And as I parted from him I cast my eyes upon him & a
feare strucke in mee concerninge him.
And soe wee came to Ryegate in Surrey where wee had
a litle meetinge : & they tolde mee of one Tho: Moore 2 a
Justice of peace y fc was a freindely moderate man : soe I
went to his house [& hee was convinct {& stands a faithfull
frende to this day}] : & from thence to one Pachins 3 where
wee had a meetinge : & severall freindes came from London
thither after mee : & Jo: Bolton 4 & his wiffe came a foote
some miles in frost & snow [whoe was moved of ye Lord soe
to doe] : & from thence wee went towards Horsham Parke
after wee had parted with ffreindes.
And there wee visited freindes & from thence wee past
1655] A Disastrous Marriage 201
to Arundell & Cichester : where wee had meetinges : & att
Cichester there was many professors came in : & some
Jangelinges there was but ye Lords power was over all : &
ye woman of ye house though shee was convinct shee fell
Into love with one of ye worlde whoe was there att y 1 time.
And after I tooke her asyde & was moved to pray for
her & to speake to her & a light thinge gott uppe in her &
shee sleighted it & after shee rnarryed this man of ye worlde
shee went distracted for hee was greatly in debt : & I was
sent for to her : & ye Lord raised her uppe againe & setled
her minde by his power & after her husband dyed & shee
acknowledged ye Just Judgements of God was come upon
her for sleightinge my exhortations when I prayed for her.
And soe wee passt through ye country till wee came to
Portsmouth & there ye souldyers had us to ye governors
house : & after some examination ye Lords power came over
ym yt wee was se t a tt liberty & had a meetinge in ye
tounde : & soe wee passed through ye countryes to Hinge-
woode : & att night wee had a meetinge there where severall
was convinced & turned to ye spiritt of ye Lord & Christ
Jesus teachinge there saviour [& stands to this day].
And from Bingewood wee came to Poole & went to an
Inn: & sent Into ye tounde to enquire for such as feared ye
Lord & whoe was worthy: & wee had a meetinge with
severall sober people: & Will: Bayley 1 a baptist teacher was
convinct there y fc time: & ye people received ye truth in ye
inwarde partes & was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ there
rocke & foundation teacher & saviour : & to this day con
tinues under Christs teachinge & there is become a great
gatheri nge in ye name of Jesus of a very tender people.
And wee went alsoe to Southampton where wee had a
meetinge & severall was convinced there & Ed: Pyott passt
with mee all this westerne Journey.
And from thence wee came to Dorchester & wee lighted
att an Inn y fc was a baptists house : & wee sent Into ye
tounde to ye baptists to lett us have there meetinge house
to meete in & to Invite ye sober people to ye meetinge : but
they denyed us & wee sent y m worde againe why woulde
they deny us there synagogue : & soe it was noised in ye
tounde & wee had sent y m worde if they woulde not lett
us come to there house they might come to our Inn : or any
202 A Long Meeting at Weymouih [1655
people y fc feared God : & they was in a great rage & there
teacher & many of y m came uppe & they slappt there bibles
one ye table : & I askt y m why they was soe angry : were
they angry with ye bible : & they fell Into discourse about
there water baptisme : & I askt y m whether they could say
they was sent of God to baptise people {as John was} : &
whether they had ye same power & spiritt ye Apostles had
& they saide they had not : then I askt y m howe many
powers there was whether there was any more then ye
power of God & ye power of ye Divell & they saide there
was not : then I said if you have not ye power of God as ye
Apostles had then you act by ye power of ye Divell: &
there was many sober people there y* said they have throwne
y m selves on there backe : & there was many substantiall
people convinced y* night : & a pretious service wee had
there for ye Lord & his power came over all.
And ye next morninge as wee were passinge away ye
baptists beinge in a rage begann to shake ye dust off there
feete after us : what saide I in ye power of darkenesse : wee
which are in ye power of God shake of ye dust of our feete
against you.
And soe from there wee came to Weymouth where wee
enquired after ye sober people : & about 80 of y m gathered
togeather att a preists house all very sober people : & received
ye worde of life & was turned to there teacher Christ Jesus
whoe had enlightned y m by which they might see there
sinns & see him whoe saved y m from there sinns : & a
blessed meetinge wee had with y m & they received ye truth
in ye love of it with gladnesse of hearte : & ye meetinge
helde for severall houres : & ye state of there teachers & ye
Apostacy was opned to y m & ye state of ye Apostles & ye
church in there days : & ye state of ye law & ye prophetts
before Christ & howe Christ came to fulfill y m : & howe hee
was there teacher in ye Apostles days & howe hee was come
now to teach his people againe himselfe by his power & spiritt
& all was quiett & loveinge : & ye meetinge broake upp
peaceablely : & after there was a Capt: of horse in ye tounde
y* sent for mee & fieigne woulde have had mee stayde longer
in ye tounde : but I was not to stay : & soe hee passt out
with mee abut 7 miles & his man & Ed: Pyott was with
mee & ye meetinge [in every month] continueth to this day
1655] A Fat and Merry Captain 203
& many are added to y m & some y* had beene ranters came
to owne ye truth {& came to bee very sober}.
And this Captaine was ye fattest merryest cheerefulst
man & ye most given to laughter y* I ever I mett with soe
y* I severall times was moved of ye Lord to speake to him
in ye dreadefull power of ye Lord : & yett still hee woulde
presently after laugh att any thinge y t hee sawe : & I still
admonished him to sobriety & ye feare of ye Lord &
syncerity & wee lay att an Inn y* night & ye next morninge
I was moved to speake to him againe : & then hee parted from
us ye next morninge : butt hee confest next time I saw him
y* ye power of ye Lord had soe amased him y fc before hee
gott home hee was serious enough & left his laughinge: & ye
man came to bee convinced & became a serious & good man
& dyed in ye truth.
And from thence wee past on to Hunnington & att ye
Inn wee enquired what people there was in ye tounde y*
feared ye Lord & sent for y m : & soe there came some
particular baptists to us where wee had a great deale of
reasoninge with y m & I tolde y m they helde there doctrine
of particular election in Esaus Cains & Ishmaells nature &
not in Jacobs ye seconde births ffor they must bee borne
againe before they enter ye kingedome of God. And ye
promise of God was to ye seede not as many but as one
which was Christ : soe ye election & choice stands in Christ :
& they must bee such as walkes in his light grace spiritt &
faith : & many more words wee had with y m .
And soe wee passt from thence to Topsham & there wee
stayde ye first day : & ye Inkeepers people was rude [& this
time Miles Halheade & Tho: Salthouse 1 was in prison att
Exeter] : & ye next morninge wee gave foorth some queryes
to ye preists & professors & some rude professors came in to
us y* had wee not gonne when wee did they had stoppt us :
& I woare a girdle & forgott my girdle there behinde mee :
& I sent for it to ye Inkeeper & hee kept it : butt hee was
soe plaugued about it y* hee after went & burnt it least hee
should bee bewicht by it as hee saide : his minde was soe
divelish : but after hee had burned it hee was more tormented
then before : & some was convinced neverthelesse in y fc
tounde : & there continnues a meetinge of good ffreinds ever
since in y* tounde.
204 -4 Baronets Daughter Convinced [1055
And after this wee passt to Tatnes {which was a darke
tounde}: & there wee lodged all night att an Inn & there Ed:
Pyott was sicke but ye Lords power healed him againe &
ye next day wee came to Kinsbridge & went to an Inn: &
enquired for ye sober people of ye tounde : & there was one
Nich: Tripe 1 & his wiflfe & wee went doune to there house &
they sent for ye preist & some words wee had with y m butt
hee was soone confounded & soe passt away: but Tripe &
his wiffe was convinced : & since there is a meetinge of good
frreindes in y* country.
And soe after some time wee went to our Inn: & there
beinge many people in ye house I was moved of ye Lord to
goe amongst y m & to turne y m to ye light which Christ ye
heavenly man had enlightned y m withall: with which light
they may see all there evill ways & deeds & words: & with
ye same light they may see Christ Jesus there saviour : &
ye Inn keeper snicht uppe ye candle seeinge Itt hindred his
guests from drinkeinge come says hee heere is a light for
you to goe Into your chamber : Soe ye next morninge I
spoake to him & tolde him what an uncivill thinge it was
for him soe to doe & warned him of ye day of ye Lord & soe
wee passed away.
And ye next day wee came to Plymouth to an Inn : &
att Hob: Carys 2 house in Plymouth wee had a very pretious
meetinge: & there was one Eliz: Trelauny 3 : a baronetts
daughter & shee came Into ye meetinge close upp to mee :
& clapt her eare very nigh mee : which after I perceived shee
was somewhat thicke of hearinge : & shee was convinct : &
after ye meetinge was donne there came some Jangelinge
baptists : butt ye Lords power came over y m [& this Eliz:
Trelauny came & saide : George is over all : with a loude
voice] : & soe there was a fine meetinge setled there ever
since in ye Lords power : & many faithfull freindes there
were convinct.
And from thence wee passt Into Cornevvall to Men-
henniott parish & there came to an Inn : & att night wee had
a meetinge att Ed: Hancockes 4 : & thither came Tho: Mounce 5
& a preist & a great deale of people : & wee made ye preist
to confesse y fc hee was a minister made by ye states &
maintained by ye states : & hee was confounded & went his
wayes : butt many of ye people stayde : & I turned y m to ye
1655] Mace versus Warrant 205
light of Christ by which they might see there sinns & see
there saviour Christ Jesus : whoe was there way to God &
there mediator y* made there peace betwixt y m & God:
& was there shephearde to feede y m : & there prophett
to teach y m : & turned y m to ye spiritt of God in y m selves
by which they might know ye scriptures & bee led Into all
ye truth of y m & with ye spiritt to knowe God : & in it
to have unity on with another & many was convinced y fc
time there & came under Christs teachinge [& they stande
to this day] : & there is fine gatheringes in ye name of Jesus
thereaways to this day.
And from thence wee passt through ye countryes &
through Penryn & came to Helston : & wee coulde not gett
to ye knowledge of any sober people : through ye badnesse
of ye In keepers : & from thence wee passt uppe to a village
where there was some baptists & sober people lived : & some
discourse wee had with y m & some was made to confesse but
they stumbled att ye light of Christ & they woulde have had
us to have stayde butt wee past on from thence to Markett
Jew & lodged att an Inn : & wee sent out over night to en
quire for any people y* feared ye Lord : & ye next morninge
ye maior & Aldermen gathered togeather with ye high
sheriffe of ye county & they sent first ye constables to us to
bid us come before y m : & wee askt y m for there warrant & they
saide they had none : & then wee told y m wee should not
goe alonge with y m {without a warrant} : & then they sent
there serjants & wee askt y m for there warrant & they saide
they had none : & they tolde us ye maior & Aldermen
stayde for us & we tolde y m ye maior & his company did
not well to trouble us in our inn & wee shoulde not goe
with y m except they had a warrant & soe they went there
way & then they came againe {& wee askt y m for there
warrant & then} one of y m pluckt his mace from under his
cloake : & wee askt y m whether y fc were there custome to
molest & trouble strangers in there Inns & lodgeinges & soe
att last I saide to Ed: Pyott goe thy ways Edwarde & see
what ailes ye maior & his company : & a great deale of dis
course hee had with y m but ye Lords power gave him
dominion over y m all : & when wee came away there came
severall of ye officers to us : & wee declared unto y m ye
incivility & unworthynesse of there cariage towards us : to
2o6 A Paper for Seven Land s End Parishes [1655
ye Lords truth & servants thus to stoppe & trouble y m in
there Inn & lodgeinges {& what an unchristian act it was}: &
there I gave foorth a litle paper to bee sent to ye 7 parishes
att ye Lands ende as followeth : how ye Lord was come
to teach his people himselfe by his son Christ Jesus. a
A paper by wich mager sealy presend gff 1655 1
[This following is a Copie of ye paper for which G: ff
was Apprehended & sent to prison by one who is called
Justice Ceelie 2 in S t Ives in Cornewell.]
The mighty day of ye Lord is come & coming y fc all
hearts shall bee made manifest ye secrets of every ones
heart shall bee revealed with ye light of Jesus, which cometh
from Jesus Christ who lightneth every man y* cometh into
ye world who sayth learne of mee this is my beloved Son
heare you him sayth god who lightneth every man y* cometh
into ye world y* all men through him might beeleeve ; ye
world through him might have life, And Christ is come to
Teach himselfe [ye second priesthood], & every one y fc will
not heare this prophet which God hath raysed up & which
Moses spoke of & sayd : like unto mee will God rayse you
upp a prophet him shall you heare, every one y* doth not
heare this prophet is to bee cutt of, those y* dispised Moses
law died under ye hand of 2 or 3 wittnesses butt how much
[more] greater punishment will come uppon them which
neglect this great salvation Christ Jesus who sayth learne
of mee, I am ye way ye truth & ye life who lightneth every
man y* cometh into ye world ; which light letts him see his
evill wayes, & his evill deeds y fc hee hath done, but if you
hate y t light & goe on in ye evill, this will bee ye Con
demnation ye light sayth Christ, therefore now you have
time prize it, this is ye day of your vissitation & salvation
preferred to you, every one of you haveing a light from
Christ which letts you see you should not lie, nor doe any
wrong, nor sweare, nor curse, nor take Gods name in vaine,
nor steale, this is ye light y* shews you these evill deeds,
which if you love it it will lead you to Christ who is ye way
Narrative continued on page 207.
1655] Peter Ceely, Major and Justice 207
to ye ffather from whence it comes, where noe unrighteous-
nesse enters, nor ungodlinesse, but if you doe this light hate
this will bee your Condemnation ye light [sayth Christ],
if you doe it love & come to it you will come to Christ,
which light will bring you off all ye worlds Teachers & wayes
to learne of Christ [who is ye way to ye ffather] from ye
world & Teachers & wayes of all ye deceivers in it.
[For giveing a Coppie of this paper was George ffox &
other 2 friends with him sent to prison to Lancestone Goale
in CornewelL]
"And when wee came about 3 or 4 miles off out of ye
tounde towards ye west : Will: Salt 1 y fc was with mee haveinge
ye paper : gave it to Major Ceelys clarke whome hee mett
with & hee rides before us to a place caled S fc Ives : & there
shewed it to his master Maj r Peter Ceely : & wee ridd from
thence crosse ye country till wee came to Ives : & Ed: Pyotts
horse had losst a shooe & soe wee stayde att Ives whilst
hee was shooeinge his horse : & I walked doune to ye sea
syde in ye meane while : & when I came upp againe : all ye
tounde was uppe in an uproare : & they was halinge Ed: Pyott
& Will: Salt before Major Peter Ceely a Justice aforesaid.
And I followed y m Into ye Justices house though they
did not lay handes upon mee : & when wee came Into
ye house : Itt was full of rude people [soe as wee coulde not
tell one from another : soe I askt y m whether there was not
an officer amongst y m to keepe ye people civill : & then]
Major Ceely saide hee was a magistrate : & then I tolde (him)
hee shoulde shew foorth gravity & sobriety & his authority
& keepe ye people civill for I never saw any people ruder
for ye Indians were more like Christians then they.
And soe after a while they brought foorth ye paper
aforesaid & askt whether I woulde owne it & I saide yes :
then he tendred ye oath of abjuration to us : & then I putt
my hand in my pockett & gave him ye aunswer which was
fiven to 0: P: concerneinge it & then hee examined us one
y one single : & there was a younge silly preist with him :
y* askt us many frivolous thinges : & then att last hee askt
to cutt my haire for it was pretty longe & I was not to cutt it
a Narrative continued from page 206.
2o8 Preaching and Parleying [1655
though many times many did rage against it : & I tolde y m I
had noe pride in it : & I did not putt it one [& many words wee
had with him as you may see in ye great booke of ye West
aunswering to ye North] : & att last hee putt us under
a guarde of souldyers : & soe wee warned ye people of ye day
of ye Lord & declared ye truth to y m though they was harde
& wilde like Major Ceely : & ye next day hee sent us guarded
with severall horse with swords & pistolls & they carryed us
to Redruth & Itt beinge ye first day ye souldyers woulde
have carryed us a way & wee tolde y m Itt was there saboth
& wee did not use to travell one y t day : & severall of the
toundespeople gathered about us & whilst I held them in
discourse : Ed: Pyott spoake to ye people & after whilst
Ed: Pyott helde ye souldyers in discourse I spoake to ye
people : & in ye meane time Will: Salt hee gott out Into ye
backe syde : & went to ye steeplehouse to speake to ye preists
& people : & ye people was exceedinge desperate & in a mighty
rage against him & abused him.
And then ye souldyers was alsoe in a great rage & ready
to kill us all & many people gathered about us : & I declared
ye day of ye Lord & ye worde of life to y m & in ye after -
noone they woulde needs have us away : & when wee was
ridd to ye toundesend I was moved of ye Lord God to come
backe againe to speake to ye old man of ye house : & ye
souldyers tooke out there pistolls & swoare y* I should not
goe backe butt I heeded y m not : butt ridd backe : & they
ridd after mee : & I spoake to ye olde man & ye people : &
then returned backe againe with y m & reproved y m for
beinge soe rude & violent.
Soe att night wee were brought to a tounde called
Smethicke then butt since Falmouth.
[Butt I saw when Will: Salt tolde mee y* hee had given
foorth y* paper : I then felt & saw I was a prisoner above 1
miles before I {came to Ives where wee} was taken.]
Butt as I saide before wee were brought to an Inn in
Smethicke one ye first day att night : & there came in ye
cheife [hundred] Constable of ye Country & a many sober
people & some of y m begann to enquire of us : & wee tolde
y m wee were prisoners [& under a guarde] & a great deale of
discourse of ye thinges of God wee had & they was very
sober : & very loveinge to us & some of y m were convinct &
stands to this day.
1655] III Treatment while under Guard 209
And ye souldyers were to carry us before Capt ffox 1 :
governor of Pendennis Castle : butt hee was not att home
but was gonne to meete Major Generall Desborough.
And after ye Constables & people aforesaid were gonne
there came in other people & they were very civill & went
away very loveinge : & then wee went to our chambers to
goe to bed & about ye 11 th houre Ed: Pyott saide I will
shutt ye doore : may bee some may come & doe us a mis-
cheife : & Keate 2 y* commanded ye guarde had a purpose as
wee after understoode to have donne us some mischeife y fc
night : but ye doore beinge bolted they misst there designe
y* night: but ye next morninge Keate bringes in his brother:
& rude wicked man & putts him Into ye roome & hee
himselfe stands without: & hee walkes uppe & doune ye
roome & I bid him feare ye Lord : & hee cums upon mee &
strucke mee with both his handes & clappt his legge behind
mee & woulde feigne have throwne mee doune: butt hee
coulde not : butt I stoode stiffe & still & lett him strike & I
lookt without & I saw this Keate lookeirige on & seeinge his
brother or cousen thus to beate & abuse mee and I saide
unto him Keate doest thou allowe this : & hee saide hee did :
Is this manly or civill to have us under a guarde & putt a
man to abuse & beate us : was this manly Civill or Christian :
soe I desired one of our freindes to sende for ye Constables
& they came : & I desired Keate to lett ye Constables see
his warrant or order by which hee was to carry us : & his
warrant was y* hee was to conduct us safe to Capt: ffox ye
governor of Pendennis Castle : & if hee was not att home to
carry us to Launceston goale : soe I bid ye Constable keepe
ye warrant for hee had broaken his order concerneinge us
for wee whoe were his prisoners were to be safely conducted :
& yett hee brought a man to beate & abuse us : soe hee
had broaken his order: & then wee & ye constable bids
him & ye rest of y m to goe there ways & ye constable kept
ye warrant : & saide if it cost 20 s in charges to carry us
uppe they shoulde not have it againe.
And I shewed y m ye basenesse of there carriage towards
us & soe ye souldyers walkt uppe & doune ye house &
was pitifully blankt & doune : & ye constables staide with
us : & then they came by way of entreaty to us : & saide
they woulde be civill to us if wee would goe with y m &
G. F. u
210 Meeting with Maj. Gen. Desborough [1655
thus they continnued till towards ye 11 th houre off ye day :
& ye constables went to ye Castle & tolde ye officers what
they had donne & they very much disliket Keates base
carriage towards us & they tolde ye constables y fc major
generall Desborough 1 was comeinge to Bodmyn : & y* wee
should meete him & Itts like hee would free us : & after ye
souldyers entreaty & promise to bee more civill the constables
gave y m ye order againe : & wee went with y m & great was
ye civility of ye constables & y* toundes people towards us
whoe kindely did entertaine us & ye Lorde did rewarde them
with his truth : y* many of y m stands convinct of ye Lords
everlastinge truth & are gathered in ye name of Jesus &
setts under Christ there teacher & saviour [to this day].
And ye next night wee came to Bodmyn : & as wee went
wee mett major generall Desborough : & ye captaine of his
troope y* ridd before him knew mee & saide Oh Mr ffox
saide hee what doe you doe heere: & I saide I am a prisoner:
alacke for what saide hee : & I saide I was taken uppe as I
was travaileinge : then saide hee I will speake to my Lord &
hee shall sett you att liberty : & soe hee came from ye heade
of his troope & ridd uppe to ye coach : & hee spoake to
Generall Desborough : & wee gave him an account howe wee
was taken : & hee begann to speake against ye light of Christ
& I admonished him : & hee tolde ye souldyers they might
carry us to Launceston & y* hee coulde not stay to talke
with us his horses woulde take colde : & soe when wee came
to Bodmyn Keate went In to ye Inn before us & hee putt
mee Into a roome within ye doore & went his way & when
I came in there stoode a man with a naked rapier in his
hande : & I turned out againe & caled for Keate : & saide
unto him : what now Keate what tricke hast thee playde
now to putt mee Into a roome where there is a man with
his naked rapier : what is thy ende in this : oh saide hee
pray holde your tongue for if you speake to this man wee
cannott all rule him hee is soe divellish : soe I saide doest
thee putt mee Into a roome where there is such a man with
a naked rapier y fc thou says you cannott all rule him : what
an unworthy bad tricke is this : & they putt mee single in
this roome from ye rest of my freindes y fc were fellow
prisoners with mee : & soe his plott was discovered & after
wee gott another roome where wee was togeather all night.
!65e] Assizes at Launceston 2 1 1
And wee declared ye truth to ye people butt they were
a hardned darke people : & ye souldyers were very rude &
wicked unto us againe {& sate uppe drinkeinge & roaringe y*
night}.
And ye next day wee came to Launceston where Keate
delivered us to ye goaler : now there was noe ffreindes nor
freindely people neere us then & ye tounde was a darke
hardned tounde y*> they made us to pay 7 s aweeke for our
horses : & 7 s a weeke for our dyett a peice : butt att last
severall sober & freindely people came to see us & some of
ye tounde came to bee convinct : & there wee lay 9 weekes
till ye assises.
And in y* time many freindly people out of severall
parts of ye county came to visitt us & was convinct : &
a great rage there was amongst professors & preists : for
saide they they thee & thou all people without respect : &
will not doffe there hatts to one nor bowe ye knee to any
man : and this troubled y m f carefully : butt at ye assisses they
expected wee shoulde have beene all hanged : & then saide
they letts us see whether they dare thou & thee & keepe on
there hatts before ye Judge : butt all this was litle to us :
for wee saw howe God woulde staine ye worlds honor &
glory : ffor wee was commanded not to seeke y fc honor nor
give it butt know ye honor y* came from God onely &
seekt for y*.
[1656] And when ye assises came aboundans of people
came farr & nigh to heare ye tryall of ye Quakers & there
was one Capt: Bradden y* had his troope of horse there & ye
souldyers & ye sheriffes men guarded us uppe ye streetes
through ye multitude of people which they had much to doe
to gett us through y m & ye chambers & windows were full
of people lookeinge out upon us.
And when they brought us Into ye Court where wee
stoode with our hatts on a pretty while & all was quiett : &
I was moved to say peace bee amongst you : & att last
Judge Glyn 1 ye Lord Cheife Justice of England a welch
man saide to ye goaler what bee these you have brought
heere Into Courte : prisoners my Lord saide hee.
Why doe not you putt off your hatts saide ye Judge : &
wee saide nothinge putt off your hatts saide ye Judge againe
but wee saide nothinge : then againe saide ye Judge : ye
142
2 1 2 Before the Lord Chief Justice [i656
Courte commands you to putt off your hatts : & then I
replyed : & saide where did ever any magistrate kinge or
Judge from Moses to Daniell commande any to putt off there
hatts when they came before y m Into there Courtes amongst
ye Jewes ye people of God {or amongst ye heathen} or where
did any of ye heathen commande any such thinge in all
there Courtes or there Kinges or Judges or shew mee where
Itt is written or printed in any law of Englande where any
such thinge is commanded : shew it rnee & I woulde putt
off my hatt.
And then ye Judge grew very angry : & saide I doe not
carry my law bookes on my backe.
Then saide I : tell mee where it is printed {in a statute
booke} y* I may reade it.
Then saide ye Judge take him away : prevaricator I will
ferke him.
Then they tooke us away & putt us amongst ye theifes :
& presently after hee calls to ye goaler bringe y m uppe
againe.
Come saide hee where had they hatts from Moses to
Daniell come aunswer mee I have you fast now saide hee.
Then I saide thou maist reade in ye 3 d of Daniell y fc ye
3 children was cast Into ye fiery furnace by Neb: neser with
there cloakes hose & hatts on.
Then hee cryed againe take them away goaler : soe then
they putt us againe amongst ye theifes : & there wee was
kept a great while & then att last ye sheriffes man &
troopers made way for us y* wee were almost spent to gett
through ye crowde of people & soe guarded us to ye prison
againe & a multitude of people followed us & great disputes
& discourses wee had with y m at ye goale.
And wee had some very good bookes to Informe people
of ye truth & our principles & ye Judge & Justices hearde
of it & they sent out Capt: Bradden: & hee came Into ye
goale & violently tooke our bookes from us out of Ed: Pyotts
handes & carryed y m away soe y* wee never gott y m
againe.
And in ye afternoone wee was had uppe againe by ye
goaler & sheriffes men & troopers : & a mighty broile they
had to gett us through ye crowde of people Into ye Courte.
And I seeinge ye Jury & such a multitude of swearers
1656] The Hat Question 213
y* it greived my life to see such as profest Christianity y fc
shoulde soe openly disobey ye commande of Christ Jesus &
ye Apostle y fc I was moved of ye Lord God to give foorth a
large paper to ye grande & petty Juryes {against swearinge} 1 .
And when wee was brought before ye Judge Into ye
Courte ye Jury & ye Justices had presented this paper unto
ye Judge : and ye Judge bid ye Clarke give mee y fc paper :
& then askt mee whether y fc seditious paper was mine.
Soe I tolde y m if they would reade it uppe y fc I might
heare it in ye open Courte & if it was mine I woulde stande
by it & owne it & they woulde have had mee to have taken
it in my hande & lookt upon it : & I desired y m againe to
reade it & lett all ye Country heare it & Judge whether
there was any sedition in it or noe : & if there were I was
willinge to suffer for it.
And att last ye clarke of ye Assises reade it with an
audible voice y* all ye people might heare it : & when they
had dpnne I tolde y m Itt was my paper & I woulde owne it &
soe might they to except they denyed ye Scripture : for was
not this Scripture language : & Christs & ye Apostles wordes
& commandes which all true Christians ought to obey.
Soe then they left y fc {Subject} : & ye Judge fell upon us
about our hatts againe & bid ye goaler take y m off & hee
did soe & gave them unto us againe & [after a while] wee putt
y m on againe : & then wee askt ye Judge & ye Justices what
wee had layne in prison for this 9 weekes seeinge now they
objected nothinge to us butt about our- hatts for y fc was ye
honor which God woulde lay in ye dust which they made soe
much adoe about : which men seekes one of another & which
is ye honor of men & ye marke of unbeleivers : for howe can
you beleive says Christ y* seeke honor one from another &
nott ye honor which comes from God onely : & Christ saith I
receive not honor of man : & all true Christians shoulde bee
of his minde.
And soe ye Judge begann to make a great speech howe
hee represented ye Lord protectors person : & hee had made
him Lord Cheife Justice of England & sent him to come y fc
Circuite &c.
Soe wee desired him then y* hee woulde doe us Justice
for our false Imprisonment y fc wee had layne all y fc 9 weekes
wrongefully for.
214 A Lying Indictment [i656
And then they brought In an Indictment y fc thejf had
framed against us : such a strange thinge full of lyes y* I
thought Itt had beene against some of ye theifes : howe y fc
wee came by force of armes : & in a hostile manner Into ye
Courte : whoe were brought in as aforesaid.
Soe I tolde y m Itt was all false : & still wee cryde for
Justice for our wrong Imprisonement whoe was taken uppe
in our Journey by major Peter Geely.
And then this Ceely spoake to ye Judge & ye Courte &
saide may It please you my Lord : this man meaninge mee :
hee went asyde with mee & tolde mee {howe serviceable I
might bee for} his designe & y fc hee coulde raise 40000
men in an houres warninge & Involve ye nation Into bloode
& soe bringe in Kinge Charles {& I woulde have aided him
out of ye Country but hee woulde not goe} : & If it please
you my Lord : I have a wittnesse to sweare it : & soe hee
caled upp his wittnesse : but ye Judge not beinge very
forward to call for ye wittnesse I desired off ye Judge y* hee
woulde bee pleased to lett my mittimus bee reade in ye
face of ye Courte & Country In which my crime was signifyed
for which I was sent to prison.
The Judge saide Itt should not : I saide it ought to bee :
seeinge Itt concerned my life & liberty.
And ye Judge saide againe itt shoulde not bee reade : &
I saide it ought to bee read & if I have donne any thinge
worthy of death or bondes lett all ye country know of it.
Soe I spoake unto one of my fellow prisoners thou hast a
copy of it reade it uppe saide I butt Itt shall not bee reade
saide ye Judge : goaler take him away I will see whether hee
or I {shall} bee master.
Soe they did & after a while they caled for mee againe
& I still cryed to have my mittimus reade uppe for y*
signifyed my crime.
And then I bid W: Salt reade it uppe againe : & hee
reade it uppe & ye Judge & Justices & whole Courte was
silent for ye people was mighty willinge to heare it 1 .
[And ye substans of ye mittimus was for want of surety es
of ye good behaviour as you may see in ye booke of sufferinges
of ye West aunsweringe to ye North.]
And when Itt was reade now saide I thou sayst thou
art ye Cheife Justice of England : & you ye rest of you y fc
1656] Major Ceely s False Charge 215
bee Justices you knowe y* If I had putt In suretyes then I
might have gonne on with my designe which Major Geely
hath charged mee off: & if I spoake such wordes to him
then Judge yee whether baile or maineprise ought to bee
taken in y fc Case [of high treason].
And I saide to Peter Ceely when did I take thee asyde
or where was not thy house full of rude people & thou as
rude as any of y m att our examination : soe y fc I askt for
a Constable or some other officer to keepe ye people Civil! a :
[&] y* is not a place for thee to sett in ffor accusers does not
use to sett with ye Judges for thou oughtst to come doune
& stande by mee & looke mee in ye face.
And now I woulde aske ye Judge & Justices this question :
whether or noe Major Ceely is not guilty of this treason hee
charges against mee in concealeinge of it soe longe or does
understande his place either as a souldyer or a Justice of
peace.
For hee tells you heere y* I went asyde with him &
tolde him what a designe I had in hande : & howe serviceable
hee might bee for my designe & y fc I coulde raise ffoure &
thusande men in an houres time & brinsre in K: Charles &
O
Involve ye nation Into bloode : & hee says moreover may it
please you my Lord I would feigne have had him goe out of
ye Country & hee woulde not goe & therfore hee committed
mee to prison for want of suretyes for ye good behaviour as
ye mittimus declares heere.
And doe not you see cleerely y fc major Ceely is guilty of
this plott & treason- & made himselfe a party in it by
desireing mee to goe out of ye country & askinge mee baile :
& charges mee not with this pretended treason till nowe.
Butt I deny & abhorr his wordes & am Innocent of this
divelish designe.
Soe y* busnesse fell : & ye Judge saw cleere enough y*
instead of ensnareinge mee hee had ensnared himselfe.
And then this Major Ceely gott uppe againe & saide if
it please you my Lord to heare mee this man strucke mee &
a Ellwood editions add But if thou art my Accuser, why sittest thou on
the Bench?
b The word is not clear, having been hurriedly written, 40000 is the
number given on page 214 and in the Ellwood editions. The "Short
Journal " has four hundred
216 An Unwilling Witness [i656
gave mee such a blowe as I never had in my life : att which
I smiled in my hearte : & saide pray thee Major Ceely where
did I strike thee & whoe is thy witnesse for y* & whoe was
by {& hee saide in ye Castle greene : & y fc Capt: Braddon
was standinge by when I strucke him}.
Art thou a Justice of peace saide I & a major of a
troope of horse & for thee to say In ye face of ye Courte
before ye Judge y* I strucke thee & gave thee such a blowe
as thou never had ye like in thy life : what art thee not
ashamed. Soe I desired ye Judge to lett him produce his
witnesse for y* : & Major Ceely thou oughtst to come doune
off ye bench & stande by mee : for it is not a place for
accusers to sitt there butt I caled againe for his wittnesse :
& then hee saide Capt: Braddon was his witnesse : soe I
saide speake Capt: Braddon didst thou see mee give him
such a blowe & strike him as hee says & hee bowed his
heade to mee : but I desired him to speake uppe if hee knew
any such thinge but hee bowed his heade againe : nea speak
uppe saide I : & lett ye Courte & Country heare & lett not
boweinge of ye heade serve turne & If I have done soe lett
mee have ye law Inflicted upon mee for I feare not sufrringes
nor death it selfe : & I am an Innocent man concerneinge of
this charge.
Butt Capt: Braddon never testify ed to it : & ye Judge
caled take him away goaler : & soe hee fined us 40 inarke a
a peice for not putting of our hatts & to bee kept in prison
till wee paide it & sent us backe to ye goale again.
And soe at night Capt: Braddon came to us & 7 or 8
Justices of peace & they were very civill to us & they tolde
us they did beleive y t neither ye Judge nor any there did
beleive any of those charges y fc Major Ceely had charged
against mee in ye face of ye Country {but Bradden saide
Major Ceely had an Intent to have taken away my life:
if hee coulde have gott another wittnesse}.
Butt I saide Capt: Braddon why didst not thee wittnesse
for mee or against mee : seeinge Major Ceely produced thee
for a witnesse y* thou sawe mee strike him & when I desired
thee to speake either for mee or against mee accordinge to
what thou knewe or sawe & thou wouldst not.
a Ellwood editions have Twenty Marks
1656] Concerning Doffing Hats 217
Why says hee : when Major Ceely & I came by you when
you was walkeinge in ye Castle greene hee doft his hat to
you & saide: ho we doe you {Mr ffox} your servant Sir: then
you saide unto him Major Ceely take heed of hypocrisy & a
rotten hearte : for when came I to be thy master & thee
rny servant does servants use to cast there masters Into
prison.
And this was ye great blowe hee meant y fc I gave him [&
strucke him y t wounded him] soe y* hee complained to ye
Judge of it in ye face of ye Country & open Courte & yett
made ye Courte to beleive y fc I strucke him outwardely with
my hande.
And then I did remember y 1 they walked by us & y fc hee
spoake to mee as aforesaid & I spoake those words unto him
as aforesaid : which hypocrisye & rotten heartednesse hee
manifested openly. a
1 \_A Paper of G: ffs to 0: P: Concerninge doffinge
hatts. 1656.
ffriend
Come downe to the witnes of god in thee, & there
thou wilt feele the true measure & the true weight to weigh
things withall y* thou maist answer y fc of god in every one in
the Nation under thy Jurisdiction and Dominion, for a great
weight is upon thee for the beasts of the feild will shilter
under thee, thou wilt be a shade for them, & the streetes
will be like Sodome & Gomorah as they are whilst thou
art from the witnes of god in thee, which is the true
measure to measure things withall agreable to god, & to
answer y* of god in every one for thou being brought downe
in the feare of god to y* of god in thee, thou wilt have the
true weight & ballance given thee, to weigh things agre
able to y* of god in every man in the Nation ; & y* of god in
them shall answer & the beasts of the feild under thee shall
have noe shelter, but the must know y* the most high rules
in the kingdome of man, and {then} god will give thee
wisedome by which all his Creatures were made ; as thou
art kept downe to the wittnes of god in thee & soe comes
a Narrative continued on page 225.
218 "Magistrates of Christ" [i656
into feare, by which wisedome & in which wisedome thou
must be ordered which is pure & gentle & from above and
orders all his creatures to his glory by which wisedome they
were created, & here, in this to god thou wilt be a blessing
in the Nation & generation, & come to be a terror to the
evill doers, & a sweet savour for every one y* does
evill he hates the Light, & every one y* is in the Light
he is in the wisedome of god, & these are they y*
doe well & are in unity one with another, & are in
the covenant of god, & are in the end of Moses & the
prophets and first preisthood, temple, pulpits, Tythes, Syna
gogues, first Covenant and first preisthood in Christ the
everlasting Covenant and the everlasting preisthood, Christ
Jesus him by whome the world was made, who doth enlighten
every one y* comet h into the world, y* all through him
might beleeve, and every one y* doth evill he hates the light,
which the light hath enlightenned him withall, soe loves
darkenes rather then the light because his deeds are evill,
soe the Magistrates of Christ are in the light, in Christ the
power of god, who hath all power in heaven & earth given
unto him, which is higher then he y* doth evill, and soe is
a terrour to the evill doer, (for the evill doer goes from the
light,) and a praise to them y* doe well, this higher power
which is above the evill doer & transgressor, this power
shall stand forever, so the Lawe was added because of the
transgressions of gods Law, which is holy just and righteous
and pure and every one y* transgresseth the lawe of god he
goes first from the pure principle of god in him, which the
just Law of god will take hold upon, and so a terror to the
evill doer, and there is the higher power wittnessed, which
goes above the transgressor and the evill doer & goes over
him, & it answers the Just principle of god in every one y*
goes from it, and every one y* does well and not the evill,
and is kept out of the transgression, he is led with the
pure spirit of god, beleeves in the light, abides not in
darkenes, & this is a praise to them y* doe well and hath
the light of life abiding in them, and witnes Christ the end
of the Lawe for righteousnes sake, and none upon the earth
comes to wittnes the Spirit of wisedome, & of under
standing, and a sound mind, but who first comes downe to
the wittnes of god in him, the Spirit of god which gave
1656] The Bond of Peace 219
forth the scriptures, with which he comes to have unity
with god, & scriptures and one another, with which spirit
they worship him, and all evill doers & transgressors upon
the earth goe from the spirit of god in them and the light.
And all the Janglings about religion upon the earth, and
differences about Scriptures, which the higher power goes
upon, given forth from the spirit of god amongst teachers
professors and people and Churches is that they be out of
the Spirit of Christ the prophets and Apostles were in y fc
gave forth the Scriptures, and the servants of god, in which
Spirit they had unity, for the fellowship is in the light, and
the unity is in the Spirit, and that is the bond of peace
amongst people, but people out of y 13 professing the Scriptures,
& every one being exalted from the measure of the spirit of
god in him, & boasts of other mens lives & laboures are from
the bond of peace, which is in the spirit, and so are in the
Confusion, and soe none comes to the bond of peace but as
every one comes to the measure of the spirit of god in him,
and to the light which Christ hath enlightenned him withall,
which is the Covenant of peace, and he y fc beleeves in the
light, hath the wittnes in himselfe, comes to peace with
god : but every one hateing the light is in the wisedome
belowe, but he y loves the light and is in it, is in the
wisedome of god which is above and before honnor is humility,
soe whosoever would have honor must have humility first,
and none upon the earth comes to humility which is before
the honnor, but first they come to y* of god in them which
letts them see they are not humble, and they y fc are not
humble would have the honor, & looke for the bowing of
the hatt, which the meeke man Moses the Judge of all
Israeli said uncover not your heades, And David the king,
the people y* were with him covered every man his head,
And Nebucadnezer cast not the three Children into the fire
because they would not doffe their hatts, but because they
would not bow downe to his Image, and saith Solomon
the wise king, before honnor goes humility, and soe to the
witnes of god in thee and them I speake.
George ffox.]
220 To Professors in Furness Fells [i656
1 [^- ff : t Lampitt d other professors in Fornace
Fells. 1656.
[ffreinds.
Adam Sandes, John Sawrey, Wiliam Lampitt, Gabriell
Camelford, whom ye prejudise hath eatten out they sincerity
that was in you formerly: oh how hath your hipocrisie bene
sene : & madnes & folly apeared : and now are yett settinge
up a cover from the wrath that is to come upon you, oh
how have you caused ye way of truth to be evill spoken of ;
oh how have you lost your beautie : oh what deadness,
darknes & famine is come amonge you & upon you : and
now would you make a coveringe & invent a church: is
your church but to make yett: who are ye wall builders
& ye morter Cariers & brickmakers & bringers of stones :
who are hewers of ye wood see will your timber joyne, lett
see what a wall yee will build, or lett us see how yee will
temper your morter : Are yee not a shame to all people :
ould proifesers, & have your church yett to make lets see if
yee can beare ye snubinge of ye timber, oh are yee confused
& broken assunder from truth : oh how is the harlott made
bare : oh how have you lost your beauty : & your comliness
marred & spoilled: and your wisdome confounded & att
your witts end & your madness & follie is apeared & are
accompany of blind men, can yee know wood from stones :
& stones from morter : Come to ye wittnese of god in you
& leave your owne workes : your prayers are as barking of
doges & bellowing of bease and as cryinge of swine: but
yee pretend to serve me saith ye Lord, but it is to serve
your owne selves & your owne bellies, what have you bene
doeinge all this while & yett your Church to make, are yee
now buildinge up a wall ; & settinge up a tower : & are yee
now settinge up a fenced cittie, have yee served me with
your lipes all this time He send a fire amongst you, & by
it. your workes shall be tryed, see if it be not daubed with
untempered morter, see if a storme will not wash it downe
againe : the overflowinge scourge of ye almighty is come
over you : ye day of your visittation yee have lost ; ye lord
comes upon you as morter & clay, yee are as ye dry winde
in ye wilderness : yee minde more ye flesh & ye thinges of
1656] A Stern Denunciation 221
e flesh then the things of ye lord god, your way & force
ath not bene right but hath bene to persecute my sons &
daughters & servants sent amongst you, yee have offended
my litle ones, christ yee have not cloathed nor fed nor given
him drinke, yee have bowed your knees as to baall & kised
him, your prayers hath bene in hipocrisie & are not heard
for your much bableinge : all your teachers are for selfe
ends & for gaine who hath made a pray upon ye people, yee
have fed them with mony worth, which was not ye practise
of ye apostles, of whose words have yee made atrade one,
for your selfe ends, who from the lord shall receive plagues
& Judgment for soe doeinge & hath bene accompanie of
whitted walles, buildinge ye tombes of ye righteous &
garnishinge ye sepullcres of ye prophets, & plagues &
judgments is to be powered upon your heads, a lover of
your soules & etternall good I am ; but have sleighted my
counsell & followed that yee have invented, opresion &
crueltie hath bene your head, & your borders & garments
hath bene inniquitie, your daubeinge with untempered
morter hath bene sene, who art out of ye life of god only
founde in words with y fc yee are judged ye wittness of god
in you all shall answer alover of your soules & etternall
good who tramples under all your dirt & mire ; oh all you
proffesers in ffourneis ffell, oh, how have you lost your
beautie oh how are you become dead oakes & drie tres, oh
how have you lost ye day of your visittation & sleighted ye
Mercyes of god : oh how have you hardened your selves
against ye wittness, oh how have your stife neckedness &
hard hartedness kicked & rebelled against ye wittnesse, oh
how are yee troden in ye press without the citty, oh how
yee knash your teeth & knaw your tongues because of ye
plague : oh what a wilderness yee are what a drie winde is
amongst you : of what apufeinge & blowinge amongst you
there is to kindle your sparkes : when your sorrowes must
lye downe, oh how yee hunger & frett your selves : are yee
not curseinge your god & kinge & lookinge upward : oh
what abroile & asweate is upon your browes, oh what
abroile is amonge you, come singe yee saints who has ye
food : who are as ye roses : & cloathed with fine linen : &
gatheringe ye lilies from amongest ye thornes : oh how lean
yee are though yee have eatten up ye fatt : oh what a darke
222 Advice regarding Ministry
night is upon you & yee are all asleepe : & in securitie
hardened : & ye voyce hath cried att midnight & ye virgins
hath rissen and their lampes are trimed & them that hath
ye oile to ye lambes Marrage are come : & them that hath
not, hath their reward ; oh what ayellinge of ye wild bease
ther is in the forests, oh what ahouleinge makes ye dragon
in ye wilderness : oh what aroareinge makes ye beare for
her whelpes : oh what alowinge makes ye wild heifers : &
aneighinge keepes theise horses : oh what ableattinge keepes
ye goates amonge ye rockes : oh how cryes ye wolfes to
number themselves that they may goe to their pray : oh
how many tres lyes plucked up by ye roots : oh how hath
ye wolfe bene covered with ye shepes cloathinge ravened
from ye spirit of god & how have they torne ye lambes : oh
how baren is ye heath for the wild asses : What anoyse
they make : oh how darke is the night yee be in and light
hid from your eyes which shall be my wittness & your
condemnation : Now yee have time prise it, singe yee over
babilon yee that are come out of her, out of the sea to the
shore : oh how does the fish stinke in the sea and her
watters turned into blood, and now must ye eate gall &
worme wood, now have yee a bitter cup to drinke.
1 All my deare friends in y e noble* seed of god who have
knowne his power life & presence among you lett it be your
Joy to heare or see y e Springs of life breake forth in any in
which you have all unity in y e same feeleing life & power &
above all things, take heed of Judgeing [Ever] any one
openly in your meeting Except y ea bee openly prophane
Rebellious Such as bee out of y e truth y fc by power & life &
wisdome you may stand over them & by it answere y e
witness of god in y e world, y* such is none of you whome
you beare your Testamony against ; soe y* there in y e truth
stand Cleare & single, but such as are Tender, if y ea should
be moved to bubble forth a few words & speake in y e seed
& lambs power suffer & beare y* that is y e Tender, & if y ea
should goe beyond their measure beare it in y e meeting for
peace sake & order y* y e Spirits of y e world be not moved
a Ellwood editions read they
1656] As Adam and Eve before the Fall 223
against you, but y fc when y e meetting is done Then if any
[thing] should be moved of any one to speake to them
betweene yourselves or one or twoe of you y* feell it in y e
life in y e love & wisdome y fc is pure & gentle from above
for y e love is y* doth Edifie & beare all things & suffers
which doth fullfill [y e force of] y e law, soe in this you have
order you have Edification you have wisdome y* preserves
you all wise, & in y e patience which Takes away y e occassion
of Stumbleing y e weake & y e occassion of y e spirits of the
world to gett up, but in y e Royall seed y e heavy stone you
keepe downe all & by it Answere y fc of god in all & keep
downe y e bad, for you will heare & feele & see y e power of
god as your faith is all in it, preaching when you doe not
heare words to bynd to chaine to limitt to frusterate y 1
nothing shall rise but what is y e power nor Come forth for
y 4 * will hould backe & with y* you will lett upp & open
every spring plant & sparke in which will bee your Joy &
Refreshment (as I said before) in y e power of god for now
you y* knowe y e power of god & are come to it which is y e
Cross of Christ which crucifies you from y e state y* Adam
& Eve was in In y e fall & soe from y e world, by which
power of god you come to see as Adam & Eve was in before
y ea fell which power of god is y e cross in which stands y e
Everlasting glory, which brings up into y e righteousness
hollyness & Image of god, which Crucifies from y e un
righteousness & unholyness & y e Image of Saton y fc Adam
& Eve & his sons & daughters bee in In y e fall, Through
which power of god y e come to see (as I said before) y e
State as y ea were in before y ea fell, yea I say & to a State
higher y e seed Christ y e Second Adam by whom all things
was made Soe as man is driven from god & Eve & all
Adams sons & daughters being in y e state of y e fall in y e
Earth driven from god, it is said y e Church is in god y e
father of our lord Jesus Christ soe who cornes to y e Church
y* is in god y e father of Christ y ea must Come to God againe
soe out of y e state as Adam & Eve & his children be in In
y e fall out of y e Image of god out of y e righteousness & [true]
holyness y ea must come into righteousness into true holyness
& y e Image of god & soe out of y e Earth where man hath
Ell wood editions read they
224 Patience in Adversity [i656
beene driven, when y ea come to y e Church y* is in god, & y e
way is Christ y e light y e life y e truth & y e Saviour the
redeemer y e Sanctifier y e Justifier & soe in his power &
light & life who is y e way to god Conversion Regeneration
Translation is knowne from death to life from darkeness to
light from y e power of Saton to god againe & These are
members of y e church in God Come to be members one of
another into y e power of god which was before y e darkeness
was, soe y* who come to y e Church y fc is in god & Christ y ea
must come out of y e state y fc Adam is in y e fall driven from
god to knowe y e state y* he was in before hee fell, & now y ea
y* live in y e state y* Adam is in In y e fall, Cannott beleive
of Comeing into y e State y fc he was in before hee fell, & come
not to y e Church In god but are afarr off from y* & are not
passed from death to life Likewise Enemyes to y e Cross of
Christ which is y e power of god y i mynds Earthly things &
serves not Christ which is the power of god neither doth
hee love y e power which should bring him up into y e State
as man was in before hee fell & crucifie him from y* state
y* man is in In y e fall, y fc Through which power to y e
begining hee must see y e power y fc man was in before (& y e
Image & holyness & Righteousness y fc by which power he
might Come up to knowe y e seed Christ) which makes all
things new & brings out of y e ould in which life Eternall is
felt, for all y e pooreness Emptyness Barrenness is in y e
state y fc Adam is, in y e fall out of gods power by which
power [hee comes to bee crucified from it by which power] he
comes to be made rich againe & in which hee hath strength
which power is y e Cross in which mystery of y e Cross is y e
fellowshipe & this is y e cross in which is y e True glorying [&
Everlasting], which Crucifies from all other glorying.
And friends Though you may have Tasted of y e power
& beene Convinced & have felt y e light yett Afterwards you
may feell a winter storme Tempest haile [& be frozen] frost &
cold & a wilderness & Temptations be patient & still in y e
power & still in y e light y* doth convince you keepe your
mynds unto god, in y* bee quiett y* you may come to y e
Summer y* your flight bee not in y e winter for if you sitt
still in y e patience which overcomes in y e power of god their
EJlwood editions read they
1656] Justice Humphrey Lower 225
will be no flyinge for y e husbandman after hee hath sowne
his seed hee is patient for by y e power & by y e light you
will come to see Through & feell over winter stormes
Tempests & all y e Coldness barronnes Empty ness & y e same
light & power will goe over y e Tempters head, which power
& light was before hee was & soe in y e light standing still
you will see your salvation you will see y e Lords strength
you will feell y e small raine you will feell y e fresh springes
in y e power & light your mynds being kept low, for y fc
which is out of y e power [& light] (lifts upp,) but in y e power
& light you will see god revealeing his secretts Inspireing
& his gifts comeing unto you Thorow which your hearts
will bee filled with gods love praise to him y fc lives for
Ever more & in which light & power his blessings is
Received ; & soe in y fc y e Eternall power of y e lord Jesus
Christ preserve & keepe you & soe live evry one in y e power
of god yt you may all come to bee heirs of y 1 & knowe y*
to bee your portion & y e kingdome y* hath noe End & an
Endless life which y e seed is heire of & soe feell y* over all
sett which hath y e promise & blessing of god.
G. ff.
[This Copie may Remaine with you for wee shall take
Care to send To other places as Directed.
H. Crosfeild. 1 ]
a And soe wee was kept in prison & .diverse people came
farr & nigh to see us : & severall people of account : Itt was
ye talke of ye tounde & Country : y* never men Aunswered
soe as wee did & y* ye Judge & Justices was not able to
aunswer us [one worde in 12].
And then there came uppe Humfry Lower 2 a grave sober
auncient man a Justice of peace to visitt us : & was very
sorry wee shoulde bee in prison & spoak to us & saide how
serviceable wee might bee if wee was out of prison : & wee
reasoned with him abut swearinge & ho we they tendred ye
oath of abjuration to us because wee coulde not sweare: &
noe people coulde bee serviceable to God if they disobeyed
ye Commande of Christ.
Narrative continued from page 217.
G. F. 15
226 "Ayry Talke" and its Consequences [i656
And they which Imprisond us for ye hat honor : which
was of men & men lookt for it prisoned ye good & vexed &
greived ye spiritt of God in y m selves {which should turne
there mindes to God} : & soe wee turned him to ye Spiritt
of God in his hearte & light of Christ Jesus & hee was
throughly convinct & is to this day : & was very serviceable
unto us.
And there came on Coll: Rouse 1 a Justice of peace with
a great Company : & hee was as full of words & talke as ever
I hearde a man in my life soe as there was noe speakinge to
him : soe att last I askt him to stoppe him whether hee
had beene ever att schoole & knew what belonged to
questions & aunswers to stoppe him.
Att schoole saide hee yes : att schoole says ye people a
doth hee say soe to our Coll: y fc was a schollar then saide
I {if hee bee soe let him} bee still : & receive aunswers from
mee to what thou sayst : & I was moved of ye Lord to
speake ye worde of life to him in his dreadefull power y*
came soe over him y* hee coulde not open his mouth & his
face swelled like a turkey : & his lippes rent & hee mumbled
& ye people thought hee woulde have falen doune : & I
stept to him & hee saide I was never soe in my life before
for ye Lords power stopt ye evill power & airre in him &
almost choakt him : & for ever after ye man was very
loveinge to freinds & never soe full of ayry wordes after to
us though hee was a man full of pride but ye Lords power
came over him & ye rest y fc was with him.
And wee continnued still in prison : & att last there
came another officer of ye Army: a very malitious bitter
professor whome I knew in London : & hee was soe full of
his ayry talke alsoe & speakinge slightingely of ye light of
Christ & against ye truth as Coll: Rouse did & ye Spiritt
of God beinge in men as it was in ye Apostles days : till ye
power of God {y* bounde ye evill in him} had almost choakt
him alsoe as it did Coll: Rouse aforesaid : hee was soe full
of evill ayre y* hee coulde not speake but bluberd &
stutterd.
And from y fc time ye Lords power strucke through him
& came over him y* hee was ever after more loveinge to us.
a Ellwood editions have Souldiers
1656] The Horrors of Doomsdale 227
And several! freindes from most partes of ye nation
came Into ye country to visitt us 1 for those was very darke
countryes att y fc time but ye Lords light & truth shined
over all : & many was turned from darknesse to ye light &
from Sathans power unto God & many was moved to goe to
ye steeplehouses : & severall was sent to prison to us : & there
began to bee a great Convincement in ye country & a great
rage in ye preists & professors.
And wee brake oif from ye goaler from giveinge 7 s a
weeke for our horses & 7 s a weeke a peece for our selves &
sent our horses Into ye country : & then hee grew very
divelish & wicked & carry ed us & putt us Into Doomes dale 2 :
a nasty stinkinge place where they saide few people came
out alife : where they used to put witches & murderers
before there execution : where ye prisoners excrements had
not beene carryed out for skores of yeeres as Itt was saide :
& hee woulde not lett us cleanse it nor lett us have beds
nor strawe {to lye one} : & it was all like mire : & In some
places att ye toppe of ye shooes in water & pisse & never a
house of office in ye place : & ye theifes was putt over our
heads : & att night some freindely people of ye tounde
brought us a candle & a litle straw : & wee went to burne
a litle of our straw to take away ye stinke : & ye heade
goaler lay above our heades with ye theifes & Itt seemes ye
smoake went uppe Into ye roome : & ye goaler was in such
a rage y fc hee tooke ye potts of excrements of ye prisoners 3
& poured it downe a hole a toppe of our heades in Doomes-
dale : soe y fc wee were soe bespattered with ye excrements y fc
wee coulde not touch our selves nor one another y fc our
stinke encreased upon us: & hee squencht our straw with it:
& hee caled us hatchett faced doggs & such names as wee
never hearde in our lifes : & what with ye stincke & what
with ye smoake wee was like to bee choakt & smothered in
Doomes dale for wee had the stinke under our feete befor
but no we wee had it one our backes: & in this manner wee
stoode all night for wee coulde not sett doune beinge soe
full of ye prisoners excrements.
And a great while hee kept us of this manner before hee
woulde lett us cleanse it or suffer us to have any victualls
In but what wee gott through ye grate.
And one time a lasse brought us a litle meate : & hee
152
228 An Appeal to the Protector
arested her for breakinge his house : & had her Into ye
tounde Courte for breakinge ye prison. And a great deale
of trouble hee brought ye younge woman to soe y i wee had
much to doe to gett water or drinke or victualles & ye
noise was amongst ye prisoners & people howe ye spiritts
haunted & walkt in Doomesdale & how many dyed in it
but I tolde y m & ffreindes y* if all ye spiritts & devills in
hell was there I was over y ma & feared noe such thinge for
Christ our preist w r oulde sanctify ye walls & ye house to us
{y* bruised ye heade of ye Divell}.
For ye preist under ye law hee was to cleanse ye plague
out of ye walls of ye house which Christ our preist ended
whoe sanctifyes both Inwardely & outwardely ye walls of ye
house & ye walls of ye heart {& all thinges to his people}.
And soe this heade goaler had beene a theife & was
burnt in ye hande & burnt in ye shoulder & his wiffe had
beene burned in her hande [for 6 some wickednesse b ]: &
ye underkeeper was burnt in ye hande & in ye shoulder
& his wiffe was burned in ye hande alsoe : & Coll: Bennett 1 a
baptist teacher whoe had taken or purchased ye office {&
goale} & lande belongeinge to ye Castle had putt y m in [& such
wee had over us].
And wee drew uppe our suffringes & sent y m to Bodmyn
sessions & sent uppe a copy to 0: Cromwell Protector of y*
& howe wee was taken by Peter Ceely & abused by Keate
y fc commanded ye horse guarde y* carryed us to goale : & att
ye Sessions ye Justices gave order y r Doomes dale doore
shoulde bee opned & y t wee shoulde have liberty to cleanse
it & to buy our meate in ye tounde.
And O: P: sent downe an order to Capt ffox: to
Pendennis Castle to examine ye souldyers abuseirige of us
& strikeinge of mee : & att y* time many of ye gentry of ye
country was att ye castle & Keates kinsman y fc strucke mee
was sent for uppe & much threatned : & they tolde him y*
Mr ffox if hee should change his principle might take ye
extremity of ye law upon him {& recover sounde damages}
& soe they threatned him for abuseinge ye prisoners which
was of great service in ye Country : after which freindes
Ellwood editions insert here in the Power of God
b ... b These words have been substituted, in the same handwriting, for
murderinge her Childe
1656] Bowing to the Witch of Endor 229
might have spoaken in any markett or steeplehouse & none
woulde medlle with y m .
And Hugh Peters 1 O: P: Chaplaine tolde him they
coulde not doe G: ffox a greater service then to Imprison
him In Cornewall for ye spreadinge of his principles : & soe
it was of ye Lord & for his service my imprisonment in
those parts.
And then wee had liberty to come out & to walke in ye
greene & diverse people came to us on ye first days & great
service wee had amongst y m to whome wee declared ye
worde of life & many was turned to God heere & there
uppe & doune.
And there came an envyous professor : & hee writt
many scripture phrases & Invited ye tounde of Launceston
into ye castle yarde to reade it to y m : & a many scriptures
to prove y t wee ought to bo we & putt of our hatts to ye
people & saide Saule bowed to ye Witch of Endor : & soe
when hee had donne wee gott a litle liberty whether ye
goaler woulde or noe to speake & shewed him & ye people
how y* Saul was gonne from God & had disobeyed God like
y m when hee went to ye witch of Endor & y* neither ye
prophetts Christ nor ye Apostles ever taught people to
bowe to ye Witch of Endor {nor any other} & soe at ye
last ye man & his rude people went away though some
stayde with us.
And soe wee shewed ye people y* this was not gospell
Instructions to teach people to bowe to ye Witch of Endor
for then people begann to bee affected with truth & then
ye Devill began to rage.
[And there came to Justices of peace out of Wales 2 to
visitt us which came to bee fine ministers & turned many to
ye spiritt of God & to sett under Christs teachinge & they
suffred much Imprisonment & one of y m convinced 3 preists
& one of y m became a fine minister & stands to this day:] &
there came a souldyer & one of our freinds was admonishing
of him & exhorting him & I saw him begin n to draw his
sworde att him & I stept to him & tolde him what a shame
it was to offer to draw his sworde of a naked man & a
prisoner & how unfitt & unworthy hee was to carry such a
weapon for some men woulde have taken it from him if hee
shoulde have ofred such a thinge & have broken it to peices
230
A Plot in Prison [i656
& soe hee shamed with it : & ye Lords power did mightily
preserve us there.
And ye goaler came & tolde mee on night about ye 11 th
houre at night when hee was halfe drunke y* hee had gotten
a man nowe to dispute with mee : & then wee had leave to
goe a litle into ye tounde : & I felt assoone as hee spoake
those words there was a snare Intended to my body all y fc
night & ye next day.
And ye next day I lay doune on a grasse plott to
slumber & I felt somethinge still about my body & I storted
uppe & strucke att it in ye power of ye Lord : & yett still it
was abut my body.
And I risse & walket Into ye Castle greene & ye under-
keeper tolde mee there was a maide woulde speak with mee
att ye prison : & I felt a snare in his words to : & I went to
ye grate & there I saw the conjurer y* was then brought to
ye goale had a naked knife in his hande : & I spoake to him
& hee threatned to cutt my chopps as hee saide butt hee
was in ye goale & coulde not come att mee.
And this was ye goalers great disputant : & when I came
in ye goaler was att breakefast & there hee had gotten this
conjurer out & I tolde ye goaler his plott was disco vred &
hee gott uppe from ye table [& wrunge his hands] & strucke
his napkin away in a rage : & I went away Into ye Chamber
& left them for att y* time wee was out of Doomesdale.
But att y* time y* ye goaler saide ye dispute shoulde be
I went Into ye Courte & walkt there in ye place appointed
till abut ye 11 th houre & noe body came : & then I walkt
uppe Into ye Chamber againe : & I hearde on call for mee &
I went to ye stayre heade & ye goalers wiffe was upon ye
staires : & ye fortune teller was att ye bottom of ye staires in
a rage holdinge his hande behinde his backe.
And I saide unto him Man what hast in thy hande
behinde thy backe plucke thy hande before thee lett us see
thy hand & what thou hast in it : & in a rage hee tooke
foorth his hande with a naked knife in it : & then I shewed
ye goalers wiffe ye wicked designe of her & her husbande:
which was ye man they had brought to dispute of ye thinges
of God : but ye Lord disco vred there plott & there designe.
And soe they both raged & hee threatned : & I was
moved of ye Lord to speake sharpely to him in ye dreadfull
1656] Truth Spreading in the West 231
power of ye Lord & ye Lords power came over him soe as
hee never after durst appear before mee to speak unto mee.
And I sawe y* it was ye Lord alone y t did preserve mee
out of & over there bloody handes for ye Devill had a great
enmity to mee. 1
And severall of ye toundespeople carne to bee convinct
& was made loveinge to us.
And Judge Haggetts 2 wiflfe came from Bristoll to visitt
us {att ye second assisses} : & shee was convinct & severall of
her children : & her husband was very loveinge & serviceable
to freindes & had a great love to Gods people : which hee
retained till hee dyed [& soe has his children].
[And this yeere Mary ffell {one of Judge ffells daughters}
a Childe of eight yeeres olde was moved of ye Lorde to goe
& speake to preist Lampitt & to tell him y fc ye Lord vvoulde
poure out ye vialls of his wrath upon him 3 : & soe after
when ye kinge came in hee was turned out.]
And in Cornewall Devensheere Dorsettsheere Somersett-
sheere truth began mightily to spreade : & many was turned
to Christ Jesus & his free teachinge y* they began to sett
uppe watches In ye high ways to take uppe all suspitious
persons as they caled it : which was ye freindes y* came to
visitt us in prison : which they onely tooke uppe j^ they
might not passe uppe & doune in ye Lords service & y m
they brought before ye Justices & some {clothiers & other}
men they whippt a off abut 100 or 80 a yeere a which they
tooke uppe not abuve 4 or 5 miles from there familys y t
was goeinge to mills with there cloath."
And when freindes was gott amongst ye watches Itt
woulde bee a fortnight or 3 weekes before they coulde gett
out of y m againe for noe sooner had one party taken y m &
carry ed y m before ye Justices & they had discharged y m but
then another woulde take y m uppe {& carry y m before
other Justices} which putt ye Country to a great deale of
needlesse cost & charges : & y t which they thought to
have stoppt ye truth by was ye meanes to spread it soe
much ye more : for then freindes was continnualy moved to
speake to one constable & to ye other officer & Justice : &
a ... Ellwood editions : of about Eighty or an hundred Pounds by the
year
232 A Warrant criticised [i656
this caused ye truth to spreade ye more amongst y m {in all
there parishes} 1 .
And as Tho: Rawlinson was comeinge upp to visitt us
out of ye North a Constable in Devonsheere tooke him
uppe & att night took 20 s * out of his pockett : & hee & many
freindes was cruelly beate many times by y m {& they cast
him Into Exeter goale after they had robbed him}. a
2 Wheare as a warant being granted out the Last seshones
held at Exon the 18 th day of 5 month, which warant is to
aprehend to take up all such as are Quackers and cales
themselves Quackers or goe under the noshori of Queckers
which warant is to be sent to the chef constables & for
them to send them to the pettey constebeles And for them
to sett watches Able men [of ability] with billes to take upp
all Queckers [and profese them selves Queckers and goes
under the name and noshon of it] and wheare as you speake
conserning of theire spreading of sedishous bookes and
papers, But y e which you in scorne cales Queckers hath noe
sedishous bookes or papers, but theire bookes are against
sedishon and sedishous men & sedishous bookes & sedishous
teachers and sedishous wayes, and so you have numbred
them honeist men godly men holey men, men that fears
god, among begers Roages and vagebonds, thus puting no
difrence betwixt the preshou(s) and y e vile not fite to Judge
who setes up your billes Aremed youer men to stand up
together in battle against the Inosent people, The lambes
of Crist which hath not lifted up ahand against you, but
if you did fell or se youer owne contrey youer citeyes youer
tounes youer viligies How the cry of them is like Gomorah
and the Ringe like Sodam and y e sound like the ould world
wheare all flesh was stayned which god overthrew with
y e flud ; if you did this consider with youer selves you
would find sumthing to turne youer sword against and not
agagainst the lambes of Christ and not make a mocke upon
the Inosent that stand a witnes Against all sine and un-
righteousnes In youer tounes and steplehouseis, Noah the
8 person a preacher of righteousnes was greved with the
filthey conversation of the wicked, so are we now, so Like-
a Narrative continued on page 236.
1656] Actions justified by Scripture 233
wise Just Lot was greved with theire unmersifull dedes
and theire filthey conversation of Sodom and was not these
hated of y e world and them that lived in filthnes, and
wheareas you speake of those which you in scorne calls
Quackers are a greife to those which you call pyous and
Religous people theire Relegion, such as be in theire
Religgon that is vaine we are agreife too I beleve the
Queckers are, whose tung are not bridled but we are not
a grefe to such that be in the peure Relidgon which kepeth
unspoted of the world, which settes not up billes nor
watches to mantayne it by the world for the are not of the
world which be in the peure Religgon which kepes them
unspoted of y e world, marke, the peure Relidgon which
kepes unspoted of y e world, and such as be in y e Relidgon
that is not pure which have a forme of godly nes and not
the poure such as you call pyous y e treuth it selfe to such
was all wayes agrefe and so it is In this ayge.
And now youer freutes doth apeare the End of youer
Relidgon and profeshon and what you doe poses but you
are in the eror and have bene but In the profeshon out of
the poseshon of the spirit, that is not in the spirit of treuth,
for wheare did ever it sett stintes and bondes and number
the Just and Inosent with y e wicked, but the wicked set
stintes & bondes and limetes to the Just and numbers them
amongst the wicked, yea speake all maner of evell the was
to doe which you are doing upon us now which doe profese
that which you profese In wordes, ne you cast us out acord-
ing to the scripture such as trembles at the word of god
and hates them you that have youer temple worshipe and
say that the quackers come to desturb you in youer [steeple-
houses and] churches as you calle them was it not the
pracktise of the apostles to goe Into the sinagog and temple
to witnes against the presthud that tooke tythes, and was
it not the pracktise of the Jewes to hayle them out and
percicute them and stone them that witnesed Christ the
seckond prest[hud] that went to bring people of the first
prest hud was it not the practise of the profetes to goe and
cry against the high placeyes was it not the pracktise of
the hethen and the Jewes when the backslided to percicut
and prison to percicut the profetes and send after them
Into other con trey es and is it not the pracktise of you now
234 "We owne the higher Poure"
which are houlding up youer high places which the papists
sett up [for you] which you call youer churches wheare you
beat and percicute what Relidgous people are you y* are
filed with so much madnes did not Paule confese he was
mad while he was in youer pracktise hayling prisoning
beating puting out of sinagoges haveing his Authorety from
the chefe prestes, and are not the chefe prests the cause of
this was theire ever such a crey hard in aney ayge past as
theire is now in the pulpit es Ray ling against an Inosent
people whom you In scorne call Queckers which lift not up
a hande against you, and who are the pyous that are of the
pure Relidgon that feares god and worshipes god in the spirit
and in treuth y fc can a Joyne with you in youer Relidgon and
doth not the minesters of god say that y e scriptures are a
declaration which you call they word, doe not you Robb
Christ of his honer and of his tytell and give it to the Leter
heare and showes youer selves out of the docktrine of the
minesters of god which cales the scriptures by the name of
writinges treateses decclarationes and said Christs name
was the word of god are you not heare in the Eror you
speake of which is youer comon talke amonge you theire
was talke among sume of you of youer gospell shineing doth
youer gospell which you profes percicute did ever aney of
them that did poses it cast Into prison and not sufer others
to goe to visit them are you like Cristyanes in this or like
hethen and suffer bondes and watches over y e Land that
the should not pas to visit them that be in prison was ever
the like heard in aney agise, search and se if you have not
out striped them all In youer watches and percicution In
youer Imprisonmentes yea yea the Hethen never talke that
we are a grefe to them that are in the peure Relidgon.
And wheare as it is said disafeckted to governement y e
Law that is ateror to the Evell doer we owne the higher
poure to which the soule must be subgeckt too but we seing &
the evell doer y e malishous man reuling and the Envyeous
man seking for his pray whose envey is against y e Inosent,
who Raiseth up the contrey against honest men, and so
becomes a truble to the contrey In raysing them up to take
the Inosent but that we leave for all to Judge and theire-
a Ell wood editions read cannot
b Ellwood editions read deny in place of seing
1656] False Accusations 235
for your false acusationes we doe deney and all the Rest, and
heresey and blasphemey we doe deney you should have
layde them doune In pertickular what the had bene that
people might have sene them and not have slandred behind
theire backes [and we should have answered them the should
hav bene menshoned what the had bene and not have said
such athinge That is not fit to give forth aworent for] y e
law saith the crime should be menshoned in the warent,
and then you sayeing we deney the godly minesters to be
a treue minesterey of christ, that is false for we say that
the godly minesters are the minesters of christ but which
of youer minesters dare say that the are godly.
And for your saying sedusing maney weke people that
againe is false, for we seduse none, but you that deney the
light which lighteth everey man that cometh Into the world
are sedused from the anoynting [which abideth in you] which
should teach you and you ned not that aney man teach you
but as the same anoynting doth teach you, and as the same
anoynting teacheth you shall abide in him but such as
abide in him which ar taught by the anoynting which
abideth in them and deneyes mans teaching you cales these
sedusers Quite contrerey to Johns docktrine (1 John
2 chapter) quite contrerey you speake to it that which is
treuth call you sedusing, and that which he calles sedusing
calles you treuth Read the chapter the later part of it,
beware I warne you all from the Lord god of glorey, sett
not your bond against him stinte him not limit not the
holey one of Isarell for the lord Is rising in poure and
great glorey which will Reule the nationes with a Rod of
Iron which to him are but as the drope of a bucket, and
dash nationes together as a poters vesell, him that mesures
the waters In the holow of his hand, now you that are
found in this his day blaspheming his worke that god hath
brought forth for caling it blasfemey, fiting against it seting
up your carnall weapones making youer bandes strong god
will breake that asunder that youer carnall weapon polecey
hath Invented and make you to know theire is a god in
heaven which careyes his Lambes in his armes which are
come amongst wolves which In everey place are redey to be
torne in peses yea in youer steplehouses which are people
without Reason and have not afexion to nature.
236 The Counsel of Gamaliel [i656
Theirefore all the pettey constables, shirefes & Justisies
take warneing and take heed what you doe against they
Lambes of Christ for Christ is comeing & come who will give
to everey one of you a reward acording to youer workes, you
which have the Letter which speakes of a christ but now
you are persicuting that which y e scriptures speakes off, so
youer freutes doth make it apeare.
Theirefore everey one sherifes Justises cunstebeles se
what you doe posese consider what you doe posese and what
a profeshon you are now in, that all these carnall weapones
are now sett up against the Inosent ye against y e treuth
which shewes that you have not the spirituall weapons, that
they are not amonge you, and that you want the counsell
of Gameliell, yea you want y e counsell of such a man
amonge you [yea of the hethen] who said Let the apostles
alone if it be of god it will stand if it weare not it would
come to nought but you may see youer selves one the
contrerey of the number of them that came with Judas
with swordes and staves from the chef prestes against
Christ, but still it is against Christ wheare he is made
manefest Paull a went against him though Paull profesed a
Christ that was to come, and the Jewes profesed a Christ
that was for to come, yett Paule persecukted him wheare
he was manefested in his saintes, so you profeses a Christ
that is to come, but perseckute him wheare he so manefest
you that have the leter, high placeus sinagoges you
persecute him wheare he is made manefest in his saintes,
as ye Gewes did, which was in y e Letter out of the Life,
persecuted them which was in the Life of that which
the profesed in y e Letter, so now doe you persecut them
that are in the Life and are to it strangers as youer streetes
makes itt apeare, you have numbred y e people of god
amonge transgresers but have you prisoned aney of y e
Koages & transgresers you speake off but prisoned y e
Inosent ; and lett them goe free.
& And ye maior of Launceston was a very wicked man for
hee would take y m uppe & search substantiall womens
petticoates & heades [for letters] & cast y m Into prison.
a Ellwood editions insert while Saul
b Narrative continued from page 232.
1656] The Mayor of Launceston self -condemned 237
And there was a freinde came to mee y t came not
through ye tounde & I drew uppe all ye grosse inhumane &
unchristian actions of ye maior for his cariage was more like
a heathen then a Christian : & I gave it ye younge man &
bid him seale it uppe & goe out ye backesyde {of ye tounde}
& come Into {ye tounde through} ye gates & ye younge man
did soe.
And ye watchmen {tooke him uppe} carryed him before
ye maior : & hee presently searcht his pockett : & tooke
out y* letter where hee saw all his actions carectarised : &
from y* time hee medled litle more with ye servants of ye
Lord {hee was soe ashamed}.
And they cast Henry Polixphen 1 Into prison in Devon-
sheere for beinge a Jesuite whoe had beene a Justice of
peace for ye most parte of 40 yeeres past [& this was ye rage
& fruites of ye Presbyterians Iridependants & baptists in
that which ye caled there gospell times] which was ye times
of ye power of darknesse.
And Elizabeth Trelauny of Plymouth beinge con vine t a
baronetts daughter : the preists was in a great rage con-
cerneinge her & other great persons & professors {her kinred} :
& beinge a wise & tender woman in ye feare of God shee
sent her letters to mee : & I aunswered the preists & if shee
coulde owne y m shee might sett her hande to y m & give y m
to ye preists which shee did : & shee grew soe in ye power &
spiritt {& wisedome} of God y* shee coulde aunswer ye wisest
preist & professor of y m all : & had a dominion over y m all
by ye power of ye Lord {& soe shee continnued in truth till
shee dyed}.
And soe wee continnued in prison till ye next assises.
And a great deale of worke wee had betwixt ye assises :
& att ye assises severall freindes was caled before ye Judges
& Indicted : & though ye goaler brought y m Into ye courte
yett they Indicted y m y 1 they came in by force of armes &
in a hostile maner : & ye Judge ffined y m because they woulde
not putt off there hatts : severall men & women were taken
uppe by ye watches & sent to prison att this time.
Butt wee were never caled before ye Judges any more :
but they left us by.
And after a time O: P sent doune Major Generall
Desbrough pretendinge to sett us att liberty : & hee proferd
238 Edward Pyot to Maj. Gen. Desborough [i656
us if wee woulde say wee woulde goe home & preach noe
more wee shoulde have our liberty butt wee coulde not
promise him [as may bee seene in a letter heereafter asserted
which was sent to him]. a
l Copy ofE: Plots Le* {& gff} to Gen 11 Desborah 1656
ffriend & {friends
All though much might be sayd as to y e Libertie off
English men to travell in any parte of y e Nation, England
being as y e English mans house, by y e law, & Is to be
protected in any parte of itt, if he transgress y e law y e
penneltie upon y e transgreshon is to be inflicted, & as to
libertie of Conscience, which is a natterall right, & a funda-
mentall, And y e exercise of it by those who profese fayth in
god by Jesus Christ is to be protected, as by y e Instrament of
Goverment though they differ in doctrine worship & disapline,
provided this libertie Extend not to popery or prelecy nor
to Lisentiousnes ; Wheare these rights are denyed us our
liberties are Infringed which is y e price of much blood &
treasure in y e late wars, yeett in y e power of god over all,
by which all is to be ruled, are wee, & dwell & by itt a lone
guided to doe y e will of god, whose will is free, & wee in y e
freedome of his will walke by y e power, Either as itt
comands or permits, with out aney Condition or Inforsment
thare unto by man, but as y e power moves, Either by
command or permission, and although we cannot covenant
or condition to goe forth of these parts, or to doe this or
that thing if y e Lord permitt, for y fc ware to doe y e will of
man by gods permision, yeett tis like we may pas forth of
these parts in y e Libertie of y e will of god, as we may be
severally moved & guided by y e pure power & not of
nesessitie ; wee who ware first commited wear pasing home
when wee weare Apprehended, & as far as I know we might
pase if y e prison doors weare commanded to be opened &
wee freed of our bonds, should wee stay, & y e Lord com
mands us to goe, or should wee goe & y e Lord commands
us to stay, or haveing noe command to stay but are
permited to pase from hence, the pure power moveing theire
".Narrative continued on page 241.
1656] George Fox to the Same 239
to, & wee yett stay, or goe when as before commanded to
stay ; we should then be wanderers indeed, for such are
wanderers who wander out from y e will & power of god
a broad att large in theire owne wils & earthly minds, & so
in y e feare of y e Lord god well weigh & consider with y e
Just weight & Just ballence y fc Justice you may doe to y e
Just & Innocent in your prison.
gff
Edw: Pyott
to generall disbrow from lanson gale 1656
freind
Wee which be in y e power of god, y e ruller of all, y e
upholder of all things & know & dwell in his power to it
we must be obedient, which brings us to stand out of all
mens wills not limmited, now incase to say we will if y e
lord permitt in case to buy & sell & gett gaine, which if y e
intent be soe to doe may be done, but y e case standing in
y power to doe y e will of god [standing in y e power to doe
his will], & to stand out of mans will, if he propound he
shall have his liberte If he will say he will goe to his out
ward being if y e Lord permit, if it be y e will of god, &
because he cannot say these words, for such a case shall not
have his liberte, when he knowes y* y e will of god is y* he
must goe to & speake at sum other place, soe y fc heare hee
cannot say these words true, for to say" we will goe to our
outward habitation, if it be according to y e will of god, when
we knowe it is y e will of god otherwise, [now] we cannot
speake soe truely nor clearly, neither can a man soe say to
him that requires it of him, whoe stands in y e power which
knowes y e power of god, which leads him according to gods
will, & leads him to another place then y fc which is called
y* outward home, but y e son of god had noe whare to lay
his head, whoe came to doe y e will of god, whoe did y e will
of god, & y e apostles & maney of y e followers of christ had
not aney certaine dwelling place, now if these should have
bin restrained, because they could not say, they would goe
toy* which y e world^ calls their outward homes, if it ware y e
will of god to sattisfie y* mind to speake these words & they
240 Divine Guidance [i656
knew it was y e will of god they should not, & they could
not doe y e will of god in doeinge soe a , Abraham could
not doe y e will of god but in goeing from his native 6 , &
whoe are of faith are of Abraham of whome Christ came
according to y e flesh, now you may alledge & say this is to
let all loose & libberty to Idleness, noe, such as be in y e
power of god, which doth y e will of god, comes to receive
his wisdome, by which all his creaturs ware created, by
which to use them to his glorie, soe this I shall say, whoe
are moved of y e lord god of glorie & power to goe to their
outward beings or habitations, such may of us goe to their
outward beings or homes & their to be dilligent in serveing
y e lord god, y* they may be a blesing from y e lord god in
their generation dilligently serveing him in life & doctrin in
manners in conversations in all things, & whoe are moved
of y e lord to goe to aney other place which stands in his
will, who are moved by y e power of y e lord, which compre
hends all things, which is not to be limmited, we shall doe
his will, which we are commanded to doe, soe y e lord god
open your understandings y* you may see this great power
of y e lord, which he is now manifesting amonge his children
in this his day, y* you may not withstand itt, (in) our freinds
y* are come into y e power of god & to him & knowe him, him
by whom y e world was made, by whome all things were
created y fc was created, & their was not aney thing made, y fc
was made, but what was made for him & to him [nor aney
thing created, y fc was created, but what was created for
him & to him] & by him, him whoe is y e power of god,
whoe doth enlighten every man y fc cometh into y e world,
now our freinds being come to this light which cometh from
Christ & have received power from him by whome all things
was created, whoe hath all power in heaven & earth given
to him, whoe is y e wisdome of god, we haveing received
wisdome & power from him, with which y e lord doth give
us to knowe how to youse & order y e creatures to the glorie of
him whoe is y e Creator of all things ; soe our freindes heare
are taught of y e lord to bee dilligent serveing him, whoe
comes into y e life y e scripturs were given forth from, &
thus I have in all your consiences a witness, so if thou open
Ell wood editions add would not that have been Evil ?
b Ellwood editions add Country
241
1656] Immorality lightly regarded
y e prison dore we shall not stay there if thou send a free
liberrate we shall not stay in prison if thou wilt set us free,
for Israeli is to goe out free, whose freedome is purchased
by y e power of god & y e blood of Jesus, but goeing out of y e
power of god he loseth his fredome.
13: day of 6 th month 56
George fox & y e rest who are
sufferers for y e truth in
Lanceston Gaole.
"And soe hee came to ye castle greene & there playde
att bowles with ye Justices & other men: & severall freindes
-was moved to goe & admonish him & y m how they tooke
there pleasure & yett Imprisond ye servants of God & yett
professe y m selves Christians, & howe ye Lord woulde pleade
with y m & visitt y m for such thinges 1 .
And hee went his ways but left us in prison [{but after
when ye Kinge came in hee was cast Into prison himselfe}].
And after ye sheriffe & ye souldyers came to guarde a
woman y fc was to bee putt to death with whome wee had a
great deale of discourse. And one of y m saide {wickedly} y fc
Christ was as passionate a man as any lived upon ye earth :
for which wee rebuked him.
And wee askt ye goaler what doeinges there was att ye
sessions hee saide small matters onely a matter of 30 for
bastardy & soe wee thought it very Strange y* they y*
profest y m selves Christians shoulde make small matters of
such thinges.
2 And diverse Justices came to us att ye assises & were
pretty civill & reasond of ye thinges of God pretty soberly
& had a pitty to us.
And there came Capt ffox y fc was governor of Pendennis
Castle & looket mee in ye face : & saide never a worde but
went his ways to his company: & saide hee never saw a
simpler man in his life. And I caled after him & saide
stay man : & wee will see whoe is ye simpler man : butt hee
went his ways a light chaffy man.
And att ye Assises there came one Tho: Lower 3 to visitt
a Narrative continued from page 238.
G. P.
16
242 Visit of Anne Downer [i656
us & hee asket many questions of us {& offred to give us
money & wee accepted of his love but refused his money}
concerneinge our denyinge ye Scriptures to bee ye worde of
God & ye sacraments & such like : I spoake unto^him : & hee
saide my words was as a flash of lightninge it soe runn
through him : butt hee received satisfaction concerneinge
all ye thinges hee askt of us & went his ways & saide hee
never mett with such wise men in his life for they knew ye
thoughts of his hearte & were as ye wise master builders of
ye assemblyes y fc fastned there words like nayles : whoe
after came to bee convinced: & remaines a freinde to
this day.
And hee went home to his aunt Hambleys 1 & shee hear-
inge ye sound of truth shee & her sister 2 " came afterwards to
visitt us in prison & was convinct alsoe [& remaines to this
day] : & they have gonne through great suffringes & spoile-
inge of goods both hee & his aunt for truths sake 3 .
^ And after a while Coll: Bennett woulde have sett us att
liberty if wee woulde have paide his {goalers} fees : for ye
busnesse was left with him by Major Generall Desborough.
Butt wee tolde him wee coulde give ye goaler noe fees
for wee was Innocent sufferers & how coulde they aske fees
of us whoe had caused us to suffer soe longe wrongefully.
And I often admonished ye goaler to sobriety : but hee
woulde abuse people y* came to visitt us : for hee had beene
blest & made & if hee had carryed himselfe civill but ye man
sought his owne ruin {as after came upon him}.
And wee sent for a younge woman {one Anne Downer 4 }
from London y fc coulde write caracters to gett & dresse our
meate & shee was very serviceable to us.
And Ed: Pyott had a cheese sent to him from his wiffe
from Bristoll & ye goaler tooke ye cheese from us & carryed
it to ye maior to search it for treasonable letters as hee
saide : & there they kept it.
And after a time Coll: Bennett comeinge to tounde hee
sent for us to an Inn : & Insisted againe upon fees : butt att
Last ye power of ye Lord came soe over him y* hee sett us
att liberty.
And soe wee gott horses & ridd uppe Into ye country to
a Ellwood editions add the name Grace Silling
6 Ellwood editions add rich
1656 J At Liberty once more 243
Humfry Lower & upon ye roade wee mett him & hee tolde
us hee was much troubled in his spiritt concerneinge of us
& hee coulde not rest att home butt was goeinge to Coll:
Bennett to seeke for our liberty : & soe wee tolde him wee
was sett att liberty & was goeinge to his house : & glad hee
was of it {& att his house wee had a fine pretious meetinge
& many was convinced & turned by ye spiritt of God to ye
Lord Jesus Christs teachinge}.
And from his house wee went to Loveday Hamblyes
house : where wee had a fine large meetinge : & many was
convinct there alsoe & turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ there
teacher : & ye Lord power was over all & many was turned
there to ye Lord [& remaines to this day under Christs free
teachinge] : & after wee had tarryed there two or 3 days
wee came to Tho: Mounces where wee had a generall
meetinge for ye whole county {& freindes from Plymouth
were there alsoe} : which was very large in his orcharde & ye
Lords power was over all & great convincement there was in
many places of ye county: & all there watches was doune in
all ye countrye & all was plaine {& ye Lorde did lett mee
see before I was sett at liberty y* hee woulde make all ye
country plaine before mee}.
And Tho: & Ann Curtis 1 came uppe to mee whilst I was
in prison & one of the aldermen {of Readinge} which was
convinct & Tho: Curtis stayde behinde & went Into Corne-
wall & hee did good service for ye Lord {there} att y fc time.
And from Tho: Mounces wee passt to Launceston againe
& visited yt litle remnant of freindes where wee had beene
prisoners : & ye Lords plants finely grew & was established
on Christ ye rocke & foundation.
And when wee came to Launceston ye Constable as wee
were goeinge out of tounde hee came runninge to us with ye
cheese which they had kept from us alonge while : & were
tormented with it : but then beinge sett att liberty wee
woulde not receive it.
And a litle before this time y fc wee were sett at liberty
Jam: Nayler runn out & a company with him Into Imagina
tions. And they raised uppe a great darknesse in ye nation :
& hee came to Bristoll & made a disturbans there : & from
thence hee was comeinge to see mee but was Imprisoned att
Exeter {by ye way}.
162
244 The Defection of James Nayler [i656
And severall others y t was comeinge to see mee was
Imprisoned there alsoe.
And soe wee was cast Into prison 9 weekes before lent
assises & was sett att liberty ye 13 th day of ye 7 th m th 1656.
And soe from Launceston wee came to Okeington & lay
att ye maiors house whoe kept an Inn : whoe had taken uppe
& stopt severall freindes butt hee was very civill to us &
convinct in his Judgement.
And from thence wee carne through ye countryes to
Exeter : & one ye first day wee went to ye prison to visitt ye
prisoners butt over night I sent for Jam: Nayler: for I saw
hee was out : & ye next day wee went to ye meetinge &
helde it in ye prison.
Arid I saw hee & his company was wronge butt I did
admonish y m : butt Jam: Nayler & some of y m coulde not
stay ye meetinge butt kept on there hatts when I prayde :
& they was ye first y t gave y fc bad example amongst
freindes.
Soe after I had beene warringe with ye worlde now
there was a wicked spiritt risen uppe amongst freindes to
warr against.
And there was a Corporall of horse came in to ye
meetinge there & hee was convinct : & hee remaines a very
good freinde to this day.
Arid there was a tender freinde dyed in prison att that
time : whoe was comeinge to visitt mee whose blood lyes one
ye heades of his persecutors.
And ye next day I spoake to Jam: Naylor againe & hee
sleighted it & was dark & much out : neverthelesse hee
woulde have come & kisst rnee but I saide seeinge hee had
turned against ye power of God a ltt was my foote" : & soe ye
Lord God moved mee to sleight him & to sett ye power of
God over him.
And when hee was come to London his resistinge ye
power of God In mee {& ye truth y fc was declared to him}
became one of his greatest burdens butt hee came to see it
& to condernne it & all his outgoeinges as in ye printed rela
tion 1 {of his repentaris condemnation & recovery} may bee
more fully seene.
a ... a In place of these words Ellwood editions have / could not receive
his shew of Kindness
1656] Letter from Humphrey Norton 245
[And not longe after Judge Glyn dyed : & Major Peter
Ceely & other of ye persecutinge Justices were turned out.]
And the next yeere ye Goaler was turned out: & for
some wickednesse was cast into ye goale himselfe & there
begged of our ffreindes : & for some unrulynesse in his
carriage was cast Into Doomesdale by ye succeedinge
goaler: & locket uppe in ye Irons & beaten : & bee bidd him
remember how hee had abused those good men y fc bee had
wickedly without any cause cast Into y fc nasty dungeon : &
nowe hee deservedly shoulde suffer for his wickednesse : &
ye same measure hee had meted to others hee should have
meted out to himselfe : & hee dyed in prison & grew to bee
very poor & his wiffe & family came to misery.
! And when I was in prison in Cornewall there was a
freinde went to 0: 0. & onred his body to him for to goa to
lye in Doomsdale prison for moo or in my steade y l heo
woulde take him & lett mee goe at liberty & itt soe strucke
him & came over him y fc hee saide to his great, men & his
Councell : which off you wouldo doe soe {much} for mee if I
was in ye same condition. a
y nortoii to #// KlTttl
Deare G: ff:
Whose beauty & comlines in words cannot be exprest;
This am I moved & freely given up from the love to the
seed; & the love of the seed which lies upon thee; to lay
before thee, I beinge waitinge upon the Lord upon the seven-
tenth of the last month, In my Life thou appeared ; & since
it hath beene much upon mee that some thingo I should see
touch inge thee, And my drawings was to this place where
I am: & this is now required of me, thou beinge Olivers
prisoner, That unto himselfe I should olfer body for body :t , &
ready I am & free I am though it should be, unto blood ; &
if thou receive me hearin see that it stand with wisdome
lett me have the sume of thy uniust sufferings & fine to lay
before him, that therin he may be left without excuse, & I
cleared of what is required of meo, I desire the deare &
Narrative continued on page 240.
246 A Discourse on False Prophets
chosen lett me heare from thee, for great I see is the want
of thee : I was one first "latly att Swarth More & in that
meatinge there is many speakers & prayers & such a sing-
inge 1 as the like I have not heard & likwise a leightnes
amongst them which I saw & did beare & it lay upon me
to lay it before the & J. N. a who are sufficient for these
things (& the cause of these & the difference att & about
Kendall) And the wante of thy shewinge forth unto Israeli
lies now upon me till I heare from thee who with unfeigned
words am made Ready to lay down my life for the
which now I Humphrey Norton in the will of the
father & by his power am ready to doe what
befor mentioned.
London this 4 th 2 th
month (56)
J N is gone out of towne to be att a Generall meatinge
next first day att J. Crokes & knowes noe other but to
returne Tho: Robbertson 2 is latly cast in prison & Bryan
Wilkinson 3 att Horsam where T: Laycook 4 is.]
6 1656. Neverthelesse 0: C: did not accept ye freindes
profer but saide hee coulde not doe it for y fc was contrary to
law : but however ye truth came over him.
5 And after this time when I was sett att liberty I was
moved to goe over most partes of ye nation ye truth beinge
spreade upp & doune over ye nation and it was ye generall
talke of ye preists & professors & other sectary preachers y fc
ye false prophetts & ye Antichrists shoulde come in ye last
days & y t wee were they.
And I was moved to open this through ye nation howe
y* they which saide wee were ye false prophetts antichrists
& deceivers which shoulde come in ye last times y* it was
y m selves.
For as Christ saide to his disciples in ye 7 th & 24 th of
Math: false prophetts & antichrists shoulde come In ye last
times : & if it was possible they shoulde deceive ye very
elect : butt by ye fruites yee shall know y m for they shoulde
bee Inwardely raveninge wolfes haveinge sheepes cloathinge.
a ... a This passage has been crossed out.
b Narrative continued from page 245.
1656] The Last Times 247
Butt Christ saith doe men gather grapes of thornes or
figgs of thistles as much as to say there nature & spiritt
shoulde bee like a thistle & like a thorne but Christ saide
to his Disciples doe not goe after y m .
Now before ye disciples deceased ye antichrists false
prophetts & deceivers did come : for John saide in his first
Epistle litle children I write unto you Itt is ye last times
whereof you have hearde say y* antichrist should come & false
prophetts in ye last times : soe says hee there are many
false prophetts which are come & they are gonne out Into
ye worlde whereby wee know y t it is ye last time.
Soe heere Christ saide they should come to his disciples
& ye disciples sawe they was come as you may see in Peter
Jude & Jhon & other places whereby says John wee knowe
it is ye last time : & this last time was above 1600 yeeres
since.
And John saide they went out from us to wit ye false
prophetts antichrists seducers & deceivers: but you sayde
hee to the Church you have an anointeinge which abideth
in you : & you neede not y* any man teach you butt as ye
same anointeinge teacheth you & as it doth teach you yee
shall continnue in ye sun of God [& in ye father].
Soe Christ saide goe not after y m for they are inwardely
raveninge wolfes to his disciples : & John exhortes ye
Saintes to ye anointeinge within y m & ye rest of ye Apostles
exhortes ye Churches to ye grace ye light ye truth ye spiritt
ye worde & faith : & Christ in there, heartes ye hope of
glory.
And Christ tolde ye saintes y l ye spirit of truth ye holy
ghoast shoulde bee there leader Into all truth.
And Jude exhortes ye Church to a ye holy ghoast &
there buildeinge in ye holy faith which Christ was ye
author of.
And Christ exhortes ye 7 Churches by John to heare
what ye spiritt saide unto ye Churches.
And this was an Inwarde spirituall hearinge.
Now ye inwardely raveninge wolfes with there sheepes
cloathinge says Christ : haveinge a forme of godlynesse &
denyinge ye power says ye Apostle went foorth from us
sayde John : they goe in Cains way Balams and Cores way
a Ellwood editions insert the words pray in
248 False, Compelling Worships
saide Jude [soe wee know it is ye ]ast time saide ye
Apostle in his day & they departed from ye faith saide ye
Apostle].
Soe now you may see cleerely y* which Christ foretolde
should come to witt ye false prophetts & antichrists ye
Apostle saw was come : & in there day Itt was ye last time
& they went foorth from y m Into ye worlde & ye worlde
went after y m .
These was ye foremen & leaders of ye worlde & brought
y m Into a forme of godly nesse & inwardely ravened from
ye power & spiritt & these has ye sheepes cloathinge
Christs & ye prophetts & Apostles wordes butt are Inwardely
ravened from ye power & spiritt that they was in y* gave
foorth ye scriptures.
And these has made uppe ye beast ye whore these has
gotten ye dragons power a murderinge destroyinge persecu-
tinge power.
And these are y m y* ye worlde wonders after.
And these has druncken ye bloode of ye martyrs pro
phetts & saintes & persecuted ye true Church in ye
wildernesse : these have sett uppe ye false compellinge wor-
shipps & has drunken ye bloode of ye saintes y fc will not
drinke of there cuppe these has made ye cage for ye
uncleane birdes y fc has there severall uncleane notes in there
cage : which cage is made uppe by ye power of darknesse
& uncleane ghoast & denyes ye holy ghoast & power of
God ye Apostles was in.
Soe you may see since Christ saide ye false prophetts &
Antichrists should come & ye Apostle saide they was come
ye beast & ye Dragons worshippe has beene sett upp & ye
whore is gott uppe & ye false prophetts : & her cage has
been made & all nations has drunken of her cuppe of forni
cation : & ye blood of ye martyrs & saintes they have drunke
& ye true Church hath fled Into ye wildernesse & all this
since ye Apostles days & yett ye blinde deceivers of all
sorts & antichrists & false prophetts of our age tells us &
woulde make us {& people} beleive y* ye false prophetts
antichrists & deceivers are come butt now.
And [{st}] a John & ye Apostles tells they was come above
1 This insertion appears to be st ( = Saint), but the use of this word in
this connection by the early Friends was most unusual.
An Universal Gospel 249
1600 yeeres since : soe Christ saide they shoulde come & ye
Apostles saw they was come : & since ye worlde is runn after
y m : & you may see what worke & confusion they have made
in ye worlde : and howe much bloode these Cains has
drunke y* went in Cains ways y* cryes to God for vengans
upon Christendome.
And how these Balams y fc has erred from ye power &
spiritt ye Apostles was in has coveted after mens estates ye
many goales Courtes & spoileinge of goodes will beare witt-
nesse to it.
And how these Cores has gainesayde ye life & power &
spirit y fc ye Apostles & ye true Church was in & ye free
teachinge of Christ & his apostles & ye worke of there
minister* y* was to present every man perfect in Christ
Jesus.
And therfore in ye name & power of ye Lord Jesus was
I sent to preach ye everlastinge gospell which Abraham
saw & was preached in ye Apostles days & was to goe over
all nations & to bee preached to every creature.
And since has ye Apostacy gonne over all nations y fc
they are become like waters (unstable : beinge gonne from
Christ ye foundation}.
Soe nowe must ye gospell goe over all nations againe
ye power of God seeinge ye Apostacy has gonne over all
since ye Apostles days.
Nowe wee haveinge ye false prophetts antichrists de
ceivers whore false Church beast & bis worshippe in ye
dragons power betwixt us & ye Apostles for Christ saide
{to his Disciples} they should come : & {after} they saw y m
come {& yt they went foorth from y ra & y fc ye worlde went
after y m } & wee are gotten beyonde y m & are over y m in ye
everlastinge gospell ye power of God.
Soe all beinge darkned with ye beast whore false pro
phetts & antichrist I say ye everlastinge gospell must bee
preacht againe to all nations & to every creature : which
bringes life & immortality to light in y m y* they may see
over ye Devill & his false prophetts & antichrists & seducers
& deceivers {& ye whore & beast} & before they was.
And in this message of this glorious & everlastinge
a Ell wood editions read ministry
250 " Hushes but noe Curnell" [less
gospell was I sent foorth to declare [& have continnued in
it this 27 yeere] & thousands by it are turned to God &
have received ft & are come Into ye order of it.
And since I have declared this message in this parte of
ye worlde & in America & written bookes of ye same ye
blinde prophetts & preachers & deceivers has given over
tellinge us ye false prophetts shoulde come in ye last times.
For a great light is sprunge & shines over there
heads y* every childe in truth sees ye folly of there
sayinges.
[And alsoe other objections ye Independant & presby-
terian & Baptists profefessors had y* ye darkned peoples
mindes withall.]
For the takeinge tyths was from ye tribe of Levi : & wee
tolde y m they were envious persecutinge preists they tolde
us some preacht Christ out of envy & some of contention
& some of good will : & Christ saide to ye scribes & pharisees
yee ought to pay ye tyth of mint annis & cummin though
they had neglected ye weightyer matters.
And Christ saide ye scribes & pharisees sate in Moses
seate & all y fc ever they bid you doe y* doe & observe : &
now these scriptures & many such like they would bringe
to darken there hearers : & y* wee should doe as they say :
though they were like pharisees & wee should rejoyce att
contentious men & men of strife preachinge Christ & wee
should give y m ye tyth mint & annis & cummin as ye Jews
did [ye pharisees & they was of] ye tribe of Levi.
Now heere was fare glosses & a great heape of huskes
but noe Curnell.
Now this was there blindenesse : for ye tribe of Levi
Christ has ended: & ye commandement y* gave y m there
tyths : & ye law by which ye preists was made.
And Christ did not come after y* order neither did hee
send foorth his ministers after y* order for hee sent y m
foorth freely & ye other was to take tyths.
And as for hearinge ye pharisees & ye Jews payinge
tith mint & annis & cummin y* was before Christ was
sacrificed & ofred uppe : for ye Jews was to doe ye law &
performe ther offringes & sacrifices which ye Jews preists
did teach y m .
But when Christ was offred uppe & sacrificed hee bid
1656] Earlier and later Views on Preaching Christ 251
y m {then} goe preach ye gospell Into all nations : & loe I
will bee with you to ye ende of ye worlde {sayde hee} & I
will bee in you soe hee did not bid y m goe heare ye pharisees
then : & pay tyth of mint annis & cummin then : but goe
preach ye Gospell & beleive in ye Lord Jesus & bee saved &
receive ye gospell which woulde bringe people of ye Jews
tyths [of mint arinis & cummin] & ye law & ye offringes to
Christ ye one offringe once for y m all.
And you may see what worke ye Apostle had with both
ye Galathians & ye Romans to bringe y m {off ye law) to ye
f ,1 X-NiT , * O / L I/ J
laitn in Christ.
[Soe you may see ye preists darknesse in these there
objections.]
And as for ye Apostles sayinge some preacht Christ out
of envy : & some out of strife [& some of good will] &c
That was att ye first spreadinge Christs name abroade for
they was in dainger to bee cast out of ye synagoges y fc
confest to ye name of Jesus : as you may see what uproares
was amongst ye Jews & Dianas people att ye preachinge of
Christ.
Soe ye Apostle might well rejoyce if ye envious & men
of strife & contention did preach Christ att y* time though
they did butt add affliction to his bondes.
For after you may see when Christs name was spreade
abroade & many had gotten ye forme of godly nesse but
denyed ye power thereof envyous proude contentious men
of strife covetous teachers for filthy lucre such ye Apostles
{then} commanded to turne away from y m & not to have any
felloweshippe with y m .
And they was first to bee proved yea deacons & ministers
to see if they was in ye power of godly nesse : & ye holy
ghoast made y m preachers & overseers.
Soe you may see howe ye preists has abused these
scriptures for there owne ends & has wrested y m for there
owne destruction to Justify envyous contentious men & men
of strife for ye Apostle tells y m ye men of God must bee
patient {apt to teach} : & {they was to} follow {Christ as
they had y m for} there examples.
And as in another case ye Apostle was very tender to
people y* was scrupleinge about meates & days.
But after when ye Apostle began to see y* some drew
252 Changes in Apostolic Methods [i656
y m Into ye observation of days & to sett uppe such tliinges
hee tolde y m {then} they had bewitched y m .
And hee was tender concerneinge manages least there
mindes should run out from ye Lords Joineinge.
Butt after : when they [be]came to forbid mariages & to
sett uppe a meates & drinkes hee caled it a doctrine of Devills
& erringe from ye true faith {to forbid such thinges}.
And in some cases ye Apostle was tender concerneinge
circumcision & suffred some to bee circumcised but after
when hee saw they went to make a sect of it & to sett uppe
circumcision hee tolde y m {then} if they were circumcised
Christ should profitt y m nothinge.
And alsoe ye Apostle was tender concerneinge ye bap-
tiseinge with water but when they begann to make a sect
{of it}: & settinge upp Paul & Apollo : hee Judged {y m } &
caled y m carnall & thankes God hee had baptised noe more
but such & such. And y t hee was sent to preach ye gospell
& not to baptise & brought y m to ye one baptisme by ye one
spiritt Into one body : which Christ ye spirituall man is ye
heade of & for ye Church all to drink Into y* one spiritt : &
soe In ye Church setts upp one faith which Christ was ye
author of & one baptisme & one Lord Jesus Christ : whoe was
ye baptiser : as John saide hee should come after him : &
further says they were of ye circumcision of ye spiritt y fc
was not made with handes by which ye body of ye sinns of
ye flesh was putt off which is ye circumcision of Christ :
& hee is ye minister of ye circumcision soe they were of ye
circumcision which worshiped & served God in ye spiritt.
Soe ye preists objections was cleered & people came to
see over y m & through y m & there mindes setled upon ye
Lord Jesus Christ there free teacher.
And another great objection they had y* ye Quakers
denyed ye sacrament as they caled it of breade & wine 1 :
which they was to doe & take in remenbrans of Christ to
ye ende of ye worlde they saide.
To which I aunswered (for a great clutter wee had
about this) Christ saith as ought as you eate this breade
& drinke this cuppe doe it in remenbrans of mee & ye
Apostle says ye same what hee received of ye Lord hee
Ellwood editions insert here Rules for
1656] Different Ways of taking the Supper 253
delivered unto y m & as oft as they tooke it It shoulde bee
in remenbrans of his death sheweinge foorth his death till
hee came.
Now as ye Apostle saith ye thinges y fc are seene are
temporall & ye thinges y fc are not seene are eternall.
And a great deale of worke {wee had with ye preists
& professors about this} & severall sortes of ways this is
taken in Christendome.
Some says after the preist hath blest it It is Christs
body & some takes it kneelinge & some sittinge : but none
of y m all I coulde finde takeinge of it accordinge to ye
practise of ye Disciples ffor they took it in a chamber after
supper & these generaly doe take it before a dinner.
Butt as to ye matter : as oft as you take it {sayde Christ}
so Christ leaves it to y m hee doth not say yee shall take it
always.
For after ye Disciples had taken it some of y m questioned
whether hee was ye Christ for some of y m saide w r ee thought
this man shoulde have delivered Israeli.
And ye Jews did take a cuppe & breake breade both
before & after there feasts as you may see in ye Jeweish
Antiquityes : & did baptise with water : & therfore Itt
was not a strange thinge to y m when John ye baptiser
came.
And ye Corinthians after they had breade & wine
& beene baptised with water ye Apostle tells y m they were
reprobrates if Christ was not in y m . & bid y m examine
y m selves &c.
Soe as Christ saith as often as yee eate this breade
& drinke this cuppe doe it in remenbrans of his death
& shew foorth his death till hee come & Christ saide hee
was ye bread of life from heaven & hee woulde come &
dwell in y m {which ye Apostles did wittnesse : & exhorted
others to seeke for y* which comes doune from above for
breade water & wine is belowe} but yee eate & drink this in
remenbrans of Christs death : & there is your fellowshippe :
but will you come noe neerer to Christs death then to take
breade & wine in remenbrans of his death.
For after yee have eaten in ye remenbrans of his death
then yee must come Into his death & dye with him if yee
will live with him {as ye Apostles did} : & y fc is a neerer {& a
254 Partaking with Christ in Death and Resurrection [
further} state to bee in ye fellowshippe with him in his
death then to take breade & wine in remenbrans of his
death.
Soe you must have a fellowshippe with Christ in his
suffringes if you will reigne with him you must suffer with
him if you will live with him you must dye with him soe if
you dye with him you must bee buryed.
Soe them y fc has sufFred with him dyed with him & are
buryed with him {then} if yee bee risen with Christ you
must seeke those thinges which cometh doune from above
where Christ setteth att ye right hande of God : & drinke
ye cuppe of salvation which hee gives in his kingedome
{& eate ye breade which cometh doune from heaven : which
is not breade & wine}.
And then {there will} not {bee} a lookeinge att ye thinges
y t are seene as aforesaid for ye thinges y fc are seene are
temporall butt ye thinges j^ are not seene are eternall.
Soe as ye Apostle saide to ye Corinthians y fc was in
disorder about water & breade & wine hee desired to know
nothinge amongst y m but Jesus Christ & him crucifyed
[marke y fc ],
And soe you may see heere is states & conditions to goe
through before you come to see y t {& partake of y*} which
cometh doune from above.
For first {there was} a takeinge of it in remenbrans of
Christs death : then 2 ly " a comeinge Into his death &
suffringes with Christ : then 3 ly a beeinge buryed with
Christ : 4 ly a riseinge with Christ : 5 ly after they are risen
with Christ then a seekeinge y fc which cometh doune from
above {& a feedeinge upon y* & a feloweshippe in y fc } : for
breade water & wine is below & temporall thinges.
And therfore ye Apostle says while hee wee looke not
att thinges y t are seene for ye thinges y* are seene are
temporall but ye thinges y* are not seene are eternall.
And therfore ye fellowshippe of breade water wine cir
cumcision outward temples & thinges seene will have an
end butt ye fellowshippe in ye gospell ye power of God
before ye Devill was which bringes life & immortality to
light by which people may see over ye Devill y fc has
darkened y m & before hee was this fellowshippe is eternall
& will stande.
1656] Arrival in Bristol 255
And all in it doe seeke y t which is heavenly & eternall
which comes doune from heaven.
Soe are setled in ye eternall mystery of ye fellowshipe
of ye Gospell which is hid from all eyes y fc stands in visible
thinges.
And after wee passt from Exeter through Columpton
& Taunton & visited ffreindes & had meetinges amongst y m
& declared ye worde of life unto y m .
And from thence wee came to Pudimoore to Will:
Beatons 1 & on ye first day wee had a mighty large meetinge
there where ware severall hundreds of people : & a great
convincement was all uppe & doune y* country : & many
meetinges wee had : & ye Lords power was over all : & many
was turned by ye power & spiritt of God to ye Lord Jesus
Christ y* dyed for y m & to sett under his free teachinge
[& continnues to this day].
And from thence wee came to Jo: Dandys 2 where wee
had another pretious meetinge : & ye Lords power was over
all & many were convinced of Gods eternall truth though
there was some contention by professors & baptists in some
places yett ye Lords power came over all.
And from thence wee came to Bristoll ye 7 th day night
to Ed: Pyotts house : & Itt was noised over ye tounde y fc I
was come : & I had never beene there before 3 .
And one ye first day morninge I went to ye meetinge in
Brorde Mede : & a great meetinge these was & quiett : & in
ye afternoone notice was given of a meetinge to bee in ye
orcharde : & a rude baptist there was y* had mad {before}
great disturbans in ye Citty : & ye maior Incouraged him
& sett him one & sometimes woulde give him his dinner {to
encourage him} y* hee gathered a multitude of ye ruder
sorte of people after him : y* it was thought y t sometimes
there woulde bee ten a thousand people att our meetinge in
ye orcharde.
And as I was goeinge alonge Into ye orcharde ye people
tolde mee y* ye rude Jangelinge baptist was goeinge to ye
meetinge whose name was Paul Gwin 4 .
a This word appears to have been, originally, to (= two) but to have
been altered to ten in the same hand at a later period.
256 Opposition of Paul Gwin [i656
And I bid ye people never heede : Itt was nothinge to
mee whoeever went to it & soe when I came Into ye
Orcharde I stood upon ye stone y* ffreindes used to speak
one & was moved of ye Lord to putt of my hatt & to stande
a pretty while & lett ye people looke att mee for there was
many thousands of people {there}.
And this rude baptist begann to finde fault with my
heire & I saide nothinge to him : & then hee goes on {in
wordes}: & att last hee says yee wise men of Bristoll I
strange att yee y* you will stande heere to heare a man
speake & affirm y* which hee cannott make good.
And as yett I had not spoaken a worde : upon which ye
Lorde opned my mouth & I asked ye people : whether ever
they hearde mee speake before : or ever saw mee before.
For what kinde of man was this amongst y m y fc should
{soe impudently} say : y fc I had saide & affirmed y* which I
coulde not make good & yett hee {nor they} never hearde
mee nor saw mee before.
And therfore y* was a lyinge envyous malitious spiritt
y* spake in him : & it was of ye Devill & not of God : &
therfore I charged him in ye dreade & power of ye Lord to
be silent : & ye mighty power of God came over him & all his
company.
And then a glorious peaceable meetinge wee had : & ye
worde of life was devided amongst y m & they was turned
from ye darknesse to ye light : & to Jesus Christ there
saviour & ye scriptures was largely opned to y m : & they
turned to ye spiritt of God in y m selves y fc would leade y m
Into all truth & open ye scriptures to y m & ye traditions
& rudiments & ways & doctrines of men was opned to ye
people y* they had beene in : & they turned to ye light of
Christ y* with it they might see y m & him ye way out of y m .
And soe for many houres did I declare ye worde of life
amongst y m : in ye eternall power of God : y* by him they
might come uppe into ye beginneinge & bee reconciled to
God : & I shewed y m ye types & figures & shadowes of Christ
in ye time of ye law & shewed y m how y* Christ was come
y fc ended ye types & shadows & tyths & oaths & denyed
swearinge & sett uppe {yea & nea Insteade of it &} a free
teachinge : & now hee was come to teach people himselfe : &
howe y* 1 his heavenly day was springeinge from on high.
166 <(] Work in Wiltshire 257
And soe I was moved to pray in ye mighty power of ye
Lord : & ye Lords power came over all.
And when I had donne this fellow began to bable againe
[& I was moved to bid Jo: Audland whoe had beene like to
have beene destroyed before through him if hee had any
thinge upon him from ye Lord to speake] & hee was moved
to bid him repent & feare God.
And soe his owne people & followers were ashamed of
him soe as hee passt away & never came againe {to disturbe
ye meetinges}. And soe ye meetinge broak uppe quietly &
ye Lords power & glory shined over all & a blessed day it
was : & ye Lord had ye praise.
[And this^ wicked man & his rude Company risse uppe
In Bristol! since I was in prison att Launceston : & Jo:
Audland was with mee In Cornewall when I was in prison :
& I woulde have had him to have stayde for there was
a great service in Cornewall for him for ye Lord : but hee
passt a litle doune but returned {soone} to Bristoll : & then
this bad Jangelinge spiritt gott uppe which was againe
overcome by ye power of ye Lord as aforesaid.]
And after this Paul Gwin passt out of ye nation.
And many yeers after when I came to Barbadoes there
came m this Paul Gwin Into a generall meetinge where was
many Justices & a Judge one Judge ffretwell 1 : & hee fell to
bablinge & askt mee how I spelt Cain & whether I had ye
same spiritt as ye Apostles had & I tolde him yes : & hee
then bad ye Judge take notice of it.
And I tolde him hee y fc had not ye same holy Ghoast as
ye Apostles had was an uncleane Ghoast & soe hee went
his ways.
And soe from Bristoll as I saide before I returned to
Ed: Pyotts & there wee had a great meetinge : & ye Lords
power & truth spread over all & many was turned to Christ
Jesus there life & there prophett to heare him : & there
shephearde to feede y m & there bishope to oversee y m .
And after ye meetinge was donne I had some reasoninge
with some professors but ye Lords truth came over all.
[And after this ye prisoners were sett att liberty at
Exeter : & many of y m came there to Bristoll.]
And from Ed: Pyotts wee passed to Slatenforde where
wee had a very large meetinge : Ed: Pyott & W: Salt beinge
G. F.
17
258 Justice Nathaniel Cripps [i656
still with mee : & a great turneinge {of people} there was to
ye Lord Jesus Christ there teacher y fc people was glad y*
they came to knowe there way & there free teacher & there
saviour {Christ Jesus}.
And from thence wee past ye next first day to Justice
Nath: Grippes la In Wiltsheere wher there was about 2 or 3
thousand people & all was quiett : & ye mighty power of
God was manifested : & people was turned to ye grace &
truth y* came by Jesus in there heartes : which woulde teach
y m to deny all maner of ungodly nesse & worldely lust &
would teach y m to live soberly & godly in this present worlde
soe y* every man & woman might know ye grace of God
which was sufficient & was saveinge : which had appeared
to all men & woulde bringe there salvation : soe heere was
there teacher ye grace of God y* woulde teach y m howe
to live & what to deny : y fc woulde seison there words &
establish there heartes & bringe there salvation & this was
a free teacher to every one of y m & y* they might come to
bee heires of this grace & of Christ from whence it came :
whoe ended ye prophetts & ye preists y* tooke tyths & ye
temple : & as for these hirelinge preists y* took tyths : &
there temples {which preists were} made att schooles &
colledges & not by Christ with all there Inventions they
was to bee denyed as ye Apostles denyed ye true preisthod
{& temple} which God had commanded.
And soe largely ye truth & ye scriptures was opned for
severall houres {to y m } : & ye people turned to ye spiritt of
God in there heartes y* by it they might bee led Into all
truth : & know ye scriptures & God {& Christ} of whome they
were learnt & have unity one with another in ye same spiritt.
And all people generally went away satisfied & admired
& was glad of Christ Jesus there teacher {& saviour y* they
was turned to}.
And ye next day from thence wee past to Marleborough
where wee had a litle meetinge [& Ed: Pyott went to
a This name was first written Grippes but it was afterwards altered
and the alteration cannot be deciphered. In other places it is clearly
Grippes, and is so given in the early Ellwood editions ; in the editions of
1836 and 1852 it appears as Grips and Crisp, and in the Bicentenary edition
of 1891, it is uniformly Crisp. That Cripps is correct is proved by a
reproduction of the signature of this Justice, given in First Publishers of
Truth.
1656] By the Side of Cromwell s Coach 259
a baptist teacher & hee reasoned with him : & as hee was
reasoninge hee felt ye power of God reach Into ye man :
& hee askt him whether hee did not feele ye power of God
reach unto him when hee spoake & hee confest Itt].
And ye sessions beinge y* day y" wee had ye meeting
att Maryborough they was grauntirige foorth a warrant to
send for mee & Justice Steukes 1 {beinge at y* sessions} stopt
y m & tolde y m there was a meetinge at his house yesterday
att which were several! thousands.
^And soe ye warrant was stopt & our meetinge was
quiett & severall received Christ Jesus there teacher & ye
new covenant & stands in it to this day {& from thence wee
came to Newberry where wee had a large blessed meeting
& severall was convinced there}.
And from thence wee came to Eeadinge where wee had
a large & pretious meetinge in. ye Lord power amongst ye
plants of God & many of ye worlde came in & was reacht
addmge to y fc meetinge. And all was quiet & ye Lords
power came over all.
And from thence wee past to Kingston : & a few there
came in to us which was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ
but since Itt is become a great meetinge.
^ And from thence wee past to London : & when wee came
neire Hyde parke wee saw a great clutter of people : & wee
espyed O: P: comeinge in his coach & I ridd uppe to his
coach syde : but some of his life guarde woulde have putt
mee away : but hee forbad y m : & soe I ridd doune by his
coach syde with him declareinge what ye Lord gave mee to
say unto him of his condition & of ye sufferinges of freindes
in ye nation : & how contrary to Christ this persecution was
& to ye Apostles & Christianity : & soe I rid by his coach
till wee came to James parke gate & hee desired mee to
come to his house.
And ye next day one of Olivers wifes maydes Mary
banders came uppe to mee to my lodgeinge & saide y fc her
master came to her & saide hee coulde tell her some ood
news & shee askt him what it was : if it were good: y* was
well: & hee saide unto her G: fox was come to tounde-
& shee saide y fc was good news indeed : but could haredly
beleive it : butt hee tolde her howe I mett him & ridd from
Hyde parke doune to James parke with him.
172
260 Major General of Northamptonshire [lese
[Soe ye Lords power came over all : & freinds were glad
& ye Lord had ye glory & ye praise.]
And soe Ed: Pyott & I went to Whitehall after a time
& when wee came before him there was one Dr Owen 1 Vice
Chancelor of Oxford {with him}: soe wee was moved to speake
to O: Cromwell concerneinge ye suffringes of freindes &
layde y m befor him & turned him to ye light of Christ whoe
had enlightned every man y fc cometh Into ye worlde : & hee
saide Itt was a naturall light & wee shewed him ye contrary
& howe it was divine & spirituall from Christ ye spirituall
& heavenly man which was caled ye life in Christ ye worde
& ye light in us.
And ye power of ye Lord God risse in mee : & I was
moved to bidd him lay doune his crowne att ye feete of
Jesus severall times I spoake to him to ye same effect : & I
was standinge by ye table : & hee came & sate upon ye tables
syde by mee & saide hee woulde bee as high as I was for ye
Lords power came over him.
And soe hee continnued speakinge against ye light of
Christ Jesus : & went his ways in a light manner : & then
saide to his wiffe & companions I never parted soe from y m
before beinge Judged in himselfe.
And as Ed: Pyott & I went out many of his great
persons was about us & there was one of y m2 y* was ye
Major Generall of Northampton sheere & those countyes : &
hee begann to speake & discourse against ye light &
truth.
And I was made to sleight him for his speakeinge soe
lightly off ye thinges of God : & one tolde mee hee was ye
Major Generall : what saide I our olde persecutor y* has
persecuted & sent soe many {of our frendes} to prison whoe is
a shame to Christianity & religion : I am glad I have mett
with thee : & soe I was moved to speake sharpely to him of
his unchristian cariages : butt hee fled away for hee had
beene a cruell persecutor in Northampton sheere [& Itt was
crediblely reported in y fc country y* his wiffe was with childe
as was thought but brought foorth a monster which they
knockt it in ye heade & conveyed it secretly away].
And soe after I had visited ye meetinges of freindes in
London I went Into Buckingham sheere & Ed: Pyott with
mee [where Isaac Peningtori 3 was convinced] & severall places
1656] From London Northward 261
received ye truth in y fc country & great meetinges wee had :
& ye Lords power came over all.
[1656. And severall freindes went beyonde ye seas this
yeere Into many p]aces.]
And then I passed Into Northamptonsheere & Notting-
hamsheere & Into Lincolnesheere {And after I had past to
severall meetinges in Lincolne sheere I had a last a meetinge
where one Sir Rich: & Sir Jo: Wrey 1 & there wiffes were att
ye meetinge : & shee was convinct & dyed in ye truth & ye
Lords power came over all [& they beinge directed to ye
light of Christ within to give y m ye knowledge of ye glory
of God in ye face of Christ Jesus & to ye anointeinge within
to teach y m & to ye grace of God which was suficent to save
y m & to bringe there salvation] : & soe when ye meetinge was
donne wee past away & it beinge in ye eveninge there beinge
a company of serveinge men & wilde fellowes they mett mee
& encompassed mee about : & had an Intent to have donne
mee some rnischeife & it beinge dark I asked what are you
high way men : & freindes & freindely came uppe to mee
y fc knew some of y m soe I declared ye truth unto y m &
shewed y m there uncivill & rude cariage : & ye Lords power
came over all & stopt there designe blessed bee his name for
ever} & Huntingtonsheere {where ye maior of Huntington
came to visitt mee & was very loveinge & his wiffe received
ye truth} & Cambridgesheere : & soe wee came Into ye ffen
country where I had many meetinges & ye Lords truth
spreade : & ye sheriffe of Lincolne was with mee {& Amor
Stodart & A. Parker} : & wee went to Crowlande {ye sheriffe
of Lincolne & mee} & came to an Inn where ye toundspeople
was gathered togeather beinge halfe drunke a very rude
place.
And I was moved to amonish y m & exhort y m of ye day
of ye Lord & to leave of [there] drunkennesse & turne to ye
Lorde {& turned y m to ye light of Christ in there heartes
which woulde lett y m see all there evill deeds wayes & wordes}:
& ye preist was amongst y m & I admonished him & bid him
see ye fruites of his ministry.
And soe as I was turneinge y m to ye Lord Jesus Christ
& his teachinge ye preist {& his clarke} was in a rage & gott
uppe ye tongues & fire shovell : & had not ye Lords power
preserved us wee might have beene murdered amongst y m
262 A Mighty Meeting at Edge Hill [i656
yett neverthelesse some received ye Lords truth then &
standes there to this day.
And from thence wee past through ye country to Boston:
& most of ye heades of ye tounde came to ye Inn : & ye
people seemed to bee much satisfyed : but there was a
rageinge man in ye yarde & ye sheriffe {of Lincolne} was
moved to speake to him & saide [thou son of Eve] thou
shames Christianity & some other wordes : & hee went a way
quiett & some was convinct there alsoe.
And soe wee past through ye country & had large
meetinges uppe & doune & soe I travailed into Yorkesheere
& past over Humber out of Holdernesse about this time
visitinge ffreirides : & from thence returned Into Leistersheere
Staffordesheere Worcestersheere Warwikesheere.
{And I had a meetinge at Edge Hill y* was very rude
for there came ranters baptists & severall sorts of rude
people : ffor I had sent worde to have a meetinge there
a matter of 3 weekes before : & I went uppe to it where was
many hundreds of people gathered to it & many freinds &
people came farr to it & ye Lords everlastinge truth & worde
of life reached over all : & in all y fc all was chained & many y*
day was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ by his power &
spiritt : & came to sitt under his blessed everlastinge free
teachinge & feedeinge with his eternall & heavenly foode : &
all was quiett & peaceable & past away quiett soe y* the
people saide Itt was a mighty powerfull meetinge & ye
presence of ye Lord God was felt by his power & spiritt
amongst y m .
And from thence I past to Warwicke & to Bagley
haveinge pretious meetinges & from thence Into Gloucester-
sheere} & came Into Oxford where ye schollars was very
rude : but ye Lords power was over y m all & great meetinges
wee had uppe & doune,
And from thence I came to Coll: Grimes 1 where there
was a mighty meetinge & to Justice Crippses where there
came another Justice to ye meetinge y fc was convinct & hee
lay with mee.
And att Cicester wee had a meetinge which since is much
Increased : & soe wee came to Eversham againe where I mett
John Chamm [& soe I travailed Into most partes of ye
nation : & went into Wales {as farr as Sawansey} where wee
1656] To Cromwell and Parliament 263
mett with severall y* had runn out with Jam: Naylor whoe
were very wilde but ye Lords power carne over y m ].
And in this yeere ye Lords truth was finely planted
over this nation : & many thousands was turned to ye Lord :
& soldome under a thousand in prison in ye nation for tyths
& goeinge to ye steeplehouses {& for contempts & not
swearinge & not puttinge of there hatts}.
And soe after I had compasst most parte of ye nation I
returned to London againe 1 [& then 0: P: begann to harden
& severall freinds was turned out of there offices of Justices
& other offices {& turned out of ye army 2 }]/
3 [ To Oliver Cromwell and the Parliment given forth by
George: ff:
To you who are Chosen by these nations to be y e
Parliam* to devide rule & governe things this is y e word of
y e Lord god to you, take heed of actinge against Christ,
where he is made manifest take heed of actinge or doeinge
any thinge against them y* be in y e pure religion or actinge
any thinge against religion, how knowe ye but this thinge
is fallen out to try you whether or noe you act against
Christ where he is manifest in his members for its said
Christ in you, and if Christ be in you y e bodye is dead
because of sine and if Christ be within may not he speake in
righteousnesse and be confessed there, now if Jesus Christ
be not in you, marke, Jesus Christ be not in you ye are
reprobates, And if Jesus Christ be within must not he
speake, marke Jesus Christ y e Immannuell y e Saviour, is
it offence for Christ to speake Jesus to speake where he
is within, now examine yourselves knowe not ye yourselves
y* Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobats, And if
Jesus Christ be in you must not he speake in you is it not
he y* must speake for y e natureall man perceives not the
thinges of god because they are spiritually discerned and
they are foolishnesse unto him, and did not y e Apostle say
he did not live but by Christ, it was Christ y* lived in him,
it was Christ y* spake in him, mark if it was Christ y fc lived in
him & y e life y t he now lived was by y e faith of y e sonne of god
a Narrative continued on page 266.
264 The Mystery of Christ Within [i656
mark what a life was this, and did he not say y* y e sonne
of god was revealed in him, and if y e sonne of god be reveiled
in any must it not be he y* must speake & declare y e father,
but people have had y e forme of godlinesse since y e dayes of
y e Apostles, but have wanted y e thinge & wants y e thinge
y fc y e Apostles were in whoe had the sonne of god Christ
Jesus, and therefore it is by them y fc have y e forme wondred
att & stranged att and not y e power of god wondred
& stranged where Christ is manifest and speakes & acts
& rules, & was it not y e Apostles doctrine to preach Christ
in them and tould them y e hope of y e glorye which was
Christ in them which was y e mistrye hid from ages &
genneracions and is not this Christ y e hope of glorye a
mistry in this age as it was in y e dayes of y e Apostles to y e
world, and had beene to genneracions before, & had it
not beene a mistrye in those ages past amongst them y*
have had y e forme of godlinesse since y e Apostles, but where
Christs within this mistrye this hope of glorye is witnessed
must he not speake without offence & did not Christ say he
would come againe to his disciples & make his aboade with
them & did not say I in you, & y e spirit of y e father which
speakes in you, & they were not to take thought when they
were brought before magistrates & rulers and not to speake,
and is not y e spirit of y e father y e spiritt of Christ, and are
not they y fc have not y e spirit of Christ none of his : There
fore take heed, I am moved to warne you, & charge you in
y e presence of y e Lord god ye rulers & magistrates of this
nation least ye be found actinge against the spirit of y e
father where he speaks in such as are brought before you,
who have y e forme of godlinesse, such as witnesse Christ in
them & y e spirit of y e father to speake and y e sonne of god
come accordinge to his promise which doth witnesse y fc full-
filled doth not John say in his gennerall epistle y fc y e sonne
of god was come & they were in him & this was y e true god
& eternall life, & doth not y e Apostles in theire severall
epistles which have beene rede amonge you speake y* Christ
is in you and of theire being y e sonnes of god and y e sone of
3d revealed in them and the spirit of y e father in them and
hrist y e mistrye in them, have ye not heard these things
read amongst you & hath not these thinges longe beene hid
amongst them y* have had y e forme of godlinesse & Christ
1656] Christ the Power of God 265
in the male & female and god will dwell in you & walke in
you and y e word is in thy harte & is not Christ name called
y e word of god ; now thinke you not it strange for any to
witnesse these thinges & y* these thinges should be possessed,
you y fc have had y e forme of godlinesse y e night of Apostacy
hath beene longe since these words hath bene spoken forth
& y e things enioyed y fc these words spoke of but now comes
to be possessed the things that they did enioye.
Which spake forth the words which longe they have had
y e forme of in the night of Apostacye, since y e dayes of y e
apostles, now if it be not y e spirite of god nor the voice of
y e father nor y e spirit of Christ y fc speakes in man it is
natureall or devillish & y* is it y fc stands against y e voyce of
Christ & y e spirit of God, but if any meare creature of
himselfe saith y fc he is Christ y fc is false 1 & is not soe for
all creatures y* were created were by him & for him, And all
thinges y fc were made were created for his service Christ
Jesus y e power of God by which all thinges were made and
created where the power of god is there is Christ & Christ
is y e power of god, take notice of that y e power of god is
everlastinge, where y e power of god is receved and felt, Christ
is received & felt and where y e power of god speakes Christ
speakes, and ye y t feele y e power of god ye feele Christ &
will not be offended att y e power of god where it speakes
which is Christ, & soe Christ is one in all whoe are in the
power, and where y e power of god doth not rule & speake the
power of y e divell y fc speakes and y t is it which is tormented
at the power of god which is Christ y t speaks, if y e truth
speake is it not Christ, doth he not say I am the truth, and
if y e life speake is it not Christ is it not y* I which is y e
life: if y e unrighteous speake it is a false thinge, but if the
power of god speake it is true, if it be {not} y e power of god
y t speakes which is the true Christ it is the power of y e
divell which is y e false Christ, soe examine yourselves if
Christ be {not} in you y e body is dead because of sine and
there the sin is dead and is not Christ Jesus which except
he be ye are reprobates {& your sins is alive}, is not he the
Emmanuel! and the saviour, and is not he the prince of
peace ? the prince of life and y e Hosanna, and is not this
witnessed within where he is made manifest or is he devided
from these, and is not he the Lambe of god, and are not
266 Meetings for Church Affairs settled [i656
they against him where he is manifest within y* would not
have him to speake, and such as would not have him to
raigne here you may see what hath beene lost since y e
Apostles y* they were in & enioyed in this night of Apostacye
to which time had the forme but not y e power but now
is comeinge againe to be made manifest which have beene
lost which is the truth y e power of y e forme and y e life of
Christ and Christ himselfe the Emannuell : therefor take
heed of persecuteinge y fc which is created and made by his
power where the power is received and dwell{t} in for y e
powers sake which is Christ and which the power speakes
through, and where the power of god rules where there is a
faulte it is Judged, but where the seed is y fc is to be owned,
& it is not Just y* y e mouth of y* 1 y e seed should be stopt ;
in the feare of god and meekenesse wigh & considder these
thinges before you doe Act & considder what was in y e
Apostles y* caused them to suffer.
The first day of y e nyn th month 1656.
G:ff:
Postcript.
Iff y e seed speake which is Christ he hath noe other
name for y e seed is Christ Jesus and it is not blasphemie
but truth, but if y e seed of the serpent speake and say he is
Christ y* is the Liar & y e blasphemie and y e ground of all
blasphemie and is not y e seed which is Christ, but y e seade
of y e serpent is to be bruised which is y e cause of all
enmitye strife & debate with the seede of y e woman which
is Christ.
G: ff:]
"[{And I was moved of ye Lord to sende for one or two
out of a County to Swarthmoor & to sett uppe ye mens
meetinges 1 where they was not : & to setle y t meetinge at
Skipton concerneinge ye affaires of ye chuch 2 which con-
tinnued till 1660.
And at ye first ye north tooke 600 of every sorte of
bookes y* was printed 3 & y* continnued for many yeeres till
ye truth was spreade over ye nation & this was setled
Narrative continued from page 263.
1657] "The George" at Basingstoke 267
when wee first begann to printe : & then when ye truth was
spreade as aforesaid Itt was left to freindes liberty for
every County to sende for what they liked from all parts of
ye nation : butt ye north att ye first boare ye charghes
of all ye printinge for severall yeeres but when ye Lords"
spreade over ye nation & people came to bee turned to
Christ then they was eased.}]
And about this time I was moved to sett uppe ye mens
Quarterly meetinges {throughout ye nation} though in ye
north they was setled before.
[1657] And I was moved againe to goe & speake to
O: P: {when there was a talke of makeinge him Kinge} [&
I^mett him in ye parke & tolde him y* they y* woulde putt
him on a crowne woulde take away his life : & hee askt mee
what did I say : & I saide againe they y fc sought to putt
him on a crowne woulde take away his life : & bidd him
minde ye crowne y* was Immortall] : & hee thankt mee [&
bid mee goe to his house].
And then I was moved to write to him & tolde him
howe hee would ruin his family & posterity & bringe dark-
nesse upon ye nation if hee did soe : & severall papers I
was moved to write to him.
Soe after a while I passed out of London Into Kent
Surrey & Sussex & visited ifreindes In most countyes &
had great meetinges : & many times mett with Jangelinge
professors & baptists but ye Lords power went over all.
And I came to Basingestoake a very rude place : & they
had formerly very much abused ffreindes in y* tounde : &
there I had a meetinge in ye eveninge which was quiett
for ye Lords power chained ye unruly.
And soe I was made to putt off my hat & to pray to ye
Lord to open there understandinges : & then they raised a
reporte [upon mee & saide] y* I [was a very good man &]
putt off my hatt to y m & bid y m good night which was
never in my hearte.
And soe wee went to an Inn in Basingestoake [{ye
George}] & wee sent for ye man of ye house ye Innkeeper as
I used to doe : & hee came Into ye roome to us a very rude
man & I begann to admonish him & hee caled for faggotts
a Word omitted, perhaps truth
268 A Drink-bill to pay [1657
& a pinte of wine & drunke it off himselfe : & then caled
for another : & then caled for half a dozen men uppe Into
our chamber : & I bid him goe out of our Chamber & saide
hee shoulde not drinke there : for wee sent for him uppe to
admonish him concerneinge his eternall good & hee was
exceedinge madd & rude & drunke but I tolde him ye
chamber was mine for ye time whilst I lodged in it : & soe I
caled for ye key : & soe att last hee went his ways in a great
rage but in ye morninge would not bee seene : but I tolde
his wiffe of his unchristian & rude cariage towards us.
And ye night before wee lay att Farnsworth & wee had
a litle meetinge but ye people were exceedinge rude : & att
last ye Lords power came over y m & wee went to our Inn
& desired any y fc feared God y fc they might come to our
Inn : & there came aboundans of rude people & ye magi
strates of ye tounde & some professors : & I declared ye
truth unto y m & ye magistrates putt ye rude people out of
ye roome : & when they were gonne there came uppe another
rude company of professors & some of ye heads of ye tounde
& they caled for ffaggotts & drinke though wee forbad y m :
whoe were as rude a carriaged people as ever I mett withall
but ye Lords power chained y m y fc they had not power to
doe us any mischeife : but when they went there ways
they left all there faggotts & beere y* they had caled for
Into ye roome for us to pay in ye morninge & wee shewed
ye Inkeeper what an unworthy thinge it was : yett hee tolde
us wee must pay it : & pay it wee did.
And then I was moved to write a paper to ye magis
trates & ye heads of ye tounde & ye preist to shew him
how hee had taught his people & of there rude inhumane
uncivill cariage to strangers y fc sought there good.
And from thence wee passt through ye Countryes till
wee came to Burport & had meetinges : & there wee came
to an Inn & sent Into ye tounde for such as feared God : &
there came a shopkeeper & putt of his hatt to us & seeinge
wee did not againe to him but saide thee & thou to him :
hee saide hee was not of our religion : & after some discourse
with him wee did admonish him & his wiffe was somewhat
loveinge : & Tho: Curtis was with mee : & this professor
went doune & stirred uppe ye preist & magistrates & hee
sent to us to our Inn to come & speake with him for there
1657] A Houseful of Mountebanks 269
was some woulde speake with us att his house : & soe Tho:
Curtis went doune & when hee came there hee had layde a
snare for him & gotten ye preists & magistrates : & they
boasted mightily y fc they had catcht G: ffox thinkeinge I
had beene ye man: & they was in a great rage but ye Lords
power came over y m & when they perceived Itt was not mee
they lett him goe againe.
And as wee were passinge out of ye tounde sober people
came to us & saide ye officers were comeinge uppe to fetch
mee : but ye Lords power came over y m all soe as they had
not power to touch mee: neverthelesse there was some con-
vinct in y fc tounde y* time & was turned to ye Lord : &
they stande to this day : where there is a fine meetinge.
And att night wee came to a place caled Lime : & wee
went to an Inn & ye house was taken uppe with mounte-
bankes : & there was hardely any roome for us or our horses :
& att night wee drew uppe some Queryes :
Off ye grounde of all diseases :
[And whether Adam or Eve had any before they fell :
And whether there was any in ye restoration by Christ
Jesus againe :]
a And whether any knew ye virtue of all ye Creatures in
ye creation whose virtue & nature was accordinge
to Itts first name except they was in ye wisedome
of God by which they was made & created."
And many other particuler queryes wee sent to y m &
told y m if they woulde not aunswer y m wee woulde sticke
y m on ye crosse to morrow & Itt made *y m very coole & low
for they coulde not aunswer y m but in ye morninge reasoned
a litle with us : but coulde not aunswer us & soe wee left y m
with some freindely people which were convinct to stick
upon ye markett crosse : & ye Lords power came over all &
some was turned by ye light & spirit of Christ to his free
teachinge.
Butt before wee came to Lime wee had beene att Ports
mouth & Poole where wee had glorious meetinges & many
was turned to ye Lord [there : & fine meetinges there is there
y* stands to this day].
And att Hinge wood wee had a large generall meetinge
a ... Ellwood editions read and the Natures and Vertues of Medicinable
Creatures
270 "The Seven Stars Exeter [1657
where ye Lords power was over all : & att Weymouth wee
had a meetinge : & soe wee passt to Dorchester & soe through
ye country till wee came to Exeter att ye 7 starrs att ye
bridge foote att an Inn where wee had a generall meetinge
off freindes out of Cornewall & Devonsheere : & ye Lords
everlastinge power came over all: & thither came Humfry
Lower & Tho: Lower & Jo: Ellis 1 from ye Lands ende &
freindes from Plymouth: & Justice Polixphen & Elizabeth
Trelauny & diverse other freindes where was a blessed
heavenly meetinge & I sawe & saide that ye Lords power
had surrounded this nation rounde about as with a wall &
bulwarke & his seede reacht from sea unto sea : & ffreindes
were established in ye everlastinge seede of life Christ Jesus
there life rocke teacher & shephearde.
And ye next morninge after ye meetinge was donne
Major Blackemoore 2 sent doune souldyers to apprehende
mee butt I was gonne before they came : & as I was rideinge
uppe ye street I sawe ye officers goeinge doune : soe ye wolfe
misst ye lambe & ye Lords power crosst y m in there designe :
& ffreindes passt away peaceably & Quietly : though ye
souldyers examined some freindes after I was gonne what
they did there : & they tolde y m they was in there Inn &
had occasion & busnesse to ye citty : soe they passt away
without any farther medlinge with y m .
And after this I came through ye country & had meet-
inges till I came to Bristoll to ye meetinge there : & after ye
meetinge was donne I did not stay [not soe much as to eate
nor drinke] in ye tounde & soe passt uppe Into Wales & had
a meetinge att ye Slowe 3a & soe past through ye country to
Cardiffe : & there a Justice of peace sent for mee & saide hee
desired halfe a dozen might come uppe with mee to his
house : & soe I tooke a freiride or two & went uppe to him &
hee & his wiffe received mee very civilly & ye next day wee
had a meetinge In Cardiffe in ye tounde hall & the Justice
aforesaid sent about 17 of his family to ye meetinge: & there
came some disturbers but ye Lords power was over all : &
many was turned to ye Lord there : & some that had runn
out with James Naylor y* did not come to ye meetinge I
a Ellwood editions have Slone and the word as written in the MS.
might so be read, but a place known as Slow or Slough is probably
intended and the word in the MS. can also be read Slowe
165?] Uproar at Brecknock 271
sent worde to y m y* ye day of there visitation was over : &
they did not prosper noe ways.
Soe wee past through ye country to Swansey: & past
over a passage in a boate with ye high sheriffe of ye county :
& wee had a blessed meetinge there & a meetinge was
setled there {in ye name of Jesus} [which stands to this
day].
And ye next day I went to have spoaken with ye high
sheriffe aforesaid butt hee woulde not bee spoaken withall.
And from thence wee went to another meetinge in ye
country where much of ye presence of ye Lord was with
us : & from thence wee went to a great mans house : whoe
received us very loveingely butt ye next morninge hee
woulde not bee seene one y* came had Incensed him y* wee
coulde not gett to him to speake with him hee was soe
changhed yett overnight was exceedinge loveinge.
Soe wee past through ye Countryes & had meetinges &
gathered people in ye name of Christ to there teacher till
wee came to Bracknocke : & there wee sett uppe our horses
att an Inn: & there went with mee Tho: Holmes & John app
John : whoe was moved of ye Lord to speake in ye streets
& I had walkt out a litle Into ye feildes but by y fc time I
came in all ye tounde was uppe in an uproare : & when I
came Into ye Inn ye chamber was full of people & they
were speakinge in Welch : & I desired them to speake in
English : & they did & great discourse wee had : & after
a while they went there ways : butt at night ye magis
trates gathered togeather in ye street & a multitude of
people & they bid y m shout & gathered uppe ye tounde
y* for about 2 houres togeather there was such a noise
as ye like wee had not hearde : & ye magistrates sett y m
on to shout again when they had left {& there was never
such an uproare amongst Dianas handy craftsmen as there
was att y * time soe} y* if ye Lords power had not prevented
y m they might have pluckt doune ye house & us to peices :
& this they did till Itt was within night.
And after It was night ye woman would have had
us goe to supper in another roome butt wee discerned her
plott [& her designe] & then when shee could not gett us
foorth shee woulde have had six men come Into ye roome
to us under pretence to discourse with us : soe wee tolde
272 The Scriptures without the Spirit [IBS?
her y* noe persons should come Into our roome y* night
neither woulde wee goe out to y m .
And then shee tolde us wee should suppe in another
roome : hut wee tolde her wee would have none then : If
wee had it not in our owne roome : & att last shee brought
it uppe in a great rage : & soe shee & they was crosst in
there designe for they had an Intent to have donne us a
mischeife but ye Lord God prevented y m .
And ye next morninge after I had given foorth a paper
to ye tounde of there unchristian cariages sheweinge ye
fruites of there preists & magistrates : wee past away : & I
spoake to ye people as I went foorth of ye tounde howe
they shamed both Christianity & religion.
And from thence wee passt to a great meetinge in a
steeplehouse yarde where was Justice Jenkins & a preist &
another Justice & a blessed glorious meetinge wee had &
there was a many professors & I was moved of ye Lord to
open to y m ye scriptures & ye objections y fc they stucke
att in there profession {as aforesaid} for I knew y m very well
& to turne y m to Christ whoe had Inlightned y m with
which light they might see there saviour & sins & trespasses
they had beene deade in & him y fc redeemed them out of it
whoe was there way to God there truth & life & there preist
made higher then ye heavens soe y fc they might come to
sitt under his teachinge & many was convinct & setled y fc
day : & a peaceable meetinge it was.
And after ye meetinge was donne I went with Justice
Jenkyn to ye other Justices house : & hee saide unto mee
you have given this day great satisfaction to ye people &
aunswered all ye objections y* was in there mindes : for ye
people had ye scriptures butt they were not turned to ye
spiritt which {shoulde} lett y m see y* which gave y m foorth
{which is} ye key to open y m ye spiritt of God.
And from thence wee past to Pontamile to Rich: Ham-
boroughs 1 where there was a great meetinge & there came
another Justice of peace & severall great people to it : &
there understandinges was opned by ye Lords spiritt &
power : & ye light of Jesus Christ y* they came to bee turned
to Christ from whence it came & a great Convincement
there was & a large meetinge {there is} gathered in ye name
of Jesus which continnues there aways to this day.
1657 1 Quakers and the Rain-fall 273
Soe from thence wee returned backe againe Into England
& soe came to Shrewsbury where wee had a great meetinge
{& visited freinds} all uppe & doune ye Countryes {in there
meetinges} till wee came Into Chesheere to Will: Gandys 1 &
there wee had a meetinge of about two or 3 thousande
people & ye everlastinge worde of life was helde foorth &
received y fc day : & a blessed meetinge it was : for freindes
was setled by ye power of God upon Christ Jesus ye rocke
& foundation : & att this time there was a great drought : &
after ye generall meetinge was ended there fell a mighty
raine y fc there was soe much raine ye next day y fc freindes
saide they beleived wee coulde not passe ye brookes &
waters woulde bee soe risen : but I beleived soe farr as they
had come y fc day to ye meetinges soe farr they had rain.
Soe ye next day about ye afternoone wee came backe
Into some partes of Wales again & there was all dust &
noe raine had falen thereabout [& Itt was a noted thinge
generally amongst people y<> when I came still I brought
raine {& It had beene soe for many yeeres}].
And when 0: P: gave foorth a proclamation for a fast 2
throughout ye nation for raine when there was such a
mighty drought: & as farr as truth had spreade in ye north
[& south] there was rain enough & pleasant showers : when
uppe in ye south in places they was almost spoiled for want
of raine.
And I was moved to give foorth an aunswer to 0: P:
proclamation y* if hee did come to owne Gods truth hee
shoulde have raine & y fc drought was a signe unto y m of
there barrennesse of ye water of life [as you may see in y*
booke given foorth in aunswer to his proclamation 3 ].
[{And the like observation & expectation they have
beyonde ye seas : when there is a drought they generally
looke for ye Quakers generall meetinges for then they know
they shall have raine : & as they receive ye truth & become
fruitefull unto God they receive from him there fruitefull
seasons alsoe.}]
And soe wee past uppe Into Wales through Mount-
gomery sheere & uppe Into Kadnoll sheere where there was a
meetinge like a leager for multitudes : & I walkt a litle off
from ye meetinge whilst ye people was a gatheringe & there
came Jhon appe Johns to mee a welch man : & I bidd him
o. F. 18
274 Great Meeting at Leominster [i657
goe uppe to ye people & if hee had any thinge upon him
from ye Lord to speake to ye people in Welch hee might.
And then there came Morgan Watkison 1 to mee whoe
was loveinge to freindes & says hee ye people lyes like a
leager & ye gentry of ye country is come in : soe I bid
him goe uppe to ye meetinge for I had a great travell upon
mee for ye salvation of ye people : & soe I past uppe to ye
meetinge & stoode atoppe of a chaire about 3 houres [&
sometimes leaned my hande off a mans heade] : & stoode a
pretty while before I began to speake : & many people sate a
horsebacke & att last I felt ye power of ye Lord went over
y m all & ye Lords everlastinge life & truth shined over
all : & ye scriptures was opned to y m & there objections
aunswered in there mindes & every one of y m turned to ye
light of Christ ye heavenly man y fc with it they might all
see there sins & see there Saviour there redeemer there
mediator : & feede upon him there bread from heaven &
many was turned that day to ye Lord Jesus Christ & his
free teachinge & all was bowed doune under ye power
of God & parted peaceablely & quietly with great satisfac
tion & they saide they never heard such a devine" in there
lifes : & ye scriptures soe opned : & ye new covenant & ye
olde covenant & ye parables & ye state of ye Church in ye
Apostles days & Apostacy since & Christ & ye Apostles
free teachinge sett atoppe of all ye hirelinge teachers : &
people turned to him.
[And people saide y fc they thought if I would come Into
ye country agairie all ye Country woulde bee convinced
people were soe generally satisfied & reacht att y* meetinge
& ye Lord had ye praise for many was turned to him y fc day
& a Justice of peace was convinced y* came to bee a fine
minister since one Peter Price] {& there was a preist & his
wiffe sate a horseback y* day & hearde patiently : but made
noe objections.}
And I came backe from thence to Lemster where there
was a great meetinge in a close & many hundreds of people
& there was a matter of six seperate preachers & preists : &
there was one Tho: Tayler with mee : which had beene a
preist butt now was become a free minister of Christ Jesus.
And after I had stoode a matter of 3 houres & none of
a Ellwood editions read Sermon
1657] The Arguments of Priest Tombes 275
ye preists was able to open there mouths ye Lords power &
truth soe reacht y m though many times there mouths was
opnmge to speake : & att last one preist went about a bowe
shoote off mee & there hee drew severall of ye people after
him & fell a preachinge to y m & I kept my meetinge & hee
kept his meetinge : & att last Tho: Tayler was moved to goe
to him & speake to him & hee gave over : & then hee & ye
people came uppe to mee againe & ye Lords power went
over y m all.
< And att last a baptist y fc was convinct says hee where
is preist Toms howe chance hee does not come out : & this
preist Toms was preist of Lemster 1 .
And then some went & tolde ye preist & uppe comes
hee with ye bailiffes of ye tounde & magistrates & officers.
And when hee came uppe they sett him upon a stoole
over against mee : & I was speakeinge of ye heavenly devine
light of Christ which hee enlightens every one y fc cometh
Into ye worlde withall & turneinge them to it to give y m ye
knowledge of ye glory of God in ye face of Christ Jesus
there saviour.
This preist Toms cryes out : y fc is a naturall light & a
made light.
And then I desired all ye people to take out there bibles:
& then I askt him whether hee did affirme y fc was a created
naturaU made light y<> John a man y fc was sent from God to
beare witnesse to did speake off whoe saide In him was life
to witt ye worde : & this life was ye light of men.
And soe I askt him whether this light was y fc created
naturall made light hee meant on & affirmed & hee saide yes.
Then saide I : before I have done with thee I will make
thee bende to ye scriptures 2 .
The naturall created made light is ye sun moone &
starrs & this outward light & does thou say y* God sent
Jhon to beare wittnesse to ye sun moone & starrs which are
ye made lights.
Then saide hee did I say soe : yes saide I : thou saide
Itt was a naturall created made light y* John bare wittnesse
unto : & if thou dost not like thy words take y m & mende y m
againe.
For John came to beare wittnesse to ye light which was
ye life in ye worde : by which all ye naturall lights were
182
276 "Hee is a cunninge fox" [i657
made & created as sun moone & stairs & ye like : & in him
Ho wittj ye worde was life & y fc life was ye light of men.
[And then hee tooke att it againe : & saide y light J
spoake off was a naturall created light : & soe made Itt worse
& worse in his argument.] .
And soe I made manifest to ye people how y* ID L ye
beginninge was ye worde & ye worde was with God & Uod
was ye worde & all thinges y* was made was made by him
as aforesaid : & without him there was not any thmge mad<
y* was made. ~, .
And soe all naturall created lights was made by Christ
ye worde & in him was life & y* life was ye light of men : &
this was ye true light y* enlightens every man y < cometh
Into ye world. And Christ saith hee was ye light of ye
worlde & bids y m beleive in ye light: & God saith I will
give him for a covenant of light & hee shall bee my salvation
to ye endes of ye earth.
Soe Christ in his light is saveinge : & ye Apostle sayde
ye light y* shined in there heartes was to give y m ye
knowledge of ye glory of God in ye face of Christ Jesus :
& yt> was there treasure in there earthen vessells.
TOh says ye people hee is a cunninge fox oh] says ye
preist to ye magistrates take this man a way or else I shall
not speake any more.
Butt saide I preist {Toms} thou art not in thy pulpitt
now nor in thy olde masse house : thou art deceived wee are
in ye feildes : & soe hee was shuflinge to bee gonne.
And then Tho: Taylor "woulde make it out" by Ghnsts
parables concerneinge ye sower.
Then cryes ye preist lett y* man speake & not ye other :
& soe hee was lett uppe Into a litle Jangelinge till ye Lords
power catcht him againe & beinge by ye power of ye Lord
God stoppt & confounded then a ffreinde stoode uppe &
tolde him howe hee had sewed him for tyth eggs {& fremds
for tyths} : for hee was an anabaptist preist & yett had ye
parsonage att Lemster & had severall Journey men under
\nd hee saide hee had a wiffe & hee had a concubine &
his wiffe was ye baptised people & his concubine was ye
... Ellwood editions read stood up, and undertook to make out our
Principle
1657] An all-day Meeting at Teriby 277
worlde : but ye Lords power came over y m all & his ever-
lastinge truth was declared y* day & many were turned by
it to ye Lord Jesus Christ there teacher & way to God : & of
great service y fc meetinge was in those parts & Tho: Taylor
went to ye preist ye next day to reason with him & came
over him by ye power of ye Lord.
And soe I past through Wales & had severall meetinges
till I came to Tenby : & when I came uppe ye street a Justice
of peace carne out of his house & desired mee to alight &
stay att his house & I did {soe}.
And one ye first day ye maior & his wiffe & severall
others of ye heads of ye tounde came in about ye 10 th houre
& stayde all May att ye meetinge" & a glorious metinge Itt
was & John appe Johns was with mee & hee went to ye
steeplehouse : & ye governor cast him Into prison : & one ye
secoride day morninge ye governor sent one of his officers to
ye Justices house for mee & it greived ye maior & ye Justice
for they was both with mee in ye Justices house & soe ye
maior & ye Justice went uppe before mee & after I went
uppe to ye governor with ye officer : & ye governor had
gotten another Justice of peace with him. And when I
came In I saide peace bee unto this house : & before hee
coulde examine mee I was moved to aske him why hee did
cast my freinde in prison & hee saide for standinge with his
hatt on his heade in ye church : & I saide had not ye preist
two capps on his heade a blacke on & a white : & cutt off ye
brims of his hatt & my freinde {then} had but one : & ye
brims of ye hatt were onely to save ye raine from his
necke.
These are frivolous thinges saide hee : . saide I then why
dost thou cast my freinde in prison for such frivolous thinges.
Soe then hee began to aske mee whether I owned election
& reprobation.
Yes saide I : & thou art in ye reprobation : then hee was
uppe in a rage & saide hee woulde send mee to prison till
I proved it & then I tolde him I woulde prove j* quickely
if hee woulde confesse truth.
And then I askt him whether wrath fury & rage &
persecution was not in ye reprobation for hee y fc was borne
a ... a These words have been inserted by the same writer at a later period,
in place of night
278 In South Wales [1657
of ye flesh persecuted him y t was borne of ye spiritt for
Christ & his disciples never persecuted nor Imprisoned any.
And soe hee confest y* hee had to much of {wrath} hast
& passion {in him} soe I tolde him Esau was uppe in him ye
first birth & not Jacob ye seconde birth.
Soe ye Lords power soe reacht ye man & came over him
y* hee confest to truth : & ye other Justice came & tooke
mee by ye hande : & soe as I was passinge away I was moved
to speake to ye governor againe & hee Invited mee to dinner
with him & sett my freinde att liberty.
Soe I went backe to ye other Justices house & ye maior
& his wiffe & ye Justice & his wiffe & diverse other freinds
of ye tounde went abut halfe a mile with us to ye waters
syde : & there I was moved of ye Lord to kneele doune with
y m & pray to ye Lord to preserve y m .
And soe after I had turned y m to ye Lord Jesus Christ
there free teacher & Saviour I past away : & ye Lords power
came over all : & ye Lord had ye glory & there is a metinge
continnues in y* tounde to this day.
And soe from thence wee past through ye Country to
Pembroke sheere.
And in Pembrooke tounde wee had some service for ye
Lord : & from thence wee past to Hartforde west where wee
had a great meetinge & all was quiett & ye Lords power
came over all : & many was setled in ye new covenant Christ
Jesus & built upon him there rocke {& foundation} & {they}
stands a pretious meetinge to this day.
And ye next day beinge there fayre day wee past through
there fayre & sounded ye day of ye Lorde & his everlastinge
truth amongst y m .
And after y* wee came to another county : & att noone
wee came Into a great markett tounde & went to severall
Inns: & yett coulde not gett any meate for our horses &
at last wee came to an Inn where wee did gett some meat
for our horses & Jhon ap John beinge with mee hee spoake
through ye tounde declareinge ye truth to ye people : &
after hee came to mee hee saide hee thought all ye tounde
was as people asleepe.
And after a while hee was moved to goe againe : & then
ye tounde was all in an uproare & cast him Into prison &
soe there was severall of ye heades of ye tounde & others
165 ?] A Dishonest Innkeeper 279
came doune to ye Inn where I was & saide they had cast
my man in prison : for what saide I : they saide hee preacht
in there streets & then I askt y m what did hee say : had hee
reproved some of ye drunkards & swearers & warned y m to
repent & leave off there evill doeinges & turne to ye Lord.
And then I askt whoe had cast him Into prison & they
saide ye high Sheriffe & ye Justices & ye maior : soe I askt
ye names of y m & whether they did understande y m selves
& whether y fc was there cariage to travailers y* passt through
there tounde & {to} strangers y fc did admonish y m & exhort-
y m to feare ye Lord & reproved sin in there gates : soe they
went upp again & tolde those officers what I saide : & after
a while they brought doune John app John guarded with
[there officers &] halberts to ye Inn doore In order to putt
him out of tounde : soe they comeinge to ye Inn with him
[ bid y m take there hands off him & they saide ye maior
& officers a had commanded to putt him out of ye tounde & I
tolde y m I woulde talke with there maior & Justices anon
off there uncivill & unchristian cariages towards him.
And soe I bid John goe & looke after ye horses & gett
y m ready: & charged ye officers not to touch him : soe they
went there ways after I had declared ye truth to y m &
shewed y m ye fruites of there preists & ye incivillity & un
christian like cariage : for they were a kinde of Independants :
but a very wicked tounde for ye Inkeeper whome wee bid
give our horses a pecke of oates noe sooner had wee turned
our backes [{from y m }] butt all ye oates was stolen from our
horses [y* wee ordered him to give y m ].
And soe after wee had refrest our selves a litle & were
ready I tooke horse & ridd uppe to ye Inn where I hearde
ye maior & sheriffe & officers" were : & I caled to speak with
y m & askt y m ye reason wherfore they had Imprisoned John
app John & kept him in prison about two or three houres
butt they woulde not aunswer a worde to mee {but lookt
out att ye windowes upon mee}.
And then I shewed y m how unchristian there cariage
was to travalers & strangers & ye fruites of there teachers
& declared unto y m ye truth & warned y m of ye day of ye
Lord y* was comeinge upon all ye evill doers [& how y* they
a El] wood editions : Justices
2 So Two Street-preachers [i657
all knew y i there was few Inns in there country : & to hinder
us in our Journey what an unworthy thinge Itt was & they
woulde not bee soe served y m selves] : & ye Lords power
came over y m they was ashamed soe but I coulde not gett
a worde from y m in aunswer : & soe I warned y m to repent
& turne to ye Lord : & soe wee past away.
And att night wee came to a litle Inn : very poore :
butt very cheape for wee & our two horses cost but 8 d [but
ye horses woulde assoone eate ye heath one ye common as
there oates].
And wee declared unto y m ye truth & sounded ye day
of ye Lord through ye countryes.
And before y fc wee came to a great tounde & went to an
Inn : & Edwarde [of] Edwards 1 went Into ye markett &
declared ye truth amongst y m & the people came to ye Inn
& filled ye Inn yarde & a good service wee had for ye Lord
but ye people was exceedinge rude but some there was
reacht & convinct : ye life of Christianity & ye power of it
tormented ye chaffy natures & exceedingely came over y m : &
ye Lords power came over all soe ye magistrates was bounde
they had noe power to medle with us.
And after this wee past away & came to another great
tounde on a markett day : & John app Johns declared ye
everlastinge truth through ye streets & declared ye day of
ye Lord amongst y m & many people in ye eveninge gathered
about ye Inn : & many beinge drunke they woulde fain have
had us foorth Into ye street againe butt wee saw there
designe : & I tolde y m if there was any y fc feared God &
desired to heare truth they might come Into our Inn or
else wee might have a meetinge with y m ye next morninge.
And soe some service for ye Lord wee had with ye
people both over night & in ye morninge though ye people
was harde to receive ye truth yett ye seede was sowne : & y*
aways ye Lord has a people turned to himselfe.
And in y* Inn also I turned butt my backe from ye man
y* was giveinge oates to my horse[s] : & I looked back againe
& hee was fillinge his pocketts with ye provender y fc was
given to my horse : a wicked theiveish people to robbe ye
poore dumbe creature of his foode which I had rather they
had robbed me.
And another time as I was rideinge alonge there was a
1657] Prophetic Visions 281
great man overtakes us in ye way : & hee thought to have
taken us uppe att ye next tounde for high way men : but
before wee came to ye tounde I was moved of ye Lord [God]
to speake to him & it reacht to ye wittnesse of God in ye
man y fc hee was soe affected y* hee had us to his house &
entertained us very civilly: & hee & his wiffe desired us to
give y m scriptures both for our principles & for Christs alone
teachinge & against ye preists.
Soe wee was glad of it & furnisht him with scriptures
enough & hee layde a y m doune : & was convinct of ye truth
both by ye spiritt of God in his hearte & confirmed by ye
scriptures : & after sett us on in our Journey.
And then wee came to [another tounde & went to an
Inn : & comeinge a toppe of] a hill which they say was 2 or
3 miles high: & on this hill syde I could see a great way:
& I was moved to sounde ye day of ye Lord 1 there : & sett
my face severall ways & tolde John app Jhons a faithfull
Welch minister in what places god would raise upp a people
to sett under his teachinge : & those places hee tooke notice
off & since there has a great people risse in those places : &
ye same t hinge I have beene moved to doe in many other
places & countryes ye which have beene rude places & yett
I was moved to declare ye Lord had a seed in those places
& after there has beene a brave people raised uppe in ye
covenant of God & gathered in ye name of Jesus where
they have salvation & free teachinge.
And from y* hill wee came doune to a place caled Dal-
gelthly & wee went to an Inn : & John app Jhon declared
through ye streets & ye toundespeople risse & gathered
about him : & there was two {Independant} preists in ye
tounde & they came out.
And soe they both of y m discourst with him : & I went
uppe to y m & they were speakeinge in Welch & I askt y m
what was ye subject they spoake about & askt y m why they
was not more moderate & speake one by one : for ye thinges
of God were weighty & they shoulde speake y m with feare
& reverens : & then I bid y m speake in English & then they
saide y fc ye light which John came to beare wittnesse off
[which was Christ ye true light which enlightens every one
a Ell wood editions have ivrit
282 Light Natural and Heavenly [1657
y fc cometh Into ye woflde] was a created naturall & made
light.
Soe then I tooke ye bible & lett y m see y* ye made &
created naturall lights was ye sun moone & starrs [& ye
elements] : but ye true light which John bore wittnesse to
was ye life in Christ ye worde by which all thinges was
made & created : & Itt was caled ye light in man & woman
which was ye true light which had enlightned every man y fc
came Into ye worlde : which was a heavenly & devine light
which lett y m see all there evill words & deeds & there sins :
& ye same light would lett y m see Christ there saviour from
whence it came to save y m from there sin & to blott it out.
Soe this light shined in ye darknesse in there heartes &
ye darknesse could not comprehend it but where God had
commanded it to shine out of darknesse in there hearts It
gave y m ye knowledge of ye glory of God in ye face of Christ
Jesus there saviour : & soe I opned ye scripture largely to y m
& turned y m to ye spiritt of God in there heartes which
would reveale ye scriptures to y m & leade y m Into all ye
truth of y m & soe I turned y m to y fc which woulde give
every one of y m ye knowledge of there saviour whoe dyed for
y m & was there way to God & made there peace betwixt
y m & God : & ye people generally received it & with handes
lifted uppe blessed & praised God : & ye preists was stoppt
& quiett all ye while : soe I brought y m to bee sober y* when
they spoak of ye thinges of God & Christ there saviour they
might speake y m with reverens & feare.
And soe I was moved to speake to Jhon app John to
stande uppe & speake in Welch to y m & hee did : & soe ye
meetinge broake uppe in peace in ye street & many people
accompanyed us to our Inn & rejoyced in ye truth y* had
been declared unto y m {y* they was turned to y fc light &
spiritt by which they might see there sin : & knowe salvation
from it}.
And when wee went out of tounde ye people were soe
affected they lift upp there hands & blest ye Lord : & ye
Lord has a great people y* aways : & there is a great people
gathered to ye Lord {Jesus Christ free teachinge & have
suffred much for it} thereaways.
And from thence wee past to a Citty like a Castle 1 : & wee
ridd Into it & went to an Inn : & after wee had sett uppe our
1657] Disregarded Warnings 283
horses [att ye gates where ye stable was y* belonged to ye
Inn] : & after wee had refreshed our selves John app Jhon
spoak through ye streetes for one might stande in ye midle
of ye tounde & see both ye gates & a multitude of people
was gathered abut him & a preist whoe was as darke as
darke coulde bee & his mouth was soone stoppt : & I declared
ye worde of life amongst y m & turned y m to ye light of
Christ in there heartes y fc by it they might see all there
ways religions & teachers & to come of all to Christ there
way & free teacher : & some of y m was rude & some were
civill & they tolde us how they did heare how wee had beene
persecuted & abused in many places butt they would not
doe soe to us there: & soe I commended there moderation
& sobriety.
And soe I warned y m of ye day of ye Lord y fc was
comeinge upon all sin & wickednesse & howe y* Christ was
come to teach his people himselfe by his power & by his
spiritt.
And soe from thence wee past Into Beumarris : & went
to an Inn : & there was a garrison in y t tounde & Jhon app
Jhon had been formerly a [seperate] teacher in y fc tounde.
And hee went & spoake through ye streets & they cast
him Into prison : & ye Innkeepers wiffe tolde mee y* ye
governor & ye magistrates was sendinge to mee to sende
mee to prison alsoe : & I tolde her they had donne more
then they could Aunswer already & had acted contrary to
Christianity in Imprisoninge John {app John} for reproveinge
sin in there gates & for declareinge ye truth.
And there came other freindely people & tolde mee if
I went out Into ye street they woulde Imprison mee alsoe
& therfore they desired mee to keepe in ye Inn.
Upon which I was moved to goe & walke upp & doune
In there streetes & tolde ye people what an uncivill &
unchristian thinge they had donne in Castinge Jhon in
prison for they was high professors : & was this ye entertaine-
ment they had for strangers : woulde they bee soe served y m
selves had they any example from Christ or ye Apostles to
doe soe whoe lookt upon ye scriptures to be there rule.
And soe after a while they sett Jhon att liberty {againe} :
& ye next day beinge rnarkett day wee was to crosse over a
great water not farr of: where wee was to take ye boate
284 An Interrupted Embarkation [1057
many people out of ye markett drew to us amongst whome
wee had good service for ye Lord & declared ye worde of
life & everlastinge truth to y m & preacht ye day of ye Lord
which was comeinge upon all wickednesse & turned y m to
ye light of Christ which ye heavenly man had enlightned y m
withall by which they might see all there sins & false ways
religions worshipps & teachers & by ye same light they
might see there saviour Christ Jesus there way to God.
Soe ye Lords truth was declared amongst y m {& Christ
there teacher set over all} [& his power came over all : & then]
I bid Jhon gett his horse Into ye boate : butt [they had
made a plott amongst y m for] there came a company of wilde
gentlemen as they caled y m but wee founde y m rude men for
they & others kept his horse out of ye boate : & soe I came
to y m & shewed y m what an unmanly & unchristian thinge
it was : soe I leapt with my horse Into ye boate amongst
y m & it beinge pretty deepe Jhon coulde not gett his horse in
{to ye boate} soe I tolde y m they shewed an unworthy spiritt
& below Christianity or humanity: soe seeinge I coulde not
gett John in I leapt out a horseback again Into ye water &
staide with John on y* syde & there wee stayde from ye
11 th houre to ye 2 d before ye boate men came back again to
fetch us & then wee had forty two miles to ride y* eveninge :
& wee had but one groate left both of us of money.
And soe wee came on about 16 miles {& gott a litle hay
for our horses} : & after came to an Alehouse for ye night
but wee could not have oates nor hay {there} & soe wee
travailed all night & about foure a clocke in ye morninge
wee gott within 6 miles of Rexam in Wales where y* day
wee mett with many freindes & had a glorious metinge &
large & ye Lords everlastinge power & truth came over all :
where there is a meetinge continnues to this day.
Butt wee were very weary with travaileinge soe hard
uppe & doune in Wales & it was harde in some places to
gett meate for our horses or our selves either in many
places.
And ye next day wee past from thence [through Tenby 1 ]
Into Flint sheere & sounded ye day of ye Lord through ye
toundes & came Into Hexam att night : where many of
Floydes people came to us : but very rude & wilde & ayry
{they were} & litle sense of truth {they had} yett there
1657] The Quakers Religion Active not Passive 285
was some convinct in ye tounde : & ye next morninge there
was a Lady sent for mee & shee had a teacher att her house.
And they was both very light ayry people & was to light
to receive ye weighty thinges of God : & in her lightnesse
shee came & askt mee whether shee should cutt my haire :
& I was moved to reprove her & bid her cutt doune ye
corruptions in her with ye sworde of ye spiritt of God : &
soe after I had admonished her wee past away & after shee
made her boast in her froathy minde y t shee came behinde
mee & cut of a locke of my haire which was a lye.
And to y* tounde aforesaid" y fc had Imprisoned John as
aforesaid I writt unto the maior & sheriffe to lett y m see
there conditions & ye fruites of there Christianity & there
teachers.
And after I mett with some of those Justices neere
London & they were ashamed of there actions.
And soe from Rexam wee came through ye country to
West Chester 1 & stayde there a while Itt beinge there fay re
time {& visited friends} 6 .
2 [16 57. And in ye olde parlaments days many people
y* used to weare ribans & lace & costly apparrell {& followed
Juncketinge & feastinge with preists & professors} came to
leave it off when they came to bee convinced of Gods
eternall truth & to walke {& serve God} in ye spiritt as
ye Apostle did they left of there curious apparrell & ribands
& lace & there sportinge & feastinge with preists & pro
fessors & wolde not goe to wakes nor plays nor showes as
they formerly had used to doe & woulde not weare golde
nor sylver nor lace nor ribans nor make y m .
And then ye preists & professors raged exceedingely
against us & printed bookes against us & saide y fc our
religion lay in not wearinge ffine cloaths & lace & ribands
& in not eatinge good cheere when wee coulde not make
feasts for ye preists & profeffessors as wee used to doe nor
feasts for company es in ye cittyes but if they woulde Joine
a That is, Beaumaris ; see Ell wood editions.
6 This insertion is in a different hand. Note the change in the
spelling of the last word.
286 A Block on Ludgate Hill [i657
with us when they made feasts to feast such as coulde not
feast y m againe wee woulde make a feast for all ye poore of
ye parish y* coulde not feast us & y m againe 1 & this was
accordinge to Christs commande but in this there selfeish
principle woulde never Joine with us.
And wee tolde y m when they went to there sports &
games & plays & ye like y* they had better serve God {then
spende there time soe vainely}: & y fc costly apparrell with
ye lace : y* wee formerly had hunge upon our backes y fc
kept us not warme with y fc wee coulde mainetaine a Company
of poore people y fc had noe cloaths. 2
And soe our religion lay not in meates nor drinkes
nor cloaths nor thee nor thou nor puttinge of hatts nor
makeinge curseys att which they were greatly offended
because wee theed & thoud y m & coulde not putt of our
hatts nor bowe to y m : & therfore they saide our religion lay
in such thinges but our aunswer was nea ffor though ye
Spiritt of God ledd Into y fc which was comely & decent &
from Chamberinge & wantonnesse & from sportinge &
pastimes & feastinge as in ye day of slaughter & from wear-
inge costly apparrell as ye Apostle commands & from ye
worldes honor fashions & customes : but our Religion lyes
in y* which bringes to visitt ye poore & fatherlesse {& wid-
dows} & keepes from ye spotts of ye worlde which religion
is pure & undefiled before God & this is ye religion which
wee owne which ye Apostles was in above 1600 yeeres since
& doe deny all vaine religions gott uppe since which are
not onely spotted with ye worlde but pleads for a body of
sin & death to ye grave & there widdowes & fatherlesse
lyes begginge uppe & doune ye streets {& countryes} : & this
was not like ye pure religion ye Apostle was in y* was pure
& undefiled before God {which wee owne & practise & cannot
Joine with noe other}.]
3 [165 7. And in 0: Crom wells days as I was walkeinge
upp by Ludgate {hill} there was a stoppe with coaches &
carrs comeinge from ye Lord mayors feast & there was
Olivers secretary Thirleys 4 coach & as I was standinge by it
& coulde not gett forwarde nor backwarde there came a
1657] Troubles in Palace Yard 287
man with a naked rapier out of his a coach & I lookeinge at
him to see what hee woulde doe with it {it beinge darke}
hee runns att a Carr man standinge harde by whoe was
stoppt alsoe : & ye carr man uppe with his slinge & & knockt
out his braines: & soe ye man cryed out & I bid y m putt
him Into ye Coach but Thirley woulde not lett him bee
brought Into ye coach : then I bid y m carry him Into some
house & wrappe him uppe whilst his bloode was warme but
hee dyed presently.
And this was ye fruites of such an one whoe shoulde
have kept ye peace : which might have cost many more lifes
& his owne {alsoe but ye Lord prevented it}.
And wee had a meetinge in ye pallace yarde butt it was
soe pesterd with rude preists water men & lackeys & rude
professors y* sometimes there woulde bee many hundreds
about it & wee could seldom keepe any glasse whole in ye
windows it woulde bee soe often broaken doune by ye rude
Company 1 {& alsoe other meetinges in ye Citty were soe
abused}.
And ^ this was in ye Presbyterian & Independants anti-
gospell times whoe were against ye gospell of peace.
And one time att ye pallace yarde as I was declareinge
ye eternall worde of life & preachinge ye everlastinge seed
of ^ life: & many hundreds of people were gathered some
beinge^ attentive but many of ye rude ones soe bespattered
mee with dirt & muck y fc my hayre nor cloaths coulde bee
hardly be seene nor face for dirt & mucke : & some out
landish & other civill people were soe -ashamed to see what
a dishonor this was to Christianity that they began to
reprove & stoppe ye rude people soe as the rude ones fell
upon y m soe y t they were forct to take sanctuary in West
minster hall & fled there for safety.
And after this our meetinge broake uppe in ye power of
ye Lorde & not much hurte donne unto us & such disturbans
wee had in our meetinges in Citty & In many places of ye
Country alsoe.
And when ye preists coulde not gett doune our meet
inges with there rude rabble then they woulde write to
0: P: y fc wee mett to plott to bringe in kinge Charles: &
Originally written ye and altered to his in the same hand.
6 Originally written pole and altered to slinge in the same hand.
288 A Refuge in Time of Storm [i657
soe went about to make y m treasonable meetinges : but ye
Lord did give y m there portion att last as is saide before &
his lambes & birdes did escape there snares & ginns.
And all these thinges was of service for truth ffor it
manifested y m & there fruites to sober people & all these
thinges did worke togeather for good to y m y* feared God.
For wee knew y fc not a sparrow coulde fall to ye grounde
without ye will of ye father whoe upholdes all thinges by
his worde & power & carryed his lambes in his armes &
brought y m to mounte uppe as one eagles winges over all
there stormes & waves & floudes y* they cast out against
us : his name has ye praise for ever & ye glory whoe is
worthy of all whoe is ye helper of his people & there rocke
& foundation & with y m in all there afflictions & there
deliverer out of ye 6 & 7 troubles yea even ye perfection of
troubles.
And this I know by experiens & therfore it is good to
trust in ye Lord.
For ye persecutions cannot bee utterd y* wee underwent
in y* time & ye troubles & suffringes & reproaches every
way : without as before I came Into it my troubles within
coulde not bee uttered : but ye Lord has ye praise whoe is
ye upholder of us through all {& gives ye dominion over all}.
For y* spiritt which makes ye Just & ye good & seede of
God to suffer within is ye same y fc makes to suffer without
when it is cast out within.
Soe I was not ignorant of Sathans wiles & all ye suffringes
without is nothing to ye suffringes within.
But ye Lord hath given mee dominion over both & doth
give dominion over both to his people & hee alone is worthy
of ye glory & praise.]
And {soe from Weschester aforesaid} a wee came through
ye Country to Liverpoole : & there beinge a fayre alsoe
there was a freinde standinge a toppe of ye crosse declare-
inge as I ridd through ye fayre : whoe also gave notice y fc
G: F: {ye servant of ye Lorde} woulde have a meetinge
upon such a hill if any feared ye Lord they might come
This insertion is in an ancient handwriting, but it is not that of
Thomas Lower.
1657] Unruly Sessions at Manchester 289
there & heare him declare ye worde of life to y m & this I
heard him declareinge as I ridd by ye crosse.
And soe from Liverpoole wee went to Rich Cubhams 1
whoe was convinct but not his wiffe butt att y fc time his
wife was convinct alsoe.
And ye next day wee went to ye meetinge one ye toppe
of ye hill which was very large : & some rude people with a
preists wiffe came & made a noise for a while but ye Lords
power came over y m & ye metinge was quiett : & ye Lords
truth came over all : & many was setled upon ye rocke &
foundation Christ Jesus & under his teachinge whoe made
there peace betwixt y m & God.
And wee had a meetinge att Malpoth where wee had
a few freindes & people.
And from thence wee came to another place where wee
had another metinge & there came a bayley with a sworde
a rude man : but ye Lords power carne over all & freindes
were established in ye truth.
And from thence I came to Manchester & there came
a many rude people out of ye tounde ye sessions beinge
there y fc day : & in ye meetinge they threw att mee coales
clotts stones water : & I was moved of ye Lord to stande : till
at last when they could doe noe good with there water
stones & dirt & Informed ye officers a : & then there came in
ye officers as I was declareinge ye worde of life to ye people
who were sent from ye Justices from there sessions & they
pluckt mee doune & haled mee uppe Into there Court & all
ye Court was in an outrage & a noise : & I askt where was
ye officers or magistrates y fc they did not keepe ye people
civill : yes saide some of ye Justices they were magistrates : &
I askt y m why they did not appease ye people & keepe y m
sober & one cryed I will swear : & another cryed I will
swear : soe I declared to ye Justices how wee were abused
in ye meetinge by ye rude people throweiiige stones &
clotts & water : & how I was haled out & brought out of ye
meetinge contrary to ye Instrument of goverment 2 which
was y fc none should bee molested {in there meetinges} y* pro
fessed God & owned ye Lord Jesus Christ.
And soe ye truth came over y m y i when one of y m cryde
a Ell wood editions have Justices
G. F. 19
290 Short Visit to Swarthmore [i657
hee woulde swear : one of ye Justices saide what will you
sweare hold your tongue.
Soe att last they bid ye Constable have mee to my
lodgeinge & there I should bee secured till to morrow morn-
inge y* they sent for mee.
And soe ye people was exceedinge rude : but I lett y m
see ye fruites of there teachers & howe they shamed Chris
tianity & dishonord ye name of Jesus which they profest.
And soe ye Constable had mee to my lodgeinge : & at night
wee went to a Justices house {in ye tounde} y* was pretty
moderate & I had a great deale of discourse with him : & ye
next morninge wee sent to ye Constable if hee had any
thinge more to say to us but hee sent us worde hee had
nothinge to say to us wee might goe where wee woulde [&
soe wee past out of ye tounde] : & ye Lord has raised upp
a people to stande for his name & truth in y* tounde over
those chaffy professors.
And soe from thence wee past through ye country &
had many pretious meetinges in severall places & came to
Preston [& many came gaseinge about us] : & I had a generall
meetinge betwixt y* & Lancaster 1 .
And after wee came to Lancaster & there mett Coll:
West att ye Inn : whoe was mighty glad to see mee : & hee
told Judge Fell y t I was mightily growne In ye truth : but
ye grounde was because hee was come neerer to see ye
truth.
And from thence wee came to Rob: Withers : & on ye first
day I had a generall meetinge neere ye sandes syde out of
Westmorland & Lancasheere & ye Lords everlastinge power
& worde of life was over all : & freindes was setled upon ye
foundation Christ Jesus & under his free teaching & many
was convinced & turned to ye Lord.
And ye next day I came over ye sands to Swarthmoore
& freindes all thereaways was glad to see mee : & I stayde
there two first days visitinge freinds in there meetinges.
And soe haveinge travailed through every county in
Wales I returned to Swarthmoore againe : & ye Lord in his
eternall power had carryd mee through & over all 2 .
And after those two first days y*> I tarry ed att Swarth
moore I passed Into Westmoreland visitinge ye meetinges
there & att Joh: Audlands there was a generall meetinge : & I
1657] Preaching at a Horse Race 291
had a vision ye night before of a desperate creature y fc was
comeinge to destroy mee : but I gott victory over it [like a
wilde horse or colt].
And soe in ye meetinge time there came one Otway 1
[Jo: Otways 2 brother] with some rude fellows with his
sworde or rapier & hee was strucke by ye Lords dreadefull
power before hee came uppe to ye meetinge : but hee came
upp & ridd rounde abut ye meetinge & would faine have
gotten in to mee through ffreindes but they stood thick soe
as hee could not come at mee : soe hee ridd abut rageinge
but att last hee went his way.
And soe ye meetinge ended gloriously & ye Lords
everlastinge power came over all : & this wilde man went
home & became distracdely & not longe after dyed {but I
sent a paper to Jo: Blayklinge to reade to this man when
hee was in his distractions sheweinge him his wickednesse
& hee did acknowledge somethinge of it to him} 3 .
And after I past through ye meetinges visitinge of y m
till I came to Stricland heade where I had a great meetinge
& most of ye gentry of ye country was gathered to a horse
race not farr of ye meetinge : & I was moved to declare ye
truth unto y m : & there was a cheife Constable did admonish
y m alsoe & wee had our meetinge quiett & ye worde of ye
Lord came over all & freinds was setled in ye eternall truth.
And from thence wee past Into Cumberland & had many
liveinge pretious meetinges there.
And from thence wee travailed through to {Gilslande &
had a meetinge there : & from thence came to} Carlile where
they used to putt frends out of ye tounde & there came a
great floude soe as they coulde not putt us out of ye tounde
& ye first day wee had a meetinge there.
And from thence wee past through ye country to Abby
Home where wee had a litle meetinge where I tolde freindes
{longe before} there woulde a great people come out of y*
place to ye Lord which has since & there is a large meetinge
in those parts.
And soe I passed from thence to a generall meetinge
att [Crist: ffells 4 ]" in Cumberland which was very large &
most of ye people had soe forsaken ye preists y* ye steeple-
houses in some places stoode empty.
a In place of Crist: ffells Ell wood editions have Langlands
192
292 First Appearance in Scotland [i657
And preist {John} Wilkison aforesaid y fc had three
steeplehouses hee had few auditors left : soe as hee first sett
uppe a meetinge in his house & preacht amongst y m {y* was
left} & then after sett uppe a silent meetinge like freindes 1
att which came a few for most of his auditors were come off
to ffriendes : & att last hee had not passt halfe a dozen left
they still forsooke him & came off to freindes & soe att last
hee had soe few left y fc hee woulde come to Pardsey Cragge
where freinds had a meetinge of "about a thousand" people
whoe were all come to sitt under ye Lord Jesus Christs
teachinge & hee woulde come & walke about ye meetinge on
ye first days like a man y fc went about {ye Commons} to looke
for sheepe.
And I went to this Pardsey Cragge meetinge & there
was hee & three or foure of his folowers y fc were yett left
behinde came to ye meetinge : & they was all throughly
convinct & after ye meetinge was donne preist Wilkison
askt mee two or three questions & I satisfy ed him : & from
yt time hee came amongst freinds to there meetinges : &
became an able minister & freely preacht ye gospell &
turned many to Christs free teachinge & hee continued
many yeeres in ye free ministry & preachinge of ye gospell
& dyed in ye truth.
And Coll: Osburne 2 beinge come out of Scotland to f
meetinge {saide hee never sawe such a glorious meetinge in
his life} whom I had sent for & some others with him: &
after ye meetinge was donne I past with him & y m towards
Scotland 3 & Rob: Withers went alongst with mee : a thunder-
inge man against hypocrisy & deceite {& ye rottennesse of
ye preists}.
[1657.] And ye first night wee came Into bcotland wee
lodged att an Inn : & ye Inn keeper tolde us there was an
Earle 4 woulde faine see mee & had left worde att his house
y t if ever I came Into Scotland hee shoulde sende him
worde & hee saide there was 3 draw bridges to his house &
it woulde bee ye 9 th houre before ye last draw bridge was
drawn.
And soe wee went doune to ye house beinge but a
quarter of a mile of & hee receved us very loveingely &
a ... a several hundreds of in Ellwood editions
1657] Convincement of Lady Hamilton 293
woulde have gonne with us on in our journey butt y fc hee
was prengaged to goe to a funerall.
And soe from thence wee past through Dumfreese to
Douglas where wee mett with some freindes & from thence
wee past to {ye} Headdes where wee had a blessed meetinge
in ye name of Jesus & felt him in ye midst.
And from thence wee past to Badcowe & had a meet
inge & aboundans of people came to it & was convinct.
And from thence wee past towards ye high landes to
Coll: Osburnes house where wee gathered uppe ye suffrmges :
& ye principles of ye Scotts preists as they may bee seene
in ye booke caled ye Scotch preists principles 1 .
And from thence wee came backe again to Hedds &
Badcowe & Cashor where there was ye Lady Hamilton 2
convinct y* went upp to warne Oliver C: & C: Fleet woode 3
of ye day of ye Lord y fc was comeinge upon y m .
And on ye first day wee had a great meetinge & severall
professors came out & they had frightned people with the
doctrine of election & reprobration: & saide y fc ye greatest
part of men & women God had ordained y m for hell lett
y m pray or preach or singe & doe what they coulde Itt was
all nothinge if they was ordained for hell.
And God had a certain number which was elected for
heaven lett y m doe what they woulde as David an adulterer
& Paul a persecutor yett elected vessells for heaven.
Soe ye fault was not att all in ye creature lesse or more
but God had ordained it soe.
Soe I was made to open to ye pe ople ye folly of there
preists doctrines & shewed y m how ye preists had abused
those scriptures which they had brought & quoted to y m as
in Jude & other places.
And whereas they saide there was noe fault att all in
ye creature I shewed y m y* ye Apostle speakes there in
Jude of Cain Core & Balam which were ordained of old to
Condemnation [& such Christians as went in there way]:
but I shewed y m ye fault was in Cain Core & Balam for did
not God warne Cain & Balam & gave a promise to Cain if
hee did well hee shoulde bee accepted.
And did not ye Lord bringe Core out of ^Egypt & his
Company & yett did not hee gainesay both God & his law
& his prophett Moses.
294 Denunciation of Calvinism [1657
And soe cannot you see heere y t there was a fault in
Cain Core & Balam & soe in all y m y fc goes in there ways.
For if those caled Christians resist ye gospell as Core
did & erre from ye Spiritt of Christ as Balam did : & if they
doe not well as Cain is not heere a fault which fault is
gn. y m selves &} ye cause of there reprobation & not
od.
And doth not Christ say goe preach ye gospell to all
nations which is ye gospell of salvation : soe hee woulde not
have sent y m out into all nations to preach ye doctrine of
Salvation if ye greatest parte of men was ordained for hell.
And was not Christ a propitiation for ye sins of ye
whole worlde for ye reprobates as well as ye saintes & soe
dyed for ye ungodly as well as ye godly : & dyed for all men
as ye Apostle boare wittnesse to : & enlightens every man y*
cometh Into ye world y* 1 through him they might all beleive
& Christ bids y m beleive in the light & soe all they y* hates
ye light which Christ bids {all} beleive in they are re
probated.
And ye manifestation of ye spiritt of God is given to
every man to profitt withall & they y fc vex quench & greive
it are in ye reprobation & there is ye fault in y m & alsoe in
y m y fc hates his light.
And alsoe ye Apostle saith : ye grace of God which
bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men which
teacheth us says hee to live soberly & godly: & to deny
ungodlynesse & worldely lusts.
Soe all those men & women y fc lives ungodly & in ye
lusts of ye worlde & turnes this grace of God Into wanton-
nesse & walkes despitefully against it & soe denys God &
ye Lord Jesus Christ y fc hath bought y m there is ye fault
in all such y* turnes {ye grace} Into wantonnesse & walkes
despitefully against y i which shoulde bringe there salvation
out of ye reprobation.
Soe ye preists can see noe fault in such as denyes God
& ye Lord Jesus Christ y i has bought y m & such as denyes
his light which they shoulde beleive in & his grace y fc
shoulde teach y m to live Godly & which should bringe y m
there salvation.
Soe all y* beleives in ye light of Christ as hee commands
are in ye election & setts under ye grace of Gods teachinge
1657] Scotch Priests Principles 295
y* bringes there salvation & such as turnes this grace Into
wanton nesse are in ye reprobation & such as hates ye light
are in ye condemnation.
And therfor all people beleive in ye light as Christ
commandes & owne ye grace of God your free teacher : & Itt
will bringe you your salvation for it is sufficent.
And ye people was opned to see & a springe of life risse
uppe amongst y m & many other scriptures was opned
concerneinge reprobation.
And these thinges came to ye preists eares : & ye people
y fc sate under there dark teachinges began to see light &
came Into ye covenant of light : y t ye noise was spreade all
over Scotlande amongst ye preists y* I was come there : & a
great cry was amongst y m y* all was undonne & y* I had
spoiled all ye homiest men & women in Englande : soe then
ye worst was left to y m : & they gathered great assemblyes of
preists togeather & drew upp articles to bee reade in there
parishes in ye steeplehouses & y* all ye people shoulde say
Amen to y m : which are as followeth In parte : & ye rest may
bee seene in ye booke of ye scotch preists principles.
Scotch Preists ffirst principle : Cursed is hee y fc saith
every man hath a light within him sufficent to leade him to
salvation & lett all ye people say Amen.
2 d : Cursed is hee y fc saith faith is without sin & lett
all ye people say Amen.
3 d : Cursed is hee y* denyeth ye saboth day : & lett all
ye people say amen.
[with many other such blasphemous {& darke} principles] :
for upon ye saboth day {which is ye 7 th day of ye weeke}
which ye Jewes keepe which was ye commande of God they
kept marketts & faires on & soe brought ye curse of God
upon there owne heads.
And Christ saith beleive in ye light y* yee may become
children of ye light & beleive & bee saved & hee } jt beleiveth
shall have everlastinge life : & hee y* beleiveth passes from
death to life & is grafted Into Christ : & yee doe well y* yee
take heede unto ye light y* shines in ye darke place untill
ye day dawne & ye day starr arise in your heartes : so ye
light is sufficent to layde unto ye day starr.
And faith is ye gift of God & every gift of God is pure :
& faith which Christ is ye author of is pretious & devine
296 A Dispute at a Market Cross [1657
without sin & this is ye faith which gives victory over sin
& accesse to God in which faith they please God : & they
are reprobates y m selves concerneinge this faith & in there
deade faith y* charges sin upon this faith under paine of a
curse : which faith gives ye victory over there curse & returnes
Itt into there owne bowells.
And there was a company of Scotts chalenged a dispute
with some of ye Scotch freinds neere Badcowe for with mee
they woulde not dispute.
And soe some Scotch freindes mett y m att ye market
crosse : & the dispute was upon some of there principles
aforesaid & ye saboth day : & a scotch ffreinde a [gun] smyth
overthrew y m cleerely for I had gotten there principles &
assertions & shewed him my Aunswers whereby hee might
easily overthrowe y m .
And then ye preists were in such a rage y fc they poasted
uppe to Edenborough to 0: Crorn wells Councell there with
petitions against mee & a great cry was amongst y m y fc all
was gonne. a
And soe after y 1 I had setled freindes upon Christ there
foundation there aways & gathered uppe ye principles of ye
Scotts {preists} & ye sufferinges of freindes I went uppe to
Edenborough & severall freinds was come Into ye nation
& spreade over Scotland soundinge ye day of ye Lord &
preachinge ye everlastinge Gospell of salvation & turneinge
people to Christ Jesus y* dyed for y m there free teacher.
And as I went to Edenborough I came by Lithgoe & there
was ye Innkeepers wiffe whoe was blinder & shee receved
ye worde of life & came under Christ Jesus her saviours
teachinge : & att night there came in aboundans of souldyers
& officers & much discourse wee had with y m & some was
rude & one of ye officers saide y* hee woulde obey ye turkes
or Pilates commande if hee shoulde commande him to guarde
Christ to crucify him hee was soe farr of all tendernesse or
sense of ye spiritt of Christ y* hee woulde rather crucify ye
Just then suffer for or with ye Just which many officers
a At this point a mark in the margin indicates the insertion here of
some detached matter, but such matter does not appear to be included in
the MS. The lost portion may have contained the narrative of Andrew
Robinson 1 respecting the Pastor who Cursed the Light and fell down dead
in his Pulpit. See Ellwood editions.
1657] In Edinburgh City 297
& magistrates lost there places before they woulde turne
against ye Lord & his Just {one}.
And from thence wee came to Edenborough : & stayde
there a while & I went to Leith & there a many officers
came in & there wiffes & many was convinct : & there came
Ed: Billinges 1 wiffe with a great deale of corall in her hande
& threw it before mee on ye table {to see whether I woulde
declare against it or noe}: but I tooke noe notice of it but
declared ye truth to her & shee was reacht.
And there came in a many baptists very rude but ye
Lords power came over y m y* they went away confounded &
then there came in another sorte & one of y m saide hee
woulde dispute {with mee} & deny there was a God for
arguments sake.
Soe I tolde him hee was one of those fooles y* saide in
his hearte there was noe God but hee shoulde knowe him
in ye day of Judgement : soe hee went his ways : & a fine
pretious time wee had with severall people of account & ye
Lords power came over all.
And Coll: Osburne was with mee : & Coll: Lithgoes 2 wiffe
was convinct & Will: Welchs 3 wiffe was convinct & severall
of ye officers y t were there were convinct att y fc time alsoe.
And soe after Ed: Billinges wiffe came to bee loveinge :
& shee & her husband was then seperated one from ye
other : & wee sent for him & hee came & ye Lords power
reacht unto y m both & they Joyned togeather in it {to live
togeather in & love & unity as man & wife}.
And from thence wee went to Edinborough again &
many thousands of people was gathered there & abundans of
preists about burneinge of a witch & I was moved to declare
ye day of ye Lord amongst y m & soe went from thence to
ye meetinge & a many rude people & baptists came in &
there ye baptists begann with there logick & syllogismes but
I was moved in ye Lords power to thresh there chaffy light
mindes : & shewed ye people after y t manner of light dis-
courseinge they might make white a black & black white* &
because a cock had two leggs & they had two leggs therfore
they was cocks & soe turne any thinge Into lightnesse : which
was not ye manner of Christ nor his Apostles teachinges &
a First written light, and later altered to ivhite
298 "Peace bee amongst you" [IBS?
speakeinges & after they went there ways wee had a blessed
metinge in ye Lords power which was over all.
And then Olivers Councell sent an order to ye In where
I lodged by one of there officers" [y* I must appeare before ye
Councell at ye parlameiit house y t day 7 night by 8 a clocke
in ye morninge before y m at ye Councell table].
Soe hee askt mee whether I woulde appeare or noe but
I woulde not aunswer him whether I woulde or not.
And I askt him whether hee had not forged it : soe hee
saide Itt was a reall thinge from ye Councell & hee was sent
as there messenger with it to give mee notice.
So y fc day 7 night I appeared before y m & they had mee
uppe Into a great roome where many great persons came &
looked att mee.
And after a while ye doore keeper came & had me in
& as I was goeinge In to ye Councell Chamber hee tooke off
my hatt & I askt him why hee did soe what was there y fc
I might not goe in with my hatt on for I had beene before
0: Cromwell with my hat one soe hee tooke it off & hunge
it uppe & had mee in before y m & when I came before y m
after I had stoode awhile & they sayde nothinge to mee I
was moved of ye Lord to say peace bee amongst you & waite
in ye feare of God y* you may receive his wisdome from
above by which all thinges was made & created & y* with
it you may all bee ordered & y fc with it you may order all
thinges under your handes to Gods glory.
And soe standinge still they askt mee what was my
busnesse of comeinge Into y* nation & I tolde y m to visitt
ye seede of God which had longe layne in death & bondage
& to ye Intent y fc all in ye nation y* did professe ye scriptures
of Christ ye prophetts & ye Apostles {wordes} might come to
ye light spiritt & power as they was in y* gave y m foorth soe
y t with ye spiritt they might know Christ & God {& ye
scriptures} & have fellowshippe with y m [& with ye scripturs]
& one with another.
And then they askt mee whether I had not any outward
busnesse there : & I saide nea.
And then they desired mee to withdraw & then ye doore
keeper tooke mee by ye hande & had mee foorth.
The word was originally darks
1657] Before the Council in Edinburgh 299
And presently after they sent for mee in againe : & tolde
mee y* I must departe ye nation within 7 days & I askt y m
for what or what I had donne what was my transgression
y fc they past such a sentence upon mee to depart out of ye
nation.
Soe they tolde mee they would not dispute with mee :
then I desired y m to heare what I had to say to y m & they
saide they wulde not hear{e mee}. I tolde y m Pharoth hearde
Moses & Aron & yett hee was a heathen & noe Christian &
Herod hearde John Baptist & they shoulde not bee worse
then y m .
And then they cryed withdrawe withdrawe : & then ye
doore keeper tooke mee by ye hande & had mee foorth.
[{There order & my examination as folio weth : } a ] &
1 gf be the olefers Counsell in Skotland 1657
Thursday the 8 th of October 1657
At his Highnes Counsell in Scotland.
Ordered
That George Fox doe appeare before the Counsell
on tuesday the 13 th of October next in y e fore-
noone.
Emanuell Downing
Clarke of y e Counsell.
[Upon the 1 3 th of y e eight month, George accordinge to
the former order appeared : the keepers of the doore said to
George Fox as he was goeing in to- the Counsell that he
must put of his hatt, for he was goeinge before the counsell.
Ans: He said his hatt did not offend, & when they
tooke of his hatt, he said alack for you, what doeth it offend,
for the Protector himselfe would not have done soe, & when
he came into the Counsell he said peace be amongst you,
waite for the wisdome of God, by which all things was made,
that you may come by it to order all things to his glory.
Query. They asked him what occation he came into
this Country for.
Ans. He tould them to visit the seed of God which
had long lyne in bondage by the Corruptions which I have
a This insertion is in another ancient handwriting.
b Narrative continued on page 300.
3oo Order for Banishment [i657
felt as ever in any place, & suffered with the seed of God,
& came to visit the seed of God in them, that they might
receive the wisdome of God, & that into the life & power that
gave forth y e scriptures they might be brought.
Query. Had I noe other callinge hither.
Ans. I said nay, I had noe other callinge, for the forme
of godlynes had long raigned but the seed had beene in
death, which I came to visit that they might come to the
knowledge of God, that God might be knowne, & that they
might know God.
Query. {Then} They asked how long I should stay in
the Country.
Ans. I should say little of that but my time was not
to be long, {in my freedom I spoke}, & I desired if they
would be patient for I had afew words to speake to them
that they might come into the life & into the wisdome of
God, & then they put me forth & fetched me in againe:
They said I must depart the Cuntry of Scotland by
tuesday next, or else they might take an order.
Ans. I bid them accuse me of any evill I had done, or
what evill I had done since I came into the nation {& as for
departing y e nation} I stood in the will of God as for that.
{Then} G: F: askt y m whether they had an order from the
Protector for it was not long since I was with him, & he
had said I might goe whether I pleased.
{Thir} Ans. They were not to dispute powers but bid
me goe away.
{Then} G: ff: said heare afew words & let moderation
appeare & heare, for Phariah heard Moses, & Herod heard
Jo: Baptist, but then they would not, then they said they
had done, & the keepers put him out.]
a And after I had visited freindes in Edenborough &
thereaways I writt to ye Councell of there unchristian
cariage to banish mee whoe was an Innocent man & sought
there et email good & salvation : & some of y m was troubled
as I hearde : for I shewed y m what an unchristian cariage it
was & y t they woulde not bee soe served y m selves {as you
may see more at large as followeth}. &
Narrative continued from page 299.
b Narrative continued on page 302.
1657] To Oliver s Council in Scotland 301
l To oleferes counsell in skotland who paneshed gff 1657
You that sit in counsell & bringes before your Judgment
seate the innocent the iust without shewing the least cause
what evill hee has don or convinceing of him of any breach
of any law, & after you banish him out of your nation out
of your count rie, & not telling him for what evill hee has
done, & hee tould yee when you querd of him how long hee
would stay in the nation hee tould you his tyme was not
longe (innocently) & yet you after banish him, now if all
that feare god will not iudge this to be wickednes consider
did not they sit in counsell about Stepven when they
stoned him to death, did not they sit in counsell about
Peter & John when they healed them out of the temple &
put them out of their counsell a litle season & brought
them in agayne & counseld together & threatned them &
charged them to speake noe more in that name, & was not
this to stopp the truth for spreading in that tyme, had not
the preists a hand in these things with maiestrates & ex
amining Stephen when hee was stoned to death, was not the
counsells getherd together agaynst Jesus Christ to put him
to death & had not the cheife preists a hand in it & when
they goe to crucifie the iust & persecute the iust doe they
not then necleckt iudgment & mercie & Justice & the
wightie matters of the law which is iust [when yee turne
agayne the iust, prison or banish] ; was not the Apostle
Paull tosst up & downe by the preists & rulers & prisond,
was not a John bannisht a , are not you doeing the same worke
shewing what spirit you are of. Now doe not you shew
the end of your profession the end of your prayers the end
of your religion & the end of your teaching who are now
come to bannish the truth & they life it self shewes that you
be in the words but out of the life of the prophets Christ &
the Apostles for they did not use such practisis as to banish
any, how doe (you) receave strangers which is a command
of god among the prophets Christ & the Apostles for some
by that meanes entertaynd Angells at unawares & you
banish that which comes to visit the seed of god & is not
chargable to any of you will not all that feare god looke
... a Ellwood editions read John Baptist cast into Prison?
302 The Evil Work of Priests and Magistrates [1657
upon this to be spite & wickednes agaynst the truth, how
doe you love enimies how doe you doe good to them that
hate you how doe you heape coalls of fire upon the heade
overconi evill with good, when you banish doe yee not
make manifest your spirits to all men that love truth to
have noe Christian spirits how did you doe Justice to him
when you would not convince him of the evill hee had don
but banish him this shewes that truth is banisht out of
your harts & yee have taken part agaynst the truth with
evill doers & the wicked envious preists & the stoners
strikers & mockers in the streets those have you taken part
that banish, which you should have beene a terror to & a
prayse to them that doe well {& soccorers of them that be
in the truth}, & then might you have beene a bleessing in
the nation & not have banisht him which was moved of the
lord to visit the seed of god & brought your names upon
record & made them to stinke in ages to come amongst
them that feares god was not the Maiestrates sterd up in
all ages to persecute or to banish by the currupt preists, &
did not the currupt preists sterr up the rude multitude
agaynst the iust in all ages therefore are your streets like
Sodom & Gomoragh did not the Jewes & the preists make
the gentles myndes envious aganst the Apostles for who
was them that would not have the prophet Amos to pro-
phesie at the Kings chappell but bad him fly his way, &
Jeremiah when hee was put in the dungon & put in the
prison & the stockes had not the preists a hand with the
princes in doeing of it : now see all who was in this worke
banishing prisoning persecuting whether they was not all
out of the life Christ the prophets & Apostles to the witnes
of god in you all I speake whether or noe those was not
allwayes the blinde Maiestrates which turned their sword
alwayes backward that knew not their frends from their
foes & soe hit their frends & such maiestrates was deceaved
by flatterie.
a [And I saw generall Monke 1 y* hee was as a man y*
bowed under 0: P: & had a Coveringe over him: & take
away y* Coveringe & then hee was ye man as hee was
a Narrative continued from page 300.
1657] Colonel Ashfield convinced 303
before : as hee did fulfill it in a few yeers after] & y m y*
banisht mee came to bee banisht y m selves not many yeeres
after whoe woulde not doe good in ye day when they had
power nor suffer others y fc woulde.
And from Edenborough I past againe to Heddes & there
freindes had beene in great sufferinges for ye presbyterian
preists had excommunicated y m & y* none might buy or sell
with y m nor eate nor drinke with y m soe they coulde neither
sell there cornmodityes nor buy what they wanted : soe as it
went very harde with some of y m for if they had bought
breade or victualls of any of there neighbors ye preists
threatned y m soe with curses y fc they woulde runn & fetch
it from y m againe.
Butt Coll Ashfeilde 1 beinge a Justice of peace in y fc
country hee gave a stoppe to ye preists proceedinges : &
after was convinct & has a meetinge since att his house : &
declares ye truth amongst y m .
And soe after I had visited freindes at Hedds & y*
aways I went to Glascoe : & a meetinge was appointed there
but never a one of Glascoe came to it but as I went Into
ye Citty ye guarde att ye gates had mee uppe before ye
governor : where I had a great deale of discourse with him
& hee was moderate but to light to receive ye truth {but
hee sett mee at liberty & soe I past to ye meetinge.
And seeinge none of ye tounds people came out to ye
meetinge wee declared through ye tounde & soe past away
& visited freindes in there meetinges thereaways & returned
towards Badcowe : & severall frendes went to declare ye
truth in there steeplehouses & ye Lords power came over
y m all}.
And one time as I was goeinge to Coll: Osburnes there
lay a company of rude fellows y fc hid y m selves under ye
hedges & in bushes & I espyed y m & askt Coll: Osburne
what they was & hee saide says hee oh they are theifes.
And it was upon Rob: Withers to goe & speake to a
preist [& to admonish him] & soe wee had left him behinde
us : & soe I saide to Coll: Osburne I will stay in this valley
& doe thee goe & looke after him : soe there was about 3
or 4 of y m & I caled them uppe to mee & I askt y m what
they hid y m selves in ye bushes & hedges for : & Coll:
Osburne was afraide to leave mee alone {whilst hee went to
304 Another Race Meeting [i657
looke after Rob: Withers} & I saide I feard y m not: & soe
they came trembleinge {to mee} for ye dreade of ye Lord
had strucke y m & soe I admonished y m to bee honnest : &
brought y m to ye spiritt of God in there heartes y fc they
might see what an evill it was to follow after theft &
robbery : & soe I stayde till Coll: Osburne & Rob: Withers
came uppe : & then wee past away : for Its like had wee passt
away : they woulde have robbed Rob: Withers.
Butt when I first caled to y m to come to mee they was
loath to come uppe but I charged y m to come uppe to mee or
else It might be worse with y m : soe ye power of ye Lord
came over y m : & wee past on to Coll: Osburnes house &
declared ye truth to severall people y t came Into his house.
And after wee went amongst ye clans" & they were
Divelish & like to have spoiled us & our horses : & runn with
pitch forkes att us : but through ye Lords power wee escapt
y m -
And from thence wee past to Sterlinge where they
souldyers tooke us uppe & had us before ye main guarde :
& after a few wordes with there oficers wee was sett att
liberty & ye Lords power came over y m but noe meetinge
coulde wee gett amongst y m in ye tounde they were soe
closed uppe in darknesse.
But ye next morninge there was a man was to runn a
race with a horse & most of ye tounds people & officers
went to see it: & soe as they came back againe {from ye race}
I had a brave opportunity to declare ye day of ye Lord &
his worde of life amongst y m & some confest & some opposed :
but ye Lords truth & power came over y m all.
And from thence wee past through ye country till wee
came to Brunt Island : & I had a meetinge at one Capt
Pooles 1 house both in ye morninge & in ye afternoone.
And whilst they went to there dinner I walkt to ye sea
syde beinge not free to eate with y m .
And hee & his wiffe was convinct & became fine freindes
{afterwards} & severall officers of ye army came in & received
ye truth.
And from thence wee passt through {severall other places
in} ye country {& att last wee came} to Johnstons & there
was severall baptists y* were very bitter & in a rage which
a Altered in another hand to Hilands
165?] Soldiers ashamed of their Work 305
came to us to dispute with us : & vaine Janglers & disputers
they were : but they went & Informed ye governor against
us : & ye next morninge they raised a whole company of foote
& banished rnee & Alex: Parker & Jam: Lancaster & Rob:
Withers out of ye tounde.
Soe when they was guardeinge us out of {ye} tounde
[wee gott one our horses] & Jam: Lancaster was moved to
"sounde & singe a in ye power of God & I was moved to sounde
ye day of ye Lord & ye glorious everlastinge gospell : & all
ye streetes was uppe & filled with people & ye souldyers
were soe ashamed that they cryed & saide they had rather
have gonne to Jamaica then to guarde us soe : & then they
sett us in a boate & sett us over ye water.
And ye grounde & cause of our banishment out of this
place was ye baptists : whoe were y m selves not longe after
banished out of ye army & ye governor himselfe when ye
Kinge came in was turned off alsoe.
And soe from thence wee came to another markett
tounde where Ed: Billinge [& his wiffe] quarterd : & a many
souldyers lay there : soe wee came to an Inn & there desired
y wee might have a meetinge y t wee might preach ye
everlastinge gospell amongst y m : & soe ye souldyers &
officers saide wee shoulde have it in ye tounde hall : & ye
Scotch Magistrates in spite went & appointed a meetinge
there upon tounde busnesse y fc day.
And soe when ye officers saw y* they did it in malice :
they woulde have us goe Into ye tounde hall neverthelesse
but wee tolde y m by noe meanes for then they might Inform
ye governor against y m & say f you tooke ye tounde hall
from them by force when they were to doe there tounde
busnesse therein.
And soe wee tolde y m wee coulde goe to [ye publick
Grose in] ye markett place & then they sayde Itt was
markett day & wee sayde Itt was best of all for wee woulde
have all people to heare ye truth & to knowe our principles.
And soe Alex: Parker went a toppe of ye Crosse with a
bible in his hande & declared ye truth amongst ye souldyers
& markett people but ye Scotch beinge darke carnall people
never heeded it nor hardely tooke notice of it.
And att last I was moved of ye Lord God to stande
a ... a Ell wood editions read Sing with a Melodious Sound
G. F.
20
306 A Soldier stabbed at Time of Prayer [i657
uppe att ye crosse & [commanded] to declare with a loude
voice ye everlastinge truth & ye day of ye Lord y fc was
comeinge upon all sin & wickednesse & they came runninge
out of ye tounde hall & people gathered soe as at last wee
had a large meetinge for they sate but in ye Court onely
for a color to hinder us from haveinge ye hall.
And then ye officers" & all came out & some hearde &
some walkt by : soe ye Lords power came over y m all [& they
was left without excuse whether they woulde heare or
forbeare].
And many was turned to ye Lord Jesus Christ y* dyed
for y m & had Inlightned y m y fc with his light they might
see ther evill deeds & there sins : & with ye same light they
might see there saviour Christ Jesus there teacher : & if they
woulde not receive Christ & owne him y* light which came
from him woulde bee there condemnation : & soe there was
severall was loveinge to us : & some came to bee convinct
afterwards especially ye English people.
{And there was a souldyer there y fc was very envyous
against us : & hated us very much & spoake evill of truth : &
mighty Zealous for ye preists & one time as hee was hear-
inge ye preists haveinge his hat before his face whilst ye
preist was at prayer one of ye preists hearers stabbed him :
[whoe as aforesaid was a man very envyous against ye light
of Christ] : & soe came to bee murdered by y m whpme hee had
soe cryed uppe & rejected Jesus Christ to bee his teacher.}
And from thence wee carne through ye country to Leith
warneinge & admonishinge people to turne to ye Lord : &
when wee came att Leith wee went to an Inn : & ye Inn
keeper tolde mee y t ye councell had graunted warrants out
for to apprehend mee because I was not gonne out of ye
nation after ye 7 days y t they had ordered mee to depart
ye nation in 1 .
And severall freindely people came & declared ye same
& soe I tolde y m what doe yee tell mee of there warrants
against mee if there were a cartloade of y m I doe not heede
ym f or ve Lords power is over y m all.
Soe from Leith I went upp to Edenborough where they
saide there warrants was from there Councell : & I came to
ye Inn where I used to lodge & went & visited freindes
a Ellwood editions : Magistrates
1657] A Return to the Place of Danger 307
[soe ye noise of these warrants was all over]: & soe after I
had visited freinds I desired ye freindes y* was with mee to
sadle there horses & ride out of ye tounde with mee ye
next morninge [for there were now y fc afred to medle with
mee] : & there was Tho: Eawlinson & A: Parker was with
mee {& Eo: Withers}.
And when I was out of ye tounde they askt mee
whether I would goe : & I tolde y m Itt was upon mee from
ye Lord to goe back again to yonder Jhonstons whence wee
had been banished & soe sett ye power of God over y m
alsoe & his truth.
And Alex: Parker saide hee woulde goe alonge with
mee : & I tolde ye other two y 1 they might stay at a tounde
a matter of 3 mile of Edenborough till wee returned.
And soe A: P: & I gott over ye water which was about
3 miles over & soe rid on through ye country : & in ye after-
noone his horse beinge weake was not able to holde out
with mee & I putt on : & Just as they was upon draweinge
upp ye bridges I came In to Jhonstons & ye officers &
souldyers never questioned mee.
And soe I ridd uppe ye street to Capt: Davenports
house from whose house wee had beene banished before.
And when I came there there was a many officers more
with him in his chamber : & when I came amongst y m they
lift uppe there hands & admired y* I shoulde come againe
& I tolde y m ye Lord God had sent mee amongst y m againe.
Soe they went there ways : & ye baptists & others sent
mee a letter by way of challenge y* they woulde discourse
with mee ye next day.
Soe I sent y m worde I woulde meet y m att such a house
{about} a halfe mile out of {ye} tounde att such an houre soe
thither I went : & Capt: Davenport & his son went with
mee : & stayde there some houres but never a one of y m
came.
And then as wee was lookeinge out wee espyed A:
Parker comeinge whoe had layne out y fc night & coulde not
reach to ye tounde : & when I saw him I was exceedinge
glad y fc wee mett againe.
[And soe ye Lords power came over y m all : & they had
npe power to touch mee] for if I had stayde in ye tounde to
discourse with y m they under pretence of discourseinge
202
308 Riding up to the Cannon s Mouth
with mee might have putt mee out of ye tounde againe [&
therfore Itt was upon mee to try y m out of ye tounde].
And soe after this wee past away : & Capt: Davenport
returned to ye tounde : whoe after wards was turned out of
his place for not puttinge of his hat & for sayinge thou &
thee to y m [& hee remaines a freinde to this day] 1 .
And A: Parker was moved to goe to ye tounde where
wee had ye meetinge att ye crosse aforesaid : & soe I past
alone through ye countryes to Leutenant fibsters" quarters :
where there was severall other officers y* were convinct.
And soe from thence I came uppe to ye tounde where I
had left freindes : & from thence wee came hack to Eden-
borough againe.
And I bid Rob: Withers follow mee & soe in ye dreade
& power of ye Lord: wee came to ye first two Centerys & ye
Lords power came soe over y m y* wee past by y m without
any examination.
Soe wee ridd upp ye streets to ye markett place & by
ye maine guarde & then out att ye gate by ye 3 Centery &
soe cleere out att ye suburbs & there wee came to an Inn
& sett uppe our horses one ye 7 th day.
Soe I saw & felt y* I ridd against ye canon mouths
[pistolls pike endes] sworde pointes : & soe ye Lords power &
immediate hande carry ed us over ye heades of y m all.
And soe on ye first day wee went uppe to ye meetinge
freinds haveinge notice y* I woulde bee at it in Edenborough
citty & there was a many officers & souldyers & a glorious
meetinge it was : & ye everlastinge power of God {was} sett
over ye nation & his son reigned [& shined over it] in his
glorious power & all was quiett & never a one medled with
mee.
Soe when meetinge was donne & I had visited freinds I
came out of ye citty againe to my Inn.
And soe ye 2 d day wee sett forward through ye country
towards ye borders of Englande.
[And there was Leutenant foster Lt Dove & Capt
Watkison 2 was turned out of ye army for owneinge truth &
severall other officers & souldyers & because they woulde
not putt of there hatts to y m & saide thee & thou to y m .]
a First written Doves and subsequently altered by the same writer to
1657] An Early-morning Meeting at Dunbar 309
And soe as wee travailed alonge ye country I espyed a
steeplehouse & I askt y m what steeplehouse it was & they
sayde Dunbar & It strucke att my life : & when I came
thither & had taken uppe our Inn I walkt uppe to ye
steeplehouse & a freinde or two went with mee.
And when I came Into ye steeplehouse yarde there was
one of ye cheife men of ye tounde was walkinge there & I
bid ye freind goe & tell him there wulde bee a meetinge of
ye people of God in scorn caled quakers there to morrow
about ye 9 th houre : & wee bid him give notice to ye tounde
of it.
And hee sent mee worde againe y fc they were to have a
lecture there by ye 9 th houre : & therfore wee might have
our meetinge by ye 8 th houre {if wee woulde} soe I tolde him
with all my hearte lett him soe give notice.
And in ye morninge [about ye 8 th houre] both poore &
rich came & there was a captaine lay in ye tounde & hee
came upp & his troopers soe y* wee had a glorious meetinge
& ye Lords power was sett over all.
Soe at last ye preist came but hee went Into ye steeple-
house & wee beinge in ye steeplehouse yarde most of ye
people stayde with us : & freindes voices was soe full & high
in ye power of God y* ye preist coulde do litle in ye steeple-
house : soe as hee came out againe & stoode a while & after
went his ways.
And when I had opned to ye people where they might
finde Christ Jesus haveinge turned y m to ye light which
hee had Inlightned y m withall : y t with ye light they might
see Christ y fc dyed for y m & turne to him there saviour &
free teacher : & lett y m see all ye hirelinge teachers y fc they
had followed which made ye gospell chargeable : & shewed
y m all ye ways they had walked in ye night of Apostacy &
turned y m unto Christ there way to God : & the religions &
worshipps y* they had beene in which men had sett uppe &
had lost Christs which hee sett uppe in spirit & truth.
[This great man of ye tounde askt ye Capt: leave to
speak to mee : & I tolde him hee might freely if hee had any
thinge to say : but then hee was silent & saide litle.]
And soe after I had turned people to ye spirit of God
which led ye holy men of God to give foorth Scriptures
with y* measure of ye spiritt [truth grace faith] they might
310 Back to England L 1657
know it in y m selves if they came to knowe God & Christ
or ye scriptures.
And soe freinds beinge full of ye power of ye Lord to
speak I stept doune & lett y m declare what they had to
say from ye Lord to ye people.
And I walkt a litle by : & presently some professors
begann to Jangle : & soe I [came againe &] stoode uppe againe
& aunswered there questions : & they seemed to bee satisfyed
[& soe I did once or twice] : & soe our meetinge ended in ye
Lords power quiett & peaceable a & ye truth & ye power of
God was sett over y* nation : & many was turned to ye Lord
Jesus Christ by his power & spiritt there saviour & teacher
whoe shed his blood for y m [& remaines to this day] : & since
a great Increase there is & great there will bee {in Scot
land}.
For when I sett my horse feete a toppe of ye Scottish
ground 1 I felt ye seed of God to sparkle about mee like
unnurnerable sparkes of fire though there is abundans of
thicke cloddy earth of hypocrisy & falsenesse y* is a toppe
& a bryarry brambly nature which is to bee burnt upp
with Gods worde & plowed uppe with his spirituall plowe
before Gods seed brings foorth heavenly & spirituall fruite to
ye glory [of ye heavenly glorious & omnipotent Lord God
almighty]. But ye husband man is to waite in patiens.
And soe from Dunbar wee came to Barwicke where wee
was questioned a litle by ye souldyers : & att night wee had
a litle meetinge & ye governor was loveinge towards us : &
ye Lords power came over all.
And from thence wee came to Malpus 6 & soe through ye
country to Newcastle {visitinge freindes} : where I had beene
once befor for ye Newcastle preists had given foorth many
bookes against us: & one Ledger 2 an alderman {of ye tounde}
& {hee &} they saide ye Quakers would not come Into noe
great toundes but lived in ye ffells like butter flyes.
And soe I went & Anthony Pearson went with mee to
severall of these Aldermen & to this Ledger & desired a
meetinge amongst y m for wee was now come Into there great
tounde.
But Ledger begann to plead for ye saboth day : & soe I
a Ellwood editions add This was the last Meeting I had in Scotland
6 Morpeth in Ellwood editions.
1657] Quakers nicknamed Butterflies 3 1 1
tolde him they kept marketts & faires on it for y l day
which Christians meets on nowe {which they call there
saboth} was ye first day of ye weeke.
Soe wee desired to have a meetinge with y m seeinge
they had written soe many bookes against us but they
woulde not nor woulde not bee spoaken withall but this
man & one other : soe I tolde y m had they not caled freinds
butterflyes & y fc they woulde not come into {any} great
toundes : & now wee was come Into there toundes they
woulde not come att us but print bookes against us 1 : whoe
was ye butterflyes now.
And neverthelesse wee gott a litle meetinge amongst
freindes & freindely people att ye Gate Syde where there
stands a metinge to this day {in ye name of Jesus}.
And soe as I was passinge away by ye markett place ye
power of ye Lord risse in mee to warne y m of ye day of ye
Lord y* was comeinge upon y m .
And soe not longe after all these [5] preists of Newcastle
& there profession was turned out when ye Kinge came in.
Soe from thence wee came through ye country es & had
meetinges visitinge frendes in Bishopricke & Northumber
land & had a fine meetinge at Leutenant Doves where many
was turned to ye Lord & his teachinge.
And I went to visit a Justice of peace there a very
sober loveinge man y* had confest to truth.
And soe from thence wee came to Durham & there was
a man come doune from London to sett upp a Colledge
there to make ministers of Christ as they saide.
And soe I & some others went to ye man & reasoned
with him & lett him see y 1 {was not ye way} to make y m
Christs ministers by Hebrew greeke & latine & ye 7 arts
which all was but ye teachinges of ye naturall man : for ye
many languages begann att Babell & ye greekes y fc spoake
ye naturall greeke ye preachinge of ye crosse of Christ was
foolishnesse to y m & to ye Jews y i spoake naturall Hebrew
Christ was a stumbleinge block to y m & as for ye romans
yt had Ittalion & latine they persecuted ye Christians : &
Pilate {one of ye Roman Magistrates} coulde sett Hebrew
greek & latine atoppe of Christ when hee crucify ed him.
Soe hee might see ye many languges began att Babell
& they sett y m a toppe of {Christ} ye worde when they cruci-
312 A Theological College for Durham [i657
fyed him & John ye devine saide y i preacht ye worde which
was in ye heginninge y* ye beast & ye whor has power over
tongues & languages & they are waters.
Soe heere hee might see ye whore {& beast has power
over} ye tongues & many languages {which} are in mystery
Babilon for they began at Babell & how ye persecutor of
Christ {Jesus} sett y m over Christ when hee crucifyed him
{but hee is risen over y m all whoe was before they was}.
And did hee thinke to make ministers of Christ by
these naturall confused languages at Babell & in Babilon a
toppe of Christ ye life sett {by a persecutor} : oh noe.
For Peter & John y* coulde not reade letters preacht ye
worde Christ Jesus which was in ye beginninge before
Babell was. Soe ye man confest to many of these thinges.
For wee shewed him further Itt was Christ y fc made his
ministers & gave gifts unto y m : & hee desired y m to pray to
ye Lord of ye harvest to send foorth laborers. And Paul
was made an Apostle not of man nor by man neither received
hee his gospell of man but by Jesus Christ 1 /
x [And when I was in Bishopricke Antho: Pearson came
to mee & had a great desire y* I shoulde goe with him to
see Henery Vane 2 : but I had litle upon mee to goe att y fc
time : & hee commended him to mee & said Henery Vane
had much enquired after mee.
And I went to Henery Drapers 3 : & there Henery Vanes
chaplaine came to mee & began to declare to mee of ye
righteousnesse of man & selfe righteousnesse & ye righteous-
nesse of ye law : soe I made aunsur to him & saide y*
I was in ye righteousnesse of Christ before selfe righteous
nesse & ye righteousnesse of man was & Christ his righteous
nesse ends ye righteousnesse of ye law : oh says his
Chaplaine take heede of blasphemy & presumption : & I saide
unto him is not Christ ye ende of ye law for righteousnesse
sake & was not hee before selfe righteousnesse & mans
righteousnesse {or ye righteousnesse of ye law either} & will
bee when theres is gorne whoe fulfills ye righteousnesse {of
ye lawe} : & thou y* calls this blasphemy & presumption
knows not what thou sayst.
Two numbered leaves of the MS. are missing at this point.
1657] Visit to Rdby Castle 313
Soe hee askt mee whether I woulde come doune to Raby
Castle & I tolde him I shoulde say litle to y fc : but ye next
day I went doune & they had mee uppe Into ye Chamber
to Sir Henery Vanes wiffe & after a while hee came uppe &
one of New Engiande magistrates & saide hee is this George
ffox : I thought hee had beene an elder man.
And soe I was moved of ye Lord to speake to him of ye
true light which Christ doth enlighten every man y* cometh
Into ye worlde withall & hee saith beleive in ye light y fc
yee may become children of ye light.
And howe y* Christ had promised to his disciples to
sende y m ye holy ghoast ye spiritt of truth which shoulde
leade y m into all truth which wee witnessed & howe y* ye
grace of God which brought salvation had appeared unto
all men & was ye saintes teacher in ye Apostles days & soe
it was nowe.
Then says hee none of all this doth reach to my experiens
nea saide I then howe camst thou in if thee didst not by
beleiveinge in ye light as Christ commandes & how 7 comes
thou Into truth if thou hast not beene led by ye spirit of
truth which led ye disciples {into all truth} which Christ
promised {to sende y m } & how camst thou to know salvation if
it bee not by ye grace of God which bringes it which taught
ye saintes.
And therfore what is thy experience off & in : & soe hee
begann to tell mee how ye worde became flesh & dwelt
amongst y m yes saide I y fc is true amongst ye disciples but
hee was revealed by ye light & spiritt>: soe thou art climbed
uppe another way then by ye doore. And thou hast knowne
somethinge formerly : but now there is a mountaine of earth
& imaginations uppe in thee & from y fc rises a smoake which
has darkned thy braine : & thou art not ye man as thou
wert formerly.
And I declared unto him y* ye promise of God was unto
ye seede & this they might know within y m : & ye worde
became flesh but not corrupt flesh for Christ tooke not
upon him ye nature of Angells but ye seede of Abraham soe
hee might knowe y fc seede in himselfe y* Christ takes upon
him for whoe are of faith are of Abraham : & comes to bee
flesh of Christs flesh & bone of his bone.
And then hee saide y fc I saide ye seede was God : &
314 Interview with Sir Henry Vane [1657
because hee saide it ye New Englande man affirmed it
{alsoe}: but I saide I did not say soe but I saide bee tooke
not upon bim ye nature of Angells but ye seede.
And then bee remembred my words & confessed bis
mistake but bee grew Into a great frett & a passion y fc
there was noe roome for truth in his hearte : but I was
moved of ye Lord to sett ye seede Christ Jesus over bis
beade : & bowe y* ye seede which ye promise was to : not
many but one which all must feele it in there owne
particulers.
And soe I went away & hee saide to some frends after
wards y* if Anthony Pearson & some others had not beene
with mee hee woulde have put mee out of his house as a
mad man & soe freinds y t was with mee stranged to see his
darknesse & impatiens butt ye Lords power came over all.
And I did see hee was vaine & high & proude & con
ceited & y t ye Lord wulde blast him & was against him &
hee greived ye righteous life : & very high hee was till ye
Kinge came in & afterwards hee was beheaded : but hee
could e haredly bear freindes without they woulde putt off
there hatts to him.] a
l [G: ff: s Queryes to S r Henery Vane. 1657
Freind a feiw Queries I would have tbee to answer in
writeing.
1. Whether or noe the Body of Christ which thou calls
Elementary of the Elements is that thou eates, or bast not
life?
2. Whether or no the body of Christ, (which thou
saist is corruptible) thou eatest ?
3. Whether or no the blood of Christ (which was shed
upon the Crosse which thou sayest was corruptible) be the
blood which thou art Justified withall, that corruptible
thing as thou saist ?
4. Whether or noe y fc Corruptible blood which thou
speakes of, is y* tbou drinkes, & not drinking hast not life ?
5. Whether or no y fc body of Christ which thou saist
a Narrative continued on page 323.
165?] The Body and Blood of Christ 315
is corruptible and of the elements is y fc which makes free
from the Lawe ?
6. Whether or no {that} body which thou saist is of the
foure Elements & corruptible, be the Church, for the
Apostle sayes the body of Christ which is the Church ?
7. Whether or no Christ has another bloode" then y fc
which was shed, & another body then y fc flesh, y fc wuld
not see corruptions, and how dost thou agree with the
Apostles, & David {said} his flesh should see no corruption,
and thou saist his flesh and his blood is corrupt, and saw
Corruptions ?
8. What is the corruption y* must put on Incorruption,
whereby it may be made like unto his glorious body, here
is Corruption, must put on incorruption, before it be like
his glorious Body ?
9. And againe thou saies y* nothing doth dye, but
sees corruption, arid Christ died & rose againe, and the
Apostle said his flesh sawe noe corruption, how dost thou
differ with the Apostle here againe ?
10. And can a corruptible body take away corruptions ?
11. And can a corruptible blood cleanse & Justifie ?
12. Was Christ borne by the will of man, did not he
take upon him the seed of Abraham acording to the flesh,
he y* came out of the Idolatry, kindred and native country
as much as children were partakers of the flesh & blood
did not he take parte with the same ? And did not Christ
say to the Jewes, ye are of the devill your flather, who
pleaded they were of Abraham, and pleaded the promise, but
was not the promise to the seed ? to Abraham before he was
circumcised ? and is not the seed of the Gentiles, as well as
the Jewes? and was not the seed in death in the Jewes
when Christ was come, did he not call them graves, and
did he not say I put my sheep forth ?
13. And is y fc an Elementary seed, y* Bruises the
serpents head, made of the foure Elements?
14. And is not the devill him y fc compasses the earth,
and does not he y fc was disobedient get into the children of
disobeidience, and what is the earth y fc he compasseth ?
First written body and corrected by T. Lower to bloode
316 The Saints 1 Union with Christ [i657
15. And how comes thou to have any experience of
Christ, or come to the dore? who when it was spoken y fc
to the light which enlightenneth every one y* comes into
the world, & to y* which must be knowne of god made
manifest in thee, thou must come before thou retaine god
in thy knowledge, and to the spirit of truth which leads
the Saints into all truth, and reproves the world of sin,
said this reached not to thy experience, then how art thou
come at the dore who counted this the preaching of selfe.
16. Whether or no the Saints of Christ (which said
they were of his flesh) were not of y* flesh which saw no
corruption? and whether or no Christ did not take upon
him the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and takeing
upon him y 1 flesh whether or noe he does not bring under
it all flesh which sees corruption, & destroyes y* flesh which
whoso joyneth unto becomes an harlot, & so all come into
his body, y^ wittnes his flesh ?
17. Whether or no all y* come to eate his flesh & drinke
his blood, doe not come to be of the flesh of Christ.
18. Whether or no Christ did not take upon him the
seed of Abraham y* all might come into his body, & whether
or noe y fc is not his body ?
19. Whether or noe doth the scriptures speake, or the
Apostles, or Ministers of Christ & say y* the blood of Christ
is Corruptible, or the body of Christ is corruptible, and
whether doe the scriptures say it was made of the foure
elements, or where doth the scripture speake of the foure
Elements.
20. Doth yt which is corruptible Justify unto god, doth
y* which is corruptible cleanse from all sin ?
Are not you disputing about the body of Christ, as the
devill was about the Body of Moses, and as the Jewes were
disputeing with Christ about a Christ y* was to come, & in
the meane while neglected him who was the thing it selfe.]
1658] An Address to Friends in the Ministry 317
1 A paper of G:ffs what was spoken to ffrends in ye ministry
att Jo: Crookes 1657 a
[This is sumthinge of what was spoken to frends in y e
ministery particularly att John Crookes y e 31 fch day of y e 3 d
month 1658 : by G. ffi]
ffrends take heed of destroyinge y fc which yee have
begoten for y t which destroyes goes out & is y e castaway,
& though yk be true & may be y e pure truth which he
speakes, yet if hee doth not remaine in y*, & live in y 13 , in y e
particular, but goes out, y fc same y t which* he is gone out
from, cometh over him ; soe y* y fc calmes y e spiritt & cooles
y e spirit, y* goes over y e world : & brings to y e father, to
inheritt y e life eternale, & reatches to y e spirits in prison in
all.
In y e livinge unmovable word of {y e lord} god dwell, &
remaine in y e renowne, & remaine in y e foundation y fc is
pure, y fc is sure, & soe all y e other y* goes furth from y e
pure, & from y* Ministers, he cometh to an end, & doth not
remaine, though y* had itts time, & was servicable for a
time, while he lived in y e thinge [& soe y* is itt y* will
overturne all y* which doth not remaine, which they goe
from, & soe y* cometh over].
And take heed of many words, but what reatcheth to
y e life, y* setles in y e life, y t which reatcheth to y e life from
y e life, receved from god, y* setles others in y e life, & soe
now y e time 6 is not now, as itt was att first, y e time 6 now is
otherwise, to setle & stay in y e life, for as frends have bene
led to minister in y e power, y e power hath gone through,
there hath growen an understandinge among people, both
amonge frends & amonge y e world ; & soe frends must be
kept in y e life, which is puer, & soe with y fc they may
Answer y e life of god in others which is puer ; for if frends
doe not live in y e life which they speake of, y t they Answer
y e life in those y fc they speake too, y e other part steps in, &
soe there corns an acquaintance ; & soe he letts y t com over
him.
Soe as every one is kept in y e livinge lif of god over all
a More correctly, as given three lines below, 1658.
b Ellwood editions have work
318 Advice to the Newly -convinced [i658
t is contrary, then they are in there place ; they doe not
ay hands on any sudenly, soe y e danger is now, for if he
doth he may louse his discerninge, may lay hands on y e
wronge part, & soe let y e deceipt com to neare him, & y e
deceipt will steale over, & itt will be A hard thinge for him
to gett it downe.
There is noe one strikes his felow servants, but first he
is gone from y e puer in his owne perticular ; he goeth from
y e light he is enlightned withall, then he strickes, then he
hath his reward ; y e light which he is gone from, Christ he
cometh & giveth him his reward ; this is y e state of {y e evill}
servants, soe all y e boisterous & hasty & rash begetts
nothinge to God, but y e life which doth reatch y e life, is y*
which begetts to god.
Soe now frends, when all is setled in y e life, as they are
in y* which remaines for ever, & what is there receved is
receved from y e lord, & what he receveth from y e lord he
kepeth, & soe he sitteth still & coole & quiet in his owne
spirit, & gives itt furth as he is moved, but not to y e
harlots, but y e Judgment.
Soe frends y e word of y e lord [god] to you all In all
meetings you com into when they are sett silent, they are
many times in there owne ; now aman when he is come out
of y world he cometh out of y e dirt, then he must not be
rash, for now when he cometh into A silent meetinge y 1 is
another state, then he must com & feele his owne spirit,
how itt is when he cometh to y m y fc sitt silent, for if he be
rash then they will Judge him ; when he hath bene in y e
world & amonge y e world y e heate is not yeat of him, for
he may com in y e heate of his spirit out of y e world ; now y e
other is still & coole, soe his condition in y* is not to theres,
he may rather doe y m hurt, begett y m out of y e coole state
into y e heatinge state, if he be not {in y fc } which comands his
owne spiritt, & gives him to know itt.
Now there is agreat danger to in travelinge abroad in
y e world, y e same power y* moves y m is itt must keepe y m ,
for itt is y e greatest danger to goe abroad except aman be
moved of y e lord, by y e power of y e lord, for then he
kepinge in y e power is kept in his Jorney, & in his worke,
& itt will preserve him to Answer y e transgresed & keepe
above y e transgresor.
1658] Advice to the Travelling Preacher 319
Soe now every one feelinge y e danger to his owne
perticular in travelinge abroad there y e puer feare of y e lord
will be placed, for now though one may have openings when
they are abroad to minister to others, but as for there
owne perticular groath is to dwell in y e life which doth
open ; & y fc will keepe downe y* which will boast, for y e
minister corns into y e death to y fc which is in y e death & in
prison, & to returne up againe into y e life & into y e power &
into y e wisdome, to preserve him cleane.
Soe this is y e word of y e lord god to you all, feele y i y ee
stand in y e presents of y e lord god, for every mans word
shall be his burthen, for y e word of y e lord is puer, &
Answers y e puer in every one, y e word of y e lord is y fc which
was in y e begininge, & brings to y e begininge, itt is as a
hamer to beat downe y e transgresor & not y e transgresed, &
as afire to burne up y e other y* is contrary to itt.
Soe frends com into y fc which is over all y e spirits of y e
world & fathoms over all y e spirits of y e world, y t stands in
y e patience with y fc he may see another, & reatch y* which is
of god in every one ; soe here is noe strife nor noe contention
out of transgresion, for he y* goeth into y e strife & into y e
contention he is from y e puer, for where any goeth into y e
contention if any thinge by him before hath bene begoten,
then y fc doth gett atopp & spoile y* which was begoten, &
quench his owne profesie, soe if y* be not subiected with y e
power in y e perticular, which would arise into y e strife y*
is dangerous.
Soe if any one have Amovinge *to any place & have
spoken what they were moved of y e lord, returne to there
habitation againe, & live in y e puer life of god & feare of y e
lord ; & soe will y ee in y e life & in y e souber & seasoned
spirit be kept, & preatch as well {in life} as with words, for
none must be light, out, & wilde, for y e seed of god y i is
weighty & brings solid {& into} y e wisdome of god {by} which
is y e wisdome of y e creation {knowne}, now y* which runs into
y e imaginations & y* part standinge in which y e imagina
tions corns up [y e puer not com up], y e puer not quite com
upp through to rule & raigne, then y fc will run out, then y fc
will glory, & soe he hath spoiled y* which opened to him
& will boast & vapor, which is for condemnation; soe all
niinde y* which feeles through & comands his spirit, whereby
320 "Y* which frends doe speake they must live in" [i658
every one may know what spirit he is of whereby he may
try his owne spirit & then try others, & know his owne &
then know others.
Soe y* which doth comand all theese spirits where heats
& burnings corns in, In y t waite which cheanes y m downe &
cooles, y t is y e elect y e heire of y e promise of god, for there
is noe hasty rash brickie spirits, though they have pro
phesies, have gone through, he not beinge subiected in y e
profesie, y e earthly will not abide for it is brickie, for in y fc
state y e ministery was anothers, thats not y e sons, for y e
sone hath life in himselfe, & y e sun hath y e power [now y e
power is anothers the] which [in its time], man beinge
obedient to itt he may be servicable, but if he goe from itt
& y e pure power, then he falls & abuseth itt, soe lett your
faith stand in y e puer power of y e lord {god} & doe not abuse
itt, y* seartcheth through & worketh through, soe every one
stand in y e power of y e lord god y t reatcheth y e seed of
God, which is y e heire of y e promise of life without end, &
none to be hasty to speake for y ee have time enough, for
with an eye y ee may reatch y e witnese, & none to be back
ward when y ee are moved for y fc brings destruction ; now
truth hath an honour in y e harts of people which are not
frends, soe y fc all frends beinge kept in y e truth they are
kept in y e honor, they are honorable & y* will honor y m , but
if y ee loose y e power y ee loose y e life, they loose there crowne,
they loose there honor, they loose y e crose which should
crusifie y m , & they crusifie y e Just, & by loosinge y e power
y e lambe corns to be slaine, & soe as itt is heare it will have
soe in other nations, for all frends here are as one family, y e
seed y e plants, they are as a family.
Soe now beinge kept in y* which subiects all & kepes all
under, y e seed itt selfe, y e life it selfe, y* is y e heire of y e
promise, y e bond of peace, for there is y e unitie with god &
unitie in y e spirit & one with another, for in y e life he
heares god, & sees mans instruction, & with y* he Answereth
y e life in others y* heares god, soe one frend y* is comd into
y fc , he fathoms y e world.
Soe in y fc which frends doe speake they must live in, &
soe may they looke y fc others may com into y t which they
speake, to live in.
The power of y e lord god hath bene abused, & y e worth
1658] Ministry, not Preaching 321
of truth hath not bene minded, there hath bene atramplinge
on & maringe with your feet, & soe y i abuseth y e power : now
every frend to kepe in y e power, to take heed to y fc y fc must
be kept downe which would trample & mar with y e feete
y e pure life & power of god, to be over y t & y e puer life
lived in, y fc none with y e feete might foule or mar, but every
one may be kept in y e pure power & life of y e lord, then
y e water of life cometh in, then he drincketh & giveth
others to drincke.
Now when any one shall be moved to goe to speake in
asteplehouse or amarket, turne in y fc which moves & be
obedient to itt, now y* which would not goe must be kept
downe, for y* same y fc would not goe will gett up, & take
heed y* y e lavishing part doe not gett up, for it is abad
savor, therefore y fc must be kept downe & be kept subiect ;
& soe waite in y e light of y e lord god y fc y ee may be all kept
in y e wisdome of god.
Now when y e seed is up in every perticular then there
is noe danger; but now when there {is} an openinge &
profesey & y e power stirs before y e seed corns upp, then
there is sumthinge y fc will rash out & run out, there is y e
danger & there must be y e feare & y e patience.
Now itt is amightie t(b)inge to be in y e worke of y e
ministery of y e lord god & to goe forth in y^ for itt is not
as acustomary preatchinge, but to bringe people to y e end
of all preatchinge, for your once speakinge to people, & then
people com into y e thinge y ee speake of, they here y e thinge
& many declarations out of y e life may gett y m into a forme.
Now if words be rashed out againe unsavory, then they
will Judge him y fc is com into y e thinge which he spoke,
there he may hurt againe y* which he hath gott upp ; soe
frends y ee must all come into y e thinge y* is spoken, &
soe walke in y e love of god to Answer y e things he spoke
too.
And take heed of all runinge into uncleanese & when
people cometh to owne you, then there is danger of y e
wronge part to gett upp, there was a strife amonge y e
desciples of Christ who should be y e greatest ; Christ saith
unto y m y e heathen exersitheth lordshipe & have dominion
over one another, but itt shall not he soe amonge you, for
Christ y e seed was to com up in every one of y m ; soe then
G. F. 21
322 "Kepe downe, kepe low" [less
where is y e greatest, for y* part in y e disciples y fc louked
for greatest was y e same y* was in y e Gentiles.
Soe who cometh here in y e word to live y* sanctified
him, his lips sanctified, tonge & hart sanctified, to live in y e
word of wisdome, y* y* makes cleane y e hart & reconciles to
god, all things beinge upheld by y e word & power, times &
seasons beinge upheld by y e word & power, beinge in y e
word of god y* uphoulds all things times & seasons, y* gives
all things increase, here y ee come into y e word of wisdom ;
then if there be tow or three agreed in this on earth, it is
soe in heaven, & soe in this must all things be ordered by
y e word of wisdome & power y fc uphoulds all things y e
times & y e seasons which are in y e fathers hand to y e glory
of god whereby his blesinge will be felt amonge you, soe
this brings to y e begininge [soe kepe downe to y e low], this
is y e word of y e Lord god to you all, kepe downe, kepe low,
y* noe thinge may reule nor raigne but life itt selfe.
Now y e pure beinge lived in, y e crose is lived in, &
where ever frends cometh, then they draw y e> power over &
life, & they leave A witnese behinde y m , Answeringe y
witnese in others, then there is noe want where this is lived
in, y e power & wisdome of god there is noe want of wisdome,
noe want of power, noe want of knowledge, & he cometh with
y e eye of y e lord to see {what} must be fed with Judgment &
what is for y e fire, & what is for y e sword, what must be
nurished ; & this brings all to be downe low, every one
kepinge to y e pure, for lett aman gett upp never soe high
yet he must com downe backe againe to y e puer where he
left what he went from, he must com downe to f ; soe now
before all these wicked spirits be gott downe which are
ramblinge abroad, frends must have patience & waite in y*
patience & y e coole life, & who is in this doth y e worke of
y e lord, he hath y e tastinge & y e feelinge of y e lambs power
& Authoritie.
Soe now all frends to be kept coole & quiet in _y e power
of y e lord god, & all y* is contrary will be subiected, y e
lambe hath y e victory, y e seed is y e patience.
Now none must ever goe furth {into wordes} alter they
have bene moved, & quenched y fc {which moved y m }, & y e
other part gett upp, & he goe furth y* is his owne & y
betrayor will com into y*.
323
]658 J A Dispute with a Jesuit
And soe all frends not to medle with y e powers of y e
earth, to kepe out of all such things, but as y ee Answer y fc
of god m you to bringe y m to Justice, then y e * kepe in y e
lambs Authorise, which ends y e law ; & to kepe out of all
vame Janglmge, for all f be out from y e law, they be in y e
transgresion, but all y* be in y e l aw coms to y e lambs ^
m y e lambs Authoritie, who is y e end of itt, y e law for
now liyinge in y e law of god, you live over all transgresion,
now Christ who was glorified with y e father before y* world
began is y e end of y e law, which every perticular must
leele m himselfe.
Many things was spoken more to many of these per-
ticulars which I could not take att large, as they were
spoken.
^[1658] And about this time wee had a dispute with a
Jesuite y* came over with some of ye embassadors from
fepame & hee chalenghed all ye quakers to dispute with y m
at ye Earle of Newports house 2 .
And at last wee sent to him y fc wee coulde meete with
him & then hee sent us worde hee woulde with 12 of ye
wisest learned men wee had : afterwarde hee sent us worde
hee woulde meete with but six : & after hee sent worde
againe hee woulde have but three to come.
Soe I bid Nich: Bonde 3 & Ed: Burrough goe uppe &
talke with him least hee putt it quite off at last for all his
great boast : & I may walke in ye yarde heere : [& if ye Earle
of Newport aske for mee] I may come uppe.
And soe I bid y m state this question : whether or noe
ye church of Home was not degenerated from ye Churh in
ye primitive times from there life & doctrine & ye power &
spiritt that they was in which they did.
And ye Jesuite affirmed y* they was in ye virginity &
purity of it. Then by this I was come uppe.
And wee askt him whether they had ye same pouringe
out of ye holy ghoast as ye Apostles had : but y* hee
utterly denyed.
Then said wee if you have not ye same holy ghoast &
a Narrative continued from page 314.
212
324 The Written and Unwritten Word
ye same power & spirit as ye Apostles had : then I tolde him
there was a degeneration. And there needed litle more to
bee said to y*.
And wee was to make good what wee said by scriptures
one both sydes.
And then I askt him what scripture they had tor sett-
inge uppe cloysters for Nunns & Monasteryes & Abbeys
for men : & for all there severall orders.
And what scripture had they for prayinge by beades &
to Images: & for makeinge Crosses & forbiddinge of meates &
marriages & for putting people to death for religion.
Now if they were in ye purity & virginity of ye practise
of ye primitive Church then lett us see some scriptures where
ever they practised any such thinges.
Then said hee there is a written worde & an unwritten
worde: then said I what dost thee call thy unwritten
worde.
The written worde says hee is ye scriptures & ye un
written worde y* which ye Apostles spoake by worde of
mouth : which are all these tradittions which wee practise
was there unwritten worde.
Then I bid him prouve y t And hee brought y i scripture
where ye Apostle said : when I was with you I tolde you
these thinges : That is saide hee I tolde you of nunneryes
& monasteryes & puttinge to death for religion & prayinge
by beades & to Images & all ye rest of ye practises of ye
Church of Eome : hee said was ye unwritten worde of ye
Apostles which they {tolde then & since} have continnued
unto y m doune alonge by tradition.
Then I bid him reade y* scripture againe : & there hee
might see howe hee perverted ye Apostles words where hee
tells ye Church of disorderly persons & such as did not
follow ye Apostles : whoe did not worke att all : & therfore
hee had commanded y m when hee was with y m {in his un
written worde} y fc they should eate there owne bread : &
therfore now againe in his epistle his written words hee
againe commands y m as in ye 2 of Thess: ye 3 d [& ye 10 th
to ye ende].
And soe this plainely overthrew all there Invented
traditions soe y t hee had noe more proofe to stande by.
Soe then I tolde him there was another degeneration of
In Remembrance of Christ s Death 325
theres Into such Inventions & traditions which ye Apostles
& ye Saintes never practised.
Then hee came to his sacrament & altar : & began att ye
paschall lambe & ye shew breade : & Christ said this is my
body & what ye Apostle said to ye Corinthians & y* after
ye preist had consecrated ye breade & ye wine it was
immortall & devine & hee y fc received it received ye hole
Christ.
Then I followed him in ye Scriptures hee brought till I
came to Christs words & ye Apostles : & y fc ye Apostle tolde
ye Corinthians after they had taken breade & wine in
remenbrans of Christ y^ they was reprobates if Christ was
not in y m .
Now if y fc was ye Christ after they had eaten it then
they had Christ in y m . [And Christ sayde as oft as yee
eate this breade & drink this cuppe doe it in remenbrans
of my death : & shew foorth my death till I come.]
Now if this breade & this cuppe was Christs body [&
bloode & y fc ye Apostle gave] then how can Christ bee with
a body in heaven.
And Christ & ye Apostle said as often as yee eate this
& drinke this doe it in remenbrans of him : soe then it was
not ye body but a sheweinge foorth his death till hee come.
Soe marke heere is ye breade & wine to bee taken in
remenbrans of his death till hee come : soe then ye breade &
wine cannot bee hee if it bee to bee taken in remenbrans
of his death till hee come.
Now Christ said : this is my body : alsoe hee said I am
the vine & ye doore & rocke of Ages : therfore is Christ an
outwarde Rocke doore or vine.
Oh said ye Jesuite that is to bee Interpreted : then said
I Interprett his words alsoe : this is my body [which hee
said take this in remenbrans of mee till I come].
Then I said unto him seeinge y fc hee said y* ye breade
& wine was imortall & devine & ye very Christ : & whoeso-
ever received it received ye whole Christ : therfore lett ye
pope & some of his cardinalls & Jesuites give us a meetinge
& wee woulde have a botle of wine & a loafe of breade &
wee woulde devide ye wine Into basons & ye breade Into
two peices.
And they should consecrate which parte they woulde
326 The Promoters of Persecution [i658
& woulde sett ye Consecrated & unconsecrated Into a Cellar
& wee would have a watch sett on it on each syde 7 & 7
lockes sett upon ye doores & if ye consecrated breade &
wine altered not its property & grew mouldy ye breade &
wine soure but proved devine & immortall : wee would all
turne to them.
But if the breade grew mouldy & ye wine soure & deade
then they shoulde acknowledge there error & turne all to us.
And therfore come foorth & lett it bee tryed : for this
woulde bringe glory to god : & ye truth to bee manifest
for much bloode had beene shed about these thinges as in
Queene Marys days.
And then ye Jesuite said take a peice of new cloth &
cutt it Into 2 peices & make two garments of it & putt
one upon Kinge Davids backe & another upon a beggars &
ye one garment should wear away as well as ye other.
Saide I is this thy aunswer : yes said hee : then said I I
am satisfyed for have you tolde people y t the consecrated
devided loafe & wine was Immortale & devine & now says
Itt will weare away as well as ye other.
I must tell thee Christ remaines and is ye same to day
as yesterday : & is ye saintes heavenly foode in all genera
tions & never decays through which they have life.
Soe this assertion of his proved erroneous & hee went
noe farther with it for all people saw him.
Then I askt him why they did put people to death &
persecute y m for religion & hee said : it was not ye Church
did it but ye magistrates.
Then I askt him whether those magistrates were not
counted & caled beleivers & Christians & hee said yes : why
then said I : are they not members of ye Church : & hee said
yes : why then dost thou say ye Church does not persecute :
soe I left it to ye people to Judge & soe wee parted & his
subtilty was comprehended by simplicity.
*And after ye meetinge was donne I was walkeinge in
Jo: Crookes garden & there came a party of horse with a
constable but freindes were mostly gonne : & I hearde y m
aske what freindes was in ye house & whoe was there & one
of y* - made aunswer & saide I was there & ye souldyers &
constables saide I was ye man they lookt for but they never
less] Cromwell and the Crown 327
came Into ye garden but went Into ye house & after many
wordes y fc they had with Jo: Crook & some few freindes in
ye house they went away in a rage & never minded mee in
ye garden ye Lords power soe confounded y m .
And soe after I went Into ye house : & freindes was very
glad to see y m soe confounded & y fc I had escaped y m .
And ye next day {I past away &} after I had visited
freindes in severall places I past to London & thus ye Lords
power came over all [& frends were setled upon ye founda
tion Christ Jesus & all ye quickned & those y* were made
alive knew Christ Jesus & came to sett doun togeather in
him in ye heavenly places in Christ Jesus].
And soe I visited ye meetinges uppe & doune in London :
& some of y m was troubled with rude people & Apostates
y fc had runn out with J: N: & a l was moved to write a to
0: Cromwell 6 & Layde before him ye suffrages of freindes in
ye nation & in Ireland & was moved to goe againe to 0:
Cromwell & tolde him y fc they which woulde putt him on
an earthly crowne woulde take away his life : & hee askt
mee what say you : & I repeated ye same words over to him
againe : & hee thankt mee after 1 had warned him of many
dangers & howe hee woulde bringe a shame & a ruine upon
himselfe & posterity.
And after this" I mett him rideinge Into Hampton
Courte parke & before I came at him hee was rideinge in
ye heade of his life guarde & I saw & felt a wafte of death
goe foorth against him y* hee lookt like a deade man &
when I had spoaken to him of ye suffringes of freindes &
warned him as I was moved to speak to him : hee bid mee
come to his house & soe I went to Kingston & ye next day
went uppe to Hampton Courte : & then hee was very sicke
& Harvey 1 tolde mee which was on of his men y* waited
upon him y fc ye Doctors was not willinge I shoulde come In
to speake with him : & soe I past away & never saw him noe
more 2 .
And another time her they caled ye Lady Claypole 3 was
... a Originally written hee was had before ye parlament & I was
moved to write to y m <k
b The following words are crossed out & much about this time there was
a great noice
c ... c These words are inserted in the place of the following, which have
a line through them, another time I ivent to him when hee was at Kingston <k
328 Death of Oliver Cromwell [less
very sicke & troubled in minde & nothinge coulde comfort
her & I was moved of ye Lord to write a paper 1 & sent it to
her to bee reade unto her & shee saide Itt setled {& stayde}
her minde for ye present : & many freindes gott coppyes of
y fc paper both in England & Irelande & reade it to distracted
people & Itt setled severall of there mindes [& they did
great service with it both in England & Ireland : which paper
is in ye booke of {my} papers att London].
And after I had visited freindes in London & in ye
country thereaways I went Into Essex & there I hearde
0: P: was deade.
And then I came uppe to London againe when Richarde 2
was made protector : & about this time ye church faith was
given foorth which was made at Savoy in 1 1 days time 3 : & I
gate a copy of it : & when there booke {of church faith} was
solde upp & doune ye streets my Aunswer 4 unto it was solde
alsoe : & one of ye parlament {men} tolde mee they must
have mee to Smythfeilde to burne mee as they did the
martyrs but I tolde him I was over there fires & feared y m
not: ffor had all people beene without a faith this 1600
yeeres y* now the preists must make y m one.
And did not ye Apostle say y fc Christ was ye author of
there faith & finisher & was not all people to looke unto
Jesus ye author & finisher of there faith & not to ye preists.
[And had not Christ beene ye Author of ye Apostles
{faith} & ye Church in ye primitive times & ye martyrs faith :
else why doth ye Apostle say unto ye Church looke unto
Jesus ye author & finisher of your faith & soe all true
Christians are to look unto him.J
And a great deale of worke wee had about ye preists
made faith : & yet they caled us house creepers leadinge silly
women captive : because wee mett in houses & woulde not
holde upp there preists {& temples} which they had tryed &
made : but I lett y m see how y* they was y m j^ ledd silly
women captive & crept Into houses y* kept people always
learneing under y m : whoe were covetous & whoe had gott
ye forme of godlynesse : & denyed ye power & spiritt y fc ye
Apostles was in : & soe they begann to creepe in ye Apostles
days : but now they had gott ye magistrates on there sydes
whoe uphelde all those houses y fc they had crept Into {there
temples} with there tyths.
1659] A Paper to Papists and Professors 329
Butt ye Apostle brought people of those temples &
tyths & ofringes y* God had commanded : & they mett in
severall houses : & was to preach ye gospell in all nations
which they did freely as Christ had commanded y m & soe
doe wee y fc bringes people of these preists temples & tyths
which God never commanded & to meete in houses or
mountaines as ye saintes did : which was gathered in ye
name of Jesus & Christ was there prophett preist & shep-
hearde. a
l [A paper to papists & all professors & others 1659
Let all y fc y ee doe be done in y e name of y e lord Jesus
Christ by whome all things was mad & created, y* y ee may
doe y* which y ee doe in y e true dominion, & then what y ee
doe y ee doe in y e power {of God}, & all frends dwell in love,
for y fc is y e marke of adisiple & y e fruits of faith : & y e spirit
which is y e end of y e comandment out of apure hart, &
fullfils y e law y* edifies, & in y fc is edification & buildinge,
& y e fruits of beinge past from death to life, there is love
to bretheren & enimies beinge in y e seed y fc destroys death
& y e power of itt y e devill.
We need noe masse for to teach us, for y e spirit y fc gave
furth scripturs teach eth us how to pray singe praise reioyce
honour & worshipe god, & in what & how to walke, & to
behave ourselves to god & man, & leadeth us in to all truth
in which is our unitie & comforter & guid & leader & not
men with out, which say they have not y e spirit & power as
y e Apostles had y* gave furth scripturs, & we need not your
comon prayr to teach us, for y e spirit y fc gave furth scripturs
teatcheth us how to pray praise singe fast & to give thancks
& praises & worshipe, & in what & how to honor & gloryfie
god, & how to walke to him & men & all creaturs upon y e
earth ; & leadeth & guideth into all truth which was given
furth from itt, which reproves y e world for sine, y fc is our
comforter leader & guide by which we know sonshipe in
which we have unitie, & this doth never change, but y l
which men doth invent, prayers & forms which doth say y fc
they have {not} y e same spirit which gave furth y e scripturs,
Narrative continued on page 334.
330 No Need for Directory or Church Faith [1659
y* will change worshipe & religion, which y* in y e spirit doth
not.
And we are apeople y fc need not your directory to teach
us, which y ee have given furth, who saith y ee have not y e
spirit & power as they had y* gave furth y e scripturs, soe y e
spirit y* gave furth scripturs teacheth us how to pray how
to speake singe fast give thancks & how to read & how to
walke to god & man, & how to worshipe god & in what, for
it leadeth us a into all truth, which is our comforter in which
we have unitie & felowshipe & know soneshipe & to know
our religion which doth never change, & soe y e spirit of
truth which gave furth scripturs is our directory guid
leader & comforter, which reproves y e world for sine, & this
leadeth to see y e end of all directories which men invent,
which have not y e spirit as y e Apostles had, & when they
canot hould it up they cry to y e powers of y e earth to helpe
y m , & these wee see from y e spirit erd & without y e spirit,
with whome we canot trust our bodys spirits nor soules into
there hands, but hath comited y m up to y e lord whose they are.
And we are apeople y* are redemed from y e earth &
world & need none of your church faith : which y ee have
framed & made in eleven days time & your other 3 days set
apart, for Christ is y e author of our faith, which is y e gift of
god, which is amistery held in apure conscience : & w T e say
y* all y e prests in Scotland b & London & in Newengland
canot make y e gift of god y e mistery which is y e faith which
remaines, & by which men are Justified & saved : neither
have they power over itt, which bringeth us to have accese
to god, & giveth us victory over y* which seperated us from
god.
And soe we need none of there faith to lead us, for y e
faith which Christ is y e author of we live by, which they
canot make nor frame : & though they may cry to y e
maistrats to helpe y m to hould up there made faith, which
Hole they canot hould up y m selves which they have
invented: & {say they} are not in y e life & power as they was
in y* gave furth y e scripturs, & say revelations is seased
from people, y* there is noe victory while they be upon y e
earth : this is y e fruits of there framed faith which wee need
a Another ancient copy of this paper reads up
5 First written England
1659] The Clash of Religions 331
not, for y e spirit y fc gave furth y e scripturs, teatcheth us to
know who is y e author of {our} faith {which giveth victory} &
y e finisher of itt, & this spirit teacheth us how to pray singe
give thancks praise reioyce fast worshipe god & in what &
how to walke to god & man, & leadeth us into all truth y fc
reproves y e world of sine, which is our comforter guid &
leader & director in which we have uriitie & felowshipe y* is
without end & apure religeon y fc d... a & agreat deale of
stufe there is in there bookes which is not worth mencioning,
which it & y e nature will rot y* gave it furth, but y e seed &
life & power will stand.
Church faith change th, directory changeth, comon prayer
changes & masse changes, & here is y e 4 religions gott up
since y e Apostles days which they {have} fought for & killed
one another about, but y e pure religeon doth not change,
which we are of & owne {in which is y e spiritual e weapons
and} which were amongst y e Apostles, y e true faith changes
not for it abideth & remaineth, which is y e gift of god & a
mistery held in the pure conscience, of which we are & which
is our faith ; mase for y e papist, comon prayer for y e
episcopall men, & y e directory for y e presbiterians, church
made faith for y e independants & mixt baptists & others, &
these have had there felowshipe in these for which they
fought for & about with carnale weapons got up since y e
day of y e apostles, but y e felowshipe in y e spirit remaines &
doth not change, which hath spirituale weapons {which are
knowne to feight with all about religon} in which y e seed
of god is knowne, which bruiseth y 6 serpents head y* led
men from god & made y e seperation {betwixt man &} god, &
y e election knowne before y e world began, who is y e head of
our church & not y m y* is head of your mase, head of your
directory, head of y e comon prayer head of y e church {made}
faith, which we see : all changes & comes to nought, & god
confounds & men stands in doubt & questoninge, & have
noe asurance in there religion, but y* of god stands in y m
all bound, they y* folowed y e pope was caled papists & y m
y fc protested against y e pope was caled protestants, & thus
they gave names one to another & soe comon prayer men &
directory men & independants men & baptists men, & thus
a Edge of sheet torn. Before-mentioned ancient copy reads doth never
change;
332 The Quakers Unity [1659
in y e envy out of y e love out of y e spirit which gave furth
y e scripturs gave names one to another {all which wee
judge} ; our faith our church our unitie is in y e spirit, & our
word at which wee tremble was in y e begininge before y 6
papist mens mass, & your episcopall comon prayer & y e
presbyterians directory, & independants baptists & other
framed mad(e) church faith was, & our unitie church & felow-
shipe will stand when they are all ended, by which spirit
we all Judge y m & deny there works, which is our unitie
with god with scripturs & one with another, for they have
bene to people like soe many {changable} coverings, but now
y e spirit is takeinge y m of by which we are covered, & is our
weapons, in this day of great batell with y m y e scripturs
which y ee doe speake & shew furth in all your bookes is
owned, but your imaginations of y m we deny, but they are all
owned in y m selves & places, soe they are ours which end in
Christ, who is ours & in whome we are y ft remaineth ; y e mase
is y e papists sacrifice y* they kill {about}, y e comon prayer
is y e episcopalls sacrifice y t they persecut & kill about, & y e
directory is y e presbiterians sacrifice y fc they persecute & kill
about, y e mad(e) & framed church faith is y fc which y e
independants & baptists sacrifice which they kill & persecut
about, which sacrifices y e lord doth not acept, neither he has
respect to, which is from y m which have erd from y e spirit
which y e Apostles was in & true Christians which with it
ofered spirituall sacrifices to god y e father of spirits {which
we are in}, & all my deare harts all know y e felowshipe of y e
seed in its suferings & {to be} made conformable to his death,
yt v ee [ n this suferings & thorow it y ee may know y e power
of y e resurection of y e just seed, & this is it which kileth all
light spirits y fc will talke but not dy with y e seed, such may
crusifie Christ in y m selves afresh : therefore mind y e dayly
suferings which y e seed had, & have unitie with y fc , y fc y ee
may rise with y fc which destroy eth y fc which causeth it to
sufer & a great deale.
The papists crys higher power helpe helpe or else my
mase will downe & all my serimones, y e episcopall men cry
{higher power} help help or else my comon prayer will downe,
y e presbiterian crys help help higher power or else my
directory will downe, y e independants & anabaptists &
others crys help help higher powers or else my framed faith
1659] Prayer and Persecution 333
which is my eleven days worke will downe & we shall not
stand ; are not y ee ashamed all & shew y ee are naked, out of
y e power & life } rt y e Apostles were in & from there weapons
naked, y fc outward powers neither upheld nor seperated y m
from y e love of god {which they had} in Christ Jesus y e end
of y e law.
I am not one of y m which calls y m selves papists comon
prayer men nor presbiterians independants anabaptists
puritants nor heathens which be out of y e life of god, but
yt which god has caled me to y fc I am & y e elect before y e
world began. This is to goe everywhere all abroad amongst
frends, who are of y e royall presthood which destroys y fc y fc
mad y e seperation from god, from which royall seed goes y e
royall comand, which seed remaines for ever from y e royall
seed to y e royall seed, which are y e royall preisthood, which
hath y e royall law & love to {frends &} enimes, which is
beyond y e love of y e world & before it was {for thats the
royall Love where no enmity can come}.
Forgive us as wee forgive y m crys papists, crys episcopall,
crys presbiter Independants anabaptists, these crys & say
y e lords prayer : forgive us our debts & trespases as we
forgive y m y* trespase against us, & then like a company of
senslese men without understandinge faleth afeightinge
one with another about there trespases & debts & never
minds what they prayed, as though they never looked for
forgivenese {& to receive y e things they prad for} y* prays
forgive us lord as we forgive & then fall apersecutinge &
im prison inge {one another} & takinge there bretheren &
felowservants by y e throats about religeon {which in
there prayers they said forgive us as we forgive} & will not
forgive : but saith there praires as y e fareses did scripturs
& did not, this is he y fc must be cast into prison untill he pay
y e utmost farthinge {& must not come out}, & this has bene
there worke since y e Apostles days, & is not heare law?
{The Apostles & Christ did not bid y* any should kill about
their words, but y fc you should love Enemies, & soe you will
kill about their words which was killed for speakeing them
forth, and soe all friends dwell in y e seed of god which is heire
of the power of the world, which is without end, in y fc dwell
{and keepe your meetings}, y fc you may all be possesers}.
G:ff:]
334 Proposal to purchase Somerset House [1659
a And one time as I was goeinge Into ye Country &
2 freindes was with mee when I was gonne a litle above a
mile out of ye Citty there meets mee two troopers : & tooke
mee & ye freindes y i was with mee prisoners & brought us
to ye mews & there kept us prisoners : & they were
Coll: Hackers men butt ye Lords power was soe over y m y*
they brought us not before any officers but after a while sett
us at liberty againe.
And ye same day I took boate & went to Kingston &
from thence I went to I: Penningtons where I had apointed
a meetinge & ye Lords truth & power came over all.
And many freindes beinge in prisons att this time severah 1
was moved to goe to ye [{several!}] parlament[s sometimes
about 2 & 300 att a time &] to offer uppe y m selves to ly in
ye same Dungeons where there freindes lay y* they y* were
in prison might goe foorth & not perish in ye stinkeinge
Dungeons & goales : & this wee did in love to God & our
bretheren y* they might not dye in prison & {in love to y m
y fc they might not} bringe Innocent bloode upon there own
heades which would cry to ye Lord : & bringe his wrath &
vengans & plagues upon y m .
And then ye parlaments woulde be in a rage & sometimes
sende y m worde y fc they woulde whippe y m & sende y m home
againe & many times soone after ye Lord woulde turne y m
out : & sende y m home whoe had not power to doe good in
there day 1 .
And severall rash spiritts woulde have bought Somersett
House 2 {y fc wee might have meetinges in it} but I was moved
of ye Lord to forbidd y m soe to doe : for I did foresee ye
Kinges comeinge in again {att y fc time}.
And some foolish rash spiritts y* came amongst us were
goeinge to take uppe armes : but I was moved of ye Lord to
forewarne y m & forbid y m & they left it.
And in ye time of ye Committee of safety 3 : wee was
Invited by y m to take upp armes & great places & com
mands was offred us but wee denyed y m all.
And they had a great discourse amongst y m whether ye
Quakers should have there liberty : & Itt was denyed by
many of y m [& Coll: Packer saide before ye Quakers shoulde
Narrative continued from page 329.
1659] A Paper against Fast Days 335
have there liberty hee woulde draw his sworde to bringe in
Kinge Charles].
And often ye parlaments {& 0: Cromwell} & Committe of
safety woulde proclaime fasts & then I was moved to write
to y m y fc there fasts was like unto Jesabells for many times
when they began to proclaime fasts then there was some
mischeife actinge against us [{& others}] : for I knewe there
fasts was for strife & debate & to smite with ye fist of
wickednesse [{as in this folowinge paper may bee more at
large seene}]. a
l to o: p: 1656 consarng the soufering of the prodstantes
be yond the seay
To the heads and governours of this nation who have
put forth a Declaration for the keepinge of a Day of
Sollemne fasting & humiliation for y e persecution (as y ee
say) of the poore Inhabittantes in the valleyes of Lucern
Angroina [{in Piedmont}] & others professing the reformed
Religion which hath been transmitted unto them from their
Ancestors 2 .
\_Answ ;] Proffessing the Reformed Religion may be
transmitted to Generations & soe houlden by the Tradition :
and in that where the profession and tradition is houlden ;
in that is the days of humiliation kept, which stands in the
will of man : which is not the fast which the Lord requires
to hould downe the head like a bullrush for a day, and the
day followinge be in the same Condicon as y ee were the
Day before. To the light of Christ Jesus in your consciences
doe I speake, which testifies for God every day & witnesseth
against all sinn & persecution, which Measure of God if y ee
be guided by it, doth not lymitt god to a day, but leads to
the fast which the Lord requires, which is to loose the
bonds of wickednesse to undoe the heavy burdens and to
lett the oppressed goe free, and to breake every yoake, 58:
Isa: 6:7: this is the fast the Lord requires, and this
stands not in the transmition of tymes, nor in the traditions
of men, but this was before tymes was, & this leads out of
tyme, & this shall be when tyme shall be no more. And
a Narrative continued on page 340.
336 Charity begins at Home [1659
those that teach for Doctrine the Comandements of men are
they which ever persecuted the life & power when it came.
[7: Mark: 7: 8: 9: 13. 2 Coll: 8. 15 Math: 3: 9.]
And a decree or Edict as y ee call it proceeds from the
ground of the Popes Religion and supremacie, and there
stands his tyranny and cruelty acted in that will which is
in that nature which excerciseth Lordship over one another
as y ee may read 10. Mark. 42: Luke 22: 25 as all the
heathen doe and ever did : and in the heathenish nature is
all the tyranny and persecution excercised who are out of
the obeydience of the light of Christ Jesus in the Conscience
which is the guider & leader of all who are tender of that
of god in the Conscience. And who is not led by this
knoweth not what it is to ssuffer for Conscience sake.
And wheras y ee take it into your Consideration the sadd
persecution tyranny & cruelty excercised upon them (whom
y ee call your Bretheren protestants), and therin doe con
tribute and administer to their wants outwardly, This is
good in its place, & we owne it and see it good to administer
to the necessityes of others and to doe good to all {who are
sufferers by a law derived from the pope}, and we are willing
to Joyne & to contribute with you to their outward neces
sityes ; for the Earth is the Lords & the Mines thereof, who
is good to all & gratious to all, and willing that all should
be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. But in
the meane tyme (while y ee are doinge this, and taking
notice of others Cruellty tyranny & persecution) turne your
eye into your owne bosomes and see what y ee are doeing at
home. To the light of Christ Jesus in all your Consciences
[(which never changes) doe] I speake which cannot lye, nor
cannot erre, nor cannot beare false witnesse : which doth
witnesse for God & crye for Equity & iustice & righteous-
nesse to be executed.
See what y ee are doing, who professeth the Scriptures
as they were given forth by the saints in Light, who dwelt
in the light & in the life of them ; and them who doth now
witnesse the same light the same life {&} the same power
which gave forth the scriptures (which y ee professe) them
y ee persecute, hayle out of your Synagogues & marketts,
beat stock & imprison. Now let that of god in your Con
sciences (which is iust and righteous & equall) examine &
1659] Persecution of Fellow-believers 337
trye wheither you have any example or president to exer
cise this persecution which now many in this nation suffer
under, a people harmelesse and Inocent walking in obey-
dience towards god & man (though you acounte it Heresie)
but therin doe they excercise themselves to have all way es
a Conscience void of offence towards god & man, as y ee
may read 24: Acts 14: 15: 16: not wronging any man nether
givinge any Just cause of offence, only being obeydient to
the Commands of the Lord, to declare as they are moved
by the holy ghost for the Testimony of a good Conscience
and say the truth in Christ and lye not, their Consciences
alsoe bearinge them witnesse. [9 Eom: 1.] And for this
doe they suffer under you who professe the same things for
which they suffer.
Now see if any age or generation did ever persecute as
y ee doe, who professeth Christ Jesus who reveales the father,
and persecutes them that witnesse it soe, who professeth
Christ Jesus the light of the world which enlightens every
one that cometh into the world ; and persecutes them who
beares this witnesse and testimony, y ee who professe that
y e word is become flesh, and persecutes them who witnesse
it soe, you which professe that whosoever confesseth not y fc
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is an Antichrist, and y ee
persecute them who doth confesse him come in the flesh, and
calleth them Antichrists and deceivers, you professe that
the kingdome of Christ is come and y ee persecute them that
witnesse it come, y ee professe Christ Jesus who is the
resurection and the life, and y ee persecute them who wit
nesse him to be soe.
But y ee will say how shall we know that these people
who say the witnesse these things, doe so or no.
Answ: Turne your minds to the light which Christ Jesus
hath enlightened you withall {which is one in all} & if you
walke in the light, y ee shall have the light of life, and then
y ee will know and then y ee will see what y ee have done who
have persecuted the Lord of glory {in whom is life, and y fc
life is the light of men}, and to no other touchstone shall
wee turne you, but into your owne consciences, and there
shall y ee find the truth of what we have declared unto you,
and of what wee beare testimony to, and when the bookes
of Consciences is open and all iudged out of them, then
a. p. 22
338 Papists and Protestants alike Persecutors [1659
shall you witnesse us to be of god, and our testimony to be
true, though now y ee may stopp your eares and harden
your hearts while it is called to day, but then y ee shall know
what you have done and whom you have transgressed
against, and then y ee will see that no persecutors in any age
or generation that ever went before you did ever transgresse
against that light (as y ee doe) and measure of god made
manifest.
But y ee will say that Christ and the Apostles were
persecuted in their tymes.
[Answ."] The Jewes did not know that he was the Christ
when he came, though they had the scriptures which pro-
phecyed of him, neither did they beleeve that he was risen
againe when the Apostles preached his resurection. But
y ee say y ee beleeve he is come, and y ee say you beleeve
his resurection, and yet y ee persecute those that witnesse
him come in the flesh & those y fc are buried with him in
Baptisme and those y i are conformable to his death and
knoweth the power of his resurection, those y ee persecute,
haile before Magistrates, suffer to be beaten in your syna
gogues, whipt and stockt and shamfully intreated, and into
prison cast and kept, as many Goales in this nation (at this
day) doth testifie to your faces.
Therfore honestly consider what y ee are doing while y ee
are taking notice of others Cruelltyes least y ee over looke
your owne, for there is much diference in many things
betweene the popish Religion & the protestant (as they call
it) but in this persecution of yours there is no diference,
for y ee will confesse that the foundation of your Religion
is grounded upon the Scriptures and now y ee are persecut-
inge the same life as spoke forth the scriptures, under a
profession of the words they spoke, and this you shall
eternally witnesse, soe y ee have the profession and forme,
and persecute the possession & life & power of that forme.
Therfore know assuredly that y ee must come to Judgment,
for he is made manifest [which is without forme], to whom
all Judgment is committed. Therfore to the light of Christ
Jesus in your Consciences [which changeth not], which
searcheth and tryeth you, turne your minds and stand still
& waite there to receive the righteous Law which acts
accordinge to y* of God in the conscience which is now
1659] Suffering for Conscience Sake 339
risinge and is bearinge witnesse against all ungodlynes and
unrighteousnes of men, and those whom y ee persecute is
made^ manifest to that of God in all consciences, and that of
God in all consciences shall witnesse for us to be of God,
and this y ee shall eternally witnesse whether y ee will heare
or forbeare, and our rejoycing is y e testimony of our Con
science that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdome but by the grace of god we have had our
conversation in the world [and more aboundantly towards
you], not handlinge the word of God deceiptfully but in the
manifestation of the truth, Comendinge ourselves to every
mans Conscience in the sight of God, and if our Gospell be
hid, it is hidd to them that are lost.
And for the witnessinge the houlding the Mistery of
faith in a pure Conscience doe wee suffer and is subject for
Conscience sake, and this is thanke worthy if a man for
Conscience sake endure greefe sufferinge wrongfully, and
here is our ioy and rejoycinge in this y fc havinge a good
Conscience y* wheras they speake evill of us as of evill
doers, they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good
Conversation in Christ, which is not only the puting away
of the filth of the flesh, but the answeare of a good Con
science towards god by the resurection of Jesus Christ : and
this we witnesse made manifest [as it speakes by the same
life that spoke it] {eternal prayses be to the living God},
wherby we see the truth of it, and beare testimony to it
which spoke it in the Apostle in life & power, & therfore
doe wee beare witnesse and testifie against the forme and
profession of it who persecute the life and power. Therfore
to the eternall light of Christ Jesus which is the searcher
& tryer of all hearts, turne your minds & see what y ee are
doinge, least y ee overturne your foundation and bottome
wheron y ee stand while y ee are professinge the scriptures
and persecuteinge the life, light and power that gave them
forth, for the stone cutt out of the mountaine without
hands is now strikinge at the feet of the Immage which the
profession (that stands in the will of man) hath set upp ;
now is that made manifest that all must appeare before the
Judgment seate of Christ, that every one may receive the
things done in the body according to that which they have
done whether it be good or badd. Knowing therfore the
222
340 London Friends ill-treated [1659
terrour of the Lord we perswade men, but we are made
manifest unto God, and shall be made manifest in all your
Consciences which y ee shall [eternally] witnesse.
[Written from the spirit of the Lord
the 16 th Day of the 4 th month.]
a For ye new England professors befor they putt ffreindes
to death they proclaimed a fast {alsoe}.
And when ye Longe Parlament sate I was moved to
sende severall papers to y m & speak to y m how ye Lord
was bringeinge a day of darknesse upon y m all y fc shoulde
bee felt 1 .
And great suffringes I had about this time & great con
fusion & distraction there was amongst ye powers & people.
And after this I past Into severall places off ye Country:
& I had a meetinge att Serjant Birketts 2 where there was
many considerable people & some of quality & a glorious
meetinge it was : & ye scriptures was opned to y m & Christ
sett above all [soe y fc one man amongst y m admired & sayde :
this man is a pearle].
And there was great persecution about 7 miles of London :
at a meetinge soe that they beate abused & bruised freindes
exceedingely & one day : they [tore] beate & abused about
80 frends y* went out of London : & toare there coates &
cloakes of there backes & threw y m Into Ditches & ponds :
& al moyled y m with dirt & when they had soe donne then
they 6 said freindes looket like* witches : & out of severall
parishes the rude people came to abuse freindes att this
meetinge.
And ye next first day after I was moved of ye Lord to
goe to it {though I was very weake} & when I came there I
bid frends bringe a table & sett in ye close where they used
to mete c .
So accordinge to there wonted time & course these
rude people came & I haveinge a bible in my hande I
shewed y m theres & there preists & teachers fruites & ye
a Narrative continued from page 335.
b ... b Altered from caled y m
c Ellwood editions add to stand upon.
1659] Spiritual Exercises at Reading 341
people came to be ashamed & was quiett & soe I opned ye
scriptures to y m & our principles & turned y m from ye darke-
nese to ye light of Christ & his spiritt by which they might
knowe ye scriptures & see y m selves & there sins : & know
there saviour Christ Jesus : & soe ye meetinge ended quietly
& ye Lords power came over all to his glory.
And great suifringes wee went through in these times
[of O: P: & ye Commonwealths time] & many dyed in prisons :
soe y* they have throwne Into our meetinges wilde fire : rotten
eggs: brought in Drums beatinge & Kitles to make noises
with : & ye preists as rude as any : as you may see in ye booke
of ye fightinge preists 1 a list of ye preists y fc has beate &
abused freindes.
And a after a while a I past to Eedinge & was under great
suifringes & exercises & in a great travell in my spiritt for
ten weekes time : for I sawe how ye powers was pluckeinge
each other to peices 2 .
And many freindes was brought uppe to London prisones
to bee tryed before ye Committee : & Henery Vane beinge
chaire man hee woulde not suffer freindes to come in except
they woulde putt of there hatts but at last ye Lords power
came over him soe y* through some others y fc pers waded him
they were admitted.
For many of us was imprisoned upon contempts as they
caled it for not puttinge of our hatts : soe it was not a likely
thinge for freinds to putt of there hatts to him {y fc had soe
longe sufferd for it} : butt ye Lords power came over y m all
soe y fc severall freinds was sett at liberty by y m3 .
And att Readinge as I sayde before I had a great travell
& sawe howe {many} men was destroy inge ye simplicity &
betrayinge ye truth & a great deale of hypocrisy & deceit &
strife was gott uppermost in people y fc they were ready to
sheath there swords in one anothers bowells for there was a
tendernesse in people formerly but when they was gott uppe
& had killed & had taken possession they came to bee ye
worst of men soe y fc wee had soe much to doe with y m about
our hats & sayinge thou & thee to y m y fc they turned there
profession off patiens & moderation into rage & madnesse : &
many of y m woulde bee like distracted men for this hat
honor.
a ... Altered from before this
342 A Prophecy of the Restoration [i659
For I severall times writt to O : Cromwell & tolde him
while hee was persecutinge Gods people those hee lookt
upon as his enimyes was preparinge to come upon him.
For there came a woman 1 to mee in ye Strann y* had a
prophesy concerneinge Kinge Charles three yeeres before
hee came in & shee tolde mee shee must goe to him to
declare it.
Soe I tolde her shee shoulde waite upon ye Lord &
keepe it {to} her selfe for if it shoulde bee knowne y 1 shee
went they woulde looke upon it to bee treason : butt shee
{saide shee} must goe & tell him y* 1 hee must bee brought Into
England againe : & I saw her prophesy was true for those y fc
had goten possession was soe exceedinge high & such great
persecution {was acted} by y m which caled y m selves saintes
for they woulde take away from freinds there copy holdes
because they woulde not sweare in there Courtes : & some
times when wee layde these suffringes before O: C: hee
woulde not beleive it.
And Tho: Aldam & Anth: Pearson was moved to goe
through all ye goales in Englande to gett {copyes of} freindes
commitments under ye goalers hande & lay y m upon O: C: 2
And Tho: Aldam was moved to take his cappe of his
heade & rent it to peices before O: C: & to tell him soe
shoulde his kingedome bee rent from him.
And Another freinde was moved to goe to ye parlament
y fc was envyous against friendes : & to take a pitcher in her
hande & breake it to peices & to tell y m soe shoulde they
bee broaken to peices 3 which came to passe presently
after.
And 0: P: saide y fc now there was a people risen
[meaneinge us] y fc hee coulde not win with honor high places
nor gifts but all other people hee coulde.
For wee did not seeke any of there places gifts {n}or
honors [but there salvation & eternall good {both} in this
nation & elsewhere].
And soe in my great sunringes & travells att Readinge
y* I was burdned & almost choakt with there hypocrisy &
treachery & falsenesse I saw God would bringe y* a toppe of
y m which they had beene atoppe of & y fc all must bee brought
doune to y fc which did convince y m before they coulde gett
over y fc bad spiritt within & without.
1659] Persecutors disagree 343
And soe It is ye invisible spiritt y t doth & must worke
doune all deceite in people.
And in this day many of our olde envyous persecutors
were in great confusion.
1 [ a 1658 when i Avas weeke & in great suferings a & y e Powers
of y e earth was on heaps, & friends under sufferings, then
Rich Davis 2 & Henry Clarks 3 wifes Came to me : & Rich
Davis wiffe Invited me to her house, & I told her ther was
no Roome in her house for mee : & then she Railed upon
mee & then they both turned out of y e Lords truth &
fellowship of his people; & this time towards :59:] y e
powers y fc had been persecuting friends, & had many then in
prison, & this time they was Crucifieing y e seed Christ both
in themselves & others, & at Last fell a biting & devouring
one another untill they was Consumed one of another 4 , who
had turned & Judged j^ {both in themselves & others}, which
god had wrought in them & shewed them, so god overthrew
them & turned them upside downe & brought y e king over
y m , who was always Complaining y* y e Quakers met together
to bring in King Charles, wheras friends did not Concerne y m
selves with {y e outward} powers ; but at last y e lord brought
him in & many of them voted at their meeting of y e Parla-
ment for y e bringing in of King Charles.
So with hart & voice praise y e name of y e Lord to whom
it doth belong & over all hath y e suprieme. And y e Nations
will I Rock being on them atopp.
And soe when I had travailed with ye wittnesse of God
which they had Quencht & gotten through with it & over
all : y* hypocrisy & saw how y fc woulde bee turned under &
doune & y* life would rise over it : I came to have ease & ye
light {power & spiritt} shined over all.
And soe in ye Lords power I came to London again 5 : &
After I had visited freindes & ye Lords power was {sett} over
all I travailed Into ye Count ryes againe.
And then Lambert 6 was comeinge uppe from Booths 7
defeate [& after a while went against a monke 8 & a great
a ... a These words are in the handwriting of George Fox.
344 "Error and Blasphemy" [1659
noise & Jumble there was in ye nation soe y* people began
to bee very rude against freindes].
And I past through ye Countryes {as} Norfolke Sufolke
Essex [{Huntingtonsheere & Cambridgesheere}] & had
severall meetinges {amongst freinds} till I came to Norwich.
And about ye time caled Christmas wee had a meetinge
in Norwich : & ye maior hearde of it & graunted foorth a
warrant to apprehend mee : & when I came Into ye tounde I
hearde of ye warrant & soe I sent some frendes to ye maior
to reason with him about it : & his aunswr was y fc ye souldyers
shoulde not meete & did wee thinke to meete.
And hee woulde have had us gonne out of ye tounde &
meete out of ye tounde & saide ye toundspeople were soe
rude y* hee coulde hardely order y m & y fc our meetinge
woulde make tumults in ye tounde.
But our frendes tolde him wee were a peaceable people :
& y* hee ought to keepe ye peace for wee coulde not but
meete to worshippe God as our maner was : & soe hee becam
pretty moderate & did not sende his officers to ye meetinge.
And a large meetinge it was & abundans of rude people
came with an Intent to have donne mischeife : but ye Lords
power came soe over y m y* they were chained by it : though
severall preists was there & ranters & professors : & one preist
{Towndesend} 1 stoode uppe & cryed error blasphemy & {an}
ungodly meetinge.
And I bad him not burden himselfe with y 1 which hee
coulde not make good : soe I askt him what was our error &
blasphemy for hee shoulde make good his words before I had
donne with him.
And as for an ungodly meetinge I did beleive y* there
was many people y* feared God there & soe it was uncivill
in him to charge civill godly people with an ungodly
meetinge.
Soe hee saide my error & blasphemy was because I saede
y 11 people must waite upon God by his power & spiritt &
feele his presence when they did not speake words.
Then I askt him whether ye prophetts & holy men of
God did not heare God speake to y m in there silence before
they spoak foorth ye scriptures : & before it was penned
written or printed.
And hee saide yes David & ye prophetts did heare God
1659] Colonel Dennis
345
before they did pen ye scriptures {& felt his presence in
silence before they spoake y m foorth}.
Then saide I : all people take notice hee saide this was
error & blasphemy in mee to say these words & now heere
hee hath confest it.
Soe I lett ye people see y* it was ye holy men of God
whoe learnt of God y fc spoak foorth ye scriptures as they was
moved of ye holy ghoast : soe they hearde & learnt before
they spoak y m foorth.
And soe must they all hearken & heare what ye spirit
saith which will lead y m Into all truth : & to know God &
Christ & ye scriptures.
Then sayde ye preist : this is not y fc George ffox I would
speake withall this is a subtile man sayde hee.
And soe ye Lords power came over all & all ye rude
people was made moderate by it & reacht & other professors
cryed to ye preist prove there blasphemy & errors {which you
have spoaken so much off} butt nothinge you can prove nowe
saide they {to there faces}.
And soe ye preist beinge goeinge away I tolde him wee
had many thinges to charge him withall & therefore lett him
sett his time & place to aunswer to y m : & soe hee did & went
his ways.
And y fc day was a glorious day & truth came over all &
people was turned to ye Lord by his power & spiritt & to
ye Lord Jesus Christ there free teacher whoe was exalted
over all.
And soe as I past away : generally people heartes was
filled with love towards us yea ye ruder sorte of y m desire-
inge for another meetinge.
And ye evill Intentions y* they had against us was
throwne out of all there heartes.
And att night I past out of tounde to a frendes house &
from thence to Coll: Dinhams al house where wee had a great
meetinge.
_ And soe wee past through ye Countryes upp & doune
visitinge freindes in Norfolke Huntington sheere Cambridge-
sheere And left G: W: & Rich: Huberthorn to meete ye
a Ellwood editions read Dennis s. The word was written originally
Dinhams but there are strokes upon the m which may imply an erasure of
that letter.
346 A Vision of the Fire of London [1659
preist whoe was soone confounded & doun ye Lords power
soe came over him.
[1659] And soe after I had past through many Countyes
in ye Lords service & visited freindes & many was convinced
though in many places ye people was rude : I returned to
London againe where generall Monk was come to London : &
ye gates & posts of ye Citty was pulling doune [& some of ye
souldyers was rude but ye Lords power came over all].
And I had a vision {longe} before this for I saw ye Citty
ly in heapes & ye gates doune : & I saw it Just as it was
when I saw it severall yeeres after lyinge in heapes when it
was burned 1 .
And after I had visited frends in ye Citty & upp &
doune theraways : I past Into Surrey & Sussex : & came to a
great tounde where there was a great meetinge & severall
frendes from Reading.
And a blessed meetinge there was : & ye preist of ye
tounde was in a great rage but did not come out of his house.
And as I was passinge away hee was makeinge a noise
& rageinge in his house : & wee bid him come out Into ye
streets but hee would not : & soe ye Lords power came over
all & freinds were refreshed in ye Lords power & truth : &
from thence I went to another markett tounde where att
night wee had a pretious meetinge & ye fresh sense of ye
presence of ye Lord God {was felt} amongst us.
But ye yeere before in ye time of my travell at Readinge
there came a company of uncleane spirits to mee : for
through my travell & sorrow I lookt poore & thin & they
tolde mee ye plagues of God was upon mee but I tolde y m
Itt was ye same spiritt y fc saide soe to Christ : when hee was
stricken & smitten they hidd there face from him.
But when I recovered & gott through my travailes &
sufferinges my body & my face was swelled : & then the bad
spiritts saide I was growne fatt & envyed at y fc {alsoe}.
Soe I saide Itt seemes noe condition nor state woulde
please y* spiritt of theres but ye Lord God preserved mee
by his power & spiritt through all & over all.
And soe I past through ye Countryes as I said before
Into Hampesheere & Dorset sheere {& Poole & Eingewoode}
visitinge freindes in ye Lords power & had great meetinges
amongst y m .
In the West again 347
And at Dorchester I came to an Inn where wee had a
great meetinge at night in ye Inn & many souldyers came
in to ye meetinge & was pretty civill : & ye constables &
oficers of ye tounde came in under pretence to look for a
Jesuite whose heade was shaved.
And soe they woulde have all to putt of there hatts or
else they woulde take y m of to looke for ye Jesuites shaven
crown. And soe they took of my hat for I was ye man
they aymed att : & they looket it narrowely but not finde-
inge any balde or shaven place on my heade they went away
with shame : & ye souldyers & other sober people was
greveously troubled att y m : but it was of good service for
ye Lord & all thinges wrought togeather for good : & after
wee had a fine meetinge & people was turned to ye Lord
Jesus Christ there teacher whoe woulde reconcile y m to
God whoe had bought y m .
Soe wee past from thence through ye countryes have-
inge many meetinges wherein they y fc was convinct was
established & many others added to y m .
For as wee came through ye Countryes & had very
pretious & blessed meetinges amongst freinds all through
ye Countryes till wee came to Plymouth : & soe uppe Into
Cornewall visitinge all ye meetinges of freindes among
whome wee had many blessed meetinges till wee came to ye
Lands end & through all y fc County Tho: Lower accompany ed
mee : & brought mee over Horsebridge Into Devonsheer
again {& at Lands ende in Cornewall there was an honnest
man a fisher man : y* became a faithfull minister 1 : which I
tolde freinds hee was like Peter} 2 .
And great feares & troubles was in many people & a
lookeinge for ye kinges comeinge in & y* all thinges shoulde
bee altered but I tolde y m ye Lords power & light was over
all & shined over all : & y* ye feare woulde onely take holde
of ye hypocrites & such as had not beene faithfull to God
our persecutors.
For in my travaile & sufferinges at Readinge when
people was at a stande & coulde not tell what might come
in nor whoe might Rule : I tolde y m ye Lords power was over
all for I had travailed through it & his day shined whoesoe-
ever shoulde come in : & all woulde bee well whether ye
kinge came in or noe to y m y fc loved God & was faithfull to
348 A Terrible Judgement [16-59
him : & soe bidd all freindes feare none but ye Lord {& keepe
in his power y fc was over all}.
And soe after I had many pretious & blessed livinge
meetinges in Cornewall & left all frends in peace & quiet-
nesse & frends was glad & refresht whoe was turned to
Christ there teacher & saviour : & setled upon him there
foundation & severall eminent people longe convinced in y*
county which neither preists nor magistrates by spoileinge
goods or Imprisonments coulde make them forsake there
shephearde ye Lord Jesus Christ y* had bought y m : wee
left y m unto ye Lord Jesus Christ teachinge & orderinge
{fresh & greene} & soe came Into Devonsheere.
And after wee had severall meetinges uppe & doune
in Devonsheere wee came Into Somersetsheere where wee
had severall large & peaceable meetinges.
1 [ 1 6 5 9] And in Somersetsheere ye presby terians & other
professors were very wicked & often used to disturb ifrendes
meetinges.
And one time there was a wicked man (which they} gott
{to come to ye meetinge & hee sett} a beares skinn upon his
back & hee woulde goe play pranckes in ye Quakers generall
meetinge {which hee did : & stoode opposite against ye
freinde y* was speakeinge with his tongue lollinge out of
his mouth & soe made sport to his wicked folowers & great
disturbans in ye meetinge}: & there was a bull beateinge
in ye way as hee {returned from ye meetinge} & hee stayde
to see ye bull beate : & hee comeinge to neere ye bull ye bull
struck his borne under his throate {& strucke his tongue
out of his mouth which hung lollinge out of his mouth as
hee had used in derision before} & strucke his home uppe
Into his braine & soe swonge him about upon his home.
And soe hee y fc thought to have donne mischeife
amongst Gods people was mischeifed himselfe.
And (wee) past through ye Country visitinge freinds in
there meetinges till wee came to Bristoll.
And ye G^ 1 day before wee came : ye souldyers with there
musketts came to ye meetinge for ye maior & ye Com
mander of y m had combined togeather to make a disturbans
woo] Unwilling Messengers 349
amongst freindes & ye souldyers were exceedinge rude &
beate & strucke ffreinds with there musketts & drove y m
out of ye orcharde in a great rage & threatned what they
woulde doe if freindes came again e.
And I comeinge to Bristoll ye 7 th day after this ffreindes
tolde mee what a rage there was in ye tounde & threat-
ninges against y m by ye maior & ye souldyers & of there
cruell cariage ye day before {to frendes}.
Soe I sent for severall freinds as G: Bishoppe Tho:
Gouldney 1 & Tho: Speede 2 {& Ed: Pyott} & I desired y m to
goe to ye maior & officers seeinge y* hee & they had broaken
upp our meetinges & made such worke in ye tounde y fc
they woulde desire ye maior & Aldermen y fc they woulde
lett y m have ye tounde hall to meete in & ffreindes woulde
give y m 20 L a yeere to bee distributed to ye poore for ye use
of it as aforesaid : & when ye maior & Aldermen had busnesse
they woulde not meete in it but onely one ye first days.
And freindes were astonished att my sayinges & sayde
ye maior & aldermen woulde thinke y* they were madd :
butt I saide nea ffor they shoulde offer y m a considerable
benefitt to ye poore. And it was upon mee from ye Lord
to bid y m goe : & at last they was willinge & went in ye
crosse to there {owne} wills.
And when they had layde ye thinge before ye maior itt
came soe over him y* hee saide for his parte hee coulde
consent to it but hee was but one.
But hee tolde freindes of another great hall they might
have which freindes coulde not ex-cept beinge altogeather
inconvenient soe ffreindes came away : & ye maior was very
loveinge to y m & they felt ye Lords power had come over all".
And when they came backe I spoake to y m to {goe alsoe
to} ye Coll y* commanded ye souldyers & lay before him ye
rude cariage of ye souldyers : & howe y* they came armed
amongst naked Innocent people y fc was waitirige upon &
worshipinge ye Lord. But I coulde not gett y m to goe to
him.
Then ye next first day wee went to ye meetinge in ye
orcharde where ye souldyers had broaken ye meetinge uppe
as beforesaid.
And after I had declared ye truth a great while in ye
a Ellwood editions read him in the place of all
350 A Great Meeting near Bristol [i860
meetinge there came in many rude souldyers & people : some
with drawne swords & ye Inkeepers had made some of y m
drunke : & one of y m had bounde himselfe with an oath to
kill & cut doune y* man y i spoake.
Soe hee came in through all ye crowde {of people} to
within two yardes of mee & stopt att those foure freinds
aforesaid y* should have gonne to ye Coll: as I woulde have
had y m & fell a Jangelinge with y m & soe off a sudden I
saw his sworde was putt uppe & gonne. And ye Lords
power came over all & chained {him &} y m & wee had a
blessed meetinge & ye Lords everlastinge power & presence
was felt amongst us.
Soe upon ye 2 d day those 4 freindes aforesaid went to
speake with ye Coll: & ye Coll: sent for ye souldyers & cut
& slasht some of y m before there faces which when I hearde
I reproved freindes for lettinge him doe soe : & reproved y m
for not goeinge ye 7 th day as I woulde have had y m which
woulde have prevented this cuttinge off ye souldyers & ye
trouble of y m att our meetinge.
And thus ye Lords power came over all those persecut-
inge bloody mindes & ye meetinges there was setled in
peace for a great while after & were without disturbans.
x And neere Bristoll I had a generall meetinge att Ed:
Pyotts where there was many thousands of people : & ye
baptist & Iridependant teachers came to us & all was quiett
for most of ye sober people came out of Bristoll to it : & ye
people y* stayde in ye Citty saide ye Citty looket naked ye
sober people was soe gonne foorth to this meetinge & ye
Lords everlastinge seede Christ Jesus was sett over all y fc
day : & many glorious thinges & truths was opned to ye
people & ye Lord Jesus Christ was sett uppe whoe was ye
ende of all figures & shadowes & ye law & first covenant : &
howe y fc all figures & shadowes was given to man after man
fell : & howe y* all these rudements & Inventions of men were
sett uppe in Christendom not by ye Commande of Christ
beiiige Jeweish & heathenish ceremonyes many of y m : & now
y* all might come to receive Christ Jesus by his light spirit
grace & faith ye substans & live & walke in him ye redeemer
& saviour & all images & likenesses man has made either of
thinges in heaven or in earth to himselfe or for himselfe
i66o] A Discussion on Perfection 351
hath beene since hee lost ye image & likenesse of God y*
God made him in.
But now Christ was come to redeeme translate convert
& regenerate man all out of all these thinges y* hee hath
sett uppe in ye fall : & out of ye true types figures &
shadowes & out of death & darknesse uppe Into ye light &
life &^ image & liknesse of God againe as man & woman was
in before they fell.
And a great deale a worke wee had with ye preists
& professors pleadinge for Imperfection : but I did lett them
see howe Adam & Eve was perfect before they fell : & all y i
God made hee said {y* it} was good & hee blest it. And
howe ye Imperfection came by ye fall : & man & womans
hearkninge to ye Divell y* was out of truth : & how y fc ye
law made nothinge perfect but was for ye bringinge in of
ye better hope which hope is Christ which destroys ye
Devell & his workes y fc made man & woman Imperfect : &
Christ saith bee perfect even as my heavenly father is
perfect : for hee whoe was perfect comes to make man &
woman perfect againe & bringe y m againe to ye state as
God made y m in : soe hee is ye maker" of ye breach & ye
peace betwixt God & man. And therfore I declared unto
y m by way of a comparison of two olde people y* had there
house broaken doune by an enemy soe y fc they was lyable to
all stormes & tempests with all there children : & there came
some men y* pretended they woulde builde it uppe if they
woulde give y m soe much a yeere : but when they have
gotten there money they leave there -house as they founde it.
And soe there comes a first seconde thirde fourth fiveth
& sixth with this pretens to builde up ye olde house & getts
peoples money : & after cryes : they cannot reare upp ye
house nor make uppe ye breach for there is noe perfection
heere cryes they: ye house can never bee perfectly built uppe
againe though they have taken peoples money for ye
doeinge of it.
For all ye sects in Christendom has pretended to builde
uppe Adam & Eves falen house & when they have gott
peoples money they tell y m ye house cannot bee perfected
heere : & soe there house lyes as it did.
Butt I tolde y m Christ was come {freely} whoe hath
Ellwood editions insert here up
352 Narrow Escape in Gloucester [ieeo
perfected for ever by one ofringe all y m y* are sarictifyed &
renews y m uppe in ye image of God : as man & woman
was in before they fell : & makes man & womans house as
perfect againe as God had made y m at ye first & this Christ
ye heavenly man has donne freely. And therfore all is to
look unto him : & all y* has received him are to walke in
him ye life ye substans ye first & ye last ye rocke of ages
& foundation of many generations : & largely was these
thinges & many other thinges opned & declared unto ye
people & ye worde of life y fc does abide & live & all was to
heare & obey y* did abide & live by which all might bee
borne againe of ye immortal seed & soe to feede of ye
milk of ye worde & a glorious meetinge there was & frends
parted in ye power & spiritt of ye Lord in peace & in his
truth y* is over all 1 .
And soe from thence I past through ye Countryes to
Oldestone & to Nailsworth & Nathan : Crispes where there
was a large meetinge & severall souldyers came but was
quiett.
And soe from thence wee past to Glocester through
freinds visitinge there meetinges.
And after wee had had our meetinge in Glocester which
was peaceable though ye tounde was very rude & devided
for one part of ye souldyers were for ye kinge & another
for ye parlament. And as I past out of ye tounde over ye
bridge ye souldyers there saide they was for ye kinge : &
Ed: Pyott was with mee : & after wee was past away & ye
souldyers understandinge Itt was mee they was in a great
rage : & sayde had they knowne It had beene mee they
woulde have shott mee with haile shott {rather then I
shoulde have escaped y m } but ye Lord prevented there
divelish designe : & soe I came to Coll: Grimes his house
where wee had a large generall meetinge & ye Lords truth
& power was sett over all & people was established upon ye
rocke & setled under ye Lord Jesus Christs teachinge.
And from thence wee past to Tewksbury [& Esom] & to
Worcester & I never saw ye like Drunkennesse as then in
ye toundes : for they had beene then chuseinge parlament
men 2
And wee visited nreindes in all these toundes in there
1660] Great General Meeting at Balby 353
meetinges & att Worcester & ye Lords truth was sett over
all : & people was finely setled therein : & freindes praised ye
Lord : nea I saw ye very earth rejoyced though great feares
was in some people & many askt mee what I thought of
times & thinges. And I sayde unto y m ye Lords light
shined over all & his power was {sett} over all.
^ ^And soe from Worcester I came through ye Countryes
visitinge ffreindes in there meetinges till I came to Bagley
& from thence I went to Dreiton to visitt my relations in
Leistersheere : & there was one Burton 1 a Justice hearinge
y* I had a good horse graunted out his warrant : & came to
search for mee & my horse three or foure days after I was
gonne. And soe hee lost & misst his wicked ende.
And from thence I past to Twy Crosse & to Swanington
& soe to Darby & visited ffreindes : & ye goaler y fc kept mee
as aforesaid att ye house of correction was convinct 2 .
And from thence I past uppe Into Darby sheere & soe
came Into Nottingham sheere till I came to Synderlande
greene visitinge ffreinds through all these Countryes in
there meetinges.
And from thence I past to Balby where was our yeerly
meetinge. And [many] thousands of people & freinds was
gathered there.
And freindes mett in a great orcharde of Jo: Killams 3 &
I heard off a troope of horse y* was sent from Yorke {about
30 miles of} to breake uppe our meetinge & y* ye new militia
was to Join with y m to breake uppe our meetinge.
And I went Into ye meetinge & stoode off a great stoole :
& two trumpeters came uppe soundinge there trumpetts
close to mee : & ye troopers cryed devide to ye left hande &
right hande & make way : & they ridd uppe to mee & I was
declareinge in ye mighty power of ye Lord ye everlastinge
truth & worde of life : & the Captaine of ye troope bid mee
come doune for hee was come to disperse our meetinge & I
tolde him hee & they knewe y fc wee was a peaceable people
And wee used to have such great meetinges : & if hee did
question y fc wee mett in a hostile way I desired him to
make search amongst us & if hee founde either sworde or
pistoll about any there lett us suffer.
Soe hee tolde mee hee must see us dispersed for hee
came all night {of purpose} to disperse us : but I tolde him
23
354 Meeting protected by Soldiers [i860
what honor woulde y* bee to him to ride with swordes &
pistolls amongst soe many {naked a } men & women as there
was.
And if hee woulde bee still & quiett our meetinge might
not continue passinge 2 or 3 houres : & when our meetinge
was donne as wee came peaceablely & civilly togeather {soe
wee} shoulde parte : ffor hee might perceive y* ye meetinge
was soe large y fc all y* Country thereabouts coulde not
entertaine y m but that they Intended to depart towards
there homes {att night}.
And hee said hee coulde not stay hee must disperse y m
before hee went : soe I desired him if hee coulde not stay
lett a dosen of his souldyers stay & see^ ye order & peace-
ablenesse of our meetinge : soe hee permitted us an houres
time & left halfe a dozen souldyers to stay with us.
And soe ye freindes of ye house gave ye souldyers &
there horses meate & soe ye captaine went away.
And ye souldyers y l were left tolde us wee might stay
till night if wee woulde soe wee stayde about 2 or 3 houres
& had a glorious powerfull meetinge.
And ye presence of ye liveinge God was manifest
amongst us. And ye seede Christ was sett over all : &
freindes {were} setled upon him ye foundation & under his
glorious heavenly teachinge.
And freindes was all glad & refreshed y fc ye Lords power
{had} give{n} y m {such} dominion.
And after ye meetinge was donne freindes passt away
in peace & Joy beinge refreshed with ye presence of ye Lord.
And ye militia souldyers many of y m stayde alsoe : &
were very much vext because ye Captaine & troopers had
not broaken uppe our meetinge y* day: & curst ye Captaine
& ye troopers.
For It was reported y* they Intended to have made a
masacre upon us y* day : & ye troopers Insteade of assistinge
y m they was rather asistant to us in preventinge y m from
doeinge mischeife & not Joineinge with y m .
And yett this Captaine was a desperate man for hee had
saide to mee In Scotland* hee woulde obey commandes if it
were to crucify Christ hee woulde doe it : or ye {great}
Ell wood editions read Unarmed
b See page 296.
i66o] Yearly Meeting at Skipton 355
Turkes commande against ye Christians if hee was under
him : but it was askt off him where was then his Christianity :
but ye Lords power chained y m all both troopers & ye
militia soe as they went away not haveinge power to hurte
us [{& one of ye troopers saide heere is more people flocke
after him then are about my Lord protectors Courte}].
And ye next day wee had a heavenly meetinge att
Warmsworth of freindes in ye ministry & severall others :
& then freindes parted & as they past through ye Countryes
severall was taken uppe {for} y fc day {y fc } our first meetinge
was off Lambert was routed 1 . And it made a great blunder
in ye Country.
Butt freinds was not kept longe in prison at y fc time : &
at Sekgeby as I was goeinge to this meetinge in Nottingham-
sheere there came severall y fc was goinge to bee souldyers
under Lambert & woulde have bought my horse : & because
I woulde not sell him to y m they was in a rage against mee
useinge many threatninge words but I tolde y m [& writt to
y m ] y fc God woulde confounde y m & scatter y m . And soe
they were about 2 or 3 days afterwards.
And soe ye Lords power came over all.
And from Warmsworth aforesaid in ye Lords power I
past through ye country to Burton Abby where I had a
great meetinge : & from thence to Tho: Taylors : & from
thence to Skipton where there was a generall meetinge of
men freindes out of many Countyes concerneinge ye affaires
of ye Church.
And there a freinde declared naked 2 through ye tounde
& they had much beate him & some other freindes which
came to mee all bloody : & {as} I walket in ye street & there
was a desperate fellow which had an Intent to have donne
mee a mischeife but hee was prevented & our meetinge was
quiett.
And att this meetinge some freinds did come out of
most partes of ye nation for it was about busnesse of ye
Church both in this nation & beyonde {ye} seas.
For when I was in ye north severall yeeres before I was
moved to sett uppe y fc meetinge : for many freindes suffered
& there goods were spoiled wrongefully contrary to ye Law.
And soe severall freindes y* had beene Justices &
magistrates & y fc did understand ye law came there & was
232
356 The Quakers Liberality commended [1600
able to Informe freindes : & to gather uppe ye sufferinges
.y* they might bee layde before ye Justices [{&}] Judges [{&}
O: P:] & [his] parlaments before.
And this meetinge had stoode severall yeers [& att
this time freindes was well established upon Christ ye
foundation & rock of ages & ye truth & life & ye power of
ye Lord was over all & freindes was Informed from this
meetinge to there monthly & Quarterly meetinges _: soe this
meetinge had donne its service & {then all was} directed to
keepe to there monthly & Quarterly meetinges].
And Justices & Captaines had come to breake uppe this
meetinge & then when they saw freinds bookes & accounts
of collections concerneinge ye poore how y fc wee did take
care one county to helpe another : & tooke care to helpe
freindes beyonde ye seas & y fc ye poore neede not trouble
there parishes : ye Justices were made to confesse y l wee did
there worke [& freinds desired y m to come & sett with y m
then].
And soe they passed away loveingely & commended
freinds practise.
And many times there woulde bee two" hundred beggars
of ye worlde {there for all ye country knewe wee mett about
ye poore} which after ye meetinge was donne freinds woulde
sende to ye bakers & give y m each a [penny] loafe a peice
bee y m as many as woulde.
Soe wee was taught to {doe} good unto all but especially
to ye householde of faith.
[And this was ye last generall meetinge y* freinds had
there & {then} freinds {was} turned all to ye Quarterly
& monthly meetinges {as aforesaid} & there to doe there
busnesse & many pretious papers may bee seene y* was
given foorth from this meetinge : as in ye bookes of Epistles
may bee seene : & ye manner of there collections 1 .]
And soe from thence I past through ye countryes {visit-
inge freindes in there meetinges} till I came to Lancaster &
soe I past to Eob: Withers : & from thence to Arnesyde
where I had a generall meetinge for all ye freinds in those
countryes as Westmoreland Cumberland & Lancasheere.
And after ye meetinge was donne {which was peaceable
a Some alteration in the MS. is apparent here, but the word two can be
read. Ellwood editions have two
i860] Sir George Middleton, Knight 357
& quiett : & ye liveinge presence of ye Lord was amongst
us} there came several! rude fellows from one Midletons 1 a
great man [{as by this following paper more appeares}] : but
ye meetinge beinge ended they did nothinge : soe I past
after ye meetinge to Rob: Withers & freinds all past away
fresh in ye life & power of Christ in which they had dominion
over all : beinge setled upon him ye heavenly rocke &
foundation. a
2 g midelton a Knight a percekuter 1660
Lancashire.
This 13 th of this 3 month 1660.
One Sir Geoge Midleton has kepte men, servants, one
of them whose name is Thomas set upon three women with
impotent scoffes said he would kisse one of them and did
abuse them and wrong them and pluck her coats loose and
the same man did abuse friends and he would {have} cutt
{friends} with an axe but that he was restrained {by some
of his fellowes} and the same knits b man whose name is
Thomas set upon six friends as goeing to ameeting to waite
upon the Lord at Yellon {which gave him their backs &
their cheeks} who beate them and abused them with
bruiseing of theire faces, and shed much of the blood of
[John Bessbrow and Richard Burrow 3 ] likewise did the like
to him shed much of his blood in seyerall partes of his bodie
{and many places of his face and wounded them sore, and
they never lifted a hand against him}.
[Cumberland. And at ameating of the people of god at
Carlile the souldiers there with violence hailed and thrust
them out of theire owne house and caried some to theire
gard, whose name was Geo: Buley 4 {which was the sonne of
the father of the house} and the plucte up c another ffriend c
by the head when he was at prayer and plucte him down
and this is done in the name of the higher power to destroy
vertue and let libertie to vice now these actions doth not
Narrative continued on page 358.
6 O.E. aniht, M.E. knit, - servant.
c ... c First written Joseph Hellen 5 and altered to another ffriend by a
different hand.
358 Swarthmore Hall searched for Arms [IGGO
honor iustice nor authoritie for authoritie is to beat down
vice evill doers with trangresion this is the higher power
and that is the meek man that saith would all the lords
people were prophets, why envies thou them that prophisies
in the campe this saith the man that is in the higher power
{Moses}.
If {the} rulers {in Christendome} now were come to
Moses state the would say with him would god all the lords
people were prophets {so Moses did not despise prophesy,
and commanded to stop them, hee ^knew the higher power
was to stop vice : And to give liberty to the Just, to
prophets}.]"
& [1660] And ye next day I came to Swarthmoore &
F: Howghill & Tho: Curtis was with mee.
And when I had stayde a while there: & severall freinds
from severall parts came to visitt mee.
One Porter caled a Justice sends a warrant by ye Cheife
Constable & three other petty Constables to apprehende mee.
And I had a sense of ye thinge before hande.
And I was in ye pearlor att Swarthmoore & Rich:
Richardson 1 was with mee : & Margarett fell unto whome
some of her servants brought her worde y fc some was come
to seach {ye house} for armes : & they went uppe Into some
of ye chambers under a pretence : & Itt came upon mee to
goe out : & as I was goeinge by y m I spoake some words to
y m & they askt mee my name : & I tolde y m my name : &
they then layde holde off mee {& sayde I was ye man they
looked for} & ledd {mee} away to Ulverstone : & there kept
mee all night att ye Constables house : & sett a guarde of
15 or 16 men to watch mee: & some of y m sate in ye
Chimney they was afraid I woulde goe uppe ye chimney :
ye Lords power soe terrifyed y m & they was very rude &
uncivill to mee.
And ye next day: a matter of 30 foote & horse guarded
mee to Lancaster & they woulde not lett mee ride of my
own horse : but sett mee of a litle horse behinde ye sadle :
At the foot of the page are 3 J lines in shorthand.
b Narrative continued from page 357.
c A month, according to the Short Journal.
i66o] Before Major Porter 359
& they woulde not lett mee speak to freinds : & there was
one Mounte 1 a very wicked Constable : & a great noise they
made & very rude & wicked they were : & they tooke my
knife from mee : & one of ye Constables saide one Ashburne-
ham 2 y* hee did not think a 1000 a men coulde have taken
mee : & this constable Mounte saide hee woulde have served
Judge ffell soe if hee had a warrant for him : if hee had
beene alife.
And soe they beate ye poore horse : & made him kicke :
& I slipt off ye horse againe : & then they lifted rnee uppe
behinde ye sadle again : & led ye horse with a haltar till
they came to ye Carter forde 3 : & It beinge very deepe they
lett mee gett one my owne horse : & then they led mee
through ye water.
And there was one wicked fellow kneeled doune & lifted
uppe his handes & blest God y fc I was taken : & a great
triumph they thought to have had.
And as they led mee I was moved to singe praises unto
ye Lord in his triumphinge power over all.
And when I came over ye sands I tolde y m I had liberty
to choose my Justice : & might goe before whom I woulde
but Mounts & ye other Constables raged & sayde I shoulde
not.
And soe to Lancaster they brought mee before major
Porter 4 caled a Justice : & severall others was with him.
Soe I begann to aske him wherfore hee sent out his
warrant for mee & shewed him ye abuse of ye Constables &
ye other officers towards mee : & tolde him I was a peaceable
man : & y fc wee was a peaceable people.
Soe hee tolde mee hee woulde not dispute with mee :
but hee had an olde clarke though hee was a younge
Justice : come says hee {to him} is ye mittimus ready : &
where is his horse saide hee hee hath a good horse I heare
have you brought his horse. Soe I tolde him where ye
horse was but hee did not medle with him.
Soe hee sent for ye goaler : & commanded him to putt
mee in ye dark house : {& keepe mee} a close prisoner & to
lett none come att mee & there to keepe mee till delivered
by ye kinge or parlament 5 .
a The last is slightly darker than the two preceding and may have
been added later by the same hand.
360 Preaching from the Jail Window [1660
And as I went to ye goale ye constable gave mee my
knife again & askt mee to give it to him & I tolde him nea
hee had not beene soe civill to mee.
And soe ye {under} goaler {one Hardy a wicked man}
was exceedinge rude : & many times woulde not lett mee
have meate but under ye doore : but ye Lords power was
over all : & many {of ye worlde} came to mee in great rage
& were very uncivill & rude.
And one time two younge preists came whoe were very
abusive & rude : ye worst of people coulde not bee worse.
[ a One of y m was tuter to ye younge Miles Dodinge 1 ."]
And there came ye olde Preston 2 of Hookers wiffe & a
great company with her : & {shee} used many abusive words
to mee & tolde mee my tongue shoulde bee cutt out : & I
should bee hanged : but ye Lord God cutt her of & shee
dyed in a miserable condition.
And Margarett fell went to London : & spoake with ye
Kinge about my takeing & shewed him ye maner of it [as
may bee seene in ye followinge relation more at large {&
Margarett ifell offerd uppe her life to ye kinge to stande as
a pledge for ye peace & quietnesse of all frends & for there
faith}].
And Anne Curtis came doune to visit mee & it was
upon her alsoe to goe to ye Kinge : for her father y fc had
beene sheriffe of Bristol! 3 ye parlament had hanged him
neere his doore soe shee desired ye kinge y* I might bee
brought uppe before him [as in her letters followinge may
bee seene].
And att ye Assises many people came to see mee & I
was moved [of ye Lord God] to speake out of ye {goale}
window to y m & many people stoode attentive to it : &
I lett y m see howe uncertain there religions was : how y*
people had beene persecuted for not followinge ye masse :
& they y* did holde uppe ye masse cryed {then} Itt was ye
higher power & people must bee subject to ye higher power.
And then they y t helde uppe ye Common prayer &
Persecuted others for not following it they saide it was ye
igher power {then alsoe & y*} wee must bee subject too it :
& soe did ye presbyterian & Independants : they cryed wee
a ... These words have a line through them.
1660] To the King 361
must bee subject to ye higher power {alsoe & submitt to
there directory & chuch faith}.
Soe all cryde like ye Jews helpe men of Israeli against
ye true Christians.
And soe people might see how uncertaine they are of
there religions & soe I turned y m to Christ Jesus {y* they
might bee built upon him there rocke & foundation y fc
changhed not &} after I had declared much to y m one this
wise they all was quiett 1 .
[And soe one Ottway 2 came Into prison to mee & tolde
mee there was a habeas corpus come to remove mee to
London to ye kinges bench.]
And when Margarett went to London This Justice
Porter aforesaid vapored y fc hee woulde goe & meete her in
ye gappe : & when hee came before ye kinge hee haveinge
beerie a zealous man for ye parlament severall spoake to
him concerneinge ye plunderinge of there houses soe y* hee
soone returned againe Into ye country. a
to the king 1660
{Kinge} Charles thou came not into this Nation by
sword ; And not by victory of Warr, but by the power of
y e Lord, Now if thou doe not live in it, thou wilt not
prosper, and if the Lord hath shewed thee Mercy and
forgiven thee, and [if] thou dost not shew mercy and forgive,
the Lord God will not heare thy prayers nor them that
pray for thee, And if thou doe not stopp persecution, and
persecutors, and take away all Lawes, that doe hold up
persecution about Religion but if thou persist in them, and
uphold persecution, they will make thee as blind as all that
have gonn before thee, for persecution was ever blind, whom
God by his power [and by his hand, by which he] over-
throwes and bringeth salvation to his oppressed, and doth
his valliant Acts, and if thou dost beare the sword in vaine,
and lett drunkenesse oathes pleasure Maygames with ffidlers
drumms trumpetts, and sett up Maypoles with the Image
of a Crowne on topp of them : Abominations, the Nations
will quickly turne to Sodome and Gomorah, and as badd as
a Narrative continued on page 362.
362 Hornby Castle dismantled
y e old World, which greived the Lord, and he overthrew
them, and soe he will you if these things be not suddainly
prevented hardly was there soe much wickednes at Liberty
before now as this is now at this day as though there were
noe terror nor sword of Magistracy ; which doth not grace
a Government, nor is apraise to them that doe well, [soe]
our Prayers are for them that are in Authority that wee
may live a Godly life, in which wee have peace, and that
wee may not bee brought into ungodlinesse by them, soe
heare and consider and doe good in the time whilest thou
hast power, and be mercifull and forgive and that is the
way to overcome, and obteyn the kingdom e of Christ.
G. F.
a And ye goaler was very fearefull & saide hee was afraide
Major Porter woulde hange him because hee had not putt
mee in ye darke house : & ye goaler goeinge to see him
after hee came home hee was blanke & [{quite}] doune : &
askt howe I was : & pretended a way to sett mee at liberty
butt haveinge overshott himselfe in his mittimus y* I was
not to bee delivred but by ye kinge or parlament soe hee
had put mee out of his power.
And when hee was in ye heigth of his rage & threats
against mee I was moved to write a letter to him seeinge y*
hee appeared soe zealous for ye kinge & thought to Ingratiate
himselfe Into ye Kinges favor by Imprisoninge of mee : y i I
askt him whose great Buckehornes were those in his house
& whence hee had y m & where had hee y* wanscott y* hee
ceeled his house withall: had hee it not from Home by Castle 1
[y fc was ye Kinges].
And did not Major Porter say y* hee woulde neither
leave y m Catt nor dogge if they woulde not bringe in pro
vision to him In Lancaster Castle when hee helde it for ye
parlament {against ye kinge} hee was such a feirce rigid
man.
And after hee had received this letter it brought him
doune whoe pretended now to bee soe zealous for ye kinge
& yett was soe feirce formerly against him.
a Narrative continued from page 361.
i66o] Richard Hubberthorne to Margaret Fell 363
[Whoe had cast mee in prison as an enimey to ye kinge
& for raiseinge new warr & embrueinge ye whole nation in
bloode I & my faculty {as hee pretended} : & yett I never
had taken uppe armes against ye kinge in my life : but
was cast Into Darby dungeon 6 months togeather because
I woulde not take uppe armes against ye kinge.]
Butt ye Lords power came over him : & after great
sufferinges & reproaches ye sheriffe sent to mee y* I might
give in Bonde to appeare att London according to ye habeas
corpus for removeall of mee to ye kinges bench.
But I sent him worde I should not give him any bonde
ffor if I was ye man as they represented mee [{& my faculty}] :
I had neede of a troope of horse with mee to guarde mee.
And then they concluded to sende mee uppe with a party
of horse but after when they had considered what charges
it woulde bee to y m they concluded to sende mee uppe
guarded by ye goaler & some bayliffes : & after they thought
jagaine} y t it woulde bee great charges to them alsoe : they
sent for mee doune from ye prison to ye goalers house : &
saide to mee if I woulde putt in Bayle y fc I woulde bee in
London by such a day of ye terme I might have leave to
goe uppe with some of my owne freindes.
But I tolde y m I woulde neither put In any baile nor
give one peice of sylver to ye goaler for I was an Innocent
man & they had Imprisoned mee wrongefully & put a false
charge upon mee.
Nevertheless if they woulde lett mee goe uppe with one
or two of my owne freindes to beafe mee Company I might
goe uppe & bee in London such a day if ye Lord did permitt
& I woulde carry my owne charge or any of {my freindes}
y* went with mee against my selfe.
And soe they consented & I came out of prison & came
to Swarthmoore & stayde there two or three days. a
l [an acount of gff b(y) r hubathorn 1660
Dear Sister : M: ff :
My dear love is unto thee : ffreinds heare is well and y e
truth hath its daily increase and dominion in these parts :
a Narrative continued on page 364.
364 Southward to London [1660
G if is well : and his deare love is to thee : this day wee
expecte that he will bee freed out of this prison : the sherife
at last hath yealded & is Come under : y* wee shall bringe
him up without any engadgment of Georgs at all : and this
morninge wee are about y e doinge of it although it is not
yet done : before this post goe Away : but G: intends if
nothinge prevent to be at Rob* Widders to night & wheither
he goe to Swarthmore to morow I yet know not and may
bee have A meetinge in Lancaster y e 4 th day : and it may
bee Come to Preston y e 5 th day : for he may either bee at
Preston y e 5 day or stay to speake to y e shirefe this day
weeke at Lancaster : but if he goe to Preston 5 d. then wee
shall bee in Chesire about Will Gandies y e next first day
as you may heare further from us when it is more fuly
Accomplished.
Alix: Parker is heare & his deare love is to thee : R. Mires 1
doth remember his love to thee : wee had A large meetinge
in this towne yesterday & another in y e evening.
Lancaster. 24 day 7 . month. Thy deare bro.
R Hubberthorne
Remember my deare love to freinds there.]
a And from thence I went to Lancaster & soe to Preston:
& had meetinges amongst freindes : & soe came Into Cesheere
to Will: Gandys where was a large meetinge without doores
& ye Lords everlastinge seede was sett over all.
And freinds were turned to it whoe is heire of ye
promise.
And from thence I past through ye Countryes Into
Staffordsheere & Warwickesheere till I came to Anth:
Bickliffes & att Non Eaton at a preists widows house wee
had a blessed meetinge & ye everlastinge worde of life was
declared to y m & many setled in it.
And from thence I past through ye Countryes visitinge
ye meetinges of freindes in about 3 weekes time till I came
to London : & Rich: Huberthorne was with mee & Rob:
Withers.
And when I came to Charinge Crosse there was multi-
Narrative continued from page 363.
i66o] Esquire Marsh 365
tudes of people gathered togeather to ye burneinge of ye
bowells of y m y fc had beene ye olde kinges Judges y* had
beene hanged drawne & quartered.
And wee went to Judge Mallet ts 1 Chamber : & hee was
puttinge on his red gounde in ye morninge to goe to sett
upon some more of ye kinges Judges & was very peevish &
frowarde & said I might come another time.
And wee went another time to his Chamber & there
was present with him ye Lord Cheife Justice ffoster 2 soe
caled & delivered him ye Chardge y fc was against mee & they
reade it & one {Marsh} Esquire 3 was with mee one of ye
kinges bed chamber men : & as they reade it they readeinge
those wordes y* I & my faculty a were Imbrueinge ye nation
in bloode : &c : they strucke there handes one ye table.
Soe I tolde y m I was ye man y* y* charge was reade
against & was as innocent of any such thinge as a new
borne childe & had brought it uppe my selfe & some of my
faculty" came uppe with mee.
And as yett they had not minded my hat but att last
seeinge my hat on they saide what did I stande with my
hat on : but I tolde y m I did not stand soe in any contempt
to y m & then they commanded one to take it off & then
they caled for ye Marshall of ye kinges bench & when hee
came they saide you must take this man & secure him :
but you must lett him have a chamber & not putt him
amongst ye prisoners.
But says ye marshall of ye kinges bench I have noe
chamber for to putt him injto} my house is soe full : soe hee
sayde hee coulde not tell where to provide a roome for mee
but amongst ye prisoners : but sayde ye Judges you must
not putt him amongst ye prisoners but hee still aunswered
hee had noe other place to putt him in.
Then saide Judge foster to mee will you appeare to
morrow about ye tenth 6 houre att ye kinges bench barr in
Westminster Hall : & I saide yes if ye Lord gave mee
strength.
Then saide ffoster if hee says yes & promises it you may
take his worde.
Soe I appeared at ye kinges bench att ye houre appointed
Friends in Ellwood editions.
6 Altered from 6th
366 A Prisoner without a Guard [i860
& Rob: Withers & Rich Huberthorne & Marsh Esq: aforesaid
went alongst with mee before ye 4 Judges & my charge was
delivered to y m there by Rob: Withers & they reade it how
y* I & my faculty a as aforesaid were embrueinge ye whole
Nation in bloude & raiseinge a new warr : & an enemy to
ye kinge & as they reade it they lift uppe there handes & I
stretcht out my armes & saide I was ye man y* y* charge
was against : but I was as Innocent as a childe concerneinge
ye charge : & had never learnt any warr postures & did
they thinke y* if I & my faculty* had beene such men as
ye charge declares y* I woulde have brought it uppe with
one or two of my faculty* against my selfe for had I beene
such a man as this charge declares I had need of beinge
guarded with a troope or two of horse.
But ye sherifFe & magistrates of Lancasheere has lett
mee & my faculty* come uppe with it our selves [for if I had
beene such a man surely ye sheriff & ye magistrates of
Lancaster woulde not have permitted mee to have come
uppe] without a stronge guarde [if they should have donne
soe they would not have beene accounted faithfull to ye
trust reposed in y m nor to understande there plees for they
doe say I & my faculty were raiseinge a new war & embrue
inge ye Nation in bloode & an enmy to ye kinge & yett
they give mee my owne charge & lett mee bringe it uppe
accompanyed with some of my own faculty] almost 200 miles.
[Now I leave this thinge for you to Judge.]
Then {ye} Judge askt mee whether Itt shoulde bee filed
or what I woulde doe with it.
But I aunswered & said you are Judges & able to Judge
in this matter doe with it what you will : for I am ye man
these charges are against & I have brought it uppe my selfe
doe you doe what you will with it {I leave it to you}.
And soe Judge Twisden 1 begann to speak some angry
wordes & then I appealed to Judge ffoster & Mallet y fc
hearde mee overnight.
And then they askt mee whether I woulde putt it to ye
kinge & councell & I tolde y m with all my hearte.
And soe it was sent to ye kinge & councell : & ye next
day ye kinge graunted foorth an order to Judge Mallet to
a Friends in Ellwood editions.
i860] A Rabble at Ulverston 367
sett G: ffox at full liberty [as heereafter folio weth {as also
with ye whole passages at Large}].*
1 Three Constables & a cheife Constable came unto
Swarthmore, pretending to look for armes, & Margret ffell
came in & told me ; & I said it is a plot, soe I was moved
to walke out of the room, & bid one come along with me
that was with me, & turn d me about & look d for him, &
soe in turning me about towards them, the cheife Constable
stept to me, & asked me my name, & I told him freely, & he
said I was the man they looked for, & [soe I walked out
with them & desired to see their order, & they would not
shew it, though after a time they did shew it, with five or
six names & seales at it] soe they had me away to Ulverston
& raised abundance of men to look to me [& I told them I
could have escaped them if I would] & they were very
inhumane & uncivill to freinds & would not suffer them to
bring me necessaries, but with violence thrust out freinds &
kept a guard upon me, & would scarce let any come in to
me, & the next morning about the sixt hour I was putting
on my boots & spurs, & they pulled of my spurre & took my
knife out of my pocket, & soe took me along the towne with
a great party of horse & abundance of people, & would not
stay till my horse came downe, & soe I went about a quarter
of a mile, & some considerable freinds & Margret & the
children came towards me, & a great party of horse gathered
about me, & cryed, would they rescue him ? would they
rescue him ? & was mad in fury & rage ; soe I said to them,
here is my hair, here is my back, here is my cheek, strike
on, at which words their heat aswaged, & then two tooke
me by one leg & put my foot in the stirrup, & two or three
by the other, and set me behind the saddle upon a little
horse ; & soe led me by the halter, & I had nothing to hold
by, soe when they were come a pretty way of the towne,
they made the little horse kick & gallup, & I lighted of
& told them they should not abuse the creature, at which
they mightily raged, & came again & took me by the feet &
set me upon the horse behind the sadle & led me to a great
water about two miles & then my owne horse came & they
a Narrative continued on page 383.
368 "Look at his Eyes" [i860
let me get upon him through the perswation of some of
their owne company, the water being deep & the other
would scarce have carried me over, & soe they pulled of the
bridle & led y e horse a matter of 14 miles till I came to
Lancaster, & the spirits of people being mightily up when I
came in the towne, I stood & looked upon them, & they
cryed look at his eyes, & after a while I spake to them &
they were pretty sober, & then a young man came & had
me to his house & after a while they had me into Porters
house called Justice ; when I came in I said, peace be among
you, & Porter asked me why I came downe into Countrey
that troublesome time, I told him to visit my brethren ;
And he said we had great meetinges up & downe, & I
told him we had soe, but I said, our meetinges were knowne
through out the nation to be peacable & he said he might
restrain me, And I asked him for what ? & he would not
tell me y e kings secrets he said we saw the devill in peoples
faces ; I told him, if I saw a drunkard or a swearer or
pevish heady man I could not say I saw the spirit of God ;
And I asked him if he could see the spirit of God ? And
he said we cryed against their ministers ; I told him while
we were as Saul sitting under the preists runing up &
downe with his packet of letters we were never called
pestellent fellows nor makers of sects, but when we were
come to exercise our consciences towards God & man, then
we were called pestelent fellows as Paul was.
He said we could lay open our selves, he was a foole to
talke to me ; is it not ready ? bring it : that was the mitti
mus ; soe I desired to know of him for what & to know
his order ; and he said had an order from the sheriffe of
Middlesex, but he would not let me have it, & said more
over a prisoner was not to see for what he was committed,
I told him that was not reason, how should he make his
defence then, I ought to have a coppy of it, & soe he sent
me to prison, & said he had an old clerk, though he was a
young Justice : And said there was a iudge that fined one
for letting a prisoner have a coppy of his mittimus, & soe I
was sent with the mittimus to be kept closse prisoner, &
he charged me to be an enimie to the king, embruing the
nation in blood & raising a new warre : I told him I never
learned the postures of war, & was clear & innocent as a
166 ] Before the Chief Justice 369
child concerning these things, & therfore was bould : the
heads of the mittimus was answered {as foloweth} a & sent to
the King.
And soe after a time of imprisonment Anne Curtis came
downe from Redding to the prison at Lancaster, who went
up to the king with the answer of my mittimus, for I was
not to be delivered but by king or Parliament ; soe the
answer of my mittimus was sent to the king & parliament
{as aforesaid} & that I never learned the postures of warre
but was clear & innocent as a child in them things ; And
Anne Curtis desired of the King that I might be brought
up & my accusers, & he himselfe might be iudge in the
thing, & he said he would take order with the secretary &
upon his word it should be done [{as by M. if & A: C: letters
as fblloweth may bee seene}] & the secretary brought an
order to Judge Mallet & sent for me up by a Habeas
Corpus ; & freinds denied the thing & told them if freinds
would have used that, they needed not have lien in prison
as they have done; & then they said they would doe it
themselves, soe it came downe into the countrey to bring
me up, & they would have had me sealed & bien bound, & to
have paid for sealing & for charges of carrying me up ; soe
then I told them I would seale none, I would pay none, nor
would be bound... 6 bene prisoners I had need have two or
three troopes of horse goe along with me... 6 that were
charged upon me, soe afer great workings through with... 6
{daughters letters to her may bee seene as fblloweth} they
sent me up with a freind or two, when the power of the Lord
wrought through them, soe I came to London & appeared
before ^ the Judge, according to the Kings order & sent to
the King that I was come up according to his order if he
would speake with me, or I might come & speake with him
& I appeared the second time before the Judge, & the
Judge had me before the cheife Justice of England ; soe
they read that which was charged against mee, then they
called for a marshall & bid him often use me kindly & not
put me into the common Goale, though they were exceeding
rough at y e ^ first, but after I had spoken to the charge &
pleaded my innocency & told them I was pure and clean
a See pages 375 381.
b The edge of the leaf is worn away.
G. F. 24
370 In Court at Westminster Hall [ieeo
concerning these things & left it to them & bid them doe
what they would, for I was pure & clean & innocent, And
they said they desired none of these things might be found
true y* was charged against me, they did not accuse ^ me,
nor had nothing against me, & one of the Judges said I
might appear in the court to morrow at Westminster hall,
there was a great authority, & one of them said if I would
say I would appear next day he would beleive me, & soe I
told them I should if the Lord did permit ; And soe I did
appear in Westminster hall next morning before the cheife
Justice & two other Judges, & was brought into the middle
of the court, & soe soon as I was come in, I was moved to
look about & turne towards the people & said peace be
among you, & the power of y e Lord sprung over, the
same words I was moved to speake when I came before
Porter, & the second time I was with the iudge before the
cheife Justice & raised up the power, & soe then after I had
been a while in the court the charge was read against me
openly, & the people were very moderate, & y e Judges very
coole & Loving, & a great day of the Lords mercy was to
them ; soe when they had read the things, I told them I was
the man it was laid against & desired that I might ^ speak
for my selfe, soe when I had answered to the accusations, I
told them I was innocent & clean & pure as a child from
these things, & I told them I never learned y e postures of
warre, & asked them whether or noe that man was true to
his place that sent up a man accused of such things with a
simple country man or two, & asked y m if y t did not
convince their reason ? I told them I had need to have
two or three troops of horse have come along with me if
such things could be proved, & the cheife Justice & another
of the iudges said, the did not accuse me, the had nothing
against me, & then there stood up one of the Kings bed
chamber in the court, & said It was the Kings pleasure I
should be set at Liberty seing noe accusers was come up
against me. .
And then after {many other} words which we had in
sobernes & peace they asked me if I would have it filed,
& I bid them doe what they would, & then they said it
should be sent to the Kings counsell ; but mighty travels
was before the invisible power wrought through them,
urao] Order for Release 3 7 1
which brought them into sobernes to clear my innocency ;
soe then it was sent to the King & counsell, & then after
it had its work through them & among them, the King
sent his warrant to the Judge, that I should be set at
full liberty, & y e Judge gave forth a second warrent that I
should be set at liberty, as is hereafter.
[So all freinds dwell in the power, the seed of God, that
was before darknes was, the seed of God that doth inherit
& possesse, that every one may sit downe in your owne
possessions of the power of the Living God, which was before
changes was & wars & strifes : soe this may goe among
freinds, which is some part of the passages.]
By virtue of his Maiesties writt to me directed & here
unto annexed, I certify, that before y e receit of y e said
writt, Geo: ffox in the said writt mentioned, was committed
to his Maiesties Goale at the Castle of Lancaster in my
custody by a warrent from Henry Porter Esq, one of his
Maiesties Justices of peace within the County Palatine
aforesaid, bearing date the fift of June now last past, for
that he said Geo: ffox was generally suspected to be a
common disturber of the peace of this nation, an Enimie to
our Soveraigne Lord the King, & a cheife upholder of the
Quakers sect, & that he together with others of his phana-
tique opinion have of late endeavoured to make insurrections
in these parts of the country, & to embroile the whole
kingdome in blood, & this is the cause of his taking &
deteining, neverthelesse the body of the said Geo: ffox I
have ready before Thomas Mallet, Knight, one of his
maiesties Justices assigned to hold pleas before his said
maiesty at his chamber in Sergiants Inne in Fleetstreet,
to doe & receive those things which his Maiesties said
Justice shall consider of him in this behalfe, as by the
afore said writt is required.
George Chetham 1 Esquire, Sheriffe.
It is his Maiesties pleasure y fc you give order for y e
releasing & setting at full liberty y e person of Geo: ffox,
late a prisoner in Lancaster Goale & commanded hither by
Ell wood editions insert here the
24 2
372 Margaret Fell to George Fox [i860
a habeas Corpus, & this signification of his maiesties pleasure
shalbe sufficient warrent.
Dated at Whitehall y e 24 Oct. 1660 Edw. Nicholas. 1
For Sir Thomas Mallet, k nt
& one of the Justices of the Kings bench.
By virtue of a warrant which this morning I have
received from y e Right honorable Sir Edward Nicholas,
k nt , one of his Maiesties principall secretaries, for the releas
ing & setting at liberty of Geo: ffox late a prisoner in
Lancaster Goale, & from thence brought hither by habeas
corpus, & yesterday committed unto your Custody. I do
hereby require you accordingly to release & set y e said
prisoner Geo: ffox at liberty, for which this shall be your
warrent & discharge. Given under my hand y e 25 day of
October in y e year of our Lord God 1660.
To Sir John Lenthal, 2 K nt Tho. Mallett.
Marshall of the Kings bench,
of his deputy.
to gff at lankster in preson 1660
My deare love and life everlasting, y e last 7 day Ann
Curtiss came Hither Aboute y e 1 1 houre and I went with
her to White Hall, and Brought her to y e King, And shee
made know to him whose Daughter shee was & how y* her
ffather was executed for him or in his ffathers cause where
upon hee showed much love to her, And shee said shee had
now arequest to Him, hee axed her what it was, shee said
shee had a deare freind in Lancaster Castle whom shee had
been to see and shee desired her persone Might bee accepted
for his or else y* hee might bee Brought up with his
accusers to before him, and hee might be Judg in y e cause,
and hee gave command to his Secretary to Issue forth an
order to y fc purposs, but y e subtilty of y e Secretary gave^ out
order to y e Judge to bee brought up by Horposs scorpions
and to apeare before y e Judges, soe y* shee was disapointed
of her request to him and of what hee had granted, if y e
Secretary had proseede according to order, wee Might have
had it to have sent downe this day but being it was contrary
wee could not send it wee was with y e King this day about
i860] The Same to the Same 373
it and hee appointed us to come to Morrow soe what y e
effecte will bee wee know not, y e prisbiterion party is ex
ceeding Mad y* hee should admitt us soe to come to him
and in any measure hearken to us, and I doe beleeve doth
insence him y* if hee answer our desires y e whole Nation
will be against him, but y e Man is Moderate & I doe beleeve
hath an intent in his mind and a desire to doe for freinds
if he knew how & not to indanger his own safty, hee is
darke and Ignorant of god & soe any thing feares him but
wee have gotten aplace in his heart y* hee doth beleeve
wee will bee true to him and soe doth many of his own
party, and truly y e power is exceedingly over them and
over y e citty meetings ar all quiet & peacable and many
saith y e never saw them soe full ; J. N. 1 had a Meeting y e
first day in y e strand y e most part of them had beene seldom
at meetings freinds their abouts were drawn out to E T 2 in
ye pellmell, where their was a Meeting y fc day which was
y e first y* was there, & its like to bee be agreat Meeting,
T S 3 is heare whose love is dearly to thee, and severall
freinds in y e Ministrey, and all very well my returne to me
is yett unsertaine, How thou may com up wee know not,
whether y e will give us way to bring thee up or y e will send
for thee up by order but wee shall not neglect any thing,
the y* have to doe with these people must be contended
to waite, my deare love eternall is to thee and freinds.
Margrett deere love is to thee.
y e 17 of y e 5 Month. 1660 . M. F.
Ann Curtiss is heare yett and alsoe her Husband is come
up who remembers his deare love to thee.]
4 [m f to gff at lanlcester presen 1660
London the 24 of the 5 th Mo. (60.
My dear eternall Love and Life : I gave thee an accountt
the last weeke, how farre An Curtes had gone in the
buissines concerning thee, And according as I wrote we went
y e next morning, but before they would suffer us to goe in
to speake to him, Generall Monke did come I beleeve on
purposse to prevent us, And we were with him A pritty
while before wee were called in ; And wee were called in
374 King Charles s Promise [i860
while hee was there, and while wee spoke to him, he stood
by, and before wee could get any thing spoke to him to any
purposse, they tooke him away from us, and the most that
hee said to us was that hee would speake to y e Judges And
they should set ffriendes at Lyberty.
And he said they told him, that he could not send A
perticular order from himselfe, And I perceive by severall,
both ffriendes and others that saith, by their Law he cannot
send for any prisoner any otherwayes then by A habeas
Corpus, but because that thou wrote that wee should
speake to him of that thing, wee were willing to desire it
of him, but it had bene better wee had not, being hee could
not doe it.
Thou mentioned in thy Letter that I should get Porter
before him ; how should I doe that, when hee can doe
nothing but by their order, And I have nothing to ingage
them to such A thing ; I was with three parliament men &
did desire to have him before them, And they told mee
they had noe Authoritie to call him before them ; for any
thing that I can see or perceive, there can be nothing done
before the Sisses ; ffor the more that wee stirre in it the
greater they looke upon the Crime to bee, And if it had not
bene soe much mentioned and turned over Amongst them,
it is like it might have bene better.
The last seventh day after An was gone I was with the
King in his bed chamber and spoke to him about the oath
which ffriends could not take, And spoke to him about all
y e prisoners ; And hee promissed mee that the Judges should
take order concerning friends, And that he had given them
order to that purposse, but being that he is prevented of
doeing that he promised, he shames & will not stay, when
one speakes to him. They apprehended John Swinton 1 the
last sixt day, their enmitie & envy is very great towards
him, I felt their spirits were stired up & exasperated; Collo:
Hacker is in the Tower in A sad condion & is like to suffer
sadly, It is A sad day of suffering with many of them ; It is
said that they are makeing scaffolds & thinges to take away
mens lives, but there is A hand that stayes them, which
they are ignorant of.
I am yet stayed here, but how long it may be, it is not
yet clear unto mee, my Love is unto all ffriends ; Truth
i860] Summary of Charges 375
here hath A powerful! dominion & Authoritie over all ;
Meettinges never quieter then of late they have bene ; This
day there came A contentious preist to the meeting at
Pallace yard, but his folly appeared to all sober people, and
he fled, and y e meetting was kept in {pritty} good order.
M. R]
1 The sum of such perticulers as are charged against
G. F. at Lancaster Castle 1660
The sume of such pertiqulars as are charged Against
George fox in the mittimus by which hee stands committed,
together with George fox his Answer to the said pertiqulars.
Wee Thomas Cummings 2 and Thomas Greene 3 being sent
by George fox now prisoner in the Common Goale att
Lancaster to the Goaler to desier a Coppie of his mittimus
that hee might know wherfore hee was committed, the
Goaler Answered hee could not give A Coppie of it, for
a nother had been fiened for the like, but hee gave us
Leberty to Bead it over, wherin was charged Against him,
to the best of our Rememberances, to this effect = That
hee was A person suspected to bee A disturber of the peace of
the nation, A Common Enymy to his magisty, our lord the
King, A chief upphoulder of the Qakers sect, and that hee
together with others of his phanatique opinion have of late
Endevored to Raise Insurrections in this part of the Country
to the Imbrewing the nation in. blood, with command to
the Goaler to keepe him in safe Coustody tell hee shoud be
Released By order from the King And Parliament.
I am a prisoner att Lancaster by Justis Porter A coppie
of the mittimus I cannot gett, but such like Expressions are
found in it which are Untruths = first that I am suspected
to bee A Disturber of the nations peace, Unto the King an
Enymy, and that I and others of my company should Raise
Insurrections to Imbrue the nation in blood, all which is
false, and I doe deney every word In it to be truth, for
through the nation I have been tryed of thees things
formerly, In the dayes of Olyver I was taken upp as Raising
Armes Against him, which was false, and I was taken upp to
London, and keept prisoner tell I was brought before him,
376 False Accusations [i860
and when things ware clered and I denyed draing a carnall
weapon Against him or Any man uppon the Earth, for my
weapons are spiritual!, that takes Away the occasion of
warr, and which leads in to peace, and After that major Seily
in Cornwall, who sent mee to prison, when I was brought
beefore the Judge said that I Tooke him a side and tould
him I could raise four a Thousand men in one hour, which was
false and A lye, and was then proved soe to him, for such
words I never spake to him, I never was found in Any plotts
nor ever tooke Any engagement, nor never tooke Aney oath,
nor never learned warr postuers, and soe thees things which
come from major Porter, who is latly Apointed to bee A
Justis, who hath wanted power formerly to Excersize his
Cruelty Against us, which is but the wickednes of the ould
enymy, for the peace of this nation I am not a disturber of,
but seeks the peace of it and of all men, and stands for all
nations and mens peace uppon the Earth, and wish that all
nations and men knew my Inocency in thees things, and
wheras major Porter saith, I am a Common Enymy to the
King, that is false for my love is to him and all men, though
{they bee} Enymisejs} to god and to them selves and to me,
and I can say it is of the lord that hee is come in, to bring
downe maney unrightiously sett upp, of which I had A
sight before hee came {in 3 yeere} ; its much hee should say
I am an Enymy to the King, for which I have noe Reason,
hee haveing done nothing Against mee, yett I have been
Imprisoned and persecuted this Eleven or twelve yeeres by
them that hase been Against the Kings father {& him}, which
was the party that Porter was made A major by and bore
Armes for, And not them that ware for the King ; I was
never a common Enymy to the King, nor to Any mans person
uppon the Earth, but I am in the love that fullfills the law,
and thinks noe Evell but loves Enymise{s}, and would have
the King savid and come to the knowledge of the truth,
And brought in to the feere of the lord, and to reseive his
wisdome from above, by which all things ware made and
created, that with that wisdome hee may order all things
to the glory of god, by whom It was created. I ow nothing
to the King but Love, nor to Any man, and love doth not
kill but fullfill the law.
a See note on page 215.
i66o] As Innocent as a Child 377
And major Porter further saith that hee together with
others of his phanatique opinion hath of late Endevored to
Raise Insurrections in this part of the Country to the
Imbruing this nation in blood = this is false, to thees things
I am as a child, and knows nothing of them and never
learned the postuers of warr, and my weapons are spirituell
and not carnall, and with Carnall weapons I doe not fight,
and my kingdom is not of this world saith Christ, and those
that follows Christ in the spirit the Captaine of their soul-
vation denyes the carnall weapons, who denys draing Any
carnall weapons Against the King or the parliament or Any
man uppon the Earth, yett wee have thees lyes and slanders
layed uppon us [{by Porter & his company y fc have drawne
swords against y e Kinge}], who are come to the end of the
Law, who loves Enymyes and wrastles not with flesh and
blood, and Am in that which saves mens lives, and I
wittnes Against all murtherous plots and all such as would
Imbrue the nation in blood which bee not in peace, and I
am Inocent of all thees things, and I knows them not, and
it is not in my hart to have any mans Life distroyed uppon
the Earth.
And major Porter tould mee hee Impressoned mee to
prevent a dainger becuse tymes ware trublesome, and that
wee had meetings by hundreds, I tould him wee had kept
our meetinges in most parts of the nation to wait uppon
the lord, but neither hee nor Any man in the nation had
Any occasion to suspect mee of Any tumultyous meettings
or to Raise Any tumults in the nation, who am a peasable
man and desiers the peace and good of all, and had not
gone from the place wher I was Aprehended passing two
myles In a month sence I came in to the Cuntry = and major
Porter profered the oath of allegiance to mee to take, and I
tould him I never tooke oath in my life of one side or
the other Against or for my self, but did abide in Christ
doctrine who sayed sware not att all and did suffer In that,
and all people that have but the lest sobernes in them
may see this to bee but mallice and Envy of major Porter
in Imprisoning and persecuting of mee and laying such
things to my Charge upp and downe the Country, which I
am Inocent of as a Child, and so I am ordered to bee kept
prisoner tell I be delivered by order from the King or
378 Answer to the Mittimus [IGGO
parliament = Thees things are to bee delivered to you to
bee layd Afore you to consider of before you act Any thing
that you may in the wisdome of the Lord consider the Intent
and end of mens spirits least you act the thing that will
bring the hand of the lord Against you and uppon you, as
maney have done before you, that have been in authoryty
whom god hath over throune, whom wee trust unto and
feare and cry unto day and night, who hath heard us, and
doth heare us, and will hear us, and Avenge our cause, for
much Inocent blood hath been shed, and many hath been
persecuted to death by such as hath been in authoryty
before you, who turned Against the Just whom the Lord
hath vomitted out, therfore consider with your selves for
now you have the day.
From the Inocent a sufferer in Bonds, and close prisoner
in Lancaster Castle called George ifox.
l l who am A prisoner at Lancaster by Justice Porter as
he said to me it was to prevent danger being times was
troublsome. And in his mittimus he sayth
He is A person suspected to be A disturber of the peace
of this nation.
Ansiv. this is false, for the peace of all men I seeke,
that there feet may walke in y e way of peace.
And further he sayth in the mittimus
he is A common enemie to our lord the king.
Answ. This is false, for I love him & all men upon
earth, & owe to him nothing but love nor noe man, for
that is y e doctrine of christ, for I was never A common
enemie to him nor noe mans person upon earth, but am in
y e love which fullfills y e law, & thinkes noe evill, but loves
enemies, & would have y e king saved & come to y e know
ledge of y e truth, & brought into y e feare of y e lord, & to
receive his wisdome from above by which all things was
made & created, that with y fc wisdome he may order all
things to y e glory of god, by which it w T as created, & would
have him saved & not perish nor destroyed, & thats not his
comon enemie (but his freind) as major Porter sayth in his
mittimus, for I owe {nothinge} to the king nor noe man
upon y e earth but love, & love doth not kill but fullfils y e
law.
i66o] The Quakers not a Sect 379
He sayth further
A cheife uphoulder of y e Quakers sect.
Answ. The Quakers are not A sect, but are in y e power
of god before sects was, & wittnes y e election before y e
world began, & comes to live in y e life as y e prophets &
Apostles did y* gave forth scriptures, therefore are we
hated by envious wrathfull wicked & persecuting men, but
god is y e uphoulder of us all by his mightie power from y e
wrath of y e wicked that would swallow us up.
And he further sayth that
He together with others of his phanatick opinion
hath of late endeavored to raise insurrections in this
parte of y e countrie to y e imbrueing of y e nation in
blood.
Answ. This is false : to these things I am A child &
knows nothing of them, & y e postures of warr I never
learned, & my weapons are spirituall & not carnall, & with
carnall weapons I doe not feight, and my kingdom e is not
of this world, who hath these lyes & slanders raised upon
me, who denyes drawing any carnall weapon against the
king {or parliament} or any man upon y e earth, who is come
to y e end of y e law, who loves enemies, who wrastles not
with flesh & blood, but is in that y fc saves mens lives, & A
wittnes against all murderous plots, & all such as would
imbrue y e nation in blood {which be not in peace}, who am
inocent of these things charged upon me & knew them not,
And it is not in my heart to have any mans life destroyed
upon earth. And as for phanatick which is furious, foolish,
mad & rage, he might have considered him self before he
spoke this, & learne y e humilitie which goes before y e
honor, for we through patience & meeknes hath borne lyes
slanders & persecutions many yeares, & undergone great
sufferings, & such as report these things hath striven by
them to take away y e life of y e inocent from y e earth, who
wrastle with spirituall weapons & not with flesh & blood,
but wrastles with y e power of darknes } rt leads from god, &
saves mens lives & brings them back againe to god, & is in
y e love y fc thinkes noe evill, but loves enemies, such be
not in A phanatick spirit : but such as is furious like Nebu-
chadnezar, & as mad as y e iewes & Saul against christ &
y e Apostles, was not in y e love to enemies nor y e spirit
380 " Swear e not at all"
which leads from under y e law, nor y e love which fullfills it,
is but in the phanatick {spiritt}.
And major Porter preferred the oath of alegiance to me
to take, & I tould him I never tooke oath in my life of one
side or other, against my self or for my self, but did abide in
christs doctrine who sayth sweare not at all ; & y e Apostles :
but in all your comunication let your yea be yea & your
nay, nay, though I was for y e good of him & all men, &
not against his person nor noe mans upon earth, & as for
ingadgments I never tooke any of one side or other, when
y e oath of god y fc ends all oaths saith christ, who is gods
oath & covenant, for whose sake soe many thousands hath
beene persecuted because they would not take oaths, who
would doe truth at yea & nay in {all} their comunications,
according to christs doctrine & y e Apostles without oaths
according as y e christians did in ould time, as christ & y e
Apostles taught them. And all people y t hath but y e
least sobernes in them sees this to be but malice & envie of
major Porter in Prisoning & persecuting me, & laying such
things to my charge up & downe y e countrie {which I am
inocent of as A child}.
And soe I am ordered to be kept prisoner till I be
delivered by order from y e king or Parliament.
These things are to be delivered to you to be laid before
you to consider of, before you act any thing, that you may
in y e wisdome of y e lord consider y e intent & end of mens
spirits, least you act y* thing y* will bring the hand of y e
lord god against you & upon you, as many hath done before
you y t hath beene in authoritie, whom god hath over-
throwne, whom we trust unto & feare, & cry unto day &
night, who hath heard us & doth heare us & will heare us,
& avengeth our cause, for much inocent blood hath beene
shed, & many hath beene persecuted to death, by such as
hath beene in authoritie before you, who turned against the
iust, whom y e lord hath vomited out, therfore consider your
selves, for now you have y e day.
firom y e inocent. A sufferer in bonds) George
A close prisoner in Lancaster Castell called] ffox.
Its much y* he should say y fc I am an Enemy to
y e king for which there is noe reason, he has done nothing
i66o] A Fear of Retribution 381
against me, yet I have beene prisoned and persecuted
this 1 2 yeares by them that have beene enemyes to y e kings
father, which is such as Porter.
X [I am as inocent as A child of all these things, who
wittnes y e power of god, & am in y* which was before warrs
was, or carnall weapons ether, & knows y e state where
nation with nation shall not learne warr any more, but from
y* knows redemption, and my kingdome is not of this
world, with carnall weapons 1 doe not feight, with flesh &
blood I doe not wrastle, & my weapons are not carnall but
spirituall, who am led by y e spirit of god, soe y e son of god, 2
who am not under y e law nor its weapons, but am come to
y e love which fullfills y e law, & doth not kill about y e
church & worship as y e jewes did, but loves enemies, & this
was A true Christian state in y e dayes of ould, & I seeke y e
peace of all men, y fc in it their feet might walke, that in y e
feare of y e lord god all might be preserved & kept.]
3 So G F was set at Liberty over y e heads of his perse-
cuters by y e king & his Councell by a warant from y e king
to this Judg Mallet to set G: F: at full Liberty 4 [& all
these was Lyes that Porter had forged, & his company
against G. F.
And this Porter when G f was set at Liberty Reported
that G F would undoe him for false prisoning g: f:
And this Porter had been .a Governor at Lancaster
Castle against y e King. And this Porter & his Company
maliciously Imprisoned G. F. to gratifie himselfe & to
obtaine favor from y e King & his Court, but he lost it, for
hee had been A great persecuter & plunderer of y e Royal-
lists].
5 [Now you are at y e mercy of G: Fox and Margrett Fell
who like a murtherer or a theef & worse used him, & kept him
with out a Warand, & would not suffer meat to be Brought
to him, but abused {the} servants and many other freinds,
and Set wild men to looke to him, which Sware and Cursed
and made yourselves Sport, and this hath shewed y e End
of Lampits ministry and Swareys Goverment, and y e high
382 Forgiveness in Place of Punishment [leeo
Constable cam with a Sword and a plote to take George,
which he knew and might have acaped if he would, but he
is none of y i Sperit or mind & seed, but it was in him and
upon him to bring all your wikednese to light & all Rotten
harts and Hipocrits to manifest them selves, but y e terror
of y e lord will be in and amongst your houses & upon them
and his plage, but you may..." god he is not like other
men, or Els he would not put up... a all your wikedness
which stinks all y e Contery over amonge souber people,
which is a Shame to all sobrity modesty & Simplicity and
Injenuity of youer Garage towards him & freinds & your
Neightbors & y* honerable famely Judge ffels, who Caried
your Selves more like beese then men {to y m } as tho you had
never hard talke of god & Christ, & many y* be in Authority
at London would have had them to have mad you Examples
thorow {out} y e nation to others, and had a tryell with you,
and have fyled his sufferings and accusations and have
brought them up, but being a Quainted with your Ignorance
follishness and passion y* men doe insnare y m Selves withall,
had rather shew mersy & y fc y e might repent and do soe no
more, & trewly it is much for many of you to look modesty
in y e face considering your Carrage and behaveour, & y e
Connstable which kept freinds from him, one of them tooke
a letter out of Bridgett ffels 1 hand follishly, who is called
George Mount, & led him like a theef or a trator like y e
pake of a horss thinking to reprove and revile him, which
was to y e prase of y e truth & for good to them y t love god,
who is now set at liberty by y e king & y e Judges & his
Councell & Cheefe Justices in England, who was before them
in Westminster hale, y* sade they had nothing against him
nether did the Accuse him, & would have had him to have
had his Accusers com up and his trublers, & you would... a
{let} him have y e previlede of y e Law to Chuse his Justice,
but Caried him to A Justice which {It is} Questiened above
whether he was indeed A Justis at y* tyme, & {they} saw
y* it was but mallis, both King & Councell, Judges and Cheife
Justice & y e Cort, and if he should sarve you as you have
don towards him he might undo you all, therfore Consider
& repent & do soe no more & mind gods fear and Wittness
a Edge of paper torD.
i860] Persecutors Untimely End 383
and wisdom & A mendment of Life & be not Imbouldned to
act wickedness becase Justice is not Speedely Executed.
For theire Case god will avenge and deliver his Innocent
out of y e Jaws of y e wiked but George could have acaped
you & I beleeve y e Cheife Constable knows it and y e y*
... a to Judge ffels hous, but he is none of y* sperit, tho
afterwards you are his wittneses, in y e height of your rage,
he gave his bake to y e smitter, who accted not as in y e
Sperits of men towards him, but I doe beleeve he can say
y e lord forgive you and wisheth you a mendment, and y*
y e lord may not a venge him selfe som other way on you
though he for give it and Consider it, y e wittness in your
Consiences shall answer.
from London y e 26 day of y e 8 th .
(60) Wm. Salt. 6
This Lampitt was turned out of his benefice soone after
ye kinge came in : & Jo Sawry was turned out of his
Justiceshippe : & was drowned : as hee was rideinge upon
ye high way : & ye high constables wiffe where they kept
G: ff: which scolded att him shee was cutt off: & Mount
ye other constable : whoe {falsely} Informed ye Justice
howe unwillinge G: ff: was to come hee was cut off: & ye
Cheife Constable hee was cutt off : soe a sad calamity came
upon y m all y* thus wronged & abused G: ff:]
c And {so} Judge Mallet graunted foorth a warrant to ye
sheriffs of Lancasheere to supersede his warrant & soe ye
Lords power & truth came over all to his everlastinge
praise.
And then there was a Company of envious wicked
spiritts was troubled y fc I was sett at liberty whoe was not
of ye Kinges party.
And then terror & feare fell upon Justice Porter y fc I
woulde take ye advantage of ye law upon him & undoe him
& his wiffe & children for my wronge Imprisonement but I
a Corner of paper torn.
5 This name has been heavily crossed through and the initials G ff
substituted by Thomas Lower.
c Narrative continued from page 367.
384 The Word of a King [leeo
saide I shoulde leave him to ye Lord : & if ye Lord did
forgive him I shoulde & not trouble my selfe with him.
[And though hee was maior of Lancaster & a Justice of
peace of ye County : & entertained ye Judges at his house
yett after this ye Lord cutt him of & his wiffe was cast
Injto Lancaster} prison for debt {where her husband had
cast mee}.
And this Judge Mallett was a cruell man & not longe
after hee dyed : & Judge fibster became a very bitter cruell
man & persecuted & premunired freinds & ye Lord cutt him
of alsoe : & then there came in another Lord Cheife Justice
worse then fibster for persecutinge our ffreinds & ye Lord
cutt him of alsoe.]
{And ye Lord cutt off y* wicked Constable Mounts : & ye
high constable : & ye other constables wiffe.}
And soe when I was sett at liberty ye Lords power truth
& life & light shined over ye nation : & y* which I had
travailed for in my suffringes att Readinge now was come
over all : & glorious great meetinges wee had & ye ever-
lastinge truth shined & many flocked In unto truth [& ye
preists began to bee afraide for ye common prayer began to
bee sett uppe againe & ye presbyterians with there directory
& Independants with there church faith y fc came to bee laide
asyde.
1660. And this was {in} ye first yeere of ye comeinge in
of ye kinge to reigne.]
And after I had stayde a while in ye Citty I past Into
ye Countryes visitinge freinds uppe & doune & ye meetings
was quiett & Rich Huberthorne was {with} ye Kinge & ye
Kinge saide none shoulde molest us soe wee lived peaceablely
& promised it upon ye worde of a kinge to us & y fc wee
shoulde make such use of his promise 1 .
[And about this time ye Kinge was willinge y* one
sorte of {ye dissentinge} people shoulde have there liberty
& y* wee might have it assoon as any because they were
sensible of our sufferinges in ye former powers days.]
And some freinds had there liberty to goe Into ye house
of Lords before y m & ye Bishopps : soe freinds had there
liberty to declare there reasons why they coulde not pay
tyths nor sweare nor Joine with ye other worshipps nor
goe to ye steeplehouses & they hearde y m [very] moderately :
i66o] Cromwell s Body hanged at Tyburn 385
[which in ye other powers days wee coulde never have soe
much favor.
Though in ye other powers days two women did
present ye testimonyes of {above} 7000 womens hands 1
against tyths & ye reasons why they coulde not holde uppe
the preists y* tooke tyths now & how y fc Christ had ended
Jewiss presthoode y fc did take tyths & sent foorth his
messengers & ministers & Apostles freely & commanded y m
y fc as they had received freely soe they shoulde give freely
againe {& ho we they coulde not holde uppe these preists &
tyths y* God never commanded}.
And this was before ye Kinge came in but Nothinge did
these powers in ye thinge.
And though 0: G: at Dunbar fight had promised to ye
Lord y fc if hee gave him ye victory over his enmys hee
woulde take away tyths &c: or else lett him bee rowled
Into his grave with infamy.
But when ye Lord had given him victory & hee came to
bee cheife hee confirmed ye former lawes y fc if people did not
sett foorth there tyths they shoulde pay treble & this to bee
executed by two Justices of peace in ye country: upon ye
oath of two wittnesses.
Butt when ye Kinge came in they tooke {him} uppe &
hanged him : & buryed him under Tyburn {where hee was
rowled Into his grave} with Infamy a .
And when I saw him hanginge there I saw his worde
Justly come upon him 2 .
But ye Lords power & truth spreade : & wee was
promised still liberty : & when it was goeinge forward one
or other dirty spiritts put in papers & sett stoppe to it
y* seemed to bee for us].
And there was about 700 freinds in prison upon con
tempts {to O: Cromwell: & Bicharde & there goverment}
when ye Kinge came in : & hee sett y m all at liberty.
And It was said there was something drawne uppe y fc
wee shoulde have our liberty onely It wanted signeing : &
one ye first day there were glorious meetinges & ye Lords
truth shined over all & his power was sett over all : & att
midnight soone after ye drums beate & they cryed armes
armes : for ye monarchy people 3 were uppe.
The words where hee lyes followed but were struck out.
G. F. 25
386 Outbreak of Fifth Monarchy Men [i860
*And I gott uppe out of bed & in ye morninge tooke
boate : & came doune to Whitehall stayres & went through
Whitehall & they looked strangely upon mee & I went to
ye Pell Mell & all ye citty & suburbes was uppe in armes &
exceedinge rude all people was against us & they cryed
there was a Quakers house plucke it doune & diverse
freinds came thither to mee & as a freinde {one Henery
ffell 2 } was goeinge to "a generall meetinge at Major Beards a
ye souldyers knockt him doune & hee had beene killed if
ye Duke of Yorke 3 had not come.
And all ye prisons were soone after filled with freindes
& many Inns both in Cittys toundes & Country & Itt was
harde for any {sober} people to stirr for severall weekes time.
And Margarett fell went to ye Kinge & tolde him
what worke there was in ye Citty & nation & shewed him
yt wee W ere a peaceable Innocent people & y fc wee must
keepe our meetinges as wee used to doe : & y* It concerned
him to see y fc peace was kept y fc soe noe bloode might bee
shedd & att this time Itt was harde for any to goe uppe &
doune ye streets to buy provision for there houses either
men or women for they draggd men & women & some out
of there sicke beds by ye leggs : & one man y fc was in a
feaver ye souldyers draggd out of his bed to prison & when
hee was brought there hee dyed whose name was one Tho:
Paggett 64 .
And soe ye first day came on y fc freinds went to there
meetinges as they used to doe & many was taken prisoners
& I stayde c ye meetinge att Pell Mell & c on ye 7 th day night
there came a Company of troopers & knockt att ye doore &
ye maide lett y m in & they rusht into ye house & layde
holde upon mee & there was a souldyer y t had beene for ye
parlament clappt his hande to my pockett & askt whether
I had any pistolls.
And I tolde him hee knew y* I did not use to carry
pistolls why did hee aske such a question of mee whoe hee
knew was a peaceable man.
And others runn uppe Into ye chamber & founde Marsh
a ... a Friends House in Ellwood editions.
b Pachyn in Ellwood editions.
c Ellwood editions have at the Pell-mell, intending to be at the Meeting
there : but
1660] No Power to stop the Word of Life 387
an Esquire in his bed one of ye Kinges bed chamber men :
whoe haveinge a love to mee came & lodged where I did.
Soe y m y*> were of ye Kinges party saide why shall wee
take this man away : wee will lett him alone : oh says the
parlament souldyers hee is one of ye head & {cheife} ririge-
leader : upon this ye souldyers was takeinge mee away :
& Esq: Marsh hearinge of it hee sent for him that com
manded ye party of horse to lett mee alone for hee woulde
see mee foorth comeinge in ye morninge.
And in ye morninge before they coulde fetch mee &
before ye meettinge was gathered there comes a company of
foote to ye house & one of y m drew out his sworde & helde
it over my heade & I askt him wherfore hee drew his
sworde at a naked man & soe beinge ashamed another bidd
him putt it uppe & soe they carryed mee away before ye
other troopers coulde come for mee to Whitehall.
And severall freinds was comeinge in to ye meetinge &
I commended there boldnesse & cheerfulnesse.
And when they had brought mee to Whitehall Esq:
Marsh spoake to Lord Gerarde 1 : & hee came in & bid y m
sett mee at liberty but before I was sett at liberty I
was kept there two or three houres & ye souldyers & people
was exceedinge rude : & I declared ye truth unto y m &
there came some great persons whoe were very full of envy :
what sayd they doe yee lett him preach : putt him in such
aplace where hee may not stirr: & soe they putt mee there :
& ye souldyers watcht over mee.
And though they coulde confine my body & keepe y fc
uppe yett I tolde y m they coulde not stoppe uppe ye worde
of life : & some came & askt mee what I was & I tolde y m
a preacher of righteousnesse.
So when I was sett at liberty ye marshall demaunded
fees but I tolde him I coulde not give him any neither was
it our practise : & how coulde they demaunde fees of mee
whoe was Innocent neverthelesse in my owne power I
woulde give him 2 d - to make {him &} ye souldyers drinke :
but ^ they shouted at y fc & tooke it disdainefully : soe I tolde
y m if they woulde not accept it chuse y m for I shoulde give
y m noe fees 2 .
And soe I came through ye guardes & ye Lords power
came over y m : & after I had declared ye truth to ye
252
388 Intercepted Correspondence [i6eo
guarde & ye souldyers I went uppe ye streets with two
Irish Collonells y fc came from Whitehall & came to an Inn :
& I desired these two great persons to speake to ye guarde
to lett mee goe in & visit my freinds y fc were in prison there
in ye Inn but they woulde not.
Nevertheless I desired ye centory to lett mee goe uppe
& hee a did soe & there was many freindes there att ye Inn
kept in prison under a guarde.
And I looket out of ye window & saw {ye} souldyers
goeinge to ye Pell Mell to search for mee there againe.
And fmdeinge mee not they turned there faces towards
ye Inn : to bid all come out y* was not prisoners soe they
went out : & I askt ye souldyers whether I might not stay
there awhile with my freinds & they" saide yes & soe I
escaped there hands againe.
And then they went to search at Pell Mell againe where
I used some times to lodge & soe towards night I was
doune to Pell Mell : & after I had stayde there awhile ]
went uppe Into ye Gitty & great rifleinge of houses there
was at this time but I went to a private freinds house &
Rich: Huberthorne {was with mee} where wee drew uppe a
declaration against plotts & fightinges to bee presented to ye
Kinge & his Oouncell 1 .
And when wee had drawn it uppe & sent it to ye presse
Itt was taken in ye presse [& soe wee losst it].
And all ye posts was layde to search all letters^ 2 : so y
none coulde passe but wee hearde of severall thousands of
our freindes y fc were cast Into prison & Margarett Fell
carryed ye account of y m to ye Kinge & Councell & ye thirde
day after wee had an account of severall thousands more y
were cast Into prison & shee went & layde y m alsoe before
ye Kinge & his Councell & they wondred how wee could
have such Intelligent seeinge they had given such strict
Charge for ye Interceptinge all letters : but ye Lord did soe
order it y* wee had an account as aforesaid notwithstand-
inge all there stopps 3 .
And then wee drew uppe another declaration 4 : & gott it
printed & sent some of y m to ye Kinge & Councell : & they
was solde uppe & doune ye streets & att ye exchange : &
a Changed later to they
First written hee
leeo] Sufferings to be Recorded 389
there was a great darknesse both in ye citty & country:
but this declaration of ours cleered ye ayre & layde ye
darknesse & ye Kinge gave foorth after this a litle procla
mation y* noe souldyers shoulde goe to search any house
butt with a constable.
And att ye execution of these monarchy men they
cleered us from haveinge any hande in there plott.
And after ye light had shined over all though many
thousands was Imprisoned uppe & doune ye nation all
goales beinge full : & ye Kinge gave foorth after this a
declaration y fc freinds shoulde bee sett att liberty without
{payinge} fees.
And soe ye truth with great labor travell & care came
over all for Margarett & Tho: Moore went often to ye Kinge
[{& hee was tender towards y m }].
1 [1660] And in ye commonwealths time when freinds
were under cruell persecutions & suffringes I was moved of
ye Lord to write foorth a paper y* freinds might draw uppe
there suifringes & lay y m before ye Justices att ye sessions 2 :
& if they woulde not doe y m Justice then to lay it before ye
Judge of ye assises & if hee woulde not doe y m Justice then
to lay it before ye parlamente : & after before O : & his
Councell & his parlaments y* they might see what was
donne in there family a & if they woulde not doe Justice
then to lay it before ye Lord whoe hearde ye cryes of ye
oppressed & ye widdowes & ye fatherlesse : y fc they had made
for y* which wee suffered for & our Goods were spoiled for
was for our obediens to ye Lord in his power & in his spiritt
& hee was able to helpe & to succor for wee had noe helper
in ye earth but him : & hee did heare his & did brinke an
overflowinge scourge over all ye heads of our persecutors y*
brought a quakinge & a dreade & a feare amongst & on y m
all : y l had nicknamed us ye Children of light & caled us in
scorne Quakers but the Lord made y m Quake soe as many
of y m woulde have beene feigne to have hid y m selves
amongst us : & att last many of y m came to confesse to ye
truth.
Oh ye daily reproaches & beatinges in highways
because wee woulde not putt of our hatts : & for sayinge
Ellwood editions read Government
390 "Judas lost his bagge" [i860
thou to people & ye preists spoileinge our goods because
wee coulde not putt Into there mouths & give y m tyths :
besydes castinge in prison [as ye records & bookes of suff-
ringes testify e].
Besydes ye great fines in Courtes for not swearinge but
with y m for all these thinges ye Lord God did pleade &
some of y m was soe wicked when they were turned out of
there place & office as to say y fc if they had power they
woulde doe ye same againe.
[But olde Cains sworde & armes were taken out of his
hande {& Judas had lost his bagge}.]
And then they complained y* all these thinges y* were
come to passe was alonge of us.
And I was moved to write to those Justices & to tell
y m did wee ever resist y m when they tooke our plows &
plowgeare our cowes & horses & Kittells & platters from us :
& whipt us & sett us in ye stockes & cast us in prison &
all this for serveinge & worshipinge of God in spiritt &
truth & because wee coulde not conforme to there religion
did wee ever resist y m : did wee not give y m our backes &
our cheekes & our faces to spitt on & our haire to plucke
att & had not there preists y* prompted y m one to such
workes plucked y m Into ye Ditch & why woulde thee a say
It was longe of us when it was alonge of there preists there
blinde prophetts y t followd there owne spiritts & coulde
see nothinge of those times & thinges y* was comeinge &
upon y m which wee had longe foore warned y m of as Jere
miah & Christ had foorewarned Jerusalem : & they thought
to have ruined & undon us but they ruined y m selves : butt
wee coulde praise God notwithstandinge all there plunder-
inge of us y* wee had a kettell & a platter & a horse & plow
still [& wee doe know y fc if ye presbyterians if they could
gett but ye magistrates staffe to upholde y m {& Judas bagge
againe} they woulde bee as bad as ever they was but our
backes & cheekes was ready as aforesaid & wee coulde &
can turne y m to all ye smiters one ye earth & wee did not
look for any helpe from men but our helper was & is ye
Lord]. 1
Ellwood editions read they
b Originally comeinge but altered to another word of uncertain reading,
perhaps corned
NOTES.
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS.
D. = Friends Reference Library, at Devonshire House, Bishopsgate,
London, E.G., containing the largest collection in the world of books and
MSS. relating to the Religious Society of Friends. Established 1673.
A. R. B. MSS. = A collection in D., of 250 original letters of early Friends, from
1654 to 1688, so named because worked over by Abram Rawlinson Barclay for
his Letters, 1841.
Barclay, Letters = Letters, &c. of Early Friends; illustrative of the History
of the Society from nearly its Origin, to about the Period of George Fox s
Decease, edited by Abram Rawlinson Barclay. London, 1841.
Biog. Memoirs = Biographical Memoirs: being a Record of the Christian
Lives of Members of the Society of Friends, by Edward and Thomas J. Backhouse,
Thomas Mounsey, and Thomas Robson, of Liverpool. 5 vols. The first vol. was
printed (London, 1854), the remainder are in MS. in D.
Bowden, Hist. = The History of the Society of Friends in America, by James
Bowden. 2 vols. London, 1850 4.
Budge, Annals = Annals of the Early Friends, by Frances Anne Budge, 1877
and later. Reprinted from the " Friends Quarterly Examiner."
Burton, Diary = Diary of Thomas Burton, Esq., Member in the Parliaments
of Oliver and Richard Cromwell, from 1656 to 1659, edited by J. T. Rutt.
4 vols. London, 1828.
Cal. S. P. Dom. = Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, preserved in the
Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London. Calendars have been published
from the reign of King Henry VIII to near the end of the reign of King
Charles II and also for parts of the reigns of subsequent sovereigns. Extracts
referring to Friends are in course of publication by the Friends Historical
Society, under the title "Extracts from State Papers."
Caton MSS. See under Middleton MSS.
Com. and Prot. = History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649 1656,
by S. R. Gardiner. New ed. 4 vols. London, 1903.
Croese, Hist. = The General History of the Quakers, by Gerard Croese.
London, 1696. This was printed in Latin, Amsterdam, 1695, and in German,
Berlin, 1696.
D. See above.
D. N. B. = Dictionary of National Biography, edited by Leslie Stephen.
68 vols. 1885-1904. The biographies of Quakers and ex- Quakers amount to
about 315, or, say, three per cent, of the whole of the entries, say, from
1675 (reckoning 11,000 entries out of a total of 30,378 biographies). Or about
three and a half per cent, if allowance is made for those connected by marriage
or descent (Note by J. J. Green).
392 Notes
Dix MSS.=A collection in D. of about 300 MSS., with index, illustrating
the Early Times of the Society of Friends, presented, in 1876, by James Dix, of
Bristol (d. 1880).
Ell wood, Hist. = The History of the Life of Thomas Ellwood. Written by his
own Hand. London, 1714 and later edd.
Extracts from State Papers = Extracts from State Papers Relating to Friends.
First Series, 1654 to 1658, published for the Friends Historical Society.
London, 1910.
F. P. T. = "The First Publishers of Truth," being early Records (not
previously printed) of the Introduction of Quakerism into the Counties of
England and Wales. Edited for the Friends Historical Society, by Norman
Penney, with Introduction by Thomas Hodgkin, D.C.L., D.Litt. London, 1907.
Friends Registers. All references to Registers in these notes (except to such
as are specified as Parish Registers) are to the digested copy from original books
(now in Somerset House) of births, marriages and deaths of Friends in Great
Britain, from about 1650 to the present time, kept at Friends Central Offices,
Devonshire House, Bishopsgate, London, E.G. See " Some Special Studies in
Genealogy The Quaker Records," by Josiah Newman, F.R.Hist.S. London,
1908.
Gibson MSS. = Ten volumes and portfolios containing original letters, drawings,
newscuttings etc. bequeathed to D. by George Stacey Gibson (d. 1883).
Gough, Hist. = History of the People called Quakers, by John Gough. 4 vols.
Dublin, 178990.
Janney, Hist. = History of the Religious Society of Friends, from its Rise to
the year 1828, by Samuel M. Janney. 4 vols. Philadelphia, 1859. MS. Index
in D.
Jnl F. H. & = The quarterly Journal of the Friends Historical Society,
commenced 1903. Editorial office, Devonshire House, Bishopsgate, London, E.G.
Markey MSS. = A folio volume in D. of over 300 pages, containing contemporary
copies of letters and papers relating to early Friends, once belonging to William
Markey, of London.
Middleton MSS. = A folio volume in D. of 158 pages bound in calf containing
contemporary copies of various letters of early Friends, once in the possession of
Boswell Middleton (d. 1763). Otherwise called Caton MSS.
Noncon. Mem. = The Nonconformist s Memorial ; being an Account of the
Lives... of the Two Thousand Ministers Ejected from the Church of England...
1662. By Calamy, revised by Palmer. 2nd ed. 3 vols. London, 1802.
Piety Promoted = Piety Promoted in a Collection of Dying Sayings of many
of the People called Quakers, by various editors. The first part was published
in 1701, and the eleventh part in 1829. Many edd. were published in London,
Dublin, and Philadelphia ; it was translated into Latin and French.
Row MSS. = Eight volumes of MS. relating to members of the Society of Friends
of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, written by John Row, c. 1780, and
presented to D. by Sir Richard Tangye (d. 1906).
Rutty, Hist. A History of the Rise and Progress of the People called
Quakers in Ireland, from the year 1653 to 1700, by Thomas Wight. With
a Continuance to 1751, by John Rutty, M.D. Dublin, 1751, and later edd.
Sewel, Hist. = History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian
People called Quakers, by William Sewel. London, 1722, and later edd. This
was printed in Dutch, Amsterdam 1717, and German, 1742.
Short Journal = A MS. in D. of 130 oblong pages. It is endorsed in Fox s
handwriting "a short jornall of gff never wer printd," with the addition by
another hand "of Some Short things from ab fc y e year 1648 to King Charles
y e 2 d Dayes."
Notes 393
Smith, Cata. = A. Descriptive Catalogue of Friends Books, or Books written
by Members of the Society of Friends, by Joseph Smith. 2 vols. London, 1867.
With Supplement, 1893.
Smith, Adv. ata. = Bibliotheca Anti-Quakeriana; or a Catalogue of Books
Adverse to the Society of Friends, by Joseph Smith. London, 1873.
Spence MSS. =A collection of seventeenth century MSS. belonging to Robert
Spence, of North Shields and London. 3 vols. The first and second volumes
comprise the MS. of the "Journal of George Fox," and the third volume is formed
of numerous letters to and from the Fell family. Deposited in D.
Su/. = A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers, from
16501689. Taken from Original Records and other Authentick Accounts, by
Joseph Besse. In two folio volumes. London, 1753.
Swale MSS. = A collection of letters and papers on various subiects, collected
by Philip Swale, of Yorkshire, lawyer (d. 1687). 3 vols. Deposited in D.
Swarth. MSS. = Collection in D. of about fourteen hundred original seventeenth
century letters, papers, etc. These and many other MS. records of early
Quakerism were preserved at Swarthmoor Hall, until 1759, when they were
dispersed, on the sale of the estate. They are gradually being collected together
again at Devonshire House.
Watson MSS. =A volume of copies of letters of early Friends written by
Samuel Watson (d. 1708). In D.
Webb, Fells = The Fells of Swarthmoor Hall and their Friends, compiled
chiefly from original letters and other documents never before published, by
Maria Webb. London, 1865, and later edd.
Webb, Penns = The Penns and Peningtons of the Seventeenth Century,
illustrated by original family Letters, by Maria Webb. London, 1867, and
later ed.
West Answering =The West Answering to the North, in the fierce and cruel
Persecution of... George Fox, Edward Pyot, and William Salt at Lanceston in
Cornwall, etc. London, 1657.
Westmorland Quaker Records = A collection of newspaper cuttings, from the
" Kendal Mercury and Times," commencing January, 1902. In D. with Index.
Whiting, Memoirs = Persecution Expos d, in some Memoirs relating to the
Sufferings of... many... Quakers... in the West of England, by John Whiting.
London, 1715, and later ed.
Y. M. Minutes = The MS. records of London Yearly Meeting, complete from
1672 to the present, in 31 volumes, in D. *
NOTE
1 Thomas Bretland ( 1656) was Lecturer at Chesterfield in the
early part of 1650. Later in the year he became Vicar, although his
name does not appear in the list of Vicars of the parish supplied by
the present holder of the living. He is described as " an able, honest
man" (Cox, Churches of Derbyshire, 1875, i. 173). Bretland was pro
bably " the priest of the town " referred to by William Edmondson
(Journal, 1715, p. 4).
2 The first 3 pages of the MS. (pp. 1 4, 9, 10) are not in the
handwriting of Thomas Lower, although he has added to the text
and corrected it in various places.
3 The term priest was applied by early Friends to all persons
who were in receipt of money for preaching, irrespective of the
particular sect to which they belonged.
394 Notes
PAGE NOTE
1 4 Fox and his fellow-workers had imbibed much of the spirit of the
Hebrew prophets, who pronounced and recorded retribution upon
evil-doers. Fox was quick to note what he considered to be judg
ments upon his persecutors, which carne to his knowledge, but in
some cases the events recorded as judgments can hardly be so
estimated.
One of the questions to be annually answered by the Church
Meetings of early Quakers was : " What signal Judgements have
come upon Persecutors?" but in 1701, this question was suspended
(Minutes of London Yearly Meeting (MS. in D.), ii. 308, 340).
F. P. T. ; and many early Journals. For an adverse view, see
Bugg, Finishing Stroke, 1712, pt. iv, p. 345.
1 5 Nathaniel Stephens (c. 16061678) was M.A. of Oxford, and
became connected with Fenny Drayton about 1638 as Curate, and in
1659 as Rector. He was ejected for nonconformity in 1662, and
after having been seven times driven from Drayton, he settled at
Stoke Golding in the same county and held meetings at his house
after the Presbyterian manner. He is described as " a good scholar
and a useful preacher, in his younger days a very hard student,
in his old age pleasant and chearful " (Noncon. Mem.}. Fox gave
him a very different character.
Stephens s wife was also much opposed to Fox, for it is said that on
one occasion she " very unseemly plucked and haled him up and
downe, and scoffed and laughed" (Farnsworth, Spirituall Man,
1655, p. 31).
D. JV. B. ; Jnl. F. H. 8. i. iv. vi. ; Bate, Declaration of Indulgence,
1908, p. xxx vi.
2 1 This insertion was made by Thomas Lower. Kidsley Park forms
the N.E. portion of the parish of Smalley. It probably consisted then
as it does now of a small number of farmhouses. The " Olde Parke
Farm " appears to have been in the hands of Friends from about
1650 to 1863. The Smeeton family was in occupation in 1691. In
1654, John Story and John Wilkinson had a great meeting here at
which the Ranters "began to singe & whisell & swear" (Swarth. MSS.
iv. 63).
Kerry, History of Smalley, 1905 ; manuscripts in the possession of
Edward Watkins, Fritchley.
2 2 Ellwood editions contain several further questions and answers,
including the oft-quoted words, " We are nothing ; Christ is all."
2 3 According to the Mittimus, which is given by Ellwood, this was
John Fretwell of Stainsby, Derbyshire. Of him Fox writes, " The
poor man was in trouble a great while before hee returned to y e
power of God again " (Short Journal} ; and in a letter from Richard
Farnsworth to G. Fox in 1653, we read, "John Fretwell is kept
verie open & much Power doth goe alonge with him " (Swarth. MSS.
iii. 52). The Friends Registers of Derbyshire contain a record of the
death of a Friend of this name in 1685.
4 1 Justice Bennett will always be remembered in connection with
the name Quaker. He may be identified with Gervase Bennett, of
Snelston. In the Appendix to Glover s History of Derbyshire, 1829,
vol. ii. " Jervas Bennet of Snelson, esq." appears in a list of Justices
for the county of Derby, 1650. Fox describes him as " of Darby,"
and it is probable that he had a house in the town as well as one at
Snelston.
Notes 395
PAGE NOTE
Bennett was Mayor of Derby in 1645, and he was also a member
of the Nominated (Barebones) Parliament of 1653 (Corn, and Prot.
ii. 308). He was also sworn a member of the Council of State in
1653 (Cal. S. P. Dom. 16534).
Croese states in his History of the Quakers (1696, i. 35), " The
Quakers tell us that this Judge Ben net [whose pre-nomeri he gives,
Jeremy], in the mean time that he was so severe and troublesome,
was afflicted by God with a Remarkable stroke." Bennett does not
appear by name in Suff.
An indenture, dated 1665, and signed by Bennett, is preserved
in D.
The Snelston registers state that " Gervase Bennett, Esq." was
buried on the 10th February, 1670.
4 2 Of the origin of the name Quaker, as applied to Friends, Fox says,
" The first nick-namer of the Quakers that ever I heard was a corrupt
Justice whose name was Gervase Bennet in Darby... though the
mighty power of the Lord God had been known years before " (Great
Mistery, 1659, pp. 61, 110).
William Penn is in agreement as to the origin of the name, adding,
" Howbeit for distinction sake, we do write and use the Name,
Quaker, not being ashamed of the Word of God at which we have
trembled, Isa. 66. 2" (Serious Apology, 1671, p. 12); and Robert
Barclay remarks, "We are not ashamed of the name, though it be
none of our choosing" (Apology, 1673, prop. xi. sect. 8).
Once given, the name was quickly adopted. Perhaps its first use
in print is in The Pulpit Guarded, by Thomas Hall, of which the
dedication is dated Jan. 1, 1651. In 1654, the name first appears in
the records of Parliament. The word quaker was, of course, not
new ; it was used in 1647 to designate "a sect of women come
from beyond the sea " (New Eng. Diet. s. v. Quaker ; R. M. Jones,
George Fox, 1903, i. 125 n.).
Fox and his followers called themselves Children of the Light,
Friends of Truth, or, simply, Friends. The present official title is
"the religious Society of Friends," but the words Quaker and
Quakerism have always been in more or less use among Friends
themselves, and they have now little, if any, objection to their use by
others.
5 1 This paper occupies If pages of MS. The main portion is in a
handwriting which recurs later. Three other writers contribute to
the endorsement placed at the head of the paper as printed.
Among Swarth. MSS. (ii. 44) is a half sheet, much discoloured
with age, containing an address by Fox from Derby prison to Justice
Bennett and Colonel Barton. The endorsement only was written
by Fox.
"Fox wrote other papers while in jail, some of which are given by
Ellwood, and one is to be found in Suff. i. 136.
5 2 Robert Widders (c. 16181686), of Upper Kellett, Lancashire, was
convinced by George Fox in 1652, and he soon began the missionary
labours which ended only with his life. Margaret Fox writes of
him, " 1 have known him thirty-four years ; we were made partakers
of the eternal Truth together. ... He would not have failed to come
and see us [at Swarthmoor] night or day over two dangerous Sands,
if it had been in the deep of Winter, many a time hath he done
so of his own accord.... He was not much in Declaration," meaning
that he was not a great preacher (Testimony in his Life and Death,
396 Notes
PAGE NOTE
1688, p. 13). His wife, Jane, his son, Thomas, and many others also
testify to his worth (ibid. pp. 10 ff.).
Though generally written Withers in the MS., the more usual form
is Widders. His letters, of which several are preserved in D., are
signed Widder.
5 3 Probably James Taylor, of Cartmel, for whom see 46. 4.
5 4 Priest Baker is not yet identified.
5 5 Miles Halhead (c. 1614 ) lived at Mountjoy (pronounced
Mungey locally), near Underbarrow, Westmorland. He was con
verted in 1652 and in the following year became a travelling preacher;
he journeyed to many places in England, Scotland arid Ireland.
His wife, Ann Halhead, at first opposed his work, saying at times
" Would to God I had married a drunkard ! then I might have found
him at the ale-house ; but now I cannot tell where to find my
husband " (quoted by Janney, Hist. i. 148). Halhead frequently
suffered imprisonment; with Thomas Salthouse he lay for about
a year in jail at Plymouth and Exeter, having been charged at
Exeter Sessions, July, 1655, with "using provoking words against
George Brookes " (Swarth. MSB. ; Wounds of an Enemie, 1656). His
deatli took place before 1690 as his name appears in Richardson s
List of Ministers Deceased, 1689 (MS. in IX).
Welde, Perfect Pharise, 1654, p. 48 ; West Answering, 1657, p. 158;
Blome, Fanatick /list. 1660, p. 212; Sufferings and Passages of Myles
Halhead, 1690; Whiting, Memoirs, 1715.
7 1 In 1643, Fox began his journeys in search of Truth; early in
1646 came various "openings" to him and he heard a voice which
said, " There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy
Condition," and in the same year is dated the convincement of
Elizabeth Hooton, of Skegby, Fox s first convert. From 1650 the
rise of Quakerism was very rapid, first in the Midlands, then in the
North, South, East and West.
9 1 These nine lines of MS. are written on the same sheet as the
address to Bennett, 5. 1. They are in a handwriting which recurs
occasionally in the MS. The examination referred to does not appear
among inserted documents.
9 2 Probably in error for Gervase Bennett.
9 3 Compare Fox s " Lamentation," written to the people of Derby
during his imprisonment, beginning "As the Waters run away,
when the Flood-Gates arc up ; so doth the Visitation of God s Love
pass away from thee, Darby ! " (Ellwood editions).
10 1 From this point the narrative portions of the Journal were written
by Thomas Lower. See Introduction.
10 2 Rice Jones (Rhys Johns) was " first convinced of Truth, but soon
turned aside" (Whitehead, Christian Progress, 1725, p. 120). He
gathered a company around him, who held their meetings at the
Castle in Nottingham, and who were known as "Proud Quakers"
or the "Castle Company." James Nayler visited Jones in 1654 and
had some sharp controversy with him (Swarth. MSS. iii. 75). William
Smith, of Besthorpe, describes the followers of Jones thus : "These
people have taken up a belief that they may keep their inward unto
God, and yield their bodies to comply with outward things" (Few
Words unto a Peculiar People, 1669, p. 1, in which tract several
of the company are mentioned by name). A MS. in the handwriting
Notes 397
AGE NOTE
of Fox, containing the substance of the wordn of Jones given on p. 10,
is preserved in D. Fox writes, "ther rneetinges scaterd except Horn
of them met together on the first day to play at shovell bord."
Cropper, Sufferings of Quakers in Notts. 1892, p. xi ; Letter from
Lady (Jon way to Dr Henry More, 1675, printed in Jnl. F. II. *S . vii ;
Swarth. MSH. vii. 104.
13 1 Nathanael Barton, Colonel, Justice and Preacher. He was probably
the Colonel-preacher mentioned on p. 2. With Bennett he signed the
mittimus which lodged Fox in Derby House of Correction and to
him Fox wrote several letters from his prison (Kll. edd. ; Swarth. MBS.
ii. 44). He was a member of the Barebones Parliament (Com. and
Prot. ii. 308). Palmer associates his name with the town of Cauldwell
(Noncon. Mem.}.
Cal. & l\ Dom. 1650; Carlyle, CromwelCs Letters, 1869; Hodgkiri,
Fox, 1896.
13 2 Thomas Saunders (c. 16101695) of Little Ireton. He was a
prominent Derbyshire Parliamentarian, and is thus described in
the Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson : " A very godly honest country
gentleman, but had not many things requisite for a great soldier." In
1654, he was instructed to break up Friends meetings in Derbyshire
(Cal. ti. P. Dom. 1654; tiuf. i. 137). In 1664, Saunders was im
plicated with others in an alleged rising of Presbyterians and he
had to enter into heavy recognizances, but the last eight years of
his life were spent in peace. Carlyle, Cromwell s Letters, 1869; Firth,
Cromwell s Army, 1902; Viet. Hist. Derbyshire, 1907.
13 3 About a score of letters, addressed by Fox to priests, magistrates,
the people of Derby and to Friends, are printed in Ell. edd.
13 4 Fox s spirit was much exercised with the need for amelioration in
the social conditions of his time and for a juster treatment of
prisoners ; arid many of his followers, since his day, have devoted
themselves with much success to work for the same end.
14 1 "The Purefoy family were for more than three centuries the
territorial aristocracy of Drayton...Only the funereal monuments
now remain to attest the family s former greatness" (Hodgkin, Fox,
1896). George Purefoy, squire of the Parish, who presented Stephens
to the Rectory, was probably the Colonel Purefoy of the Journal.
15 1 The leaf on which is written the narrative from this point to the
break on the next page, is not numbered with the leaves which
precede and follow it. It is, however, in the principal handwriting
of the Journal, although, to judge from the colour of the ink, it was
not written at the same time as the numbered leaves of this portion
of the MS. There is a K3^ m the margin of the previous leaf to
denote the position of the insertion. Above statement is interesting
in view of the peculiar character of the Lichfield episode.
15 2 Enquiries of inhabitants of the district have not yet resulted in
the identification of Bushel House. One conjecture associates it
with Bishop Hill or Bishop s Hill, a farm-house in Han bury parish,
Staffs, (just as Bishopbury or Bishopsbury becomes Bushbury).
15 3 " It was at Lichfield that Fox performed what was almost the only
and certainly the most pronounced act of his life, which had the
appearance of wild fanaticism, and which is often wrongly regarded
as typical of his whole career (Prof. James in Varieties of Religious
Experience, 1902, p. 7, asserts that Fox s Journal abounds in entries
of this sort ). When it is remembered that Fox had but lately been
39^ Notes
PAGE NOTE
released from a year s imprisonment at Derby, overwrought and
weakened, especially by the last six months spent in the common
jail and dungeon, it is not difficult to account for his action"
(Brayshaw in Handbook of Yearly Meeting, 1908, p. 50).
A painting by Robert Spence exhibited at the Royal Academy in
1903 and now hanging in the Public Gallery at Lichtield, illustrates
this strange scene.
Sewel, Hist. 1722, omits reference to the incident.
Lives of Fox by Bickley, 1884, Hodgkiu, 1896, Jones, 1903, and
others; Transactions Cong. Hist. Soc. 1901, i. 195.
16 1 Richard Farnsworth ( 1666) of Tick Hill, Yorks. After his
convincement he travelled into many parts of England. He suffered
some months imprisonment at Banbury in 1655 (Saints Testimony,
1655), where he was visited by John Roberts, of Cirencester (among
others), who found him "at a grate preaching to the people in the
Street" (Lawrence, Quaker of Olden Time, 1898). Farnsworth has
left some lively reminiscences of his travels. In one letter he writes
of a visit to Wakefield, " At night, the devill did rage, stones flew as
fast as Bullits in a Battle, but not so much as one received any harme "
(Swarth. MSS. iv. 229). He died in London.
The Neck of the Quakers Broken, 1663, and other pamphlets by
Muggletonians ; Last Testimony of Richard Farnsworth, 1667 ; D. N. B.
16 2 James Nay ler (c. 1618 1660) has been called "the reproach and
glory of Quakerism" (Barton, Poetic Vigils, 1824). His birthplace
was Ardsley near Wakefield (Lupton, Wakejield Worthies, 1864).
After his marriage he removed to Wakefield, where, or near which
place, at the house of Lieutenant Roper, he became convinced of
Quaker principles (Dewsbury, Writings (Fox s Testimony), 1689).
He had seen military service as quartermaster under General
Lambert (Gough, Memoirs, 1781, p. 56). After service and suffering
in the North, Nayler in 1655 joined the Quaker preachers in London"
where his ability as a speaker soon drew notable audiences (Barclay,
Letters, 1841) and attracted to him a band of men and women whose
infatuation led them to render homage to him in imitation of that
given to Christ (Swarth. MSS. i. 188, 300), the acceptance of which
brought him under the notice of the law. A Parliamentary Com
mittee was appointed in 1656 to consider "his great misdemeanours
and blasphemies" (Burton, Diary, 1828), and despite a request from
Cromwell and various petitions for mitigation, a series of severe
punishments was inflicted upon him in London, and also at Bristol
where the chief extravagance had taken place. Nayler s repentance
was deep and sincere, and he was reinstated among his Quaker
associates ; but his health having given way under his great bodily
and mental sufferings, his death soon followed. It seems likely that
the fall of Nayler brought a moderating influence into the propa-
gatioQ of Quaker views. Though Fox has little to say in his Journal
on his follower s defection, he found it necessary to write words of
warning, such as may be found, e.g. in his address to Cromwell and
the Parliament at this time (pp. 263266, especially the postscript)
Nayler wrote many theological treatises, both before and after his
fall ; his dying saying, commencing " There is a Spirit that I feel,
that delights to do no Evil, nor to revenge any Wrong, but delights
to endure all things, in Hope to enjoy its own in the End," is a
beautiful testimony of a meek and quiet spirit.
Much has been written for and against Nayler. For the former
see True Narrative, 1657; Memoirs, 1719; Bevan, Life of Nayler,
Notes 399
PAGE NOTE
1800. For the latter, see Bradshaw, Quakers Whitest Divell Unvailed,
1654 ; Deacon, Grand Impostor, 1656 ; Exact History, 1657 ; Grigge,
Quakers Jesus, 1658 ; Historia Fanaticorum, 1701 ; Aikin, Religious
Impostors, 1814.
Ingelo, Bentivolio and Urania, 1660, Pt. n. 169 ; Carlyle, Cromwell s
Letters, 1869 ; D. N. B. ; Transactions Cong. Hist. Soc. i. 220 ; Firth,
Last Years of the Protectorate, 1909; Extracts from State Papers, 191o!
16 3 Thomas Goodaire (Goodier, Goodyear, Goodrey, etc.) ( 1693)
was one of the little but famous band of converts resulting from
Fox s visit to Lieutenant Roper in 1651. He suffered imprisonment at
Worcester in 1655 (Blome, Fanatick Hist. 1660, p. 202), at Northampton
in the same year (True Testimony, 1655; Swarth. MSS. iv. 139), at
Oxford in 1660 (Cry against Oppression, 1660; True Relation, 1660;
Croese, Hist. i. 158; Ellwood, Hist. (Crump and Graveson edd.), and
at Warwick, where he was praemunired in 1666, but liberated by
King Charles s "Pardon" in 1672.
Whiting, Memoirs, 1715; F. P. T.
16 4 William Dewsbury (16211688) was born at Allerthorpe in East
Yorkshire, of parents who gave him a religious training. His early
occupation was that of a shepherd boy, but later he was apprenticed
to a cloth weaver near Leeds. For a time he served in the Parlia
mentary army. The message of Fox carne as a light in his spiritual
darkness and uncertainty and he soon took a very prominent place
in the band of early Quaker preachers. But his labours were often
interrupted by imprisonment. He appears to have spent nearly
twenty years of his life within prison walls in Northampton,
London, Derby, Leicester once, in York thrice, and in Warwick
twice. The story of the visit to Warwick Jail of his little grand
daughter, Mary Samm, and her death there (1680, aet. 12), is one
of the most touching of early Quakerism (Exhortation to all People,
1680; British Friend, 1886, p. 275). Dewsbury married first Anne
and secondly Alice Meads. When finally released from
Warwick Jail, he travelled with much difficulty to London, and very
shortly after his return home he "fell asleep in Christ" (F. P. T.}.
John Whiting says of him, " He was an extraordinary Man in many
ways, and, I thought, as exact a Pattern of a perfect Man as ever I
knew" (Memoirs, 1715).
Dewsbury s works were published in 1689; several of his many
tracts contain biographical matter. See also Blome, Fanatick Hist.,
1660, p. 203; Piety Promoted; Smith, Life, 1836; Potto Brown, 1878;
D. N. . Letters from William and Anne Dewsbury are in D.
16 5 Captain Pursloe, presumably the same as Richard Pursglove of
Cranswick, who. according to F. P. T., received Fox on his visit to
the eastern portions of Yorkshire in 1651. With other writers of
a paper To Friends of Truth in London, 1663, he is described as
"a firstfruits unto God in the East Parts of Yorkshire." A short
letter from Pursglove to Fox, without place or date, is in existence
(Swarth. MSS. iii. 119). See ii. 322. 1.
16 6 John Leeke ( 1685). The record of convincement at Selby,
c. 1652, states, "Dear John Leake and Ann, his wife... were the first
convinced" (F. P. T.). John Leake married Ann Reynolds in 1651,
and the latter died at the birth of their second daughter in 1653,
the widower subsequently marrying Ellinor Glove. There is frequent-
reference to Leake in Suf. He was liberated by the " Pardon " of
Charles II in 1672, but according to the Burial Register, he died
a "prisoner for the Testimony of the Truth."
4oo Notes
PAGE NOTE
17 1 "I went to Boutle steeplehouse upon a first day. I was moved to
speak in the priests time, hee utterred such wicked thinges ; and
therefore for y e truths sake I was Moved to speak to him If I had
been Imprison d for it. [In the afternoon] I satt mee down and heard
till hee had done, though severall friends spoke to him in his time ; so
when he had done I beganne to speak to him.. .and hee beganne to
opposse mee, I told him his glasse was gone, his time was out ; the
place was as free for mee as for him" (Short Journal, quoted with
comments in F. P. T.}. Above will explain the legal conditions
under which early Friends so frequently addressed audiences in the
churches. "Until 1656 the law only punished disturbance of a
preacher during his sermon, or while actually celebrating divine
service, speaking by others after the sermon was not unusual"
(Braithwaite, Spiritual Guidance, 1909, p. 55), but if what was said
displeased the members of the congregation, they often took the law
into their own hands and severely handled the speaker. The Lord s
Day Act, 1656, authorised fine and imprisonment for wilful inter
ruption of a minister in any part of the service or for any public
disturbance in a church on the Lord s day.
Barclay, Inner Life, 1876, pp. 274 ff.; Hist. MSS. Com., Fleming MSS.
1890, p. 44; John Stephenson Roiontree, 1908, pp. 387, 388; Extracts
from State Papers, 1910.
18 1 This was probably Sir John Hotham of Scorborough, near Beverley,
second baronet. He was the eldest son of Captain John Hotham,
by Frances, eldest daughter of Sir John Wray, of Glentworth, Lines.
His grandfather, Sir John Hotharn, the famed Governor of Hull,
married Katherine, daughter of Sir John Rodes of Barlborough Hall,
Co. Derby. Both his father and his grandfather were beheaded on
Tower Hill, 1644/5. Justice Hotham s kindness to Friends is warmly
acknowledged in the Swarth. MSS. (iii. 6, 41). The name Hotham
has been borne by many North Country Quakers.
D. N. B.\ Gaskin, Old Seaport of Whitby, 1909, where there seems
to be some confusion between the first and second baronet.
20 1 Edward Bowles, M.A. (16131662), Presbyterian, was appointed
one of the four ministers of York maintained by the Commonwealth.
" He had a clear head and a warm heart " (Noncon. Mem.}. He took
an active part in bringing about the Restoration. In a letter to
Margaret Fell, William Dew.sbury writes: "1 was moved to write
to Preist Bowles; & y e Lord did smite him w th such terrour, that
he could not tell w fc way to turne...he writt to Cromwell, & when
he sente y e letter, Cromwell exprest these words when he read it
They would have mee to disown these people, shall I disown y m be
cause they will not put of there hatts..." (Swarth. MSS. iv. 144;
cp. Dewsbury, Discovery of Enmity, 1655). An ancient MS. is
preserved in D., containing an address to "Edward Bowles, Priest"
by " Elizabeth Hooton a prisoner of y e Lord in Yorke Castle," dated
"Aug. 1652."
F. P. T.; Firth, Cromwell s Army, 1902; D. N. E.\ John S.
Rowntree, 1908.
21 1 This is probably the North Riding Borrowby situated some miles
north of Thirsk, and not the place of that name near Whitby,
cp. Jnl. F. H. 8. ii. with F. P. T.
22 1 Philip Scarth (Scaife) ( 1693) was before his convincement
one of a company of Seekers which met " to wait upon y e Lord in
his Light " (F. P. T.). Croese relates that he had been " Minister
of a Public Church at a little Village near to Whitby called Robin
Notes 401
PAGE NOTE
Hood s Bay" (Hut. 1696, i. 43). He does not appear to have taken
any prominent position among early Friends.
22 2 His name was "T. Bushel" according to Ell. edd., the indexes
thereto expanding the name to Thomas Bushel. Further information
is not forthcoming.
23 1, 2 "When the meetting was Broken upp the next momeing one
Priest Levens that was there desired mee to go along w th him, for
hee had some questions to aske mee, so I took his Brother William
Ratlifie w th mee" etc. (Short Journal}. "William Radcliff of Guis-
brough" is mentioned by Besse (Suff. ii. 131, 141).
25 1 The rapid coming and going of Priests in the narrative here
renders their identification difficult, but this Priest appears to be the
letter writer of pp. 25 and 26, the one who called Fox " brother "
of pp. 25 and 27, the "olde preist" of pp. 27 and 28, and " Preist
Boys " of pp. 28 and 29. Farnsworth in a letter, dated 1653, de
scribes a journey to York, accompanied by several Friends, adding,
" Quid boys the priest he came on the way with us, he would have
gone with me, but I was not very fre, so he went back " (Swarth. MSB.
iv. 229). There are references to a Quaker family of Boyes in
Whitby and Scarborough Register (MS. in D.), and in Baker, Un-
historic Acts, 1906, p. 12.
26 1 Luke Robinson lived at Thornton Riseborough, near Pickering.
He was a J.P. for the North Riding of Yorkshire, M.P. for Scarborough
(16451660), Bailiff of Scarborough (1652), member of Cromwell s
Council of State (1649, 1650, 1659). He was one of the Regicides.
According to Burton, Robinson took a large share in the discussion
in Parliament on the case of James Nayler, with whom he was
personally acquainted, and whilst desiring such a punishment as
should prevent Nayler " pestering the nation," he added, " I would
rather err in point of mercy than exceed in justice" (Diary, 1828).
Hinderwell, Hist, of Scarborough, 1798 ; Pepys, Diary ; Carlyle,
Cromwell s Letters, 1869 ; Vol. S. P. Dom. 164950, 16601, 16634-
Swarth. MSS. iii. 41.
28 1 Said to be Kirbymoorside, Kirk-by-moorside (Baker, Unhistoric
Acts, 1906. See 25. 1).
28 2 This was Egton Bridge. James Nayler writes, in 1654, "We came
to Egton Bridge to one Burdetts house " (Swarth. MSS. iii. 6). F. P. T.
29 1 Justice Pearson not identified but to be distinguished from Justice
Anthony Pearson, of Co. Durham, though the two are thrown together
in most indexes to the Journal.
29 2 " George Hartus of Ulram, was sent for from his house by Justice
Baynton, by whom and another Justice with him, he was required to
take the Oath of Allegiance, and for refusing to swear, committed to
prison, being delivered to the Goaler at York on the 14 th of the
Month called January, 1660 ; and sometime after died a prisoner in
the Castle there. Soon after his death, his widow was taken, by
a writ de excommunicato capiendo, out of her bed, when sick, and
carried away thirty miles to prison from her ten fatherless children "
(MS. in D. in the handwriting of Joseph Besse, middle 18th cent.).
If Besse s words " sometime after " may be made to cover ten years,
the record of the death of a "George Hartas of Ulrome," 19. vi. 1670^
may be that of Fox s host. The births of children of George and
Clare Hartas of Ulram, are registered between the years 1653 and
1669. Clare Hartas died in 1707, aged eighty-four.
Suff. ii. 100 ; Baker, Unhistoric Acts, 1906 ; F. P. T.
G. F. 26
402 Notes
PAGE NOTE
32 1 Robert Overton (c. 1609 ) was a soldier and a scholar. He
was made Parliamentary Governor of Hull. His family estate was
at Easington, where probably Fox visited him. A year or two later,
when Nayler had a meeting at this place, " Collenel Overtons wife
son, and chaplin was there" (Swarth. MSS. iii. 6). Major-General
Overton was imbued with the principles of Fifth-Monarchism, and he
spent much time in prison, in the Tower and elsewhere.
Pepys Diary ; Wildridge, Holderness and Hullshire, 1886 ; Firth,
Cromwell s Army, 1902 ; Com. and Prot. ; D. N. B. ; Gal S. P. Dom.
(in the 1650 vol., p. 213, Overton s chaplain is mentioned).
34 1 The Quaker who hanged himself was, probably, "one Gotten
Crosland of Ackworth (neer Pontefract in York-shire) a professed
Quaker, [who] hang d himself, and lies buried in a Crosse-way upon
Ackworth Moor, with a Stake driven thorow him " (Gilpin, Quakers
Shaken, 1655, p. 21), but Fox says that the Quakers did not own him
(Great Mistery, 1659, p. 298). If this identification is right Lowers
insertion is incorrect.
34 2 Thomas Aldam (c. 1 6161660), of Warmsworth, near Doncaster, was
convinced by George Fox, as also his mother, two sisters, and wife,
in 1651. The following year, for his opposition to Thomas Rookby,
priest of Warmsworth, he was sent to York Castle, being one of the
first of a long line of Quakers detained there. During his two and
a half years of imprisonment he wrote several religious papers which
were printed, and from prison he sent many letters, some of which
are still extant (Swarth. MSS.). He married Mary Killam, in 1
some of his descendants are still Quakers.
Short Testimony, by his son Thomas Aldam, 1690 ; Piety Pro
moted ; D. N. B. ; Smith, Smith of Cantley, 1878, p. 14.
37 i "I saw a vision a man and two Mastiffe doggs and a bear, and
I passed by them and they smiled upon me" (Short Journal}.
37 2 A record of a previous visit to Lieutenant Roper s house (p. 16)
may be found in Fox s Testimony to Dewsbury, printed in the collected
works of the latter, from which it appears that the Lieutenant s house
was the Quaker birthplace of Nayler, Goodaire and William and
Anne Dewsbury. Smith (Dewsbury, 1836, p. 52) states that he lived
at Synderhill Green, but no traces of him have been found there
(British Friend, 1897, p. 44). Various indications point to Stanley,
a few miles north of Wakefield, as the place.
Whiting, Memoirs, 1715 ; Swarth. MSS. i. 372.
38 1 This doubtless refers to the march into England of the Scotch
army under Prince Charles in 1651, which ended in the battle ot
Worcester on September 3. Noice = common talk, public notice.
38 2 Christopher Marshall (c. 161 41673) was born in Lincolnshire and
educated in Cambridge, and also under John Cotton in New England.
On his return to England he was appointed Independent Minister
at Woodchurch (or, as otherwise named, West Ardsley) near Wakefaeld.
He was ejected in 1662, but preached privately in several places
(Gal. S. P. Dom. 16712) till his death. Fox appears^ be incorrect
in stating that Marshall was " riot lorige after cutt off."
Noncon. Mem. ; Transactions Cong. Hist. Soc. i. 224; Bate, De
claration of Indulgence, 1908, pp. Ivi, Ixxxiii.
38 3 Not fully identified, but probably either widow of John Greene
of Liversedge, yeoman (who married Agnes Drake 1592, and die
1631), or of one of his six sons.
Notes
PAGE NOTE
40 1
42
Still known as George Fox s well (Ell. ed. 1852 i 120) "Am
s^SSSa us , P "i The
flS^fff ty * &we; Ta ^r, SEW&5* 0/
40 2 John Blaykling (1625-1705) was one of a Quaker
at Draw-well, a farmhouse still standing, neaped ter
^ j- v^ unvyl 11JV>1J_IHJ\3I
in the early Quaker Church.
Piety Promoted F. P. T. ; MSS. in D.
40 JRichard Tf.nhinsrm f I f?7o\ ,,.p "Pv," fl j. i i ,.
ib/d) ol tingflatts, is to be distinguished
Lounterside, mentioned later in Ell edd
124) is a letter to ""
Westmorland Quaker Records, 1902 j^ P
40 4
of supp u ^
1813, Askrigg is proposed.
41
Major Miles Bousfield lived in Garsdale, N.W. Yorks (F P T
Short Journal}. Shortly after the visit of George Fox Bousfieid
went over to Ireland, and there met William Edmondson who
* <**
an Enem ^ and a Stranger
1715) - Bousfield s wife is referred
41 daloTs ^f ennant ( ~ 674) f Scarhou ^ in Langstroth-
XS, ^ ? 7 aS im .P risoned mor e than once for non-payment of
tithe >, and he died in prison in Sixth Month (August), 1674 FoVs
^oTearH ft* ^ *%*"* * ^^ that ^ e &* was written
16?7 ^ ^ P rtl n f 16?4 F X visited his
William and Alice Ellis, 1849 ; ^ P. T.
42
There is repeated evidence in the history of the times of bands of
separated people or Seekers, who "passed through all ye prSfons
& finding noe satisfaction awaited a farther manifestation ^ P T)
~!d "TM**** rVi? 6 d Ctrine f Q uakeri ^ wL readiiy
W O 2 + ^ Ub if t . S ful1 ^ treated in the forthcoming work by
WC. Braith waite, The Beginnings of Quakerism
Ambrose Riggein, p. 9 ; Charles Marshall, 1844, p.4:MFHS
iv. vi. ; Jones, Mystical Religion, 1909.
peace, Mayor of Kendall, I was Cormsery in > ^Irc-hSeTconry of
262
404 Notes
PAGE NOTE
Richmond before y e late Domistick Warrs, yett, as an Humble
disciple of Christ, downed those things " (F. P. T.\ Benson lived at
Borrat, "near Coatley Cragg above Sedbergh" (Whitehead, Christian
Progress, 1725, p. 22). His first wife was Dorothy, and his second
Mabel, widow of John Camm. His knowledge of legal matters was
ever placed at the disposal of his suffering brethren, and many of his
writings in defence of Truth are extant in print and MS. He died at
Kendal.
Saul s Errand, 1654, p. 29 ; Quakery Slain, 1657, p. 24 ; Swart h.
MSS. ; Caton MSS.
42 3 Francis Howgill (16181668/9) was of Todthorne, near Grayrigg,
Westmorland. He received a College education in preparation for
the Episcopalian ministry, but being dissatisfied with this, and in
search for truth, he joined the Independents and subsequently the
Baptists. At Sedbergh fair, 1652, through Fox s preaching, the light
dawned, and Howgill speedily took a first-rank position among the
early Friends. Imprisonment soon followed his public avowal of
Quakerism, Kirkby Stephen being the first place of detention.
In 1654, Howgill commenced his labours in London, in close
association with Edward Burrough. A great impression was made,
and it is said that in 1678 there were 10,000 Quakers within the
Metropolitan area (Beck and Ball, London Friends 1 Meetings, 1869,
p. 32). Howgill also visited Bristol, East Anglia, Scotland, Ireland,
etc. While in Kendal market-place engaged in business pursuits,
he was apprehended, praemunired and committed to Appleby Gaol,
where he lay for five years until liberated by death. He wrote much ;
his writings were collected and published in 1676, under the title,
The Dawning of the Gospel Day. His Advice to his Daughter has
been several times reprinted. There are many letters in D. written
by Howgill.
Saul s Errand, 1654, p. 26 ; Sathan Inthron d, 1657, pp. 11, 28, 31 ;
Saul s Errand, 1728, p. 35 ; Piety Promoted ; D. N. B. F. P. T.
Lives by Backhouse (1828), Ferguson (1871), Budge (1877), Taylor
(1906), Kite (1909).
42 4 Henry Ward ( 1674) was of Sunny bank, Grayrigg, Westmor
land, where he frequently entertained travelling Ministers (Swarth.
MSS. i. 238). In 1656 he was with George Fox in Cornwall (Swarth.
MSS. i. 165).
Whitehead, Christian Progress, 1725, pp. 2, 4, 5 ; Westmorland
Quaker Records, 1902 ; F. P. T.
42 5 One of the birthplaces of Quakerism, four miles from Sedbergh.
A piece of rock at the top of Firbank Fell is still known as " Fox s
Pulpit."
Taylor, Cameos from the Life of George Fox, 1907, pp. 32 ff.
42 6 John Audland (16301663/4). His convincement was a result of
the wonderful Sunday meeting on Firbank Fell. Audland travelled
much with his friend and neighbour John Camm, and these two
were the founders of Quakerism in Bristol, 1654 (F. P. T.). The
results of their work were remarkable, "Every Day we have a
meeteing ; yea I may say Every day is but a meeteing for let us goe
wheare we will all is full wheare we are night & day... the house & all
was filled & the street : soe the voyce went forth for a feeld & we
wente to it like an armey" (A. R. B. MSS. 157). These and similar
labours proved too much for Audland s constitution. He died of
consumption and was buried near his friend, Camm, at Birkngg
Park.
Notes 405
PAGE NOTE
Biographical notices by Camm and Marshall (1689), Gough (1789),
Tuke (1815) ; etc.
44 1 Presumably John Story 
