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 ...

THE General History OF THE QUAKERS. (Book 3)

BOOK III. (Book 3)

The Contents.

The Quakers going to New England, in America. The coming of Quaker-Wo∣men to New England. How they were receiv'd. The Laws of the Cities against Quakers. The various Persecution of 'em: some were whipt; some had their Ears cut off, others were hang'd. A wri∣ting of the Magistracy of Boston, con∣cerning those that were hang'd. Edict of

King Charles to his Governours in those Countries, to forbear Persecution. What happen'd in New Holland, Virginia, Barmuda's, and other places. Pensylva∣nia a Countrey for Quakers. In it was given liberty to men of all Religions. The various and mix'd multitude of men in that Countrey. From hence flows a con∣fus'd and various Doctrine and Conver∣sation among the Quakers themselves. Hence came that sharp Debate of Keith and his Adherents against their Adversa∣ries, chiefly concerning Christ internally and externally, and a great confusion and disturbance of affairs thereupon. This Disputation awaken'd such Dissention, Commotion and Distraction of minds, not unlike to a mutiney and Civil War, that it was scattered from Pensylvania into England, especially London, where∣as yet it remains to this very day. Some of the Quakers took Voyage for the East Indies. Others went into Africa. The Quakers travelling into Neighbo••ring and Forreign Countries. What was done by them in Holland and Friezeland. A short History of the Labadists The De∣parture and Death of Anna Maria, Schurman. The Endeavours of some Quakers among men of that Sect. What the Quakers did at Emdin, a Town in East Friezeland. There at length liber∣ty

was offer'd 'em by the chief of the City. The Endeavours of Ames and Penn in the Palatinate on the Rhine. Fox's Let∣ter to Elizabeth, Prineess Palatine, and the Princes's Answer to him. Penn's Ser∣mon before that Princess. The Quakers Affairs in Alsace and at Gedan. Fox's wonderful Letter to the King of Poland▪ The History of the Petists, as they call them in Germany. The great wander∣ings of some of them. The Excursion of others into Pensylvania, the Countrey so fertile of Quakers. What Quakers went into France, and with what success. Who of 'em went iuto Italy. What happen'd to Love and Perrot at Rome. George Robinson's wonderful Fortune at Jeru∣salem. The Suffering of Two Quaker-women in the Island Melita, by reason of the Inquisition. The Rarity of Mary Fishers Journey to, and Return from the Emperour of the Turks.

I Have already shewn in the former Books the State of the Quakers, from their beginning to this preseut time, in Brittain, their Mo∣ther-Countrey and Nurse. I shall now give as short a Narrative as I can of their Affairs also in other Regions.

In treating hereof; some Places in America, subjected to the Sway of the English Government, especially New England in the North, towards the Sea, seem first to present themselves to our View: Hither many from Old England, flying

from the Imperious and Cruel Regency of Licen∣tious Kings and Proud Bishops, retired (and fixed their Residence here; Purchasing for themselves a peculiar Inheritance, which the Quakers, a∣mong the first, ••ent to, hoping therefore among their Friends, whom not only one Neighbour∣hood, but also cause of abandoning their Countrey, did now conjoyn and unite in one Society, they might promote and advance their present In∣terest and Peace with more liberty and safety than they had in Old England. The first that went with that Design to these new, uncultivated and Desart Places, leaving the Pleasant and Fortu∣nate Island of Brittain, being destin••d and sent there to bud forth the blooming blossoms of a Religious Spring, were John Burniat, a man more Famous than Learned, call'd out to the Ministry in the Year Fifty Three, Robert Hosben, Joseph Ni∣cholson, and several others of the Masculine Or∣der; Ann Austin, a Woman stricken in Years, Mother of some Children, Mary Fisher, a Maid, whose Intellectual Faculties was greatly adorn'd by the Gravi••y of her Deportment, afterwards married to William Baily, a Famous Preacher, and others also of the Female Rank. This fell out in the Year Fifty Five. Of those Burniat survives in our present Memory, as yet I suppose a Preacher in Ireland. Many of those made their way for Virginia, Maryland, the Caribes, Barmu∣da's, Barbadoes, and other adjacent Islands. Of these having found little worth our Observation, I shall discourse in the last place, if Occasion of∣fers.

But the Women, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher, travell'd into New England, and were shortly followed by others of both Sexes. Neither were the Actions of these very memorable, their Pow∣er being abridged by the Sufferings they were for∣ced to endure; which indeed may be reckon'd so great and so many, that they are not unworthy to be noticed and obserued.

Of all the Tract of the New England Common∣wealth, Boston is the Metropolis, and Judiciary Seat. At that time John Endicot was Rector, or Governour of the whole Province, one that from a very low condition was gradually mounted to this Honour and Dignity: Of whose Temper, Be∣haviour and Government, which was then vari∣ously thought and talk'd of, and whereof there were afterwards, on both sides Witnesses, I shall con∣tent my self wholly to be silent. Next to him was Richard Bellingham, whose manner of Life and Nature I also pass by.

At this time there was no where any thing like a Law enacted against the Quakers. A Ship then arriv'd at Boston, and was no sooner Anchor'd than a rumor was spread, that 2 Quaker women were come in the Ship. The Governour being absent, he that was depute immediately sent or∣der for seizing these women, sealing up and keep∣ing their Hampers, Boxes, and Chests, and bring∣ing the Books of their Sect, whereof they had great store, into the City, where they were pub∣lickly burnt by the hand of the Hangman. Then the women themselves were brought into Town, and soon after before the Judges, who presently as soon as they sat down on the Bench pro∣nounc'd the women to be certainly Quakers, for giving the singular title of thou to the Judge, and not the more Courteous compellation of you con∣trary to the custom of almost all the English. The Judges thinking this to be a sure enough sign, and the matter to be clear and evident of it self, their office rendring 'em best Advocates for them∣selves, order'd the women to be taken and thrown into Goal, and have nothing of the goods they had left in the Ship, not so much as their Tools and Instruments of Writing, lest they shou'd write of the Condition to which they were re∣duc'd, or something of their New Religion and Doctrine.

The Goaler to compleat what the Judges had begun, had the manners Irreligiously to rob 'em of their Bibles. 'Twas also decreed that none shou'd go, speak or carry any meat to them: Being kept in so strait and narrow a place, having scarce any thing to eat, sleep, or lie upon, till after some days something of their own was suffer'd to be brought 'em from the Ship, which Nichol. Vpshal a Citizen of Boston, and Member of the Church there, privately agreed for a summ with the Goal-Keeper to let in, and also to give 'em what suste∣nance was sufficient. They complain'd further of their treatment, as being reproach'd and revil'd as Whores, who scruple not to expose and defile themselves, and upon pretence of searching the truth of the matter, of their being most basely and rudely strip'd naked, and not only view'd contrary to Chastity and Shame, Fac'dness, but even handled with wicked and immodest hands, without regarding those secrets of nature which modest Men wou'd shun the seeing or touching of: These things being so Villanous to Act, and scarce modest to name, the women were rather forc'd to sit with and endure, than betray their own shame without any Redress, or expose their Disgrace without Sympathy or Compassion. The women abode for five weeks shut up in this lonely and poor habitation: Then the Captain of the Ship with whom they came, before he set Sail had leave from the Judges, at his own proper provisi∣on and charges to carry them back, from whence he had brought 'em. They being driven back, in a little time after, Sara Gibbens, Mary Wartherhad, Mary Prince, Dorothy Wangre, also Christopher Holder, Thomas Thunton, William Brent and John Copelan, coming there met with such Treat∣ment as the women had done before. Upon this occasion there was a Law establish'd that no Ship-Master shou'd presume to bring a Quaker there, and if any Quaker shou'd Adventure to come up∣on their Territories, he was presently to be re∣warded

with the Confinement of a Prison. Ni∣chol. Vpshal whose civility to the Imprison'd wo∣men I spoke of, inquiring more narrowly into the Quakers Religion, began to withdraw from his own Church, and betake himself to the Quakers fellowship, and oppose and exclaim against the Legislators Constitutions, for establishing a hu∣mane sanction or Law contrary to the Rule of Divine precepts, warning and advising 'em all to take care lest by a willful fighting against God, they pull down his wrath and Judgment on them∣selves. The Judges minds were hereby so Exas∣perated, that resolving to make so new a danger Exemplary, they first fin'd him in a hundred Crowns, sentenc'd him to Goal, and last of all to Banishment. There was in the Western part of the province in sight of the Countrey an Island call'd Rhodes. Here some Quakers did live, hither went Vpshal to joyn with his cause. Whither when he came, 'twas commonly reported, that the Barbarous Indian Governour finding him, gave him an Invitation to reside in his Countrey and Precincts, promising him a seat in his indigency and exile, and also to Accommodate him with a suitable habitation, adding those words. What sort of God have the English, who deal so with others that worship their own. After the others were put to the flight, Ann Burden, a widdow of London in Old England, having some years ago liv'd with her Husband at Boston, came there now for some Money that was due to her, with Mary Dyer, wife to William Dyer, being both ignorant of what was establish'd by Law, and what mischief here did threaten the Quakers. These women were presently seiz'd and kept in Prison, untill the husband did succour the one, and good and Compassionate people the other. Ann Burden was so acquitted that she was particularly prohibited, to import these Warrs others had brought in her name and account for summs and Moneys due by some debtors, tho they cou'd have been sold dear∣er

there than in old England, she was forc'd again to Transport 'em over the Sea, not without being clipt by the Customers, and Officers, who were Artists sufficient in meddling with her goods, and dividing a considerable part among themselves. In 75 the year following; and matters were stretch'd to such a pitch, that all advice and assistance to that sort of Men seem'd so fruitless, that they af∣forded but matter of Accusation and Calumny. Since they cou'd not by Sea they did therefore by Land, travel through strange and desolate places, even such Woods, Forests, and Solitudes, as none before 'em ever pass'd over, not knowing, or hav∣ing wherewith to sustain themselves, except what they carry'd along in a bag; but when that fail'd, being in utter want, they sometimes met with help and supply from the Indians, tho otherwise the most Barbarous of all Mortals, who not only shew••d 'em the way but things needful for life and use, yea such as these Countries take for Rarities and Delicacies; so that the Quakers had reason to esteem their own Englishmen Enemies, and take those wild Men for Benefactors and Friends. A∣mong these strangers, Mary Clarke was the first that adventur'd to intreat the Judges at Boston, not to persist to vex and afflict the innocent, but rather wholly to forbear to grieve and persecute 'em; tho she did not insist or reflect on the Judges, yet they gave themselves so over to rage, that they commanded her to be whipt and cast into Prison: So scandalous a reproach that matter was reputed. Their whip is made of a small rope or cord, with three grains and several knots upon each of 'em fastesn'd to a staff of such a length, that when the Executioner wou'd inflict the lashes, he must of∣ten employ both his hands to perform it, the suf∣ferer being often left worse than half dead. Cri∣stoph. Holder and John Copelan being once expell'd, the City was afterward treated, as the woman had been before. At a little Sea Town not far from Boston, having both entred into the publick

Church, after Service and Sermon was ended, Hol∣der began to discourse to the people. They present∣ly dragg'd him and Copelan out by the hair, dashing their very faces on the ground, stopping one of their mouths with a sleeve and hankerchief, pul∣ling 'em out of the Church, they carry them to Boston, where they were both lash'd with such cruel stripes that some of the Spectators swoon'd away at the sight of it: After that they were thrown into Prison, and there compell'd to lie, without either meat or drink three days and three nights, and nine weeks in the middle of Winter were forc'd to remain in so cold an habitation: Holder the year following, returning to Boston to seek a Ship to carry him back to Old England, was again Imprison'd without any reason. Whereunto this piece of severity was Annex'd. There liv'd at Salem a little from Boston Lawrence and Cassandra Southikes, dear and loving Yoke-fellows, account∣ed most faithful and honest Church Members. These two I have spoken of, when they came in∣to Salem, they receiv'd willingly and entertain'd kindly; their Hostess taking the freedom to tell 'em, that the books they had with 'em were not unpleasing to her, was presented with some of s'em, as a Resentment of her favour. For this fault the two, the Man and his Wife were carried to Boston and there Imprison'd, and she fin'd in an hundred florens and more. Moreover, some, that were true enough Children of the Church, being averse to such severity not only to the Quakers, but even such who from tenderness shew'd 'em any kindness, did therefore withdraw themselves from the Church's Communion, and accordingly were sure to be fin'd and Imprison'd. The Southikes with their Son Josia were the first of this kind, and for being the first were brought back unto Boston, and condemn'd to be fin'd, Imprison'd and whipt, tho the parents were old weakly and infirm, in a very cold and Winterly season, they were all shut up and detained in Goal. These parents had also two

Children more, a Son Daniel and a Daughter Prar∣deda, who were so far from being terrify'd with what their parents had suffer'd, that they were in∣cited, by their example, to relinguish and aban∣don the fellowship of the Church, and adjoyn themselve to the Quakers Society: They were thereupon sentenc'd to the same punishment with their parents, a pecuniary Mulct being laid upon both, which if they did not pay, 'twas order'd they shou'd Compense it by their Work and Labour among the Chained and Slaves. Being insolvent, and yet as unwilling, as unable to endure that hard and most cruel toil, it was order'd by an Act of the Senate at Salem, and afterward ratify'd by the Parliament at Boston, that the boys shou'd go to the English that were trading in Virginia and Barmuda's, and the charge hereof was given to Edward Rutter, one of the then Officers of the Treasury. It had been effected had it not been for the Seamen, who approv'd the cruelty of that butcherly hangman, that took pleasure in the yel∣ling and howling of the Boys, and extenuated the Barbarity or these bitter Men, even while they Remembred the youthful innocence of the others; A cruelty so unheard of that it was un∣lawful in Israel of old, unless they had been guilty of theft, or out of the Number of the Is∣raelites: These divine Laws of the Religious Zealots, in Correcting faults, and inflicting pun∣ishments, I wou'd not give my self the trouble to Repeat, had they not been so plainly and mani∣festly known, that they became the Subject talk of almost every Tongue. One Sam. Sattor, who had gone to the Quakers Meeting at Salem, at that Croud in the publick Church, when the handker∣chief was thrust into Christoph. Holder's mouth to stop his throat and prevent his speaking, for pul∣ling it out for fear it shou'd choak him, was pre∣sently cast into Prison at Boston. Another William Sattor, for declining to go to Church was admon∣ish'd of his crime by a certain number of Lashes,

and after Correction put in the same Goal. The Law that was formerly made against Quakers, was now in this manner inlarged and amplify'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that if any inhabitant did happen to understand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Quaker to be any where within these Territories, he shou'd presently acquaint the Governour of the Sea ports, who were order'd, if the Quaker did not immediately go thence, to cause him be whipt, and driven out of that Countrey. If by means of any person a Quaker were brought there, he was to forfeit 100 l. sterl. to the Exchequer, and be kept in Custody till the summ shou'd be pay'd. If any receiv'd a Quaker into his house and did not at the same instant go out of it himself, for the first fault he was to pay 25 l. and for every hour he retain'd him longer, he was fin'd in fourty shillings; but if otherwise, he was detain'd till he pay'd the 100 l. If any Quaker shou'd come there from far, or any of that place shou'd em∣brace Quakerism; at first if they were Males their Ear was to be cut off, and then the other if they promis'd not to renounce it; both times they were closely to be shut up in Goal, till they went into Banishment at their own proper Charg∣es: If Females they were twice severely to be whipt, and then to undergo the same sentence with the Men: If either Male or Female offend∣ed the third time, their Tongue was bored with a Red hot Iron, and they shut up in Goal in like manner as before. This Law being made Richard Donden from Old England had the ill fortune to come here Ignorantly; who, since he knew not the Law, was only punish'd by Whipping and Banishment, having a threatning annex'd that if e're he return'd, the loss of his Ears shou'd com∣pleat his suffering. But the women Sara Gibbens, and Dorohty Wangie, were treated with greater Cruelty and Rigour, who, for three days after Imprisonment were deny'd all Victuals, and in this famishing and fainting Condition, were whipt and beaten with a mercyless fury, and after their

stripes kept other three days starv'd as before without any food. Dorothy Gardenet when lash'd inhumanely, kneeling, begg'd of God to forgive her Tormenters; It wou'd be long to mention many, and impossible to repeat all examples of this kind. I shall therefore name only one or two, passing by others, to pursue my intended brevity. There came to Salem, and from thence to Newbury, William Brand, and William Leader, who being desir'd by the people there, to enter into Conference with their Parish Minister, having got liberty from him that commanded the place, who also promis'd to Patronize and protect 'em, being led by their own Inclination and the peoples desire, readily listen'd to the proffer'd proposal: But when they departed the cunning Comman∣der, a Man equally Malicious and Treacherous, thinking, his simplicity and integrity sufficiently justify'd since they were not troubl'd all the time of the Conference, and that he now kept his pro∣mise, and answer'd their Expectation sent to seize, bind, and carry them to Boston. Being cast into Goal after two days fasting their naked backs were expos'd to the lash, loading 'em with threats, they thrust 'em into Bridewell, giving charge to the Keeper to task 'em severely: Which when they declin'd, as impos'd undeservedly, the No∣minal Master, but real Servant of his lust and wickedness, knowing these labours to be most commonly his own proper profit and advantage, to make a penny by their toil and slavery, exact∣ed from 'em violently what he charg'd 'em to perform: These poor Men had not yet tasted any thing. Brand exceeded the other not only in years, but also in patience, courage, and constan∣cy: Him the Villain, pretending the publick, tho only executing his private Gall and envy, drag∣ging along, shekel'd his neck and heels together, and left him in this misery lock'd in Chains 16 hours without any sense of Compassion or Hu∣manity.

Then unlocking the Chains he bids him fall to his work if he did not design to despair of his back. He reply'd he wou'd not, nor cou'd tho he were willing. The Butcherly fellow seeing him unmov'd by either hopes or fear of punish∣ment, with a Sea-Rope or Cord twisted of hemp did lash the Man with such rage and violence, that the Rope it self was broken into pieces; but seeing the first did not prevail, seeking another to accomplish his end, with renewed force he gave him almost an hundred lashes, insomuch that his whole body was as it were swell'd into one lump, and the greatest part of his flesh as it had been baked in an Oven, by reason of an universal tu∣mour and blackness. When the fourth day was now come, he had not yet tasted any bodily nour∣ishment. Afterward this brutish and hard heart∣ed Man shut Brand (thus miserably torn with the lashes) up in a strait and Solitary place, without bed, straw, or any thing to lye on, to refresh his torn and half lifeless body; which things, when they came to the Ears of the people, that are prone to Compassion, and as ready to mischief, yea, sometimes use to demand, that these whom they hold guilty, may be presently punish'd, at other times perhaps they relent, and are grieved if they think the punishment to severely inflicted, began now to rage, rise up and run in Crowds, that the Magistrates to prevent their sedition, first sent a Surgeon to give him what help he cou'd and on his report that it was mortal and incurable, (tho afterward the Man recover'd of his wounds) order'd it to be signify'd, by affixing bills through the City, that they disapprov'd of such cruel usage, and wou'd therefore consider of what the Keeper had done. But a certain one of the Town Ministers, a Man of Knowledge, Authority and Reputation, whom I shall not now Name, re∣strain'd the people with words to this purpose: That Brand had endeavour'd so to smite the Laws of the Gospel, that they might retain the marks

of the blows, that it was therefore just that his Limbs shou'd smart under the same punishment; if he that punish'd him were tax'd with a Crime, that he wou'd Transfer the guilt of it on himself. Therefore an Act for the future was establish'd, that if any Quaker refus'd to perform his task, the Goal Keeper might not beat him above twice a week, the first time giving ten stripes, the next fifteen, and so increasing five every diet. The next year Cristop. Holder, and John Copelan above mention'd, and John Rousie, whose father was (I think) deputy-Governour of Barmuda's, having been here before, and driven into Exile, returned once more, they to Dedham and he to Boston. These three in the latter Autumn not openly and in presence of the people, had their right Ear cut off by the publick Hangman, but only before the Judge that order'd it. The mild Men, by the loss of their ears being rather further soften'd than im∣bitter'd, contain'd themselves with so much pati∣ence, that they only broke out in words to this purpose. We beg from our heart that God may forgive 'em, who have unwarily or imprudently caus'd this to be done; but whoe're has maliti∣ously contributed thereto, let our blood rest upon their heads: And let them find in that day, when they must give an account of all they have done, that it lies heavily on their head like the weight of a Mill-stone. After these Men as well as others had been thus inhumanely dismembred and de∣form'd, they were also detain'd and continu'd in Custody for refusing that slavery they were in∣joyn'd to perform, and remaining unwilling to undergo that punishment, which was only proper for Thiefes and Malefactors; one trouble so arose upon another, that they were forc'd to bear re∣peated sufferings, and stripes. There was a cer∣tain Man whose Name I know not, (silence or ob∣livion has buried it in darkness, or at least it seems hinder'd it to be disclos'd) who for being a Qua∣ker was branded in the hand with the Letter H.

to design him an Heretie. There are very many instances of Bitterness and Cruelty, that were Barbarously inflicted and patiently endur'd, might be easily added were it fruitful to Name 'em. The Quakers complain'd of their Enemies fury for raging against 'em for no other cause, but coming there without the Magistrates Command, and giv∣ing their books to those that wou'd read 'em, or talking with others concerning their Religion, instructing their own Congregations and Flocks, and sometimes for going to the Church it self, and there speaking, when service was ended, or for any thing else of the like nature: Since they had never rais'd a mutiny, nor practis'd any vio∣lence or force, but were always simple and quiet Men, more ready to suffer whate're was inflicted, than to Act any thing turbulently or seditiously. That yet Men of all Orders and Degrees, Politick, Ecclesiastick, City, and Crowd, shou'd concur and assemble with an Unanimous consent, to de∣stroy and drive out so innocent a crew, as the Plague and Contagion of all the Countrey, cou'd not but seem strange to all unprejudiced.

'Twas then said of them, as it's now of the Brow••ists, that they conspir'd all with one mouth and mind, by a mutual Consent, Counsel, Aid, and Endeavour, to ingross their Region and Religion to themselves. The Magistrates often advis'd with the Ministers, and the Ministers in their Meetings consulted with the Magistrates, so that for the most part there was but one assembly of 'em both. Hence, what pleas'd the Magistrates the Clergy approv'd of, and what the Ministers took upon 'em to determine, the Magistrates by their Authority did confirm: And what proceed∣ed from both the two never miss'd of a grateful wellcome from the people. But yet all the Ma∣gistrates and Rulers in chief of the Cities, and Preachers of the word, did not so willingly and equally consent to infest, afflict and persecute the Quakers▪ Nay, some of 'em were not only against

it in their Judgment, but oppos'd it by their words as far as they cou'd. Among the Rulers against persecuting the Quakers, they place and praise John Winthoepius a very great and excellent Man, and also those Men whose names are subjoyn'd; among the better sort of Citizens was William Cod∣dington, at that time a Merchant in Boston very considerable for his wealth and prudence; who, the Quakers testify, did so behave themselves, both at home and wherever they went, as those that must shortly give an account of all their Actions done in the Body: Among the Preachers John Cotton Minister at Boston famous for know∣ledge, Administring his Office, and Piety in be∣having himself towards God and Men: They own he was always uncorrupted and untainted, and a∣verse to this sort of Rigour and Cruelty. The people of New England as yet wanted one piece of severity to suppress the Quakers, viz. To take 'em out of the way by Death, whom they thought they cou'd not otherwise restrain. This Law obtain'd in New as well as Old England, that no Criminal shou'd be sentenc'd to Death, till the matter be duely known and consider'd by twelve extraordinary Inquirers whom they call Jury Men, because they are sworn to determine nothing till they've diligently search'd, and narrowly weigh'd the affair, as has been elsewhere shewn on ano∣ther occasion. Since this Law withstood and ob∣structed the inflicting the punishment of Death upon Quakers, they began to consult and greedi∣ly endeavour to Abrogate this Law by an Act of the Senate. Whereupon 12 voted that it shou'd be retain'd, and 13 that it shou'd be rescinded; and thus the odd vote carry'd it. The matter being known, one of the Senators, Wozely, esteem'd a quiet, just and equitable Man, was then unhap∣pily forc'd to be absent, being hinder'd and de∣tain'd by a bodily indisposition, taking it ill that such an Act had pass'd so, knowing that if he had been there the design had been frustrated, he was re∣ported

to have said, that had he but known that they were consulting and deliberating of that, notwithstanding the bodily sickness he labour'd under, he wou'd have crept there on his hands and his feet, to oppose the Injustice of so unrea∣sonable an Act.

By this Council, the matter is brought into the sole power and hand of the ordinary Judges, or the supream Court of the province. There was now therefore so much Zeal and Eagerness, in most of the Rulers of Cities and Provinces, in af∣flicting and puisuing the Quakers to the utmost, that if any did not revile and reproach 'em, or stopt and retarded the violence of others against 'em, especially if any defended and excus'd 'em, he was esteem'd a Quaker himself, and at least de∣priv'd of his place and office, if he had not great interest at hand. There's a Letter of one of 'em (James Cudworth) yet extant, who was then one of the Magistrates of Boston, but for this cause di∣vested of that honour, written at that time and sent from Boston to a certain friend of his in Old England, which Letter since written in English, I shall not here trouble the Reader with, but con∣tent my self to resume some words of it, which were express'd to this effect. The State of Affairs are here sad. The Antichristian Spi∣Spirit is wedded to persecution. Who declines to persecute and afflict these Men that differ from us in matter of Religion, is withdrawn from his place, and not permitted to execute any Office in the Go∣vernment. Thus Hatherly and I have been treated. Thus they us'd me for no other reason, than taking in certain Quakers to my house, which I did, that I might inquire of 'em more narrowly concerning the foundations of their perswasion; this I took always to be more reasonable, than to condemn those with the blind World, whose Doctrine and Principles we're utter∣ly ignorant of, And tho I declar'd before that I herded not with Quakers, and that I was as far from agreeing with 'em in many things, as I was from persecuting 'em, yet these two years they've

so estrang'd themselves from me, that at length they've unchair'd me from my office in the Magi∣stracy; what future event the Teeming womb of such furious Actions will produce, time will de∣clare when the birth is disclos'd, farewell. This kind of Judging being push'd out of Doors, a Law was made that if any Quakers, did irre∣claimably and obstinately persist, and cou'd not be otherwise repress'd or restrain'd, they shou'd suffer the desert of their Contumacy, and end their obstinate life with a halter. Soon after Samuel Gorton was try'd for his life, but in Judgment 'twas carry'd, he shou'd be clear'd, and that only by one Vote: Which decision one of the Ministers (whose name I again designed∣ly conceal) a Man of a Copious torrent of Know∣ledge, Subtilty, and Eloquence, digested so hein∣ously, that publickly in the Pulpit he broke out in those words; by whom, to whom, and on what occasion they were utter'd, is I suppose not unknown to the Learn'd: Because thou has let go the accursed Man, thy life shall there∣fore answer for his. After this, two Quakers were Arraign'd before the same Judges, William Robbinson a Merchant in London, and Marmadue Stevenson a Countreyman of Yorkshire in Old England: Of their Imprisonment, Trial, and Punishment, the Quakers give a large and true account, as matters so clear and known in that Countrey, that the noise of their fame is not yet quite extinguish'd. They came both here know∣ingly and designedly, for no other end than to preach the Gospel, to which they had apply'd themselves in their own Countrey before. After Robbinson for some time had continu'd at Rhodes, and Stevenson at Barmuda's, in the year fifty nine they came to Boston in New England. Here they were no sooner arriv'd, than, without either In∣former or Witness, upon their own betraying of themselves, they're thrown into the Solitary Dark∣ness of a Prison; there they find Mary Dyer

who was Banish'd from Boston, as has already been said, and yet return'd thither again, as is sometimes their way, and Nicholas David. These all being brought before the Judges, and accord∣ingly charg'd with Sedition and Rebellion, Rob∣binson purges himself and his Companions in Misery from the least shaddow of that suspici∣on. But they presently disregarding such de∣fence stopt his mouth by thrusting an Handker∣chief in his throat, and seeing he yet endea∣vour'd to speak, they that were present raging with fury, and the officer likewise more hasty than prudent, made ready his lash, knowing well how to use it, and chastis'd his back for his Tongues excuse and defence. The cause being consider'd, they were all order'd to depart thence to a pre∣sent exile. By a customary patience, and suffer∣ing of evils, they were now so inur'd and har∣den'd to troubles, that they resolv'd rather than forsake their faith to make a Noble retreat into their Grave. Mary Dyer and Nicho. David, thought it then their duty to leave that Coun∣trey, but in a very short Interval of time, Mary being recall'd by a new impulse, had the Courage yet to return unto Boston, and came to Prison to talk with her Brethren and Sisters, and at the same time was seiz'd and shut up, so that now she had power and liberty enough to surfeit her∣self with their Company and Conference, for in all things, constant and daily plenty nauseats the fancy and cloys the Appetite. On the other hand Robbinson and Stevenson thought it necessary to forsake Boston, but not the whole Countrey, and therefore within a very few days they go to some places about Salem, and there takes occasion to declare their Doctrine. But they were no better dealt with than others. When they, for some time, had been thus inclos'd within the verge of those little Walls, the Judges began to consult among themselves what they must needs do with 'em at length. And seeing 'em so obdur'd in

their obstinacy, that they despair'd of reducing 'em to dread of fear, and that they did not re∣gard what way they took, if they cou'd but render themselves Masters of their desires, they resolv'd to put an end to their life and proceed∣ings. Yet this was not so obscurely contriv'd, but Robbinson and Stevenson easily forseeing what the Judges had designed to do, the day before they had fix'd this purpose, each of 'em wrote a Let∣ter to the Senate of Boston, whose Theme and Scope was almost the same, containing the mo∣tives that induc'd 'em both, to come and visit these Corners of the Earth; Robbinson wrote that he did not come there to gratify at all his own Curiosity, but only by the Judgment and Plea∣sure of God, while he abode at Rhodes, and about noon tide, when he was resolving to go elsewhere, an heavenly Command revers'd his Resolution, injoyning him to take Journey for Boston, and there to finish his Course and lay down his life, and have no worse reward for his service, than what God had there appointed for him: That his Soul at last, after many wandrings through the vain Theatre of this wearisom world, might be receiv'd to a fix'd possession, and there rest in an Eternal Mansion. Stevenson also wrote, that while he was in his Countrey in England, in his own Farm Plowing a field, upon a certain day he felt his Breast kindled with the flame of Divine Love, and the word of the Lord came unto him thus; I've appointed thee tho thou be a Plowman to be∣come a Preacher and Teacher of Nations: At the same moment being mov'd Extraordinarily, that tho he was married, and Father of some Chil∣dren, to leave his dear wife, his Mate and Com∣panion of Life and Affairs, and as it were his other self, and this sweet and tender off-spring, these intire Bonds of Love, and Ties of Friend∣ship, being untouch'd with the sense of so many Domestick concerns, to take Journey presently for the Island of Barmuda's not doubting to

leave all to the Providential care and Disposal of God: And that accordingly he went to that Island and from thence to Rhodes, and at length came to Boston; and that now for his Religion, and Testimony for God, he was ready to take farewell of this troublesom Life. The day of Arraignment was the 20th of October. Being all three brought into Prison, attainted and convict∣ed of a Capital crime, without any previous Tri∣al or defence, they were found guilty of Death, and Sentenc'd to be hang'd. Robbinson mov'd the Judge of the Court that, that Letter might be read I spoke of before, asserting it to all be mat∣ter of Fact, without inquiring into the occasion thereof; this he desir'd e're sentence shou'd pass, but the Judge thought the letter unworthy to be per∣us'd. Whereupon Stevenson, putting up his Epi∣stle, after the sentence was actually pronounc'd, answer'd with the same courage of mind and ex∣pression. In the day when you that wou'd be reckon'd Judges, shall kill the true Servants of God, know ye, you shall answer to him who is the only true Judge, and the day of your visita∣tion shall come upon you, and Eternal destuction shall fall on your heads. Upon the 27th in the Afternoon, the day appointed for their Executi∣on, two Companies of Souldiers were order'd to be there. The condemn'd persons were plac'd in the front, and all the Drummers were set round about 'em, who beat incessantly to drown the sound of their words, that what they said might not be heard by the people. The fellow suffer∣ers march'd all in a rank, Mary in the middle having each other by the hand, all of a cheer∣ful Countenance and ready Tongue, tho the beat∣ing of the Drums rendred their discourse useless to others. Their friends follow'd with a sad si∣lence. When they came to the Gibbet, having so long kiss'd and embrac'd each other, with such affection that they cou'd scarce be pull'd asunder, they wish'd all happiness to one another; at last,

when the unavoidable necessity of departure o∣blig'd 'em to put an end to their caresses, letting one another unwillingly go, they took all their Eternal and Mutual farewell, Robbinson first got up, beginning and ending with words to this pur∣pose.

We are not here, Citizens, to suffer as wicked or evil doers, whose Consciences before did vex and tor∣ment 'em, but as those, who, being stirr'd up by God, ••ear witness to the truth. But perhaps this may seem little at present, as what concerns you not much to hear. That we may not therefore contend what we have acted, to have been Lawful, our duty, and necessary to be done; we wou'd have you to know that this is your day, wherein God has visited you, leaving you yet occasion and opportunity to shun and escape the destruction of your Souls; but if you go on to hedge up and obstruct that way to turn Gods wrath, and procure your own salvation, if your Re∣bellion and Arrogance be increas'd and harden'd, this is the day, wherein God is arisen to take venge∣ance of all his Enemies with an Omnipotent Arm, and you shall groan with one voice under the weight of his wrath. You've at this time made it very ap∣parent and manifest what you are, by your hatred against us; wherefore while the light of Christ doth shine, we as yet continue to admonish and warn you, to take heed to that light while you may. For my part I have liv'd unto Christ, and do die for Christ, taking him now for my Life and My all.

Then Stevenson follow'd speaking such like words; Be it known unto you, we suffer not now for any Evil by us Committed, but only for doing of these good de••ds which our Conscience always taught us to be our Duty: And as your Consciences in the day that's to came, shall toss and terrify you with perpetual Anguish, so we being this day releas'd from all care, shall rest free from Anxiety and trouble, and instead of that frail and fading Life, shall have unceasing and perfect happiness with God. With these words he ended. These two Men being dead, their naked

bodies were thrown into a Ditch, and cover'd up by the way side, where they ended their Life.

And now Mary goes up the Ladder with her hands bound, her Coats ty'd down, and face co∣ver'd, in present readiness, to wellcome her end, being already forestall'd with apprehensions of Death. But the Judges, among themselves, had granted Mary a pardon, being humbly petition'd by a Son of hers. This was only design'd to terrify and affright her, but being taken down, and greatly in suspense, looking up to understand what the matter did mean, at last, before she went down from the Ladder, with a deep sigh she broke out in these words, that there was no delay in her to go with her Brethren, and re∣ceive that certain fruit of her Labours, and re∣ward of all her Dangers and Evils, as the glori∣ous Trophies of her Courage and Constancy, that she might also imbalm her Religion with her blood, if the Rulers wou'd not annull that wicked Law. When taken away from the Lad∣der, she was first shut up in the place whence she came, and two days after carry'd out of the Town. When this was done it can't easily be told, how the Quakers minds, and mouths were Irritated, both here and in other places: So that every where their doleful Mournings and Ex∣clamations were heard; that now these Mens thoughts and Designs did shew themselves, leav∣ing no further room for doubt, who were these pure and upright in Life, who at all times did so cry out, that there was no living without Re∣ligion, and no Religion without Godliness, and neither cou'd be without Liberty of Conscience; who therefore in their own Countrey, in England, did so decry that violent Tyranny, and because of the injury done to them there, fled from it as a thing not sufferable, and leaving their own native Soul, came into this utmost Region of the Earth, surrounded on all hands with Bar∣barous Nations. That this was so plain, that

they must be inconsiderate who doubt of it, since they behav'd themselves so to their own Countreymen, and those who, when under af∣fliction and trouble, had fled unto them for re∣fuge and comfort, but met with nothing among them but the utmost cruelty: That it further appear'd, from the Savage fierceness they us'd towards Men, that were altogether innocent, be∣reaving 'em not only of their Goods and Estates, but even of their Reputation, Blood, Bones, and Life it self. There were not a few Complaints of others also, who were not at all of the family of the Quakers, who spoke their Abhorrence a∣gainst that new sort of Judgment, that was hi∣therto among Protestants unheard of, thinking it unreasonable thus to rage 'gainst those whom they reckon'd just, honest and blameless, or at least to be guilty of inconsiderable faults, or had they deserv'd some notable punishment, yet they thought it Disgraceful for themselves to be the Authors of inflicting it. These and the like were some matter of trouble to the Magistracy of Bo∣ston, who cou'd as little deny the cause as what they had acted; that they might, against all Complaints and Calumnies, shield the fame of their Name and Religion, and if any thing of the like nature shou'd happen for the future, more excusably repeat what they had already done, and seize them that said any thing to the contrary, they caus'd this Apologetical Pamphlet to be emitted in English, by their own Clerk Ed∣ward Rawson.

Tho the equity of our proceed∣ings with William Robbinson, Marmaduc Steven∣son, and Mary Dyer, being fortify'd by the Au∣thority of our Court, and according to the Laws both of Cod and our Countrey, do's in∣duce us rather reasonably to expect Commen∣dation and Praise from all good and wise Men, than dispose us to think it at all necessary, to make any Defence and Apology for our selves; Notwithstanding, because some of a shallow

Capacity, from perhaps a Principle of Pity and Compassion (which as it is indeed a Christian vertue, so it's justly intitl'd to deserved praise, except where it too easily turns it self, putting on false and pernicious dresses, for want of a Judgment better inform'd) are desirous of some satisfaction in the matter, and because those Men that are of ill principles and practices may unjustly accuse us, and take us for Men of very Bloody and cruel Inclinations; we therefore thought fit, to satisfy the one, and stop the Mouths and Clamours of the others, to order the publishing of this Declaration. 'Tis almost three years since some Men, who profess'd them∣selves openly Quakers after we understood, be∣ing inform'd by Letters, sent us from the Eng∣lish by the way of Berbado's, how pernicious their opinions and endeavours had been, took the boldness also to come unto Boston. We only then committed them to Prison, till we cou'd find occasion to send 'em from among us, without using any further severity against 'em.

And tho their discipline and turbulent beha∣viour, troublesome to the people and reproach∣ful to the Magistrate, call'd loudly for a great∣er punishment, without the least shadow of In∣justice, yet the Court was rather willing to shew their prudence, in preserving and defend-ing our own peace, and the Go∣vernment that was establish'd among us, a∣gainst the Quakers utmost efforts, who aim'd at the subversion of our Laws and Statutes, and final overthrow of our Religion also: This we're too well acquainted with to be ignorant of, both by what our experience taught us of them, and what Specimens their Ancestors the Papists have left us. We therefore made and promulg'd a Law, that no Master of a Ship whatsoever shou'd bring a Quaker into our Pre∣cincts and Territories, if they did otherwise, they were to be Imprisoned untill they cou'd be banish'd and remov'd from among us. But

since yet, these Men did constantly return through many secret ways and wandrings, neither cou'd any punishment or threatning be invented to stop their impudent and rash coming back, tho we endeavour'd to prevent it by increasing the punishment to the cutting off the returner's ear•••• yet that it self did not avail to withstand their mad and unweary'd fury; we were therefore forc'd to take another course to maintain the publick Peace and Tranquillity. Upon this all things being duly consider'd, finding their obsti∣cy cou'd not otherwise be restrain'd, we made a Law according to the Model of that which was settled in England against the Jesuits, that such sort of Men shou'd be put to Death.

The making this Law did not hinder their return and disdainful continuance within our Territories, even after the time for their depar∣ture was expir'd; They were therefore justly thrown into Goal, and confessing themselves to be those we had driven from among us before by the Court's order, according to the sentence of that Law, they forfeited their Life: except Mary Dyer, to whom, at her Sons humble intercession, We, with an equality of Mercy and Clemency, granted the Liberty to be gone from among us within two days, which she promis'd to observe. The Contemplation of that gradual progress we made, in the whole series of that affair, will confute all Clamours and Accusations of our cru∣elty; since our own just and necessary defence did not only invite but also injoyn us, to show the edge of so sharp a Law to Men of such stiff∣ness and obstinacy, which as these Men opposed with Contumacious violence, they freely and willingly murder'd themselves. It was always our wish that they had not done it, and that the supream Law, the peoples safety, might be kept intire from all danger and detriment. Our Antodating their danger that was to ensue, and granting of pardon to Mary Dyer are evident

Demonstrations, that we were more desirous to preserve their lives than take 'em away.

Moreover tho so great punishment was provided against Quakers by Law, especially those, who, being eject∣ed, did return, yet there were not a few so rash as to come, not only those who had not been here before, but also who had been expell'd and ban∣••sh'd, ready to suffer any torment that cou'd hap∣pen, yea, to welcome death it self tho never so cruel. A chief instance of boldness and obstina∣cy, was very Conspicuous in the same Mary Dy∣er, who, as it was known, tho she was on the Ladder, and her neck in the Rope, upon the ve∣ry Borders of her last breath: Yet, after she had been once expell'd she return'd, and yet was dis∣miss'd on this Condition, that she wou'd no more repeat the same crime; Notwithstanding all this she return'd once more, persisting in the same purpose and mind, that she must either have li∣berty for her self and Companions (that Law of ejecting and murdering Quakers being Abrogated) to rest in ease safely and quietly, or if she cou'd not obtain it, she wou'd seal with her Death her con∣stant confidence in her Religion, and thereby ac∣cuse the wickedness and insatiable cruelty of these Judges, and convince them, in the presence of all Men, to be guilty of doing the highest of Injuries. She came therefore undaunted from Rhodes to Boston, in the year following which was the 60th the 31 day of the month of May. She was seiz'd, and immediately the next day brought before the Judge, the Court being throng; who, having told what charge had been formerly given her, as the same time gave sentence of Death, that to morrow she shou'd be hang'd by the neck till she dy'd, that they might make sure to pre∣vent her return for the future, and give her no more occasion to be guilty of the like. The next day, accordingly she's taken out of the Town, guarded with Souldiers before and behind, with their Drums beating round about her; she came

to the Gibbet with Courage in her Breast, and very great Chearfulness in her face, from whence she knew she shou'd not return any more; hav∣ing there spoken a great many words, that show'd both the greatness of her mind and certain hope she had placed in Heaven, she gave up her Spirit and so fell asleep. The Quakers, that either knew this Woman, or had it from others Testi∣mony of her, say in her praise, that she was a per∣son of no mean Extract and Parentage, of an Estate pretty plentiful, of a comely Stature and Countenance, of a piercing knowledge in many things, of a wonderful sweet and pleasant Dis∣course, so sit for great affairs that she wanted no∣thing that was Manly, except only the Name and the Sex. William Leadre was another instance of such constancy. He being also upon pain of Death ejected, and forbidden to see Boston again, as I show'd before, notwithstanding, the year fol∣lowing, viz. sixty two, return'd thither prepar'd to expect and endure the same that these who had gone before had already suffer'd, to offer his Blood for his Religion to those, who, he knew, were thirsty enough to drink it. When the re∣port of his arrival was spread abroad, and had also reach'd the Ears of the Judges, they order'd the Man, that thus contemn'd all threats of judi∣cial punishment, to be seiz'd and hurried head∣long to Goal, and all the cold season of the Win∣ter to be kept, in great hunger and want, fasten'd to a thick and heavy log, so that he scarce cou'd move himself out of his place, being only as a dead trunk of a Man. Having at length consi∣der'd what to do with him, they accus'd him heinously for daring to return; he answer'd as the cause of expelling him was injust, he thought he had just occasion to return: They set the dan∣ger of his life before him, because neither threat∣nings nor fear cou'd restrain him. He answer'd, that were he so easily to be frighted, he would never have had the boldness again to return. Being

ask'd at another time if he would go into Eng∣land, he answer'd he had no business there, after∣ward, they endeavour'd earnestly to perswade him to renounce his Errors and Conform to the Church of England; He reply'd then with greater vehe∣mency, that if he own'd his own confession to be false he must deny and reject God himself, If he should herd with those of the Church of Eng∣lands Communion, he must joyn with Notorious Murderers and Cut-Throats. They again threat∣ned him with an Infamous. Death; to which he answer'd, he would Everlastingly rejoyce to suffer any thing for his Faith and Religion, and that he was not at all afraid of Death, so much as of the just Judgment of God, yea, that he would not decline any sort of Death, since the just cause why he suffer'd it was absent; and that that pun∣ishment they blazon'd with the threatning Co∣lours of Death, seem'd to him the way of Life and Eternal felicity, so this discourse was not long continued: But while they th••s lingred, doubting what to do, and could not come to a certain Conclusion, other Quakers, to the Number of five, who had all been banish'd, and prohibit∣ed to return, upon the same penalty of losing their Life, did yet without prudence or fear re∣turn. Whereof one Wenlock Christyson, under∣standing what they design'd to determine of Lea∣der went straight way to the Court, and told 'em that it was his sole errand to come to warn 'em, to shed no more Innocent blood: But his admo∣nition was no worse rewarded than with a Goal. Most of 'em at this time was so forcibly incens'd, that they could be broken by no Violence or Re∣proaches, thinking then themselves to be truly happy, when they were counted worthy to suffer Affliction for their Religion, yea, Death tho ne∣ver so Ignominious and Cruel, hence it comes that each Sect has its Martyrs. This they also ambition'd as a holy sight, running to embrace Death as the Crown of their Religion, sign of

faith, Mark of Society, witness of Communion, Monument of their Name, matter of perpetual fame, and not only end of this Temporary life, but also beginning of that which is Eternal. Thus the Senate of Boston, after many debates, being unwilling to conclude of Leaders affair, regarding the Actions, not the words, of the Cri∣minal, at length order'd him to be Indicted of Treason, and pronounc'd him a Man whom they Judg'd and Declar'd to deserve to be sever'd, from among the Number of the Living, which sentence was accordingly executed upon the 14th day of March, Then his head was lifted up on high on an unhappy Gibbet, and he ended his life without any fear, having spoken these words before some friends, my God to thee I commend my just Soul. After him the Court's first enquiry was on Wenlock, who seem'd to them to have drawn all severity on himself. When no body doubted but Wenlock wou'd fall a victim to appease the Judg∣es fury, when he came to be tryed he disputed long, and the Judges differ'd in their Thoughts and Intentions, whereupon Wenlock did so much urge the Equity and Justice of discussing the af∣fair, according to the Rules of the English Laws, arguing that those Laws were only made against Jesuits and not Quakers, who might very justly expect Impunity altho they err'd in the sight of Men: The Judges were at length so Inveigl'd and Entangled, that they return'd to the old form of proceeding, and committed the whole weight of the cause to the Judgment of twelve Sworn Jury-Men: But they also, having long delay'd Wenlock, at length brought him in guilty of Death: This was done on the 13th day of the 1st month of the Summer Season; but the Execution of the sentence was some days delay'd. John Currier an inhabitant of Boston, having been whipt through three Towns before, return'd by the same places, to Boston, to his Wife and Children, whom he had left there; being again whipt about the same

round, he was detain'd in Prison at Boston, where he had resid'd; In the opinion of himself and o∣ther Men, he was to be branded with a burning Iron in the shoulder, and there mark'd with the Letter R. to design him, according to the English and Roman Laws, that which we call a Rogue.

There were 28 more Prisoners there, One of 'em condemn'd for all his life to remain in the Prison where he then was; the rest were uncer∣tain what shou'd become of 'em, seeing them∣selves daily detain'd and delay'd. As many things unexpected and unlook'd for, in the life of Man falls oftner out than when we have hopes and expectations of the matter, so while the Judges were so often remiss, and the Quakers punish∣ment so frequently delay'd, and yet nothing was seen, to retard it, suddenly and beyond all Expect∣ation, it was appointed by the Magistrates Com∣mand, that a new Law shou'd immediately take place, to release Wenlock and the rest of the Pri∣soners from any punishment they were liable to, by the old; so that they might when they pleas'd be free'd from the Prison, and for that purpose the doors were set open. The signal being given, they went out without Loitering. Only Peter Pearson and Judith Brown, were contrary to their hopes detain'd and whipt at a Cart. The cause of so unexpected a change was suppos'd to be the fear of the Magistrates, foreseeing that the King and Nobles in Old England, wou'd not well resent such Rigour and Cruelty, and wou'd therefore take care to prevent it for the future. Not long after King Charles being inform'd, how the Quakers were treated in New-England, by Rumors, Messengers, and their own complaints given in by Petition to the King and Parli∣ament, and that not only once but often, sent immediately to the Governour of Boston, and the rest of the fellow rulers of these Countreys and Colonies, a Letter concerning the Imprison'd Quakers, giving it to be carried by Sam. Sattoc, a Quaker who had been an Inhabitant there, but

was thence banish'd as I mention'd already, and now return'd there in a Ship commanded by one of his own perswasion. The Letter was as fol∣lows. C. R. to his dear and faithful Subjects, since we've Learn'd that many of our Subjects, among you call'd Quakers to have been some Imprison'd, others kill'd, the rest, as we're told remaining fall in danger; we thought good to signify our will and pleasure to you concerning that affair for the future. Our will is therefore, that if there be any Quakers among you, whose Death Corporal punishment, or Imprisonment, you have order'd, or may for the future have occasion to determine, that you proceed no further in that affair, but forthwith send 'em whether they be Condemn'd, or bound, into our Kingdom of England, with an account of their particular Tryals and Faults, that they may here be dealt withal according to our Laws and their Merits. Herein this letter shall be your warrant. Given from our Court at VVhitehall, the 10th of Sept. 1661, the 13th year of our Reign. By the Kings command, William Morris. This Epistle of the King so stay'd their Persecution, that it was no Crime to be reckon'd a Quaker. The Magistracy of Boston fearing the Kings displeasure for what they had done, sent three into Old England, Temple an Officer, a Ma∣gistrate, and Norton a Minister, to acquaint the King with what they had done. But Jurisdicti∣on, and Judgment was not therefore wholly stopt or taken away. But being forbidden to inflict a final severity and punishment, they compens'd it by the heavier Temporary torment, making some, by their Chastisement, rather wish to die than endure so great and many Evils so often. Tho I cou'd instance many examples of this, I'll only relate one or two, partly to avoid Prolixity, and partly because by one we may guess of the rest. That year Ann Cotton, a woman of sixty, came with a design to live at Boston; but was so far from being admitted that she was thrown into

Goal: Being at length wearied of her, they took her to a Wood, and after many wandrings she found occasion to go for England. There she ob∣tain'd a pattent from the K. allowing her to re∣side at Boston. She renew'd her Journey, and came boldly back to Boston. But neither was she then admitted: She went therefore to Cambridge, where she was thrown into a dark Deu, thrice lash'd, then carry'd to a Remote and Desolate place, where, from wild Beasts, she might be in daily danger of her life. But returning by the same ways she went out she was also whipt, as she had been before. The following year being scarce expir'd, Ann Coleman, Mary Tomkins, and Alide Ambrose, women of greater Age than Ex∣tract, came into D••ver: These were dragg'd hence through Eleven other places, in the middle of a Cold and Snowy Winter, receiving at each of 'em ten lashes on their naked body, and were so cut with the stripes that scarce a Breast was left 'em. Yet they remain'd so constant and resolute, that they went back to the same Town to a Meeting with their friends. Upon this 2 Brethren call'd Ruperts, Sons of a Quaker dragg'd the women out of the Meeting through the Snow and Clay, turning their very faces to the Earth, and the day following brought 'em thus daub'd along to the shore, remaining unmov'd at all their in∣treaties, drew them headlong through the wa∣ters into a little Cannoe, committing them and it to the Sea. But a vehement storm suddenly rising the poor women were taken out of the Boat, by some that had more tenderness than they that put them in. Tho they now were stiff, their Cloaths being frozen and almost dead with intolerable cold, they bring 'em far from the Sea to the house whence they came, and af∣ter a little refreshment drive them away from thence. Yet the women were so hardy and in∣ur'd to Afflictions, that they often return'd even where they suffer'd such things. The Quakers

complain that many of 'em were branded, as if they had been the Dreggs, and Off-scour∣ings of Men, whom all good Men must needs be Enemies to, and on that score were rob'd of all Liberty and Privilege, as Ignominious persons who're allow'd no Action or Complaint: Yet, they say, there were some for many years, who had their habitation and residence there. In process of time the Kings Authority, who knew not their trouble, more and more prevail'd, and their Number, Resolution, and Constancy, in overcoming by suffering, all punishments the Law cou'd inflict; the Judgments against 'em began to cease, and their Impunity and Liber∣ty to increase. In the mean time the Quakers, that cou'd not stay here, withdrew themselves to the Island of Rhodes, which is so opposite to, and separated from the Continent that it became a refuge and sanctuary for them. And the more suited to this purpose because the Go∣vernour thereof was a Quaker, William Codding∣ton, whom I mention'd before: He was one of the chief Planters, that came hither to traffick. He had a house so large and fine at Boston, before it had receiv'd that Name, that afterward it prov'd an Ornament to the City. He also shar'd in the Magistracy some time. But when the persecution of Quakers arose, he disapprov'd of the Magistrates proceedings so much, that he exhorted 'em all to refrain from their Cruelty against the Quakers; they therefore treated him as they wou'd have done them: He departed thence into this Island, where he▪ had not only liberty to act and say what he pleas'd, but was also made Governour of the whole Island. But before I altogether leave New England, I must touch at New-Holland bordering upon it, lest a longer narrative prove troublesome to the Reader. Dutchman for the most part were Inhabitants there. In trafficking, the Dutch hav∣ing commerce with the English, they came and stay'd mutually with each other, thus some of

the Quakers found the way also hither▪ more with a design to Propagate their Religion, than a desire either of buying or selling. 'Tis a cu∣stom among the States, not to be Solicitous of these whom they give command of other places to, concerning Mens following believing, or asserting in their Religion whatever their Conscience prompts 'em unto, providing they don't oppose the supream Authority, or act contrary to the publick Tranquillity. At this rate the Rulers of that Countrey behav'd themselves, maintaining their Dignity 'mongst Quakers and others, and preserving the publick peace committed to their Charge. Of this moderation these are 2 instan∣ces. The chief City in New-Holland is call'd New-Amsterdam, from the Metropolis of Holland of the same Name: Two Mile from hence is a Village call'd Hemsteed. This Village was a ter∣ritory of our Colony, but for the most part peo∣pl'd with English Inhabitants; of those a few, that formerly were Brownists (or puritans) fell off from their own party to the Quakers, having their Meetings and Religious exercises together. And these things so long as Cantiously and Pri∣vately done, our Magistrates did not so much take notice of or punish, as they did, when they did not use so much Moderation and Cauti∣on; and we find too much liberty would tend to the seduction of others. An instance of this for a Tenour to others, was shewn in one Rob. Hodson, who was arriv'd at such a pitch of boldness, as he induc'd several of his own Sect to meet together, for solemn prayers, not secretly, but abroad in an open Garden: The news therefore of this so fa∣mous an assembly being brought to those, who, had it not been for this rash and provoking pro∣ceeding of theirs, would easily have let them a∣lone; they all ran in upon them, and taking Hod∣son upon whom besides a Bible in his hand, they found a Dagger in his Bosom, and since

that seem'd to be a Weapon more sit for Offence than Defence, they ty'd his hands and carried him to New-Amsterdam to the Governour Stuyvesand. He, taking the Man for a Contemner of the Laws and Disturber of the publick Peace, caus'd him to be cast into a dark place full of Filth and Dirt; and soon after Arraigns him for sedition, and, by the suffrages of all the Magistrates, pronounces sentence upon him in Dutch; (which because he did not understand, one Translated it to him into English) that either he should pay a fine of 600 Florens, or be cloth'd in Sackcloth and Chain'd, and ty'd with a Barbarous slave should work for two years upon the Reparations of the City Walls. Which work when he was brought to, and refus'd to do, a lusty crabbed Negro slave laid on him 50 lashes with a Cat with nine Tailes; and when for all that he would not set himself to work, he redoubled his blows, and that to such a Degree as he was not able to stand on his Legs. And because all this while he would not do as he was Commanded, at last the Governour order'd him this punishment: They stript him naked to the waste, and then hanged him up by the hands and ty'd a great Logg of Wood to his feet, and beat him severely with whips, and so carry'd him from the Court to the Prison from whence he came. The same they serv'd him 2 years after. With these stripes the poor Man was so disabled, that he lay along while without sense, and almost without life, so that there had been small hopes of his ever recovering; if an English woman mov'd with a pious grief and pity had not Administred proper Medicines to him, and binding up his Wounds, restor'd him to life again. At last the Governours Sister so pleaded his cause with her Brother, as procur'd his Enlargement from his dismal Solitude. This was about the time, that the Persecution against these people began to rage in New-England. Another Town in the like Con∣dition, belonging indeed to the English, but under

the Jurisdiction of the Hollandew, was Gravesend. And there a Noble Lady the. Countess of Mordee; who was a Puritan was turn'd Quaker, and resid∣ed chiefly at this place, gave the remaining peo∣ple of this Society the liberty of Meeting in her house; but mannaged it with that prudence and observance of time and place, as gave no offence to any stranger or person of another Religion than her own, and so she and her people remained free from all Molestation and Disturbance. And be∣cause we have made mention of this Lady and her Company in this place; I'll relate a memorable story. There was the Son of certain English Cler∣gyman, arriv'd at years of Discretion, and of very honest Conversation: Who being often in the house of this Lady, and Entertaining her many times with discourses upon Religious Subjects, she invites him to come to their Meeting and hear their Preaching, at least for once. He answer'd her again and again (for she was very earnest with him) that he should be always very ready to o∣bey her Ladyship in any other thing, but in this humbly begg'd her Ladyships excuse. This young Gentlewoman continuing obstinate, and the Lady by how much more she persisted in the thing, by so much the greater was the grief of her Disap∣pointment, at last he did that of his own accord, which he neither would or could upon her Pray∣ers and Intreaties. He fancied to himself one night in his sleep, that he heard and saw many things of the Quakers, and when he was awak∣ed and thought nothing had put a deceit upon his senses, he heard as it were a voice, and went and came to a Company of those sort of people, of whom he had form'd in his mind so many representations when he was asleep. He, approv∣ing of his Oraculous Dream, the day following goes to a Meeting of the Quakers, where he was so taken with their Discourses, that he was Trans∣ported beyond himself. And his mind was con∣tinually running on going thither again. But

before he did, he Communicates his Intention to several of his Friends, who mightily dehorted him therefrom. Considering therefore their reasons on the one hand, and on the other the Continual Idea of his Night Vision never going out of his mind; and that not devised, or fancied, but real discourse of theirs, was always turmoi••ing him, so that with the horrible Agonies of his mind, not knowing which way to turn, or what to do, he fell into a greivous and dangerous fit of Sick∣ness. From which being recover'd, he not onely Estranged himself wholly from that sort of Peo∣ple, but also imputed what had happen'd to him among that people, to the Effects of Incantation, and said, the Devil wrought amongst them. Of the truth of this I have a very worthy Gentle∣man a witness, who is now a faithful Minister of the Word of God in our Countrey; to whom the young Man has often related this story. Sometimes there has been of these sort of People, who before a Magistrate have said, they could not say or do any thing with them, without their hats on. These there was no better way to deal with than by severely reprimanding them, and sending them away unheard, and soundly rated at. There were some women which in the high ways, others, tho but few, who in the middle of the Sermon or Prayers of our people, would break out either into an Extempore or Praemiditated Noise or Singing. These Women were Command∣ed or Compelled to go away, or carried away and taken into Custody till they were discharged. And so, if their crime was no greater, they were no further punish'd. Now to speak a little of the other Plantations of the English, Virginia, Bermudas, &c. I have said already in the begin∣ning who they were that first Voyaged hither; but who they were that (first) went to those pla∣ces I can't so certainly tell. It seems George Wil∣son came to Virginia in the year 56, and there di∣ed in B••••••s. Henry Fell went to Barmudas the

same year, and not long after return'd again. In those parts also the Religion of the Quakers be∣gan to appear abroad sensibly, and shew its face. As for these Men till the year 60, I don't find any pu∣nishment inflicted on them, only some Fines were laid upon them, because they us'd to entertain one another in their houses, or refus'd to take an Oath, or be uncover'd before a Magistrate, or to undertake any Military Services: Altho these fines were often so great, that even for one default onely, the third part or more of their goods were taken away, they not having much Money, as the generality of them were of the meaner sort of people. This I find, that in Mariland, a province joyning to Virginia, this year, Thomas Thurston was cast into Prison, and the Officer desiring one John Holland to assist him in this business, who refusing (and saying it was unreasonable Thurston should be us'd so, and that he could not assist him in the taking of a Man Prisoner, who was his Friend and old Acquaintance) to be any ways assistant to the said Office (which the Laws of England will no ways excuse not even among those, that are of the first Degree and Quality) he himself was put in Prison too, and afterwards severely whipt. Then in the year 60 and that following, as the Spirit and Courage of these people began to increase with their Numbers, and these Friends to set up their Meetings, and at last they went on Cheerfully in their ways, then, both for the rea∣sons aforesaid. And especially, on the account of these Meetings, they were prosecuted with Im∣prisonments, Whippings, Banishments, Transpor∣tations, into wild Woods and Desolate places; till at length this excessive severity began to a∣bate; and this Sect of People to rest and be con∣firm'd; and that especially by reason of the Kings Interposition, and an order sent like that I spake of before to the Governour of New-England. Those who are acquainted with that part of A∣merica, which is under the English Jurisdiction,

know Pensilvania, the Propriety and Govern∣ment of which (vacant by the Death of William Pen) from whom the said Countrey takes its De∣nomination, descended to his Son William Penn, that famous Patron and Head of the Quakers. And he being heir to this Countrey, it became as it were the Inheritance and Portion of the Quak∣ers, especially since the year 82, at which time Penn going to his Government order'd all things to his own mind, and appointed all his Officers and Agents their proper places. Omitting there∣fore to speak of the political Order and Govern∣ment of this Countrey, and its legal Establish∣ment, and of the Benefits and Advantages these Quaker-people enjoy, both throughout the whole Province and especially in the Town, which, from their mutual Love to one another, they have call'd Philadelphia; these people at that time were in∣duc'd with such a Courage and Fortitude of mind, and opinion of their own Constitutions, Government, Unanimity, and good Agreement, that they ventured to invite all the Barbarous Americans, and indeed all Men, in whom there was the least spark of Religion, Moral Honesty, or Quietness of Temper, to come and live among them, promising them upon their good behavi∣our the like Advantages themselves enjoy'd, and the free exercise of their own Religion. Which the better to understand, it will be worth while to set down their Decree. Which runs thus. We give a General general liberty of Conscience to all, who acknowledge one God omnipotent, the Crea∣tor, Preserver, and Governour of the World, and hold themselves oblig'd in Conscience to live quietly and justly under Government, To that degree that none shall have any thing to do, as to Religi∣ous matters and opinions, at any time to compell or force another to any sort of Religious Worship to which he is averse, or to Contribute any thing towards the Maintenance of Preachers, or to pla∣ces set apart for Religious. Worship. And that

every one shall have the full use of his Christian liberty, without sustaining any detriment for the same. And if any one abuse another, or mock him for being of a different perswasion from him in religious matters, he shall be accounted a Di∣sturber of the publick peace and punished ac∣cordingly. Now tho I have hitherto onely recit∣ed this Writing, and all those things I have yet treated on, without pretending to interpret or give the mind or sense of these people (in them) yet here I can't forbear taking notice that they call this liberty Christian, when as they extend it to all Men, who onely acknowledge one God. Now if these Men will agree with themselves, they must necessarily take all those for Christians in whom there appears, any Principle or Religi∣on or Piety, as being what they say, is from Christ, yea is Christ. But as the Inhabitants of this Countrey were for the most part Quakers, so be∣cause of the Conveniency of the Countrey and this liberty of Religion, confirm'd by the Edict aforesaid. More Quakers at several times came thither, from Divers other parts of America. And not onely those of this perswasion, but also others of other Principles and Opinions in Religion, and several of none or slender fortunes came and fix't themselves in those remote parts of the World, hoping for a blessing from Heaven, and a better∣ing of their Condition. For seldom those that have any Estate or hopes of one in their own Countrey, travel into strange and unknown Countreys, leaving all their Friends and Acquain∣tance behind them. Moreover, W. Penn the Lord and Governour of the Countrey, a little before the breaking out of the Mortal War which still rages between the French of th' one side, and the English and their Confederates of the higher and lower Germany on th' other, incited thither se∣veral people, both English and our Countrey folks, and some of the Palatinate of the Rhene, who having nothing of their own to loose at

home, and hearing of the plenty of all things in America, were got into several parts thereabouts, and having entertain'd a good opinion of him, many of them were drawn thither in hopes of getting a good livelyhood by their handy works. And so all these people addicted themselves to A∣griculture, and preparing and enlarging that part of the Countrey which was before uninhabit∣ed and uncultivated, and withal of their own proper concerns. And all things succeeded well and happily to them, they being indefatigably Di∣ligent and Industrious. So the whole Countrey became well manured, and Laws were made for the better distribution of the Lands, Alloting to every one their particular part. And these stran∣gers had an equal priviledge of exercising what Religion they would, and living according to their own fashion with those of their own Company. And moreover, they were made capable of all honours and be••••ing any office or dignity in the Magistracy, either in City or Countrey. Altho this was the Prerogative of the Quakers, not that they had Arrogated it to themselves by any Law, but by reason of the Multitude of them and their all agreeing together, and being Ambitious to possess the first and best places in the Govern∣ment. Whence it came to pass that there were some of whom there's no great question to be made, but that onely for profit and advantage sake, dissembling their own opinions they went out to the Quakers, and tack'd about as the wind turn'd. Now as we see that for the most part fortune follows the diligent, the Ingenious, and Industrious; So the greatest part (almost) of these people, being religious Men and Men of In∣tegrity, but unexpert and not well verst in the Affairs of the World; the rest not onely igno∣rant and unexperienc'd in affairs, but also wild and licentious in Discourse and Conversation. And amongst the rest of them were some of the Qua∣kers. In process of time these grave and serious

Men, hanging of a knot together, diligently aim∣ing at what they had always seem'd to despise, and affected to get into all the Courts and Offices of Judicature, and mightily to busy themselves about those Employs. And when they were cho∣sen Magistrates and Judges, they behav'd them-excellently in the said Offices, and oftentimes car∣ried themselves roughly and proudly to their Cli∣ents and Suitours, and in their sentences, and de∣cisions of suits and punishing of Malefactours, they fitted themselves with such a kind of Juri∣dical Actions as always bred disgust; and when the Case required that any thing was to be So∣lemnly affirmed or denied, they caus'd the Wit∣nesses to swear, or at least use such a kind of as∣sertion as little differs from an Oath, as: I speak and promise it in the presence of God; or as true as God's in Heaven, or which at least was no less than an Oath amongst God's ancient people the Jews, As the Lord liveth. Moreover, they also who aimed at the Ministerial offices in the Church, and Arriv'd at such like Degrees of Honour, were chosen and appointed by them, or delayed by them who had most influence upon the Senate; whose minds they fill'd with a belief, that they took a great deal of care of the weal-publick and the Laws, and would be very mindful of them in their places of Authority, and Accommodate themselves in the Offices of Justice, according to former customs and presidents. But besides these there were agreat many of the Quakers both Men and Women, who took upon them the liberty to Preach and Exercised the same, without any (or any just at least) warrant for so doing; after that manner intruding themselves, without producing any just Testimony, either of their Ability or good Conversation. And there are some of the Qua∣kers themselves who assert, that among these there were some, who for their profound igno∣rance of the very first Principles of Religion, were so far unfit to bear the Office of Teachers or Mi∣nisters

in the Church, that they did not deserve so much as to be taken in as members of it; Which being a thing of no small moment, and laying a firm foundation for hatred and envy, disagreement and Contention among these People, even to this very day, it is much to be feared, that unless they agree better among themselves, it may come to pass one day, that their domestick Quarrels invite their Barbarous Neighbours, or other forreign foes to set upon them in an hostile manner and put a speedy period to their Government, and lon∣ger continuance there. And we may know also that whereas the War between the French and English, is carried into these parts of the World also; and altho these people can tell how to fight well enough with words, yet they'll have nothing to do with War or Armies either for offence or defence, and consequently lye an easy Conquest for an Enemy, who very quietly, and without any danger at all to themselves, might soon over∣come them: King William of England has sent 'em over a Governour, one of the Church of England, with Orders, That if occasion be, he should take care to defend them against any Armed Enemy, better than otherwise they would themselves.

Now since we are at present upon this Country of the Quakers, and have but now made mention of the great dissentions and distractions amongst them; it would not be suitable to this Relation, and the design of this Work, if I should omit that great and very memorable Case, that within these few years has happen'd among them in those Parts, which because know'n to few, I will relate and deduce down to this very time, when as yet none knows what the end of it will be. I have shewn, in the former Book concerning George Keith, that famous Teacher amongst the Quakers, how the Quakers, his Friends and Acquaintaince in England, ascribed to him certain Errors or Forms of speaking, which they did not approve of; but which of their good will towards him,

they attributed to his singular Learning. This man came over into these parts, and residing a while in some Islands near Pensylvania, in the year 89, remov'd thence to Philadelphia, being invit∣ed by some who not only desired him for their Preacher, but also to be Tutor to their Children. When he came thither, he undertook both Offices, and to shew his Modesty, takes the place of an Usher to teach Boys, and discharges it very com∣mendably. And at the same time exercising his Preaching Faculty among an unlearned and Igno∣rant company of People, as for the most part their Preachers were, he excell'd 'em all, appearing as a bright Luminary, and out∣shining all the rest of that Order among them. And by his opportune diligence, and industry in all the parts of his Ministerial Office he render'd himself belov'd of 'em all, especially the more in∣feriour sort of People. And it had been well indeed if so it had continued. But a short time produc'd a great alteration in the state of Affairs. For soon after there arose some, that oppos'd Keith, him and charg'd him with many, not only, Errors in Doct∣rine, but also high and unpardonable Crimes. For Keith did not forbear over and over again, to incul∣cate and instruct all his Auditors in the Doctrines of the two-fold Nature of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Divine and Human; and of the Human, the one part Heavenly, Spiritual and E∣ternal, the other Earthly and Corporeal, conceiv'd in time of his Mother Mary. Then his second Tenent was this, which he often repeated to them all; That Christ, as Born of Mary, was uninted with the Divine Nature, and so was present with his Light and Life in all the Children of God It was difficult for him to keep the Conception of his mind to himself, without divulging them, especially because, when a man rightly compre∣hends a thing himself it is nothing, unless ano∣ther be made acquainted with it too. Wherefore Keith, altho he a good while smother'd in silence,

the Opinions which he had long entertain'd, Of the Transmigration of Souls after Death; Of the last Judgment, and State of the Deceased, and end of the World, as being unsafe, and less ac∣ceptable to be disclosed; yet he could not so contain himself, but that now and then he gave an inck∣ling in his Discourses, of what his inward con∣ceptions of these things were; and sometimes he was not able to forbear betraying in his words, what his true sense of those things was, and what he principally aim'd at in them; whence it came to pass, that those that lov'd Keith, and favour'd his Doctrine, greedily entertain'd these Principles. And yet for the most part, those that were the greatest followers of his Doctrins and Admirers of his Skill and Parts (whom Keith indeed, for his own Credit's sake, either found or made thorough pac'd in his Principles) embrac'd these Notions so heartily, that they relyed more upon his Authority and Precepts, than their own Judgment, and thought it enough to say, that he knew and said so, and so, and that, with them, was Demon∣stration. And so his Exact and Nice and Subtle Judgment, in these matters, was a subterfuge to cover their Ignorance. Against these Tenents of Keith, and those of his Party, there were others that set themselves, and especially against that Ar∣ticle of the Divine and Human Nature of Christ. which Article Keith openly acknowledged he held, and professed; and that it was no new thing, by him devised, but antiently, and always taught by the whole Society. Against which Article they objected, that of one he made two Christs. Of these Adversaries the Head and chief was an Elder∣ly Minister, one W. Stockade by Name, a man in∣deed not unlearned, but in the Opinion of himself, and many more unlearned and ignorant People, a man of vast Parts, and Learning, and the Cham∣pion and Defender of the Antient and Pure Reli∣gion of these People. Keith stretched his Opini∣on and Belief of this Article so far, and made it

so necessary to be known and believed, as that there∣upon Christianity it self depended, and that the denial of that Article, was the same as to deny the Passion and Death of Christ, yea, Christ himself. Moreover, that they who persisted in the denying of this Article, the sin of such denial was so great, that it gave just cause to those that held it, to fly to Extremity, and separate themselves from those who obstinately deny it. At last when this questi∣on had been Controverted a long while, and no end like to be put to it; Keith, and those of his Party, grew to that heighth, and were so peremp∣tory in this Controversy, that they said, God had called 'em to separate themselves from those sort of Infidels. In the mean while, as this good Com∣pany were so disgusted at the Opinions of the o∣ther acuter Men, they entertain'd and published such kind of Notions about the same Articles; as Keith and his followers no less delested and were averse from; then they cry'd out, the De∣nial of their Opinions was no less than a renounc∣ing of the Faith, and utterly overturning the Foundations of it. Altho these same men differ∣ed in their Opinions mightily amongst them∣selves; and some as much from others, as all of them differed from Keith's sentimeuts. So as to that Article of the Human Nature of Christ, some affirm'd, that Christ never arose, and ascended into Heaven; as he was born of Mary, and suffered on the Cross. Others, That Christ took that Body indeed out of the Sepul∣chre, but in his Assention into Heaven, laid it a∣side. Others doubted of the whole business, and could not tell what to pitch upon. Some thought that all Controversy about such a thing as was not only controvertible, or not worth the while, and by reason of the slightness of the concern, made no∣thing to the purpose of Faith, however 'twas de∣cided. These thought it the best way to lay down the Controversy, and keep Peace. As to the state of Souls after Death, there was so•••• that

held, That all Faithful and Religious Persons, im∣mediately entered into the Compleatness of Joy and happiness, but that the unbelievers and wick∣ed instantly upon their Death, underwent all that punishment that attends them, and that herein consisted all the Resurrection. Which was as much as to say, That properly there will be no further Resurrection of the Body, and that the Body after it is resolv'd into Dust, shall be no where, or nothing at all, nor any future Day of Reckoning, or of the last and general Judgment. Others there were that said, that the Resurrection and all the glorious Condition spoken of should at last be consummated and perfect in this Life, for this Reason, because Christ Arose, and liv'd such a happy and blessed Life; which in other words, is all one as to say that there is no Heaven or Hell, but what is within Men. These Opini∣ons Keith took notice of, and reprehended in these men's Discourses and Sermons, as being contrary to the Articles of the Catholick Faith, especially as they are propounded and declared to us in the Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament; and told those of his Party, That these men taught and dellvered such Doctrines, as when they came throughly to understand, they ought not to give any the least Entertainment to 'em.

At last in the year 91, there was an Experiment made, to put an End to these Controversies in a Meeting of the Friends and Brethren. Time and place was appointed by Common consent. The two principal Adversaries, Keith and Stocker dispute together with great heat and vehemence, but such was the end of it, that the difference instead of being compos'd was but so much the more in∣creas'd. Whereupon the cause was deferr'd to the General yearly assembly, which that year was held at Philadelphia in September In which assembly the Doctrine of Keith was brought on the Stage: For whereas Keith did not so much define as suppose or leave to be examined as truth,

what was attributed to him of the Transmigrati∣on of Souls, and their state after their departure out of the Body; therefore that was not call'd into question, but this; Whether to Preach faith in Christ within a Man, and Christ without a Man is not to Preach two Christs. There were six Sessions or Acts held about this, in which not∣withstanding there were so many Teachers indued with and taught and led by, the Holy Spirit it self, immediately, as they call it, and being of the highest form of Christianity, yet they could not come to a Conclusion, or Definitive sentence about this Controversy. For the Disputants on both sides even in this Supreme and Sacred Coun∣cil, did so scold and rail one at another. Keith's adversaries using all the Reproachful and Oppro∣brious Terms they could think of against his Doc∣trine, inveighed bitterly against the Man himself; and not onely so, but also in a Contentious chid∣ing way us'd a great many Scurrilous bitter words, and that they might not seem to talk more than do, they handled him very coursely and dragg'd and thrust him about very unhandsomly, not that they were so furious by nature as Egg'd on by the cause they had in hand. And on the other hand, Keith and they that were of his side, tho other∣wise a Man of wit and sense enough yet at this time and on this occasion likewise, not naturally or of his own accord, but as he was forc'd to it, and not able longer to contain his just resent∣ments of their Injurious dealings with him, at last broke out into invective Speeches against his Adversaries, as being the Effects of his just Indig∣nation against them, not railing, but giving them answers worthy of their heat and malice. At last one urg'd another with the Terms of Dolts, Fools, Hereticks, Infidels, Heathens, Profane, wicked Wretches. So they, how far now these people, in this case have forgot themselves both in Doctrine and Discipline, and how far off they have been from that perfect Agreement and Abso∣lute

Modesty they pretend to, as the more cauti∣ous, and clear sighted, have long and often sus∣pected, so now all, both wise and unwise, may ea∣sily see. These wrangling Disputants being ne∣ver a-weary; those of the Brethren which were the presidents and moderators in this famous cause, considering, that by these endless Jarrs and Dis∣putes of the contending partys, the Fame and Glory of the Quakers Name, was like to suffer; made an end of this affair thus at last. Repre∣hending both partys, (as indeed both were to blame) they acquitted Keith, and acknowledged his Doctrine concerning Jesus Christ, to be true and right; and order Stockade, to confess himself to have dealt unfairly with Keith; and give him satisfaction for the damage he has done him. So for a while these Contentions ceas'd and all was quiet. Now in this time of Peace and Quietness Tho. Fitzwater a Quaker Minister, being puft up with the conceipt, some people had entertain'd of his Wit and Learning, in a certain Monthly Meeting accuses Keith of Hercsy, for de∣nying the light of Chirst to be sufficient for Men. Here again both sides were mightily heated, and said many things of the suddain, which was the more easily Excusable from the Trouble and Com∣motion of mind they were in. Nor here could the whole Senate reconcile these two people, or bring them to any Terms of Agreement. Then the Case was reserv'd to another assembly, to which were invited Tho. Lloyd the Governour, and others of the Magiracy of the whole province, that by their prudence and suffrages the matter might be brought to a Conclusion. There Keith brought a great accusation against Stockade that, he had not as yet given him satisfaction according to the decree of the former Council. And here many quarrels 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out of one. The Governour and Magistrates lay many things to Keith's charge. At last the greatest part of Ministers and Elders incline on 〈…〉〈…〉. Whereupon the Governours fall to

him too; And make an order of Council, that Stockade himself shall Condemn himself of Ig∣norance and Infidelity. Stockade denies to do any such thing, and stands upon his defence insisting, that what he had said of Keith, he had said with very good reason. The difference too between Keith and Fitzwater was brought on the Stage, which had been handled in the former Monthly Meeting. And they all agree and pass this Pe∣remptory sentence, that Stockade by a publick Writing should take the blame upon himself of his offence against Keith, and that Fitzwater should do the same for himself, for as much as relates to Keith and over and above should give an account of his faith in Writing before this Council, and therein satisfy them as to what he held of the Resurrection of Christ, and the pre∣sent State of his humane nature in Heaven; and that in the mean while both of them should de∣sist from Praying and Preaching in their Meet∣ings till they had done what was order'd them. The determinations of this assembly, tho Stockade and Fitzwater at first either expresly or silently submitted to, yet now at last sentence being past upon them, they flew off, and refused to obey it, alledging: That whereas this was a business Eccle∣siastical, and was a Controversy wholly amongst the Ministers of the Church, and that a very hard and difficult one too, which they themselves could scarce comprehend, therefore it was onely proper for the Cognizance and Decision of the Ministers of the Church: Now that part of those that had undertak∣on to Judge and Determine these affairs and they a Considerable part too, were of those whose office these things don't belong to, and whose aptness to enlarge their own Power and Authority was sufficiently well known; Wherefore, neither was their sentence or de∣termination Valid, nor would they obey such an Inter∣dict. Therefore Stockade and Fitzwater notwith∣standing all this went on in their Ministerial fun∣ctions, and withdrew and seperated themselves

from those that were the followers of Keiths Yet Keith and those of his party did not presently take notice and allow of this seperation, nor like∣wise disjoyn themselves utterly from their Socie∣ty; but waited in hopes to see them repent of what they had done, and give satisfaction for their Injurious dealings, or at least in words to own their faults, and so in good time to return into Friend∣ship with them again, and wholly unite together in stricter Bonds of Friendship than ever. The most part both of City and Country held on Keith's side, and from thence were called Keithians. As things stood thus this Governour and rest of the Magistrates, fearing lest the difference should spead further, and be the forerunner of greater disturbances, came to a Conclusion that it would be best to put a stop to this Inconvenience as soon and as well as they could. Wherefore they con∣sidered that it would be best not to rescind the former Judgment; but yet to recall those things which were done before under a new Cognizance. At their Command therefore there met together at Philadelphia in the year 92, the 20th day of the 4th Month eight and twenty Men, of which the greater part were Ministers or Preachers, among whom were some, who exercised the of∣fices both of Ministers in the Church and Magi∣strates in the Common-wealth; of which one was Sam. Jennings a great Enemy of Keiths and ano∣ther Arthur Cook, no great friend to him. To these Men was Committed the care and Admini∣stration of this affair, to advise as Friends and Arbi∣trators on both sides, and to put a final end to the Difference and Contention that was between Keith and his Adversaries. But these Men meet∣ing together, not so much to decide these Differ∣ences which were now become General, as to Con∣demn Keith and those of his party, and absolve those of the other side, in their first Session pass this short sentence upon him without hearing him, or any thing on his behalf, and Seal it in

Writing. That Keith is a Man that has not the fear of God before his Eyes. Than which sentence Keith could not have had a severer pass'd upon him by open Enemies, than was done by these his Judges. And now, according to his Adversaries principal wish, the Magistracy forbid keith, with∣out any further delay, all exercise of his Ministe∣rial function in the Church; and if notwith∣standing he should continue so to do, he should be prosecuted as an adjudged Enemy. And now the Enemys of Keith applaud themselves that they have compassed their Ends, and obtain'd their revenge on him. Wherefore Keith and one Tho. Bud, publish a book in English, Entituled, The Vindication of an Innocent cause against a false Judgment pass'd upon it. Wherein they relate the form, Continuance, and order of the Judgment pass'd against the Keithians, and also the deprav'd Morals of some of the Judges, that had combin'd together in this Cause, and specially of the Mini∣sters of the word. Not to cast any Reflection upon the Magistracy, nor Sully the Honours of the Ministers of their Church, or discover the fail∣ings of any order of Men; but to shew, what it was they ought to beware of, least the evil should be dispers'd from the head through all the Mem∣bers; and so the Enemies might take occasion to reflect disgrace upon this Church, and Arrogate Glory to themselves. Upon a time Keith entred into Discourse with the Governour, and makes a long and heavy complaint to him, of the Judg∣ment that was past upon him in his absence, without being duely cited or the cause heard; that of the Judges Divers were prejudic'd against him, and he had thereupon suffered Divers Inju∣ries, unusual and unheard of amongst just and upright Judges. After which the Governour as it were directing his discourse to Keith's Com∣plaints said, that if he had sustain'd any Injury in the aforesaid Meeting he should complain of it, and seek redress, in the general and yearly Coun∣cil

which was shortly to be held at Philadelphia. Keith being oppressed, with so many adversities and trou∣bles; yet not overcome, considered that it was best for him to do so; and so being egg'd on with a re∣sentment of the Injuries he had receiv'd. He writes a sharp appeal to the Council, and lays down twelve Articles, containing an Exposition of his and his Friends's Doctrine and Belief: And that the whole state of the Case, after so great and long a Controversy, which in a short space of time could not so easily be comprehended in all its parts, might the better be apprehended and more commodiously decided by the Synod; and they in their great Wisdom and Vigilance might briefly adjudg for the one, and against the others, as might be convenient; and prescribe to each their Duties. And because it seem'd dangerous to write out so many Books in Manuscript, Keith causes both Books to be Printed, to the intent, in time, to send a Copy to them all, that they might from this time weigh and consider the Case, and then, being prepared, be ready to give it a quick dispatch. The Title of the Book was, An Ap∣peal from twenty eight men, to the Spirit of Truth. Printed by William Bradford. Two Copies of it were distributed by John Comb; which so soon as it was known, the Magistrates pronounces them all guilty, as breakers of the Peace, and distur∣bers of the Government; and sends the Mayor, Wyth, who seizes the Printer and Publisher, and carries them from their Houses, into Prison; and withal, as if he had been in his own Possession or Estate, takes out of their Work-houses what Tools or Utensils he pleases, and carries them a∣way. The next day the Magistrate orders the Mayor to lay his Action against Keith and his Companions, and partners in his Crime, joyning for help, two of the Colledge of the Magistrates, who were not Quakers, namely, Lucius Coke, a Lutheran, and John Holmes, a Baptist, who, as being of a different Perswasion, and partial to

neither side, might pass for upright Judges. But these Gentlemen declin'd the Office for this rea∣son, because the thing which these Men were ac∣cus'd of, arose from Religion and Tending thereunto, had nothing of concern with the civil Government, and therefore was more proper to be decided by those Men from whom it came, and who were concern'd in it. To which they added, that since neither Humane nor Divine Laws al∣low'd, that any one should be Condemned without being first heard, it was just and right that Keith, before any Judgment pass'd upon him, should be heard. This was an answer that did not please those, whose designs seem'd not to aim at the quieting of the present Disorders, but rather to the increase of them, and raising of new. And so they go on with their Intention, and without hearing of Keith proceed to sentence. They give Judgment for Keith's Condemnation, in a long Writing, of which these were the heads. That the Governours have declared Keith to be a wick∣ed Man, an ill Citizen, a Teacher ill Principled, and Disaffected to the Government, King and Queen. And this they order the Cryer to publish in the Court, before a great Concourse of People. In the Ecclesiastical Convention, where the de∣bate between Keith and his Adversaries was hand∣led, the Governour and other of the Magistracy be∣ing present, there happen'd a dispute between Keith and the Governour himself; about a place which the Governour had quoted out of a book formerly written by Keith. Which place when Keith had said it made nothing to the purpose, nor was it rightly cited by the Governour, he went on and added that the Governour was also one of those, who had not cited him to the hearing of the cause, but had Condemned him unheard. This slipt from Keith in his heat and suddain transport of mind, and by a slip of the Tongue, which often happens in hot disputes, that the Governour was an Impu••ent Man and his Name would rot.

Which words, tho the Governour had more than once said that he would not take notice of as spoken upon such a time and occasion, yet now he lays to Keiths charge as an Egregious reproach to Magistracy, not to be pass'd by without pun∣ishment: It was added; that Keith at the same time Reproached the Governour as a person not capable for the due discharge of his Office. But as to that Keith says, that he neither said nor thought so. In the said sentence of Condemna∣tion also it is contained; that Keith should call another of the Magistrates by a Name which in English Signifies one or all of these, viz. Scolder, Quareller, wrody deceiver, Sordid fellow, Seoundel, Knave. Which accusation Keith thus wip'd off, Not denying the fact, he said he call'd that Man by that Name; as being one who indeed was not of the Magistracy, and yet notwithstanding sate in that assembly that Condemned Keith, and as such concurred with them in the same sentence, and subscribed his Condemnation. Amongst these Disputes and Wranglings there was a New Court of Judicature held at Philadelphia; for the passing an Impartial Sentence upon these three Men, who had lain under so much prejudice. Jenings was President, and Cook one of the Judg∣es, who, I have both said before, were Quaker Ministers. Now hither were cited to plead their own Cause, Keith, Bradford, Combe, Bud, Buss, and others of the Keithians, who all came; all and every of them were Indicted of this Crime, of Writing, Uttering and Devising a Book, inti∣tuled an Appeal, being a very Seditious, Scanda∣lous Book, and full of a great many Lies, in which particularly Jennings, the President of this Assembly, was Charged as a proud, imperious Man, and insolent in his Discourse and Demean∣our, and the said book did Print, concealing the Printers Name, Buss, whose Christian Name was Peter, was charged over and above the rest, to have said many other things of Jennings, more

than was contained in the book. Wonderful this. The case with Jennings the president and the whole Senate, was whether they that were brought afore them as Criminals, or Jennings himself were guil∣ty; he an untainted and unblamable person, or they foul Detractors, worthy the highest punish∣ment; The Court was full of Scolding and Quar∣relling. Whatsoever (they alledged) had been said or written against Jennings was not against him, as a Magistrate but an Ecclesiastical person, a Preacher, and if he pleased his Colleague, not with an intent to reproach or accuse him; but for his Correction, and to try all things; as bre∣thren us'd, or ought, to do. And these Criminals prov'd by good Witnesses and Evidences; that they, who complained so much of the Calumnies laid to their Charge, were worse than the Ob∣jections against them insinuated; Namely that they were not onely Proud and Imperious per∣sons, but so far from having the Command of themselves, that they could scarce contain them∣selves within any bounds of their Lusts and Plea∣sures. In this troublesome assembly, Keith made many grave Speeches; whereof this was the sense and sum. Will there never an end be put to these sort of Controversies and Quarrels, or will these La∣tentions be always continued which (whether we be Victors or Vanquished) are so Shameful and Com∣mentable to us, and wish'd for and laughed at by those who once seeming desirous of our Friendship and Amity, now are turn'd our Haters and Enemies and curse us. And as if in this Case we had lost all our wisdom, and there was no further place left for a remedy to this mischief, which if it remains, and spreads farther, will not onely reflect an Eternal Dis∣grace upon our Truth, but also, will so afflict and spoil it, especially in these parts, amongst these Bar∣barians, as will at last bring on it all manner of Ru∣ine and Destruction to its utter Subversion. The State of the Case lies here. While those whose pro∣vince it is to take care of the safety of this Country

and Religion, find it a difficult task, to please all parties; but much more so to set themselves open∣ly against all; hence comes there to be called so many Concur••ions, and so many various and dif∣ferent events, till its come to that pass, by the set∣ting up a few bold Men against all Laws; that some narrow Soul'd people, terrified in Conscience, and fearful of appearing Criminal; not only now don't stand as Criminals, but themselves sit and act, as Judges in their own Cause, and as such pass Sentances, as their own private Animosities, and prejudice and desire of revenge which they have been now along while Hatching and Consult∣ing amongst themselves, promp't them to. And what such great Crime is there Committed, that should occasion so great disputes and strife. Isai∣as, that great and excellent Prophet cries out, that there are those who make a Man guilty for a word, and lay a stumbling block for him that is ready to fall in the gate. And lately, into what Snares, what Streights have I been brought; and all for a word, which besides that it was spoken hastily and not stood in, if it were examined to the bottom, and might receive a true proper and fair Inter∣pretation, or if taken in the best sense, which al∣waies ought to be follow'd, would not onely have been pardoned, but brought me Commendation too, now for the like cause of Truth and Virtue, are I and my Companians arraigned as Criminals. For here we are charged with Sedition, Dishonouring the Magistrates, Treason. Yea, as if we were al∣most all guilty of every of these Crimes, who are so far from them, as we study nothing more than obedience to lawful Power and Authority. But what Conviction is there of this? What the least proof of it? Or what that bears the least Resem∣blance

of it? For if to accuse alone be enough, neither any of you, or any Man living will be in∣nocent, and there will be no need to fear those pun∣ishments that these Men deserve. But here lies the Conviction and proof of the Crime, because we have spoken somewhat tartly against some of your order and have us'd sharp Language. We hear it. After a hostile manner? No, this your modesty will not give you leave to say, tho all the rest you affirm with a geeat deal of Confidence. But we have written and spoken a great many Scan∣dalous things against them. Whom? Those who were and as yet are of our order. Who tho they are, Ecclesiasticks, Doctors, Ministers, now at this time lay aside those Characters, and take upon them to be Magistrates and Judges. But what are these Scandalous things? Are they such, as both they and we do mutually exhort one another to, and if that be not enough, such as our places and duties oblige us publickly to admonish those that are Com∣mitted to our charge? Is there any thing more than this? That the Printers Name is not prefixt to the Book. But what harm is there in that? What ne∣cessity, or Law, Custom, or Example is there for that? I appeal to you O my Companions, who have published so many famous books in England, and the most Illustrious Penn, the Lord and chief Go∣vernour of this Countrey, of whom there are so many Monuments extant, not bearing thy Name, or the Names of those that Printed them: Which since it is so, let all Honest and Impartial people see and Judge, who in this place principally are to be esteemed innocent, and who guilty; whereof the one do not in any wise refuse to stand before their Judges, and to have their whole cause plainly de∣termined; The others fly from Justice and mock

their Judges. Now see and consider ye, what ye have to determine, that it may be that against Truth and Probability, falsity and fraud, which Tempests and Impure breaths are against the Sun; and that it may come to pass, if not at present, yet that at last, oppressed truth may have a Glorious resurrecti∣on and light up her head, and slighted and injur'd vertue shine forth spendidly, as the Suns raies break out so much the more Illustrious after the Gloomy Clouds are dispelled; and at last that happy time may come, in which the allwise, incorrupt, and Al∣mighty Judge shall lay open and make manifest those things that are at present obscur'd in an abyss of Darkness, and shall reveal the thoughts and counsels of the Heart, and every one shall receive their re∣ward from God. After a long, Quarrelsome, and Confus'd disputing of the Case pro and con, in which some of 'em so thought their Tongues to be their own, as they said what they pleased, the Judges having concluded, and all people a-gape to hear the sentences: They laid upon Keith and Bud the penalty of five pounds each. Bradford's Tryal was put off till the next Sessions. That which with these Men seems unjust, they call the Judiciary Court of the whole province. What these Judges seem to think of themselves, as if from them there could be no appeal, they don't allow of King Charles had reserved to himself (in the assignment he had made of the Countrey to W. Penn, in the Grand Charter, or Grant he gave him,) the final Decision of such Cases, wherein the Inhabitants of the Countrey themselves in∣jured in the highest Tribunal of that Countrey, and no other redress was to be had. Therefore these Men appeal, to the Cognizance of the King and Queen in England, and to stand by their De∣cision. And this was denied them, by a bold and strong power than which nothing is more for∣midable or pernicious. Wherefore these Men yeilding to their pleasure, and the present time reserved their own right to themselves till ano∣ther

time. There came in this time of great streights and trouble of mind and dejection these Men lay under, two of these kind of people from England, who advised Keith, out of the ancient Friendship nearness and dearness, which he had enter'd into with them and the whole Society, that as much as in him lay and as Much as he could, and should forego his own private Incon∣venience for the sake of the publick, and follow peace, and avoid the scandal of such a Discension, and so great a Distraction. And that thereunto they would lend him their advice. Which ad∣vice of thens Keith liked and approv'd of very well; and altho he knew how uncertain a thing it was and full of Danger, and that it was no part of a wise Man to follow that that he could not overtake, yet that a dubious probability of good, was better than an uncertain Evil. And so weighing all things well first, he proposes to his Adversaries several Terms of Accommodation by Letters sent to them. But they, things succeed∣ing now according to their wishes, and their hearts being harden'd with inveterate hatred, Interpret∣ed this Change of his for an inconstancy unbe∣coming wise Men, and were angry at him for re∣questing this at their hands. Wherefore the Kei∣thians seeing that neither so could this business be brought about, and considering that it would be labour in vain, and to no purpose, but rather hurtful, to make any further overtures of peace, or if they should obtain any thing, that it would not be peace but a Slavish kind of Agreement, therefore they kept themselves to themselves, and within the bounds of their own Confession, which Keith and some others in his own Name, and of those of his party signed. And so much for the passages in Philadelphia till towards the end of the year 93. But when the News of all these things was sent into England, and to London, it is hard to say, what a great Grief and Trouble these things were, to these Friendly People, and gave

Occasion to their Enemies to inveigh against, and insuit over the whole Sect; hitting them in the Teeth, that now they plainly saw what they had long suspected, of their distinction and difference of Religion; and now they both heard and saw what they profess'd themselves, and what they practised.

This was no ways pleasing to the Quakers in these parts; nay, it was very grievous and intoler∣able for them to hear of. And they laboured might and main to wipe off all Suspicion from themselves; and shewed, That if any where, or at any time, there should be such an unwary dis∣agreement in Doctrine and Manners amongst those of their Sect; That these Objections therefore did not lie against them all, and that they in England and these parts, did agree very well together, and were consonant in Faith and Prayer, and kept up the ancient Glory of their People. But they were so far from beating any body off of this Opinion by their Speeches and protestations, that they en∣creas'd it the more; For in a short time there a∣rose amongst the Quakers themselves, some that so engaged themselves in this Difference, every one taking his side; and so prosecuted one another with Hatred, Ignominy and Reproaches, that at last they began to talk of dissenting and departing from one another, and making Schisms; So that there was no body, of any Parts or Sense, who did not see that that Excuse was not only very useless, but also extreamly vain and ridiculous.

Things going thus, there were nevertheless some of these People, of the greatest Name and Place amongst them, towards the ending, as I said of this Year, who gave in charge to some of the Leading Men of the Church at London, and those of the most ancient Professors. Whitehead, Park, Mar∣shal, and Eight more; that in the Name of the Society, they should write, subscribe, and publish a Confession of the Faith of them all in their own Eng∣lish Tongue, as an Answer to their Adversaries Ob∣jections,

Which work they perform, entituling their book, The Christian Doctrine and Society of the People called Quakers, Vindicated from the Re∣proach of the late Division of some, in some parts of America, as being unjustly charged upon the body of the said People, either here or elsewhere. And when they come to declare and profess their mind and belief of the several Articles of their Faith, in that Article that treats of Christ, they deny that to preach Christ within, and Christ without, is to preach Two Christs. But when they treat of Christ's Resurrection and Ascension, and of Hea∣ven and Hell, they oppose themselves to the o∣thers New Doctrines. At last, in the end of the Work, they reject the Notion of the Transmigra∣tion of Souls, after the Death of their Bodies, in∣to New Bodies, and declare they know none who say, that God has revealed any such thing to them. In these things they make mention of no Mens Names, and before they conclude the Work, they take occasion to exhort all to sound Faith, Peace and Charity.

In the mean while, divers Complaints, both of the Keithians and their Adversaries, were at several times sent over to London, to the General Yearly Meeting: This Meeting, which was thereupon first held, considering, what a disgrace and pre∣judice this Dissension would be to their People, not only in these Parts, but also all the World over; and that if they should delay the time, and go slowly to work, to remedy this Inconveni∣ence, it would be in vain to bring help afterwards; if they would; they leave no stone unturn'd to a∣vert this Mischief and Danger. Yet this Meeting lost all their labour. And that was not all neither: For now at London and elsewhere, and all Eng∣land over, there were some of the Quakers that in∣teressed themselves in this Dispute; and growing sharp upon it, while some of them could not, or would not, without Passion, refute the others, they stood stiffly to their own Opinions, and would

not be refuted. Hence Hatred, and at last, Facti∣on arising, they were distracted among them∣selves, and some strive to dissolve the Society alto∣gether. These indeed at first were not many, but as sometimes a little Cloud raises a great Tempest, so this insolence and Vehemence of a few, stirred up greater Concussions and Motion, amongst ma∣ny: Wherefore the next Year's General Meeting, who easily might see, that such Dissentions and Strifes, could have no other end than their mutual destruction, being very desirous of Peace and A∣mity, were so much the more intent upon this, to bring things to that pass, That all, laying aside their Controuersies, and Enmities, and Quarrels, the Event of which was so dubious, and no advan∣tage, or next to none could redound to the Vi∣ctors, but the detriment would be mortal and perpetual, should study to preserve Peace, and without any fraud, desist from such Wars; and sice what they had hitherto done, in accusing one another, and quarrelling together, could not be helpt, that they should not go on so to do, and blot out the memory of all things said and done, that were past, by a perpetual Oblivion of 'em, and thereupon shake hands together, in Token of Faith and Amity. But neither could this Meet∣ing, altho they imploy'd all the Vigour both of their Minds and Discourse to this purpose, decide the Controversie, or put an end to this business, and bring the Contending Parties to an Agree∣ment. But they were so far from leaving off the thing they had attempted, that though they heard these Parties as Brethren and Judges, yet the strife did but increase, and the longer it continued, the sharper it was. The time of the last Meeting, or of the last Year 94. came on. And now Keith was come back from Pensilvania into England, to Lon∣don, he on whose account all this Difference had risen. Therefore it second good to the Meeting held that Year, that in so great and long continu∣ed motions of their distracted People, the Heads

and Chieftains of the contending Parties, and like∣wise Keith should be present, and plead their own Causes before this whole Assembly. So in the first place there were read several Letters, writ and sent from Pensilvania to this Assembly upon this Occa∣sion. Then the Parties were heard, and every one had the liberty of Defending and Proving. But here the Dissention and Vehemence of some of them was so greet, and they were so provoking and con∣tentious in their Language, that the more the mat∣ter was debated, the farther off still they were.

This Meeting lasted for Twelve Days; whereas never any before had been above Four Days. So after a long while, since the aforementioned Or∣der for Oblivion, signified nothing, and there was no End made of contending, no Cessation of the Assembly's Trouble, and and at last there seem'd to be more need for doing something than further consulting, the major part of the Meeting, and those of the greatest Anthority, concluded upon, and determined this Sentence; And having consi∣dered the Case, since there was no hopes now of a Reconciliation; That Keith should acknowledge himself to have very much burthened the Church, and take upon himself the Occasion of this so great Disturbance, and beg pardon for this miscar∣riage; and moreover, leave off the maintaining and dispersing of, and forsake his Opini∣ons, Novelties and Sophisms, whereby he has so much either adulrerated the Church, or despoiled her of her former splendor, and enfeebled her; and that he should follow after this, to consult the Ho∣nour and Interest of the whole Society, and de∣fend and promote that.

Which Sentence struck this man with such a sudden and vehement Impulse, as made him break out into a Speech, in these Terms:

That no∣thing could be better entertain'd by him, than this Endeavour of the Meeting, as it relates to the Establishing a mutual Peace and Concord, and that there was nothing that he would more

willingly perform than Obedience to this Assem∣bly, and to have the happiness to be serviceable to them and all theirs. And therefore that he did in no respect decline the Authority and De∣cision of this so great assembly, but so. While these things consist with Equity and Reason, and he may without prejudice to himself and them? But now since he is free from Error, and no fault or Crime is found in him, he has nothing to excuse himself for, or ask pardon of, and that it was not he that is liable to blame, or had involv'd himself in guilt, but they which do not Comprehend what he had taught, and presently and rashly believe and spread about reports of things, that they do not rightly un∣derstand. And so, that they deserve most to be blam'd, that they may not go on so to in∣sult over the name and fame of other••, and those their Brethren, and to set the whole Church in an uproar, that every one of them may receive such a sentence as they have de∣serv'd. Lastly, since that it had happen'd so, that his Adversaries would not forsake their private Animosities and Singular Opinions, as for their own, so for the peace and profit of the publick; but lay the faults which belong to themselves, at his door, that he relying upon the justice and innocency of his Cause, and rest∣ing satisfied with the Testimony of the Spirit and Witness of his Conscience, whatsoever should happen, so long as he was not Culpa∣ble, he would moderately bear, and in the mean while he would unburthen himself and do what became a good Christian, to defend his reputa∣tion and good Name, least seeming regardless of that, he should seem, not to value, and be∣tray his Religion and Honesty.

So since there was no hopes of a peace, the Meeting being end∣ed, after it had held so long; Keith appears a∣broad again, and defends his Speech, and excuses himself in the best terms he could; both by spea∣king,

in his Sermons; and publishing Books in Print; and altho he confesses that thro' mistake, not wilful culpability, he had formerly written some things, which now a-days were not approv'd of, yet that as for his Doctrine of the humanity of Christ, being what he had the greatest reason himself to approve of, and being indeed most justly approvable and a principal Article, and foun∣dation of the Doctrine and Faith of Christians he would to his utmost power Preach it abroad. On the other hand his Adversaries also with equal Zeal go on to observe Keith in the Meetings, to refute his opinions, and inveigh against him with hard Speeches. Amongst which the chief were Dan. Whirley and W. Penn, which Penn, as Keith was in the middle of his Discourse, before the whole Meeting, could not forbear more than once to call him Apostate, and an open Enemy to the truth and the whole Society. Others, as Tho. Ell∣wood and John Pennington, not onely by their books impugned the Tenents of this Man, and refelled his Arguments; but also traduc'd his person, ren∣dred him infamous. So at last some began to find fault with others, and use a greater liberty in accusing them, and to hate them, and provoke them to anger, and fury as it were, and euery one strove to bring others to his own party, and in∣spire them with Enmity against the others. These things lasted till the late General Meeting held at Lon••. this year 95. Which as soon as it began to be held. Keith came hither with an Intention to lay all things clearly open, in hopes to find more Equitable Treatment from his Judges. But when he came to the door, which he did the first day, he was stop't by the Door-Keepers (who knew a∣forehand what his mind and Intentions were) but the day after, tho 'twere late, first getting ad∣mittance, he came before his Adversaries (who he knew were within, and whose Intentions against him he was sensible of beforehand) and not Viva vo••••, which would have had more of a forcible

Energy in it, but in Writing, the more carefully and moderately to Express himself, he deliver'd a Speech to this purpose. That he was never convinc'd either by any assembly, or by that which was held in that place the year before, of any Errour of his either in Doctrine or Life, tho he don't pretend to exempt himself from Errour, being a frailty incident to all Men, and not for∣reign to himself; but he Confessed himself to have said and written several things heretofore, in which at this time he acknowledges his frailty. And be∣cause no assembly of those people who are com∣monly called Quakers, lawfully and rightly con∣veen'd, has condemned him of them, as by the silence of them all on that account appears, he therefore looks upon himself as free from all Er∣rour. That he well knows the Council the last Meeting gave him; but since that was onely Counsel, which obliges no Man, and infers no ne∣cessity, equal to a Command, that he was at his own liberty, either to follow it or let it alone. But that he had omitted it, because, he thought, he had done all that was his duty to do in this business, and that there was none of the Brethren of the Society, who, if they would but consider the deeds both of him and his Adversaries, with∣out prejudice, or being byass'd by others opini∣ons, or making a rash Determination of things; and weigh them in the Ballance of the sacred Scriptures and right reason, but what would ap∣prove of his doings and condemn theirs. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was searce read, but it rais'd a mighty commotion in the minds of them all. But the principal adversaries of Keith and speakers in this Contention were W. Penn, W. Bingley. G. Withale, J. Vaughton, J. Feild, and J. Waldenfield. And Penn and Withade had so little Command of their minds and tongues, as Keith also was so una∣ble to contain himself (by which you may see the Prudence and Moderation both of him and them) that they urged one another with this Crime; that

each of them spread abroad detestable and cursed Doctrines, and ensnared Men in them to the haz∣zard or loss of their salvation. And Keith told, that Bingly, Vaughton, and others, when any of them seem'd to speak to another, either not in good time, or not readily or plainly enough (because they first staid to meditate, or wait the motion of the Spirit, before they spake) were us'd to nod one at another, point, or make signs to them to speak, and if that would not do, to pluck them by the sleeves, and so to put them upon speaking. Which certainly was not that that they had in their minds, or what the Spirit mov'd them, to speak, which was contrary to the Doctrine and Funda∣mental Principles of these Men. But as there was neither Measure nor end of these disputes; nor was there any respite of this Contention and Scold, tho they were now grown hoarse again; and it was not time as yet for them to break up; Bing∣ly and Waldenfield perswade the rest not to treat with Keith any further, and so presently dissolv∣ing the assembly they go away, and withal cause all the rest to do so to and disperse. After they had left of dealing with Keith, they consulted, what was best to be done about him. In which Consultation some of them complain'd with Re∣lation to Keith, that they had not the priviledge given them of speaking their minds, and that there were some, that by their talkativeness, and proud way of speaking, and with their looks and aspect took the words out of their Mouths, or made them hold their Tongues, or altogether silenc'd them; there were others who were so frighted and overaw'd, that they could not bring out what they differ'd and were of a contrary mind from others, in: And there were some also, that dissem∣blingly and against their wills had spoken, and who were sorry for what they had done, and retracted from the sentence that was given. At the last with the suffrages of the greatest part of them, this decree was made and agreed to:

That

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

Keith was of a Spirit no ways Christian, and was the cause of these differences and divisions, and openly Injurious to the Brethren: And therefore that he had withdrawn and separated himself from the Holy Communion of the Church of Christ, and was gone off from the power of Preaching and Praying in the Meet∣ings of Friends: Wherefore he was not to be accounted or receiv'd as one of them, unless he first publickly confess'd his Crime, and gave some tokens of amendment.

And moreover, by the Acts of the Meeting, this sentence was sent in Writing to all the Meetings of the Quakers all the World over:

That this Meeting in London was no ways concerned in the late differences in some parts of America, tho now there was hopes things would succeed there better than formerly. But that the Christian Advice and Councill that had been given to Keith and others in the yearly Meeting before, Keith had openly in his Printed books, set himself against and oppos'd, and so betray'd himself to have turn∣ed aside from the peaceable Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to persevere in the Spirit of Discord and Contradiction, and by so doing has given great trouble and grief to the Church of Christ, and especially, to the last, and likewise to this Meeting too. And so, that now they had born Witness against him, untill he had truly repented and reconciled himself to the faithful friends and Brethren.

So then, in this Meeting now so lately held, when all hopes of re∣conciliation was taken away, and no other end of any other advice likely to be; and a Man Ex∣communicated and cast out, whom the Generali∣ty of People looked upon as one of the most In∣genious and best defenders of the Quakers and their Religion; this seem'd to be a Schism amongst Men so joyn'd and united together amongst them∣selves as they were. And now redounded to their great disgrace, thro' the accusations and sharp

Speeches of those that withdrew from amongst them. Wherefore these now are their Adversaries, and now and then have a fling at them after this manner, that now they may see themselves, what a sort of Men they are, and how much worse than those they would Condemn; and this was laid to their Charge, that having been free from Dome∣stick jars within, and fears from without, of a long while, that now with such intestine and dead∣ly hatred, strife, and sedition, they should fall to∣gether by the Ears amongst themselves, instead of that Spiritual and Heavenly Wisdom and Prudence they always bragg'd of; and that incredible A∣mity and Concord, that by a nod or sign onely they could have had any thing one of another; that it seem'd they would shew, that those that formerly were so unconquerable without were now so very weak within, and in a short time would fall by their own Weapons; and that now the times were changed they would bring upon themselves the total loss of that liberty, in hopes of which they promis'd themselves Perpetuity. And thus much of the beginning, progress and in∣crease of these People, and of their Actions and Sufferings in their own Country and those depend∣ing upon it, to this very time, in which, that odi∣ous to be nam'd and terrible persecution, is quell'd and taken off, and not onely these Men, but all those differing from the publick Churches, are protected in their Civil Liberties in all those Coun∣trys, and peace and liberty of Conscience is esta∣blished, and that Confirm'd by the Laws. One∣ly excepting Papists and Socinians, and the like Propagators of the old Arian Heresy, the causes and reasons of which I have treated on elsewhere. Which Favour and Indulgence, how it was grant∣ed to these people both by the equal bountys of that King, than whom a better can't be wish'd for, and to whom therefore all good Men wish a long and happy Reign; especially being now alwaies in Arms and Venturing his life for the Common

good, and of his Queen who is lately deceased, but her Soul being rendred to God, the Memory of her lives and alwaies will do so to the latest surviving Posterity, for those many and illustri∣ous Virtues that concentred in her Royal Person; and also by the joint Consent of the Lords and Commons in both Houses of Parliament, assem∣bled readily Complying with the Royal pleasure herein, I have likewise before set forth. This I must note before I go any farther, that this pru∣dence and clemency, of the King and Queen, and of those great Men, was so much glorious to them∣selves, and worthy to be acknowledged by these Men, because in all the times aforepast there were not onely, so many and great Vexations, Prosecu∣tions, Afflictions, unsufferable Slaughters, every where laid upon all sorts of People, which, either indeed, were Acted by Erronious Principles, or the Pride and Envy of some Men, had a mind to load with false Accusations; as if they were very great Hereticks, when as they onely differed from them in Church Government, and some Eternal Rites and Modes, and otherwise held the same true and Catholick Faith and Doctrine with these Men, but also because all those penal Laws, which were made and ordained, before the time of the Reformation, against Hereticks, as they call'd them, stood still in force and none of them was repeal∣ed not so much as that De Comburendo Haeretico, or for burning the Heretick; so that if at any time, any one of Eminent power had a mind he might by Virtue of that Law Arraign any one and bring him to that dismal and horrid punish∣ment, and have it Executed upon him. Which appears by the Examples of two Men under the Reign of K. James the 1st, in the 11th year of this Century. Which because it has not of a long while been taken notice of by most Writers, and yet it is not amiss to be known, especially at this time, I shall briefly relate. One of these Men was Bartholmew Legate, of the County of Essex, a

Man of an unblamable Life, ready wit, and well read in the H. Scriptures, but disliking the Nicene Creed, and denying the plurality of persons in the God-head, and the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ; after he had been for some time kept in Prison at London, and being enlarged again, more boldly defended his impious Errors, and could not be brought to desist from it, even by these reasons the King himself brought, at last in an Assembly of Bishops, was Condemned of Contumacious and Irreclaimable Heresy, and delivered over to the secular Judges, and by the Kings command ac∣cording to the Act de haeretico comburendo, the 18. day of March, about Noon, was publickly burn't and Consumed to Ashes. The other was one R. Wightman of the Town of Burton near the River Trent, who was Condemned by the Bishop of Co∣ventry and Litchfield of several Heresies, the first was that he was an Ebionite, the last an Anabap∣tist, and burn't at Litchfield the 11th day of Ap. 'Tis true indeed, that this Law for burning the Heretick, as also for putting him to Death in any wise, was repeal'd in the Reign of Charles the Second; but this is true also, that that repeal was not made without a great deal of Difficulty and Repugnance of some Men, and it was so done too, that tho the Clergy had this power of Life and Death taken away from them; and yet still out of this power they had so much Authority left them, as to Excommunicate, as they call it, those that they should account Hereticks; and thereup∣on to deprive them of their Liberty, and take away their goods, and the Consequences which follow thereupon. Which thing I have thought fit to take notice as being not well known, and yet worth the while to know. This repeal was made in the 29th year of his Reign, and 77th of the Century, in that memorable Parliament Which was continued from the year 61 by seve∣ral Propagations down to that time: There was a certain Man of the Country of Middlesex, whose

Name was Taylor, who had defil'd himself with so many and great Crimes and Vices, that he had no fear, notice, or Apprehension of God, where∣fore he was sent to London, and brought before the Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Court. In which Court, as they were deliberating what to Determine a∣bout a Man so very impious, or rather an impure beast, one of the younger Bishops, being more vehement and hot in his Censures than the rest, gave his Judgment that this Man should be Ex∣terminated from humane Society by burning, and alledges that Law for the Burning of Hereticks with fire. Which seeming somewhat harsh to o∣thers of the Bishops, and some giving their opini∣on one way, others another; The Earl of Hall, the next day, in Parliament in the House of Lords proposes and perswades, that that Law for the Burning of Hereticks might be Abolished, for as long as that Law was not yet taken away and repeal'd, it might come to pass that what Reli∣gion or Sect soever came uppermost, the professors of that, by Virtue of this Law, might put to Death by burning all those that they should count Hereticks. The Bishops opposed and cried out a∣gainst this Petition. But when it came to the Vote the present Earl of Hallefax, and likewise the Duke of Buckingham; and Earl of Shaftsbury and other great Men, Considering that at that time things look'd with a fearful aspect, and that it was often seen in the Course of Nature, that many times things which had been hindred and delayed might break out again (as in that cursed Popish Plot, and the preparations of the Papists for the Destruction of the reformed Religion, at that time was easily to be seen) and that that Law particularly might one day be signally Injurious and Destructive they so perswade the rest, and make it out so plain by force of Argument that, the repeal of that Law is concluded upon and de∣creed, contrary to the mind and will of the Bi∣shops, which Bill being carried down to the House

of Commons, some Excellent Men (among which the principal was W. Russell, a great Lover of his Countrey and Religion (and a Man worthy of im∣mortal honour) presently Vote for it, and pro∣cured the Bill to pass. And so by Authority of the King and both Houses of Parliament, this ancient Law was Abrogated and Repealed by this Act:

That from henceforth, by Authority of the King and Parliament, the writ de heretico com∣burendo, (or, for burning Hereticks) and all Ca∣pital punishments, following upon any Eccle∣siastical Censures, should be taken off: Not taking away nevertheless or diminishing, the Jurisdiction of the Protestant Arch-Bishops or Bishops, or any other Ecclesiastical Court to punish Atheism, Blasphemy, Heresy, or Schism, or any other Damnable Doctrines or Opinions; So that Nevertheless, it shall and may be law∣ful to them to punish such Men according to the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws, by Excommu∣nication, Deprivation, Deposition, and other Censures, not Extending to Death.

What, but also, how fraudulent a Liberty to all Religions was granted by K. James the 2d, and what care the Bishops, most of them, but not all, took to oppose it, is not necessary now to be insisted on, But to return from whence I have digressed; Now because these Quakers had made no inconsiderable progress in their Affairs in America, that new, and to the Ancients unknown part of the World; there were some of them, who thought it might be a work worth the while to attempt the like all over this part of the World, which we inha∣bit, and of which for the most part we have a more ancient knowledge of; and that not onely in the European Countreys, where we have great dealings, but also in Asia it self and Africa among the remotest Nations, Destitute of the right know∣ledge of God, and brought up in the profoundest Ignorance of the truth and true Religion, with a design to enlighten them, and by their Arguments

and Sollicitations to bring them over into their Society and the same belief with themselves. And so John Stubs and Henry Fell took up a resolution, and prepared themselves for a Voyage into China, that farthermost bound of Asia, and most Easter∣ly Region of the Earth. But when they under∣stood how difficult, or indeed almost impossible, it was to gain access into those parts, especially for such sort of Men as they, who, wherever they went, were the laughing stock and hatred of all people, and found matter of discourse and ridicule for all that saw them; and Considering that the safest way for them to go would be if first they could get into the East-Indies, and there travel about the places that were possess'd by the English and Dutch, and under their Jurisdiction and Government, they apply'd themselves to the Governour and Com∣mittee of the East-India Company in England, for leave to make a Voyage thither in their Ships. But they slighted these peoples requests. So they in∣treat the same favour of the Governours of the Dutch East-India Company. But they neither did not grant them their desire. Wherefore both of them, seeing all hopes and opportunity of this Voyage lost, laid aside their intended design. A like memorable instance there is of one Alexander Parker, who not only proposed, but made a Voy∣age into Africa, to endeavour if there were any opportunity to bring those poor people to the knowledge of the Truth and Godliness. But he came back again after he had been gone a year, but gave no account (as these people are us'd al∣waies to know more than they say) what he had done in those parts, and why he had made so quick a return. So these Men made a great bustle and stir to no purpose at all. And when thereupon they became very Despicable and Ridiculous in the Eyes of their Adversaries; who had not fail'd to pry into, and to take exact notice of all that they did, and thence raise objections against them, they

made use of this excuse to defend themselves with, when they had not accomplished what they aimed at, that it appear'd plainly that they were not frighted, or deterred by any dangers or diffi∣culties from Prosecuting what they desired and in∣tended, but only were compell'd by necessity to leave it off; and that as the Deeds of all Men, so theirs too, ought not to be measured and approv'd of by the Event, but from the goodness of inten∣tion and well meaning the design was begun with. Now leaving these remote quarters of the world, I will return again into Europe, and first into our own Country. For so it was that whilst these Men, as we have seen, travers'd the remotest Re∣gions of the Earth; others of them came over into our provinces, and from hence went to other places, to propagate and spread abroad their Doc∣trines; these being of the most skillful and fit a∣mongst them for these purposes, and especially being indefatigably industrious in labours, and pa∣tient under Adversities. But nevertheless, as none of these Men, except one or two, was so furnished by the Holy Spirit, as to be able to speak the Language of the Nation they came to wherever it was, without the help of an Interpreter, who himself seldom knew how to translate their say∣ings into the same sense and words, as they spake them, and besides might either, through mistake or on set purpose render them amiss. So all of them with great vehemence, Zeal and Industry, set about this work, but for all their care and pains could not do much good at it. Besides, that they also, which follow'd those that had gone afore them, altho they understood the Languages of the Countreys they went into well enough, yet made but small progresses. Wherefore in all those parts where these Preachers had travelled, at this day you shall find very few or no Quakers. Now these Emissaries came over I believe into our pro∣vinces first, I believe because of the nearness of the Country and Liberty and toleration of Reli∣gion,

and the Multitude of Divers people follow∣ing their own particular Sects of Religion, where∣fore there were several of them that did not much differ in Principles of Religion, and very little in their way of living from the Quakers. The first of these Emissaries and Missionaries, that came over hither, were William Ames, John Stubs, and William Caton. This was in the year 55. Not long after these, followed John Higgins, Steven Crisp, William Baily, Josias Cole, and others. When Ames, Stubbs and Caton were come over to Holland, they mov'd some of their own Countrymen with their new Doctrines, to such a Degree, that they raised some little Disturbance in the Reformed Eng∣lish Church, and brought a few of our Countrey Mennonites, or Anabaptists, over to their side And these made the Name of Quakers to be first known in these Provinces. After these things Ames tra∣vels to other places, but Stubs and Caton betake themselves to Rotterdam, where at that time, as well as now, a great many English Merchants re∣sided. And here Caton held forth, in an English Merchant's House, to a great Number of English and Dutch there assembled, in his own mother Tongue, English; but his words were rendered in Dutch by another Man, for the sake of those Hol∣landers that did not understand English: But this was labour in vain, for which they gave this rea∣son; that their Interpreter had not rightly given the Auditors the true sense and meaning of what Caton had said, and the due Emphasis of his words: So Caton, leaving Stubs at Rotterdam, goes back again to Amsterdam, in which City there was now a little small Church gathered, and that princi∣pally of Dutch Anabaptists. Where coming into the Assembly of these people, and there making a long Discourse by an Interpreter, for here also they did not understand English, he met with the same success as before at Rotterdam: For before the coming of these Men to Rotterdam, there were certain Citizens of that City, for their singular

way of living and manners, however suspected and hated by the others, that met together in a certain house. There was a rumour spread a∣broad that within that house, there was a par∣cel of foolish, triffling, juggling fellows met to∣gether. So there runs a great Concourse of Peo∣ple thither, ready to set upon them in great fury. But the Burgomaster of the City, comes thither with the officers that usually attend him. They knockt at the door, and because no body opened it, they break it open, and there find out this un∣usual Meeting, and see one Isaac Ferner a Preach∣ing to them, not out of a Pulpit, but standing upon the stairs. Him the Burgomaster commands to be apprehended and 3 of his hearers, for the rest of them were fled away in a great fright. These 4 Men were presently carried away to a Bethlem-house, or place where Madmen and those that were distracted us'd to be kept, as if they were such a kind of people. There was one of these, to whose feet they ty'd a Wooden Clog so that he might walk indeed, but could not go far. He takes his Clog, and as if he had got a battering Ram, falls a beating the Wall with it, to such a degree, that at last he broke it thorow, and made a whole big enough to Creep thorow, and so away he runs with his Clog on, and gets home to his own house. The rest of them, fol∣low his Example, and get away too, all but one softly fellow, who thought, that if he should go away without the Magistrates leave, it would be a betraying of his cause, a Condemning of him∣self, and Confession of his Guilt, and therefore he thought it was better to stand to it stoutly, than to run away shamefully. But when the Burgo-master had more exactly considered these people's Case, and reflected that their Crime was not of so high a nature as to deserve a very severe punish∣ment he recall'd his own order, and caused him that staid behind to be set at liberty, and made no search after those that were gone away. But

these Men were no ways belonging to the Society and Communion of Quakers, as was then gene∣rally believed and as our little News-Mongers writ in their Letters, following the Common Vogue, Whereof this is an Argument that happen'd a lit∣tle after, for Caton and others of his Society, coming hither, and hearing of what these people had done blam'd their doings as being a foolish and mad action, and utterly refused to joyn Communion with them. As those people themselves after∣wards did not joyn with the Quakers, but also mightily opposed them and set themselves as great Adversaries against their Discipline ways and man∣ners. And altho, Ferner, he who had been their Preacher, afterwards joyned himself with the Qua∣kers, yet at last he fell off from them again, and casting of all manner, of goodness, probity, and religion, he turn'd Physician, but he took more care of and looked after his own body, and indul∣ged himself in Riot and Luxury, than regard to the health of his patients, and after he had rio∣tously consumed his Estate, he betook himself to little triffling Vanities and joyn'd in Communion, Friendship, and faith with the Papists, in which State not long after he died, and like a good Ca∣tholick, stept aside into some of the better sort of the internal Mansions And so I have said enough of this Meeting, and the more because I was wil∣ling to Vindicare those that truly are Quakers from this Crime, of which they are innocent; and to undeceive others that may lye under a mistake about it, by relating the whole story as I have been certified it was transacted. To return therefore to the main stream of our discourse, when neither Ames, or his Companions could do any thing, or very little to the purpose, Caton and Stubs truly they lay still for one while, Consider∣ing what to do. But Ames left Holland and went into Germany, to the Palatinate of the Rhine, but notwithstanding, a while after returns into Hol∣land again, and goes to Amsterdam. But it being

known▪ ••hat he came for, and what he would be at, the Burgomaster sends for him by a Sergeant, and one one of the Citizens of the City with him; and when they were come with undaunted Cou∣rages; he commands them within 24 hours to de∣part the City. Which they delaying to do the next day the Burgomaster gives them the same charge again. Which new order, besides that they refus'd to obey, they spoke against, and said that they neither deserved to be used so, nor could they bring themselves to Comply with it, so the Burgomaster, finding them so twice disobedient, and giving ill Examples to the City, commands them to be apprehended and publickly kept in Custody for six days, and then in the Evening to be obscurely, and secretly carried without the Gates of the City, and there left with a charge never to return again. But this command also they took no notice of, so that notwithstanding, they returned back again the next day, and Ames, in the middle of the day, in the sight of all the people, walked in the Market and went up to the very Court it self: Which one of the Burgomasters seeing through the Lattices, is said to have ex∣press'd himself to his Colleagues thus, Denoting not his own desire, but the merit of the Man, Lo, yonder's that Quaker that we might make a Martyr of now if we would. Yet these great Men, who would have punished such a deed severly, if it had been in another case, thought fit to wink at this, Concluding amongst themselves, that as long as it was doubtful and uncertain, what the designs or doings of these people were, that mercy was to be prefer'd before the strictness of justice; and that whatsoever the Enterprises or Intentions of them were, yet that a Command of Prohibition was alwaies less available, than one that prescribed any thing to be done; and that many Men, if they are not restrained from any thing of their own accord, are but so much the more eager after, and desirous of it if they

are forbidden: Moreover, that in a great Multi∣tude sometimes it is a point of principal prudence to take no notice of some things which we know, and that in great Governments oftentimes, the Authority is better preserved, by dissembling, than punishing, small faults. And indeed it was not long, before Ames seeing that he could do no good by his presence, boldne••s, or confidence, went a∣way of his own accord out of the City. From thence he goes to Scheidam, and Rotterdam, and Goud, and staid in these places for sometime, and oftentimes went and return'd the same way, and trys the same thing over and over, and sounds the minds of the people; when at the same time, he could do, almost nothing by all his great la∣bour and pains and travel, but onely set the minds of some people against him, and brought upon himself and his followers the hatred of the Clergy. For as some of those, who were Ames his most Zealous Auditors and followers, which for the most part were Mennonites a bold sort of people, very talkative and Litigions, began more freely and petulantly to give out their Speeches, and hold their Conventicles; so also those, who look'd upon it to be their duty and place, to suffer no Diminution of the esteem and dignity of their Church, began to hate those Men, and look upon them not only as Fools, but as Mad∣men, Men of a Malignant seditious temper, whose assemblies were nothing else, but Semina∣ries of discord and wickedness. Wherefore these Men gave warning to their Auditors both private∣ly and publickly, that they should have nothing to do with them in any wise: And those that were most zealous and intent upon this Argument insi∣nuated them to be a sort of Hereticks, and that they ought to be punish'd and their Meetings re∣stramed: And at last advised Classes and Synods to be held for asserting the rights, and warding off Injuries from the Church, and that nothing should be wanting thereunto, and to make satisfaction

for any Dammages sustained. This was done first in the Synod of Rotterdam, An. 57. It happen'd at Goud that one William Tick, a Man much ad∣dicted to the Quaker's opinions and ways, call'd a Council or Assembly, of some of his own Gang; which the Magistrate looking upon as a Compa∣ny of Infidels, and sending for Tick, he would neither declare what his intention was, or in the least uncover his head, so he was sent into an House of Correction. There was a Town not far from Goud in the way to Rotterdam; In which Ames had drawn a certain Cooper, one Martin's Son into his Society, and here this Man also one time inviting Ames to his house, gets together there some of his Neighbours to discourse of the Things of Faith, and the good ordering of their Lives. News of this being brought to the Mini∣ster of the Place, and known to others, they ran from every side to this house, crying out, That there was a Conventicle of seditious wicked men assem∣bled there. Which Tumult roused up Ames, so that he walks out in a Calm Mood, and very leisurely paces it along, but all of a suddain they fall a reproaching him with a thousand opprobri∣ous terms; and handle him so at last, that if he had not betook himself to his heels, he had run in danger of his Life. But a little while after, these same Men, nothing fearing the violence of the Mob, reassembling in the same place again, some run away and told the Burgomaster, what they were a doing. And when they had told him what these Men had done heretofore, and so be∣ing induc'd to believe, that these Meetings were Conspiracies against the Common Weal and the peace and security of the State; he sent Sergeants and Officers, to take Ames and his Landlord, and carry them to Rotterdam; and there put them in the Bethlem-house I made mention of not long a∣go. Which coming to be known in the City, some of the Ministers, both of the reformed Church, and the Remonstrants too, go to Ames, to see

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

him and talk with him. And they discourse much with him of many points, both of his Doctrine and Religion, and that several times; but he handling things so obscurely and perplexedly to any Man's apprehension; that other people could scarcely tell what he would have; and they on all occasions starting such objections; as he, either could not tell how or declin'd to give a plain an∣swer to, this Discourse was to no purpose at all Ames published a little book not long after, in which he proposes to the Ministers of our reform∣ed Churches, 83 questions of several Articles of Faith, for them to solve. To these Answers James Coleman, then a youth, and then also of a happy wit, and Eloquent Tongue, as also one of known piety and probity, integrity, and uprightness, both in life and manners (for all those that were any ways considerable for Age or Learning, despis'd and pass'd by in silence, as things not worth the minding, those little triffling questions of this Quaker, propos'd onely for ostentation and shew) and that lest these people should boast them∣selves, as if we were silent and refus'd to answer them, in despair of the Victory. And he answer∣ed them not with a youthful heat, but with mo∣deration and wisdom. And this young Man in like manner proposed 60 questions to Ames, and the rest of his Brethren the Quakers that they might have whereon to exercise themselves, and shew their wit and parts. Now whilest Ames was consined to this solitary place he spent his time principally in Writing. And so besides several Letters to his friends, he makes and publishes a reply to Coleman's Answers, not forreign indeed from the purpose, but bitter and not to be suf∣fered in those that so much reprehend the same fault in others. But as to the Questions that Cole∣man proposed to the Quakers, those, not Ames, but Higgins Answers, but so as not onely, partly declining that wherein the State of the Case lay partly improperly and absurdly, partly obscurely

and in dark terms, but also roughtly and with ill Language he mannages, and if it were but by this alone, betrays his cause. Ames at last being set at liberty from this place comes to Leyden, and there also going on with the same work as before, he was cast into such another like place, full of Spiders and Cobwebs, and there he was kept, till the Burgomaster, weary of his Idleness, or Misery and Sickness, sent him away from thence. Then away he travels into other provinces of Holland. 'Tis a wonder, he being a Man, than whom there was scarce any of those people more forward, and travelling, over so many Towns and Places, un∣derstanding both Languages very well, both Eng∣lish and Dutch and bestowing so much labour and pains amongst all sorts of People, that there were no more that joyned themselves with him and the Quakers, not even in the most populous Cities where there were so many Inhabitants English, and all sorts and kinds of Men, and some very near the Quakers in a great many things. But as the coming and motion of these Men had rais'd these little Disturbances here and there, and greater troubles and confusions were fear'd in other pla∣ces, these things principally stir'd up the Careful∣ness and Diligence of the Clergy, every where, as there was occasion to be on the watch, and look out, least they should cause any inconvenience or do any damage to their flock. And so this gave occasion to the Synod of Goud An. 59. To make this decree, that all Pastors should take a diligent observation of these Quaker's Meetings, and the books they should disperse, and apply themselves to the Magistrates by their Authority to suppress these things, and that, if these Men should any where give any Trouble to our People, the Mini∣sters of the word should well confirm the minds of their Auditors in their Sermons, Catechisings and Visitations. After this there was little heard of the Quakers. For it was a long while before the people knew what the Quakers were. Whence

at first they were look'd upon as a poor sort of people without a Name, or place of habitation, as a kind of Fools, and Madmen. Then as an unquiet and troublesome sort of people; For which reasons they were cast into Bonds and Pri∣sons. And at last they were accounted for bring∣ers up of some new Sects of Religion, which wanted a new place of residence. And therefore now as defiled persons they seem'd fit to be re∣moved a far off. Some therefore in their progress sate down amongst the Anabaptists or Mennonites, an unquiet sort of people, alwaies hunting after Novelties. Others are believ'd to have gone over to the Socinians, a pestilent deceitful sort of Here∣ticks; from whom nevertheless they are so far off, that except the Papists there's none they are more averse from. It happen'd that in the year 64, the Socinians, of which there was a great Number in those Countries, every day grew more and more, and made some Commotions again and again, and also here and there began to raise Disturbances. Nor must I pass over in silence, that among the principal Asserters and Defenders of the Socinian cause, there was one especially; who, as a Cock can Crow best upon his own Dunghil, who, not onely upon all occasions rail'd furiously against the Quakers, and not onely thwarted their Coun∣cils and Designs in some parts of these provinces, but also could not restrain the force of his anger, before he had done Considerable dammages to some of them. Now this I find by the Acts of the Synod of Woerd, held the year aforemention∣ed, that our people then also were afraid of the Quakers, and took care lest by any means, any dammage should accrew to their Churches by them. And moreover the Quakers to be Enume∣rated with the Socinians.

Hence a Decree was made in that Synod, That care should be taken, that the Interdict of the States should be put in Execution; by which they had cau∣tiously provided a few years before, That none should

bring the Socinian Errors, or Books into these Coun∣treys, or keep any such sort of Meetings, or Conventi∣cles, under the Penalty, That if any one should do any such thing, for the first time as a Blasphemer against the Divine Name, and Disturber of the Peace, he should be banish'd out of the Province; and for the second Offence should be punished for so great a Crime, at the Will and Pleasure of his Judges. Then Two years afterwards the Legates of the Synod of Dort presented a supplicatory Treatise to the States, in which they pray the order I before mentioned may be put in Execution. The States refer that trea∣tise to the Session of their senate. The senate, by reason of other grave and difficult businesses of the common Weal which they had in hand, pro∣tract and delay the Cognizance of this affair. Af∣terwards the Treatise was not to be found. The Legates write it over again and tender it De novo. And yet for all that could get no Answer. So now three whole years were run on. Wherefore in the year 69. In the Synod of Goud and that other of Schonhove since the Legates had been for so long time imployed in this affair to no purpose at all, and every one easily saw, what it was that caus'd this delay, the further Prosecution of this affair was quite left off. But Ames and his first Com∣panions departing out of these Countreys, the Quaker's affairs in Holland were principally pro∣moted by the Council and Assistance of one Ben∣jamin Furley, an English Merchant, first at Amster∣dam, then at Rotterdam, who, together with his Merchandize, had addicted himself to the study of Learning, and in the favour of these Men, wrote several little Tracts in Divers Languages. But yet refrain'd himself from exercising the office of a Teacher or Minister amongst them, alledging this reason for it, that he could safely enough be taught at all times, but could scarce be a Teacher himself without danger. Altho, as time and age teach Men many things, this same Man afterwards found fault with and went off from many things

in the Doctrine and Manners of the Quakers. From hence it appears what the Number of the Quakers might be in Holland, and after what manner at this Day it is included in a few familys, there are not so many as that the Number of fami∣lyes can equallize that of the Citys throughout the whole Province. And so long as they used all manner of moderation in their way of Living, and only took care about their own Religion, without concerning themselves with that of others, they enjoy'd as much Liberty as themselves could wish for,

While these things were doing in Holland; in Zealand, in the City of Middleburgh, Christopher Bertrad, an English Seaman (the same Man who caused such a Disturbance in the Church at Bri∣stol in England, and carried himself so insolenty be∣fore the Magistrate as we took notice of in the First Book) in an Assembly of the Church of England, in Prayer-time, he made such a noise with his Dis∣course and Clamours, and angred them to such a de∣gree, that they thrust him out of the Church; Whither he presently runing in again, they sent for Officers who conducted him to Prison. Where, when he had remained for a year and a half, there came to him, moved at his long Confinement, and affected with a like Sense of his Griefs, Caton, who, assoon as 'twas known who he was, was put into the same place. Then both of them, at the request of the States Ambassadour to the Commonwealth of England, at Newport, were sent and put into a Man of War, and carried over into England, being jeered, reproach'd and vex'd all the way by the Sea∣men and Soldiers. Now Ames, who was always the chief man in action, as long as he remained in these Parts; Considering, that things did not go to his mind in Holland, and that Caton had reap'd such fruits of his Labour in Zealand; he undertakes a journey into Gelderland, and from thence to Over∣yssell, and goe's thro' almost all the Meetings of the Mennonites in both those Provinces, trying if he

could bring over any of these people, who seem'd better affected to his party, and indeed were pretty near the Quakers, if not in all, yet at least in many Opinions and Customes. But here neither Ames could make any advantage or do any thing worth the speaking of.

After this he and Caton, who was now come back out of England, took a journey into Friesland, to try the Mennonites there, who, in that Province, more than in any other part of these Countryes, not only in their Institutions, but also in their Country Customes, and the Nature of the people, were harmless, temperate, precise, and came nearer the Discipline of the ancient Anabaptists, not that which of late dayes has prevailed amongst that sort of People. But here, these men onely shew themselves, and go away again as wise as they went without any good or hurt done. But after these men were gone, there were not a few, that embrac'd the very same Doctrine, that these men came to declare, and join'd themselves to them with the same ninds and desires. These Mennonites, and a pareel of Socinians, that shrouded themselves under their Meetings; and that sort of Men, [the Family of Love] who are full of Love and Humanity, cross to none, open and free to all, who hold this Notion of God, (and herein their Worship of God lyes) That God is not Evil; and that they themselves are not so nither, nor would do any ill to any body. Which sort of men increasing every day more and more, and now coming abroad and meeting together both publickly and privately, and holding their general Assemblys for publck Wor∣ship, and constantly observing their meetings, and by this meanes making way for the comission of many other penicious and ill things; the Menno∣nites being a more Religious and strict sort of Peo∣ple, began to look upon them with evill Eyes, and be displeased with them, and lay many things to their charge, and fill their Sermons with them. And the Ministers and Overseers of our Churche

complain'd much of this new sort of People, and painted them in all their Colours, and accus'd them of being the worst of Hereticks, guilty of all maner of Vices, and admonished their Auditors in long and Earnest Discourses, that they should by all meanes have a care of them. Moreover there were Councils and Synods held to Consider of the best ways and meanes to Suppress and Extinguish in the bud this growing mischief, and it was Or∣dained; that they should be debarr'd both from their private Consultations, and also, their publick meetings; Whereupon the Delegates of the Synod present a Writing to the Counselors or Delegates of the States, (we call both the one and the other Deputies) in which they grievously complain, That there were to be found in these Provinces, both elsewhere and in Friesland several of the impious sect of the Quakers, and they desire of them, that the States would maturely advise about it and take care to put a stop to the farther Spreading of those diabolical Errours: Whereupon the States of Fri••sland make this Law, That no Socinians, Quakers, or Dippers (for what other Name to give them I cannot tell) should come within those Territories; or if they did should be shut up in a Bride-well, and there kept Constantly to hard Labour, with a reward moreover of 25 Gelders of Friesland for any Person that should discover any of these People. This fell out in the Year 62. After this Order Friesland enjoyed peace and quiet from these People, either they keept themselves close within their own houses, or the Government was not very inqusitive after them, and thought they had a sufficient awe upon them. And now also, in the rest of the Provinces, after this time there was no great account made of these People, both by reason of the smal numbers there was of them, and that they themselves grew more moderate. Where∣fore tho at the first they were had in Contempt of all People every where, and in their Meetings, and goings in and out, and at their funeral Solemnities and Burials, the Boys and Mob, often us'd to abuse

them to a high degree; yet afterwards they grow∣ing more cautious and circumspect in their Actions, in some things, and omitting others, even this in∣solence of the People against them was left of by degrees. Nor must we pass over, how that for a long time, a great many Pamphlets, written not so much for the instruction of others, as the Osten∣tation of their own Sect; and besides, a great many of those bolted-out-Extempore, ill-composed, rash, tumultuous, weak, triffling, unfit not only to be Read again, but also to be look'd upon, came out of these men's Shops, and little Libels of Questions were put out, in favour or for the defence of that Sect; or for the exalting that, and depression of other Religions, (although some of these Libels and Pamphlets were made and writ by ill Men, and with a base design father'd upon the Quakers.) Afterwards this kind of Writing, and that plenty of Writers, was displeasing to the wiser men among the Quakers, and they concluded that these foolish Triffles, and the multitudes of them, had done more hurt than good to their Doctrine and People, and procured them more disgrace than Credit. Then by degrees there arose others, who treated of their Affairs with a finer Wit, and more polite Judgment, using more cogent Arguments, and a more exact style of Discourse, with easie and fluent Language, not like the former Scriblers; And these took of the ill-will and aversion which some had entertained against them, and reconcil'd them to a better Opinion of their Religion, making it ap∣pear more Weighty and Momentous. There came over in the year 1670. into Holland, one James Park, and from thence he went on into Friesland to Harling: And in that City observing many things that he dislik'd, both amongst the Refor∣med and amongst the Mennonites: Of which two sort of People, almost all the whole City confisted: He returned back again into Holland, and coming to Amsterdam, writes a Letter to the People of both those Churches: 'Twas a tart Letter, and full

of contumelious Accusations and Reproofs, as if the Religion of them both were only a barren Pro∣fession, and their Lives the heigth of all manner of Hipocrisie and Impiety, and a Denial of God, con∣cluding with a denunciation of Threats and Exe∣crations against them, as if it were in the Name, and by the Command of the Divine Being himself. This Letter was sent to Harling, by Cornelius Ru∣dolph, and James and Isaac Buylard, the Father and Son, all of them Citizens of Amsterdam, and formerly Mennonites, but now turn'd Quakers. So to Harling they all go. They purposed first to Read the Letter in one of the Mennonite's Meet∣ings, and then send it to the Ministers of the Re∣formed Churches in Friesland, for them to Read. Moreover, they concluded to send and disperse se∣veral Pamphlets treating of their Opinions, up and down the Country; and to possess People's Minds as much as they could, and try all ways and means that they could possibly think of to promote the interest of their Society throughout Friseland: For which thing, the Buylards seem'd the most proper Instruments, both by reason of their long Dealing and Commerce, and Acquaintance and Familiarity with many in those parts.

With these designs therefore and hopes they all three together go directly to Harling, the entrance and gate of that Province. Cornelius Rudolph (it being an Holiday) goes presently into one of the Mennonite's Meetings; (the Buylards staying in the mean while in their Inn to rest themselves) and after all the Exercises were over, draws the Letter out of his Bosom; and the Chief of them not seeming averse to it, tho' many of the People were against it, yet at least he reads it over to them all, that they might all know what they were to be accounted of, who they were that corrected, and took such care of them. This almost all of them resent as a very hainous thing; and set upon him with great clamour and violence. Not to make more Words of it, they fetch the Beadle of the Ci∣ty,

and he carries Rudolph away into a secret place. Then the Buylards are fetch out of their Inn and carried thither too. And thence, two days after, to render their Undertaking the more contemptible to some, and inspire others with the greater Aver∣sion against them, they are tied together by night; and because they would not go of themselves, are carried to Leeweward, the Capital City of the Pro∣vince, and put into the Bridewell there. Where at their first coming they were kindly received and civilly entertained by the Governors of the place, who did for them what they would, that they might go into the Conclave which they would have them: Afterwards, when they were grieved to accept the offer'd civility, they thrust them into such a kind of a Cellar, as they, not being us'd to such a horrid and dark Habitation, and accustomed at home at their own Houses to live plentifully, through want and grief within a short space of time fell very Sick together. Several sorts of men come to visit them, and they Discourse with them all of Religion, and bestow their Pamphlets upon several of them. They write also to the Magistrates, complaining that they, being innocent People, should be so used as if they were the greatest Criminals in the World. After this they are taken out of this place, and carried into the City Prison, which they call the Fort, and were brought to their Trial, which was held before three of the chief Council of the Court; They deny no∣thing that was alledged against them, but only plead that they did not know, that what they had done was contrary to Law; for they had heard, and were of that Opinion, that the Decree that the Law had made against the Quakers, was some time since repealed. And indeed, since there was no reason to suppose that these Men should tell a Lie in this case; and since for a good while there had no force or effect of this Law appeared; and, as 'tis a Maxim in Law, that a Law ceases for want of being put in Execution, it might be likely enough that these People might not know it. And they

gave great Commendations of the Moderation and Temper of the Senator Vierssen in this Cause. But whereas these Men also did not, nor indeed could deny the Fact charged upon them; That they had done such a thing amongst the Mennonites; and that that was the design they went upon, with an intention also by the same Letter to defame and disturb our Churches: And moreover all of them refusing, during their Trial, to be uncovered, and to Sit in the seats where the Prisoners, or Criminals as they call them us'd to Sit; the Judges reputing their intended Crime as if it had been a thing ac∣complished, commanded them to be carried back and put in the same Prison from whence they came. Now Isaac grew very ill; therefore he had a Bed sent him for him to lie upon; but his Father, and Companion Rndolph, being soon taken away from him, were thrust into the company of divers Er∣roneous and wicked Men, wich afflicted them with a double grief, both because they were dragg'd away from their dear Friend, and he too drawing near, as it should seem, to Death, and so he should be taken from their Embraces who was a Person so desirable to them; and they penn'd up amongst a parcel of wicked Varlets, and as they aggravated it, wild Beasts disguising their Cruelty under the appearance of an human shape. And now these Captives, being shut up in a Prison together among these cursed Villains, were plagued and tormented night and day continually, not only with the beast∣ly Discourses, but also the filthy and villanous Acti∣ons of those wretched Rogues; at last they grew very weak; James moreover being an old man of 70 years old; Rudolph indeed began to grow much worse; but James to such a degree, that he fell in∣to a deadly Disease. So this old Man had the favour of a more open and commodious place granted him; but then it was too late: for now his Breast being stuff•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a Cold and the smoaky Air, after three days time he died of a Ptysick. After these things were over, in 7 months time, his Son

is let out of Prison, but so as he is banish'd that whole Province for the space of ten years. Rudolph is not only kept in Prison, but is also order'd not to stir out thence till after 5 years were over.

The Quakers make a great complaint, and also publish it in Writing, What great injury and vio∣lence is offered to their Friends in Friesland by the Mennonites, and Reformed, and the Governors there, they as the Beginners, these as the Promoters, and those as the Executioners in their Persecution. And when it was objected to them, What they had done in a Congregation of the Mennonites, and intended to do in our Churches, they replied; That they had done nothing else, but only publickly reprov'd those that had cast Aspersions and Reproaches upon them and their Doctrine; and so that it was not they that were the Revilers, but they had only given an answer to the Calumnies of those that had set upon them first. And that the Mennonites had lit∣tle reason to complain or find fault with such a thing in other People, whereas 'twas common with them to do the same thing among themselves every day, and that they often fell from their Duty in this case; so that there was scarce any City, but in which they gave a great deal of trouble to the Magistrates by their Quarrelli 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But to return from whence I have digressed; Cornelius remains in Prison for 3 years; till that first, most pernicious, and to our Provinces almost fatal War with the French, at what time the Bishop of Munster drew his Troops to∣wards this Province of Friesland. At what time they dismissed this Man out of Custody, and com∣manded him to depart out of their Territories. And from that time the Quakers began to shew themselves more in Friesland, and to increase more and more, and more freely to act; they now be∣coming better acquainted, and reconciling them∣selves to the Opinions and Discourses of the People, and being less uncouth to their sight and hearing.

At several times there went through these Coun∣tries to visit their Friends, Fox, Barclay; Penn,

Keith, and others. But there was nothing worth remembring done by these Men; save that Barclay at such time, as the Ambassadors of several Kings and Princes were met together at Nimeguen to Treat about a general Peace; he also interceeds to procure a Peace for all their Churches, and de∣livers a Letter thereupon to each of these Gentle∣men, and withall certain Theological Theses, con∣taining the Heads of their Doctrines, and after∣wards affixes them to the Doors of a certain Uni∣versity, and submits them to the Examination of all Men: And also, That William Penn and Galen Abraham, a Physician, and also a Preacher amongst those Mennonites, which we account all, or for the most part of them at least, to be Socinians: At the same time almost at Amsterdam disputed in a pri∣vate House, of the signs of the New Church, and extraordinary Call of Ministers; and that after such a manner, as Penn, who, after the manner of his Nation, spake nothing but in a premeditated and set form of Speech; shew'd upon this occasion that when he had a mind to it, he was not want∣ing in the faculty of answering Extempore, to the suddain and large Discourses of others; but the other so abounded in multitudes of words, as he never came at the stress of the matter where the cause lay; And where he could not tell how to bring close Arguments to the purpose, he either very ingeniously put of giving an answer at all, or turn'd it into Joke and Banter, and so it ended after the same rate as Disputations most commonly do. The Quakers are wont when they talk of the Things that happen'd to them in these Countries, to say, That they never suffered so much, but that the benefits they now enjoy do more than counter∣vail it; and that whatsoever they have suffered, that they have suffered nothing for any ill Deed or Crime, which even those that are most inraged a∣gainst them, never pretended to object against any one of them; and that indeed they have not suffe∣red for their Doctrine and Religion, since that at

the time they suffered, those who were their Per∣secutors did not so much as know what their Do∣ctrine and Religion was; and such their Religion was looked upon as Error through mistake had ap∣prehended it; and when afterwards, what their Doctrine and Religion was, began to be more exact∣ly known and conceived by Men, and that not up∣on suspicion and by conjecture only, but certain no∣tices and due apprehensions thereof, that thence∣forward no Injury or Violence was offer'd to them by any Persons whatsoever, upon the account of their Doctrine and Religion. Moreover, thus they will go on to argue with you, and say, That al∣though they cannot absolutely forget, nor totally blot out of their mind the remembrance of what had befallen them in these Countries, yet that this they can do nevertheless, to take no notice of, but bury them in perpetual silence, and to rejoyce in their present enjoyment.

Now there springs up a new race of Men, a new Sect, Discipline, and new way of living, in these Provinces. These were comprehended in that Communion and Society, which they called Labadistic, from the Author and Gatherer of it, one John Labadee, a French Walloon, formerly a Papist and Jesuit; afterwards coming over to our side, a Minister of the Gospel in several of the French Churches; last of all, at Middleburgh in Zealand, but he was put out of his place for refusing to sub∣mit to the Judgment and Decree of the Walloon Synod, (for so here they call the French Churches) of some Fact he had done; A very ripe-witted and subtle Man he was indeed, moderately Learned, but above measure Eloquent and Rhetorical, and beyond expression, prompt and ready to speak Ex∣tempore upon any subject: Of this Man various were the Opinions and Senses of the People. For thus they that were Adversaries to him described him, as a Man of a sickle temper, and always changing, disdainful, yielding to none that were his Superiours, to his Equals arrogant and proud,

and to his Inferiours altogether intollerable; nei∣ther in Mind nor Manners the same sort of a Man that in Countenance and Habit he seem'd to be, making shew of a great deal of Modesty and Hu∣mility, but full of Craft in Counterfeiting and Dis∣simulation; though better at playing the Counter∣feit of what he was not, than Dissembling what he was; so that there was no Man living more fit or better qualified, under a specious pretence of Goodness, and shew of Religion, to tickle the Minds of unwary People, and circumvent them as he pleas'd. There were others that lov'd the Man well, and were his Followers, and familiar Friends, and most intimate Acquaintance, as could scarce ever endure to be out of his Sight; and these ce∣lebrated his Praises, as one that far exceeded all the Doctors of the Churches, and a Man sent on a Di∣vine Embassy from Heaven to Mankind, who thought and did all things Divinely, and with a Mind perpetually conversant in Heaven, and from thence deriv'd, instituted, and was to perfect the Work of Reformation, to others either altogether unknown, or an ungrateful task they would not care to undertake, or that it would seem an insup∣portable burthen, or of such a kind as no body would be able to go through with. Others there were that had entertained a middling sort of an Opi∣nion of him, between both these Extreams, and they look'd upon him as a very excellent Man, and a very useful and necessary instrument for the Reformation of Life and Manners, and likely to become their undoubted Restorer, but that he was a little too hasty and severe, and almost passionate∣ly intent in the weighing and correcting of Men; and so by over-doing, did undo and spoil what his Intentions aim'd at.

Of thi•• Society there was as it were another Pa∣rent, one Anna Maria a Schurman, a noble Maid, and very Rich; and more than that, which is sel∣dom heard of or found, I had almost said known, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Person endued with most singular Piety and In∣tegrity,

abounding in a universal Learning and Knowledge, skill'd in various Arts and Sciences, and the Knowledge of very many Languages, not only of the European, but also of the Oriental Tongues, and that not only of those that were more anciently in use, but of the modern times; so that in this Sex there has either never, or at least very seldom been seen, a more illustrious or emi∣nent Example; so that hereby she was become the love and delight, and as it were, the Lady Patro∣ness of the Learned of her time; which she her self afterwards took notice of, and deplored, in a Book which she Writ, and Intituled it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Of this Society there were Members, many of the Nobility and People, but they were such as were of the best Esteem, and Monied Men in whom there was either an inclination or intention of Pie∣ty, and a forsaking of evil Company, and a Con∣tempt and avoidance of the frail and fleeting things of this World. A fit Society this, for those that were thus disposed; for those I say, who in this light, transient, and soon perishing state of the Affairs of the whole Universe, and in so great an abundance of the wickedness of Mankind, and those great numbers of Christians as they pretend them∣selves, who only are so in name, and not reality, were nauseated and tired with what they heard and saw, and to whom Christ alone and their Salvati∣on of their Souls by him, was their only desire and care. The first House this Society had was at Amsterdam. Then at Altona upon the Elbe, where Labadee deceased, being a Man mightily belov'd by all those of his Party. Last of all at Wiewerd, a Town in Friesland, not far distant from Leeweward, where they had a very ample House, formerly the Mansion-House of the Waltars, and then afterwards Hereditary to the Family of the Sommeldices. In which place not long after this Society was dissolved and dispers'd about, rfter the manner of the Primitive and most blessed State of the Church, which a great many People presag'd

and foretold from the very first, and so all this ex∣pectation was lost, and all those Treasures which several of the Society had contributed towards it▪ were turned into Ashes. Now before this came to pass, this noble Maid, being now stricken in years, and almost decripit, arriv'd at the end of her Race, and Dying, was Cloth'd with Immortality: Happy she, had she not in the very midst of her Glory turn'd aside to this By-Way, and having run through part of her life, in that very House, on which she, had, with those prodigious Endowments of Mind, bestow'd so much Cost, she was forsaken of all those that gap'd after her Estate, and all her Family, and left all alone; but only not forsaken of God, or abandoned to Desperation, and so in her mournful Seat she breath'd out her Soul, when she had first recommended it to God in Christ. Of this excel∣lent Maid, (to add this by the by) What was mor∣tal and perishing was repos'd not in the Sepulchral Monument or Tomb belonging to the Family of the Waltars, erected in the Church, as it might have been; but without in the Church-yard, or Ground lying about it, in the common Earth, a∣mongst the rest of her Brothers and Sisters, accor∣ding to her own desire, leaving that Monument out of Modesty, that Familiarizer and Governess of all other Virtues, of which this Lady in her life-time was always the perfect Pattern. But since, what the Doctrine of these People was, what their Reli∣gion, and how their way of Living, what their In∣tention, and what their aims and enterprises about the Church and other Men were, may be fully known by their Writings, which several Men a∣mong them, yea, and some Women too, have published concerning themselues, and many of our Learned Men, of them; I shall not now stay to Recapitulate. But because all this Relation tends to this end, to shew what Agreement there was between the Quakers, of whom alone in this Work we treat, and these Labadists (I call them so be∣cause I know no better name to call them by) in

Doctrine, and what Institution to one and the same purpose; and lastly, what intentions they had to joyn in Friendships, and contract Acquaintances, I will shortly and in few words relate it. As to their Doctrine, although these Men at first in∣troduced little or nothing which was different from our Faith, yet in process of time they brought in divers Innovations about the use of the Holy Scriptures, and the guidance and operations of the Holy Spirit, and Prayers, and the remaining parts of Worship, and the Sacraments and Discipline of the Church, so that they came nearer to the Opi∣nions of the Quakers in these things, than to our Doctrine. Now it appears that these Men, no less than the Quakers, reprehended and found fault with many things in our Churches, and those of all Protestants, that they were all so corrupt and deprav'd, that no effect, no fruit of the Spirit of God appeared amongst them, nor no Worship of God, but only a carnal and external One; no mutual attention, no conjunction of Minds, no love, no will, no endeavours for the good, one of another, or the common good, that was to be seen. Lastly, That no one's Life and Manners answered what they all profess'd, or the Example and Precepts of Christ. And as this was the com∣plaint and quarrel of the Quakers, so in like man∣ner was it of these People too, that with these vices above others were infected those that were the Prelates and Preachers of the Word, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God. Lastly, these People thought thus, that they were the Men from whom the beginning and first Examples of the Restitu∣tion of the Church was to be expected, who also were wholly intent upon the famous work of this Reformation; Just as the Quakers thought, that this was chiefly reserv'd for them, and that they were in a special manner obliged to go on with this Work of Reformation. So great was the Fame of this Society, that there was scarce any place in these Countries where there was not a great talk

talk about these Teachers and Workers, so that in Foreign Countries there was scarce any where, unless it were among such People, who have no regard to what is done abroad, who had not heard something of them. Therefore when these Re∣ports were gone over into England and Scotland; at first indeed there were some of these Men who, being averse from the State of the Church as un∣der the Bishops, contained themselves within their own Churches which were more remote from, ex∣ternal rites and splendor, and a worldly and de∣licate polite, as they call it, and elegant Life and Conversation, who also undertook the Ministerial Function. At last, also the Quakers, who as soon as ever they heard of this sort of Men, and their plain Religion, and way of Life that they fol∣lowed, they began to think in good earnest of this Society of People, and to be better acquaint∣ed with them, and to consider ways and means amongst themselves how they should come to enter into Consultation with them. I know that there was one of those Ministers of the Gospel, so averse from the Episcopal way, and addicted to Presbyterial Churches, who not only himself writes to this Society, but also communicates his thoughts upon this subject to an eminent Quaker, which Man when after that time he foresaw many things from the face of the Kingdom, which tho not alto∣gether true indeed, yet seeming very probable and likely to come to pass, at that time he was not such a fearer of Episcopacy, but that one might read in his Countenance, and since he was a Man, that one time or another it would come to pass, as afterwards it happen'd, that he was made a Bishop. The first of the Quakers that came from Scotland to the Labadists to Amsterdam, was George Keith, a Man both very skillful in, and much us'd to Controversie and Disputes. After him, comes out of England, R. Barclay, a Man likewise of great Experience, and well seen in the Defence of his Religion. These Men, one af∣ter

another, treat about this matter with Labadee, and the rest of them, on whom the Government of the Society lay. But when the Quakers o∣pened their Mind briefly, and in a common Style, but they on the other hand us'd such deep and far fetch'd Speeches, and those so round about the bush, and turning and winding, and so much Elo∣quence, or endless Talkativeness, that the Qua∣kers knew not what these Men would say, or how to know or find out and discern their Opinions, Institutions, and Intentions, or where to have them, (which also had often happen'd to our People en∣quiring of these Men about these things) and now began to suspect, that they were not such a pure sort of People, and were either bordering upon some Errors, or privately entertain'd and bred some monstrous Opinion. And when the Quakers tried again at another time, to see further if by any means they could bring things to a Consent and Agreement, and a conjunction together that they might act in common Concert, the Laba∣dists not only drew back, but also resented it ill, and were so angry, that they thought it would be to no purpose to try any farther Conclusions with them. And either upon the occasion of these Meetings together, or from the designs of some of their Adversaries to reproach them, it came to pass, that from that time the Labadists came to be call'd Quakers, which name followed them from Amsterdam to Hereford, and there ac∣companied them, so that Men all abroad not only call'd them by the Name of Quakers, which to them appeared as a horrible Title, but also of∣tentimes us'd to throw Stones at them. To a∣void which reproach, and withal to shew, how much they hated both Name and Thing, they, out of their Printing-Office which they carried about with 'em, publish'd a Writing by the Title, shewing what the Argument of the Book was; An Examination and Confutation of the Quakers. Nevertheless after this, there went to these Laba∣dists

in Friesland, William Penn, that most famous Man amongst the Quakers; A Man of such Spirit and Wit, as was both willing and able to en∣counter with all their Adversaries. But the end of all was the same.

To which I will add this Relation, That Willi∣am Penn at this time being so near the—Wood, the Summer Residence of that Illustrious Lady, the Princess of—of whom, as indeed she was, and is a Princess who has a peculiar Talent of Wis∣dom, and Piety, and Greatness of Soul, in assert∣ing and promoting the Interest of Religion, he had heard much talk, and this Princess being now there present, it comes in his mind, and he in∣treats it as an extraordinary Favour, that he may have the Liberty of Access to wait upon her High∣ness. And she her self too having heard much of Penn, admits him; but so, as what she had heard many say, runs in her highness's mind, that Penn was not the Man that he desired to be taken for, but was either a Jesuit, or else an Emissary of his King's sent to sound the minds of the People and Gran∣dees of this Country, and therefore she fore-armes her self against him. But when this Princess had admitted Penn to her Speech; and he composes his Speech not with those Artificial Elegancies and Courtly Niceties, which his former Inclination, Education, and Customs had enabled him to; but with the highest gravity, and as far as Religion would permit, in the most exquisite terms he could devise; and thinking this discourse might not be displeasing to the Princess, at the end of it, he begs leave to make a Sermon before her Highness. To which the Princess, to make short with him, Answers, that she had very good Preachers of her own, whom he might hear; and she had not far off David Fluda Giffen, a Preach∣er worthy of such a Princess; as who besides his natural parts, Learning, and sweetness of Con∣versation, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Probity of Life, and endued with a singular gift in Preaching, was now the

worthy pastor of the Church at Dort, a Man to us well known and our very great friend. Which Answer Penn taking in the stead of a civil Refu∣sal, with a chearful Countenance and in kind terms asks her Highness, if in any other respect he might be serviceable to her; and so takes his leave of her Highness. Now from Friesland a province of our Belgium, which is simply called Friesland, I go on to that they call East-Fries∣land. In that Countrey, in the chief City call'd Embden, in the 74th year of this Century, there were a few Quakers that appear'd there, of whom the Principal or chief Men were John William Ha∣asbaard, a Doctor of Physick; John Borsome and Cornelius Andrews. These Men began first to hold their Meetings privately, afterwards more openly, then to publish books of their Tenets; to allure and invite the more to their Communion. Which being known, and growing publick, to the Magi∣strates, convened most of the Quakers before them into their Courts. They appear there. By the Magistrates order there came thither two of their Ministers, one the Presidents of the Meeting of East-Friesland, and another next to him, Fre∣deric Vlderic, and John Alardin. The Senate has under Deliberation, that whereas, as yet, they did not rightly understand, other than by Rela∣tions from other hands, what the sentiments of these Men was, what they did, or what they aim'd at and pretended to, that therefore it would be their best way, to hear and understand these things from themselves, least they should seem to pass a sentence upon people before they had heard, or known what their Cause was; and on the other hand, if they were indeed found to be such as fame reported them, that they might, in due time, obviate and prevent their attempts, and mix them as it were in the bud before they grew to greater strength. But when these Quakers appeared before the Magistrates, they stood with their hats on, and would not pull them off altho they were ordered so to do; not out of Pride or from In∣nation

or Contempt of them, but because it was the Custom and Fashion of those of their opini∣on, and they thought that such sort of honours were not due to Men. A great deal of Dispute there was about this business between the Quak∣ers and those Ecclesiastical persons. Which Dis∣course, being drawn out to a great length, and nothing brought to the purpose that was intend∣ed, the Magistrate Haasbaard, as being the prin∣cipal and most skillful mannager of this affair that 2 days afterwards he should appear before a Convention of the Pastors, and Synod of the Church, and there, before them, state the Case of his Religion, under the penalty of 10 Imperials Haasbaard refus'd this Meeting, and appears not at the Stated day▪ But the Quakers however go on, and in the mean while; and afterwards meet in Haasbaard's house. Wherefore the Magistrate lays a fine upon them of 100 Imperials a time, as often as they met together after that manner. They take no notice of that, neither. So the Ma∣gistrate taking this as an affront to his Authority and Dispising of his gentle Government and Cle∣mency, concluded to take another course with this People. Which yet before he would do, he thought fit once again to try if he could pick out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Men, what their Intentions, desires and aimes were, therefore the next day he causes them to be call'd into Court before him, and to∣gether with them the two Ministers before mentioned were order'd to be present, that they might Examine them about these things, and maturely deliberate upon them. For they thus thought that it was absolutely belonging to the Duty and Business of the Political and Eccle∣siastical Order, to look after and enquire, what was done in the City, and in the Church, and with all Care and Diligence, to provide and take Order that no Disturbance, Faction, Tumult, or any pernicious Error, Deceit, or Seduction should arise, and spread about among the People;

and that the Quakers themselves, in this case, ought not only to pay their Obedience to the Ma∣gistrates, but also themselves, of their own ac∣cord, and free will, by the impulse of their Religi∣on, and monitions of our Lord Christ, and the Motions of the Holy Spirit, not to decline the Ex∣position of what it was they insisted on, and the Principles they so much Gloried in, but with all im∣aginable Readiness to comply with the Magistrates desire herein, and to render an Account of their Faith and Actions before these men.

The Quakers made their appearance, and stood with their Hats on to plead their own Cause, and First the Magistrates began to reprove them, not only for refusing to obey their Order, but also, that they had so far cast of all manner of Obedi∣ence to them, to whom, by the Laws of the City, they were subject; and the Confession of their Life and Faith they left to them to declare to those, who with so much mildness attended their Answer as to these things; Then both those Mi∣nisters began, with a great deal of Modesty and Simplicity, to ask them their Opinion of the seve∣ral chief Heads of Divinity, and the Christian Re∣ligion, and where they Esteem'd them to lye un∣der any Error to instruct them. To whom the Quakers opposing their Answers, both Parties en∣tered into a Dispute amongst themselves; and in the Disputation the Quakers at last grew so far out of patience, that they inveighed against the Prea∣chers and Ministers of the Word, and term'd their Examination a Spanish-Inquisition, and them Hire∣ling Ministers; and thereupon cry'd out, That they would have nothing to do with them; with which immoderation the Magistrate being moved, against forbid them to Meet under the same Pe∣nalty: And tells them withal, that if yet they would so do, that he would take Order that they should depart the City, and his Jurisdiction. This was done in full Senate; But yet this Threatning was so far from deterring them, that

presently after, in the very same place, they held their Meetings again. The number of the Quakers was found to be about 10, or at the most, not a∣bove 12 Families. Therefore the Magistrate sup∣posing that so far he might possibly give License to their obstinacy; but their Confidence increas∣ing, that it would be a troublesome thing always to Contest with People of this sort of Temper, and that therefore it would not be Proper to de∣fer the Punishing of them any longer, but to In∣flict it as far as his Power, and the Condition of the City requir'd it; so he calls the Quakers afore him again, and they continuing still to be in their former tune and Refractory as before; by his Edict and Command he orders them within 3 days to depart the City, and his whole Jurisdicti∣on; and if they would not Obey, they were to expect a severe Sentence to be passed upon them, and this interdict they despise, and again reiterate their Facts, and meet together nevertheless. This was told again to the Magistrate, and the Penalty they had incurr'd was found and read; So they together, being ten in number, both Men and Women, as being Disobedient to the Laws of the City, were sent aboard a Ship, and carried out of the jurisdiction of the City, with Charge that they should never, in their whole life-time, re∣turn into the Province again. So the Magistrate unwillingly, and contrary to his Nature and Cu∣stom, dealt the more sharply with these Men, only to set an example before other stubborn Persons, and those that might be ready to do ill Deeds; as not, unless compell'd, we cut of a Limb of the Body, least it should infect the rest, and bring the whole to Destruction. But they being sent away, scarce tarried one day before they came back again. Then they were all com∣mitted to Prison, which was a Cellar under the Burgo-master's House, and had nothing else allow'd them for Food, but only Bread and Water, and were denied the priviledge of having their Friends

come to see them, or bringing any better Pro∣vision for their Accommodation. But if any of them was not well, he had the liberty granted him of going home to his House, and there re∣maining till he was recovered. A little while after they were again sent out of the Country, all but Haasbaard: And though they had under∣gone so many Hardships, yet resolved to lose their very lives rather than give over their En∣terprizes, they return back again. Being pro∣vok'd, now after the usual manner, and as it were, made a joke and ••aughing-stock, they were clapt into the same Prison again, and afterwards transported in a Ship out of the City and all the Province; except Haasbaard again, upon whom, as the Ringleader of the rest, the Indignation and Anger of the Magistrates principally fell. And the Quakers complained and wrote, that some of the Magistrates, especially the Consuls (they give you both the Deeds and Names of them, I only, which is enough for my purpose, shall take no∣tice of the thing it self) at this time were very vehement against their Friends, and especially very high in their Words. They added also, that the Ministers of the Word were also more hard and rigid against them, except one of whom they said and wrote, that in a publick Sermon he had declaim'd against the Persecution of the Quakers. They pass over his Name. I shall speak both of the Name and Passage, what was told me by Reverend Men, who both at this day are Pastors and Elders of the Church of Embden, and chief Men in the Ecclesiastical As∣sembly of that Tract; to wit, That there was none of the Ministers and Pastors of the Church who, besides Refuting the Opinions of the Qua∣kers in Words, did any thing more; And a∣mongst those Ministers there was then one Her∣man Holthuse, now of Pious Memory, of whom I remember that he was a Man both of great strictness as to other things, and also as to his

Life and Conversation; joyned with the highest lenity and goodness towards all other Men; who deeply Commiserating the Case and Affli∣ctions of the Quakers, thought and said, that they were too too severely prosecuted, but this in his private Discourses, never abroad and in the Pulpit. Now an ill Omen follow'd; there was an Order issued out to the Chamberlain to confis∣cate the Goods of the Captives and Exiles. When neither Haasbaard nor his Mother, being called upon, would lay down the Fine, his Goods were all Sealed up in the House, and he again driven into Exile; from whence nevertheless he quick∣ly returns, with the fresher and more eager heat, because of his loss by Death of the dearer part of himself, his Wife, and his little Children left behind; the Mother now, out of her Goods fal∣len to her, paying the Chamberlain the Sum of 200 Imperials. The Goods of another, a bani∣shed Maid, were sold by publick Outcry. More∣over, about the end of the year there was an Order set out, That no body should let his House to a Quaker, or take any of them for Lodgers. Now return back as I said before all the expelled Quakers. But all of them are again thrust into the same place, and also a Woman with Child, but not so near her time as the Quakers thought. As also, that was too great a glory of Martyr∣dom, which the Quakers told of a certain Qua∣kers Child of 3 years old, or scarce so much, which upon a disturbance made in the House, fell into such a Fit of Trembling, with Convulsions of the whole Body, that that day prov'd to it the last of its Life. But not to repeat the same thing so often over and over again, and to reduce our discourse to a narrower compass, this send∣ing out and coming back, expulsion again and return was made about 20 times in this and the ensuing year. For it seem'd hard to the Magistrate to enact any thing so grievous against his own Citizens, against whom there could no

other Charge be laid than Constancy in their Re∣ligion; and to the Quakers so to forsake their Na∣tive Country and Houses, and whatsoever else that was dear to them; and not endeavour to regain their old Seats, and way of Life and Re∣ligion, and the exercise hereof, and without which it cannot consist. The Quakers writ boldly and amply of this to the Magistracy of Embden, as well the Dutch as English, in the Sentences and grave Language of Fox, Green, Crocius, and Penn. The subject and scope of them all was he same. What fury possess'd their Spirits, or what weakness their Minds, that had enraged them to such a Degree against those People, that had never done any thing that could merit their Just Displeasure, or in the least diminish their Rights. For that they loved their Houses, and were ready on all occasions to return to the City, and to their Families, and to their Native Soil; and preferr'd this before the Will of the Magistrates, the Magistrates might easily know the Cause of that, unless that being impatient of the Truth, by prejudice against these mens Discourse, they hindred their De∣fence, and themselves a right Judgment. For that was not their Principle to think themselves exempt from all Laws, subject to no Government, or touch'd with no fears, or any Expectation of Evil. That they were not so lame or faultring in their Duties, nor had so put off the Sense of all common Humanity. But they were of another Opinion, That it was God, and the guidance of the Spirit, and their Conscience, which carried them on; and that there was a Religion which they had from God, in which the first principle head, Strength and Defence, was Liberty, and that not only private, but open, publick and common; That we should not abstain from the Presence or Companies of Men, or sight and speech of friends and acquaintance, or be be∣hindhand in the daily performance of Good Offices and Turns one for another; which things they that deny or take away, totally subvert not only, Liberty, but also all Religion. Wherefore also this thing ought not to be e∣steemed as a Disgrace to these Men, or a Crime, but

rather in their praise, as a good Action that they might estimate them by themselves, if they re-call'd to mind, that if any humane Affection, or any desire of a glori∣ous shew, had put them upon these Thoughts, that they might, if they travell'd elsewhere, live a quiet and honest Life, remote from these Storms of Contentions and Ignominy; whereas they chose rather to undergo so many Miseries and Calamities. And that that they could affirm, which they said without Arrogance or Pride, That if the Magistrates were resolv'd to go on as they had begun, that their Friends also were de∣termin'd, rather than forsake their Places, or forego their Religion, they would suffer the last Extremities, and not only endure and undergo the most continual Torments, but even the cruellest Deaths that could be inflicted.

Also Haasbaard sent a Leter to the Senate, out of Prison, whose last words, at the End of it, are memorable: That he long'd for the time wherein God would open the Eyes of Men, that they might see how that himself and the Quakers were injuriously and falsly accused, and to that Judge they committed their integrity. In the time following, the Edict against the Reception of the Quakers, was put in Execu∣tion upon those who were thereof convicted, as the Mother of Haasbaard, for receiving her said Son in her house, was fined 50 Imperials; and a certain woman, a member of the Reformed Church, be∣cause she did not deny her Husband, who was a Quaker, to lodge, bed and board with her, was mulcted 50 Golden Florens. In the mean time, Haasbard, besides his Exile, being oppressed with so many Cares and Griefs, which lead to Distempers and Death, was over-taken by his last Day, and dies. Who being dead when the persecution seem'd to die too, it reviv'd again a little after in his 3 Sisters, whereof two were unmarried, and one Married, but who at this time did not Co-habit with her husband. For when these women and likewise 6 Men of their Acquaintance met toge∣ther to see one another and for mutual Exhorta∣tion's

sake, by and by the Sergeants and Souldiers come in unto them, and run upon them, and car∣ry them away to Prison, and take away out of the Womens pockets Money and Silver Cases, and a watch of great Value, which they wear not out of Pride, or for Ornament or Ostentations sake, but for use, and while these Varlets spend one part of their prey and suppress another part, the rest they carry to the Burgomaster. Yet these people some daies after were dismissed, instead of a fine which they would not pay, the things that they had taken from the Women being detain'd. The last assault was in the year 79, Then the hatred began by degrees to grow less and less, and to wax old, when it was better seen and known, That the Qua∣kers were not such a sort of people as the Magistrates and Citizens had taken them for. A Wonder this, but yet neither new nor unknown. Charles King of England dying, and James succeeding him, some rich Quakers flying out of England came hi∣ther to Embden. These the Senate were so far from repelling that they receiv'd them very kind∣ly, and not onely granted them houses, but also the Exercise of their Religion, and access to it, and leave to build a publick Meeting place and proffer'd them ground to build it upon, hoping that that would now tend to the Increase and Riches and Splendor of their City, and Neverthe∣less without any Detriment, or Disgrace to their Religion. Moreover, the year following, after that, a Quaker-woman, a Citizen of Embden, a woman of eminent Condition, and some other Rich and Honest Citizens, who had been against the Persecution, had well prepar'd the Matter; the Senate, that had been so severe against the banish'd Citizens, do now no less Hospitably invite them home, than formerly they had in hostile manner expell'd them, and permit them the free Exercise of their Religion, and promise and engage them∣selves to Protect and Defend them therein, and Confirm the same by a Decree, of which I have

had the liberty of Perusal. Altho this Liberality and Beneficence of theirs was now in vain, and too late, for these English afterwards having heard that William Prince of Orange was made King, whose alone Name allur'd the minds of these Men to return home to their former Seats, and these Exiles of Emden, now residing in other places, without fear or care Transacted in their affairs with good success, and therefore return'd their very hearty thanks to the Magistrate, and profes∣sed themselves to have forgotten all former Inju∣ries, and that they should ever retain a grateful sense of the present favour, Nevertheless that they should more willingly choose to remain in the present repose and haven, wherein they were now settled than to return back from whence they came.

There are no Quakers at this day in East Fries∣land, save four or five Families at Embden; Ames, one of those Quakers who came first into our Pro∣vinces, thought fit to go from thence to Germany, and pass through the Palatinate of the Rhine; as being one who was not only sufficiently ver∣sed in his own Countrey Language, and ours, but also in the German Tongue; And here he first makes his Application to his Electoral Highness, who ha∣ving had some Account of these sort of men, and being very desirous both to see and discourse with some of them, as 'tis the Genius of those Great Men often to hear, learn and attain to the Know∣ledge of many Things, he sends for Ames to come to him, and after he had seriously discoursed with him, dismiss'd him kindly. When Ames had left the Court and City, he wanders over the Countrey, and there makes several Essays to promote his De∣sign, but it came to nothing; and therefore he re∣turns to Holland. But having afterwards taken Two of his Companions along with him, to wit, Bat and Higginson, he goes again for the Palatinate, and addrest himself to the Prince, offering, both to him and to his Courtiers, the books of his Sect,

designing thereby to engage the Favour and Good Will of the Prince towards himself and his La∣bourers. But the Prince was not so readily taken therewith; and besides that, the Princes Eyes and Ears were intent upon those Affairs that concern Religion; The Ecclesiastical Orders were also in the way, who informed the Prince of the Nature of these Mens Institutions and ways, and advised him, that he should rather silence them as Men bent to raise Storms and Tempests in his Country, and keep them off and send them away parting before they did any mischief: So they went their ways elsewhere but yet kept in this part of the Countrey, and followed their design, and after many windings and turnings, found some Coun∣trymen at Kircheim, near Wormes, whom, after they had for some time heard them, they brought over to their way, and this was all they could, af∣ter all their indefatigable Labour and Toil, effect and bring about.

In pursuance to these mens Practices, William Penn, Barclay and Keith, at that time they came with Fox into Holland, steered their Course for these Parts, but being ignorant in the German Tongue, they took some of the Natives of the Country along with them to be their Interpreters; but there was nothing done by them that is wor∣thy of mentioning. But those few Quakers, who I have said, lived in these places, did afterwards increase to Seven or Eight Families; who after they had by little and little united Men, and Asso∣ciated together, they declined to go to the pub∣lick Churches, and refused to pay for the subsi∣stance of the Clergy, and therefore as well the Rectors and Pastors of the Churches thereabouts, as also the Priests of the Territories of Wormes looked with an evil Eye upon them, and so go∣ing on from one thing to another began to accuse and sue them, and when they could not be satisfi∣ed in their demands, which the others would not comply with, alledging the unlawfulness of pay∣ing

such Tythes and Products from their Lands they did, instead of the Money due upon the ac∣count, take what they pleased from among their Sheep, Swine, and other Cattle, whereas those Men did in the mean time by their diligence, as it were, singular Providence bear up still against their losses and poverty, so as that they had yearly where∣withal both to subsist upon, and for fear of trou∣ble, or greater constraint and violence to satisfy their Adversaries; but after they had for some years lived in this manner, they did that very year that preceded the German War, wherein all that Fruitful and Delicious Countrey was wasted with Fire and Sword, by those Men who shewed them∣selves so much more skillful and ready to De∣stroy then to Conqer especially these late years, of their own accord and in a considerate manner, so as if they had foreseen so great a War and been af∣fraid of such an impending Calamity, forsake their Native Countrey those Villages and Cot∣tages, which they could scarce bear up with props and stakes, and entred into a voluntary and per∣petual Banishment, so passed over into Pensilva∣nia, being that part of English America that I have before described in which part of the world, each of them having Land Distributed and Assign∣ed unto them by the Proprietor of that part, Wil∣liam Penn, they live now in the greatest Freedom and plentifully enough: I have a little before spoken of Penn, and some other of his Compani∣ons Travelling from Holland into Germany, to those People that were of their Sect at the same time; Isabel Fell, Fox's Daughter in Law and Wife to Keith, together with a certain Dutch Wo∣man, went from Amsterdam to Herword in West∣phalia, there to speak with the Princess Elizabeth, eldest Daughter to Frederick once King of Bohe∣mia, and Elector Palatine, a Lady truly renown∣ed and famous for her wit, Learning and Piety, and if so be the endowments of the mind are to be looked upon and esteemed of themselves with∣out

the goods of Fortune, a Princess the most happy and famous of any of her Age, with a de∣sign by their Conversation and Pamphlets, to work somewhat upon her, that might tend to the use and benefit of their Religion and Society. Fox, who thought that the Fame of his Name was no less known to this Princess, than it was in Eng∣land, his Native Country, delivers these Women a Letter for them to carry in his Name to the Princess, that they might, by that means, have ea∣sier access unto her, and their Discourses be of more weight with her; in which Epistle Fox ad∣drest himself unto her in a little more neat and civil manner, than he was wont to do, laying aside that fusty harshness and Rusticity he was ac∣custom'd to, whereby he made no distinction be∣tween Persons of high Birth and Quality, and the meanest Gar-men and Porters, but now he car∣resses and saluteth the Princess in the most engag∣ing manner, and highly extolls her Piety and Modesty, as being Vertues worthy of a Princess, and sets forth how much all mankind at this time receed from these offices and duties incumbent up∣on them, and as the State of the Church stood at this present time, there was more need then ever to keep fast to them, and at last exhorts the Prin∣ces that, as she had been engaged in the work, she should go on more and more. When these wo∣men came to the Princess's Court, and desir∣ed liberty to speak with her, she who was full of humanity and gentleness, and never disdained any tho never so mean and unequal to her Condition, that desired to apply themselves unto her, admits and hears them with chearful and favourable Countenance, being especially pleased with. Isa∣bells Discourse, who indeed had a curious voice and a freer way of delivering her self, and having heard what they had to say, dismist them with a short and pithy answer, and having afterward opened and read Fox's Epistle; She takes care to deliver unto them her own Letter, writ in the

Language he had done, to wit, English, that they might give it to Fox, which Letter was to this effect.

Dear Friend,

I cannot chuse but tenderly Love all those that Love the Lord Jesus Christ; and who not only believe in him, but also suffer for his Sake; where∣fore I was mightily pleased with the Letter which you sent me, and your Friends that visited me. I shall pursue the Advice, both of the one and of the other, as far as God shall grant me his ••ight and Motion; and in the mean time remain,

Your Loving Friend, Elizabeth.

And about this time, William Penn being on his German Expedition, together with his other Friends, directs his Course to this Princess; and, that I may not multiply many words, Preach'd twice in the Princesses Inner-Chamber, there be∣ing some few of the Towns-men present, con∣cerning the Vanity and Rejection of Earthly Things, and the Elevation of the Mind to higher Speculations; and did so far prevail by his po∣lite Eloquence, and Approbation of the Auditors, that the Princess declared that she had been al∣ways intent upon the Duty Penn spoke off, and did not yet cease to go on the same Work and Duty; with which answer those Men departed: And because that the attempt of these Quakers in their Opinions, had hitherto met with no bad success in this part of Germany, the same Men egg'd on with the same hope, go into Hol∣satia, and the parts adjacent.

There were yet in these parts amongst the Men∣nonites or Anabaptists, who were few, a small number still remaining and lurking here of those Sectaries wherewith Germany in the preceeding Age had been plagued, being those who sprung up from the School, or rather Stall and Hog-sty of David George, not from the Family of Love, as they called it, and such scum and off-scourings as these, and who still retained their foolish and vain Imagina∣tions,

and, according to their vain and vile Inven∣tions and Examples, united together and entred into a Fraternity more feignedly then truly and really. Now these itinerant Quakers found some of these Men at Hamburg, which is the most fa∣mous City of Holsatia, as also at Fredricburg, (a place upon the Eyder, and frequented and partly inhabited by the Arminians and Remonstrants of our Country) who looking upon these Men to come up very near to their Opinions, Tenets, and Ways, and so begin of their own accord prepared and fitted thereunto, they did easily fall in with them; though there were also some that were not of this Sect, but intensly addicted to the Mennonites, who now as∣sociated together, and applied themselves with all their might and main to maintain the Assertors of the Quaker's Doctrines; All these that lurked a∣mong the Anabaptist, and even others also, tho' they were like unto them, and followed their ways still in many things, were always suffered upon the account of their Ignorance, and suppo∣sed Innocence, to live quietly; untill that about two years before, the Mayor of the City of Fre∣dricburg, then newly created, and that he himself, might do somewhat new, and make himself to be taken notice of, began to disturb the Peace of these Quakers that had hitherto been left alone, and to create them some Molestation and Trouble; Which when the Remonstrants of Amsterdam came to understand, and particularly, Ph. Limburg, their Pastor and worthy Professor; and being careful of the Safety of those Men, and concerned to main∣tain the esteem of their own Religion, urge, least that now all Men, both good and bad, should say they were become other sort of Persons and cruel, whom most Men looked upon always remote from all manner of Persecution, that they should Re∣voke their Proceedings against those Men, and in∣tercede for the continuation of their Liberty, that had been hitherto unviolable, and entirely respite them and cease their Persecution. Fox Travels

from Holland, through the Countries of Friesland and Aldenburg, to go to these Men, taking more Consolation with his Friends than doing any good to others. Those fame Itinerants and Emissaries of whom I have made mention before, went for∣wards, and came to Regal Prussia, as far as the Baltick Sea; where at Dantzick a very few also of the remainder of those old Fanaticks and of the Mennonites (Men who could discern little what belonged to Religion, or was to be pursued therein, and poor, who could scarce by their daily and hard labour get daily sustenance) applied them∣selves to them, and fell in with their Doctrine and Counsels. These Men from this time forwards have been continually harrassed by the Lutherans, in whose Hands the Supream Power and Magistra∣cy is, and heavily Fined and Imprisoned. Where∣fore G. Fox did upon their behalf, as being his Friends, Brethren and Equals, in the year 1677, send a Letter to John III. King of Poland, and in∣tercedes with him thereby for a Tolleration for them; concerning which Epistle, which Fox took care should be published in his long Diary after his Death, this is worthy to be noted, That at first it was written in England in the English Tongue, then sent into Holland and there Translated into the German Language; and lastly, sent from thence and delivered to the King. The substance where∣of was this:

That it was a most equitable and righteous thing, that all Kings, Princes, and Ma∣gistrates should grant Liberty of Conscience to all their Subjects; and by no means disturb nor ob∣struct their Assemblies and Divine Exercises:

He set forth, that this was the judgment of the Fa∣thers, and ancient Doctors of the Church, as also the modern ones, and even the Learned Men of the present time we live in; And that many Kings and Princes had Indulged this Grace and Favour to their People, and for that reason were highly worthy of Praise, and were really extolled by worthy honest and wise Men: He also col∣lected

and pick'd out several Sayings and Sentences turned out of Greek, Latin, French, and other Languages; as also Examples and Precepts found in Histories, to press this matter more upon him. But this Epistle was so written, that it look'd and represented not the Work and Sentiment only of one single Person, but of many, and seemed to take in the Complicated Sence and Advice of the whole Society of the Quakers: Yet this Letter had the name of George Fox only subscribed to it, and that without any other Mark and Designati∣on of Persons or Authority; so that Fox, though a most-illiterate and unlearned Man, and who, besides the common English Books; had ne're looked into any other, nor could he Read them, would by no means have it thought or doubted, that this weighty Epistle, ••o full of Learning, and compos'd and written in so Elaborate a man∣ner, and with so much Pains and Study, was not Written by him, and his own Production, and that he was not the Man who had daily perused all those Books, and made them his own; or that it was thus Written by a Multitude or whole So∣ciety of Men; yet so as that they should leave it to the Judgment of one Fox an ignorant Fellow, and upon his Approbation look upon it to be firm and good; and he to approve of the same, by the greatness and Authority of his Name affixed to it. And hence it's apparent, that there is no mind so Humble, but is apt to be carried away with the Air of Glory; yea, many times Glory and Ap∣plause is mostly coveted by those who most contemn it, and endeavour to introduce a Contempt thereof, glorying and taking Pride herein, in that they despised all manner of Glory so much. But how∣ever it were; the Letter pleased the King, and the Matter of it was very grateful to him; inso∣much, that the King, either by his own Autho∣rity, or other Engagements, brought it so about, that they ceased to persecute them; But the same Persecution was in a short time after revived and introduced upon them: When Fox writes a new

Epistle to the King; and deprecates the Injuries and Dangers brought upon those People his Friends, interceding with the King thereby on their be∣half; discovering now, in this his Letter, himself entirely as he was, and not as before, hand over head, without all manner of shame and blushing, Arrogating to himself the Work of other Men, and a false praise: But this Letter did not please the King so well, so as either to purge them from what was laid to their Charge, or to free them from their Sufferings. These Quakers are even to the present time a prey and a laughing-stock to almost all the Inhabitants; and they had long since been utterly ruined and destroyed, all of them, had it not been for a few among them that had some small Substance, who out of their own Necessities have sustained them under their oppressive Poverty; And had it not been also for those Quakers in Holland, who are superiour to these in Fortunes and Estates. And now, that I may pass over nothing that may appertain to the State and Concerns of the Quakers, before I de∣part from these Men in Germany. It will not be impertinent to insert the short History of those Men, lately sprung up in Germany, and who still coverse and are scattered up and down in divers parts of the same Country, which are called by the name of Pretists, and whom many look upon as the Brood and Offspring of the Quakers, or Enthusiasts, sprung up again in these times, and being as it were lopped off, grow again, and bud out from the old Stock; concerning which Men, there are many who have taken upon them to write, who have discovered themselves to have heard and imagined more things concerning them than they really know; but I shall not take in all herein, but will leave out the larger passages, and only take notice of the Principal Heads. For seeing that in so great a multitude of Christians, as well else where as in Germany, who declare themselves to be the Disciples of

blessed Luther, and to follow his Doctrine, and way of Living, most of them all were indeed affected with a great desire of, and love to their Religion, but yet retained, through great Igno∣rance and intollerable superstition, the observance of some Rites and Ceremonies, and which in ve∣ry deed had little or nothing in common, with some Religion, Piety and Holiness, and this was not so abstruse, but that it was apparent to all, so as that they might behold it with their Eyes, and handle it with their Hands; yea, and the same was now consined, and, as it were, ••ealed by ex∣amples and manners, some Godly Men, zealous towards God, and for the good of Men, and such as were also▪ both Learned and Experienced, bethought themselves, that it was every ones du∣ty, with the utmost care and Diligence, to heal, or cut off this Malady, or Pestilence in the Church, which crept dayly more and more into Men's Lives and Conversations.

Among these, in the Year sixty one, one Theo∣philus Brosgeband, a Deacon of the Lutheran Church, in the City of Rostock, in the Duchy ef M••chelen∣burg, sets up in Opposition to these Practices, and, so in a book written by him in the German Tongue, sets forth, and notes the various Errors that the Lutherans were conscious of; and at the same time speaks moderately and gently concern∣ing the Controversies that were between the Lu∣therans and other Reformed, concerning the Lord's Supper, and sets down his own Opinion in the matter, with his Reasons for the same. He was indeed a man that studied, and was a lover of Concord and Peace between Friends, who held the same Faith, which is very good, and the very name delectable: but he got little Praise and Thanks for his Pains; nay, this his labour and endeavour went scarce unpunished; for there were many Persons that forthwith fell at variance with him hereupon, reviled him, were very bitter against, and trouble∣some to him, which he by his long-suffering and

patience, wore out, and diverted. After this Henry Muller became one of this number, who in the same City was Teacher and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University, and a Person of ex∣quisite Learning and Piety, and who about five or six years after Brosgeband did in like manner re∣prove those of his own Religion, concerning their Errors, and Lives and Conversations, that were unsuitable to Religion, and especially in a book written also in the German Tongue (that it might come into the hands of all those to whom it did more peculiarly belong) handling that Passage of the Apostle Paul, which is in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, 12. c. 2. v. (in which place the Holy Apostle, that he might make way for to shew to those Men, how much they were now Honoured and Enrich'd by the Spirit of God, puts them in mind, how in times past they were carried away to dumb Idols, led and driven there∣unto by unclean Spirits) he wrote that Christians now a-days, had not left their dumb Idols, where∣unto they cleaved, to whom they attributed all things (neglecting true Religion, and setting true Godliness at naught) to wit, The Pulpit, from whence they Preach to the People, The Baptismal Font, The Confessor's Tribunal, and the Altar. By which words many that were of the same Functi∣on with him, took themselves to be much Inspired, and so lookt upon him to be their Enemy, and did not only content themselves with injuring of him in his fame, and the esteem had of him; and seeing that the Name of the Quakers was at this time very rife every where in Germany, and that the same, especially with the rude multitude, and men of the most abject Condition; who catch hold of all things without any distinction of Truth or Falshood, was much envied and hated, and not free from danger. There was a certain Person of some note at Hamburg (for the thing may be said without nameing his Name) though of no great fame as to his Learning, and of an

immoderate and proud Disposition, and full of words, who was so transported with Rage a∣gainst Muller, that he accused him, and laid to his charge, That he was not only guilty of other Errors, but more especially of Quakerism, and thus by stirring up the People, did, as it were, en∣force the Laws with Menaces, that he should de∣sist and proceed no further, which matters▪ Muller, though he was willing, but not able to bring a∣bout to his designed purpose; yet he was desirous to be freed from the scandal cast upon him, and to remove the ignominy, ••••rging, That he intro∣duced no perverse or strange Doctrine, and was not the man his Enemy represented him to be, which he brought so about, that having got the clear Testimonies of several Professors in the U∣niversities of his Orthodoxy, and of Doctors in Churches; he Published the same in his Apology, and set them in opposition to the Reflections and Scandals cast upon him by his Enemies: Now Philip James Spener, Minister at Francford upon the Mease, of a Church Constituted according to the same Augustine Confession, did within a few years prosecute the Foot-steps of these Men; as also John Heari••k Harby, Minister of a Church of the same Confession at Trarback on the Mosel; both of them men of that Industry and Conversa∣tion, as to be able easily to keep up the Fame of their great Learning and Probity, and not be thought to seek after the Favour and Glory of Men herein; these Men did, in their Publick Ser∣mons, Discourses, and Private Exercises, bend all their Endeavours this way, that they might ex∣tirpate and root up these Evil Weeds and Thistles from Mens minds. Spener began his Work with those things, which did more immediately incu•• into the Senses of Men, and which seemed to imitate, and have relation to Popery, that was so hateful to the Lutherans; by reason of the dull, foolish and profane Rites and Ceremonies that are therein, and such as are not barely estranged from

true Worship and Sanctity; to wit, in their Churches and Publick Assemblies, and particular∣ly in their Pompous Tables, Organs, Altars, Priest∣ly Garments, &c. And from hence he proceeds to other things, which men do measure by use a∣lone, and meer handling, so as that a pretty num∣ber of People, in a short space of time, did, by his means, not only Loath all that Pompousness in their Churches, but also laying aside many other ex∣ternal Rites, applyed themselves to Exercise the true Faith and Life of Christians: But this was not all, but they did often times meet together in their Houses, and so did instruct and exhort one ano∣ther; every one, as well as they were enabled out of the Holy Scripture to follow the same Sincere Life and Faith, and to do all the Duties incum∣bent upon them towards Men: Hereby also in the same manner, by his Instructions, did so stir up and affect the Minds and Consciences of his Hear∣ers, that very many of them, in those places, and adjacent to the Rhine, did often times meet together in one place; and this they did assume as a common Rule and constant Practice among them, that laying aside those Discourses which concerned Questions and Disputes, or idle and unnecessary Enquiries, which were more fit for the Schools than for the Formation of Manners, they only imployed themselves herein, that hav∣ing come to know and discern Christian Truths, without which, Faith and a Christian Life cannot be; they insisted upon the ways and means how to attain to this Life and Faith, and Instructed and Exhorted one another, in shewing and ex∣ercising of the Same. Spener is called from Franc∣ford to Drosden, into the Elector's Court, there to exercise the Office of Chief Preacher; and seeing there were many things to be Corrected and A∣mended in the Court, and that this could not be done by gentleness and pleasant Artifice, but by a Tragick Gravity and severity, and that there was not, besides this, such a number and choice of

then for the purpose, which withal, required one endued with much Religion and Good∣ness; in the mean time, there were some Stu∣dents in the University of Lipsick, designed and appointed for the Ministerial Office (they were only two at first) that began to stir in this matter, and this they made the chief exercise of their capacities, this was the bent of their studies, that being themselves stored with this knowledge, and exercised in this sort of Life, they might afterwards teach their Auditors com∣mitted to their care, the like documents and stir them up to the same; and therefore they daily in∣structed their people and held their Assemblies, and did not only urge their Discourses from the Scripture-Authority, but did draw out from the proper and Genuine Fountain of Divine writ, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excellent order, the meaning of one or more pla∣ces, and the mind of the Holy Spirit, and the Energy of Faith and true Piety, and adopted them to the certain uses and cases of Men, every one according to the Conscience and Experience he had in such a thing, and setting this for a rule, in these words to be observed by all, That the sacred Books of the Old and New Testament, are to be read▪ expounded and converted to various uses, to the glory of the sacred Trinity, to the increase of the New Man, of holy Instruction, and exegetical Divinity, as also to an example of an holy Couversation. They were termed the Philobiblick Colledges. These Students Endeavours and Studies were some time after imitated by others, and even by such as were of greater years, and Masters themselves; so that some of them handled the same with the Profes∣sors Consent, in the Publick Auditories, in their Academical Lectures; the Chief whereof were Augustus H. Francus, the Disciple and Companion for a long time of Spener, and John L' Schadeus, Francus's Chamberber-Fellow both of them Masters of Art, and Learned and Eloquent. There was moreover a new Accession of Citizens, and of wo∣men

too to these Collegiates, who also encouraged their Pastors and Guides in Divine Things, to the same work; but as for the most part it happens in such Assemblies, there was in process of time so great a desire in some to frequent these Colledges▪ that some Students declined to go to the Publick and Private Schools; some of the People would not go to the Churches, some despised them, o∣thers went thither to partake only of the Lord's Supper sparingly, and some disregarded all other ordinances and institutions in comparison of these Congregations and Meetings. But these Students were for the most part persons of a mean conditi∣on and of no fortune, and but of very indifferent Parts and Learning, or only of such a plebean stamp, or late initiation into the republick of lite∣rature, and that their ••••udition, as a natural Con∣sequence and Principal vice attending of it, was tumultuary, but Masters over Boys, and for that reason seeming themselves to be capable to do any thing, yea, as, the saying is, to hit the Crow in the Eye, whereof there is good store in that City and Country; and the people, especially the women, were very rude and mean, who every where fol∣lowed the Crows through dirt and mire, and lived from hand to mouth, and were in the mean time puffed up with the ostentation of being honoured and esteemed, and with some ensigns of a triffling glory. And tho some of those Masters and Ru∣lers, of whom I have just spoken, would not seem to be of the like Sentiments and Act in the same manner as these Men, yet they did not gain-say, when it was not expedient they should be silent; wherefore that silence of theirs did at length bring them under no small suspicion, and they were ad∣judged to be not much remote and distant from those extreams. Whence they became at first en∣vied and hated by the other Students, Citizens, Teachers, Professors and Pastors, then they put an ill Construction upon all their doings and spoke evilly concerning them, and last of all, became to

be interdicted and prohibited: But those Counsels were found to be of no effect; for the more the one was enraged and bent to suppress, and utter∣ly to extinguish the Sect the more did the other hold to it stiffly and obstinately. But least too great a disturbance might be wrought and trou∣bles ensue thereon, for the further avoiding of danger, some of the Colledges were dissolved or diminished: While these things were in Agitation H. Francus, and some other Students came accord∣ing to the Citation of the Senate, and order of the Professors of Lipsick into that City; where each of them were by some delegated for that purpose Interrogated and wearied with innumerable cap∣tious and fallacious questions in reference to their sentiments concerning every Article of their Reli∣gion, and what it was they did reject, who hav∣ing therein abundantly satisfied their inquisitors, they were dismist, upon condition that they car∣ried themselves so as to have a regard both to their Dignity and Advantage, and neither publickly nor privately to teach the people any otherwise. Next year, there were Letters sent from the great Consistory or Ecclesiastical Senate from Dresden, of which Consistory the Elector is Principal, to the Academical Senate of Lipsick, wherein they were Commanded to Abolish all such Colledges, and that he should commit all that made resi∣stance to Prison, as a just punishment of their Contumacy and for a check upon their further opposition; which thing struck such a fear into some of them, that they lost all their courage and withdrew from the whole assembly and their for∣mer purposes. But others on the other hand with great constancy and contumacy, proceeding from the greatness and hardiness of their minds, per∣sisted and went on in their design and purpose. And others of these thought it their duty to pro∣ceed unweariedly in the reformation and to apply themselves to that work with all their might, but to Act with Moderation not by Popular Tumults,

but that so necessary a thing was not to be omitted▪ for all the many enviers, adversaries and enemies they had and what injuries, Inconveniences and Dangers soever befell them. Others moreover would have it be looked upon as a firm and sta∣ble way and method to meet together, and instruct privately among any sorts of men, whether Citi∣zens, Men or Women; neither did they think they ought to depart thence, tho they were ne're so much hated, and suffered never so many afflictions; so those who stood in opposition to them, thought fit, be∣fore that they had gathered greater strength, to deal with them another way: I shall, in the first place, speak of the more maddest sort of them; for thus it was, That those who were more moderate of them (and they were all of them followers of Sener, or most part of them) did prove their design and en∣terprise, and refelled the wrath & persecution of their Adversaries against 'em, & together with the calum∣nies and furious outrages of some towards 'em, by saying and writing, That they fully Embraced the Doctrin and Confession of Luther, (as he was always in the mouths of the Adversaries, and the only hea∣venly and Divine Man in his Doctrine), and of the Lutherans; and that their Desire was only this, That in reference to the Modes and Propositions, some Cha∣pters might be more clearly and explicitly taught: such as these are, The Knowledge of God and ones self in his own mind, the Knowledge of Justification and Sanctification, and the Connection and Cohseren∣••y of both, as also of Regeneration. Then Self-De∣nial, the Life of Faith, the Power of Christ in such as are his, Christian Prayers, Christian Perfection, the Vnion of the Soul with Christ, and the Operati∣on of Christ in it. And this was their Censure concerning the Life and Conversation of Men, That Men are ••••••••••rably slothful, languid and cold in all Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and if they do any thing, they are wonderfully taken up and pleased with their own enter∣•••••••• Works, and trust in their own performances, and 〈…〉〈…〉 those things that are of a solid Faith

and tr••e Piety; and bewailed, besides, the in∣termission and neglect of Ecclesiastical Discipline.

Lastly, They added, That the Ministers and Pastors of Churches, did not, as they ought to have done, discharge their Functions in instructing and stirring up their Hearers to these more necessary Duties, neither in their Sermons, nor Catechisings; and that the Professors and Doctors in the Schools, did not instruct, encourage, form and prepare their Students for these things; and the Students did not take care to apply their Minds thereunto, yea, that they rather thought the same to be al∣most a Disgrace unto them, and so contenting themselves in this manner with the instruction they receive, and sticking fast to their former youthful Ways and Practices, the same evil Disposition be∣ing still ripe in them, and the remembrance of their preceeding Life not obliterated, and only filled with a vain noise of Philosophy, but void of the Spirit and any inward Experience, they apply them∣selves to the Ministry; And when by these Arts, they come as it were to their own Possessions, then they deliver from the Pulpit what they have learnt of Men, and strenuously apply themselves to be skillful at Words only, to handle the Tongue, &c. and if they attain to the knack of it, they dis∣course copiously of some Word or Sentence, but with no Argument, no subject Matter, that tends to Ingenerate Piety, as Declaimers do in the Schools, or Petty-Foggers in Courts of Judicature, and Places all their Duty herein, and so finish it; but otherwise take little care of their Auditors, but of themselves are very tender and nice, and their Families live deliciously, and they esteem nothing more honourable and desirable than this. On the other hand, their Enemies lay a long Ca∣talogue of foul Errors to their Charge, and send them up and down every where, and so recount them all, and confute them in the Chairs and Au∣ditories of the Universities, and Churche••, before the Students and People, who at least are of them∣selves inclined; and when there is so great a stress

laid upon it, to run altogether head-long there∣unto, so as to take all things in a perverted Sence, and to entertain a most ill Opinion of those Men. And that the Sect might be the better known, and a summary given of their Errors, and the great∣ness and horridness of their Faults, they gave those Men the Name of Pietists, and the Sect it self they dignified with the Appellation of Pietism, which name those Men in the mean time looked upon to be their Honour and Glory, these their Enemies put upon them as a mark of their Crime, and a term of Ignominy and Reproach, as if they thought all Vices were to be couched under this one alone; And the Envy and Rage of some proceeded so far, that if any one explained who those Pietests were, and how this name might rightly and pro∣perly be taken, they inveighed also against this, as a most horrid Wickedness, and a capital Crime. An Example, where you have in these four Verses, written in the German Tongue, but turned for your better Information into Latin, and are as followeth:

Quum nomen Pictesta omnem sic personat orbe••••, Quis Pictista? Studens noscere verba Dei; Et Juxta hanc normam vi am emendare laborans Illius, at quantum hoc, Christianumque decus.

But that these Men might be distinguish'd by their proper Forms and Characters, they called them also by the Names of the Illuminate, Cathari, Puritans, &c. as being those who were full of their own most proud but vain Conceit, or boasted themselves to be the only Persons that had the Light, when in the mean time they had not a spark of Knowledge and Truth, and in their whole life seemed to be so pure and perfect, when as in truth there was an Ulcer within them, which in time would break out, that in publick, continu∣ally carried a counterfeit face of Goodness, but did in the mean time defile themselves secretly, and in their Recesses, with the most notorious Vices: This was the common Opinion, By-Word, and Laughing-stock of all, that these Men were Imita∣tors

of the old Enthusiasts, and the Inventors of new; That they were like the Quakers, and that they followed their Doctrine and Discipline through∣out; when, at the same time, all, or the most part of them, scarce knew what the Opinions, Consti∣tutions, and Heresies of the Quakers were; which thing is evident from Spener's Book in the Ger∣man Tongue, wherein that Person defending his own Cause, and as to Quakerism, going about to remove that suspicion Men had of him upon that account, while he quotes the Opinions of the Quakers, he alledged them in such a manner, that he, to whom the Opinion of the Quakers was known, understood at the first Reading of them, (saving the Man's Honour) that he had not known what the Quakers meant: And so grievously were these Men dealt with, after they had thus loaded them with these obnoxious Names, that those Stu∣dents who would not leave these ways, and who from their Dependencies were called the Elector's Scholars, were deprived of their Stipends, others of all hopes of Preferment by Men of their own Functions, who most of them betook themselves to the Territories of the Elector of Brandenburg, who granted these Distressed Men not only a place of Refuge, but also whatever they had occasion for; and did moreover assign to their principal Doctors a place in the University of Halen, that every one might instruct his Pupils as he pleased.

Now Horbius, upon the French War, if that may be called a War, wherein there has been such un∣heard of Devastations made, and Barbarities com∣mitted, went from Trarback to Wishenheim upon the Neckar, and from thence to Hamburg, and there was made Minister of St. Nicholas's Church; where, according to his wonted manner, he applied him∣self to instruct his hearers in true Piety, and par∣ticularly in his Catechisings, to instil his Princi∣ples into the Youth, and even young Children▪ but soon after, the Fame and Dignity of Horbius stirred his two Colleagues, whose Eyes and Ears he had offended above the rest of the People, to

Envy and Cavil at him; as if Horbius brought hi∣ther also these odious Precepts and Opinions of Enthusiasts and Quakers; which accusation, 'tis strange too believe, how it increased, after that Horbius had distributed a little Book among those that were Catechised by him, not written by him∣self, but by another, concerning the Rudiments of Christian Education; for when the elder of the two Colleagues aforesaid, who became Horbius's Adversaries, (there is no occasion to name his Name, seeing its common in the Mouths of all Men) had concluded with himself that the Book was Writ by a Pietist, he immediately proscribes it as an Heretical Book, and sets Horbius forth to his Au∣ditors; and by his Rhetorical Flourishes, as if he were an Heretical Doctor, a Quaker, and such an one as ought to be expelled out of the City. And as there is nothing so easily given out, and harder stopped, nothing nearer received and further spread, then Lies, and Mens Evil Reports, concerning their Guides and Rulers; so the same report in the twink∣ling (as it were) of an Eye, without any more ado, did so dilate it self not only through the whole Ci∣ty, but all the Country over, so as that Horbius was known by no other Name than the Quaker-Doctor. Moreover, the rude multitude, and the most ab∣ject sort of Men, some of them through a stupid Ignorance, as being not able to distinguish the first Principles of the Christian Doctrine; others, partly through Ignorance, and partly through an uncertain Authority and blind Guidance of other Men, as if they were Slaves or Brute-Beasts; Some seeing themselves unable to try the thing it self, and being very much afraid of the Evil, least that also should fall upon them, so referring the first beginning thereof to one which they much sus∣pected; And lastly, others through a blinded pre∣judice, and accustomed to raillery, and to do ill turns, received Horbius every where with Hissing and Reproaches, railed at him, and did really per∣secute the Man; so as that unless his Life had been

preserved, through the faithfulness of honest Men, and they his Friends too, he had through the fury and violence of those his Enemies been certainly deprived of it. Wherefore, when Horbius saw, that his hopes was over-born by the Malice and Envy of so many Men, and that there was nothing now left for him but Dangers, he chose rather to forsake his Ministry and the City, and by giving way rather than by resisting, to break those im∣petuous Spirits: For seeing that all the rest, ex∣cept those two Colleagues aforesaid, stuck to Hor∣bius's side, there was at that time very great Dis∣sention and Strife between those Pastors who stood in opposition to Horbius and those that were on his part; and that by Sermons, Pamphlets, and Let∣ters, every one according to his Faculty in Speak∣ing, or Writing, putting forth his utmost in de∣fence of his side, and in opposition to his Enemies, and placing the victory in the last action, untill at length, the matter was brought to that pass by the Interposition and Authority of the Senate, Magistrates, and Supream Power of the City, (a special and principal Remedy for such sort of divi∣ded Men and Assemblies) that all the quarrel and difference in Words and Writings was taken off by an Amnesty, as they call it, or General Act of Indemnity; and each of them were to forgive what was past, as much as all good Men hoped it would be so. It's sad to consider what a vast num∣ber of things have been written all this time, through all Germany that is of the Lutheran Religion, not in the Latin Tongue, save a very few, but in the German Language, that so now the whole Dispute which so many Learned Men could not find an end to, should be equally committed to the Judg∣ment of the Learned and Unlearned, and especially be the entertainment of the vulgar and abject sort of Mankind, whose Judgment, they who thus contended, are so far from expecting, that they even Despise, and desire not to have them named with them. In the mean time we must pre∣termit,

that the Quakers abiding elsewhere, and very well knowing and retaining an account, and the particulars of all their own Conveniences, neg∣lected nothing wherein they thought there was any thing to their Advantage, that might be done in this Commotion and Division of these Men. They had certainly in those places, at this time, a certain Hope wrought in them, and their Spi∣rits were raised with some joy, that it might come thereby to pass, that there should be such Persons that would Judge more favourably of the Do∣ctrine of the Quakers, and that perhaps they would apply their Minds to them, the Words of their Epistle in an Anniversary Meeting at London the preceeding year, writ to all the Churches of the Quakers, bear witness hereunto, which were to this purpose; That they had Thoughts, and some Hopes, that the falling out of the Lutherans in those places amongst themselves, might tend to a farther Dis∣covery and Promotion of the Truth in those Parts.

Moreover, there was in Germany, as it were, three sorts of Pietists (pardon the expression.) One, which I have described, consists of those who sought, and pressed nothing else, but sincere Reli∣gion and true Piety; and the greatest part of those are among the Learned and better sort of men, through Saxony and all Germany.

Another sort of them was that cryed, That the Church was much Corrupted, and loved Pie∣ty; but such, who themselves on the other hand, stagger not a little in the Faith and True Religi∣on, and these same are commonly less moderate and more violent in Celebrating their Assemblies together. These came near the Weiglian Sect, and such sort of Fanatical People that sprung up about an hundred year ago, and not dead in all that intermediate time in Misnia and other Countries about, who imagined, as if it had been an Opinion not yet received in the Church, and yet necessarily to be delivered, That there is one certain Divine Seed in all Men, and that God and

Christ do so infuse themselves into Men, that they are one. Moreover, That man becomes God and Christ, and that so he ought to Worship God and Christ in himself, and a great deal more of such stuff: Which Tenents, seeing they were of them∣selves very obscure and incomprehensible, or only an empty sound without any Sence, they by their winding cants did yet further involve and make more intricate; and these men dreamt of I know not what Millenary Kingdom and Golden Age, and continued watching among all who should be no longer Mortal, in which Kingdom all things should be restored to their former state and condition, and the Blessed abound with all Spiritual and Corporal Pleasures and Delights, and should be satisfied at a Thought in what they desired or Wished, from the Divine and Celestial Affluence of the Holy Spirit; wherefore seeing, that they now thought the same time was at hand. They so settled their Rules, that laying aside all Controversies among Christians, they now with one mind, by mutual instructions and exhortati∣ons, looked to that Kingdom, prepared themselves for it, and invited other men unto it, and made it their business so to do.

The Third sort of them was that which may be called Behmists or Teutonists; these called back, as it were, Jacob Behman, the Shoemaker of Gar∣lingen in Silesia, from the Dead, who was called Tutonick, and did both Broach those Opinions, which had been really delivered by him, as also those Errors that had been falsly laid upon him, and ascribed to him, yea, and horrid and hellish Blasphemy, and cried them up as worthy of all Esteem and Glory. But before I give the particu∣lars hereof, I do not think it absur'd to say some∣what concerning the Doctrine and Writings of this Behman, and the rather, because of the great va∣riety of Opinions, and Observations of Learned and famous Men concerning them. He had wrote and published in the German Tongue, some

Books, or rather Pamphlets, wherein (as he would perswade himself) he discovered many things necessary to be known, or the Foundations of true Religion, and Piety, in dark words, dis∣joyned from the usual and known names, and such as he that would, could not perceive and ap∣prehend; producing some of his own, and adding, as his own invention, some other things which he had heard or road else where: But when it came to pass, as it often happens, that those Germans, especially the Lutherans, who Assumed to them∣selves the Appellation of Learned Men, and who were eager in a search after Knowledg, Science and Truth, and durst attempt any thing; and were already puffed up with their own and other mens Opinions concerning the Excellency of their Learning, alight upon these Notions; these, as coming nigh unto Behman's Principles, but look∣ing upon them, yet to be ruder, and as it were, but rough drawn, as being what he had only be∣gun, they go on to compleat them; and from the Store-house of their own Wisdom, build up, and heap together many Opinions, but such as were Monstrous and Horrid, and digest them into books and Publish them, and render the Behman Name well known in Germany, Holland and England, by their writing in those several Languages: Some things also they Publish'd in Latin; and they prove and extol the whole with a wondrous Character, as if they were Golden Books, and to be got all by Heart, by those who followed the Christian Religion, and loved their own Everlasting Salva∣tion. In the mean, as every Man has his Free∣dom to Judg, there were various Judgments made concerning the Writings of Jacob Behman himself; some thinking moderately concerning them; and tho there were some Light things and mistakes in them yet they adjudged there was no Heresy contained in them, but others again deter∣mined otherwise, that they were very Heretical Writings; to which some added also, that they

had been all written by a Man, who if he was not stark Mad, was yet highly disturbed in his Mind and Understanding, and that he himself had after∣wards confest the same thing, when he came to his right Mind, and so at length by confessing and bewailing his own Temerity and unconsiderate∣ness, as indeed it was highly to be Rejected, as be∣ing foolish, and unfruitful as to any good; yet his Offence pardoned by his Country-men the Silesians, wherein, because the Fame of the Man has certainly been injured, I do not think it im∣pertinent to declare in a few words, what his case was, and how terminated, as to the Event there∣of; therefore seeing there were such various Opi∣nions concerning this Man made by the World; the Elector of Saxeny caused him to come to Dr••s••••••••, and there to present himself, and be Ex∣amined, and stand to the Judgment of certain Divines, who after they had seriously and atten∣tively Examined him, and tryed his Sentiments also as to every Article of faith, and what he meant in his Books which he had Published; they not only Absolved him of Heresy, but did more∣over acknowledg he had in him some singular gift from God, and dismist him in Peace; which Ex∣amination and Matter of Fact when Anthony Wock, who kept the Princess Archicus about 15▪ years ago, took ••otice of in his History of Dres∣den; and that he transmitted the same Work to Noremburg, to be printed and Published there; the Censors of Books, who were better pleased that this passage concerning Behman should not be known, and that the Work of Dishonour, already put upon him, might remain, quite struck out this Part of the History, that related to Behman's Examination, and the event thereof.

But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that in the great Dissention and Con∣tention between the Ministers of Hamburg, those Men would not also leave Behman alone but con∣demned him as an Heretick, Ph. J. Spener, who judged more favourably concerning him, consult∣ing

the Man's Credit, and fearing least an Error once seising upon the Minds of Men, should by con∣tinuance attain to a suspicion of Truth, and utter∣ly take away the Man's good Name, which was hitherto in suspence, did in a certain Writing of his, in opposition to the Hamburgers, shew the whole matter as it was transacted at Dresden, according to what W••ck had wrote, and affirm the same, as having seen and read the Original Writing himself, taken out of the Elector's Archives; and who in∣deed is a Person worthy of Commendation and Credit. But Behman returning into his own Na∣tive City, when after an hard Sickness, he drew near unto his last end, he had the Lord's Supper Administred to him by the Minister of the place, according to the manner of the Lutheran Church; and when he had there paid his last Debt to Na∣ture, he was by the Magistrates command honour∣ably Buried, and a Funeral Sermon Preach'd for him. And now to return to the matter I was upon, the Results of these mens Inventions and Toyl, some of them, interpreting Behman's Wri∣tings one way, some another way; and while in the mean time they endeavoured to increase, and also to amend them, basely depraving of them, was this (as to the Substance thereof; for there is no need to relate the singular Di∣stinctions therein, as there is no occasion to se•• down this stuff it self, but for these mens sakes who cease not to blab it out, and to breath it in∣to, and infect the unwary with their stinking breath, and for them who are not aware of it, but when once they discern it, will hate and shun the same for ever, that God is one Essence, but a Threefold Principle in a Successive Order: That he is the Spring of, and doth influence all things; to wit, a fire, wherein there is the Light, Under∣standing and Wisdom of God, which is the Son of God; and Oyl, wherein that Light of God burns, which is the holy Spirit. And that in this manner all and singular things are for God, of his

own proper Nature, and that of Three Principles, which Three Principles are in Nature called by the Name of Sulphur, Salt and Water. Moreover, That God created all Things in Number, Weight and Measure, which so again consist in various Di∣vine Delicacies, especially in the Rational Crea∣tures, as being those in whom God hath, as it were, created himself, so as to divide a Particle of his own certain Quality into New Creatures.

Lastly, That Man restored, shall enjoy the Ele∣ment of Gracious Light, which Element is Christ himself, and that the holy Spirit shall rest upon him for his further Vivification. It's needless to add the rest.

These same Sentiments of these Men, which I believe they acquired by revealing upon, but not un∣derstanding the Platonick Writings, by polishing and mixing of them, they heaped up together into a Book. And this, which is not Christian Theolo∣gy, but is uttered by men that think themselves in their Right Wits, rather a War of the Giants a∣gainst Heaven; and in reference to the matter thereof, not only unconceivable and horrible▪ but so as to the words also, was esteemed by these men (among whom, tho there were some, who tho their Noddles were not souud altogether, yet there were certainly others of sound Understanding, and in their right Wits; yea, active, learned and indu∣strious, laying aside these Sentiments and Speeches) as some very sub••il and sublime Contemplation and Knowledge of God, if any such could be in the World. This they called Mystical Theology: they made so much account thereof, that unless any one had attain'd to it, held it and profest it, he knew nothing of Divine Matters. If any denied it, they adjudged him by no means capable of Salvation. On the other hand, their Adversaries looked upon this their Theology to be so gastly, and even ter∣rible to be uttered; and upon all the Writings which these Teutonicks put forth, with so hard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Censure, as if written not with Ink, but with a Pe••

dipped in the bitterest Gall, and guided by the Devil, and so as if they contained nothing else but a Collection of the most vile, foolish and base things, with idle words and dotages, and they ad∣judged him that agreed thereunto, and approved of them, worthy to be expelled, and far enough remo∣ved from all Christian Community, seeing they for∣bad their people to read, or as much as to look upon those Writings; and so there was not so much as place allowed these men in these provinces: The Principal Leaders, and Ensign-bearers of these new Pietists, were certain Doctors of Wirtemburg, whose Doctrine was scattered not only among their Scho∣lars, who constantly heard them, and followed them, and therefore easily stuck to their Precepts, and became themselves like unto them, but also a∣mong many others, who yet while they were carri∣ed with a desire alone to attain to Godliness, were called by the only Name of Pietists, and ingenu∣ously took upon them to follow the Party of Hor∣bius and Spener; insomuch that now upon the Rhine and where the river Lippe discharges her self into the same at Wesel, and the places adja∣cent towards Cleve, many even of our Churches did also so embrace this mystical Theology, some according to the Weigelian, some the Tentonick mode, and did so vigorously promote it, cherish such as received it with so much Ardency, that they began to unite and gather together, so as that our Divines had no small task upon them for to instruct and teach them better, that they might not withdraw from our Churches. And there is no occasion here to relate how much vexation and trouble their Ministers, and other good Men had in Holland, both from the old Weigelian family, and from this new brood of Teutonicks; seeing this is so well known there and in every bodies mouth; but this is not to be past over so far as it has relation to the affairs of the Quakers; among these new mystical Men there was one John Jacob Zimmer∣man Pastor of the Lutheran Church in the Dutehy of Wirtemburg, a Man skilled in Mathematicks

and, saving what he had Contracted of these erro∣neous opinions, had all other excellent endow∣ments of mind, to which may be added the tem∣perance of his Life, wherein he was inferior to none, and who was of considerable fame in the world; Who when he saw there was nothing but great danger like to hang over himself and his Friends; he invites and stirs up through his own hope a∣bout sixteen or seaventeen Families of these sort of Men, to prefer also an hope of better things tho it were dubious before the present danger, and forsaking their Country which they through the most precipitous and utmost danger, tho they suffered Death for the same, could not help and relieve as they supposed, and leaving their Inheri∣tance, which they could not carry along with them, to depart and betake themselves into other parts of the world, even to Pensilvania, the Quakers Country and there divide all the good and the evil that befall them between themselves, and learn the Languages of that People, and Endeavour to inspire Faith and Piety into the same Inhabitants by their words and examples which they could not do to these Christians here. These agree to it, at least so far as to try and sound the way, and if things did not go ill, to fortify and fit themselves for the same. Zimmerman, having yet N. Kos∣ter for his Colleague, who was also a famous Man, and of such severe manners that few could equal him, writes to a certain Quaker in Holland who was a Man of no mean Learning, and very weal∣thy, very bountiful and liberal towards all the poor, pious and good. That as he and his followers and friends designed, (They are the very words of the Letter which is now in my Custody). To de∣part from these Babilonish Coasts, to those American Plantations, being led thereunto by the guidance of the Divine Spirit, and that seeing that all of them wanted wordly substance, that they would not le•• them want Friends, but assist them herein, that they might have a good Ship well provided for them to

carry them into those places, wherein they might mind this one thing, to wit to shew with unanimous con∣sent, their Faith and Love in the Spirit in convert∣ing of People, but at the same time to sustain their bodies by their daily Labour. So great was the de∣sire, inclination and affection of this Man towards them, that he forthwith promised them all man∣ner of assistance, and performed it and fitted them with a Ship for their purpose, and did out of that large Portion of Land he had in Pensilvania, assign unto them a matter of two thousand and four hundred Acres, for ever of such Land as it was, but such as might be manured, imposing yearly to be paid a very small matter of rent upon every Acre, and gave freely of his own and what he got from his friends, as much as paid their Charge and Passage, amounting to an hundred and thir∣ty pounds sterling; a very great gift, and so much the more strange, that that same Quaker should be so liberal, and yet would not have his name mentioned, or known in the matter. But when these Men came into Holland they Sailed from thence directly for Pensilvania; Zimmerman sea∣sonably dies, but surely it was unseasonable for them, but yet not so, but that they all did chear∣fully pursue their Voyage, and while I am writ∣ing hereof, I receive an account, that they arrived at the place they aimed at, and that they all lived in the same house, and had a publick Meeting three times every week, and that they took much pains, to teach the blind people to become like unto themselves, and to conform to their exam∣ples: This Commotion and Disturbance made a∣mong the Lutherans, has been not only noted here for a Commemoration of the present time, but for a perpetual memorial of that people and I shall return to the Quakers, and briefly say something of their passing into other Countries and the most remote parts of Europe, and so shall conclude this book and the whole work therewith, and this we must not and ought the lest to pass over; be∣cause

they also wonderfully extol, but in words and Writing, the doing of these Travellers and Itinerants, almost beyond belief, not indeed un∣truly, but yet with so flattering an Estimation of these mens Labours and Troubles, which they suf∣fered for their Religion, and had returned unto them for those Benefits and Rewards, to wit, for the Propagating of their Religion, and the in∣crease of it in those Countries; and unless I mistake (I confess I may mistake) I see that in pro∣cess of time, as these men are very fond of their own Glory, of whom, some, notwithstanding their external Plainness and Modesty, swell with the leaven of Spiritual Pride, that they will esteem all the sayings of their Predecessors as Oracles, and their Actions, Miracles, and so Enhance and Magnify them as such, and Boast and Glory that the same have done very great things every where, and memorable to all Posterity. A little before those first Emisaries went into Holland, and the Adjacent Countries, Edward Burroughs and Sam. Fisher went to Dunkirk, a Sea-port Town in French Flanders, to shew there to the People the Igno∣rance and Superstition of the Papacy.

But when they found none upon whom they thought they might work any thing, they shortly, without any delay, return for England again, flying from the Storm, which they saw hanging over their Heads, and seeing that they could do no good for the promotion of their Religion, they were a••raid to do the same an injury in other things, by their own misfortunes, sufferings and perhaps destruction

The same year did William Cotton go to Calai••, a City on the Sea-coast of France, six miles di∣stant from Dunkirk, with the same design as the other two, had, before-mentioned, but not so skil∣ful in the Language of the Country, where en∣tring into the great Church, and viewing all things frowningly, but holding his Peace, he said at last that he was a sort of a new Guest, and when af∣ter

some time, he was known to be an English-man, he was led to the House of a certain Noble Scotch-man, and being asked what he was, he did not deny, but that he was so and so. There when the foresaid Scotch-man made himself to be his Interpreter to the People, Cotten speaks a few words concerning the Idolatry and Corrupt Man∣ners of the People; which when he had done, and that they contrived to do him an Injury; he no sooner came to hear of it, but bethinking him∣self, he ought to take heed, and to reserve his life for another necessity of dying, as his Friends before had done, he suddenly, and without any manner of delay, that he might disappoint the Consultati∣ons and Contrivances of his Enemies, flies, and makes the best of his way back again into England▪ George Ball was the only person that penetrared in∣to France, and so that he never returned thence a∣gain, and so it's uncertain and unknown what he did, or what became of him; The Quakers think he perished, somewhere in Prison: None other af∣ter thesemen, went on this design into France. St. Crisp tryed this Experiment in that horrid and more than barbarous Persecution of the whole Re∣formed Churches in that Kingdom, and in the dispersion of so many Thousands of men through other Reformed Countries, of which we have not yet seen an end, that he wrote a book, and took care to send and deliver it to those men, to try whether he could a••••ect some of them, so as to entertain a good Opinion of the Quakers Re∣ligion, and joyn themselves to their Sect. It's not to be doubted but that Book had its first beginning from Crisp; but because it was written in French, as it was to the French; and that Crisp was ignorant of that Language, or not well skil∣led therein; it••s certain it was Translated, and be∣lieved to have been much increased, and published b•• another hand. And it's no crime to think, seeing the Style is so like unto that way of w••i••ing used by Pe••n, who is still the choicest Writer a∣mongst

the Quakers, that he was that same Arti∣ficer.

It contains in it nothing concerning Religion; It only puts those French in mind to consider with themselves, wherefore God suffered such Calami∣ties to befal them; whether they were not the Consequent of their Soft and Depraved Educati∣on, and Love to Earthly things, and blind Obe∣dience towards those, to whose care they commit∣ed the Direction of their Consciences; then that they should weigh what Good, what Progress in Sanctity of Life those Calamities wrought in them, which they endured with so much Lamentation. Lastly, That not contenting themselves with that Reformation which hitherto was instituted a∣mongst them, they should go on, and do their endeavour to Finish and Consummate this begun Work. But the Book was writ both in Respect to the Sentences, Phrases, and words very differ∣ent from the English Mode, and not only from that of the Quakers, and to Conform to the Me∣thod and way of Writing in the French Tongue at this day, when that Language is Arrived to its highest Maturity, that there could be nothing in my Judgment, writ more neatly, and more con∣gruous to the Genius and Temper of those Peo∣ple: This Book the Quakers distributed gratis eve∣ry where through the Countries, where those French Refugees had Fled, and in some places as the People were coming out of their Churches. But there was not one found that we have heard of, or came to understand that was induced by this Book to fall in with the Quakers.

Hester Bidley relates this Passage to have hap∣pened to her self a little before this time, which every one is at liberty to believe as he pleases: She went to the late Q. of England, of happy memory, and complains to her, That it was very great grief of Heart to her, as she was a Woman, and a Christi∣an, that so great and tedious a War was waged be∣tween Christians, and such great Calamities and

Slaughters of Men, which happened every day, pierced her Heart; and therefore she Exhorted the Queen to endeavour, at least, to bend her study this way, for to end this War, that Peace may be made, and so gain great respect and affection from all. The Queen, who was of a most free and good Temper, having given her her Answer, she fur∣ther desires, That the Queen would grant her leave to go over into France, saying she would ad∣vise and speak to the French King about the same affair, and would have a Letter from the Queen to the same effect. This the Queen refused, and dis∣wades her from the said enterprise, urging that such a Journey and Business would be very diffi∣cult and dangerous: yet for all this the woman through her importunity and earnest sollicitation, got a pass from the said Queen's Secretary; and seeing that a short space of time is tedious to a longing person, she forthwith sets out, and after various traverses comes into France and goes to Versailles, and there coming to know that the late King of England was there, she at first applies her self unto him, as to one to whom he had been some years before known, upon the like occasion, and delivers unto him the Letter written by her to the French King; the substance whereof was this; That she being stirred by God, the Supreme King of all, that Illuminates this World, pray'd the King to make his Peace with God, and with the Nations he was at War with, and put a stop to such an over-flow∣ing and Rivulet of Blood that was shed. King James having seen the Epistle, sends the Woman to the Duke of Orleance, to whom when she had come, she delivered the Letter, and said withal, that she must speak with the King; the Duke a∣grees to deliver the Letter, but said she must not speak with the King; whereupon, the Woman full of Grief and Lamentation, and with shedding many Tears, did at last break forth into these words, Am I permitted to speak with the King of Kings an•• may not I speak with Man? Should I tell

this to our People in England, they would believe what they are all of them already perswaded of, that the King of France is so high and proud that none can speak with him. Which passage, when the King came to understand, he, in about three days af∣ter, grants her liberty to come to his Presence; the Room was full of Princes and Princesses, Prelates and great Men, the King Enters the same, and having seen the Woman, speaks to her, with his Hat under his Arm; whereupon she asked whether he was the King, the King answers, yes. Then said she, What is the meaning that the King is bare, it's not the fashion of the Kings of England. Upon this the King puts on his Hat, so the Woman run over briefly what she had before written in the Letter, in the King's Presence, to whom the King, with a Kingly Gravity and Brevity, replyed: But Woman, I desire Peace, and seek Peace, and would have Peace, and tell the Prince of Orange so, So in envy and spight do they in France call William King of great Brittain to this very time, wherein now for fear they begin to acknowledg and own his Regal Ma∣jesty in their pompous words and names; this K. I say, a K. so constituted according to all Divine and Human Laws, that if any one would decipher a Lawful and Just K. he can do it no better than by defining of it under the name of this; when as at the same time that name of Prince of Orange, has been throughout this Age, and before through∣out the World, as Glorions and Venerable, as that of King, and as much feared by Enemies. At these words the K. went his ways, and so did the Woman likewise, and having got Passes from the King, goes to Holland, and from thence returns for England, having, with all her endeavours, effected nothing; and so far is the Woman's Account of her self, whom the Quakers think, ought not to be mistru∣sted herein, because related by her self, of whose Sinceriry and Honesty they make no manner of of doubt; but others think it a thing more to be heeded, because the Woman did shew the Letters delivered to her, before the one signed by the

Queen's Secretary, and the other by the King's Command, and with his own Hand: Strange are the things which these Men relate; and some Write concerning the Travels of Samuel Fisher, John Stubbs, John Perrot, and John Love, Ministers of their Church, into Italy, and from thence to Ionia, the Lesser Asia, and Smyrna, as also of others, and of some Womens Journeys into those remote parts, as I know not through what difficult places, and what great pains they took for the propaga∣tion of their Religion, and how many Expedi∣tions they went upon, as if they would view and enlighten throughly all those Countries and Nations.

I shall only persue these Men's Relations, as they refer to that same expedition of mine formerly from Italy into Ionia, and what is worth Remem∣brance shall be taken notice of briefly, and so cal∣ling to remembrance my former Journey, and that same City, I mean Smyrna, I lived for some time in my younger days, and was Minister of the Gos∣pel of Jesus Christ our Lord; for so pleasant and delightful are our past Labours, and the most plea∣sant thing most unpleasant, if we may not some times speak of it, or at least remember it. Those four Men which we have already named, arrived in Italy by Sea, and came ashore at the Port of Leghorne, as 'tis now called, but formerly Portus Herculeus, &c. There they delivered some of their Pamphlets to the Governor, who delivered the same to the Inquisitors and Censors of Matters that appertain to Religion, who, when they found nothing in them that belonged to the Popish Re∣ligion, and that they had done nothing, for which by right they ought to be dissatisfied with them, they dismiss them. They go forwards, and get to Venice, and there offer their Pamphlets to the Doge, who holds the Chief Dignity in th•• Repub∣lick, and from thence without stop go to Rome, the compendium of the whole Papacy, and there see slightly and hastily the vast heap, and mass, of so many things that are to be seen in that place, and having viewed them, leave them as an

evil Omen, and return without any delay to Venice from whence they came. Then Perrote and Love take Shipping at this place, and go for Smirna, touching all the way no Land, no Port, nor so much as any Shore; where, when they were arri∣ved, because they had an intention to go for Con∣stantinople, when the English Consul came to hear of it, and had wisely considered the Life, and rough Demeanours of those Men, who knew not how to forbear, and to serve the times, and so fearing least they should act somewhat rashly to∣wards the Emperor, that might tend not only to their own Inconveniency, but to the Disadvan∣tage of the English Nation, he sends them against their Wills back again into Italy; And so when they arrived there they returned to Rome; while they were at Rome, Love and Perrote being Men not able to hide their Disposition, and moderate the same for some time, and in the place they were, and to the Men they came amongst, and not willing to dissemble and form Lies; when by this their Carriage they came to be known, what they were, and what their Design was, they are by the Inquisitors thrown into Prison. Love died under his Confinement, as some Monks declared, by Starving himself to Death; but as afterwards some of the Nuns reported, (so hard a thing it is to keep a secret, most difficult when once blabbed out to suppress, for the more 'tis concealed the more it's discovered) he was Murdered in the night; Perrote continued some time in Prison, and was afterwards set at liberty; About the occasion of which Enlargement there was at first various Opi∣nions, but afterwards there was no vain Suspicion, that, he being shut up in this place, chose rather to go backward than forward in his Work, seeing that after his return into England, he forsook the Quakers, and set himself directly against them, drawing others also off along with him, and en∣gaging of them to embrace his new Opinions and Precepts: The other two being struck with fear, fled away. And here I shall subjoin the Exam∣ple

of a London Youth, one George Robinson by name: He when he had sailed from England, in a Merchant Ship to the end of the Mediterranean, and arrived at Scanderoon; and from thence, as 'tis the way of many that Travel those parts, as being a shorter and easier way, continued his Journey towards the place which they call Jeru∣salem, with a design to see if he could behold or effect any thing there that might be advantageous to his Religion; Here he many ways discovered himself to be a Quaker; the which when it came to the Monks and Popish Priests Ears they in their Monastery, which is as it were the Store-House and Treasury of all manner of Villany, take Counsel together, whereby to bring him to such a danger, from which there should be no escape, and so put this villanous trick upon him. There was such a Law among the Turks formerly, tho' not many years past, made, That, if any Christian enter into any of their Churches, he is put to Death unless he redeem his Life with the change of his Religion; which Law was made not by the invention of the Turks themselves, but by the instinct of Ambassadors, and European Con∣suls on those Coasts, who thought it to be their Prudence to provide in that manner, least their Mariners, who are so serviceable to their Coun∣tries, but a ruffling sort of Men, and prone to all impetuous and saucy Actions, should offer any violence to the Churches and Porches of the Turks, and demean themselves insolently upon that account, and that so from that foreign Evil, another worse Evil arise, and befall the whole Nation; therefore that they might bring this young Man into the utmost peril of his Life; they by their cunning Machinations, order the matter so, as that he entred into one of their Mosques or Churches: There the Turks seize him, and having got an Interpreter, which sort of Men, who are of the Greek Nation, is never wanting, they threaten him, that unless he would change his Re∣ligion, and forsake his Christianity, and embrace

the Mahometan Way, they would burn him alive upon Camels Dung. He chooses to Die; they prepare for it; but a Turkish Officer comes up to them with great speed, who had found out by what Methods, Cunning, and Craft, they had trappan'd the young Man, and crys to them, that they should be quiet, stop, and see what they did; he shews them the whole matter, and so frees the young Man, who was ready to Die, and almost Breathless, from the very Jaws of Death; and after that, brought him to his own House, che∣rished and succoured him, and does as it were hug and adore for some time, as 'tis the manner of the Turks to love, venerate, and esteem such worthy of eternal Monuments, for undergoing such a Death, as to be Martyrs for their Religion; and at last commanded those Papists and bald Monks, who had not an Hair of Humanity to conduct this young Man, but one who was endued with a manly Nature and Fortitude into a place of Safe∣ty, unless they were minded to incur the like danger, or some other vindictive displeasure for the same. These manly Examples were imitated by some of the Female Sex, both Wives and Vir∣gins, not out of a Womanly precipitancy and bold∣ness, but upon a determinate Advice, taking good resolution of Mind, and raising up the Fortitude of their Bodies, contemning the danger of their lives, changing as it were their Sex, or being trans∣muted from Women to Men, which says Pliny's credit, in reference to a Transmutation of this Kind, of which sort L. Mutianu's shewed a Boy at Smyrna, which he had seen. For so did they steer their Course towards those same Places, and studied to obtain the same Glory and Praise for the Preaching and Propagating of their Religion. Of these Women, the first two were Catherine Evans and Sarah Chevench, who in the year 61, went by Sea from London to Italy, to the intent they might get a Ship to go from thence to Scan∣deroo••, and so on to Judeae; which VVomen, while that the Ship as they sailed touched upon Malta,

went out of the Ship and drew near the Island: There they forthwith deliver their Pamphlets to such as they met with, and in the mean time be∣holding and abhorring so many Signs of an Idola∣trous People, seeing they could not by their Tongue and Language express the Sence they had of it to these men, (for they use partly the Italian, partly the Turkish, and partly a mixt and medley Speech, as having been Conquered, and the place inhabited by both People several times) they did it to them by Signs and Nods, and other Gestures; being af∣terwards brought to the Inquisitors, and having an Interpreter assigned them, they refuse to do what the Papists would have them; Dispute a∣gainst them; and at last, reject and so despise their their Worship, Adoration, and Religion, that the Malteses seized upon these chattering Women, and threw them into Prison, and there kept them a∣bout two years; and then at last thrust them out of their Island; There were two other Mai∣dens who were also English Women, one of which was afterward Married to a Citizen, and eminent Merchant of Amsterdam, (for there is no need of naming her or her Companion) that even as these Women had done, did with the same design go by Sea as far as Scanderoon; but being there not per∣mitted to go any further by the English Consul, they did at length, with much Grief and Sorrow, return to their own Country. I shall add another Example of the strange and ardent Resolution of Women, which is almost too great, and therefore the less Credible; and therefore every one may make Judgment thereof as he pleases; but it's such as that the Quakers who have received it, and de∣livered the same unto me, do so attest; that for all they have no other Testimony of the Truth of the thing, no manner of witness, none conscious or judge of the same besides the Woman her self, they say they doubt so little thereof as if the thing had been done in their Sight: She was an English Maiden, her name Mary Fisher, who would not be at rest before she went in Person to the great

Emperor of the Turks, and inform'd him concerning the Errors of his Religion, and the Truth of hers. It was the same Emperor, who in my time, and long after, governed that Empire, called by the name of Mahomet Han the 4th of the Name, a Monster of a Man, a Deformed sight both in Body and Mind, as if one strove with the other how to of∣fend, of a black Complexion, with a flat broad Nose and Mouth, stupid, logger-headed, cruel, fierce, as to his Aspect, and besides other marks upon his Body, had a Scar beneath his Eye-lid on the upper part of his Cheek, which came from a wound and cruel Cut given him by his Brother's Guards and Followers, a Testimony of his Boisterous and Cruel Disposition, because that upon his Brother's Accession to that Throne, he attempted to take him off, and cut off his Head with his own hands. Tho others have given a dif∣fent Relation of this matter, to wit, that this Mahomet's Father, because he had understood by signs and Prophesies, that the Son should expel the Father from the Throne, had endeavoured to cut off this his Son, and that in the mean time, while the Son was kept from falling into the hands of his Father, in this manner, he gave him this mark of the mischief he designed for him. This passage has been inter∣lac'd here, not that there is any great connexion between the matter in hand and it, but for curiosity's sake, upon the ac∣count of them who are desirous of Novelties; and that this Maiden might come to the sight of this Man, speak with him, and put him in mind of the Justice of her cause, she goes on board an English Ship, and Sails for Smyrna; but when the English Consul at Smyrna came to know her design, he ad∣vises the young Woman, by all means to forbear, but she per∣sists in her Resolution, so the Consul not enduring that she should expose her self to so many, and such great hazards and rash undertakings, and being not able to divert her any other way from her purpose, he puts her on board a Ship, & go her Convey'd to Venice: She having lost the opportuni∣ty, but not the will she had to accomplish her design; after that she had sailed up as high as Peloponesus, or the Morea, she made them put her a shore on the next Land: There having got this freedom, and regarding neither the circum∣stances of Nature, nor the weakness of her Sex, being all alone, and ignorant of the Way and the Language, that she might avoid the danger of falling into the hands of

Thieves, she Travails on Foot all along the Shoar and Sea-Coast of the Morea, Greece, and Macedon; and from thence over the Mountains and craggy places of Romania, or Thrace, as far as the River Mariza came to Adrianople, where the Emperor did then continually reside, because he was very much hated by those of Constantinople, and so he, in like manner, shunned the presence and sight of them. There was a vast Retinue and Concourse of People attending the Emperor, besides his Army, which lay there, so as that there was scarce room enough to contain•• such a multitude. The Woman was lucky, tho' she did not know it, to alight up∣on such Men, who tho' they are called by the name of Turks, came not short, in their Kindnesses to Strangers, of any other Nation, especially the nobler and better sort of them, (which I my self have not so much understood as experienced) yea, do so respect and esteem Women-kind, that if any injure them in VVords or Actions, he runs in danger of his Life. It was a very difficult thing to come to and speak with the Emperor; but as there is nothing pleasant to a Lover but what is sought after and hard to be obtained, she trys every way, looks about her narrowly, follows closely her Business, and after many Sollicitations and Traverses backwards and forwards, through many places, at last she found one who spoke for her to the Grand Visier, who is the chief Man in Authority next the Emperor, and acquaints him, that there was an English VVoman, who had some good Counsel to give the Emperor in the Name of the Great God▪ This Visier was Achmet Bassa, very Renowned among the Turks, because he succeeded his Father in that great Office, which Honour none ever before him attained to in that kind; The Visier speaks to the Emperor on the Womans behalf, the Em∣peror grants her Liberty to come to him: She came accom∣panied with the Dragmans or Emperors Interpreters; but I could never learn what it was the Woman said to him; The Emperor after he had given her Audience, commands her to withdraw, and ordered her to be conveyed to Constantinople, that she might from thence return to her own Country; This is that which the Woman after her return was wont to relate to the Quakers, and none able to confirm or confute it; and this is that same person who together with Anne Austin, was the first of all the Women that went to Preach their Religion in New England, and who for her great En∣dowments, not only of mind and wit, but also for her great dexterity and experience, was by William Ball, a Preacher of no small fame a∣mong the Quakers, thought worthy to make him a VVife, as I have said in the beginning of this Book, that so that which was the begin∣ning of this Book is also the end of the same, and of the whole work.