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 ...

BOOK II. PART I.

The Contents of the Second BOOK.

THE Endeavours of the Quakers upon the King's Restauration. G. Keith, R. Barclay. The Qua∣kers vain hopes concerning the King. The Oath of Al∣legiance an inexplicable Snare to these Men. Tythes also. The Cruelty of Keepers towards them. Instances. The King and Parliament's Disposition towards them. A Letter of Fox the Younger to the King. Fox his Book of many Languages concerning the Pronoun Thou. Several Laws against the Quakers. Hence their various Tryals. Hubberthorn, Burroughs, and Howgil die in Prison. A vain Suspicion that the Quakers cherished Popery. Their Persecution at Lon∣don. The fall of Priscilla Mo: The Burials of the Quakers. The Persecuting of them at Colchester. A Council held concerning Transplanting of the Qua∣kers into the American Islands. This transacted and handled several times. The various and strange haps and Adventures of such as suffered this Penalty. The Ecclesiastical Court. The Law De Excommunicato capiendo. Several Examples made upon their refu∣sing to pay Tythes. The Death of Fisher in Prison. Fox's Three Years Imprisonment. The Prophecy of a certain Quaker concerning the Burning of London. The Troubles of the Quakers in Scotland and Ireland. Keith's Doctrine of Christ being in Man. Helmont concerning the Revolution of Souls rejected by the Quakers. William Pen's turning Quaker: A full Description thereof: His singular Opinion concerning a Toleration of all Religions. The Ecclefiastical state of the Quakers. The Order of their Teachers. A Meeting of their Teachers together. Synods. Li∣turgies or Sacred Duties. How they observe the Lord's Day. Their Complaint concerning the Protestants

study of Divinity. Their Opinion concerning a know∣ledge of Languages and Philosophy. Of the Sallary of the Ministers of God's Word. What the Call of Ministers is among them. Their Discipline. Their Solemnizing of Marriages. Keith's Imprisonment. Pen's Imprisonment at London. Solomon Eccles's Fooleries and mad Pranks in several places. Fox's Marriage. A great Persecution of the Quakers throughout England, accompanied with the greatest baseness. Green's Fall. Pen again, and Mead with him Imprisoned at London: They are Tryed. Pen's Speech to the Judges. A great Persecution in South∣wark. The notable Zeal of these Men in keeping their Assemblies. A short respite from the Persecution. G. Fox goes to the English Colonies in America. His Imprisonment in Worcester, and what was done at that time: He writes several Letters more elaborately than profitably. A Conference between the Quakers and Baptists. R. Barclay's Apology for the Christian Theology variously received. A Comparison between the Quietists and Quakers. Several Persecutions of the Quakers in England. The Assaulting of them in Scotland. All manner of Slanders put upon the Qua∣kers Doctrine and Life. The Persecution of Bristol. Of London. The Quakers state under King James the Second. W. Pen's Diligence for the Quakers. The Quakers Affairs under King William. Pen's Default. Freedom and Liberty given to the Quakers by the Parliament. Pen's second Default. The Death of Fox. The great Book written by him. A De∣scription of Fox. The great Dissention between the Quakers themselves. The present state of them.

I Have brought down the History of the Quakers to the Time of King Charles II. in whose Reign, and even in the very beginning thereof, as great changes happened, not only in the State, every thing being abrogated and taken away, that had been Obstacles to the Kingly Power and Dignity, or that might be so for the future, but also in the Ecclesiastical Constitution, for that Equality and

Conjunction that ought to be between the Brethren, Friends, and Disciples of Christ, was taken away, whilst the Government thereof reverted to a few, and for the most part to the King himself; so there was among those Persons who were not dissatisfied with the Name, Splendor, and Authority of a King, but with that turn in the Church, no small com∣motion of Mind, no light Care and Diligence, not only that they might defend their own Churches, with the Orders and Constitutions of them, lest they should suffer any damage any other way, but also that they might further vindicate all their Practices from the Envy of their Adversaries, con∣firm and trim up the same, and recommend them unto others. Therefore this Study and Concern also seemed to be among all Persons, who had as well departed from that same pitch of Religion, as from that publick Religion; in the very same man∣ner did George Fox and his Colleagues, and all of that Herd, even every one according to his Place and Station, diligently and industriously apply them∣selves to this Affair; wherefore Fox, according to his wonted manner, began his Peregrination in Eng∣land, to visit his Friends, to Preach amongst them, but did not take upon him as formerly to talk in the Publick Churches, Markets, and Streets, and there to stir up the People; and seeing that he had before this attempted many things, more earnestly than successfully, he took diligent heed from this time forward, as to what Places he went, so with whom he conversed, and whom he should shun, and when he found there were some who laid in wait for him to trepan him, and hale him to Pri∣son, he immediately hastened away. He did also moreover advise his Party by his Letters and Pam∣phlets, that all of them should make it their bu∣siness and endeavour, to do nothing against the King's Authority and the Common-weal, and al∣low of nothing in that kind which might be avoided by them. Besides this, Fox proceeded to write ma∣ny things even against their Adversaries, but in

such a manner, as not to set forth so much what his own Sentiments were, as what he wrote, and in what place he wrote it. Which sort of Life Fox from thence forward led, even to his Death, that all his Actions, both in the middle and last part of his Life, might be like unto those he had practised in the beginning, so that I judge it need∣less to say many more words concerning Fox in this Treatise, unless something that is altogether new and strange should occur. And thus did almost all the Quakers behave themselves now more cautiously and circumspectly among their Adversaries, neither did they so often and constantly make a noise in the Churches and Publick places, neither did they Act those Fooleries where there was a Concourse of People, and utter such ridiculous Bablings, neither when they were brought before the Magistrate, did they talk so uncivilly, abruptly, and foreign to the purpose, as they had been wont to do; neither did they Answer, when the Judges asked them, what their Name was, what Country-men they were, where they lived, that they were of the Land of Canaan, and that they lived in God; so that as the Time, even so their Manners changed; yea, from henceforward these Men wrote and published in England, not only Pamphlets, but Books, in which they handled the Heads of things not at large only and confusedly, but curiously and distinctly, and did Argue in them, first, against the Opinions and Tenets of the Principal Episcoparians, and then against those of other Dissenters, which they did not approve of, and this in a neat and orderly way of Argumentation, not by wrangling, but exami∣ning every Proposition, and coming up to the Merit of the Cause, and by admirable Skill arriving at their designed Conclusion; neither did they urge those things which they taught and believed, by a rude and disjointed way of Reasoning, but clearly and openly, and explicated the same at large, and strenuously defended it: Which Method was vigo∣rously pursued by Samuel Fisher, who was the chief

Man, and the Ornament of the whole Sect. More∣over, some of them were not afraid to Discourse, Argue, and Dispute with the Adverse Party, yea, and when need required, with the very Ministers of the Publick Church, concerning their own and the others Doctrine and Concerns. Which sort of Dis∣putation was held this very first Year at Hereford, between two City Ministers and three Preaching Quakers, Howgil, Burroughs, and Cross; wherefore from henceforward these People the Quakers began gradually, and by little and little to stand up, and to increase in number and strength, and to be reckoned and used as one of the Sects of the Chri∣stian Religion. Things were at the same pass with these Men in Scotland, saving that their Affairs did not thrive so fast there until the arrival of two Men of great Fame and Reputation amongst all the Quakers, Geroge Keith and Robert Barclay by Name, by whose Labour, Toyl, and Industry, the whole Doctrine of the Quakers, especially their chief Dogms, Principles, and Fundamentals were very much illustrated and confirmed; and because this is the first place where we meet with the Names of these Men, and that hereafter mention will be made of them upon various Accounts, we shall in a few words, acquaint those who do not know it, what sort of Men these are; they were both of them Scots, but there is only one of them, to wit, Keith, that is yet alive; Barclay the other being dead. George Keith was at first of the Reformed Religion, and a Student of Philosophy and Divinity; as soon as he commenced Master of Arts, and was more especially had in esteem for a good Mathematician, he did afterward become a Chaplain or Minister of God's Word in a certain Noble Family. But seeing that he was always transported with a desire of searching after, and learning somewhat that was new, and alighted upon these late Sectaries, he did in a short time embrace their Doctrine, and arri∣ved to be one of the chief Speakers and Holders forth amongst them: This Man after many Toyls,

Wanderings, and Perambulations, went at last in∣to that part of America, which from the Owner thereof is called Pensylvania, and there in their Church and Latin School of Philadelphia exercised the Office of a Teacher. Robert Barclay was a Gentleman of Scotland, the Son of that same Da∣vid Barclay, whose Book we have made mention of a little before; his Father had sent him to the City of Paris, the Capital of France, and there was brought up in good Literature, and after a manner that suited to his Quality, and those Noble Youths that were his Fellow-Students. But this Young Man had an Uncle in that City, that was Principal of the Scotch Popish College there; to whose Pre∣cepts when Barclay had for some time attended, he leaves the Reformed Religion, and turns Papist; which when his Father came to know, he sends for him home, and as he himself in the mean time was turned Quaker, he also endeavours to induce his Son to embrace the same way; but he, seeing he had in all other things been Observant to his Fa∣ther, refuses, and says, he could not in so great and weighty a thing as that was, hearken to him. But when he had, not long after, come to one of the Meetings of the Quakers, he suddenly turns about, and becomes throughly one of them, being now Eighteen Years of Age, and from thence forward for a great part of his Life, was as it were, the Le∣gate or Messenger of the Quakers in their weightiest Affairs; it's also said, that he was descended from John Barclay, that notable Writer of Heroick Verse and Satyr, and whose Name it's enough to men∣tion. Keith wrote many things in English, wherein he does clearly Teach, Explain, and Confirm those chief Points of their Doctrine, which Fox and o∣thers had neither so distinctly handled, nor so arti∣ficially and dexterously propounded, and vindicates the same from the Objections and Exceptions of their Adversaries, which afterward all the rest of the Quakers greedily snatched at, and would ap∣propriate and reckon among the Opinions of the

Quakers, excepting two or three Articles which they left alone, as peculiar to himself. He was in∣deed the first of them all who taught, polished, and perfected those Principles concerning the Seed and Light within, immediate Revelation, the Eter∣nal, Divine, and Spiritual Filiation of Jesus Christ (for so do all Divines, and not the Quakers alone speak, as often as Latin words fail them) his Hu∣manity, and the Presence or Existence of him as of the Seed and Light, and his Manifestation and Operation in Men, hitherto either unknown, or but very obscurely delivered. Barclay betook himself to Write a long time after Keith, and at last came out a large Treatise of his, written in Latin, En∣tituled, Apologia Theologiae vere Christianae, Pre∣sented to King Charles II. A Book highly praised by those Men, and very common among all that are curious of the Writings of those Men of which Book I shall elsewhere more particularly speak; so that as the Doctrine and Religion of the Quakers owes its Original and Increase to England, so it does its Per∣fection and Completion to Scotland, And now even in this Kingdom of Scotland, these Quakers, espe∣cially Keith, had many Contests with the Presby∣terians there, concerning the causes of their Sepa∣ration and Secession from those Churches, with which they had till this time firmly united, and concerning their new Articles of Faith, which they were said to have obtruded upon those Old Profes∣sors, and that by Conferences, Disputations, and Writings, which gave occasion to Keith to write those Books, wherein by examining seriously, all that was objected against them, and often rumina∣ting upon, and digesting all that he had before pub∣lished or spoke, he brought forth his Meditations in that Method and Form before spoken of. These Men did in the mean time grow here also by degrees more moderate, and leave off their rude and auda∣cious ways that had gained them much Hatred, and many Evils, and so by degrees being accustomed to the sight of their Adversaries, they began to live

more safely, and also to increase in number. Their Affairs went on in Ireland but slowly, where they who presided as it were over the rest, took their ad∣vantage in promoting their Doctrine and Religion from the Institutions and Manners of their Friends in England and Scotland. And so from this time forward was the Sect of the Quakers brought into form, and their Doctrine and Faith consummated; to which this may be further added: Seeing that a Publick Confession of Faith made by all, is a great Bond for the uniting of their Souls together, and an apt Symbol of Communion and Fellowship, Keith did at a certain time propose this unto them, That it would be a most useful thing, if such a Book were composed in the Name of all the Peo∣ple called Quakers, by worthy and choice Men, with clear Words and Sentences, which might be an Abridgment and Publick Confession of all their Doctrine and Faith, and that the same were Sub∣scribed by all, even each one in his particular Church, who for the future should be received into the So∣ciety of the Quakers, and joyn themselves unto them. But their Friends were not pleased with this Advice, by reason that they thought it to be a thing on the one side that carried in it too much Authority between Equals, and on the other side an Obligation of Servitude in a free Affair, and that they should be very cautious lest they should be brought under any Inconveniency in that kind; for the avoiding of which, they had all hitherto gathered together, and lived in the greatest Union, as they had done in the greatest Freedom imagina∣ble. But to return to the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the Second, and Record the Facts of these Men, and what befel unto them. Their Study and Endeavours did indeed appear to com∣ply with the Government of this King, as did those of other Sects and Dissenters from the Publick Worship, if not from their Judgment, yet better by their yielding and giving way, and that because of the disposition of the King to be Easie and In∣dulgent.

Besides this King himself with all his Fol∣lowers seemed to have sufferd for so long a time so many, and such great Injuries and Calamities, and so must be mindful of the Lot and uncertain state of Man, that he would at length grant Rest to these Men from the many Troubles which they had been exposed to. To this may be added, that the King at that time, when they were debating in Parliament concerning the Restauration of him, he himself being then at Breda, in the Court of the Prince of Orange his Nephew by his Sister, writes very lovingly and tenderly of his own accord to that Supream Council, as also to the City of Lon∣don, That he would give to and preserve the Liberty of Tender Consciences and Opinions in Religion, pro∣vided it were without endangering the Publick Peace. Which thing was again repeated by the King after he was Solemnly established in his Throne. Where∣fore the Quakers upon the King's Restauration con∣ceived great hopes concerning their Affairs. At last when in the beginning of the King's Reign, some of the Quakers, full of good will towards the King, and of a good Opinion of his kindness towards them, went to the King, and implored his Favour, Protection, and Help against the Injuries and Cru∣elty of their Enemies. The King grants them all they desired, and it's not to be doubted but that he did it of his own accord, for he suffered them at first to live and act according to their own Way and Mode, as also to Meet to perform their Reli∣gious Worship, and so also did he sometime Pro∣mise, that for the future, he would not only not obstruct, but also promote their Liberty; therefore these Men from the very beginning of the change of the Government, did most Industriously pro∣ceed in their Affairs and Exercises for the Com∣mon Good; neither did they do it unknown to their Adversaries, but openly and in their sight, as it were not by the tacit but express consent, and al∣so Command of the King: But it will not be long ere all this matter shall fall out much otherwise than

this, and the Event deceive all the Hope and Opinion of these Men. Yea, indeed it so happened, as if this Letter, the Name & Power of the King, did not avail for the Liberty and Ease but Ruine of these Men, that even from the first Decree of the Parliament concerning the King's Restauration, in all that In∣terval till the King did apply himself to the Admi∣nistration of the Government, they who were the Quakers Adversaries, amongst other Pretences which they made use of for to repress and ensnare these Men, they turned the Edict, Name, and Dignity of the King to their Molestation and Destruction. Therefore as often as they met together to Cele∣brate their Worship, they were apprehended and carryed away as disturbers of the Peace, and though they had not the least Weapon that might give any Offence, they were treated as if they had been armed Men, and like Enemies and Cut-Throats, and stirred up one another and other Peaceable Subjects to Rebellion, and to offer Violence to the Common-wealth. This I will say to those who do not so well know what the Oath of Fidelity among the English means, which they themselves call the Oath of Allegiance. After the Discovery of the Gun-powder Treason, formed by the Pa∣pists against King James the First, and all the Royal Family, and all the Peers of the Realm, such a Law was made by the said King James and his Par∣liament, to wit, That for the restraining of such Papists, who had much rather that the Pope should be Supream Lord of the Kingdom than the King, and were easily induced to Offer such mad and abo∣minable Sacrifices as these that are not to be named, and that they might be known from other Men; that as God should help him, every one should Acknowledge, Profess, Testifie, and Swear, that the Pope had no Power to Depose the King, or to stir up his Subjects to Rebel against him, and that the same would perform all due Obedi∣ence and Fidelity towards the King, and withstand all Plots and Contrivances against the Regal Au∣thority.

There was moreover an Oath long since in use to this King's Predecessors, called the Oath of Supremacy, first begun by King Henry VIII. whereby every one did Swear, That the King alone was Supream Governour of this Kingdom, in all things and causes whatsoever, as well in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical as in Civil. These Oaths from the beginning of this New Revolution being put to the Quakers by the Royallists, they proposed to them, when they were taken, to Swear to these words positively, that they might try how they stood affected towards the King. But seeing they refused to Swear at all, as holding it an unlawful Act, and not that only of the Abjuration of the Pope, and their Affection towards the King, and that in the mean time they were always ready, in clear and distinct words, truly to Affirm in the Pre∣sence of God, that they were such Persons as did abominate and loath the Pope, and that Church, and the Power of those Men, and their Tenets, as also their Pride and Treachery against Kings, and that the King could fear no Danger and Inconveni∣ency so little from any sort of Men as from them, nor desire more Love, Obedience, and Good-will from any, as towards their Lawful King; and that they were ready, if they proved false herein, to un∣dergo such Punishments as they who have violated their Oath, after they have sworn in direct words; yet this Oath was always objected against them, as an inexplicable Snare, wherewith to ensnare whom they were minded to catch; for whether they did altogether refuse this Oath, or with this same Ex∣ception, that they might give their Opinion con∣cerning it, or the thing it self, and spoke of their willingness to Promise Solemnly to be Faithful, and did not refuse to Subscribe the same with their hands, they were presently looked upon as Men either un∣faithful or wavering, or treacherous in their Obe∣dience to the King, and to be deprived of all the Protection and Favour that the King could give them. And as a Superaddition to the rest, when

they to whom Tythes of the Fruits of the Earth and the like were allotted for their Labours, and especially the Farmers of these Tythes, were very sharp upon them for their Returns and Profits, and the Quakers denyed that they ought to pay them, they were very severely and hardly used every where. Moreover, when they were shut up in Pri∣sons, had little or no Relief from without, those that served them, used them for the most part as they pleased, neither was there any thing, where∣by they might defend themselves. Of which things as there are very memorable Instances, and almost without Number, I shall give one only Specimen of every sort, and that briefly. At Sherborn in Dorsetshire there were Thirty Quakers got together into an House, for to Worship God in an innocent harmless manner, who, as if they had been a knot of Men come together for to Drink, Revel, Rebel, and Conspire against the Government, were haled out by the Townsmen, Officers, and School-Master of the place, followed with many Swords and Clubs, and entertained with Curses and Blows, were car∣ried before the Magistrate, who blamed, sentenced, and condemned them, as vile Persons, bent upon Rioting, and while they were met together, did only contrive and rashly machinate Innovations; and this they did without any Proof, Judgment, and De∣fence; the Quakers at the same time however crying out, that there was not one Person that could make any such thing good against them, or that they met upon such an Account, and urging the King's Promise in vain, that while they were only met together to Celebrate their Worship to God, that none should suffer any Injury because of his Reli∣gion. Some of the Quakers were shut up in Dor∣chester Gaol from the sight of all Men, and even from the common Light; others of them meeting the Danger, make their Appearance at the next Quarter Assizes; where, when nothing that had been urged against them could by any means be proved, but that these Men did now appear before the Court

with their Hats on, this was now objected as a Crime unto them, and looked upon as a certain dimi∣nution of the King's Majesty, and so they were fined for their Punishment to pay great Sums of Money, which when they did not forthwith pay, they were all adjudged by the Court to be shut up in the same Prison of Dorchester, upon Condition they should not be released from thence till such time as they had paid the said Sum. In the Town of Shrews∣bury, which is the head Town, and finest in that County, when the Quakers were at their Meeting, several Soldiers break open the Doors, and rush in∣to the House, and take away, and hurry into Pri∣son One and Twenty of them: The Judges, when they did not, and could not Accuse them of having done any Villany or Wrong, require them to take the Oath of Allegiance; which when they refused to do the same, as it were condemning themselves by this their silence, as if they had been guilty of Treason, they are forced to remain shut up in the same Prison. Edward Noell, a Country-man of Kent, had taken from him of his Flock to the value of an Hundred Pounds, for the Tythes of Twenty Pounds, for which he had not paid the Money; and when he, according to his Country Rhetorick and Truth, had made a noise about it, and sufficiently stung the Ears and Hearts of the Tythes-men and Magi∣strates, he was commanded away to Prison, and there kept a Year and an half. One Thomas Good∣rey, at a place in Oxfordshire, called Chadlington, and a Man of a good Nature and Disposition, ha∣ving travelled through many Parts of the King∣dom, turns in to see his Friend Benjamin Staples: This Man, the very next Night after he came, was, together with his Landlord, carryed away, and led before the Justices; they tender to them the Oath of Allegiance, which when they refused to take, so as that there was no way left for them to make any Defence, they are led away, and committed to the Common Gaol of Oxford, and were shut up there among some of their own Friends of their

Religion, some whereof had been there for Two Years and longer, because that they also refused to pay Tythes, and to Swear; the Jaylor put such thick and heavy Fetters of Iron upon these two Men, that their Feet were wounded with them; which when they desired might be taken off, the Keeper of the Prison demanded Money of them for so doing; they did not shew themselves very forward to do that; whereupon he thrusts them into a filthy and noisom place, where they had no∣thing either to sit or lie upon besides dirt; and so they desire they might have a little Straw allowed them; and here the same Mercenary Wretch pro∣mised he would give them some, if they gave him Four Pounds in Money; which when they despised and rejected, the Keeper's Wife, who was even more wretchedly Covetous than her Husband, and far more greedy of Prey, as often as she came to them, would rail and revile them bitterly, pulling and haling of them violently at her pleasure. In some time they were both ordered to appear at the Assizes of Oxford, where when they were accused of various things, and that nothing could be found against them that was worthy of Punishment, they were again asked as before, to take the Oath of Al∣legiance, which when they now also said, they could not do it, they are remanded back into the same Prison, among the same Thieves and Cut-Throats that were kept there; which before it was done, Goodrey asked, whether the Judges did Com∣mand them to be laid in Irons? The Chief Judge made Answer, That the Keeper of the Prison might do as he pleased, because they were Persons out of the King's Protection. There does the Keeper put them again amongst those Villains and profligate Wretches, and gives those wicked Men leave, if they wanted any Cloaths, to take off theirs, I mean, these two Innocent mens Apparel, at which one of the vilest amongst the whole Crew made Answer, That he had rather go altogether naked, than take any thing away from these Men: And so it was,

that while the Law was silent at the Bar of Justice, and no Fence against Injuries in Prison and Dark∣ness, these wretched Men suffered all Violence and Cruelty. These few Instances, from among many, may serve; but because the first Parliament under this King was yet sitting, the Quakers supposing the Tribunals to be every where set against them, so as that there was no hopes of Justice for them; they prefer their Supplications to the King and Parliament, as being Supream Magistrates, and the Authors and Defenders of Liberty, Right, and Judgment, highly complain of the great and many Injuries, Violences, and Troubles that they suffered from their own Country-men and Neighbours, and implore their Help and Assistance; and that they might affect them the more, they produce a great Commentary, or rather Catalogue in Writing, con∣taining how that during the time of the two Crom∣wels, there were no less than Three Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Nine of their Society that had been Imprisoned in England, Scotland, and Ire∣land, and other Countries beyond the Seas, Subject to the King's Dominion, and that of them, Thirty Two were dead. And in the close thereof they add, That from the King's Coming in, to the present time, there had been, and were still kept in Prison, Three Hundred and Seventeen of them. They name every place of their Imprisonment, and give the Names of most of the People, and did also set forth the Afflictions that most of them had suffered before, for what Causes, and what those are also for which they were still Imprisoned; they did moreover the next Year Present a Writing to the King and Parliament, wherein they set forth, that their Number was now so increased, who since the King's Return had been thrown into Prison, that they were no less than Five Hundred Fifty and Two, many of whom had also even before their Imprisonment sustained many Afflictions in their own Congregations, and did even now undergo many Miseries in the places where they were

detained; they did in that Writing confirm the Matter with Examples and Testimonies, that the Magistrates themselves in some places, came to them, and carryed them away; that in other places they left them to the management of Soldiers; and elsewhere, that the Commonalty and Rabble, who had neither Fortune nor Good Name, set up∣on them with Swords and Staves, haled them away, and after many blows, threw them into Prison. Moreover, that many Ministers of Churches in several Countries, seeing there were some of the Quakers who had not paid Tythes, and refused to pay any, that came and took out of their Houses and Fields for these Tythes much more than they ought to have done, neither did they afterward restore the Over-plus; yea, that some of them were so chou∣sed of their Money, that they had rendred them uncapable of paying any more, and needed take no further care of exacting the same from them. This Writing, which was full of Truth, was partly neglected, and partly despised both by the King and whole Assembly: For which there seems to be more than one cause; for when the King, who was not yet well confirmed in his Kingdom, minded his own and other Publick Affairs, he did indeed think that these mens Affairs were not yet seasonable and worthy of his Cognizance and Judgment, and had entirely forgot all that he had promised to these Men, which they thought they had fixt in his Memory with a Ship-nail. But as to the Se∣nate of the Kingdom, they did indeed seem not yet to have laid aside their Hatred and Enmity a∣gainst these Men, at leastwise the greatest part of them. They acknowledged indeed the freedom of Religion given to them, but they thought, that under that Pretence and Cloak, all wicked and a∣bominable Sects and Opinions would creep in, and that this Sect of the Quakers was of that sort; moreover, although the former Endeavours of the Quakers, and their Insolent Attempts, and such as seemingly were Turbulent, were now over, and

that no Crime could be laid to their charge, that tended to the disturbance of the Publick Peace, yet as the good as well as the bad of such as are once envied, are always hated, and that to those who are afraid even false things are true, such an Opi∣nion of them did continue, and could not be re∣moved, that the Quakers were still Men of the same Spirit and Temper, and that all their doings tended to Discords and Disturbances. Lastly, this Affair of the Quakers seemed to have been so often adjudged and decided by so many Judgments, that it were unworthy to be brought upon the Stage again. So that these calamitous Men were hereby deprived of the benefit of all Judgment, of every Suit, and Complaint, there being no room left for the same. And so those who were imprisoned, were like to be so always, and kept in greatest want and misery, neither had any of them the least hopes of their Freedom, unless they would comply with the wills and terms of such as were in Authority over them, and would agree to pay Money for to be suf∣fered to depart. Of which Number there was not one to be found that would do so; though the King being not long after asked and urged by some, That he should not suffer any such thing, which did so much wrong to his Subjects, when there did appear no such Fact, no, not so much as an Attempt or Endeavour in them to do that for which these Men were so much accused, and whereby so much in∣famy was cast upon them, but that he should by reason of his Royal Word given them, use them kindly, he did at length Answer, That he would be Gracious and Merciful to the Quakers, provided they did nothing that was against the King's Ho∣nour and Safety, and did again give his Royal Word for it. It's indeed manifest, that Richard Hubber∣thorn, one of the chief Quakers, was at this time admitted to talk with the King, in the presence of some Noblemen; in which Conference, when the King with some of his Courtiers asked Hubberthorn several close Questions concerning the Doctrine and

Religion of the Quakers, and that he made An∣swer to every thing that was asked; the King and those same Persons that had Interrogated him, said ever and anon, It is so indeed as thou sayest; and turning themselves about, or to one another, they said, He offers nothing but the Truth: And when the King proceeded to speak, among other things he used these words to Hubberthorn; I do assure thee, that none of you shall suffer any thing for your Opinions and Religion, provided ye live Peaceably; you have the Word and Promise of a King for it, and I will take care by a Proclamation to prevent any fur∣ther Prosecution of you. But seeing there were some Men, who put an ill Construction upon this Con∣ference, Hubberthorn himself did in a little while after publish it in Print, and did therein explain the whole Matter to all. But how the King did afterward perform these many Promises in many of his Actions, the Event will soon shew. Nei∣ther must we pass over in this place that upbraid∣ing Letter that was written and sent to the King by a Quaker, then lying in Prison: George Fox was this Quaker, not he that was the first beginner and Founder of the Society of the Quakers, who was indeed no ways related or a-kin to that same, though most like and near unto him in Nature and Manners; but one that had lately been a Trooper un∣der O. Cromwel, or in the Common-wealth's Army, wherefore that he might distinguish himself from the other and older George Fox, he called himself who was not so old, Fox the Younger. His Letter was to this effect. O King, he who is King of Kings, sees and observes all thy Actions in the midst of Darkness, and seeing that they proceed from thence, even thy most hidden Counsels can by no means escape the sight of God, so that there remain no lurking places for thy specious and pretended words, and therefore hath he freely observed all thy Wiles and Treacheries, laid for those, who did no hurt, and hath also manifested them unto all Men, and that at the very time when thou didst make those great and fictitious Promises, and only didst

play the Hypocrite; wherefore thou hast angred God, when at the time thou didst promise Liberty unto us, thou didst then suffer that outrage to be done us, and the Imprisonment of so many Men for the Testimony of a good Conscience: Alas, how has the Pride and Impiety as well of thy House, as of thy Government sadded thee; for as often as I revolve within my self upon the Vnjustice, Cruelty, and publick Persecutions of this Country, and as often as I think upon their Wickednesses, that are committed in Secret, so often is my Spirit grieved and in anguish, and my Heart di∣stracted by reason of the fierce wrath of the great God against all Men. And I have had it often in my thoughts, both before and after thy Restauration to the Kingdom, when I have considered the fixt and esta∣blished Idolatry of this Land, that it had been better for thee that thou hadst never come hither, because I find it has been to thy Ruin; and I have often prayed to God, that thou wouldst become of that Mind, as to depart again out of the Kingdom, that while thou hast Life left thee, and space to Repent, thou mayest Re∣pent of thine Iniquities; do not, O King, suffer any one to flatter thee; God will not be mocked, what any Man shall sow, that shall he also reap; consider with thy self, how thy Brother the Duke of Gloucester, was so suddenly, and unexpectedly cut off, who might have survived after thy Death; and do not imagine, that thou canst be preserved by Men, when God sets upon thee; and God's Will shall stand, that his Kingdom may extend over all. Ah! what shall I say as to what appertains to thy Salvation? God is burning with An∣ger, and will shorten the days of his Enemies for his Elect sake; and Oh that thou mayest be saved in the day of the Lord! for my Soul is even under Horror and Amazement at the sight of the inevitable Destru∣ction that attends thee. These things that I write are true, and I would have thee to know, that I write these things both godlily and lovingly; as for my own part, though I suffer many Miseries from without, yet I have that inward Peace with God, that exceeds all Earthly Crowns. It was said, that while the King

was reading this Letter, his Brother the Duke of York stood by him, and that he, after he had read it also, advised the King to order the Quaker to be hanged; but that the King had answered, That it were better that they themselves should have a re∣gard to their own good, and amend their Lives and Manners; that there is no Understanding so great, but that many times is overtaken with Error, and sometimes Folly. About this time came forth a Book, written in English, marked in every Page with the form or note of a Child's Tablet, such as Children use in England, as also in our own Coun∣try, out of which they learn to pronounce their Letters in Alphabetical Order: This Book did in every Page shew, that it was in use throughout the World in all and every Language (whereof there were no less than Thirty Languages recounted and set forth, and each of them distinguished into its proper Table) that when any one spoke to a single Person, to call him Thou, and not You, which the English used, if they talked with a Man that they respected. The Work was neatly and ingeniously done, with much Cost by John Subbs and Benja∣min Furley; but Fox, who besides the English Tongue, understood none of these Thirty, was so desirous to seem to be the Author of this Work, and that what∣ever it contained of Industry and Praise-worthiness had its Original from him, that he even here and there subscribed his Name to every Page, and con∣firmed by his Testimony, that it contained and taught every Language; by which Work and La∣bour Fox now shewed plainly the thing, not to Boys, but to all Men that were like Boys in Igno∣rance herein, and untaught them that wicked way of speaking: But when some objected against Fox his Ignorance in these Languages, and that he was upbraided herewith, as if he were mad, he wiped it off thus with this new Joke, That he knew only as much of Languages as was sufficient for him. The Year Sixty Two was Remarkable for the Com∣motion and Change of many things, to the great

Inconveniency, Trouble, and Incommoding of the Quakers, and went so far in the Times that fol∣lowed, that the Ruine of the whole Party and Race of them seemed to be at hand; for the So∣lemn League and Covenant between the King and People of Britain, and between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, than which League there was nothing before looked upon to be more Holy, Just, and Desirable, no greater Foundation both of the Regal Dignity, and the Peoples Liberty, nor a greater Bond to gather and unite together the whole Body of the Church, and to establish the Religion of both Kingdoms, was now looked upon as it were an Antichristian piece of Work, and the Spring of all Evil; and there was the preceding Year, even by the Parliament's Command, rased out of all the Publick Records, both in Church and State, and at London in several places burnt by the hands of the Common Hangman. This Year was the Episcopal Order and Authority, which had always been the Spring and Original of many Brawls and Calamities, was every where set up and establish'd, there being some, even of the Presbyterians, who now were desirous of this Power and Glory, which they had before withstood, or when offered them, did not reject them, upon this Consideration, that seeing they would endeavour to be good Men in the discharge of this Office, they were afraid if they did refuse the same, lest such should be pre∣ferred who would not carry themselves in that Sta∣tion with that Moderation required of them. The King now, which had been the fear of good Men a long time, and what was now looked upon as a new Prognostick, and sad Omen upon the King∣dom, contracted a Marriage with the Infanta of Portugal, a Lady so given up and devoted to the Religion and Ceremonies of the Popish Church, that she was inferiour to none of the Queens or Princesses of the Age for that Superstition. At last, the King, after he thought he had established his House and Kingdom, and made all things sure,

did more and more, instead of the Care, Labour, and Continency he ought to have exercised, give himself up to Ease and Luxury, and left the Ma∣nagement of most things to his Counsellors and Mi∣nisters of State, especially to those who were mostly his Familiars and Companions; all which change wrought no small Perturbation, Trouble, Fear, and Trembling in the Minds of all those, whose Religion differed from the Religion and Constitu∣tion that were now thus revived again; he who had persecuted another, did even now persecute himself, and whom many were before afraid of, was not now without his own fears, and had need to take care of himself; and therefore from such a Commotion as this, others became also afraid, who were otherwise more to be feared, and from this their Fear arose a Suspicion, and hence Dis∣courses, and at last a Rumor, that there was a multitude of Enemies and Conspirators in the City and elsewhere, who laid in wait for the King, and were ready utterly to overturn the whole frame of this new Government. Though many did believe this to be an Evil Report, cunningly contrived by those, who looked upon such a Report to be the best way for them to arrive at that which they could not hope to obtain in Peaceable Times: Now, as there was nothing transacted by wicked and pro∣fligate Men, of which the Quakers were not esteem∣ed either the Authors, Promoters, Parties, or knew of it, or consented to it; so here also these Men came to be suspected of this Crime, when at the same time there was no certain sign of any Conspi∣racy or Sedition contrived by any sort of Men, and not the least Foot-steps of it by the Quakers; and so there was a Report quickly spread abroad, that these were such Men, as had embrued themselves in such great Wickednesses, and that they had associ∣ated themselves, and daily met together to that purpose. Of which things, when they did not of their own accord clear and vindicate themselves, which they thought they ought not to do without

certain Accusers, nor could do without some Pre∣judice, thence the same Suspicion and Report in∣creased, and by this means the People, who were not indeed called to answer at the Bar, because that would be done upon too slight a Conjecture, con∣tracted the real hatred of all, and became in great danger, and were impunedly troubled all manner of ways by them, who, because they were not hin∣dred, thought they were allowed so to do. Now the King had commanded, that the Quakers of London and Middlesex should take the Oath, which seemed to be the strictest tye for the Testifying of their Affection, and engaging their Faithfulness to∣wards the King and Kingdom; and that the Judges should shew favour to none: But if the Quakers would not Swear, in pursuance to his Proclamation, they should hold their Meetings no where; then follows another Law for the prevention of Seditious Assemblies, That no Meeting should be held, under a shew and pretence of Divine Worship, that was not approved and ratified by the Liturgy of the Church of England, nor more Persons meet together at one place than five. But and if any above the Age of Sixteen Years and upwards, did transgress herein, and being a Subject of the Kingdom, such an one should be pu∣nished for the same. This Law seemed to have been enacted for the restraint of all Sects, but did more especially appertain to the Quakers, and none could but understand that it was a Snare for them, and rended to Shipwrack their Affairs. So that it came hereby to pass, that such of these Men as were now imprisoned, were for this reason more closely kept, and used more severely by the Gaolers, even by those who before seemed kind unto them. As for the rest of them, they had one Tryal and Affliction upon another, and the same were every where open∣ly, not only when they were met together in the streets, entertained with all manner of Ignominy and Reproach, but were also enforced to abstain from their Religious Assemblies, and when not∣withstanding all they proceeded, they were harrassed

by Soldiers, and fined, sometimes entertained with more than an Hostile Fury, and thrown into Pri∣son, and being required to Swear, were, upon their refusal, detained in Prison, or thrust into Working-Houses, among wicked and profligate wretches, who had wasted their Substance in Drinking, Ga∣ming, and Brothel-Houses, and among Thieves and Cut-Throats, as if they were their Associates, or alike infected with them, and so being in those places enforced to Labour very hard, and thereby sustain their Lives, which when they endeavoured to do, some of them at length being in that man∣ner opprest with many Miseries and Calamities, were freed therefrom by Death. This was done in London, Worcester, and in other places: Some of them in other places, whom either the Circum∣stances of Life, or the Clamour of many Persons, did more especially expose to Envy, were seized and taken out of their Beds at Midnight, and car∣ryed into Prison; by reason of which Practices, and seeing there was no likelihood of any end of these things, the Quakers did again Present an Humble Petition to the King, and did therein set forth, in what Trouble, and under what great Ca∣lamities they all lived; and proved, that from the King's Restauration to this time, there were Four Thousand and Five Hundred of them imprisoned, and that Fifty Six were dead, through the Hard∣ships and Difficulties they underwent. But as to what effect this Petition had, it will appear from hence, that he who wrote it, obtained from the King for his Reward, a place where those Persons were imprisoned, concerning whom he made his Complaint in that same Petition; so that that very thing was looked upon as a Crime, in that they deplored and deprecated their own Miseries. But at length, after that the King had found nothing by Deeds or Witnesses, whereby it did appear that the Quakers were desicient in their Loyalty towards him, or that they had done any thing whereby he might gather that the Crime of Rebellion was not

far from their Disposition and Manners; and that also the Accusation and Clamour of the People, as being the most easie and lightest things, vanished of their own accord, and that Time had allayed the Envy of the People towards them, in respect to their ways, the King suffered this sting of Se∣verity to be removed from his Heart; and seeing that hitherto he had been forgetful of his Promise made to this People, he now calls it to mind, and so orders his Officers, and other Magistrates, that they should no further vex these People, and set those that were imprisoned at Liberty; notwith∣standing which Command, such was the Severity and Hardness of some of these Magistrates, that though they did not reject the King's Authority openly, yet they did indeed fulfil it either not in earnest, or but slowly: Which thing even the Gaolers in some places did not stick to maintain, when they offered that they were willing to loose and free the Prisoners at last, if so be they would lay down Money, either of themselves, or others for them, to be delivered from their Imprisonment; the which when they affirmed they would never do, and that they would choose rather to rot there and perish, and held stoutly to it; and seeing that in∣deed some of them were so harrassed with dange∣rous Diseases, contracted from the stench of the place, that they died thereof, and that the Cries and Lamentations of these Men did reach the Court, and even the King's Ears, while they were treated in this manner, the King at length Commands all of them to be set at Liberty without any Money and Terms whatsoever. In this Persecution of the Year Sixty Two, the Quakers recount several Ex∣amples of their severe Usage, and great Constancy of these Men. I shall only mention two: Richard Payton, at Duley in Worcestershire was thrown into Prison, because he would not take the Oath of Al∣legiance; all his Goods were confiscated, and he himself so long to remain in that place as the King pleased. Thomas Stourdey, of Moorhouse, a Gentle∣man

of Cumberland, was brought before a Magi∣strate, and the Oath of Allegiance put to him, which he refusing to take, but at the same time affirming, that he was otherwise one of them, who without Swearing, would obey the King more than many that had swore to him, was condemned by John Lowther, a Man in Authority in that County, to have all his Goods confiscated, and himself to perpetual Imprisonment; who being thus shut up, not as the rest, that were afterwards set at Liberty by the King's Favour, but detained till the Year Eighty Four, about the end of the same ended his Miseries by Death in the same place. Moreover, these Men do more especially in this Year commo∣morate the Death of two of their chiefest Leaders (who departed this Life at London) as upon the score of Religion, so as being a very glorious and happy Departure, and Guides to Heaven, and to God. One of them was Hubberthorn, who, we have said a little before, was in esteem with the King, and so received into his Favour, that even in him the welfare of all his Friends might seem to be safe, and secured from all Molestation and Trouble; this Man resided in London, and on a certain day having got the People together, he began to Preach; which when the Lord Mayor came to know, whose Name there is no need to mention, the Quakers know it well enough, he sent with as much immo∣deration of Power as he had extensiveness of Au∣thority, to fetch Hubberthorn away from that As∣sembly, and so was brought before him, who, when the Man would not put off his Hat before him, according to the usage of the Quakers in that re∣gard, he used him as if he had been the greatest Villain, and seditious Fellow, and taken openly in the greatest Wickedness, beat him with his own hands, haled him by the hair of the Head, and threw him upon the Ground, and after that, Com∣mands him to be put into Prison among Rogues and Malefactors, in which place Hubberthorn ob∣tained that Favour (that a Criminal desires most) of

the Attorney, that his Cause might be transferred to another Court; and seeing there was no Cogni∣zance taken of the Man's Religion, they now bent all their Accusations against his Morosity, Irreve∣rence, and Contempt of the Magistrate, and re∣quired he might be severly punished for the same. Hubberthorn, after he had lain in this sad and doleful place two Months, falls very sick and weak, and in a short time after died; leaving this Memorial of himself with his Friends, That he had born whatever befel him with an even Mind, and always ready to maintain his Religion, and chose rather to die for the same than to live. The other was Burroughs, who also in the City of Lon∣don stood firm to his Religion, and died for it in Prison, and whom the Quakers were wont to esteem as the Apostle of the Londoners. Of him, they say, when a little before he had resided at Bristol, that upon his departure from thence towards Lon∣don, he took his leave of his Friends with these words, as a Presage of his approaching Destiny: That now he was directing his Course for London, that he might there together with his Brethren suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and to lay down his Life. When he came to London, he presently goes to their Meeting, and there Preaches, esteeming he could not otherwise satisfie his Conscience, discharge his Duty, and use the Gift which he had received; which as soon as it was told the Mayor, who was the same before mentioned, away goes he with some of his Officers and Followers, and lest he should do the same again, which is not very much commendable in a Magistrate, he Commands them to hale away the Man, and forthwith thrust him into Prison, which they do, and put him into an horrid place, full of filth and stench, and so nar∣row, that he could not well stand there; with which Miseries after Eight Months he falls sick, and his Disease increasing upon him daily, he at length dies as he had lived, supporting and comforting himself and his Friends, who were not hindred

access to him, and so were present at all times, with many words, the sum and substance whereof was this: I have hitherto preached the Gospel in this City freely, and not to the burden of any, and have often spent my Life therein, and now in the midst of my Labours part with my Life for it; and how true it is, that I have truly and sincerely both acted and dealt in this matter, is known to him who knoweth all things. And thou, O God, hast then loved me, when I was yet shut up in my Mother's Womb, and I have loved them from my Cradle, and have served thee from my Childhood and Youth to this very time, to some good purpose, and that with the greatest Fide∣lity; and though this Body of mine returns unto the Dust, yet I am conscious to my self, and assuredly know, that my Soul shall return from whence it came, and that that Spirit which hath lived in me, wrought in me, ruled me, and hath ruled in all, will be diffused into Thousands. I pray unto God, that he would Par∣don, if it be his will, the Sins and evil Practices of my Enemies. And when he died, winking as it were with both his Eyes, he said, Now my Soul resteth in her own Centre. Fisher doth describe this Man's untimely Death in a lofty style, and accord∣ing to his way, in a Rhetorical and Tragical man∣ner. The Persecution of these Men was very hot the Year following in the City of Worcester: Seve∣ral Quakers were met together in the House of Ru∣pert Smyth, not for to Preach, but to the intent they might Advise together, concerning four Chil∣dren, the Death of whose Father had left them de∣stitute of Sustenance and Education; they chiefly considered what might be done, lest the Children should come upon the Parish, and that then as the Parish should have the charge of bringing them up, so it would also take care to have them instru∣cted in the Religion and Discipline of the same. Presently upon this, some Soldiers get together, and having given no sign of their being sent, rush upon them, as upon a Rabble withstanding or de∣spising the Government, and with much Clamour

and great Violence take Twenty Four of the Com∣pany, and carry them to the places where they were wont to be put, amongst Bawdy-house haunters, for this now was come in fashion, Ruffians, Thieves, and such sort of vitious notorious Offenders; af∣ter some Weeks Smyth and a few other are brought before the Magistrates, and examined; they ask them, whether they had taken the Oath of Alle∣giance? And when they said, they had not; they ask them again, whether they would now Swear, according to their usual way of Interrogating of them in these Times? They Answer, That they could not swear for Conscience-sake, and affirm a thing according to their forms, and in such a manner, but that otherwise they could sincerely affirm, that they would discharge all their Duty towards the King and Government, neither would they attempt any thing which tended to their dishonour and Incommodity, nei∣ther would they do any thing for which they might justly be blamed. But whilst that in this hearing there was no dispute about the Thing, but the Mode and Circumstance thereof was only contro∣verted, and that the Quakers in the mean time held to their own way, and stood covered; the Magistrates laying aside the Dispute about Swear∣ing, they take up the matter of these mens wear∣ing their Hats before them, and urge, that to stand covered before the Magistrate, as it did here mani∣festly appear, was a great derogation from the King's Honour, and such and so great an Offence, that it ought to be punished, and that severely by the Court. To which Smyth wittily replyed, See∣ing that there was not only any appearance of no Crime, no, nor the least suspicion against them, that they had lessened the Reputation of this King, his Name, Rule, and Government, in words or deeds, it was a very trivial thing for them to urge that as a mark of it, and seeing that the Hat is a Covering to the Head; and that each part of the Body has his Covering, and that none in his approach to others, though they be Ma∣gistrates, uncovers any other part of his Body, and

that his not doing so, is not for all that taken as a mark of Contumacy and Disobedience; it's most strange Men should be bound by this Law and Religion about the Bonnet. After this Reply, there was Sentence pronounced against all of them, that they should be detained in Prison, because they refused to obey, and be observant towards the King, and irreverent towards the Judges. As for Smyth, they adjudged him to be out of the King's Protection, to have his Goods Confiscate, and brought to the Exche∣quer; after this, the rest of them were accused, and partly because of their Meeting together, and partly because they refused to Swear, adjudged also to Prison; the thing from a Hearing came to a Tryal, the Evidence Swear to the Matter, in the absence of the Criminals; but the Witnesses dis∣agreed very much one with another; the whole Action, of which the Accusation and Case was made up, is found to be far otherwise, than was thought to be; the Judges hereupon were somewhat con∣cerned, what clear Answer they should give, and what to determine concerning the Men; at last, they adjudge them to be carryed back to Pri∣son. At this time Francis Howgil, a diligent Tea∣cher among these People, was taken from the Mar∣ket-place, where he attended his business, by a Traveller, and carryed before the Justices of the Peace, that were met together in the next Inn: These look askew upon the Man, hesitate, question him, and at last come to that which they designed, and require him to take the Oath of Allegiance; he did at first in like manner delay, as knowing their Tricks, made no Excuse, lest his going about to purge him of a fault might be esteemed as a fault, but he afterward goes on whither they de∣sired him, and denyed, that he could with a safe Conscience take the Oath. And so was committed to Prison; whence being brought before the Judges to Appleby, and when they also required him to Swear, and that he could not be brought to do so, he is led back to his former Prison. He was again

the Year following brought before the same Court, and the same Question put to him, where he de∣clares with great Constancy, but in much Modesty, That he, as to what belongs to the substance and mat∣ter of the Oath, did not refuse to Declare and Promise the performance of it, yea, and to subscribe it, but that he could not affirm the same by an Oath, neither was that Lawful for a Christian, nor Advantageous to Men; seeing that such an Asseveration would nei∣ther impose a greater Obligation upon good Men in the preserving of their Faith, nor take away fear from the wicked, and that the same was only an En∣couragement to Rashness, and Temerity in all false hearted Men, and a Cloak for Evil, and sometimes for the most notorious Villanies. By which speech and moderation in speaking, Howgil was so far from being freed from the Prosecution and Envy of his Judges, that for all that, he was adjudged Guilty, and adjudged, as being guilty of Disloyalty, to have all his Lands forfeited as long as he lived, and Moveables for ever returned to the Exchequer, and that he himself was out of the King's Protection, and ordered to be shut up and detained in perpetual Imprisonment; and so it came to pass, that the Man continued in that Pri∣son for five Years, when at length he fell very sick, and shortly after ended his Miseries by Death, be∣tween the Arms and Lamentations of his Wife, and many Friends, who were the Witnesses of his Exit, and of their own sorrow, for the loss of a Man, who was not only dear and delightful to them, but to all of their Society; at his Death he called God and Men to Witness, That he died of thut Re∣ligion for which he had suffered so many Afflictions. While the Quakers were thus disturbed, harrassed, and molested, the Parliament made yet a more rigid Law, That the Quakers should, in direct words before the Magistrates, take the Oath of Al∣legiance to the King, and own him for the Supream Head of the Church. But, and if upon any Ac∣count, they could not be brought to do this, it was

Enacted, That within a Year's space they should leave the Kingdom, as refractary and rebellious Persons, that acknowledged no Authority of Rule, and rejected, and laid aside all Bands of Humane Societies. By which Law they seemed now as if they did not only raise up Arms, and Proclaim War against them openly and simply, but design their utter Ruine and Destruction. Now, by this Law there was an increase of these Peoples Misfor∣tunes the following Year, in that it made them to be much more suspected and hated by the People, but it's uncertain whether this proceeded from the Opinion, and from thence the Rumour of such sort of Men, who think what they do not compre∣hend, and say what they think, or from them who believed cunningly enough that this was the best way and manner for them to be quickly and readily rid of these Men. Or lastly, from them who ho∣ped that they might in these troublesome Times gain some Profit and Advantage to themselves; the Mischief was this: These Men were more and more blamed, that they cherished Papists, and even Jesuits, that certainly lurked amongst them, which same Persons were so hateful to the People, and which took upon them their Names and Persons, and preached amongst them, that sometimes one and the same Teacher, on one and the same day, did first Celebrate Mass among the Papists, and af∣terward Preached in the Congregation of the Qua∣kers, either without Hair, or with a Peruke on; neither was there any Notable Preachment at any time had among the Quakers, the Author whereof was not esteemed to be a Jesuit; and this was so rooted in the Thoughts and Imaginations of most Men, that if any one knew it not, he was looked upon as ignorant of the Publick Affairs; if he de∣nyed it, as Impudent, or a Papist or Jesuit him∣self, born to Lye, and to Cheat: And they offer this as an Argument of such Practices, which made the same find a more easie belief; to wit, that the

Papists did so, as well, because that hereby, they might avoid Swearing, as the Quakers were most averse to such Oaths, and so should swear nothing against the Honour and Interest of their Religion, as that so they might catch and allure the unwary by their Artificial and cunning Speeches. I re∣member I have heard, a long time after being in Company with some Englishmen, and amongst some Quakers, these Men complaining, that even then such Discourses were bandied about concern∣ing the Jesuits mixing with the Quakers, and that they durst not contradict them. I'll go a little further; some time after, some, I know not who, according to their Jesuitical way and disposition, that wrote Foxes and Fire-brands, urging that there was a certain Jesuit that had lurked and taught among the Quakers for Twenty Years to∣gether; but as often as I have put this thing to the Quakers, they have answered, That there could be nothing upon this Head found more falsly, or more foolishly, and that they could never find any thing that was like it, or smelled of it; but yet it is strange, how much Envy and Hatred this Opi∣nion contracted to these Men, who followed this Sect and Constitution; and certainly there is no Year so Memorable and Note-worthy for the Per∣secution of these Men, than this of Sixty Four; for seeing that neither those who were in Prison, that they might be set free, nor those at Liberty, that they might prevent their Imprisonment, could be brought of that Mind, as to be willing to Swear; and that those who were free, would by no means cease to hold their Assemblies, and that in greater Numbers than the Law allowed, and that many times they went so far, that they left their homes, and went out of the Bounds of the Kingdom. They were indeed in some places very severely handled, and in other places, over and above their hard Treatment, seeing that all places were filled with Prisoners, they ordered them into Banish∣ment,

and drove them, as the noisom and horrible Pest of the Kingdom, into the uttermost Parts of the Earth. The City of London had none of the least share in this Persecution, where besides the Oppressions and daily Violences offered by the meaner sort and scum of the People, as well as by the Soldiery, who strenuously rejoyced in such do∣ings, and as having no regard of their own, so did more lightly set by other Mens Lives, and who every where waited for them in their Meetings, and did ever and anon by the Magistrate's Command, hale away many of them, yea, sometimes an Hun∣dred together, and drive them before them like a Flock of Sheep, and throw them into Prisons, but not into those that were next at hand, and more at large, wherein however they might have been safe enough kept, and that in a gentle and kind manner, but into one common Prison, called Newgate, the Receptacle of Thieves, Rogues, Highway-men, and Cut-throats, as if they had been their Com∣panions and Associates in their Villainies and Impie∣ties, and the Scum and Off-scouring of the People, where they were crouded up like Beasts, ready to be stifled, and languishing with the Infection of such a place: Whence some of them, being so streightned and terrified with the place, and their pernicious and profligate Company, that they might enjoy a freer Air, and the sight of the Hea∣vens, stood Night and Day either guarded in the Yard, or else got up to the top of the place, where, being not sufficiently clad, were very much incom∣moded by the Cold and sharpness of the Air; and so many of them, them, through the Inconveniencies, Trou∣bles, Fatigues, and Stench they were exposed to, were much weakened, and fell sick, some were wasted throughout in such a manner, as that they seemed to be meer Sceletons, and lead a Life more intolerable than Death it self; and others that could not endure the Misery, died, whose Corps, when their Friends and Kindred desired they might

have to bury (though in vain) were privily Inter∣red by the Keepers. Some of them being sick, and discharged therefore out of Prison, soon after, their Distempers increasing more and more upon them, died. Of whom there were two, whose Corps in the dead of the Night, soon after their Decease, and when their Friends had scarce lamen∣ted their Death, comforted one another, and gone to thier Rest, were taken away by Guards and Ser∣vants (having broke open the Doors for that end) sent by some of the Magistrates, and against their Friends consent, gave them a Christian Burial; and this induces me, designing otherwise to use not many Examples, to add this one notwithstanding, especially because of the oddness of the thing, and not unworthy to be known. Some Quakers at Scarborough in the Isle of Wight, met together in the House of John Bishop, one of their own Com∣munion and Society; some of the Townsmen set upon them, and take several of the Quakers, and upon this Condition would grant them to depart freely, that every one of them should pay Half a Crown for his Offence; which Money when all of them refused to pay, not for the Money, which was not much, but because that in so doing they might seem to incur such a Penalty, and so ac∣knowledge themselves to have been justly amer∣ced; they were all put into Custody; and see∣ing the Man's Name was Bishop, in whose House they met together, there was from thence a Story raised in England, and from thence dispersed into other Foreign Countries, that the Quakers in that Island had pulled down the Bishop's House, to whom belong'd the Administration of all Matters in Ecclesiastical Affairs there. There was one Pris∣cilla Moe by Name, present in this Company afore∣said, a Widow Woman; of whom Money being demanded, as of the rest, and she at the same, and in like manner looking not so much upon the Sum it self, as that she should seem to make her

self Criminal, if she parted with it upon such an Account; and so did stedfastly, as all her Friends had done, reject their Demand, she was with them thrown into Prison, though she was very weak and infirm, where not long after she died. Next day her Friends the Quakers prepare to carry away the Corps, and to bury it in their own Burying-place, they had purchased for that purpose; but the Go∣vernour of the Town would not suffer it, and so Commanding them to leave that to him, he takes care to have her buryed in a Christian manner, to the great regret, and sore against the will of those Men; for the Quakers did not reprehend this, that they buryed their own Dead so, but this they took very hainously, and troubled them much, that they were not entrusted with the Affairs of their Dead, whose Lives, and all their Concerns were within their Care, and that they durst not discharge that last Office of Piety towards them, according to their own Will and Mode, and that their Enemies carryed their Friends Corps with so many Ceremo∣nies and Circumstances of their own, Prayers, and other Acts of such like Devotion, into hallowed and consecrated Ground, which they then call a Christin Burial, and the just Funeral Solemnities of a Christian; which concernedness and anxiety of theirs is indeed very strange, as if the Quakers themselves did believe that their Chast and Holy Bodies were defiled with these Rites, and in these Places, and they so abhorred the Superstition of others, as to favour another Superstition; for according to their own Confession the Dead have no sense or feeling, neither is it any matter where they rot. These Men moreover did more especially take ill, and grievously complain of this; that seeing their Adversaries did so shun their Friends that died before for their Religion, Faith, Manners, and Actions, and detested some of them, and that now they were dead, they persisted in the same Temper to the last gasp of their breath, and died so, yet

that there were some of them, who when they gave them Christian Burial, as they called it, did not only judge them worthy of the Name, but al∣so of the Honour and Memory of Christians, yea, and in the reciting of their Funeral Rites and So∣lemnities, praised them as Members of their own and the Christian Church. And this has suggested another matter, of which I shall mention; this from the very first rise of these Men, has seemed to them to be altogether unfit and unbecoming honest and sincere Persons, and especially Christians, to make such splendid Preparations in the Celebra∣tion of their Funeral Obsequies, that they seemed to be more like unto the Pomps of fine Shews and Triumphs, than Funerals, wherein together with Life all Worldly Glory passeth away; and namely, that they are often set off with so much Ornament and Company, with such Ostentation and Sem∣blance of Face and Habit, implying Sorrow, whenas they in the mean time rejoice in their Bosoms, and sometimes when they return, Rejoice and Revel; and that others who take Pleasure to see such days as these, follow the rest; yea, some Sots and Gluttons, and such as have had no Invitation, come and glut themselves, and very often poor needy People, who are in extream want of Money, indulge themselves upon such occasions, and spend the remainder of their Substance: Whereas on the contrary, these Men have used, and do still use to demean them∣selves modestly in providing for the Funerals of their Friends, to wit, in conveying the Corps into such places as are convenient and adapted for that purpose, not into consecrated Ground, left they should be thought to partake of the Superstition of their Ashes in the least; neither have they any Ornaments, nor any Ensigns of Lamentation or Mourning, nor do they wear any balck Claths, besides what they are daily wont to do; neither do they use any Junkettings, but only both before and after think upon the Mortal state of all Men, and

every one of his own in particular, and how in a short time every one must enter upon that Journey unto Eternity, from which there is no returning, and commit this to their Heart and Memory, and excite one another to the study of an Honest and Pious Life, that his Death may be answerable thereunto. And that I may add this further, which is not to be omitted, but not therefore to be extended to many: It's a wonder, how much hatred also the odd and different way of managing and carrying their Funerals, and what storms of Reproaches and Trouble it brought upon the Quakers; they themselves Report, that the dead Carkasses of their Friends were dug up again, and buryed in other places; and all this lasted till the next Year after this, wherein that Memorable Plague raged, and when the Quakers had free Liberty to Bury in their own Places, and perform their Funeral Rites as they themselves pleased.

And seeing I have said thus much concerning the Burials of these Men, I shall take the Liberty to add this one passage more concerning them: There was a certain Man, whose Name was Oliver Athar∣ton, of the Parish of Ormskirk, who, because he would not pay Tythes, was put into the Common Goal of Derby by the Countess of Derby, where, after a long Imprisonment, the Man died; the Quakers having Liberty granted them, carry the Corps away, and passing through some Streets into the place where he had dwelt, there bury him, and in the mean time set up pieces of Paper on Poles in all those places, with this written thereon, whereby they extolled. Oliver as a Martyr, but de∣famed the Countess, as being guilty of Murder: This is Olliver Atharton, of Ormskirk, persecuted to Death by the Countess of Derby, because he would not pay her Tythes: After which, when that the Countess in a few days after died in like manner, and was carryed the same way to be buried, the Quakers made also a Miracle of this her Death,

as if it had been the Effect of Divine Vengeance and Displeasure, as all are prone to Judge of the sudden, unexpected, and heavy Misfortunes of their Enemies. This Year a new and odd Persecu∣tion attended these Men, which here we shall a little largely insist upon. It happened in the City of Colchester; I have given an Account in the First Book how the Quakers first came into this City, but by this time having much increased in Number, they met together daily, and could by no means be di∣verted from that their Practice and Custom; at which things the Mayor of the City did at first wink, but afterward, finding them proceed in their ways, he began to look upon this Connivance as a disgrace unto him, and therefore bethought himself what he ought, and what he could do in that mat∣ter, and at last, seeing that they still persisted there∣in, he was much grieved and inflamed with Anger, and fully determined with himself to Prosecute them severely. It's a fearful thing to have an an∣gry and an armed Enemy. It happened on the 25th. day of October, being the Lord's Day, that many of the Quakers were met together in a House, to Worship God according to their way, which when the Mayor came to hear, being eager with a desire to Punish them, he hasted thither with his Officers, breaks open the House, rushes in, and in harsh Words, but with a grave Authority, said, he came, according to the King's Laws, for to disturb this their Cabal and Conventicle, and immediately without delay, charges his Followers to Apprehend some of them, and lead them to Prison, and at the same time Commands the other Quakers to follow their Companions into the same place, which they quickly and readily did, not in conformity to his Command, but of their own will and inclination: After this, the same Officers on the Nine and Twentieth Day of the same Month, in pursuance to their Master's Command, return and repeat the same thing with great Care and Diligence. But

when the Quakers on the First day of the next Month and Week met together again, the same Officer advises what to do, and does himself with his Guard undertake the same thing as before, in∣vades and sets upon the House, where many Qua∣kers again, not expecting his Command, knowing already what his Will was, go away into the same Prisons; and because that the rest of them did for all this meet again together on the Tenth Day of the said Month, there came either by the Command, or certainly by the Permission of the Governour, part of the County Troop, and these violently rush upon the Assembly, take some of them and con∣duct them to Prison, beat and thump others, and besides ransacked the Place, rent and pull down the Seats, Windows, and every thing else besides the Walls and Rafters; when this was done, the Governour set one of the Gang, that lived not far from the House where the Quakers met together, at the Door, for to hinder them with Words and Threats for to Meet there, if they were not minded to fall from one Calamity unto another; whom, when they would not resist, they all stood in the Yard in the open Air, and pursue their Worship quietly, according to their usual manner; the Por∣ter and Keeper does the same thing on the follow∣ing days, and these same Men did the same as they had done before, not caring to what Inconvenien∣cies of Air they were exposed, nor to what Injuries and Reproaches of their Enemies, nor with what Danger they were beset by lyers in wait for them, and not knowing what great Evil and Misery was a brewing for them at this very time for their Ob∣stinacy and Perseverance: For seeing they would not desist from their Method and Purpose, it came to pass, as if the Law and Civil Power were too weak and feeble, that they had recourse to the Law of the Sword, and the Force of Arms; there were Forty Horsemen well mounted with choice Horse made ready, and these being furnished with Swords,

Carabines, and Pistols, as they are wont to be, they drew nigh, that if so be they should again attempt any such thing, they were forthwith to fall upon them, and put them under Military Execution, so as that they did not kill them outright. The Qua∣kers come again together on the Fifth of December, upon which this Troop approach, and seeing the Quakers, did immediately with drawn Swords, like stout Soldiers, as if they assaulted armed Men, but such as few of them had ever done, gallop up with full speed unto them, and then crying aloud, as if that were the Signal, What a Devil do you do here? They set upon them, beat, knock, and wound some of them with their Swords and Muskets, spa∣ring neither the tender Age, nor Female Sex, nor the grey and wrinkled, and drove them from one place into another; and some that met them, even far from the place, and whom they took to be Quakers, were seized by them, and severely handled; some who had escaped safe to their Homes from this ter∣rible Usage, had their Doors broke open, and were hardly used there; but neither did this also deter them from Meeting together again, but they retur∣ned next day to the same place, whither came a∣gain the same number of Horsemen armed some of them, besides the Instruments already mentioned, with heavy-headed Clubs, and so set upon them, throw them upon the Ground, beat them, and handle them with such a Violence, that they drew Blood from many of them, some they left as if they had been dead upon the Ground, and had died, had it not been for the Citizens, who being moved with Compassion, received some of them into their Houses, and took care of them; some were so used, that they could not lift an Hand to their Mouths, yea, and could not use any Member of their Body for a long time after. There was one of the Horsemen who struck at one of them with so much violence, that he shook his Blade out of the Hilt, which when the Quaker perceived, he

gives it up to his smiter, saying, Take thine own, but as for me, that which is ours and a Christian's part, I beseech and pray to God, that the work of this day may not be laid to thy Charge. And so on the one side, Fury and Cruelty, and on the other, Con∣stancy and Gentleness seemed to outvie one another. But all this Violence could not yet repress the En∣deavours and Purposes of these Men: And so they met again another day, whereupon the same Per∣sons are sent to them also, being now looked upon as the best and surest Chastisers and Punishers of these Men, who set upon them, and handle them according to their wonted manner; and while the Quakers endeavour, as every one best could, to escape, they pursue them even to their very Houses. And when these Men could not still be diverted from their way and purpose, but that they met to∣gether on the Twenty Seventh day again, the same Troop came up with, and before they set upon them, they placed Sentinels at the Passes to stop their going out, whereupon the Horsemen, to the number of Thirty Six, break in upon them, and with their Clubs and Muskets so beat and bruise the Limbs and Heads of these People, with such hard blows, and some of them receiving even an Hundred, that there was scarce any part of their Body free from Wounds and Bruises; and seeing there were some of them who sought to escape their hands by flight, they fell in the Avenues into the power of the Sentinels, and were as severely handled as the rest; and those Punishers and Chastisers intermixt so many Maledictions and Curses with these things, that the Quakers, who are a People of few words, and such as are awful and modest, affirmed, that they were not so much hurt with their Swords and Clubs in their Bodies, as they were troubled at their wicked Words in their Hearts. These Men were now so hardned with all these Tryals and Evils, that they were not only not moved in the least thereat, but also looked upon whatever they suffered

as pleasant and glorious, being as it were a Mar∣tyrdom for their Religion. They again Meet on another day, to the Number of Sixty Persons, with a stedfast and firm Resolution of Mind, expect∣ing to be put under the bitterest Tryals and Afflicti∣ons; at what time a Company of People, partly on Horseback, and the rest on Foot, all of a sud∣den set upon them in a Tumultuous, Boisterous, and Clamorous manner, and whomsoever they catched, they knock'd down to the Ground with their Arms, and did so beat and assail some of them, and made them so weak and infirm, that they could not for a long time stir their Limbs for the use of their Bodies. Yet this Outrage could not bring these Men to take better Advice, and change their Purpose; wherefore the Forty Troopers were sent again against them, who thinking they could not be forced by the former Arms they had used, do now drive very sharp Nails into the ends of their Clubs, wherewith they might repel them, and so when the Quakers returned boldly to their Place of Worship on the Sixth of November, they set upon them, and with horrid Curses and Railleries beat them all from all sides, and separate some of them from the rest: Here a certain Widow, and an Old Woman, received Twelve Wounds, and another Woman was wounded to her very Reins. This Persecution lasted six Weeks. From thence for∣ward the Governour took another Course; and first of all indeed according to his former manner, but now accompanyed with the Recorder of the City, and some Officers, goes to the places where the Quakers were to Meet together, breaks the Doors open, and goes in, and as soon as any of the Qua∣kers entred, dispersed them; at another time, ma∣king use of gentler Remedies, he Commands them, and lest they should not do it, in the King's Name, to be gone; to which they made Answer, That they were full of Duty towards the King, but that they loved God, the King of Kings, more, who commanded

that no one should forbear to Worship him when they had time and place. This the Governour interpre∣ted either as the greatest Ignominy, or the utmost Contumacy, and thinking neither of them was to be endured, renews his former severe Methods a∣gainst them, which he had for some time intermit∣ted, and sends Soldiers, who should drive them from the places where they were, by thrusting, ha∣ling, and smiting of them. But when he still found that he neither could by all his Devices, and so many Tryals, do any good, nor was able to bridle them, but that they were of that Mind and Dis∣position, either to live with this Freedom of Meet∣ing together, or to suffer Death for it, he chose ra∣ther at last to cease, and give over taking any no∣tice of them. These things which are worthy of Admiration, and which might seem to be set forth at large by the Quakers by way of Accusation, I take notice of not only from their own Relations of themselves, but also from the Testimonies of others, and of the most sober Christians of that City; moreover, there was no Citizen, who had any sense of Pity and Humanity about him, that did not express his Indignation, Dis-approbation, and also Detestation of the great Severity used against them.

THE Remaining PART OF THE Second BOOK OF THIS General History OF THE QUAKERS Begins at [Aa] Page 1.

THE General History OF THE QUAKERS.

BOOK II.

SO Eager and Resolute they were for the maintenance of their Religion, profes∣sion, and publick meetings, that mau∣gre all the severe Laws enacted against them, all the miseries they had already undergone, and the future evils impen∣ding on their heads, yet they never intermitted so much as one day from assembling together, and managing religious concerns. Nay, so far were they from being dispirited by the great ca∣lamities and miseries they lay under, that from the lowest to the greatest they seem'd to be harden'd and confirm'd against the greatest punishments whatsoever: as if all their misfortunes and disasters had been means rather to excite and encourage their boldness, than to enfeeble or repress the same. So that now there was no remedy left to restrain them, save close imprisonment. But because it was difficult and hard to detain them all in perpetual prison; It was at last resolv'd that they should not only be banis••'d from their houses and li∣vings, but from the whole kingdom; and com∣manded to the American Colonies subject to the

English; where they should be condemn'd to the same service and slavery that the barbarous na∣tives of that Country are; who are a people so stiffneck'd and stubborn that neither levity of treatment can break them, nor severity of punishment scare from their barbarous cu∣stoms; so that by an inveterate and immoveable despair they break all the bounds of Temperance and Reverence among the Christians. According∣ly there were several decrees made in several Courts and Judicatories at one and the same time about the Captive Quakers: (that is, those of them that were refractory and obstinate▪ whe•• neither imprisonment nor any other manner o•• punishment could move to desist from their disallowable practices; for there were some of 'em that after having been three, four, or five several times dismiss'd and set at liberty, still re∣turned to their former vomit) that they should be sever'd from the rest of the English World by being transported to Barbado's and Jamaica, where the Garrisons and Forts were strong enough to oppose them and stiffle their designs; and where there was no great fear of any danger that could arise from their commotions. And that they might be depriv'd of any support or comfort from conjugal love or fellowship, they order'd the women and men to be separated and transported to separate Colonies. But the term of their ba∣nishment did not exceed seven years. And this favour was likewise indulg'd them, that whoever would pay one hundred pounds English for his offence should redeem himself from being trans∣ported. But it was never heard that any of them attempted this manner of redemption.—I shall here mention only two examples, the one remarkable for insolence, the other for the place and manner of Judgment.

The first Was in Hereford Town, where one and twenty of 'em were kept in Prison, (of which sixteen were Married Persons, and very comfortably match'd to loving consorts,) be∣cause

of their frequent meetings and Religious ••••onventicles; who had been before try'd and condemn'd in a Convention of the County, and were afterwards sentenc'd to suffer the aforesaid Exportation, by a Court held in every respective County. The Quakers relate that all things were done very superficially in the latter, no∣thing of tryal being made sure only for fashon sake, as if they would not repine or reverse the Sentences formerly cast against them in other Courts; or as if the matter had been so plain that there was no further place left for the guilty to put up defences; so that all things were ready for passing Sentence. The Witnesses that had been Examin'd before, depon'd that they saw the Qua∣kers, assembled together at that place, from whence they were brought to Prison; and that in this their assembly, they were sitting quiet and mute without any speaker. The Quakers made no dispute upon the matter, only re∣plied, That as they us'd to do at all other times, they had then met together, not tumultuously, nor after any unhandsom manner. However, this was accounted a Crime sufficient to demerit such a punishment. The Quakers say, That when the President of the Court, Henry Chany, was pro∣nouncing Sentence of Transportation against them, his Countenance bewray'd great trouble of mind, and the words he spoke were very faint and lan∣guid, as if the Injustice of the Sentence had struck him with fear and confusion. This they observ'd; and indeed they are men very apt and ready to make their Observations, and commemorate the same for infallible Truths. However, this Judg having pronounced Sentence, interrogates them all, if they were willing to redeem themselves at the price set, allowing them the next night to con∣sider upon it; Which night (as they write them∣selves) they spent not in consulting one with ano∣ther what Answer to give; but in secure and pro∣found sleep, as being conscious to themselves of no evil thing they had done, which self conscious

innocence devoided them of fear, and encourag'd them readily and chearfully to undergo all the Afflictions that might befal them. In the Morn∣ing, being call'd before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Judicatory to give an∣swer to the question put to them the preceeding day, they reply'd to the Judge, interrogating them a fresh, that they would pay nothing, and tho they had a hundred lives they would not redeem them for a hundred pence; so far were they from offering or promising so many pounds.

Some few days after that two Courts were held at London about the same business, which may be ac∣counted the Metropolitans of all the others held on this account, as London is of that Kingdom. The Decisions and Judgments of these Councils were very various, as the exit testify'd. The Quakers being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up in Prison for having con∣gregated themselves in publick Crowds, and obsti∣nately persisting in the same irregularity; were arraign'd before the Court, and accus'd of having transgress'd the Laws, in meeting and preaching to more than five at a time, in contempt of the King and the Laws of the Realm; that tho they met together for worshipping God, yet their man∣ner of worship was dissonant from the Liturgy and Canons of the Church of England; and that tho they design'd to advance mutual concord among themselves by their frequent Conventicles, yet they tended to raise discord & sedition amongst the People. The informers and delaters against them were mostly the Magistrates Servants and Of∣ficers, or the Keepers of Prisons and suchlike, who yet testified nothing against them, save that they found them assembled together, tho they did not hear any speaking amongst them; or that they were deliver'd to them by the Messengers who apprehended 'em; or that they saw them brought into Prison. Unto which the Quakers reply'd, that they did not deny their being together; but that they desir'd it might be proved that their Con∣gregating together was upon any such wicked de∣sign,

as to shew contempt of the King and Go∣vernment; which was the crime laid to their Charge, and upon which they were then call'd in question. They added likewise, that they did not deny their meeting together in greater num∣bers than five; which if it was contrary to the King's commands, was excusable in them, since they were bound to obey the Commands of God, and give ear to his voice alone, tho Kings and all Men on Earth should Countermand the same; And as to the Liturgy of England, they reply'd, that if it contain'd any thing contrary to the Divine Will, it was to be put in the same ballance with the Kings Laws, when of the same strain; and so could not be urg'd upon them as a rule to walk by; Besides, that the Liturgy did not forbid, nay, commanded to Worship God after the same manner that they did, viz. In Spirit and in Truth.

The Jurymen after having understood the whole matter how it stood, did not all so freely tell their minds as they might have done; nor were they all equally forward and ready to decide the matter; some pleading, that it being an intricate case they were doubtful and uncertain how to determine it; others refusing positively to Judge of it, as being a most important and momentous affair. But all the Judges unanimously concentred in this sen∣tence, that such Religious Meetings as were not conform to the Modes of the Church of England, or exceeded the number of five, were unlawful; and that these Quakers (whatsoever was their de∣sign in Meeting, be it good o•• ill) had celebrat∣ed such unlawful Meetings and persisted to do the same still; which they openly and Judicially acknowledged, so that no place was left for atte∣nuating the crime, or alleviating the punishment; wherefore they were all guilty of a Capital crime. And whereas some of these Quakers were marri∣ed, others were single persons, in some Courts the sentence was that the former should pay a fine of so many pounds, or suffer a years Imprisonment;

and the latter be Transported to the American Islands, to do slavery in the English Colonies there: In other Courts they were all promiscuously or∣der'd to be Transported; Yet so as in some Courts Liberty was given to those that had re∣ceiv'd sentence of Banishment, (in some places to them all, but elsewhere only to the Boys and Girls) to choose whether they would rather be Transported, or stay in England, and frequent the publick Churches to hear Sermon; which they all unanimously rejected; some of 'em returning this answer, that they wondred how the Judges should propose such an offer, since they all knew very well that if any of the Quakers came that length as to embrace their Proposal, it would not be from a sincere love to the Church, or their Ser∣mons, but through Hypocrisy and Dissimulation, which in Religious matters is the most heinous and superlative crime that can be Committed. In fine, since the Quakers continued so obstinate in rejecting all offers made by the Judges, they likewise continued stedfast in ordering their sen∣tence to be put in Execution against them. The first Court that took this affair into Cognisance, was held about the middle of October, William Proctor being chosen president: The Jurymen were unwilling and refractory to meddle with it, which Created a great deal of trouble to the Judg∣es. At this time there were twelve receiv'd sen∣tence of Transportation, partly Men, of which some very ancient, some very young, partly wo∣men, among whom was one Girl under sixteen years of Age. Another Court was held the same very month, to which Robert Hide presided. Dif∣ferences arose betwixt the Judges and Jurymen, for that the latter were slow and backward to decide the matter. At length after they had reason'd and debated among themselves about the nature of the Crime, the matter of fact, and the tenor of the Law, they with one voice gave in this Resolution, that these men were guilty of

having kept Conventicles; but that they could not determine whether they kept such Conventi∣cles as here repugnant to the rites and customs of the Church, or what was their intention in so do∣ing. By which sentence they thought they freed themselves from any further trouble in the affair: But the Judges began to debate with some of them about the Religion of the Quakers, and at last to threaten them openly; and cited six of the twelve to appear before the King to give an ac∣count of what they had done; the six were not at all affraid, persisting in their opinion, in favour of the Quakers, which they thought it their duty not to revoke from. Upon which the Court was dismiss'd for that occasion; and the matter left undecided, yet it sate again that same very day; but Judge Hide▪ did not sit, the Lord Mayor sup∣plying his place; and then it was determin'd (nemine contra dicente) that they were guilty of most heinous Crimes, unworthy to live in their Country, and therefore to be banish'd to the out∣most bounds of the Remorter Earth. Among them was a Boy in Coats (being so very young) who being ask'd if he would not swear that he was not sixteen years old, had not the Ripeness enough of Judgment to give a grave and perti∣nent Answer, but reply'd, that no Man could Remember the Day of his Birth, and that he was not born for, nor train'd up in Swearing. On this occasion Eighteen were condemn'd to the same punishment of being Transported.

The next Court was held in December, Hide pre∣siding; in which, without any dissention, or va∣riety of Opinions, they condemn'd Two and Thir∣ty to be turn'd out of all their Possessions and Enjoyments, and banish'd their Countrey. One of these Two and Thirty boldly desir'd leave of the Judges to ask One Question; which being granted, he tells them, That they were constituted Judges to resolve him and others about dubious mat∣ters; which they acknowledg'd to be true. Then

he asks of them, since the cause of his Condem∣nation was his frequenting the Meetings of the Quakers, and absenting from the Publick Chur∣ches; and since the Commands of God enjoyn'd the former, and the Laws of Men constrain'd the latter, which would they have him obey, or what would they advise him to do? The Judges gave no answer, either because they durst not answer contrary to their own Consciences, or because they would not seem by their Judgment to over∣turn a Law establish'd and confirm'd by so many Judgments pass'd upon the same Affair. Some of these condemn'd both in this and other Courts, demanded (by their Solicitors, as well as them∣selves) to have a Copy of the Judges Sentenco, that they might consider it, and answer distinct∣ly to each Article of the same: but it was deni∣ed them, lest by protracting and pretending this for an Excuse of further Delay, they should seem to elude the Law. Wherefore some of them, as soon as they open'd their mouths in their own defence, were instantly carried away.

Another Court was held upon this account that same month, Judge Hide presiding; in which the Judgment was summary and compendious: For since the Accused did not deny their congrega••∣ing together, the confession of this was accounted an acknowledgment of the Crime, and without any further Enquiry, or Proof, they were forth∣with adjudg'd to undergo the same punishment. There was a Widow among the rest, a Mother of Three Children, who (while the rest were alledg∣ing, That they were not found guilty of any Ille∣gality in the manner and design of their assemb∣ling; for the Act it self they did not deny) cry'd out, That she was most unjustly accus'd not only of the Crime, but of the Fact it self; and that it would be a wicked and scandalous Action to inflict upon her such a Punishment which she ne∣ver deserv'd; fot that she was only standing at the Doors of the House where the Quakers (her

Friends and Neighbours) were assembled, and had not yet entred in, when the Sergeants and Officers laying violent Hands upon her, drew her into the House. Upon which, one of the Qua∣kers turning himself to the Jurymen (for they are upon Oath when they give Judgment, and great∣er caution is to be us'd after the taking of an Oath) accosts them thus, That they would think upon God the supreme Judge Omnipresent, and Om∣niscient, and on Conscience the Judge within them; And not imagine to themselves that the times, or the necessity of doing so, or so, would be a solid excuse for 'em, or to take Encouragement from any other respect whatsoever. Which injected some terror and scruple into their minds, some of them answering, that things were now come to that length that they could not help what they did. At this time they condemn'd twenty to the same punishment. Another Court was held in January, in which also Judge Hide presided, for all this affair was totally devolv'd upon him, as being the ablest and expertest of his function in England. They condemn'd thirty two after the same manner as the former, to be sever'd from their Friends, possessions and all Commerce with their native Country, by being banish'd into these remoter Plantations. In February there ensued two more, (onely Counsellor Wachlon presiding in the first, and Windham in the latter. The former condem'd twenty four; the latter ten Men and Women; both to undergo the above∣mention'd proscription. There was some among them who alledg'd that at that time, when the Conventicle was kept, at which they were accus'd, and said to have been present, they were in places far distant from it, but all Defences and Allegati∣ons were in vain. So that in this one City the Principal of the whole Kingdom, so many of this Society as were Charg'd to be seditious, wick∣ed, and tumultuating, were not allowed to breath in their native Air; of which they were said to

be unworthy, and confin'd to these Solitary distant Colonies of the New World, to be there hardly us'd, and oblig'd to truckle, with the native Barbarians to all manner of servile work; this being accoun∣ted the most effectual way for allaying their fury and quelling the restless Commotions of their Spirits.

The Quakers relate, that in some of these Courts, there happen'd a Remarkable instance, as at He∣reford; that while they read over the sentence given against the Quakers, they did it with so much Consternation, Hesitation and Slowness of Speech, that of all the multitude standing by, there was none could tell what was read. They tell likewise of the first witness, or informer against them at these Courts, that from that time that he appear'd against them, he never en∣joy'd either peace of mind, or health of body, but losing all appetite to meat, shortly afterwards pin'd away and Died. All these observables are accounted by the Quakers to be a signification of the Divine wrath against them, It being usual for Men when in Adversity, to make curious Obser∣vations and Reflections upon those things, that in Prosperity might have past without being ta∣ken notice of; which they then interpret favour∣ably for themselves, as tending to their comfort and support, and signifying the wrath and anger of the Almighty, against the Actions of their Ad∣versaries. I have not inserted the Names of these persecuted Quakers, because it would have been tedious to mention all their Names; and also in∣vidious to name some of 'em, whether they place their Glory or their shame in this their af∣fliction. This severe and intollerable Affliction had that effect upon them (As all afflictions have, even upon Children, the most rude and un∣skilful of Eloquence) that those who formerly were mute and uncapable to say any thing to the purpose in their Defence, now became talka••ive

and ready in their discourses; Insomuch that both the Afflicted themselves, and also their Friends and Relations who were touch'd with pity and brotherly Compassion, for their hard lot, were heard frequently to express themselves after this Manner; That it was just for Evil doers to be ill treated; But they who offended no Man were in∣jur'd by all; that what all other People praise and applaud themselves in, was imputed to them as a superlative Crime; what they accounted vertuous and worthy of a Reward in themselves, they had se∣verely punish'd and persecuted in them, viz. Con∣stancy in Religion and Faith. This seems (say they) to be such a Metamorphosis and Renversement of things, as cannot but prove matter of Wonder and Astonishment to all good and wise Men; that what of old was deem'd for a hainous Crime, should now be Crown'd with the Testimony of vertue; what of old was branded as Contrary to all Divine and Hu∣mane Laws, should now be establish'd and enacted in a Law. By this Law it is that such Numbers of M••n are accus'd, examin'd, try'd, and condemn'd by Witnesses, Jurymen, and Judges, all fill'd with Passion and Revenge; excepting only a few who while they plainly insinuate, that such unaccountable procedure is contrary to their mind, yet would not openly disclose their thoughts, or oppose the rest of their angry and passionate Companions. Moderate punishments are moderately endur'd; but this of theirs was so intollerable and grievous that is sur∣pass••d the tortures of Hangmen, insomuch that Death it self (even the cruellest) would be welcome to them and accounted a favour. That what God and Na∣ture had most sweetly and strictly Conjoyn'd and Ce∣mented together, could be sever'd and torn asunder without the most ineffable pain of Torment. That of this nature were the Enjoyments they were be∣reav'd of, and despair'd ever to Recover. That the dearest and most loving Friends were separated from one another, cast out, and banish'd their Coun∣try, their Houses, Families, and the Society of their

Friends, Relations, and Acquaintances; Nay, the Wives were Ravish'd from their Husbands, the Pa∣rents from their Children; the Infants were snatch'd from the Bosom and Embraces of their Parents; and Sucklings pull'd from the Breasts of their Mo∣thers. That free Christian Men were reduced to Slavery and Bondage, and thrust out among the Bar∣barous and cruel Indians, who were estrang'd from all Religion towards God, or Humanity towards Man. So that the Common liberty purchas'd with so much labour and pains, with the Blood and Lives of our Ancesters, and deliver'd to us their posterity, as a most precious and invaluable depositum, not to be parted with but with the loss of our Lives, is now violated and trampl'd under, in these very Lands which boast of their happiness in enjoying more free∣dom and liberty than other Nations. And thus it decays a pace, lessening by degrees, and changing its face every day, so that there is just ground to sus∣pect, that what now is their lot, may afterwards be∣fall the whole Nation, and that those who now re∣joyce and exult secure of their own Liberty, may af∣terwards come to bemoan the loss of the same when it is too late.

But since, I have already given you a taste of their Condemnation, it will not be amiss to trace their sentence to its Execution, and take a view of the events that ensu'd thereupon. The first of all the Quakers adjudged to be banish'd their livings, fortunes, and Country, and order'd forthwith to receive the Execution of this their sentence, were the seven Condemn'd at Hereford; from whence they were carried Prisoners to Lon∣don, to embark in a Ship lying in the Thames bound for Barbadoes. But when they came to bargain with the Master of the Ship about their Transportation, he believing the Men to be inno∣cent, thought it not safe for him to carry away his own Countrymen against their wills; and therefore deny'd to do it. This his rufusal was so heavily resented, that he was forthwith cast into

Prison. But afterwards, being releas'd and re∣specting more the misery and Affliction of the poor innocent Men, than his own disadvantage or Detriment, he again refus'd to do such an in∣humane thing, especially that reflected so much upon the fame and honour of his native Country. But the owners of the Ship having engag'd to carry them off, and thinking themselves oblig'd to fulfil their promise, depos'd the Master from his Office. Upon which some other Merchants, when they saw these Men so insens'd against the Master, that they had remov'd him from his place, and thinking he had done as became a good and faithful Man, in refusing to Transport his inno∣cent Countrymen, made him Master of another Ship, better than what he had before. Howe∣ver, a new Master being put in his place, the Quakers are deliver'd to him to be carried to Barbadoes. But this New Master bethinking himself afterwards what manner of men they were, began to repent of what he had done, es∣pecially considering that he could gain nothing by their Transportation, but a Reproach and Scandal, east upon his Name; and in fine sets them at liberty, giving them a Testimonial under his hand, that they had not privily fled away, but were freely dismiss'd by him. The Quakers presently sets straight homewards, and when they arriv'd, their Friends were so overjoy'd that they not only beat their Breasts with their hands, but likewise toll'd the Bell; which Alarm'd the Ma∣gistrates of the place, who having met together and understanding what the matter was, sent for one of the seven to appear before them, who told them the whole series of the story; upon which they sent for all the seven, ordering them to be carried to London, and deliver'd to another Master who was bound the same course; who af∣ter having set to Sea began to consider with him∣self that the Men he had on board, were Trans∣ported against their wills, being Captives and Pri∣soners.

The same consideration began to move the Seamen; who are a sort of Men more merciful and compassionate than others; and more exora∣ble and ready to assist and relieve the miserable and oppressed; which does not flow from their natural Inclination or Education, but from the frequent use of encountring many dangers, and being accustom'd to hardships. They began all to call to Remembrance what they had often heard in England, that there is a Law against ex∣porting any Man from his native Country without his consent, imposing a considerable fine upon any who should Adventure to do the same; as also that in Barbadoes, there is a Law, enacting, that if any Man imported an Englishman into that Island against his consent, he should be liable to what punishment the Governour pleas'd to inflict. Wherefore they all refus'd to be Accessory to any such Crime, which was Repugnant to the dictates of their Consciences, and liable to the ••orce of both Laws, in England and Barbadoes. It hap∣pen'd likewise that the wind prov'd contrary, and every thing cross, as they were upon the Sea, for a long time. Which Alarm'd the Seamen mighti∣ly, inclining them to believe that it was a certain sign of Divine wrath against them, for exporting their Countrymen (as the ignorant Vulgar are al∣ways ready to presage some fatal men from the ap∣pearance of any thing that is strange or unusual) in so much, that they assur'd the Master of the Ship, that unless he would let these Men go, they would not manage the Ship, nor perform the Voyage. And accordingly, as soon as they came to the Isle of Wight, they took Counsel together to set them at Liberty there. And that their design in dismissing them, and the manner of the same might the better appear, they wrote a Letter signifying the Reasons that mov'd 'em to let 'em go, and withal Testifying that they were men of unblamable Conversation in every thing; as also that they did not flee away from them by stealth,

but were freely dismiss'd; which Letter was sub∣scribed by some, and delivered to the Quakers, who came straight away for London, (not going near their own Houses) where they were brought before the Council, as Fugitives) to be punished by the Pains of Death; for such is the penalty of that crime; but they showing their Letters, which testified the contrary, were order'd to be kept Prisoners till another opportunity offer'd of sending them to America.

Next to these seven, other three at Bristol were put on Board a Ship for the same end; but the Seamen considering their case and doleful condi∣tion, and being mov'd with that affection, call'd mercy, (which is Grief of Heart for the misery of others) and also scar'd by the Laws against any such Exportations, set them at Liberty again, giving them a Letter or Certificate to remove all suspicion of their being Fugitives. These acci∣dents were wonderful, and accounted by the Quakers to be Miracles. Altho all these, and many others, who had receiv'd the same Sentence of Transportation, were put all together into one Ship, that was strongly enough guarded, and secur'd from the lash of the Law. This Ship, when set to Sea, was taken by a Dutch Privateer in the time of War between Holland and Eng∣land; and the Captive Quakers were set a shoar in Holland; which accident (whatever constructi∣on the Quakers may put upon it) is a memora∣ble instance of the vicissitudes of Human Affairs. Some of these Quakers return'd again to their own Habitations, as being afraid of nothing, and desiring resolutely to undergo all manner of Af∣flictions for the defence of their Religion. Others fix'd their Residence in Holland, making that place a Refuge and Receptacle of the Miserable; and thinking it safer to hear of the miseries of their Countrymen, than to see them with their Eyes, and be the feeling Subjects of the same themselves. Some of these men, Now Pilgrims in a strange

Land, had but very little to maintain themselves withal, but they acquiesc'd in their Poverty very patiently, choosing rather to live a secure (tho mean) life in a strange Country, than to try the uncertain Events of dubious Fortune in their own. Some, in the progress of time, encreas'd their small Fortunes to a considerable bulk, so that their former Persecution, and the Exchange of their Habitations, prov'd advantagious to them. Be∣sides, there were not wanting some among them, who, besides their domestick Affairs, took care al∣so of the General interest of the Sect even in that Country; and by introducing New Meetings and constituting a New Society, there became the chief Pillars and Ornaments of their whole Church; tho formerly they had been in no repute amongst their own People, either for Riches or other En∣dowments; so that their Friends and Associates did not stand to say publickly of them, that they were toss'd and harrass'd by many tribulations, and at length brought to that Country by the Divine Counsel, that they might be oblig'd to Ac∣knowledge that Divine Assistance which enabled them to compass such great undertakings; the same thing happening unto them that we observe in Trees and Plants, the which the more they are shaken with the Winds, the deeper and faster Root they take, and when prun'd, bring forth Fruits better and in greater plenty; or when bare at the Roots, or digg'd up and Transplant∣ed to other ground, Fructify better, and produce a more plentiful Harvest. A pious and laudable Action to put such favourable Constructions upon ad∣verse events, and to enlarge and magnify what pros∣perously befalls 'em. The Quakers at this time complain'd hugely of the cruel and inveterate malice of the Ecclesiasticks and Ministers against them, who should have been meek even to their Enemies, following in this the Example of their Lord and Master, while on Earth, who was meek and tender to his greatest Enemies. Their mouths

were also fill'd with the cruelty of the Bishops, who are the chiefest managers of all publick con∣cerns and the principal Members of the Parlia∣ment, the supreme Judicatory of the Nation, whose Authority is of so great weight and influence in the Nation, that they were the Authors of all the s••vere Laws and Rigid constitutions made against them; that they propos'd nothing con∣cerning the restraining and suppressing of Secta∣ries (and consequently Quakers) that was not forthwith listen'd to by the Noble Men and States∣men of the Kingdom. Their complaint there∣fore was, that Justice was done them no where, that they could not obtain liberty so much as to display the injuries that were done them▪ that this persecution was Universal and every where, insomuch that every Town, or whate∣ver place was frequented by People, ring'd with the persecution and affliction of the Quakers. And because they are of this principle, that Re∣sistance is to be offer'd to none, nay, not so much as to ward off force by force; that what∣ever fortune befell them, they should not on∣ly acquiesce in it, but receive it with all chear∣fulness and willingness of mind, while it was for Conscience sake; that whatever evils they were oppress'd with, they should undergo them with the greatest Constancy, Patience and Fortitude of mind and body; they complain'd that upon this account the world was the more jealous and suspicious of them, that their wrath and malice was incited the more against them; that they lay open to the snares and devices of all Men, such as could not be avoided by simple and open hearted Men, and to the greatest Perils and Dangers that any Mortals could undergo; not otherwise than if every thing alledg'd against them had been prov'd, or if their patient endur∣ing the Punishments inflicted had been their crime, and this their constancy in suffering, ac∣counted by some stubbernness and contumacy,

had call'd for a greater weight of punishment to be inflicted. In opposition to which, when such like complaints came to the ears of the Church∣men, they endeavour'd to purge themselves thus; that seeing the Quakers did so obstinately forsake and separate from the publick Religion, Church∣es and Sermons; and neglected, despis'd and en∣deavour'd by all means to render ineffectual the Laws and Constitutions of the Church; and sto∣ped, oppos'd and diminish'd, as much as in them lay, their revenues, incomes and advantages; so that they design'd and contriv'd to ruine them, and theirs, if they could; there was therefore no remedy left for curbing and checking their cor∣rupted minds, irregular Actions, and unaccount∣ble boldness, but the method they had chosen for that effect; and the punishments they met with were no less than they deserv'd; that as for them, they had done nothing but what was their duty, and became them in the conscientious dis∣charge of their function, which was not to be their Enemys, (as they said) but to correct, pun∣ish and reform sinners. But the Quakers chiefly found fault with this, that they always cited them before the Ecclesiastick and Spiritual Courts, which after this year became very frequent; this touch'd them so sensibly that they could not conceal the grief and anguish of their mind, nor moderate their tongues from expressing the same. This Ecclesiastical Court was after this manner:

The Quakers being most obstinate and tenati∣ous to all the Articles of their Religion, and very nice and insulting in the minutest Tenets of another, did by their obstinacy and trouble mightily incourage the Ministers of the Church∣es, and (which of all things here on Earth is most sensible) occasion'd the diminution of their revenues; They were then cited to ap∣pear, and if they either made any great Re∣sistance or refus'd to give surety, or to appear before the Court, they were excluded from

Communion with the Church, as being the Excrements and Off-scourings of the world. This we commonly call Excommunication. Which Excommunication was approv'd and confirm'd by every Bishop in his Bishoprick, and also by the Bishop of the Diocess where it was done; after which any Accusers or Actors had full power and liberty to prose∣cute them, as lewd and wicked people sepa∣rated from the Mother the Holy Church.

Then being delated to the Magistrates, and by their command apprehended and cast into Prison, were to lye there till they had suffer'd all the penalty and pay'd the last farthing, tho in the mean time none of them had began to pay the first penny. This Action is call'd by Lawyers de Excommunicato capiendo. The crimes they were accus'd of, that made them liable to this Thunderbolt of Excommunication were these, That they did not frequent the publick Churches, nor observ'd the set holydays, in attending Sermons and publick Prayers; that in holy days they and their families did not abstain from profane wocking; that they withheld their Children from baptism, and would not give surety for them, when they excluded 'em from the Num∣ber of Christians. That they did not receive the other Sacrament; that they were not mar∣ried by their Parish Ministers, nor any others of the Church; that they were not joyn'd toge∣ther in the bond of Matrimony according to Law, but liv'd together like lewd and debauch'd persons, making their Wives whores, and their Children bastards and illegitimate. (This de∣priv'd the Ministers of the Advantages they o∣therwise had by the fees and allowances paid them on such occasions; which the Quakers were very refractory to do.) That they sent not their Chil∣dren to School to be taught by the Parish School-masters, who otherwise were straiten'd for a live∣lyhood (for the Quakers had School-masters of

their own profession, to whom they committed the Education of their Children); that they re∣fus'd to pay their quota for repairing the Church∣es, and keeping them in order; that they omit∣ted to give the Easter-Offerings, or such other gifts as ought and us'd to be given to the Curates, or Minsters of their Parish; and lastly, that they refus'd to pay the Tithes of their Cattel, Lands, Trees, Honey, &c. to the Minister; this (say the Quakers) the Clergy look'd upon as their greatest Calamity, accounting it their cloros (as they us'd to taunt them) or the loss and rottenness of their honeycombs, and the product of their Bees. Thus the Quakers both in their gestures, Speeches, and Writings sometimes, cunningly insinuated such ••art bu••ter Reflections. Liberty was given the Quakers, before the sentence of Excommunicati∣on was pronounc'd against 'em, to propose their Defences and Apologies for themselves, before the Bishops and Magistrates. But because they were not allow'd to do it themselves, but only by Procurators and Sollicitors, which could not be done without giving Money, they declin'd appearing before them; for they thus reason'd with themselves, that if their business succeeded favourably, it was well; if not it would be the multiplying expences upon expences in vain; and besides, they bethought themselves, that no faith would be had to their Allegations without interposing their Oaths, which they were very a verse to, nay, so resolute that they would rather run the hazard, of the greatest persecutions what∣soever. So that none of them obtain'd any fa∣vour. Nor were they excus'd who pretended to be sick, and so unable to attend the Court; for this their pretended sickness was interpreted to be feign'd and not real. So that one after ano∣ther, great numbers of them were Condemn'd, apprehended, and put in Prison; some Rich, some Poor, some Citizens, some Country-Pea∣sants; several of the latter being Imprison'd for a

very small summ, not exceeding ten or six pence. Which small summs they all refus'd to advance, not that they were so poor as that they could not, or so pinching and niggardly, that they would not part with so much; but that they thought the pursuers had no right to them. And the pursuers were so eager and strict, that they would not forgive such little summs, nor abate the least farthing of their due, lest others should have taken Encouragement from such a prece∣dent, to expect the like immunity. So they were all promiscuously Imprison'd. In the mean while the fomenters of the Action, while they pre∣tended to recover what was owing them, took by force from their houses what (as they said) would amount to the summ; pillaging their houses, Embezzeling and Spoiling their Barns, Stacks, Harvest, Vintage; taking their Horses, Cows, and all other possessions they could be Masters of, so that they recover'd their Money with Interest, destroying all that the diligent Men had scrap'd together by the sweat of their brows, and living sparingly, and leaving nothing almost for the sustenance of their families. Yet the Quakers continued still stedfast, and unmove∣able, resolving to suffer to the last extremity, ra∣ther than recede from the course they had begun; so that some of them were cast into common Goals, some into Castles and Places of strength, some into stinking noysom Dungeons, where dogs could not live, being forc'd to live at the Discretion and Arbitrement of their Keepers, and expos'd for a ridicule to the basest and meanest of the Vulgar Servants; some were put in among the profligate and debauch'd, who had liv'd in all manner of wickedness and villany, and were justly punish'd for their evil deeds; who yet even then could not abstain from their perverse and wicked courses, nor refrain from calumniat∣ing and vexing their fellow Prisoners; and last∣ly, some of them were banish'd into so distant

Countrys from their Wives and Children, and all other Enjoyments that were dear or comfortable to them; which one Affliction crush'd some of them to Death, being overwhelm'd with anguish and sorrow, for the loss of their endeared con∣sorts. Many of them died by the noysome smell and other inconveniences of the Prison, or through grief, or being wearied out and oppress'd with long and tedious diseases arising from such causes. Some came sooner to this unhappy end, some later; but others endow'd with more strength and firmness of Body, wrestled out for a long time. There were some of them set at liberty, and freed from this insupportable weight of mi∣sery, through the intercession and entreaties of their Friends with the Magistrates, who likewise were mov'd with pity and compassion towards them; but were afterwards remitted to their old miserable habitation, not for any new debt or crime, but for that same they were Imprison'd for before; where they continued till Death alle∣viated their sorrows.

Some few years after this, the Quakers di∣vulg'd all this severe usage to the World by writ∣ings, which they presented to the King and Par∣liament. In which they run thorough all the several Countries of the Kingdoms, amassing toge∣ther all the instances of the cruelty and barbarity us'd towards them. But I shall here content my self with two of their most Remarkable Examples; adding unto them a third, which tho omitted by them▪ upon what account I know not) is as memorable and worthy to be remarked as any. The year that first affords us these Ex∣amples, is the year sixty four. The first is this. There liv'd a Blacksmith in a little Village in Hampshire, by name Thomas Penford, who was Imprison'd at Worcester in the common Goal, by an edict of Excommunication, because he would not pay three pence for Reparation of the Church; which he obstinately refus'd to do; so

that after three years and a half Imprisonment he died in Goal. The next is, Thomas Rennes a Country Farmer, in some little Village in Oxford∣shire, was Imprison'd at Oxford by an Edict of Excommunication, for not paying the Tithes, which he was avers•• to do. While he was de∣tain'd Captive, the Minister goes and seizes on his Horses; which were much more valuable than the summ he wanted; yet the poor Man continu'd in Prison a long time, and ends his days upon the place. The third Example, which is a Complex and Image (as it were) of all the rest, was after this manner. One Thomas Dobson liv'd at a lit∣tle Village call'd Brichtnel in Berkshire, where he maintain'd himself and his Family very honestly by a Farm he kept, and some small substance he had scrap'd together by his labour and diligence. He refus'd to pay the Tithes, not that he was so straitned for Money that he could not make up the summ, but that he could not do it because of the dictates of his Conscience disallowing the same. There was one Radulph Wistler who bought the Tithes, and had an Eye for a long time upon this Man's substance, and was fond of an occasion to terrify the rest from doing the like; he caus'd this Man to be hal'd to Prison, where he smarted for his contumacy by fifteen weeks Captivity; during which time, and like∣wise after that Dobson was releas'd, and return'd to his own house, he pillag'd and harass'd his house and possessions, taking off his Horses, Kine and other possessions, (which were priz'd and sold for his benefit) till he made about forty pounds Eng∣lish. And afterwards in the year sixty six, and sixty seven, when the poor Man was secure, fear∣ing nothing, he attacks him again, takes from him his Horse, four Kine, and all the Cattle he had of whatever sort, all the furnishing of his house, and the very beds they lay upon, so distressing and empoverishing the poor Man, that he and his Family scarce had wherewithal to

cloath themselves. But some time after, when he had almost overcome this disafter, having pur∣chas'd two kine which gave Milk, out of which, and the cheese made of it, he sustain'd his Fa∣mily without any other food; the Minister of the Parish Church (whose name I choose ra∣ther to conceal) pursues him with an Edict of Excommunication, insomuch that not only this small remnant he had for maintenance of his family was taken from him, but himself, thus poor and empty, was cast into Prison; which was done in the same year, from which time he remain'd captive till the year Seventy two; when he was set at liberty by the King's special Command; at length having return'd to his for∣mer dwelling place, and beginning to improve his small fortune a little by labouring the ground, and diligent working, this same Tithe-master I have already nam'd, so well vers'd in his ex∣actory Discipline, that no office of humanity withheld him from the same, falls upon him again, and takes all the possessions he now en∣joy'd, leaving him nothing; so that the value and price of what he took from him, was rec∣kon'd to be eightly pounds English, which is eight hundred and fifty eight Dutch Gilders. And moreover, to give a farther instance of his un∣parallel'd Barbarity, he caused him to be cast into Prison in the year seventy five, where he was shut up among Thieves and Robbers, and those who were not only guilty of such Enormous Crimes, but even of Whoring and Revelling; the Botches and Exulcerations aris∣ing from their intemperate Venery, being yet running upon their bodies, creating a most noy∣some and grievous smell, and all the whole Members of their body being infected and cor∣rupted with the same. But Dobson's greatest comfort was that he found in Prison Men of his own Society, who were kept Captive upon the same account that he was. Sometime af∣ter,

when one of these miserable pocky wretch∣es, had rotted unto Death through the Cor∣ruption of that blackest and foulest disease, the Keeper of the Prison (a Man inferior to none for wickedness and excess of Rudeness and In∣humanity, who dealt so with these Quakers, his Prisoners, that he shew'd to the World, that his humor and constitution was fitted for tor∣menting mankind) gather'd up the straw upon which this Corrupted and Loathsome carkass was laid, bringing it into that place where Dobson, with his fellow Quakers, and also the rest of these flagitive miscreants were throng'd up, where he burnt it in a fire, to testify that burning hatred, and malice against the Quak∣ers, which rag'd and flam'd within his Breast. And from the flames of this burning straw, there proceeded such Exhalations and Contagi∣ous fumes, that the Quakers were all taken ill of a most grievous and dangerous disease, which in a short time put a period to the lives of some of them. Dobson recover'd of this Distem∣per; but continu'd under the same miserable Captivity, till the wellcome day of his Death, which happen'd in the last day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred seventy and seven.

The Quakers therefore being griev'd in soul for this insupportable affliction of their Brethren, and apprehensive of the like Events about to be∣fall themselves, could not contain themselves from expressing the Estuations and Boylings of their incensed Minds, nor restrain their extravagant Tongues and Pens from complaining and lamen∣ting every where, publishing Books and Wri∣tings, Exaggerating the misery of their Conditi∣on, and demonstrating unto the World what for Men these Evangelical Reform'd Protestants (as they call'd 'em) Evidenc'd themselves to be: Those who in ancient. Times cry'd out against Persecution for Religion's sake, pretending that

none but God had Power to call their Religion and Conscience to account; and yet in these days are so fierce and cruel with their own Coun∣treymen upon the same Religious Account, sight∣ing against them with carnal Weapons, and op∣pressing them to such an high degree, that tho they spar'd their Lives, yet in••licted▪ Evils far worse than Death it self, introducing the same Tyranny that was us'd against the Church o•• Old, but with a New Face and Name. The Quakers relate, and also some of the Chroniclers or these Times record, That in the Time of that fatal and bloody Plague which Rag'd so severely both in London and many parts of that Realm, the Bi∣shops besought the King, and boldly counsell'd him, That in Order to avert and appease the Weath of God, which then so heavily afflicted them, he would free and cleanse the Kingdom from that P••st of Quakers, and other Fanaticks, the Banishment and Extirpation of whom would be an acceptable and Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the Land. But the moderation of the King was too great to give Ear to such Counsels; for though he would not countenance or assist these men, yet he was not willing to use such inhumane Cruelty against them; and accordingly chose rather that the Old Punishment should be continued against them, than a New One of that Nature take place. This Year, which was so fatal unto many places, de∣stroying both the Quakers and their Enemies promisouously, did likewise give the same deadly stroke to Samuel Fisher, whose Fame among the Quakers, Acuteness of Wit, Learning, and Neat Polite Way of Writing I have already men∣tioned. He died in Prison. The Quakers migh∣tily lamented his Death, being sensible what a great Doctor, and what a Skillful and dexte∣rous Defender of them and their Religion they had lost. Their Enemies, and Ministers of the Church, on the contrary, rejoyc'd and congra∣tulated his Death, who had given them so

much trouble while alive, being educated in the same Colledges with themselves, and hav∣ing been one of their own Tribe, taught the same manner of learning, and invested with the same office, and well acquainted with all their writings, ••••trigues, methods, and Ecclesiastical Policy; so that he was more capable to use their own Weapons and Arguments against themselves, which he did very dexterously. At this same very time they were likewise be∣reav'd of John Coughen, so fam'd and renown'd among the Quakers, who tho he was not ta∣ken out of the World, yet deserted his Sta∣tion, and separated himself from the Society of Quakers. This Man being born in Holland, of English Parentage, went over into England, where he finish'd his Philosophical and Theo∣logical course in the University of Cambridge, that Nursery of Learning which boasts so much of her integrity, that she never emitted any Dis∣ciples that prov'd corrupt or unsound in Reli∣gious matters: He afterwards became Minister to a Church in that Country, being ordain'd by Reynolds Bishop of Norwich; but he had not long exercis'd this function when he made defection to Quakerism, at the same very time that he was most busy in confirming and for∣tifying himself and his hearers, against the influ∣ences of that sect. There was a young Virgin among the Quakers, fam'd for her dexterity and skill in Preaching, whom many of the peo∣ple us'd to follow. Coughen having understood that she was to preach in a certain place, goes thither himself in his Canonical Robes, in or∣der to preserve his hearers from being seduc'd by her discourses. But so soon as he came to hear her, he was so mov'd and affected, that he not only not oppos'd her; or her Doctrine, but appear'd for its defence, and spoke pub∣lickly for it at that same occasion, and re∣turning home abandon'd his Ecclesiastick habit,

joyning himself to be a member of their Soci∣ety; in which he afterwards became a Doctor and Preacher, and was much caress'd and ap∣plauded by them. But not long after this he return'd to Holland again, and meeting at Har∣lem with Edward Richardson, Minister to the English Church in that place, and discoursing with him about Religion, he was so influenc'd by his company that he forsook the Quakers and their Society, betaking himself to Leyden, when he pursued the study of Medicine. Which where he had finish'd he returns to England, and professes that Art of administring medi∣cine to the sick, sequestrating himself all along from that Society, till at length some three years thereafter, he attempts to introduce a new Model of Doctrine and Discipline, (which had been so often endeavour'd by so many and so great Men) of obliging all Christians to con∣centrate in one common faith, and interpose their interest and power, for reconciling the differences of Religion amongst all who pro∣fess'd the Name of Christ. All this while Fox was not Remembred or talk'd of, except amongst those of his own Profession and So∣ciety; for he had been detain'd Captive for three successive years together, one half of that time in Lancashire, and the other half in York∣shire; he was first Imprison'd for his frequent Conventicles, and also for refusing his Oath of fidelity so oft as it was requir'd of him. Dur∣ing the whole course of his Captivity, the Judg∣es order'd and decreed many injurious and rough sentences against him. The chiefest of his fellow Prisoners was Margaret Fell, whom he afterwards made consort of his marriage∣bed; both of them were mutually assistant to each other in all duties of Religion, affording one another such help and comfort, as people so intimately conjoyn'd both in Friendship and Religion, generally expect from one another.

But after this, he was shut up in a Dungeon full of filth and nastiness, and standing stag∣nating water, where he underwent much mi∣sery, being forc'd sometimes to pass the night without having whereupon to sup; upon which he was taken very ill, and was now but slow∣ly recovering his former strength.—I have al∣ready told what havock that merciless plague had made, both in London and the Neighbour∣ing Countries; But upon the back of this evil, there succeeded another in the ensuing year, sixty six, viz. That terrible fire which did not indeed reach the whole Country, but burn'd and wasted almost all that noble and popu∣lous City of London; so that to this day all England has not been able to forget it, nor shall succeeding ages ever obliterate such a dis∣mal•• account of their Remembrance.

Having given you an account of the many hard and miserable conditions of these Men, I shall now adorn this treatise with some pleas∣ing variety, to divert and refresh the mind of my Reader, perhaps now wearied with read∣ing; It will not be amiss therefore to take a view of what the Quakers wrote for these four years, by way of Prophecy and Predicti∣on, concerning the future State of the King∣dom, and both these memorable afflictions of the City of London; for such kind of Histories do much delight and charm the ears of Men; I shall only select those that are most memo∣rable and worth observation. The predictions of Men do generally run upon some great and wonderful revolutions and changes; tho they seldom come to light till the event be past. These people were so certainly persuaded that some of their faction, had so distinctly and clearly foretold the future scenes of affairs, and both these Calamities of London, that whoever misbeliev'd 'em was concluded by them to have shaken off all manner of faith and belief.

A certain Quaker call'd Serles, a Weaver, in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty two, saw these words wrote in legible Cha∣racters, upon the Circumference of a Kettle, hanging over the fire; Wo to England for poy∣soning of Charles the 2d, Cardinal. I understand Moloch. Twenty Nations with him. Englands mi∣sery cometh. The Man being affraid at the sight, calls the Neighbours to come and see it; who coming, were ravish'd with admiration to behold that wonder, which they could not guess from whence it came. The writing appear'd legible for a whole hour together, and then evanish'd on its own accord. Many of the peo∣ple, and those of considerable note, who were not Quakers, attested the verity of this won∣der. I my self have seen and read both the story and the same very words, mark'd by John Coughen, whom I formerly mention'd, in his Note-book, that same year; which book was kept in the Closet of a certain great Man in this Country, from that year till two years after King Charles's Death; all which time it was kept secret from any other body, so that no doubt is to be made of the Authentick∣ness of that Annotation. But what the Quak∣ers would have meant by these words, or that sight, and how they Accommodated it to the manner of K. Charles's Death, and to the changes of Religion, and Miseries to come af∣ter many years; and how the future event of things happening about the King Charles's Death, that were told, reported, known and seen through all England, did agree with these words, is not needful to be determin'd in this place. The Quakers affirm'd, that one of their Captives at London, did clearly foretell the pestilence that was to overtake that City, saying, that in a short time the streets, which then were re∣plenish'd with Men, and resorted to by ma∣ny, should be seen cover'd with grass, and

wanting Men to tread upon•• them. But I shall not extend this presage any further, lest I seem to recede from the design'd order and brevity of this treatise.—This they relate of the fire of London; that there was a Quaker at Here∣ford who before the burning of the Town, saw it clearly represented to him in flames; not when dreaming, but when awake; and a voice from Heaven warn'd him to go to London, and make publick what he saw. He presently takes his Horse, and rides thither; and when he came at the Town he discovers his head, throws away his hat, and having girded up his Breech∣es, ••he looses all his other Cloaths, and pulls down his stockings. Having put up his Horse, he runs to a Meeting, or Convention of his own Sect, in the same habit, two days before these things had happen'd which he was about to foretell; He enters among them, with a great commotion of Spirit, and an austere sad∣ned Countenance, and tells publickly in the Meeting, that it was predicted, and made known to him by the Spirit, that in two days time London should be all in flames, and that all the Citizens, lull'd up in their secure beds in profound sleep, being awak'd at this terrible ac∣cident, and fill'd with Consternation and ter∣ror, should run naked from their beds and houses, to save their lives, and not know what to attempt for quenching of the fire. All the peo∣ple wondred to hear him, taking him for some prating fool, and ridiculing him and his pro∣phetical Omen. But he persisted in his asseve∣ration, till at length, when they were expecting no such accident, and accounting him a mad∣man who went about to frighten people with his Dreams, the lamentable event gave suffici∣ent testimony to the truth of the Oracle. And when the whole Town was now all in a fire, he be∣ing either too much puffed up with the inspiration of this accident, which was but too too certain,

or being mov'd in his Spirit a-fresh, was so con∣fident and presumptuous of his own Power and Interest, that he would pretend to stop, and let bounds to that fire he had predicted, running up up and down among the people, crying, That he would repress the flames, and set Limits to them, beyond which they could not reach: Then he goes to the Houses all beset with fire, and fixes himself among them, and would have stood till the fire had consumed him too. The people, when all their Exhortations and Counsels were in vain, to move him to retire from the Danger, took him by the middle out of that place, removing him to some safer station. Afterwards he was sensible of his Fool-hardiness and Errour, and acknowledg∣ed the same. The Quakers add, That this same man foretold some such thing of the Town of Hereford, which he had seen in his sleep; but in vain, for the Event did not fall out as he had predicted. But this did not at all lessen the Qua∣kers Respect to the Veracity of this Oracle; for they said, such kind of Variation of Prophecies is oft times to be found among the Holy Prophets made mention of in the Scriptures.

This Double Calamity of the City of London, which not only afflicted that City, but injected a Fear and Terror into the minds of all men eve∣ry where in that Kingdom, so that they were more solicitous about their own Condition, and the danger they were in, than busie to afflict and oppress others, did not a little allay the Ardour and Fury of their Minds against the Quakers, at least for some time.

While these things happen'd in England, the Quakers were not altogether free from persecu∣tion in Scotland and Ireland; though it was not so hot in the former as in the latter; for in Scot∣land there was but a small number of Quakers in the Kingdom, so that they could not meet and as∣semble so frequently; and besides, the Laws E∣nacted against them were not so many to be vio∣lated;

and they themselves did not give their Ad∣versaries so great occasion of resisting and oppo∣sing them: Wherefore if any of them were ta∣ken, who persisted boldly and obstinately in con∣gregating together, or enterpriz'd any forbidden Thing, they were kept in Prison for a long time to terrifie and frighten the rest from doing the like. They were more numerous in Ireland, and that not in One County or Two, but through∣out the whole Kingdom; where they imitated the English Quakers, in withdrawing from, neg∣lecting and dispising the Publick Ordinances of the Church, celebrating Conventions and Assem∣blies among themselves, for managing their Re∣ligious Interest; putting themselves out of the way when call'd to pay Tithes, or contribute to the Reparation of Churches, or to give Oath up∣on any occasion: Some of them would publick∣ly do prophane Work on the Festival Holy-Days; some run into the Churches, and Disturb the Ser∣mons and Prayers with their idle and bold Ha∣rangues: others stand in the Streets and Market-Places, exhorting People to Repentance, dispara∣ging all their Actions, and extolling their own; filling the Air with foolish and impertinent Dis∣courses. For which Reasons they were no less persecuted in this Kingdom than in England, se∣vere Penalties and Fines being indicted against them all, which if they refused to pay (as they all did) they were cast into Prison, and so hard∣ly Treated, that some of 'em dy'd of Sickness and Diseases contracted in Prison.

In some places the people oppos'd their keep∣ing Conventicles together, Dragging them out of their Houses, Pursuing them in the Fields, ap∣prehending and imprisoning them and if they were assembled, they broke into the Houses by Force, smiting and beating them; and stripping their very Cloaths from off their cacks. All this was done unto them in some plac••s by the Mob, and Refuse of the People, and Vagabond Soldi∣ers,

(next a-kin to Robbers) who were cloath'd with no other Authority but that of their Hands and Swords. Which was also conniv'd at by their Commanders and Masters, who not only suffer'd these Outrages to be committed, but sometimes they themselves did things inconsistent with the Dignity and Gravity of their Station; For if at any time the Quakers spoke more bold∣ly to them in Publick Places, or when irritated, gave them Tart Answers, they would presently set upon them, all in a Body, (for Revenge ad∣mits of no Delay) branding them with the igno∣minious Titles of a cursed impious Crew; Nay, Kaining and beating them soundly. And even among the Ministers of the Churches, there were some, who not contenting themselves to have Excommunicated them from their Society, deli∣ver'd them up to the Judges to be further prose∣cuted and punished. The only Moderation and Meekness us'd towards them was by the Parlia∣ment.

I have already told, in the beginning of this book, what advantage and improvement redoun∣ed to the Doctrine and Religion of the Quakers, by the Diligence and activity of George Keith and Robert Barcley, who were more than ordinarily Instrumental in advancing the Interest of that Society. And now because the scope and design of this Treatise is to give a view of what are the O∣pinions these men maintain, and so Religiously ob∣serve; and by what Authors, and after what man∣ner they were first invented and Published, for the Defence of which they have undergone so many Miseries and Dangers; I shall here shew how that the Chief Cardinal Doctrines of these Men, which are Fundamental to all the rest, were after this time taken into task by George Keith; and in various Writings, partly handled and ex∣prest more distinctly and politely, partly chang'd and represented after the Image of the Idea's of the Ancient Philosophers, not in that new

Dress which the Quakers at first affected; design∣ing afterwards to give account of George Barcley in his own time and place.

Keith first apply'd his Mind to Write in the year Sixty Five, and continued in that exercise for many years; all his writings were original∣ly in English, except some few sheets. He hav∣ing observ'd that the Quakers wrote but very obscurely and perplexedly, of that Divine light which is in every Man, and of Christ dwel∣ling in him, which they place for the princi∣ple and foundation of all their Religion and Doctrine; and being a Man of a subtile and acute Wit, has accurately represented, what they had but rudely and lamely begun, con∣cerning that Doctrine; displaying it in this manner: God has given a light unto every Man, which he plac'd within him; Which can∣not be the mind, or humane reason; for that is innate, whereas the light is adventitious and given to him from without, to command and govern his Reason. This same light is the Seed of God, or Instrument whereby Men fallen and corrupted through sin, are born again of God. And this is a substance, a part of that invisi∣ble and spiritual substance of Jesus Christ the Son of God, that divine, invisible, spiritual and heavenly Man. For Christ is so the Son of God, that he is made to be such a Man by a Di∣vine vertue proceeding from God. So Christ, and by him God dwells, and is implanted in every Man, nay, in every Creature. But since Men have made defection from God, corrupt∣ing and depraving themselves altogether, Christ and God is dead, and extinguish'd in them; but not totally; So that Christ being mov'd with pity and compassion towards Men, and remaining in some measure within them, do's so help and assist their miserable impotency, that he moves from within, incites, and ad∣monishes every Man, that they would give ear

to and follow Christ, their light; and that laying aside their wicked manners and evil opinions, they would submit themselves to Christ, embracing and adhering to him, thus expecting his divine vertue within them; pro∣posing him for their guide and conducter in going about duties, and maintaining the same, imitating him in every thing as their Master. Which if they do, Christ revives and lives with∣in them, establishing and renewing an Union and Communion with them, and becoming righteousness and salvation unto them. So Christ becomes meat, heavenly and spiritual food un∣to Men. And thus in all Ages, the Godly did eat the flesh and drink the Blood of Christ. And so indeed Christ is in the ungodly, tho hiddenly, and as if he were quite away; from whence it is that the Scriptures sometimes say, that Christ is not in them. But he is so far within them, that when they are selling and enslavening themselves to sin, he suffers and is afflicted by the same; and through the infa∣my and piercing of his own Body, which en∣sues from this their wickedness, he is oppress'd with grief and anguish, as if he were again fastened to the Cross. This Christ is to be ador'd and worshiped, as being that Divine, heavenly and spiritual Man, not as being an External Man born of Mary. This opinion of Keith concerning these Articles, was first in∣vented and publish'd to the World by Men of no good Name, (which Keith was not ig∣norant of) Hereticks, and such as were addict∣ed to the Schools, and Discipline of the Gen∣tile Philosophers, especially the Platonicks; but it was only scatter'd here and there, by parcels in their writings, not Collected into one entire system till in the last Century, William Postell, a Frenchman, publish'd it openly in the same en∣tire form that Keith has done, (tho I have cer∣tainly inform'd my self that Keith knew no∣thing

of it) in a particular book set out on that occasion; but it was accounted so foolish and silly by the Learned World, that none of them thought it worth their while to write against, or confute him and his writings. And these were the positions so long invented and retain'd before Keith, that this same Keith was advancing and proposing in several books wrote by him, vindicating them from what objecti∣ons were either obvious to himself, or mov'd to him by others. But he took care that these his books, should be Printed without the knowledge, or advice of those of his own So∣ciety; and therefore sent them to Holland to be Printed, lest any of the English should come to know it. Now there being two principal parts of this Keithian Doctrine; the first con∣cerning the presence of God and Christ, not only in Men, but in all his Creatures; the second concerning the indwelling and operati∣on of Christ within Men; there was none found among all the initiatory Apostles of this Soci∣ety, who either maintain'd, taught, or publick∣ly mention'd that former branch of his Doc∣trine. Yet none of the Quakers wrote against him, neither did those who assembled among themselves, upon such like occasions, condemn that principle, being tender of his name and fame, and judging it reasonable, that this one errour should be past over in silence, because of his other good Endowments and Accom∣plishments. But as to the latter part of his sentiments, there was none among all those who profess'd themselves Quakers, that did not em∣brace it for his own opinion, subscribing to it as the singular and peculiar Doctrine of their Church; except some few insignificant thick scull'd fellows, that liv'd in some remote and hidden Corner of the other Western World. There was yet another Tenet which Keith was not averse to, but he was unwilling to ob∣trude

it upon any, for that those of that So∣ciety did not desire it should be receiv'd or entertain'd, for their common Principle; it was that of the perpetuity of Souls, and of their Transmigration and Variation through se∣veral bodies; which proceeded at first from Empedocles, Pythagoras and Plato; and was af∣terwards variously trimm'd and furbish'd about some hundred years ago, by those pratling Jewish Masters, call'd Rabbius, who not only tell but write when awake, whatever they have dream'd upon that subject while asleep; par∣ticularly by R. Jitzhakus Loriensis, in a tractate wrote in Hebrew; and in these our days is re∣viv'd by Baron van Helmont, who hath deck'd it with all the necessary Ornaments fit to pro∣cure it Reception; an Author famous for the splendour of his Nobility, and his insatiable desires after Knowledge and Learning, which he accounted the most comely and laudable Enjoy∣ments he could be Master of; who because he lives well and has not whereupon, is deem'd by his friends to have found out the Philosophers Stone. This Man living in England at that time, conversing among the Quakers as one of their Society, had occasion frequently to converse with a Noble Countess, that was a great admir∣er of Knowledge and Learning, and to reason with her out of the Book of Plato, concerning this Platonical Doctrine, and came that length with her, that both he and she embrac'd the same opi∣nion for a truth; and because Keith was oftimes present at their Conferences, they bring him in also to take share in the same opinion.

Which being made known to the Quakers, Hel∣mont, who was a stiff Defender of his own Opi∣nions, which they look'd upon, some of them, as Dangerous Innovations; others, as foolish Errors, and Distracted Notions, became suspect∣ed and hated by them; upon which he bids fare∣well to them, and all their Society, proceeding

not only to Vindicate his Opinion, but because he thought it yet rude and unpolish'd, to re∣fine and adorn the same, instructing himself a∣gain and again out of the Jewish Writings, of what might be serviceable to his Design, digest∣ing his Thoughts into this Form, which I give you a Draught of in as few words as possibly I may:

Before the Souls are united to their Bodies, they exist in another World; after they are united to the Bodies, each of them has its day of the Divine Visitation, after One Thousand Years, given to it for this End, that by absolute Holiness and Sancti∣fication, it may prepare for Eternal Felicity; But if it abuse the Goodness of God, that it may expect to be condemn'd to that long and terrible Punishment which God hath prepared for them at the expiring of this their set Time. But this Space of a Thou∣sand Years is not continued and undivided, but di∣stinguish'd and circumscribed by Twelve Revoluti∣ons or Circnits of the Soul into the same Body, ex∣cept unto some of the Saints who are purg'd and sanctified enough in the first or second Cireuit. And these Returns happen after Three Hundred Thirty Three Years and Four Months. But while they are out of the Body, they do not advance or proceed in Piety; therefore if they be good, it goes well with them; if ill, they fare the worse. Those Souls which before the Death of Christ were translated from this Life, and were not saved, when they re∣turn to their Bodies, may obtain Salvation through the Gospel of Christ. But those since the Death of Christ, to the End of the World, that have not heard of the Gospel, shall return again to their Bodies, all at one time, and in one place, and then shall hear with their Ears the Tidings of the Gos∣pel, and obtain Salvation, if they believe. After that the Saints return to the Earth, the First Re∣surrection shall be, and all the Saints shall live upon Earth a Thousand Years without any Sin, even as Adam in the State of Innocence; and after the

Example of Adam, they shall be born of Virgins, being begot of God their Father. Then the Second Resurrection shall follow, when the Saints shall, after the Example of Christ the Second Adam, be made perfect, and consummated in their Heavenly Bodies. And lastly, The Felicity and Bliss of the Godly shall be Eternal, but the Punishment of the Wicked shall be Finite, and at length terminate in an End.

But I return to Keith. I am firmly perswaded that Keith receives, and entertains these Positi∣ons, if not all, yet at least the chiefest and most material of them; though he would not disco∣ver his Mind, in these Points, unto any, save those that are his Secretaries and Trustees, or that seem a little wiser than the rest. But he is not the on∣ly Favourite of these Doctrines; there be others among them that are as fond of them as he, tho very few; so that they are far from being univer∣sally receiv'd by all the Society. Nay, the Quak∣ers shall not long tolerate any Abertors of such Principles to continue of their Society, if it be true, what I have oftimes heard from some of their principal Members. I have taken occasion to express my self more largely upon this point, not only for sake of the Quakers, but also of those who when they hear, or read of these propositions, and the books that treat of the same (as not a few are curious to do) are igno∣rant what is the original and beginning of these opinions, and thus are ready to Judge of the whole matter amiss.

After this time, William Penn joyn'd himself to the Society of the Quakers, who after his fa∣thers Death becaine Governour of Pensilvania; a Man famous all over England, and renown'd even among forreigners, that are not quite ig∣norant of the English affairs; by whose accessi∣on to that party, counsel, assistance, diligence and activity, the interest of the Quakers was much enlarg'd and amplified; not indeed all of a

sudden, but by degrees; It shall not therefore be improper, according to my method of de∣scribing these great Men, which we have fol∣low'd from the beginning, to subjoyn an ac∣count of the occasion and manner of his Con∣version to this Religion, his Love and Zeal for it; and of his Wit and Conversation. Wil∣liam Penn, his father was Vice-Admiral to the English Navy, a prudent and grave Man, who behav'd himself so, in the midst of the Di∣stractions and Dissensions in the Government, that according to the Divine Religion he was faithful and honest to his Neighbour. This fa∣ther having design'd his Son (who was not born to him but to his Country, and to the Com∣mon-wealth) for some publick Remarkable Sta∣tion in managing publick concerns, not for being merely intent upon raising and encreas∣ing his private fortune, took care to have him well instructed in all Divine and humane Of∣fices, and sent him afterwards to the Universi∣ty of Oxford, that among the rest of the young Gentlemen of that place, he might exercise his mind with the study of Learning and liberal Arts. Then afterwards he went to France, and staying sometime at Paris, appear'd frequently at the French Court. At this time being yet very young, he gave great testimony both of his stoutness and continency, defending his Life boldly from the assault of an Enemy and a Fencer, who sought to slay him, but withal sparing the Life of this his Adversary, when it was in his power to have kill'd him. Hav∣ing return'd to his own Country he went into Ireland, where he heard many things of the Quakers; and not being altogether an Enemy to their Doctrines and Conversations, he free∣quented their Meetings. This was the year sixty six, and of his Age twenty two, It hap∣pen'd that when he was present at their Meet∣ing, the Magistrate of the place came and took

both him, and the rest of the company Prison∣ers. But he was so far from being frighten'd by this sudden and unexpected accident, or from being tempted to withdraw from their party and profession, that even in Prison he applied his mind more eagerly to their opinions, after having understood of them more fully what were the peculiar properties of these Men, ei∣ther in Doctrine of Conversation. The father was ravish'd with Admiration, and not a little angry at his Son (who was the only hope and comfort of his parents, and who on the other hand pay'd the greatest respect and reverence to them, imaginable) who was thus become the disgrace of his family for ever, and the reproach of all his kindred; and express'd his violent and severe resentment both in words and deeds; and when after all he saw it impossible to re∣claim him, he discharg'd him his house, threat∣ning to disinherit him. Unto this his fathers anger were added the reproaches, revilings, and enmity of his fathers Domesticks, and his an∣cient Companions both at Court and else where, with whom he was Educated, and had Con∣vers'd much before, and also of the Ecclesi∣asticks, who formerly render'd him all manner of Love and Friendship. Unto all which dis∣advantages Penn oppos'd this one remedy; the integrity of his Life, as opposite to the ill reports that were scattered abroad of him; and the constancy of his mind and body, to counter∣ballance that weight of afflictions that surround∣ed him. And by these two properties he brought his affairs to that pass, that his father not on∣ly receiv'd him into favour again, and became as fond of, and kind to him, as ever he had been disgusted at him, comforting and refresh∣ing his afflicted and humbled Son; but also in his Will left him heir of all his Riches and Enjoyments, encouraging and commending his singular piety and fortitude of mind, exhort∣ing

him to persist in the same. Moreover, when the father observ'd what heaps of envy and hatred his Son had drawn upon himself, what evils were yet impending upon him, and what difficulties he might come to grapple with; he, when lying upon a bed of sickness, and looking for certain death, sent to the Duke of York. High Ad∣miral, who (as Penn was by place next to him) was in dignity next to the King himself; and if he surviv'd his brother, would undoubtedly, succeed him since destitute of a lawful off-spring; he sends, I say, some of his Friends to this Duke, to desire of him in his Name, that he would recom∣mend his Son to his brother the King, and that he himself would preserve and defend him (who had already suffer'd so much) from what perse∣cutions and oppressions might attend him; and unto which both he and all the train of his Asso∣ciates were so subject to. Which both the Duke and his Royal Brother the King granted him, because of his great merits towards his Country; tho they could not so defend his Son always, as to prevent his Imprisonment at sometimes. But it is not here to be omitted, that Penn, the father, lying upon his Death-bed, and when drawing near to his last exit, which he certainly knew to ap∣proach, took leave of his Son in these his last words; My Son, remember to serve God the Om∣nipotent King, so constantly, and to prefer the same to the service of Earthly Kings, and all things be∣sides. Which if ye do, and if you and your Friends persevere in your simple and innocent way of preach∣ing and living, verily ye shall make an end of all the preachers to the end of the World. Which words of the dying old Man do not obscurely in∣sinuate what his opinion was of these Men, and how great affection he had for their sect. Now as to what was the Wit and Spirit of Willi∣am Penn (the son) from his youth, what prompt∣ness and dexterity of discoursing attended the acuteness of his wit, what knowledge of Tongues

(such as are usual among the Learned) and of things, what Temper and Conversation of life he was of; I had rather the Quakers, or any body else, should give you an account than I. For I know well how difficult and troublesome it is, for any Man to interpose his Judgment of a mat∣ter, in which the Judgments of other Men are so various. But certainly, tho my pen were silent of him, his own Writings will speak him forth to be the most eminent member of all that Soci∣ety; for while in his Writings he studies to Ac∣commodate all to the capacity and understanding of the Vulgar, yet the variety and abundance of things therein contain'd, his language and style, especially the gravity of words and sentences, which when he writes of Theological subjects, are connected and intermix'd with whole chains of quotations, from the Holy Scriptures, do so evi∣dently testify of him; that unless one be maliti∣ously envious of the vertue and praise of another, he must acknowledge that he is an eloquent and well spoken Author. The Quakers fed them∣selves with so great hopes of him, that presently they allow'd him to do the part of a teacher among them; and their esteem of him was so great that they did not doubt to call him the per∣fectest of them all. Nor is there any among them, who do's not acknowledge that there was always an exact consension, and agreement be∣twixt him and all the rest of the Quakers, about all the Articles of their Religion. This was sin∣gular in him, that he always esteem'd more slight∣ly of these things, which pertain to the know∣ledge and speculation of sacred and divine mat∣ters; and chiefly oppos'd himself to the forcing and constraining Mens Consciences to any Reli∣gion, or persecuting them upon a religious ac∣count (than which indeed there can be no great∣er cruelty and oppression us'd) pleading for a to∣leration and liberty to all Religions; so that he would not only have the Quakers tolerated the

exercise of their Religion, but likewise all Men at least that are accounted Christians) to be ad∣mitted to places of Authority and trust in the Government; not excepting the Socinians with their wanton little tricks; nay, nor the Papists, a people so inveterate against that his Religion, and all other Religions different from their own; so bloody, cruel, and thirsty of Christian blood, that when they have exerted their utmost and cruellest efforts, are yet never satiated. And Penn was so sensible of the ill demerits of these Men, and so well acquainted with their temper, that he us'd to say, That the Quakers had reason to fear none so much as the Socinians and Papists, who would be last of all in the field against them, tho they had vanquish'd all other Religions. It seems Penn had a design to shew himself an Abettor of all Reli∣gions whatsoever, or to encourage that opinion of him, which then possess'd every Mans mind, that he was deceitful, and in his heart a Socinian, or (as others believ'd) that he was a Papist, and not only so but a Jesuit: The Quakers did not agree with Penn, about these Libertine Principles. His notions of the Christian faith was, that in order to the maintaining of that, there was no more necessary than in general to believe the Scriptures, and love them as the word of God; and believe all the fundamental Articles contain'd in the same. By these fundamental Articles (a term much in use among Divines) he understood such propositi∣ons, as are expresly and in explicite terms deli∣ver'd in the Scriptures; or so evidently attested by them, that all Men who are honest and sincere-minded, cannot but discern and comprehend the meaning of them. Which being laid down for a Principle, he thought that whoever gave due respect and reverence to the Scriptures, and ac∣knowledg'd Jesus Christ for the Saviour of the World, might be truly accounted a Christian; and that all such Christians both may, and should agree and write among themselves.

For which end he Recommended to all Chri∣stians, to write a general Confession of their common faith, consisting only of some few ge∣neral, necessary and plain truths deliver'd in Scripture terms; but it is easy for any Man to Conjecture what effect such a proposal would have had. Moreover, he reason'd further after this manner; that the most part of Christians that imagin'd to themselves, that they knew any thing, bended all their faculties only upon the Speculation and Contemplation of what they knew; whereas a speculative life is not so be∣coming and necessary for a Christian, as an active and practical life is, and that all manner of knowledge is but a meer shadow that do's not tend to action, a solitary and wandring Planet, that produces no fruit for the good of the publick. Where he chiefly applied himself to the study of such Sciences as treat of the manners of Men, what vices are to be eschew'd, and what duties towards God and Man are in∣cumbent upon us; and approv'd mightily the practice of the ancient Christian in the first Ages after Christ, who made moral Philosophers teachers and Masters to their Christians youths; and who accounted none fit to be a Doctor among them, who was not instructed in the Philosophy of the Gentiles, as being the best rule and method of living. He was very ser∣viceable to the Quakers by his Writings; being fitted and well accomplish'd for that work by his acute Wit, and eloquent Pen; and also able to serve their interest, because of his riches and affluence of fortune, together with his favour and weight with the King; and as he was able, so he was very willing, frequenting the company of the Quakers continually, labouring by all means to advance their cause, defending it from all opposition and injury, demeaning himself so forwardly, that he seem'd more Sollicitous for them, than for himself; but withal not forget∣ting

to plead for the liberty and admission to publick offices, of other Sectaries, especially the Papists, insomuch that he was suspected to be one of their Gang, and at last came to be envy'd and hated by the Quakers on that account. But he was so bent and eager for this liberty of Con∣science, that he would have none professing the Name of Christ excluded from the same; But of this I shall have occasion to speak more appo∣sitely afterwards.

When at this time the Adversaries of the Quak∣ers relented and slacken'd their persecution against them, the Quakers took occasion not on∣ly to assemble and congregate more frequently and publickly, but to prepare and amass all things necessary or conducive to their mutual help and establishment, or to the Ornament and Splendor of their Churches. From that time they introduc'd a new and more acurate Oeconomy, Partition and Administration of all their affairs; keeping some order among their Ministers, who likewise had their Meetings and mutual Con∣gresses; and began now to be orderly call'd and prepar'd for that work; they introduc'd also a form of discipline for censure of Actions, and a certain Solemnity for confirmation of Matri∣mony. The manner and form of all which, is not so easily to be Learn'd from their Writings, which do not touch upon these things, as from their own discourses and converse, for they do not use to conceal any of these matters, especial∣ly if they be seriously and gravely ask'd, with∣out any suspicion of a design. These Men did always object to the Protestants in England, and elsewhere, the Hierarchy of their Church (account∣ing it a most vitious and sinistrous order) or the ordinary distinction of persons, and distribution of Offices in the Church; particularly the ex∣cellency and jurisdiction of some Persons, and the variety of Government and Administration thorough so many degrees of places and dignity;

for they imagin'd the Church to be all one body, of which each particular Member has its Office allotted to it, in defending and edifying the Church, according as they are capable to be use∣ful either to the publick, or their Neighbour; pretending, that since no gifts are given by God in vain, or which do not produce their proper Fruit, there be as many Offices in the Church as he has given gifts; even as in the humane body all the Members bear some proportion in advan∣cing the good of the whole, so it is in the Church; in which nothing of Government or Authority is to be us'd, but only Ministry and Mutual service for the good of the whole. So from that time the Quakers were of these thoughts; which they maintain to this day; acknowledging an Association and Community, and also direction and administration in the Church; desiring that those who excel others in Wisdom and Vertue, should be had in greater respect and esteem, and be accounted preferable to others in order and function; So that among them whoever of either Sex, is eminent for In∣genuity and Goodness, excels in Dignity and Office. They have also some who constantly addict themselves to the Ministry of Preaching the Gospel. Those they call Ministers, or by a joynt kind of Speech, they say they are in the Ministry. Some of these Ministers do not con∣fine themselves to one place, but range up and down, trying what new Proselytes they can gain, or designing to oversee and confirm those that are already incorporated into that Society. These are as Apostles to the Sect, others fix their abode at one place, and watch over their particular flock as pastors. There be women also that fol∣low the Example of the Men. It shall there∣fore suffice to have given caution in this place, that whatever we have said, or are about to say further concerning the Males of that Sect, is to be understood according to that Regula juris,

which comprehends the feminine Sex under the masculine. Next unto the Ministers are the Pres∣byters or Elders, who exceed the rest, as in Age and Experience, so in Wisdom. These take counsel together with the Ministers for managing all their Religious concerns; who together with them, or with others eminent for prudence and wisdom, are carefully to observe all ac∣cidents that may fall out in the Church, and to see that all things therein proceed right; as, if any make defection from their faith, or commit an open manifest sin, or be suspected of any crime, or have done any thing culpable against his Neighbour; if any thing be wanting for the promotion of unity, concord, and peace among themselves; they presently come to rectify it, or else send those they repose trust and Confidence in, to do all that is necessary for advancing the good desired, or removing the evil that incum∣bers them. Their office is likewise to visit the poor and needy, and relieve their necessities; also to take care of those who conceal and are asham'd to own their poverty; of the Orphans, widdows, old people, the afflicted and miserable, and the sick; unto whom they are to afford what is ne∣cessary for their sustenance and relief; for which end the Quakers say, they make Contributions of Money, putting it into chests, and distributing it as they have occasion; These Men are also to allot every one their particular offices and functions, which they are severally and distinctly to per∣form. Stephen Crisp wrote a monitory Epistle, to all Churches concerning these offices, which is very well worth any Man's reading. All the Quakers when ask'd about these matters, do migh∣tily extoll and magnify the diligence, liberality, and bounty of their Associates one to another. However, these Elders and the Ministers, do fre∣quently conv••••n among themselves, for delibe∣rating about the affairs of their Sect, and the necessities of their Church; which Conventions

are somewhat like, to what the English and Dutch call Presbyteries and Synods, and the French, Consistories. There were of them in Holland, who, because no Society could be laudable and permanent without Government and Laws, pro∣pos'd to have an Ecclesiastical senate constituted in every Church, consisting of the ancient Elder∣ly Men and such as were married (excluding Batchellours) who should have the Government lodg'd in their hands, and order every thing ac∣cording to certain Rules and Laws, laid down by them. But others oppos'd it, pretending that it would introduce a new Hierarchy, and inter∣rupt their Community, and restrain and suppress the gifts of the Spirit. They have likewise Meet∣ings like to those we call Classes, and provincial and national Synods, or Councils. These con∣ventions are Celebrated oftner or Seldomer, as the number and variety of their Churches is; but so as to Allot each Sex (Men and Women) their distinct and particular Meetings. Wherefore if the Churches be more numerous or large, the Seniors or Elders with the Ministers meet fre∣quently, chiefly on the first days of the weeks, and also on other days, at which time, after having Communicated their thoughts one to ano∣ther, they confer and consult together what is to be every Man's task, what part of the charge he is to undertake, and what is incumbent upon him to do. Other Meetings are appointed every fourth week, in which they deliberate of the affairs common to the Church. Others every three months in which they consider of their provin∣cial affairs, and such as are remitted to them by appeal. In these they inspect into, and Recog∣nize all Books that are Printed, after they have been perus'd and approv'd by the Censors appointed for that purpose. The Acts of these assemblies are put into Registers, of which some are very curiously and Elegantly done. They have Anniversary Synods in every considerable

Kingdom, to whom belongs the care and admi∣nistration of all the affairs of that Kingdom. In England, they have a fix'd Anniversary Synod, on the 3d. day of Pentecost according to the Eng∣lish calculation; which they pitch'd upon, not out of any superstition, (for they are as averse and estranged from Religious observati∣on of days, as any people in the World) but that the time might be determin'd, and every one have sufficient information of the same. This Synod continues sitting for three or four days only, unless some extraordinary business be tabled before them, which requires much debate, and is hard to be decided, as it hap∣pen'd in the year ninety four, in the case of Keith, when it fate whole twelve days toge∣ther. Delegates also come to this Synod from the Churches in all other Countries, or places where the Quakers obtain any footing; but these must be such as are in the Ministry. At their first Meeting together, liberty is given for all manner of people to come in and be present, which time is spent in Preaching, Pray∣ing, and Thanksgiving. After which the De∣legates retire all into one room. They have no president to their Meeting, which place (they say) is supplied by the Holy Ghost; but they have a Clerk who marks down every thing, that is mov'd before the Assembly. It would be tedious and needless here to insert any further account of their Councils; for there be stories enough flying about of them; only I shall here remark what are the subjects mostly treated of by them, when thus solemn∣ly conveen'd. They take into consideration, all that may pertain to the general good of all the Churches. They lay before the whole assembly the State of every particular Church, especially if there be any thing memorable, or worthy their consideration. They make a Ca∣talogue of the sufferers for Religion; describing

what their sufferings were, or for what caus∣es they were inflicted. They examine all sin∣gular or rare events and accidents. They de∣cide all Controversies and Differences. They enquire into the Lives and Conversations of their Ministers; and check those who perform their tasks negligently or remissly; or who through officiousness and impertinency affect to be Ministers of the word, forsaking the offices that become them better, and are more indispen∣sably requir'd at their hands than this, which they usurp to themselves without invitation or call, running up and down as invested with this pretended function, and turning it to their pri∣vate lucre and gain. They admonish and exhort one another, to be careful and diligent in the tasks alloted them, and to conform themselves to the dignity and gravity of their respective offices. They settle a standard for these things, which relate to Domestick cares of Christians in their Families, especially to the education of Chil∣dren; endeavouring and exhorting by all means to be aware of these two destructive Evils, which are more Consequential than all others, viz. Indulg∣ing their Children too great liberty, and decking and adorning their bodies too gaudily; lest by so doing they occasion sin, and contract infamy to themselves. They take care also for the re∣demption of Captives, and relief of the poor (such of them as are known to be well and vir∣tuously dispos'd) and consult of many other things, for giving mutual assistance to one ano∣ther. When the Synod is dismiss'd, all their Acts and Decisions are enregistred by the publick Au∣thority of the Synod; which are afterwards co∣py'd from the Records, and Printed, in order to be sent to all the Synods of their Associates throughout the World, or to any particular Coun∣try Associated with them; of which Prints I have several Examples by me.

As not a few before in England, so the Quak∣ers did always invey against the Liturgy (which was laid aside, in Cromwell's, a directory being substituted in its place, and again restor'd in K. Charles's Reign) as stuffed with the fopperies of Popish Darkness, superstitious and ill placed Lessons and Prayers, Ornaments, Dresses, bodily Actions and Gestures, and many rites of observing holy days. These the Quakers did vigorously op∣pose preferring the simple Exercises in their Meet∣ings. When they meet, after a long silence, and quiet Recollecting of their thoughts, they make it their whole care and business, earnestly to wait for the coming of the Spirit, till at length they be mov'd or stir'd up to hold forth; and then they pray, preach, or sing, according to the Spirit's sudden impulse. In like manner the rest sits still to hear. For while they stay in the place where they worship, bending their thoughts inwardly with regard to the Spirit, they look what he does or Dictates within, and where they perceive the speaker to be, thither they direct their minds and attentions, searching themselves, they bring all home to their own Conscience; And thus while the Spirit delays his coming, each of 'em prays inwardly unto God for himself; sighing and groaning now and then deeply, for great striving, and contrary affections. They sometimes move themselves, or are moved so far, as issues in a great trembling of the body, not only of some but of most or all of 'em. This, 'tis said, does often fall out by the resistance of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se∣cret insinuations. I was told by one worthy to be believ'd, at a certain time they fell all so a trembling, he himself being one, that the place was shaken as 'twere with an Earth-quake. If it happen that none of 'em obtain the presence of the Spirit, when he is not pleas'd to move 'em to speak, they sometimes all go away as they came, without uttering a word among 'em. But even then they say, they lose not their labour, for e∣very

one carries away some advantage for him∣self, and while one prays for another, thence also some profit does result to the rest; yea, while they pray for them who come only to look on, laugh, sport, or scoff, they say, such receive a wonderful virtue; to better their Life, and ha∣sten their Conversion. Thus they do in their common and publick exercises: They worship God by praying, praising or preaching, according to the various Agitation of the Spirit. Some∣times they worship in all three kinds; not pro∣miscuously, but one by one, unless it happen they sing all together. But their chief and solemn ex∣ercise is the preaching of the word. This prin∣cipally consists in proposing a certain theme for Edification, or exhortation to some duty. And because they think, the power of the preacher is not placed in words, or bodily motions (unless the composure of his Voice and Countenance, be suitably managed with simplicity and gravity) but only in the worth or weight of things; they affect not form, or Method taken from Rules of Art, but make use of plain and obvious words; not intending to gratify the itching of the Ear, but to express the interior feeling of the Soul, and make an Impression upon the hearer's mind, with an active Air not of gesture, but of face and utterance. They sharply censure Theologues for becoming Ethologues or Mimicks, whose Elo∣quence does wholly consist in Gesticulation. Their prayers are mostly doleful Lamentations, the lower they be, they esteem 'em more dutiful. They sing and praise, not by a regular pronunci∣ation of words, or musical Melody, far less by the Numbers of metre or verse (which sort of singing is never lawful with them, but when one of 'em has an extemporary faculty to compose) but in the collision, sound, and stretching of the voice, almost as the Spaniards, or Moors in Afric, if you have ever heard 'em, as I have 'em both, frequently singing in their own Countreys. And

thus not only one or two, but all that are present do sing with a sweet and pleasant voice. In such exercises the Ministers are the most frequent and chief Actors; tho none of the rest are excluded but those that are foolish, troublesome, or stran∣gers. They don't only take heed what any of 'em says, but also what forms or words he uses. As many if not all things among 'em are singu∣lar, so they agree to no other Communion but their own••; hence if a Cunning or Insnaring mocker come in, and begin to ape their discourse or carriage, with their words and looks they mark him as a scoffer, and then forbids him or else thrusts him out. And this is their publick worship. In private they spend much time and pains in meditating, praying, reading, especially the word of God, in teaching their Servants, and Children, both in those Arts and Manners that concern civil Society; and also in the worship of God, and Christian Conversation, with a lively instruction, which they call Catechizing, to which use they have books very properly adapt∣ed. Moreover, it's also their custom in their houses, never to express a Religious duty with an outward voice, as praying to God, craving his blessing, e're they take meat, or go to bed, till they feel the excitation or impulsion of the Spi∣rit; while they want this, they're content to think with themselves, what they esteem conve∣nient and agreeable, and talk silently with their own mind, without External or vocal expression. From whence arises the mistake of some, and malicious calumny of others, that the Quakers never pray unto God, but like beasts rush upon every thing inconsiderately. Which they wou'd bear more patiently, came it only from the Rab∣ble that's ready to swallow up the belief of any thing; and not from a seeming better sort of Men, that pretend to digest, speak, or write no∣thing but what they've put to the touch-stone for Confirmation.

Tho they're greatly devoted to the Publick Wor∣ship of God, yet they're very averse to all Su∣perstition, which none but the unfortunate, un∣wise or irreligious do ordinarily pursue: Thus they often meet for the service of God: For that they've their Houses in some places very fair and large. Out of these now you'll seldom hear 'em disputing or discoursing with others, of those things they're willing to teach concerning their Religion, or Duties of Christians; though formerly in the Streets, Markets, and other's Chur∣ches, they forbore not to declaim their petty prea∣chings. When I ask'd the Cause of their discon∣tinuing that practice, the same Necessity and Oc∣casion remaining, they gave no other Answer than, That it is not now the Holy Ghost's Will. They a∣gree with some Protestants, in owning no Holy-Days, but they disagree in this a little, wherein some Protestants also herd with 'em, being dis∣pleas'd that the First Day of the Week is observ'd, which from our Lord Jesus Christ we call the Lord's Day, and that by the Force of the Fourth Command. They indeed acknowledge it very necessary, that a time be set a part for assembling to worship God in publick, and that then Chri∣stians shou'd refrain from working, and that the Lord's day is very proper for that purpose; wherein the Apostles and Primitive Christians met in one place. Therefore on this and other days, they have publick Meetings as occasion of∣fers. In great and Populous Cities, as London they often assemble almost every other day, and that with such a confluence of people, that when there can't so many be crowded together, so as one may have way for another to get out, some of 'em in the throng are taken with a ••unting; but by vinegar, they have for that use, are re∣fresh'd and restor'd: This gave rise to that plea∣sant story, which, as every rumor, taken from an ill resented Action of some one of 'em, over∣spreads the Minds and Discourses of all, that the

Quakers, at their Meeting have a bottle of li∣quor, which whoever drinks of, is immediately made Quaker, As these with many other unqui∣et Men, did most bitterly Tax some Protestant practices, as preparing Licensing, ordaining and maintaining of Ministers, so of late they've be∣gun to jangle among themselves, and more and more draw one another to their contrary Injuncti∣ons: On these they now more eagerly insist. They were, and as yet are greatly offended, that those, who aim at a sacred function, shou'd be form'd and imbellish'd with those previous stu∣dies. whereby they gradually arrive at that pro∣vince. And thus they reproach Parents and Friends, who devote Children to the Ministry from their tender years, as if they were design'd for some Trade, Traffick, or civil business, that they may exercise themselves in the Employ∣ment for a Livelihood, so that the office, Reli∣gion, Faith and Piety, are made matter of, and not preferr'd to their gain; that Children shou'd be thus educated for offices of this Nature, and delivered to the tutelage of teachers, however they be inclin'd, or whatever Spirit they be led by, tho they do nothing but commanded and con∣strain'd, while as in other occupations, we consider what a Child's Genius prompts him to, and our designs and purposes are hitherto referr'd. That Boys are so posted to Schools and Colleges, with∣out time to consider and search their Inclinati∣ons, that they may direct their Course according to the stream of their Temper, and after en∣trance are so inveigled with study and desire to attain, what they've been forestall'd with advan∣tagious thoughts of, that, being unconcern'd for the inlightning, and converting grace of the Spi∣rit, when they arrive at some pitch of that sort of Life, they're so tenacious, that nothing can occur to pull 'em from their purpose; especially when the change wou'd be late, and Age comes on, so that they can scarce begin another profita∣ble

project: Besides, the rude and unpollish'd youn∣sters, whose minds are impressible as wax, and of so soft a temper that they may be easily drawn out into any shape, whose prelections they've once fix'd their Attendance on, those, with an inconsiderate rashness, they must ape and imitate, in all the thoughts and Actions of their Ministry and Life: And yet many run also headlong into Gaming, Idling, Rioting, and Wantoning. So at length they betake themselves to their Ministerial De∣clamations, and many wholly stretch all the Nerves of their skill, to talk only with a volubility of Tongue to the hearers, and some Courts com∣plaisance of voice and gesture, placing there the Power of Doctrine and stress of Eloquence. When at this rate from prating Puppets they be∣come perfect Orators, and are reck'ned worthy, after a Specimen, to be prefer'd to the care of the Lord's Vineyard, the Laurel's propos'd to him that knows best to scatter words, so as to feed the Ears and Eyes, with the grateful delight of Debonnair and Oratry; Men taken with their chanting, like a Shepherd's pipe, chuse 'em for their pastors, while yet (say they) nothing that's spiritual or savoury drops from their Lips, into the minds of the hearers, and they receive little but words, sitting to hear the reading of a few dry sentences, as stones on stones, and dead on the dead, which they then stand upon. This they say of Students affectations in the Schools. They acknowledge the understanding of Lan∣guages, especially of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, formerly was, and still is very useful to un∣derstand and expound the Scripture, yet they take 'em not therefore to be necessary to the Ministry, which they wou'd have to be ma∣naged by the Spirit alone, nor so profitable, that one unacquainted with them, must be stil'd Idi∣ot, Illiterate and of no autority. But Philoso∣phy as it's generally taught in the Schools, and School Divinity from hence arising, they not

only think useless, but also pernicious, and a plague Destructive of sound Doctrine, brought in by the Devil, as the Idol of Lyers, and a hin∣drance to the knowledge of God and Godliness. They despise the distinguishing Titles of Ecclesi∣astick Dignities, as Masters, Licentiates, Doctors, Professors, &c. Saying they only tend to make him, that's invested with the honour, taken no∣tice of with greater respect, and so to swell him to a further Caprice, and affect a Lording it o'er his former fellows. They blame Protestants, for restraining Preachers, by Divers Constitutions, to a certain Number, and prescribing Laws of yearly revenues, imposing, or suffering themselves to be impos'd on, and not endeavouring that through Churches, at least greater, more preachers and teachers may be appointed, to teach and admon∣ish all, publickly and privately, and execute other Offices of the Ministry, or be sent to la∣bour in Foreign Nations, that these, that are strangers to God and Godliness, may be carefully imbru'd with the knowledge of both, that the Borders of the Kingdom of Christ may be ex∣tended and inlarged to the utmost ends of the Earth. Lastly, they charge the Protestant Churches, for maintaining their Pastors too pro∣fusely with Salaries. They deny not the provisi∣on of Food and Raiment for such, and other ne∣cessaries for a convenient life, nay, they own it to be suitable to the Command of God. It ap∣pears then, they differ from the present Anabap∣tists, both the open-hearted and more simple, and crafty and more reserv'd, who tho liberal of their labours, under Colour of Munificence, draws the unwary into their Ginns, that they may gull 'em of a daily sustenance at their plea∣sure. They wou'd neither have the study nor of∣fice of the Ministry, so to confine the Actions of ones Life, as to inforce the neglect of all other business, whereby he may furnish himself with a competency. They won'd neither have sixt Sti∣pends

given, nor pactions to intevrene twixt pastor and people, lest the latter be forc'd to give superfluously and sumptuously to cherish the lux∣ury, and idleness of the former. They decry driving Ministers to their duty for gain, as ille∣beral Mercenary, Sordid, and Conductitious, that they may only work for wealth, which when got inclines 'em to do little or nothing, yea, gives rise to Avarice, Lust, Idleness, Wantonness, Riot∣ousness, perpetual Contention, Ambitious, Domi∣neering, and very grievous Iniquities. Whose houses seem's dect with an almost Royal Magni∣ficence, who call themselves Preachers of Christ for Christ's sake, when they become so pompous neglecting their Office, despising their inferiors, oppressing with Tyranny their people, they shew how Antichrist of old got first entrance, and then footing in the Church.

These the Quakers oppose, by a bare mention∣ing the manner of their Ministry which they con∣stantly observe and reason for thus. Since all in the Church, as Members of the Body, have their proper gifts, they may also have proper operati∣ons and functions for the good of the whole. They say therefore, that every Member of Christ shou'd stir up and try the gifts of the Spirit in himself, and Minister to others according to what he has received; If he feel himself dispos'd and led by the Spirit, he may, and ought to aspire to be pastor of a Church, and that when, or where the Spirit draws or invites: And this they make his Call, neither here do they require any Preparatory exercise, or particular Call from any certain Assembly, or Approbation of People, whether they be properly enchurch'd or not. Yet say they tho one thinks himself fit for, and by the Spirit call'd to, he must not yet rashly run upon the Ministry, till, by a company or general Meeting of Ministers, intrusted therewith, by whose invocation the Spirit may come, he be worthily approven. And so they try if he be fit

for the office, or if it be expedient to confer it on him, warning him after he has taken it on him, so to labour therein that it it may be equal∣ly, for his and the Church's Ornament and Safety. Thus he's Priested. They admit no preparing, ordaining, or Ceremonies, which Protestants use at Inaugurating Ministers, esteeming 'em foolish, fruitless and trifling. And that those new Preach∣ers may be more glib at their work, they give letters from a general or particular Meeting, that remote Churches, where they're sent, may receive 'em more readily, to which sometimes they Annex Commendatory Epistles from other famous Friends or Churches. As for the Minister's main∣tenance this is their Method. They order sti∣pend to be taken, but what is willingly given, and so computed, that every ones Estate may be re∣garded, and no more than to Answer the occasi∣ons of Life to encourage Industry, not to kindle Luxury. But if any Minister be pinch'd with Poverty, by the narrow-soul'd Penuriousness of a People, they permit him to leave 'em, and shake his Shoo's dust against 'em. So say they Christ commanded, and so the Apostles did. It falls out with Quakers as with other Societies to insinuate themselves with others upon slight Ac∣quaintance, who, tho they carry themselves so and so in Company that know them, yet after∣ward, with Men of ne're so good note, their Words and Actions betray their Insolence; and time lets their boldness and importunity creep out of their lurking holes. The frequent ap∣pearance of this foments the suspicion, that the Quakers are all a dissembling Generation, and that they're so far from that Simplicity, which pretending to be the best of Christians they make shew of; that they're the refuse gather'd from the basest of Men. This the Quakers know, and grant there are some, who do neither by the seign'd pretence of that perswasion, nor cloaking the Motions of their deprav'd nature; but while

they adhere to their Fellowship, not knowingly nor willingly, but by common frailty, unexpect∣edly fall into gross wickedness; and that there are others distracted with the Blandishments of this World, as not being able to indure its shock, who are so fetter'd with the thoughts of Riches, that they yield to the Pleasure and Idleness of a more delicate Life; some also that are remiss and careless of their Children: And lastly that there are some that revolt from the best Examples and Institutions, as too harsh and rigid in the Eyes of the World, who, breaking the shekels that before chain'd 'em, affect a more beau-like at∣tire, and a Courteous deportmentment in civil Conversation, as a certain mark of a good Edu∣cation; This is oft the case of women and those that are youthful. For those delinquencies the Quakers say, they have the Rod of Ecclesiastick Censure and Discipline: Which by Christ's Rule, in the Gospel of Matthew, they say they use gra∣dually to practise. They condemn no Man till they hear his defence. They write to those that can't be present to Answer by letter, what they have to say. They more meekly wink at the unfor∣tunate Slips of time and necessity, than the free faults of will and Inclination: As at present in England and elsewhere they refuse to pay Tythes for War, or maintaining the regular Clergy. But they've been so oft vex'd and harass'd for this, that they may not again incur the like danger, they pay it in its season, not asking, why its ga∣ther'd. Tho the Censors of manners think 'em here peccant, yet they pass it as an unavoidable weakness. Now for their Marrying. They of∣ten admonish the younger sort, not to rush on a matter of such moment, without consent and advice of Parents, which here may prove their happiness, or bane of their misery. They, that desire to be married, intimate it to their Church-Fellowship: They ask 'em if they be in earnest or have consent of Parents, kindred or Tutors, or

if formerly married, if they've order'd their Estate according to the occasion of a Matrimo∣nial Life. Then they ask the Company, if they know any thing against 'em. After the Con∣tract there's made mention of the Marriage, twice on Lord's days, before all that are present: And sometimes only on monthly Meetings. When the time is expir'd, the Bride and Bride∣groom with Friends and Acquaintances that are willing, come all to the assembly. There they're ask'd if they do, and will love each other mu∣tually, and to promise to preserve their Marri∣age honourably, their Soul pure, and the body clean as its vessel, and perform the Reciprocal incumbent duties, and never to part till that fate divide 'em, which is the common and un∣avoidable Lot of all Mankind. Then each of 'em opens their thoughts, according to what is prescrib'd in the Commentaries, subscribing their Names with those interess'd that are willing.

Thus their Marriage is consummated. There follows some Feasting and Mirth, if the Com∣pany be for't but without the usual vanities at such occasions, which only feeds the Guts, Ears, or Eyes, and awakens and nourishes Unchasti∣ty and Luxury. In England and elsewhere, their Marriages are now less frequent, since dis∣approved by the Magistrates as an illegal go∣ing together, and their Children counted bra•••• of a spurious Birth: Having spoken of their Marriage, I shall also mention how they treat their Children. A few days after the Child is born, they call together the Midwife and other women, who were helpful to the woman in her Labour, and desire 'em to testify the time and place when such an Infant was born to such and such Parents, this they have recorded in a particular book, kept for that purpose in one of their houses. Of their funeral rites we have already. Discoursed; It is the general Lot of humane Affairs, to continue short while in

the same Condition, and have a short lease of Ease and Tranquillity; After these people for a little had Rest, a new storm arose, which fell first on their heads, whose coming over to that party I mention'd at large, and then Rag'd against almost all the Members of the Society: For George Keith in Scotland, in the year 67, was thrown into, and continued in Prison at Aberdeen for many months: He then wrote a book of the immediate Revelation of Christ in Man, which is a Summary of all their Doctrine; the next year, W. Penn on the same score, was put in Custody at London, Penn and some of his Com∣panions had a Conference with the Presbyterians touching their Doctrine of the Trinity, and Justi∣fication of Sins, wherein neither party could con∣vince the other by Argument, Nay at last, not so much as hear each other speak: When this had given rise to a great Confusion, Penn being firm to his purpose, and restless till he had effected it, betakes himself to a Retirement for Writing. Shortly after he publishes a book, shaking these three Presbyterian Doctrines, pretending to fight with the Testimonies of Scripture, and Reason▪ Implanted into the knowledge and understand∣ing of Men, viz. That there is one God, subsist∣ing in three distinct and separate persons; that there's no Remission of sins without full Satis∣faction, and that Men are Justified by imputed Righteousness; I make choice of those words, which Penn does in English, as suited to the pro∣per Idiom of that Tongue, which now others, when they speak of Theological Subjects, do use. These words I suppose he the rather pitch'd up∣on, because the Presbyterians snarl'd at his form∣er expre••••ions, about the first Article; concerning the separate persons in the Trinity, as if Penn had been more verbal than real in his Controver∣sies. This did not only inspire the Presbyteri∣ans, but also the English Clergy, with anger and hatred which broke out into Reproaches, that his

book show'd his mind, and what he was, viz. A denier of the Trinity, and so, not at all to be suffer'd amongst Christians. Upon these Cla∣mours Penn was Imprisoned, where he wrote a book call'd, The Crown not without the Cross, handling the Actions of Life and not Articles of Religion, not barren of things or swell'd with words but fruitful of matter, ponderous, and sententious for its phrases, and polish'd with the Ornaments of orat'ry, so that his Enemies Scruple not to praise his skill and industry. Penn was set free by the Kings desire; who also, because danger seem'd to threaten his fortune which he had Considerably in England, and Ireland, (by the endeavouring of some so to shorten his wings, that they might ne're again grow) did so protect him as to prevent the seizure and confiscation of his goods. About this time by his Rashness, Bold∣ness, and Impudence, Salomon Eccles felt the smart of what he drew on himself, which he might have avoided. This Zealot whom in the former book from a Musician we made Quaker, so Contemn'd the sweeter Children of the Muses, as to expose their Instruments to the cruelty of the flames; He was no sooner made Preacher, than he Acted his part with such eagerness as an∣swer'd the expectation of his own Party, and fill'd the Ears and Tongues of the contrary. In the year 67 he wrote a Dialogue concerning the excellency and use of the Art of Musick, betwixt himself as opponent and the Defendents of that Art, whom he brings in speaking and so silenc'd as to raise himself Trophies of Praise, and Victo∣ry; The next year, he published a Challenge daring Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Pa∣pists, and all other Doctors and Pastors, to try by this Experiment with him, who were the true Worshippers of God: That without either meat or drink for seven Days and Nights, they might devout themselves to watching and praying, and they on whom Celestial fire should fall down,

might be esteem'd to receive that Eternal Testi∣mony, for the true Religion that's acceptable to God: But there was none found so frothy or vain, as to enter the Lists with so foolish a Chal∣lenger; tho these words pass'd unresented, what followed the next year had not the same success; For Eccles in a town of Galloway in Scotland, knowing of a Popish Meeting at some distance, puts a Chassing-dish with fire and brimstone on his head, and goes to their assembly with three of his Associates; and giving the fire to his Friends who received it on their knees, on the blazing of the flame, he denounces to all the sudden danger of being devour'd with fire, if they did not pre∣sently forsake their Idolatry: Returning from thence into the City, and repeating his famous precept, and sign, that they might also learn the wisdom to amend, who rewarded his Sermon and sign no better than with blows and ill words, and then with a Jayl, upon his Enlargement, and return to London, he Commences the like Ad∣monition in Bartholomew-fair, to the whole Croud in the Ring of the Rabble, but, a sharp Man attacking him, had disarm'd him of his shield, and given him a mark, to put him in mind of that time and place; had not another of some note and honesty defended Eccles with his naked Sword, and deliver'd him from the hands of the enraged Multitude: The Quakers themselves take such Actions to be unwarranta∣ble and inconsiderate, not long after, Eccles went to Ireland, and at Cork, in the great Church, the service being ended, he thunders that solemn Scripture some so often abuse; The Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord. Whence, being dragg'd into Prison, and then whipt through all the streets by the common Hangman, he was thrown out of the City as a Vagabond, and factious fellow, whose deprav'd mind, ill custom, and foolish humour stir'd him up to pervert and trouble the people. Af∣terward

Eccles went into New England, where, at a Sermon, being greatly mov'd with anger, he Prophesied a Judgment as ordain'd by God to fall on a certain person, within a time he pre∣fix'd; but the falsehood of his Oracle giving him experience of his vanity, and afterward to con∣fess, by a publick writing, the folly and error or his own Rashness; having at length imitated an Ingenuous Man in this; for as it's best to do no∣thing to be repented of, so it's next best, by Re∣pentance to repair what's done amiss; Whilst the Don's of the Quakers were thus punished; In England, Scotland, and especially in Ireland, their whole Society met likeways with great oppositi∣on; for refusing to forbear their assemblies, which having mention'd already what I find to be obser∣vable, I shall here content my self barely to Name. Fox this year went into Ireland, yet did little there, but visit his friends, and advise each of 'em to what he Judg'd for their Advantage: Fox having thence return'd in England, and till then, by reason of troublesome Incumbrances, been oblig'd to lead a single life, having now got some liberty, and ease, grew weary of the lone∣lyness of a Solitary bed, tho otherways free, and pleasant in it self; and in this mind, he addrest himself to Margaret the Widdow of L. Fell, his old Friend, with whom he had lodg'd; and af∣terward, by the advice of both their Friends, he marry'd her, neither to supply the beggery of the one, nor gratify the lust of the other, (and therefore they were less anxious for dowry) but from mutual love: They liv'd, tho without any common off-spring, very lovingly to a great Age: I thought it not unseasonable to mention this, considering what that Frenchman has lately writ∣ten of this pair (who's now if we may believe it a good Catholick, tho twice before a grand Apo∣stat) and of many honest Men in his French Treatise, not unelegant, if we look to the lustre of the Language, yet stuffed with lies for the

laughter of the people. The year 70 was more worthy of our Remembrance: So many as per∣sisted in haunting their Assemblies not paying Tythes, abating informers of what they demand∣ed, refusing to swear, either lightly, or Solemny, were variously oppress'd, and afflicted in Eng∣land: There were assembled to disturb, and sup∣press their Meetings, as extinguishers of the com∣mon flame, in one place the Magistrates them∣selves, in another, their Officers and Ministers; In another Souldiers, and in others Church Pa∣stors, with their Wardens, and Beadles, who coming upon them, when met in their Assemblies took a note of their Names, that after a War∣rant they might deal with them according to sentence of Law; sometimes this treatment was with force and rigour, It was mild to box and busset them with fists or battons, so violently that sometimes the Cudgels were split into pieces; In Glocestershire, one taking a Ladder from the lower to the upper parts of the House, threw it down upon them with such rage and bitterness, that an old widdow woman among 'em, having her shoul∣ders broken, soon after gave up the Ghost; a few were Incarcerated, a pecuniary mulct being laid on each of their heads, of five, ten, or twenty, lib. ster. according to the quality, or Estate of the Person; who had lent their houses to, spoken, or been present with them, were fin'd more se∣verely; In the mean time, much by covetous Of∣ficers, ignorant Souldiers, and void of humanity, profane Citizens, the dregs of the World, who cloak'd it from the honest sort, upon a faint sus∣picion, were snatched from the Quakers. These Informers treated 'em most uncivilly, and basely; Sometimes they that were not present were fined, who, in a supposition, they were never away, were thought not to be absent now, but only to have hid themselves; and tho their Meeting had been silent, without uttering a Syllable, it was held for certain, that their holy duties could not

be perform'd without speaking, and so the speak∣er must needs have been present; The Quakers tell, in one of their families, a friend, and stran∣ger, being only present, Informers came to the Master, in presence of the stranger, as desirous to talk with him of a certain affair, and on his an∣swering little, went away and inform'd, For hav∣ing preach'd in an assembly of the Quakers, so, a severe Mulct was laid on the stranger and speaker: They say, many of 'em in the Country of Nothing∣ham-shire, was trepan'd by tricks of the like na∣ture. I was told by 'em, certain Rogues came among 'em compos'dly, and where the Quakers were silent, one of the fellows got up, and began to speak, and then also the rest, and falling on the Quakers, and goods of the house, Immedi∣ately carried all the latter away with them. In this persecution, the destruction of their Estates might be easily effected, since none of the Quak∣ers redeem'd what was taken from them, nor, were they never so wrong'd, or hurted, wou'd bribe or oppose their presecutors violence; which might easily have been done, had their principles suffer'd, when the unmannerly crowd, Claiming some thing due to each of them, instead of mo∣ney, took away what they cou'd find, Oxen, and Cattel from their Lands, and Instruments for Husbandry, from their Houses, Merchandise, Housholdstuff, Featherbeds, Blankets, Vessels, and Rayment, yea, their very meat they spared not, of what value soever: Some carried home wag∣gons Loaded with their goods, leaving nothing that was either portable, or movable; These goods were often put to publick sale, but some were so honest, that they loved not to buy what had been lost with grief, and cou'd only be pur∣chas'd with shame; some of their goods were taken secretly away by Night, while they're thus ravag'd, the Tythers were not asleep, but ready on foot; Thus, there's a threefold summ exacted, one for the Exchequer, another for the Poor,

and a third for their purse, who pretended to have the charge of Executing the Law against the Quakers. The Quakers Writings say they were Barbarously us'd, especially in the Northern part of York-shire. Bark-shire, Clochester, Surrey, and Notingham-shire. 'Tis incredible what Mo∣ney these people did lose, only for the sham Name of a Mulct; In this persecution, they rag'd most against the greatest, and their friends, of a higher Note, and Degree; These Men being thrust out of their houses where they met, stood often in the open Air before them, sometimes say∣ing nothing, and sometimes speaking; but al∣ways, either all, or they whose voice was heard, were punish'd with a greater Mulit, or imprison∣ment; sometimes they were treated as Enemies by the Law of War, even when they never resist∣ed: And having all already, in their hand and power, they pretended to deal with them by the right of victory.

This being often practis'd, I shall only name an Example of each sort: It happen'd in Here∣fordshire, in a certain Village, that Thomas Green, whom in the former Book I mention'd among the Leaders of the Quakers, having met with a few of his own Persuasion, in a certain place, for performing their worship; Informers hearing, runs presently thither, and with a bitter, and en∣raged mind, falls upon Green, kneeling with o∣thers at Prayer, and carry'd him to the Judges, who laid the usual Fine on him: Which while he (as they us'd) refus'd to pay, alledging. and de∣claring, he was unjustly fined, they ordered these Mercenary Messengers to distrein for't, upon Green's goods, which he had at Royston; This they go about without lingring, catching at an occasion they cou'd wrest to their gain: Thus they carry'd away his Goods and Merchandise, exposing 'em to sale, and out of the Money, reserv'd more than the double of the fine to themselves. At another time Green, going to

Preach in his own house, was suddenly set upon, and so despoil'd, by the Invaders, of the goods of his shop, (for he was a threadseller) that nothing was left but one Clue, which not wil∣lingly, but accidentally drop't from 'em. At another time also, while Green Preach'd in his House, some Informers came upon 'em, Arm'd as for a fight, and after silence, they demand the Preacher; The others deny'd to produce him; they laid hands on many of the hear∣ers, and presenting them with Swords, and Pi∣stols, they threaten to kill them, if they would not presently give up the Preacher, but their threats were fruitless: But at last, coming to Green, who appear'd by some signs to be the Preacher, he was also dumb to their Questi∣ons, and deaf to their Threats; giving no An∣swer to the former, and being unmov'd by the latter, they having greatest suspicion of him, did not kill him, but carry'd him to the Ma∣gistrate; to whom Green when ask'd if he was the Preacher, answer'd he was: He ask'd him further, why he told not that before to those that brought him; He answer'd, he would not to any such Men, who had no Authority to propound the Question, tho he now did it willingly before the Magistrate, who might not only Justly and Lawfully ask, but also Com∣mand. The following example seems to be Memorable, for the various Circumstances of persons and place: There met not a few Qua∣kers in a house at London, about Noon, the Room being scarce able to hold 'em, which being told the Magistrate, Soldiers were sent to scatter the Meeting and Thrust 'em out of the house. But they in like manner throng'd to∣gether in the next street, Notwithstanding the noise and hissings of passers by; There were there W. Penn, a Noble and Noted Man, whom I've before describ'd W. Mead, Son in Law to Fell, and Margaret, who was first Married to

Fell, and then to Fox, a Man not much then notic'd, tho a Considerable Merchant: Those the Souldiers singl'd out of the Company, seiz'd, and shut up, that they might want their hous∣es and liberty, on pretence, they had both Preach'd to the Congregation in the street. They're brought to Examination, and the crime is charg'd on 'em in these words, viz. That they being Quakers, had in contempt of the King, assembled themselves together with force and arms, illegally, and seditiously, to the trou∣bling of the peace; The Judges, as 'tis certain∣ly, according to the Laws of their Court, were desirous they should make their appear∣ance uncover'd, that they might give a greater proof of their Submission and Humility; when one of their officers had pull'd of these Mens hats, the Judge Commanded them again to be put on, that they might with their own hands take 'em of; They refused, since the Judge had ordered them to be covered, when as they came in before, them uncovered. This the Judges resenting ill, fining each of 'em, for Contempt of the King and his Court, in 40 Marks Eng. Penn, and Mead, did long dispute the matter, till Witnesses were brought in, who being question'd, affirm'd nothing else, than that they had heard them speak certain words in publick to the Congregation, but what the words were, they said, they could not hear, which evidence both Penn, and Mead, with a ready wit, and and quick Expression, as far as was needful, did sharply, and fluently confute. After the Judge, and Council, had charg'd 'em I omit their Names for no Disad∣vantage to them) with having transgress'd the Common Laws, Penn so defended himself, and his party, that the Judge thinking, by the ac∣curacy of his words, their Authority and Dig∣nity would be too much shaken, and Impair∣••ed, that the Judges might be tax'd with Ma∣lice,

and Ignorance, orders him to be remov'd out of the Court: Mead was also thus treated, for vindicating his Action with too great a sem∣blance of boldness, and obstinacy; after many debates, the Jury comes in, who being sworn, did narrowly expend, and enquire into, all they cou'd find objected against 'em; they bring in this verdict, that Penn had spoken to the Con∣gregation in publick, that Mead was not guil∣ty, without adding a word further. This Ver∣dict highly offended the Judge, and Council, who were firmly of opinion, that they were guilty, of what they were charg'd with, and therefore they rag'd and invey'd against the Jury, and especially, Edward Bushel, whose sole efficiency they Judg'd pernicious, in seducing his Collegues, threatning him with what envy and certain prejudice so rash a Verdict might draw upon himself; they remain'd stedfast in their first opinion, that Penn had done nothing 'gainst Law, and Mead was not at all guilty; And this said they is neither so dark, nor ob∣scure, but any may easily perceive it that's de∣sirous; as for themselves, since they had done nothing for hatred, or fear, nor any thing con∣trary to their Duty, or Judgment, as they were Conscious of no fault, so they fear'd no threatnings; after the Jury had finished their discourse, Penn added some words with more Sharpness, and Freedom, Implying that the Judges reguarded not Law, but Judg'd of the matter according to their partial pleasure; for which words, the Judges, that were there, were so offended, that they presently gave strict charge to the Jayl-keeper to take him in Custody, and keep him in Irons: The Court proving thus confus'd, and Litigious, It was at length thought fit to adjourn the Tryal for that day, and consequently, to enlarge the defendents till the following; The Jury being then again Inter∣rogated, if these Men were guilty of what they

stood Indicted for, still persisted in their for∣mer reply, viz. That they were not; after ma∣ny words, more hot than fruitful, the Judge commanded that Penn and Mead should be detain'd in Custody, till they paid that summ that was laid on each of them, for their Ir∣reverent Carriage, at the beginning of the Try∣al. Making this the due desert of their fault; both of 'em having reproach'd, and disrespected the Court: Here Penn cou'd not so Command himself, as to hold his peace, at so unjust a procedure. When neither would pay the Mony that was requir'd, they were both order'd to be thrown into Goal, but the cause was remov'd from the Bench to the Bar, where each of 'em in person, before a Multitude of Citizens, and these of the best quality, and sort, who were led thither by the curiosity of seeing the try∣al, defended, and pleaded his cause for him∣self: The Harangue of Penn is not unworthy to be observ'd, which was now, and then, in re∣peating Interrupted, and Intermitted; But in a due progress, constant, and undivided: It was to this purpose.

The nature of Man is so or∣dered, that as there is no Mortals almost to be found, who think not the injuries they receive to be great; so, every one, for the most part, is ready and desirous to defend his cause, and avoid the danger that threatens him; whether this be our case before you at present, or whether our Complaints be short of our sufferings, dangers that hang over us, and Crimes that we're charg'd with, you your selves may maturely consider, providing you'll disarm your selves of passion, and partiality, and grant us the justice of a pa∣tient Attention: This is the burden of our ac∣cusation, and on this score is our guilt founded; we omitted some Ceremonies before the Court, and did not presently consent to that, which we knew, they design'd to build our guilt up∣on; we spoke too boldly and freely for our

selves, as if we had accus'd our Accusers and Judges; we must therefore, before this great, and gown'd Society, dwell upon mere punctili∣o's, and triffles; and yet, whilst our words and behaviour are snarl'd at, we are not guilty of the things for which we stand Indicted; Is there any Law which commads the defendent, not only to be discovered, but to discover him∣self; and when our hats are put on, neither by us, nor at our pleasure, but your own Com∣mand, how unjust and ridiculous is it, that a fine should be laid on us, and not rather on your selves? But we answer'd not fully to all their questions, a crime exceeding all possible excuse, that can be brought to palliate our viloated du∣ty; being ask'd many things, we answer'd some, tho not all, sometimes restraining our selves not contrary to Law; you know what each of these amounts to: Certainly he that speaks nothing does not affirm, neither indeed does he therefore deny, It's then expedient for the defendent to speak, when his own silence would wrong his cause, but he that defends himself, when not so much as ask'd, gives occasion of suspicion, re∣proach, and calumny: Truly no Man is oblig'd to accuse himself; If any rash, or precipitant word drop'd out, this is nothing but a humane weakness that few are strangers to; it being hard, in this, as in other matters to keep a mea∣sure; when the mind is mov'd with extraordi∣nary anguish; But I suppose we are known to be none of those, who are offensive to others, by the Intemperance of our Tongues; neither are we as yet conscious of our pretended guilt. that we have hitherto defended our selves with any Impertinency; but this, this, is our crime to day, why both here and every where, we are drag'd into Judgment because we seldom deprecate our charge, or Court favour, by throwing our selves at your feet, or using guilded expressions, to ensnare your Ears, if not our own minds also; which would if not

at present, yet certainly hereafter prove detri∣mental to us, and our common cause: If it be an accusing and reproving of others, to re∣ject the falsehood of their unjust Accusation, and Modestly, and Ingenuously show what they do amiss, let us bear that Name, which only the sence and glory of well doing gives us tittle to: But this is, or at least should be, the sole and proper question, what is this crime which we have done, that you esteem so hainous: Since no Law forbids it, no Man can doubt the Lawfulness of our doing it, and injustice of your reprehending it; For where there is no Law, there is no Trans∣gression. As to the council's Allegation of a Common, and general Law, as the Foundati∣on and strength of the whole Accusation; when a general saying is generally to be un∣derstood, things common cannot oblige with∣out a special statute; so long as he applies not his rule to the matter in hand, whereup∣on the subject of our discourse is hinged, tru∣ly his citation is to little purpose, and his talk is fruitless; for the wise and ancient Kings that made those Laws, and the skillful and ingenious Lawyers of our Countrey who in∣terpreted them, did ever take 'em in no other meaning than applicable to certain persons, things, times, and Circumstances; wherefore thus to wrest Controversy to Law, is to disjoyn it from it self. Moreover, no Law can be just which forbids what the divine Law Com∣mands, and reason Dictates; or Commands what God and nature forbids and denies, even where the reverence and worship of God is concerned. Is this their Justice, and Equity, with whom we have to do; to bid shut our mouths, or carry us to punishment, when we speak against injustice in our own defence? Since by the common Law its provided, that he that may do that which is more, should not be de∣ny'd

liberty to do that which is less; what hin∣ders us, when Religion the greatest good is at the stake, to which other things tho never so valuable have no proportion, to be allow'd the common privilege of gain-saying? Then we must be rob'd of our whole liberty, our Wives and Children dragg'd into slavery, our Families scatter'd, our Estates seiz'd, and carry'd away in∣to triumph for our own Conscience sake, by the accusation of every beggar, and Malitious in∣former craftily waiting for our Ruine and De∣struction; Let the Lord of Sea and Land Judge betwixt us in this matter. The Judgement of twelve Men was always much regarded, by the Patricij of old, the Nobles, and Optimates, who being sworn Assessors, after hearing the cause, and evidence, brought in their sentence accord∣ing to the equity of the matter: That book has also hitherto been highly honour'd, which con∣tain the Rights of King, Parliament, and Peo∣ple, which is call'd Magna Charta: What reve∣rence Judges pay unto these, who Arrogate the intire power, and sole decision of the Tryal to themselves, and that with so much passion, and prejudice, as they are so unhappy, neither to be able to govern, or conceal it; let the Judges themselves declare Impartially. It appears plain∣ly, the Magna Charta is become a nose of wax, since it's so often hammer'd out into every form. If things run in this Channel, the times will come soon when we may bid farewel to Religi∣on, to all Society, yea right and property too; if all Tryals and Judges be like this, in whose mind so much of the Popish inquisition is in∣grain'd. As for us, since we were not accus'd, we could not be condemn'd, yea, since we're ab∣solv'd by the Jury, we desire our liberty. As for you the most just and great God will Judge the Justice of all your proceedings.

When Penn and Mead persisted in their purpose not to pay that Money which they were amers'd in, being

thrown into Jail, Penn's father pay'd it for them both, and deliver'd 'em from their Imprisonment; a severe and warlick exploit follow'd done upon the Quakers, in the County of Surrey: In certain places, Captains with their Souldiers, only by their own Power and Authority broke in upon Quakers houses without any occasion, Colouring the Injustice of their Action, with a pretence that they searched for hidden, and conceal'd Arms, and other Instruments of Sedition and Rebellion; thus they perceiv'd what they had in their houses, and afterward came upon them at their pleasure and spoiled them. This use and custom did so overflow and prevail, that Military Men of that sort, and size, both foot, and horse without any Command, assaulted those people, while at their Religious exercises, and Proclaim'd and made War without any Enemy, with so much vehe∣mency, fierceness, Clamour and Execution, as if they would fright heav'n it self with the thun∣dering of their words; and thrusting 'em out of the houses where they were met, if they stood nigh by, or spoke but a word, (which you may suppose they often, if not always did) they dragg'd some of 'em immediately into fetters, and smote others most cruelly with their Military Weapons, this was a common custom in Harsly-down. The house being full of Quakers at their worship many Soul∣diers, and Horsemen with Swords, Pikes, and Fire-Arms fly's thither; the Footmen goes in, and pre∣sently running upon them, thrusts them all out of doors; being put out into the street, the Horsemen rides them down; seeing their only hope of safety to be plac'd in the swiftness of their feet, by flight they betook themselves to that remedy, and endeavour'd to escape whither soe∣ver they could: But then the Horsemen spur'd af∣ter them with their Horses, and running upon the Men and Women as they were scatter'd, and also upon those that abode in their place, insult∣ing over the young and feeble, they struck them

upon their bodies and faces, with their Pistols, as furiously as they could: The footmen pouring themselves out of the house upon the people thus ensnar'd and invergl'd, follow'd after, and beat them with their Musquets and Pikes so violently, that some of them flew in peices out of their hands: Neither did they forbear, retreat or withdraw, till more than twenty of the poor Quakers were wounded, Eight days after the Quakers again met, and must likewise by a new force of Horse and Foot be assaulted, ejected, and put to flight, sur∣rounded, and oppress'd, and the ground fructify'd by the effusion of their blood; here there were twice as many wounded as before: That day seven-night the Quakers not leaving of their assembling, a party of foot and horse came up to the house: One of them going in with a pale full of dirt and Excrements, maliciously emptied it upon the Innocent Multitude, not content with this, put∣ting them from their House and Meeting, they follow'd and loaded them with so many wounds, that they were within a little of having rob'd 'em of their life. Some of the Countrey people, be∣ing mov'd with Compassion at the sad Counte∣nance, Lamentation, and tears of Men, they had always found both harmless, and blameless, did succour and shelter them, with the sanctuary of their houses. But those Malignant rakes, finding the way even thither, broke in, and pull'd 'em out, and threatning some, holding their Weapons o're their heads, and cutting the womens Cloaths, handled them with a detestable Impudence, and obscenity. There was one woman with Child taken as she fled, whom a Souldier rudely smote twice on the belly and once on the breast with his Musquet, and another threw dirt in her mouth, whereby she was so frighted, that afterwards she miscary'd. But the Zeal of the Quakers in Meet∣ing or Souldiers in persecuting, was not as yet chill'd. For they no sooner return'd to their usu∣al Meeting than the Souldiers follow'd them as

they had done formerly, afflicting them with their wonted Rudeness; so that the very Earth was re-sprinkled with their Blood, and Twenty, or more of them, were inhumanely wounded; which a certain Countrey Officer seeing, and being troubled at (a Man very discreet for his office) or at least not always so rough and rigid, advis'd the Souldiers not to persist in such wild rigour, and un∣reasonable rudeness, hoping he might easily obtain what he desired. The Souldiers were so far from regarding his request, they fell upon him so forci∣bly that they almost broke his pate. There were more examples of cruelty done at this time, in se∣veral places elsewhere; yet the Quakers never as∣sembled at night, nor in a Solitary place, lest they should seem to attempt any thing unworthy of Light, and whereof they should be affraid; yet they met sometimes more cautiously, and time∣rously, and with as little stir as they possibly could, not because they were disrespected, Vilified, and Calamitously treated, but sometimes by reason of the greatness of the danger, they forbore the times and places of their Assembling. Sometimes they were deny'd the use of their own houses, where they us'd to conveen frequently and nume∣rously, the Magistrate commanding the Doors and Entrances to be clos'd up with brick, and morter to prevent their admission: But they thinking themselves Masters of their own houses, open'd 'em without Command or Counsel of any other, and went into their Meetings, as they for∣merly had done.

The Qnakers observed this Year, that there was above Eight Thousand of their Sect made Prison∣ers, since the King's Return, whereof Six Hun∣dred were as yet detain'd.

Things being in this condition, about the Year Seventy Two a Remarkable War happen'd betwixt the Confederate Kings of Brittain and France, and the States of the United Provinces: in which War the Dutch had the better (as 'twas thought) both by

Sea, and Land; not only by withstanding so great Armies of two such potent Kings, and two Bi∣shops (more intent on the destruction than pre∣servation of Men) but also snatch'd a considera∣ble victory from 'em both. King Charles fearing lest the War abroad might create some matter of sedition at home, that he might preserve ease and concord amongst his subjects, granted not only pro∣tection to Men of all Religions, and consequent∣ly to the Quakers (Papists being only excepted) but also the free exercise of their several perswasi∣ons, whereby the Quakers from a tempestuous storm, were brought into a safe Haven: The Re∣membrance of the past, pleasure of the present, and hope of the future time induc'd them to compose, restore, and accomplish the common concern of their neglected affairs: But this rest and tranquillity was of no greater Continuance, than till matters were adjusted twixt the Dutch and English, for, in two year's space the war being ended, the Jars twixt ancient friends and bre∣thren, easily kindled and quickly quenched, did not only serve to wash away the strife but renew and confirm their former love. So the Quakers were toss'd with new dangers again, as when ano∣ther storm suddenly falls upon those, that an∣chor'd in the safety of an happy Haven and drives 'em from the hopes, of the expected shore into the great and dangerous roarings of the deep. Having hitherto related concerning these Men, al∣most all things I thought worthy to be read or repeated, since nothing follows much differing from what we've heard, I shall run through what remains, as orderly as briefly. Geo. Fox having now travers'd England more than one; and think∣ing he had spent study and Labour enough in en∣deavouring to declare and advance his Religion, not contenting himself to work only at home, began to think upon going further abroad, there to commence and carry on the same design: In the year 71 passing over the wide Sea, he went to

New-England in America, to visit friends of the same Doctrine and Discipline; encouraging and confirming 'em to retain and preserve the faith they had receiv'd piously and inviosably; Then he went in to the Barmuda's Islands, from thence to Jamaica, Merry-Land, Virginia, Nova-Cesarea, Insula-Longa, and to the ou••most Rhodes, from which last Island in the year 72, 4th month, and 19th day, he wrote a journal in form of an Epi∣stle, and sent it here to his friends in England, whereof I have a Copy: But I and nothing else written there but the Climates, Seasons, Tracts, Borders, and Regions upon which they went out, where they found, or form••d Societies of their persuasion, whom they met every where, especial∣ly in Virginia and Rhodes, how cheerfully and kindly they discours'd and entertain'd him. In Virginia he speaks of one or two of the Rulers of that Wild and Barbarous people, who came to a certain assembly of the Quakers, and tho much unacquainted with the English Language, behav∣ed themselves to the Quakers with respect and civility; whilst Fox with his friends went further into the Countrey, and there had the fortune to light upon others of 'em, they entertain'd him and his friends Discreetly and Courteously. This Journey of two years space being ended, a few months after, Fox in Vigornia by Judge Parker's command, for their frequent Meetings was put in Custody in the Country-Jail: There he conti∣nued for a year and more, being sometimes brought to a judicial appearance: When no∣thing could be made out, he was remanded into Jayl, or so delay'd to a certain season upon his promise of another appearance, wherein Fox did always satisfy the Judges observing his promise with a Religious tenderness: The strife and Con∣troversy was levell'd at this, to make Fox take the Oath of fidelity to the Government, Fox de∣nyed to make Corporal Oath or swear in express words, not that he refus'd to undertake or affirm

the thing; for he was ready to give a written bill to the Judges, tying himself to the performance of all that was requir'd; thinking they could expect or demand no more from him, he defended his cause at all occasions with many sounding and sen∣tentious Arguments, and such as are thought to be deriv'd from the sacred fountain of the word of God; but to no purpose for the Judges regard∣ed all the Allegations brought by that sort of Men, as nothing but base and contemptible pre∣tences. How Fox spent his time whilst kept here in prison, the many books written by him do de∣clare; especially that containing the Confession of the faith of Jesus Christ, enrich'd and Interwoven with Scriptural places, cull'd out of the New Testament by a singular order; he had also Divers Conferences with Learned Men, while he enjoy'd the leisure the prison afforded him; in which he often show'd the disparity of the encounter be∣twixt the Learned in the Dialectick Art; and those that are wholly Rude and Artless, whereof I have this Example. He had a Disputation with Dr. Crowder, prebendary of Worcester concerning an Oath, as it was lawful or forbidden under Gospel or Law; In which debate when Crowder concluded, that as an Oath was of old Lawful under the Law, so now it was not unlawful un∣der the Gospel; In like manner as Adultery and other vices forbidden by the Law, are also prohi∣bited under the Gospel. Fox being offended by so Ignorant a Consequence, began to be in a passi∣on, but before he had liberty to reply to what was said, all that were present contested and ex∣claim'd and rais'd this groundless report aginst him, that he affirm'd and taught as Orthodox, that Swearing, Adultery, Drunkenness, and other vices of that nature were Lawful, notwithstand∣ing the fruitless resistance of Crowder; and that he had broke out in obscene cursing and lying, who only defended a Nod might be a certain pledge of fidelity, and one word fill the place of

an Oath, another Clergy-Man disputing with Fox concerning the perfection of Saints in this Life, forming an induction from the word of God, wherein he thought great force of Argument to be couch'd, came to Fox and ask'd him what he thought of himself, pressing him more than ordi∣narily to answer ingenuously. Fox scarce know∣ng what such a question was design'd for, at length made no other return than this, By the grace of God I am what I am. Thereby neither expresly affirming nor denying, and yet obscurely hinting what he thought; at length Fox, after many dis∣appointments, by the coming of the Governour, Alesius was dismist; after so long absence, return∣ing to his House and Wife, he liv'd there with her for some time so quietly, that there was not a Syllable spoken of Fox; in the mean time he wrote and sent many Letters, Suasory, Hortatory, and of other sorts, concerning such things as he thought his labour and pains might not be lost on, but be useful and advantagious. He wrote also to the Jews at Amsterdam, and to the Papists, yea, and to the Pope himself; as also to the rulers of the lesser Africa, and even to the Emperour of the Turks, accosting him with this very Inscription and Title of the great Turk, a name horrid and unsavoury enough, especially, in that Nation and Language. Fox wrote, and caus'd all those Let∣ters to be Printed in his Mother-Tongue (the English Language), but they were not Translated, and sent as they were Inscrib'd; So that they ra∣ther prov'd tokens of a laborious, Confident and Arrogant mind, than in any measure profitable and advantagious. At London in the year 74 on the 9th and 16th days of October, there was a Confe∣rence held in a Meeting house of the Baptists, 'twixt the Quakers and them, concerning the per∣son of Christ; the speakers on the Quakers side, were G. Withad, and S. Crisp, G. Keith, and W. Penn; for the Baptists, T. Hicky, Jer. Joes, W. Kiffin, T. Planty, all preachers in their own perswasion, the

cause of the debate was a book publish'd by Hic∣ky, in which he branded the Quakers with the reproach of being disintituled to the Character of Christians; teaching Christ to be no person with∣out us, but that the Internal light of every Man's mind is Christ: The Quakers desired them to prove their challenge, by showing which of them had ever taught such Doctrine, or else, that the re∣proacher might be punished by his fellowship ac∣cording to the due desert of his delinquency. The first day they handled the Quakers opinion, the Baptists alledging such words to have been writ∣ten by the Quakers in a certain book, that Christ was never seen with bodily eyes by any Man: By which words the Baptists did not yet make out the weight of their charge against the Quakers, (for they explained the words thus, that tho it be certain as Christ was Man, he was Externally seen by Men, but as he is God, that he is Invisible doth sufficiently comport with the Analogy of Scrip∣ture: That when we speak of Christ's being known, loved, or worshiped, 'tis evident we mean not of Corporeal vision, but mental Intuition:) At the next Meeting the Baptists took another Ar∣gument to prove the Quakers to be no Christians, because they taught Divine Revelation to be the Immediate Rule of Faith and Life, which Argu∣ment when the Quakers had shown to be weak and childish, the Baptists having few more Topicks to lean upon, turn'd aside to what concern'd not the Controversy: But being unable by Windings and Circumlocutions to defend themselves, and tak∣ing it ill to be worsted and confuted began to place their victory in Reproach and Loquacity, filling all with Tumult and Noise. The Quakers who all this time sat still with an equality of fixedness, sedateness, and constancy, receiv'd their assaults as the swelling floods are broken and beat of by the Rocks. Thus they parted, so far from adjusting the matter, that they were more exas∣perated by the Conference they had enjoy'd. The

next year Rob. Barclay wrote his Theological The∣ses, and sent them to the Doctors, Professors, and Students of Theology, Popish and Protestant, in every Countrey of Europe, desiring 'em to exam∣ine, and return them an Answer: The next year he wrote and publish'd his Apology, a work greater, and better known than that I need give account of it: He sent two Copies of this book to every Princes Ambassadour at Ni••iguen, that met to treat of the Common peace, that they might weigh, and send it to their Prince for their Cognizance, and Inquiry into the matter: To each he added a double Letter of advice, that as the burden of the Christian world was laid upon them, so they might with all care and diligence endeavour, according to their Incumbent duty, to procure the rest and safety of Christians. Nic. Arnold, professor of the Theology in the College of Frizeland, oppos'd a Theological Exercitation to these Theses, wherein he bassles Barclay's opini∣on: To this treatise Barclay answer'd by another piece, shewing, that Arnold did only repeat what has been often said, by a changed expression. A little after Tho. Brown a Scot Barclay's Country-Man, one of the Preachers of the word of God, who to the Number of 2000 were depriv'd of their Benefices, for not submitting to the Regen∣cy of the Prelates, wrote a thick and large Vo∣lume in English, against the great treatise of Bar∣clay, in which Barclay taking him to mistake their meaning, and therefore too much to expati∣ate and wander from the purpose, answers him in the same Language, putting neither more nor less in his book than what he thought necessary. Afterward, Joh. G. Bajerus, Doctor and Professor of Theology at Jena, (a Lutheran) publish'd the Doctrine concerning the beginning of the true and saving knowledge of God, against Barclay's dissertation in his Theses and Apology, who carp∣ing at some Expressions of Barclay, as not pro∣per, but absurd and obscure, from which no bo∣dy

could gather what Barclay did mean, was an∣swer'd by G. Keith, (Barclay being then taken up with other affairs) a Man most skillful in Philo∣sophy, and Argument, who against Bajer did plainly unfold the sence and meaning of his friend's words, and in this reply so handled the whole Argument, that afterward Bajer made ne∣ver any return. Lastly, Joh. Chr. Holthusius, a pastor addicted to the Ausburg Confession, wrote a large treatise in the German Tongue, worthy to be stil'd the Antibarclaian German, since the Qua∣kers has not hitherto answer'd it. In this year 75, at Rome, Mich. Molin, a Spaniard, a Priest, and Doctor of Theology, publish'd his book in the Italian Tongue, to which he gave the Title of the Spiritual Captain: In which book he reviv'd the Mystick, Theology, as they call it, which for many years had lain Dormant in the Papacy, who was Tutor and Pedagogue to a Number of Men, for advancing that Doctrine of study and life: The Sect was call'd Quietism, and the followers, Quietists; from their singular Discipline, which prescribes the laying aside External helps of com∣ing to God, meditation and reasoning by things outwardly Consider'd and Compar'd; (which are the first Elements that be∣long to these who begin to enter into Eter∣nal Life) and making only use of Divine Con∣templation, and the simplicity of faith: Those who have made or desire to make great progress in the Celestial way, must employ themselves in∣tently with a ready will, and ardent Love, to re∣ceive and perceive God in themselves, and suffer him to work in them by his Spirit, while they wait for him with a quiet silence. I shall add no more of this Man's Doctrine or its success, as being known to the Learned Historians of our Age: As ever since the Quakers name had its rise, no∣thing, among Christians, in Religion, Behaviour, and Conversation, scem'd to be hatch'd or invent∣ed with greater care, or more resin'd, and remov'd

from the custom of the Vulgar, but what was presently father'd on the Quakers Authority, fel∣lowship, and patronage: Thus in Italy and else∣where, many made the Quakers in England, with their Creatures, and Confederates, the Sole cause and Original of this Sect, and all the opinions thereupon following: In like manner in England, the Quakers were Reckon'd among the Religious crew which they call Mysticks, and Branches of the Quietists, drawing their common nature and temper from the same Root with one another. This rumor and suspicion was the more increas'd, that the Quakers especially Barclay, in his Apolo∣gy extraordinarily commended these ancient My∣stic••s, and not long after, that Keith in his book, call'd the way to the City of God, which he pub∣lish'd in English, did so teach, confirm, and ad∣vance that Theology, that he seem'd to joyn with and strengthen the hands of the Quietists. Be∣cause this opinion before was, and as yet is so in∣fix'd in the minds of many, that the Quakers are of the flock of the Mysticks, or that the Quietists and they don't much differ, I shall pick out especially from Keith's book a short Summary of that Doc∣trine, adding as little of my own as I can; except where I'm forc'd to put my own words for his, without Impairing his meaning at all. We ought (says he) to withdraw our selves from every vain thought, earthly, purely intellectual, yea even Di∣vine, which are subjected to such words and pro∣positions, as fall under the force of Argumenting and Reasoning; which draw their being from another original. When God manifests himself in Man, in the Seed of God which is in Man, and hereby conveys himself into the mind of Man, Man must betake and apply himself to God, in the Seed of God 'twixt the influence and opera∣tion of God in him, and only to give himself the leisure to wait for these feelings of the mind that proceed from God, viz. The seeing, hearing, smel∣ling, touching tasting of the Spirit, of the pow∣er,

the light, and Life of God in Christ in that Seed. And so it is agreeable to Man, when he has thus converted himself unto God, to persist and continue in that State with much patience, tran∣quillity and silence, before he fall to the use and exercise, or daily business of his Lawful vocati∣on. When this happens, In a little time the mind in some measure approaches to an holy and Divine life, the beginnings of Spiritual Death, Regeneration and Active operation. It's not then sit to do any thing, without the certain Consci∣ence and clear knowledge of faith, but what the internal Guide, and Spiritual Counseller and In∣structor teacheth, without that apparent assurance that the Spirit is arisen or raiseth himself in us, and makes us inwardly to feel leave and liberty to do, what the Spirit commands or suffers to be done. And so it's convenient at, first, to Act faith only by receiving and then exercising it; as the Cion when first graffed into the stock first re∣ceives juice, then grows and fructifies. In these things that the rest of the Quakers both did and do agree, its scarce to be doubted. Tho it sufficient∣ly appears from what has been said, that these Mysticks, Molinists and Quakers, do not so far dif∣fer in this Doctrine and Study, as that one of 'em does either fear or despise, to follow and imitate the others Example; yet betwixt 'em both there's a very great difference and jarr as the Molinists adhere to the Rectors of Conscience, sacred orders, and very many rites, and the Quakers reject all these Rules and Principles; which being neither abstruse, nor hard to be known, I shall not now inlarge on with any further addition. England being now at leisure from War and Peace with the Dutch again establish'd, the long-gather'd grudge against the Quakers, and the anger, that sometime was restrain'd and forborn, began to be now reviv'd and strengthen'd in order to renew the War against 'em. Fox as yet thinking him∣self most concern'd, yea to have the oversight of

the Quakers affairs, went on preaching with such boldness, confidence, and care of their business, that he run himself into many dangers. So also did Keith and Penn. Whether with a design to avoid the danger, or because they suppos'd that they could and ought to deserve well by their Counsel, and Authority, at the hands of their friends that were living elsewhere, it's not known; In the year 77 they went together into Holland, and part of Germany, to visit some few friends they had in those Countreys; In which Voyage what was done by them I shall endeavour to shew in the following book: In the mean time the dai∣ly encrease of evil started reproach and oppression against many. There was afterward a great per∣secution begun in the County of Nottingham, which being also diffus'd into other Provinces, and at length, in the year 80 through the whole Land, run through the people with an exceeding violence. This affair, that year, Penn and Mead did accurately describe, and many others whose fellowship with those that suffer'd Calamities was such, that what they endur'd they thought done to themselves; and therefore they sent their de∣sires to King and Parliament, to inform them of the Injuries done to their friends, and intreat at length a remedy and help, against those evils of so long Continuance. Tho I could insert Innu∣merable examples of their troubles, that I may not excur without the bounds of my intended brevity, I shall content my self to repeat two of 'em, mention'd by those whom I have already nam'd, so far I suppose from being unknown, that tho they have been kept silent, their truth may be attested by the memory of many as yet, for I write nothing but what I am assured of. W. God∣rig of Banwal, in Somerset-shire, being desir'd to give light to somewhat by his Oath, knowing certainly that he would religiously refuse it, upon his refusal, was dragg'd into Jayl, and despoil'd of all his goods and movables to the value of 244

lib. ster. and also Immovables, whose yearly value was suppos'd to amount to 60 lib. or thereabout, at last, after thirteen years Imprisonment, all his Estate was publickly Confiscated. Mich. Renald, a wealthy and monyed Man in the County of Bark-shire, owed the Tythes of his Land for one year, to about the summ of 10 lib. which he, re∣fusing to pay, was summoned by the Creditor, be∣ing also so unwilling to follow such a suit, that he rather would have sustain'd any greater detriment; the cause was so ordered in Judgment, and the tryal given in the plaintiff's favour, that the Col∣lectors for a fine, out of his Cattel or stuff, should instead of ten, take 60 lib. wherewith these fel∣lows, being cunning, severe, and hot for their gain, were scarce contented; they took away to the value of 97 lib. besides, being their own Officers, they take as their wages, out of the shaves of Corn about the worth of 12 lib. more. About this time the Quakers counted 243 that were dead, by wounds and strokes received at their Meetings. While these things were done in Eng∣land, in Scotland, also especially the Northern part, much trouble was raised against the Quakers, and that by reason of their publick Preachings; some were greatly sined, others refusing to pay them, had their goods taken from them, and that to the double of what was laid on: Some were miserably kept in Custody, amongst whom was Barclay's fa∣ther mention'd in the former book, and Alexan∣der Skein, once famous amongst the Magistrates of Aberdeen; yet amongst all the Calamities and Sorrows they suffer'd, they had no greater grief, torment, nor sorrow, than to see and understand their Religion, Behaviour, and Actions, to be so execrably, and malitiously defam'd'd, and revil'd: For so they were every where in Libels and Vers∣es, Base, and Reproachful pictures describ'd, and design'd, and that often by the vilest sort of Men. So in familiar Conference, eatings, and drinkings, there was scarce a talkative, prattling, or babling

fellow, that lov'd to talk or act Comically, but he must reduce his discourse and gesture, to traduce the sincerity and simplicity of the Quakers. There were no ••ordid Vagrants, Quacks, Juglers, or Gamesters, that had a mind to please the peo∣ple, or make themselves be laught at; but must bring in the Quakers, in their Gesticulation, and Buffoonry. Yea, the Theatres, and shows in Plays and Comedys, which are wholly exploded, when void of wantonness, and not Arm'd with the follies, and Madness of such words, and Acti∣ons. These must assign the Quakers their Acts, Speeches and Motions, and so, lay open to the view of the world they profess'd themselves Ma∣sters to know and display the Lives, and Actions of all sorts of Men. Yea, in the Courts of Kings and Princes, their Fools, and Pleasants, which they kept to relax them from grief and pensive∣ness, could not show themselves more dexterously ridiculous, than by representing the Quakers, or aping the motions of their mouth, voice, gesture, and countenance: I heard a pleasant story from them: Helen which the English for shortness calls Nell at London, a most noted Dancer at the Play∣house, (afterward a miss of King Cha. II.) tho she could imitate all the Actors by any gesture of her body, yet she could not by her out-most effort and endeavour, even before the King and Courti∣ers (whom she often pleas'd with such ludicrous Actions) Act the Quaker so to the life as to draw out, compress, and remit the Spirit, and so to ape their praying and holding forth, without betray∣ing force and affectation, and how unhappy she was in Imitating those Actions, which she could ne∣ver have knowledge of by any Conjecture. I was told the like of one of the Kings fools, by those that were Eye-Witnesses of the matter. The Quakers were also greatly afflicted in Leicester, and Somerset-shire, in the year 81 and 82. There is a Village in Leicester, not far distant from the chief City of the whole province, thither many

of the Quakers are conveen'd and assembled, which was not pleasing to some Inhabitants, and especi∣ally Ministers of Churches that liv'd in those pla∣ces. Some young Men and Boys watch'd to di∣sturb their Meeting, and at other times Men with silence and constancy; when they met, they Im∣mediately assault them unawares, take 'em, pull the Men's hats and womens upper coats from 'em, push 'em out of the house, throws mud upon 'em and chases 'em abroad: At a certain time the la∣bourers joyn'd with the Company of Boys, and falling on the Quakers, crouded together, beating them with many blows, and dragging 'em out by the necks, roll'd 'em in the Clay, and then thrust 'em into Prison: At another time, some young Men and Boys, (who tho little chitts yet flew on them with Manly boldness) fill'd one of the wo∣mens mouths so with water and clay, that by their Villany they almost bereav'd her of her life. This these youths said they began to do at the command of a certain Parish Minister; this last was done in presence of one of the Ministers, that look'd on, and yet did not disswade them from their Rudeness. These indeed were done by the Rabble, which we must always distinguish from the Counsels, and Statutes, which the Magistrates Lawfully justify, and approve of. There was another and greater persecution at Bristoll, which, for the greatness of the matter, I must digress from my purpos'd brevity to give some account of. This City in the War betwixt King Cha. I. And the Parliament amongst the first stood firm to the Parliament's party, so it also principally withstood the King and his Brother the Duke of York's endeavours and designs, adhering fast to those Members of Parliament, who urg'd with great Eagerness and Zeal, the destruction of Po∣pery, and Exclusion of York, as one that was twisted with, and wedded to Popery; and because the Presbyterians and Independents were of that Number, they incurr'd the great envy and hatred

of the Royal Family, and of those Peers who thought it their duty and interest to adhere to the King in all his designs. In this City it self there were not wanting of those, who having the power in their hand, us'd it at their pleasure, to gratify the Court, and regard their own and others pro∣fit, and be reveng'd on others whom they knew to be their Enemies. It was hard to gain any thing upon the Presbyterians, they therefore turn'd to the Independents, disturbing their Meet∣ings every where: In short, the infesting assem∣blies, afflicting, vexing, and pillaging their fre∣quenters, broke out upon the Quakers, and they were made the Theatre, and Subject of the Cala∣mity: The pretence was ancient, but now more stretch'd that the Quakers fomented the Civil War, and assembled with Arms, being dragg'd dai∣ly from their Meetings, and brought before the Magistrate, refusing to take the Oath of fidelity (it being contrary to their Conscience to swear to any Oath) they were immediately thrown into Prisons and Gaols, which proving in vain, they resolv'd to treat them with greater force and ri∣gour: A band of Men being thus appointed, and furnished, whose Captain was always a pretor of the City, (whom they call Sheriff, not he that is Mayor) and also some pettifogging Lawyer, that as often as the Quakers assembled together, upon the least Cobweb pretence of Information, they run all to the house, break the door, beat out the Men, Women, and Children, without respect to Sex, or Age, drawing, driving, and dragging them into Jayl: The first onset was in the Parish of St. Jam. in the middle of Decem. because the Master of the house had not paid his fine, for his Man's absence, when the Train-bands was view'd, because his fine had not been exacted, they seiz'd what was in his house for the Kings use: Thus taking, and snatching away what they pleas'd, they destroy∣ed burnt and scattered the rest; again they return after six days, and the little that was brought in,

in that time. In the like manner they expose to be trampled and trodden on: In this expedition a certain City-Captain was their leader. The Qua∣kers return seven days after to the same empty house, where there was not so much as a seat, which the Sheriff understanding, with a Tribe of young Men and Boys following him, comes to the Qnakers with rage, and fury, and falling up∣on them not daring to resist, they scattered, and defeated them without much business; and rush∣ing in upon a widdow's retirement, they snatch'd away, broke and threw out Chests, Coffers, Boxes, Dales, Planks, and Casements: The Quakers re∣turning three days after, were treated, and chased in the like manner by the Ruffians, who then threw out the little Remnants, and pulling down the house, they equall'd it with the ground. The Quakers having taken another house in the Vil∣lage, about the 1st of Jan. (the beginning of the new year, as we divide, and describe it) thither they go, the Sheriff being told, he with his Cli∣ents, and followers, entic'd with the new pros∣pect of prey, march'd with a quick pace, and the sign being given, every one for himself without any order, flies on the Men, and their goods; here also being none that either could, or would resist them; they satisfied their desires as they formerly had done. The Quakers once more three days after made choice of another house elsewhere, thither also these Men and Boys do rush for further reward, and again assault, and lay hands upon them, but this house was Con∣fiscated to the King. After five days Interval, the Quakers returning to their old house in that Village, were set upon by the Sheriff and his Crew, being seiz'd, they were dragg'd before the Magistrate, nothing remaining in the half fallen and whole spoil'd house that they could take away, who, when the Oath of fidelity was ten∣dred refusing to swear at all, were thrown pre∣sently into the common Goal, but it being full,

the rest of them were thrust into Bridewell, and other places, In the mean time it cannot easily be told what great summs of Money they laid on and took from 'em, and that for nothing, but because they had found 'em at Meetings, tho sometimes they were altogether silent; and for those that could not pay by reason of their po∣verty they forc'd the richer sort to make satis∣faction, which was often laid at the Merchants Doors: What violence and baseness was here to be seen will easily appear by one Example. There was one Rich. Marsh, a noted Merchant, a certain Informer comes to his house, to demand a fine of a few Merks, having broke up his Warehouse, they search'd it for Money, but not finding it, they seiz'd on his books, and bills of debitor and Creditor, and several bundles of Papers and Let∣ters, and many other Writings, pretending to tatch them, and keep 'em to themselves, besides, ravaging the rest of the house, whatever wares or utensils they found, they make bold to meddle with it on the like pretence, destroying and pul∣ling down what stuff was in the house, and at last having feasted and glutted themselves with Wine, they went off with all the booty they had met with: It was then the Subject of all Tongues and Discourses, that those Men that were em∣ploy'd in hatrassing the Quakers, and dividing their goods and money amongst themselves, must needs be inrich'd with such an accession of wealth and money they so often lighted on: It happen'd that Tho. Earl the then Sheriff, a very consider∣able and honest Man, mindful of his Dignity and Office, call'd one that was suspected to give an account concerning the disposal of that money and goods: When he could not deny what was really true, yet would not confess, he first endea∣vour'd to turn the stream of the discourse, but the other continuing to urge his query, in stead of extricating, he inveigl'd himself more, and then, his anger beginning to boil out, he threatn'd to

bring the matter before th•• Parliament, who, he suppos'd would make the Sheriffs Enquiry fruitless.

The Qua••ers were daily impar'd and punish'd, and that both in their Lives and Estates, so that none of their Persons or Possessions were safe; Yet they forbore not their Ancient Meetings and Assem∣blies: Neither did their Enemies leave off to grieve and afflict them, till they had shewed their Inso∣lence and Baseness as far as they could. The Of∣ficers, Serjeants and Flocks of Boys, not only when the Quakers assembled in publick, but also every where, whomsoever they met they seiz'd; some of 'em throwing 'em so violently on their Fa∣ces, that they could not rise again without great pain, beating and bruising others with Canes; and while they bemoaned themselves under the smart of their Wounds, the others insulted with a barbarous cru∣elty: Yea, One of the Informers being mad with Fury, sometimes took a Boy; lifting him up by the Hair, and at other times, as he had understood the Intrigue of Dressing his Discourse in a more enticing Dialect, accosting a Girl with pleasing ex∣pressions, whom, because she refus'd his Kisses and Amorous Embraces, he held by the Arm with such Force and Violence, that he easily distorted the Tender Joynts. Neither did he only kick Old Men to the Ground with his Feet, but also Wo∣men, Young, Big-bellied, or Old. If one had of∣fered to intercede for another, though it had been an Husband for a Tender Wife, the Blows were presently exchang'd upon himself. 'Twas little to hear 'em daily belch out such Names as these, Viz. Whores, Bitches and Bawds, words not to be u∣sed by one Cstristian to another. A certain Boy, scarce out of his Hanging-Sleeves, wantoning and playing with a young Girl, with that impudent Levity, that he began to handle the Girl obscene∣ly, she for the Roguish endeavour of his Immo∣dest Contaction, and also, to preserve her Honour and Chastity, gave him a small chop upon the Cheek; the Informer knowing it would have her

put in Jayl, because she had aim'd with her hand to defend her Chastity from the daunings of the young Rogues lust, objecting that without the least necessity, she had beat the boy out of a Turbulent Spirit: The 16th of April in the year following, the Sheriff and Informer rush'd in pre∣cipitantly upon ten women assembled together. These they ordered to be dragg'd to Bridwel, one of them being with child was very tender, whom the Sheriff dragg'd along with his own hand (for he was one that needed not a Serjeants assistance) neither could Prayers or Complaints induce the cruel Monster to desist. The house being empti∣ed, the Sheriff brought, or let in Labourers, Por∣ters, Carriers, and such like equally famous for Rudeness and Insolence, and so fitted for a work of this Nature, who took their pleasure in Eat∣ing and Drinking of the spoils and booty of that day, while the others were enduring such Cruelty and Misery. After they had Eaten and Drunken what they could, providing themselves in Banner and Drum, they past the rest of the time in Playing, Dancing and Singing, which the Sheriff took pleasure to feed his Eyes with the sight of: The Quaker woman seeing this, ask'd the Sheriff if he thought it Convenient, that a house devoted to the worship of God, should be made a Theatre of their Lustful shows; the Sheriff, whose mind was always so forstall'd with hatred against the Quakers, that he could digest nothing that proceeded from them, was so highly offended that he Com∣manded her presently to be thrown into Bride∣wel amongst her Companions: In prison no less affliction follow'd after 'em by the harshness of the Keeper, and Cruelty of his Servants. There was a Vault wherein Prisoners that were no Malefactors, were suffer'd to Converse, work and discourse together, but this small liberty, he would not permit the Quakers to enjoy. When they endeavour'd any thing at set times, when

they had opportunity to sit or talk together, he disturb'd, divided 'em, and shut 'em assun∣der, beating 'em upon finding what they had said or done, he threw them amongst Theives and Rogues, where they could not see and meet one another, but must strive and struggle with so odious a Company: When the Sheriff or informer came into Prison, they treated them no, less harshly and furiously: At last, the Number of the Prisoners was so great, that there was no Room to lye in all Night, nor scarce to breath freely by day, so that they al∣most all fell into various Diseases, and danger of being soon overtaken by Death, a peice of Comfort, since it would have allay'd the mise∣ries of life, yet here they're discharg'd to de∣plore their Condition: The Prisoners, and four Physicians of the City whom the matter was known to, wrote a Letter to the Mayor, and the rest of the Magistrates, that they might be acquainted with their Calamity, the Keepers Cruelty, and the whole affair, endeavouring to lighten their Miseries and Torments, and might assist 'em against the Cruelty of their Persecu∣ters. But the Mayor, in whom the greatest power is lodg'd, and the rest of the Magi∣stracy having read their Letters, and being mo∣ved with Compassion, resolv'd to succour these distressed People, knowing that no Relaxation would be obtain'd by those fellows of an In∣feriour Rank, especially the Sheriff, whom I have mention'd, who fortified himself so much at London by others Authority, that if they would do any thing, it must be done amongst them∣selves, and that those that were dispossess'd of their houses and ground, might have Liberty to complain of the Injury they had sustain'd. In Apr. there was a Court at Bristoll for the Quaker Prisoners, where all things being duely heard and considered, the Quakers upon payment of a cer∣•••• fine, and taking the Oath of fidelity that

was tendred to them, were offeted to be freed from their Goal and Misery; but they chuse Con∣tinuance in Goal, rather than the fine and Oath: There was one Erasm. Dole, who suffer'd himself to be brought in to use the ••erm of declaring in∣stead of that of Swearing: A certain Serjeant pluck'd out a Bible unawares, and laying his hand upon it put the book to his mouth according to the usual manner of giving an Oath: Whereupon not a few did vainly boast that there were amongst the Quakers who refus'd not an Oath; and that now the l••e being broken, we would bring 'em to the rest which they seem'd to decline with an equal Aversion. But that this might not take Impre••ion in the minds of Men, Dole in a book gives a faithful account how the whole matter was manag'd: Thus the Quakers were remitted to Goal, and more Barbarously treated by the Keepers them formerly, there being no Room left for Prayer or price to obtain the least bodily Convenience. The Quakers not being fully con∣tent to have these affairs known only to those of their own City, did in many writings publish, and divulge 'em to the Perusal and Remembrance of the rest of the Nation: About this time many Quakers at London, for not forbearing their pub∣lick Meetings, and refusing to pay the sines they ow'd on that score, were thrown into Prison, and forc'd there to remain; In the mean time, the sharping crew of Informers took away their goods wheresoever they could light on 'em, not accord∣ing to the summ was laid on, but as they pleas'd to value them, which was at little enough. A∣mong the Prisoners there were two Quaker Preachers, W. Bringly, and Fr. Stamper, from the latter was taken 49 lib. ster. and more. At Wor∣tham in Suffolk, Jo. Bishop a Countreyman, owed the Parish Minister 8 lib. for two years Tythes, which when he did not pay, the Minister got out a Judgment, for 76 lib. to be Levy'd out of his Horses, Sheep, Cows, and Oxen. While the

Kingdom was in this State, toss'd with the storms of Persecution and trouble, King Cha. II. dyed and Ja. the D. of York succeeded in his stead: The 7th of that Name: In the year 1685, being install'd into the Throne, the first thing he Le∣velled the force of his desires at, was the Intro∣ducing, and advancing the Popish Religion: that he might open the way for, and abate the envy of others against it, he granted a Common Pri∣viledge to all, to exercise their Religion accord∣ing to their pleasures, all being tickled with the specious Allurement, that were formerly hated be∣cause of their perswasion, ran as it were upon the first Allarum to Congratulate by their special and particular Addresses the tenderness of his Majesties grace and favour, and throw themselves into his Protection and Patronage: The Quakers also all, tho less Courtly, and more rustick in a certain writing, very Civil and Complaisant, emitted by the order of a General Meeting, gave him thanks, and gratefully laid hold of his Benevolence. About that time were detain'd in the Prisons of Eng∣land 1460 Quakers, these all by the coming out of the Kings Edict, had Liberty to go out, and live as they pleased; and afterward when 200 and more were thrown into Prison; In the year following, they had the same impunity and liber∣ty: Moreover, that the King might avoid all sus∣picion of severity, and attain the Popular praise of Benignity, he gave in charge to his Courtiers and Servants, that none of 'em should dare to trouble a Quaker, tho he stood or pass'd by the King without being discovered. Nay, more, he us'd sometimes to come to them, when he knew they desir'd to see and speak with him, find∣ing them asham'd or affraid to approach; he pre∣vented and Anticipated the subject of their de∣sire: A thing seldom to be met with in the Court. It was pleasant and facetious when a certain Quaker drew nigh to the King, who, tho the Quaker was covered, yet discovered himself, he

desir'd the King not to do it, but was answer'd, wherever there is the person of a King, there must of nece••••ty always one be discovered: Thus the King was ingraciated into the Quakers favours; having extraordinarily kindled their Love and Affection. Yet some thought their reason was therefore bestow'd that they might be so wise as to look further then they cou'd see with their Eyes, did not prize the Kings bounty and facility so highly, putting a great difference betwixt the ef∣fect of a free and unbyass'd Inclination, and Pro∣duct of a self-seeking Contrivance and Design, and knowing the measure of the Kings endeavour took all his indulgence as an ill Omen, and sign of a storm to follow a Clam. W. Penn was great∣ly in favour with the K. the Quakers sole Pa••ron at Court, on whom the hateful Eyes of his Ene∣mies were intent: the K. loved him as a singular and intire Friend, and imparted to him many of his Secrets and Counsels. The K. often honour'd him with his audience in private, discoursing with him of various affairs and that not for one, but many hours together; delaying to hear the best of his peers, who at the same time were attending in the presence Chamber, or some other nigh by, to meet with the King. One of 'em being envi∣ous, and impatient of delay, taking it as an af∣front to see Penn more regarded then he, adven∣tur'd to take the freedom to tell the K. that when he met with Penn he regarded not his Nobility. The K. made no other Answer then that Penn talk'd Ingeniously, and he heard him willingly, Penn being so highly favour'd by the K. acquir'd thereby a Number of Friends; These also that formerly were e're acquainted with him, when they had any thing to be done or desired of the K. came to, Courted and Intreated Penn to pro∣mote their business by his favour with the K. He was especially thus importun'd by the Quakers. Penn refus'd none of his friends any Office he cou'd do for any of 'em, with the K. but was

principally ready to serve the Quakers, especially wherever their Religion was concern'd. It's usu∣ally thought when you do me one favour readily, you thereby encourage me to expect a second. Thus they run to Penn without Intermission as their alone Pillar and Support, who always ca∣ress'd and received 'em cheerfully, and effected their business by his Interest and Eloquence. Hence his house and Gates were daily throng'd by a Nu∣merous train of Clients and Suppliants, desiring him to present their addresses to his Majesty. There were sometimes there 200 and more. When the carrying on these affairs required expences at Court for Writings, and drawing out of things into Acts, Coppyings, Fees, and other Moneys which are due or at least are usually payed, Penn so discreetly managed matters, that out of his own, which he had in abundance, he liberally discharged all emergent expences. Tho he did thus, yet could he not decline the virulent Lashes of Malicious Tongnes, and these of the lower as well as the higher sort (which came to his Ears, but did not much affect him) that he was not so Active in his friends concerns, so much from the freedom of a willing Inclination, as the Mercena∣ry expectation of profit and advantage; that all that confluence of People that Courted him, and Industrious Administration of their affairs was not for nothing if it were put to the Test, but rewarded with more then what was expended: This reproach Penn only repuls'd with some by si∣lence, the best avenger of Calumny: But with the King, who was desirous to know what truth was in it, he so cleared and acquitted himself, that he judg'd him not only Blameless, but them also tardy, who had the vanity to think, or folly to assert Penn to be guilty of such Malicious aspersi∣ons: Penn being drown'd with such Cares and Bu∣sinesses, esteeming it his duty to look to his own affairs, lest by the Continuance of such liberality, he should dry up the Fountains of his paternal

Inheritance, he did not wholly abandon his Be∣••evolence and Diligence, but did so by degrees Mo∣derate, and rule 'em, that he gave ••o occasion of an invi••ious Complaint: Penn having laid down this certain Conclusion, that there must needs be one Society of Christians, the common safety and advantage Requiring, that every one worship God freely without any Impediment and Hinderance, providing only he liv'd peaceably, and submissive∣ly to the power and honour of the Magistrate; and since this Kingdom was deny'd that Privi∣ledge, having the way to that liberty obstructed by an Oath, which every one by Law was requir∣ed to take, and by other penalties laid upon Dis∣senters, Penn treated with the King of these two, who was also desirous to have 'em remov'd, and therefore receiv'd the address more willingly; Penn so defended and confirm'd the Kings Edict, which was now emitted to this purpose in a cer∣tain Book he publish'd for that end, that ••e in∣curr'd the hatred, bitterness, and anger of the Pro∣testant party Universally and Implacably; some of the Quakers also were ••o displeas'd that they did not love him and extol him as before, others wholly avoided and abandon'd him: The Protestants exclaim'd that Penn as well as the King aim'd at Popery with his outmost endeavour, calling him not only a Papist, but also a Jesuit, an order that's equally crafty, and hated. The Quakers thought it not at all amiss to have the penal Laws wholly Abiegated, which the Quaker subjects most of all were expos'd to, but lik'd not to have the Law concerning the Oath repea••'d, lest the Pa∣pists thereby being let into the Government might quickly renew these sanguinary Laws, and by means thereof take, weary, drive out and kill the Protestants, and especially the Quakers according to the custom of their Tenets and Religion, as if they had only been absolv'd from former Con∣stitutions, to be condemn'd more cruelly to sever∣er punishment: Thus they fear'd the snare cheifly

to be laid for themselves. While many were thus hurried in their minds, Penn so proved himself in another book not to be addicted to, but an hater of Popery, by the Testimony of his word, his Conscience, which is a thousand Witnesses, and of God than whom none can be greater, that if the words of Man may ever be believ'd, every one may credit Penn not to speak false, blazing it with any Colour of subtility, but that he wrote truth with Candour and Sincerity. Tho Penn cou'd not, by that book change the opinion that many had received of him, yet he so fully convinced the Quakers that from them he retriev'd his ancient praise, for some time intermitted, so that they own'd him for one constant to their Religion, and yet left him to the singularity of his own opinion: So the Quakers under this King liv'd quietly and easi∣ly, except a few, that were somewhat troubled, by the ensnaring Tricks of some deceitful men: but the Time of New Trouble, and Change of all was at hand: For now the King, weary of wait∣ing, thinking his Designs not capable of being de∣feated by any, introduc'd Popery not hiddenly, but openly: Not to mention others, these of the Highest Dignity, even Bishops and Archbishops, that withstood his Intentions, were, some of 'em, brought over to his Cause, by Bribes, and o∣thers put into the Tower of London. These being Resolute and Couragious in their honourable cause found by experience how far it was necessa∣ry and yet how hard to suffer for the liberty of their Conscience. And since my discourse has led me hither, I can't but add what was said by the Quakers themselves. When the Bishops of Eng∣land were now thus Stated, some of the Quakers took the Freedom to tell 'em that same mischief, return'd now on themselves, that formerly came out from them upon the Quakers: When it came to their Ears, they resented it ill, that such words shou'd be spoken and scatter'd of them by the Quakers: Robert Barclay understanding this went

presently to the Tower, and told 'em all modestly that was done against the Quakers, both by the command and permission of the Bishops, to which narrative they cou'd make no other reply but that of silence. But after 3 years K. James's Reign expir'd and was succeeded by K. William the Third, of Nassaw, hereditary State-holder of Holland, Son in Law, and Nephew to James by his Sister, who in all the series and course of his Life shew'd himself the best of Princes and Generals, equally adorn'd with Civil and Warlick virtue and withal Arm'd with Christian Piety, a like useful to Church and State, both by his Inclination and Education in his own Countrey, which tho it hath no Kings, yet produces, and fits 'em for other Na∣tions: Upon his first taking up the Reins of Go∣vernment, he beliav'd himself to all with that Mo∣deration, that it was manifest, he desir'd rather to be lov'd then fear'd, and to bereave none of Liberty of Conscience in Religion; so that all justly esteem'd him a most prudent and moderate Prince, equal to the best King that e're preceed∣ed him. He granted Freedom and Indulgence to all but only the Papists, whose infidelity he sus∣pected those he treated with a mixture of Grace and Severity, making always the former the great∣est Ingredient. The Quakers also cou'd not but love him, and embrace him as their most effectual defender, being suffer'd to perform their Religi∣ous exercises, without the hinderance of fear and molestation. This Royal benevolence was en∣hanced by the Parliament, which the King called after his Inanguration, according to the ancient Custom of Kings, who us'd to have a Parliament in the beginning of their Reign, that if any for∣mer Law were to be chang'd or Abolish'd, it might be legally done with consent of the house. This Parliament ratify'd a Liberty in Religion, giving immunity to all, from the force and seve∣rity that formerly resulted from any penal Act, excepting yet the Papists, who were reckoned such

Enemies that no peace cou'd be establish'd with them, and granting liberty to them wou'd be taking it from our selves, and so to raise war a∣gainst our own safety: Excepting also Socinians, and those of the like stamp who either openly or by Clandestine practices, Aim'd at subverting the Foundations of the Christian faith. Thus the Quakers had liberty; but since it's a matter of some moment to know the Rights and Privileges given 'em by King and Parliament, and inserted in Acts of Liberty in Religion, it will not be fruit∣less to handle it more largely, if it were but for that French Authors sake whom I mention'd be∣fore, not to his praise, a base unconstant and Ro∣guish fellow, who, after many turnings, and windings in Religion, as both strangers and they that know him assure me by Letters, plays now strenuously the Papist at Paris: However it's cer∣tain he treats of this theme, as if he had aim'd at no other design then to bring in some and play up∣on others, with a few frothy flowrishes of words: This is the matter of fact. The Parliament made it their purpose and endeavour, to give Liberty of Conscience to such as I have Nam'd. A Com∣mittee of a select number of the house was or∣der'd to treat of this affair. They when doubt∣ing of the Quakers Doctrine, and saith concern∣ing the sacred Scripture and mystery of the holy Trinity, because they use not to call the Scripture the word of God, (thinking that name to be pro∣per only to Christ, or to the internal word of God, under which sense external Letters can ne∣ver fall) nor to term the Father, Son and Spirit three persons (that being a word not used in Scripture, ordered their Articles and opinion to be presently inquired into. Two famous Qua∣kers at that time, Geo. Withad and John Virughton treated of these matters with Sir Tho. Clargy▪ a member of the house. He advis'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Kindness and Candour, to publish their mind fully and fairly concerning these two Articles

that were doubted of. They without delay write and subscribe their Thoughts, and willingly pre∣sented 'em to that honourable Man, from whom, as they had received a wholsom Advice, they now also expect a seasonable assistance. The form of each of 'em for himself was to this purpose. I believe with my heart, and confess with my mouth the sacred Scriptures to be Divine, left us by Men Inspir'd of God, as an exact rule of our faith and behaviour; and I profess to believe in one on∣ly God, who is the father, and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son, very God, and very Man, and in the Holy Spirit one, and the same God with the Father and Son blessed for evermore. This confession having pleas'd Clargy was given to be read to the rest of the Members, who thought fit to call in some nine or ten Quakers, that were ready at hand for such a design, to question 'em if that were their faith and perswasion: Upon their owning it the day following the matter was presented by the Committee to the whole house; and thus it was agreed that the Quakers shou'd have liberty, and order'd it shou'd be recorded and drawn out into an Act. While publick affairs were thus changed, W. Penn was not so regarded and respected by King and Court, as he was formerly by King James; partly because of his intimacy with King James, and partly for adhering to his old opinion, con∣cerning the Oath of fidelity which was now mi∣tigated but not abrogated. Besides, this it was suspected that Penn Corresponded with the late King, now Lurking in France, under the umbrage and protection of the French King, an enemy justly and equally odious to the Brittish King and united Provinces, 'twixt whom there was now an inveterate War. This suspicion was follow'd and also encreas'd by a Letter intercepted from King James to Penn, desiring Penn to come to his assistance in the present State and Condition he was in, and express the Resentments of his fa∣vour and benevolence. Upon this Penn being

cited to appear was ask'd, why King James wrote unto him, he answer'd he cou'd not hinder such a thing, being further question'd what Resentments these were, which the late King seem'd to desire of him, he answer'd he knew not, but said he supposed King James wou'd have him to endea∣vour his Restitution, and that tho he cou'd not decline the suspicion, yet he cou'd avoid the guilt, and since he had loved King James in his prospe∣rity, he shou'd not hate him in his adversity, yea, he lov'd him as yet for many favours he had con∣ferr'd on him, tho he wou'd not joyn with him in what concern'd the State of the Kingdom. He own'd he had been much oblig'd to King James, and that he wou'd reward his kindness by any private office as far as he cou'd, observing inviola∣bly and intirely that duty to the publick, and Government which was equally Incumbent upon all Subjects, and therefore that he had never the vanity to think of endeavouring to restore him that Crown which was fallen from his head, so that nothing in that Letter cou'd at all seem to fix guilt upon him. From that time Penn with∣drew himself more and more from business, and at length, at London, in his own house, confin'd himself as it were to a voluntary exile, from the converse, fellowship, and conference of others, employing himself only in his Domestick affairs, that he might be devoted more to Meditation and Spiritual exercises: In the year Ninety three, two books of his came out in English, the one of a So∣litary life, the other a Key to understand the Ar∣ticles of the Quakers faith. This year Penn went out of his voluntary Prison, compensing the lei∣sure of his lonely life by the comfort of Marri∣age, which he now entred into, and the greater toil he took on himself in managing all his busi∣ness and affairs. Geo. Fox also after many chang∣es and vici••••itudes, having seen various chances and dangers, after he had often been Anxious con∣cerning the progress and continuance of his life,

now not doubting to Consummate and end his Labours, in the beginning of Ninety one resign'd up his Life. After his Death his Widdow Mar∣garet, an old woman of about 76 years, who had shar'd with him in the office of preaching, wrote thus to a General Meeting of women held at London that same year.

Most Dear Friends, and Sisters in the Lord,

I Did not scruple to write unto you, from the Sense of that which was from the beginning, which now is, and for ever shall be, and that for your great Love and care of me, and the half of my self, my Husband, as long as he labour'd among you for the Lord. Since he's now entred into Rest and heaven∣ly Glory, if we'll regard what he said while he was alive, let's fix our constant Dependance upon God: Neither doubt I, if we walk with that Spirit of Life and Strength he had, but we shall be preserv'd even unto the end; In the mean time growing up and bearing fruit unto the Lord, we shall become Trees Justice to the praise and Glory of God. Wherefore I do earnestly warn and exhort you to abide constant∣ly in the service of God; for ye shall certainly reap the reward of much Consolation in this World, and of an eternal Recompence in that which is to come. Farewell, and joyn with me in praising of God.

Fox not long before he died by the Interposal of certain Friends and Amanuenses's wrote a large book in English, only with reference to what con∣cern'd himself, during the time he labour'd among his friends in the Ministry; and provided by his latter will it shou'd be carefully Printed, and a Coppy of it sent to all the yearly and Quarterly Meetings of his Friends, wherever gather'd toge∣ther throughout the whole World, in Remem∣brance of him, and for their particular Advan∣tage.

The book was publish'd being strength∣en'd with the Authority of a General assembly, of that perswasion about the end of the year ensuing. I long sought it with great Industry, and after much pains it came at length to my hand, but not till the whole work was almost finished and a part of it already receiv'd from the Printer. I perceive by that book some things we've related concerning Fox to be there omitted; but what we've said in ours of Fox doth for the main agree with what there is re∣corded. I made some Remarks from thence of Fox, which tho I knew not before, I adven∣tur'd to make use of relying on his own Cre∣dit and Testimony. I may take the liberty to say further of that great book of Fox, that it contains but few Historical Narratives, consisting chiefly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Enumerating places he Travell'd to all the days of his Life, and the disputes he there maintain'd with several sorts of Men, and the almost innumerable Orations and Epistles he wrote. Fox was a Man alike famous for the temper and disposition of his body and mind, of a very solid and succulent body, and a mind fitly attemper'd thereto, of a great Memory, and tho not at all dull, yet not Extraordinari∣ly quick and acute; Always more ready to think than to talk, and yet more forward to speak than to write: Unacquainted with no Doc∣trine, or Art tho ne're so Vulgar, not Curious, yet sometimes taking pleasure to divert him∣self, by playing with the cheats of the Learned. Laborious and diligent tho 'twere of little or nothing, in all the minutes of his Common lei∣sure Indefatigable, even when strugling with the greatest of troubles. Much given to watching, making the measure shorter than that of the Night. So given to frugality both for Health and Religion, that he once fasted ten days as he testifies of himself, being equally temperate in all the parts of his Life: Bold, and always of

a constant patience, doing all things so openly as not fearing to make 'em known, so endur∣ing all things as if the sole suffering, and not the Cause, or Action, were glorious; so ambitioning the Title of a Martyr, as if he had thought the Name alone to be sufficient.

He was moreover couragious, tenacious of his Opinion, and morose, so much considing in his Person, Pains and Advice, that he thought nothing could be done rightly, or perfected without him, being de••irous every where to be present, and pre∣side; and what happen'd to be done well, he laid claim to the glory of it, pretending Title to the Reward of the Praise of it from all; and yet all this under colour of Simplicity and Humility. Pleasant and Bountiful to those that lov'd him, but bitter against others that were not of his Socie∣ty, not only hurting 'em verbally, but really as fer as he cou'd, and that sometimes not only im∣prudently, but even immodestly and impudently too. One of his ancient friends and acquaintances writes, in a certain Letter of Fox, that he was, according to the measure of his Capacity devoted greatly to the worship of God, and promoting of Pie∣ty among Men, meek in Conversation, yet tainted with this, which almost all teachers labour under, in a new Sect or Discipline, that he was too harsh 'mongst the Quakers themselves, especially those that wou'd not receive such forms as he had conceiv'd or constituted. He left many books, which some of his followers do but faintly praise, yet others ex∣toll 'em to the Skies; few touch 'em that are not of their perswasion, and no body reads 'em that loaths repetition of the same thing, in various dress of words and expressions, or dislikes treating a theme with that Prolixity, as not to regard what's sufficient, but how much can be said.

While Fox was alive, the Quakers lived with a Brotherly Concord, though there always were some that differ'd in some Article, beside others that fell off from their Fellowship; but Fox, as

their supreme Master, being remov'd, whose say∣ings and doings they regarded as a Law, the Bond of Union being now broken, though hitherto they seem'd to be led and govern'd only by his Mind and Desire, a great Discord arose in Eng∣land, especially among those, who, tho they were not much wiser than the Vulgar, arrogated more Wit and Accuracy to themselves. The Sub∣ject of this Controversie was the Humanity of Christ, first kindled some Years ago in Pensylva∣nia, and now toss'd 'twixt Keith and his Friends, and others, with their Followers, puff'd up with some Knowledge. I shall treat of this Contro∣versie in the following book: They've Disputed in England concerning that Article, almost to the losing of all Society. He that pursues the Life of an Enemy, neglects the use of no sort of Wea∣pon; but he that studies to rob him of his Fame, forbears to revile him with no sort of Reproach. That Controversie was so invidious, divisive and troublesome, and persu'd with so much eagerness of mind, that men being flush'd with the Desire of Overcoming, were not content to contend with words, nor only to load one another with many Suspicions, but also to spread an ill Report of their Antagonists, to hunt after, and wound one another with Calumnies, openly denouncing Enmity, Division and Schism.

Upon this, it's almost a wonder to think what Ignominy the Quakers did every where incur▪ what Reports were in all places dispers'd of 'em, for their so great desire of strife and contention, that their whole Church seem'd infected with that Itch and Contagion: And since the division of their parties was such, there was little Conjuncti∣on Peace and Brotherly affection to be expected, nay, rather the time seem'd to draw nigh when the Sect and its Name must dwindle into nothing, and that by the force of its own endeavour. There were some concern'd in this Controversy who, tho they managed it not by force and vio∣lence,

but hidden Engines, not by open blows, but private Lashes yet certainly contributed to their downfall and destruction: There were Ge∣neral Councils of 'em held yearly at London, from ninety two to the year ninety four.

In this year Keith came from Pensilvania to London, and was called by the Council of that year, as the principal head, and adviser of the whole affair. After he came and was long heard, even that Council cou'd not compose these strifes, nor so much as a little decide the difference: So that the mischief as yet remains with Reproach and Disgrace. Such is the stiffness and vehemen∣cy of these Men, while now Iull'd with the soft Gale of Prosperity and Ease, that there was ne∣ver the least shadow of the like before, while they wrestled with the rough wind of Adver∣sity.

But of this I'll speak more fully in the follow∣ing Book, lest this be swell'd beyond its bounds, and there the matter comes in, in its more pro∣per place.

And now this and many other signs, give some no small occasion to affirm that liberty, case, and External Tranquillity do Minister to discord, slothfulness, wantonness, and Intemperance, which are all dangerous to Life; neither do they always avail to the happiness of living, for not a few among these Men may be found, that have too great a propension to vices of that na∣ture.

The Masters and Observers of behaviour omit∣ted not to reprove such faults very smartly, and some of them who had also committed 'em for∣bore not to invey sharply against themselves. Examples hereof I'll designedly pass by, tho some without Calumny and Reproach I cou'd insert, lest they that are concerned may be somewhat displeas'd at the ripping of that which may rub upon themselves: Yet one I shall mention which London resounded with, lest fame report it

otherwise than perhaps it was done.

There was a very sincere Quaker, free from all suspicion of this kind, who being scorch'd with the flames of Love, that the Charms of his Mistress's face had kindled, convers'd with her with too much weakness and frequency: but upon Remorse and Knowledge of his Guilt, being pierc'd with Shame and Sorrow for his sin, he makes a publick Confession of his fault to the Church, submitting himself to the Censure and Correction of his friends; yea further, for deviating from Honesty and Modesty so far, that he might not fall into that snare again, or for the future repeat the like wickedness, with his own hand he Chastises himself by a present cutting off the delinquent Member.

Tho all this time they enjoy'd so much liberty, yet they neither were nor are whol∣ly free from all sort of Commotion and Disturbance: Neither when the Oath of fi∣delity, (that great invitation to oppression) was taken away, were other pretences of Oaths wanting, that might prove Incitements to bring on Persecution. For from that day to this, many instances may be seen of these Men, whose inheritance for refusing an Oath has been forfeited; some having their goods wholly taken from 'em, others beside the loss of their goods being cast into Prison. And since, as yet as well as before, the wil∣fulness of the one party in exacting, and of the other in refusing the payment of Tythes, is not at all impair'd or abated, a time cou'd very seldom be pitch'd on, wherein there was none of 'em to be found in Custody. That the grudge of ancient, and levity of new Enemies are the efficients of this, and not the supreme Power and Au∣thority, every one will easily own who con∣siders,

that Kings have many Eyes, Ears and Hands, but yet must be always long-suffering and patient, but not able at all times to effect what they wou'd, nor al∣ways willing to do what they can and shou'd.

The End of the Second Book.