The general history of the Quakers containing the lives, tenents, sufferings, tryals, speeches and letters of the most eminent Quakers, both men and women : from the first rise of that sect down to this present time / being written originally in Latin by Gerard Croese ; to which is added a letter writ by George Keith ...

TO THE Truly Noble and Honourable, NICHOLAS WITSEN, Burgomaster and Senator of Amsterdam, &c.

THOSE two very things, Right Noble and Honourable Sir, to wit, the greatness of your Name, and the smallness of this Work, which might disswade me from such an Appli∣cation, do both of them invite, and in some sort engage me, to adventure, not only to make a Present of this Book, but also a particular Dedication thereof unto you. And seeing that it is a thing most certain, and that the very sight of the Book doth immediately shew it, that what I here offer is a Piece that is altoge∣ther new, but yet neither over bulky nor prolix, I was perswaded that this my Un∣dertaking would not prove unpleasing to you, because that as the Great are very much taken with the Novelty of other things, even so they are of Books; and as a conciseness in speaking is very agree∣able

to them, a short and compendious way of Writing is found to be no less so, which has given occasion to that old Pro∣verbial Adage, Little things are pretty. To this I may add, that this Book briefly treats of things transacted up and down, and for some time in that Nation, where in the Name of the Renowned States, you have been first Envoy to the Most Potent, and most Serene Princes, King William and Queen Mary (to that great and glori∣ous Queen, alas, lately ravished from Earth by inexorable Fate, of whose Vertues there are at this time so many Testimonies in the funebrous Orations of great and most Eloquent Men, who for all that, had they never so much exhausted their brains, and been profuse of their Abilities in de∣claring and magnifying the Excellencies of this Queen, had yet nee'r been able to form a true Idea of them in their Thoughts, much less represent them as they ought to be, to their Auditors, than which nothing more can be said of Man) and after that, for some time Resident there, where you were to Congratulate Their Royal Majesties Accession to the Throne, and the Deliverance of so many Countries and People, as also to confirm that Ancient League and Amity that was between both Nations: In which Time and Place, seeing that perhaps some but

not all these things came within the Verge of your Knowledge; this new and small Treatise, but (Pardon the Ex∣pression) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, may gratifie that desire, which your Honour, and even most Men have, who have lived or come from abroad, of having a perfect Knowledge of such Transactions, as have happened in those places during their time, or near unto it, by exhibiting as in a little Table-Book, the first Rise, Pro∣gress, and End of all these doings: But yet this is not all the Reason I had for such an Undertaking; I must confess, Illustrious Sir, that as to the matter of this Work, it is such as may seem to them that are not very curious, needless and unnecessary, and that it is such a way or method, as may easily induce some who are not over-skilful, but given to scoff and chatter, to look upon it as very mean and contemptible, because that having regard only to the single Relation of Things, and to Truth, I treat thereof in a Style and Language that is plain and ordinary, free from all manner of Affectation, and do not (which is a thing very common, and much ap∣proved of and prevalent among the Vul∣gar) either ridicule, or proudly scoff at and prosecute in Writing, those things which 〈…〉〈…〉 the Religion and

Manners of those Men, who are treated of her••en. Neither do I, though there may be some among those very Persons, who look with an evil Eye upon, and bear ill will unto us, for that Reason, retribute the same, and make the like return unto them, as some are pleased to do, who think such reciprocal doings ought always to be. But seeing that it many times so happens, that they who write with such Moderation, are liable to fall under I know not what Suspicion of crack'd Credit from these Men, so as that I found my self under a necessity of seeking out for some Patronage and Refuge-place upon this Account, I was fully satisfied, I could meet with that principally in you, Great Sir, who know as well as any Man alive, what, amongst such a multitude of Writers, and itch of Writing, is most fit to be writ, what an Historian's scope ought to be in such a Work as this is, and over and above that, what on the one hand Religion, and what in the mean time also Nature and the Power of Humanity require and call for. And because I have fallen upon this Head, I earnestly wish the Temper of the present Times was not such, that this were not the sad distinguishing mark of the Age we live in, as that there should be so many Men, such strangers

to and devoid of Charity and Modesty, and hurried with that unruliness and outrageousness of Mind, that as soon as they discern any Heterodox Opinion in matters of Religion, and especially if any Heresie be smelt in the case, they immediately suppose that it is the Pro∣perty of Religion to scoff at, persecute, and afflict such Men; some going so far as to urge, there ought to be a precision or a cutting off of the same, by violent Methods, Fire and Sword, Imprison∣ment and Bonds, Racks and Torments, and even by the most dreadful and cruel Deaths. For the Good and Peace of the Church and State (for so they Argue) cannot otherwise be preserved, nor the Christian Faith and Humane Obligations subsist. Were it not for this, we should not see against so many Reformed Churches, so many Hundred Thousand Christians, such and so great and nefandous Vio∣lences contrived and offered, such lamen∣table, yea, unheard-of Calamities and Slaughters, (and even if they could, make entire Extirpation, Rulne, and Destru∣ction) by those who go by the Names of Christians and Catholicks, but are in truth the most bitter and implacable Ene∣mies of the True Religion. I'll go yet further; I heartily wish there were not

sometimes amongst others, and even a∣mong them, who have withdrawn them∣selves from the Papacy, that immodera∣tion of Spirit, that even where there is no manner of Heresie, no Fundamental Error, yea, not the least difference but in words and way of Expression only, mens Minds become forthwith divided thereupon, an Interruption of Fellow∣ship, and at last a s••••••ssion into Parties doth ensue. And that those, who lay these things to Heart, who shun them, and who being mindful of Humane Frailty, and of their Duty enjoyned them by God, and being intent and build∣ing upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone, bear with such things as are to be born with, and study to promote Peace and Unity, and hate every Name of Di∣stinction imposed by Man in the Church of God, and desire neither to make nor follow Parties, are branded as if they were ignorant and slothful, having no regard to their own Matters and Con∣cerns; so far forth, as if to be indiffe∣rent, and of neither Party, were become now as it were a new Sect, and that Law of Solon revived, who commanded him to be punished, who in the time of Sedition joined himself to neither Party. Which sort of Men are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lovers

of themselves, puffed up, (as they are called in Scripture) turbid, and boyl∣ing hot (neither is this a Foreign Ap∣pellation, but such as is also applyed to them in the Sacred Code) when they raise more Commotions about a thing of nothing, than there are Storms in the Aegean or most boisterous Seas; but here∣of there is fully enough said to the wise, but to you, Great Sir, too much. And this I judge my self obliged further to say, that perhaps there may be some, who, having a just Esteem, and right Judgment of this Work, would for the further Estimation thereof, have me here and there quote and set down in the Margin of the Book, the Authorities and Testimonies whereon I ground each Par∣ticular, to which Persons seeing their Conceptions hereon are not without Rea∣son, I make this Answer, That if I should not do it, I do not thereby swerve from the usage of Historians in all Ages, nei∣ther is there indeed any need that a Man should gain a belief of what he offers, this way, when he is not conscious to himself of any falsity, and that there is nothing that can derogate from or lessen his Credit therein: Neither was I wil∣ling in this Work, which I was desirous should prove acceptable as much for the

Brevity as Truth of it, so without cea∣sing to interrupt and break off the Thread of my Story, or to disorder and delay my Reader. But yet I do not always omit such sort of Testimonies. But otherwise I can be bold to affirm, that there is nothing of any moment, through∣out the whole Work, that hath not been done in the face of the Sun, that is, ei∣ther in the presence of Men, or in So∣lemn Judicatories, even where there has been no exclusion of the Populacy, and such as has not been frequent in the mouths of many, laid open by the chief Magistrates, and Printed, for the Know∣lege of such as were absent, and to per∣petuate the same to Posterity; as for other things, I take but little notice of them, and if at any time I recount any such, I do it in such a way as may gain certain Credit: But no more of this; to return therefore to you, Right Noble and Great Sir. As to the Reason that induced me to Present and Dedicate this my Trea∣tise to Your Honour, it was this, That there might remain some sort of Testi∣mony upon Record, not so much of the knowledge I have had of you, which is as far backwards as I can remember, as of the Favour you have always shewed me, and of those Benefits you have made

it your Business to heap upon me both at home and abroad, and which I have deemed both Just and Honourable for me to accept, being freely offered, and by no means to reject, and withal of the Gratitude, Propensity, and Devotedness of my Mind towards you. And though I have here a great Opportunity offered to me to Celebrate your Vertues, yet I shall forbear, lest I should incur the cen∣sure either of being unskilful in Praises, or what is base, the Name of Flatterer; besides that your Name has long since gained such Esteem, and is so Famous among all, that it has no need of any Encomiums and Embellishments of mine, the things themselves bespeak it. For to say nothing of the Endowments of your Mind, as being such, though most rare, especially in so propitious and a∣greeable a Fortune, as are not conspicu∣ous to all Men, and are more private; those Famous Monuments that you have partly published even in your blooming Years, and which do yet in part lie hid within the more secret and inner recesses of your Study, which all of the Repub∣lick of Learning that have seen or known them, have so approved of, as to judge them no ways inferiour to what hath been extant of yours, but to deserve as much

you to the Protection of the Almighty, praying to him, that while you Rule in his Name, submit to and obey the Di∣vine Majesty, he would heap upon you more and more all manner of Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things in Christ Je∣sus, and beg leave to subscribe my self

Your Honour's Most Humble, And most devoted Servant, Gerard Croese.