Chapter XLVI: Appendix: to VOL. I (14)

In the meanwhile the behaviour of the persecutors in the meetings was brutish in the highest degree; insomuch that a certain woman, seeing that the attorney Helliar lifted up her child by the hair of his head, and asking him, why he so abused her child, was therefore ill treated herself by him. And by order of the said Helliar a lass was committed to Bridewell, because she gave an impudent boy, that would have turned up her coats, a box on the ear; for which defending of her modesty, this brutish Helliar called her a rioter and seditious person: for he was, as hath been said already, a leader of insolent and saucy boys, which he from time to time took along with him to disturb the meetings of the Quakers. And sheriff Knight did often with his cane very violently beat those that were met together, and once grievously abused an ancient man called Britton; and some women were pinched violently in their arms. Susannah York, an aged woman, was thrown down to the ground; Mary Hooper was very roughly handled by Helliar, had her scarf torn off her back, and was so thrust and flung about, that she was much out of order long after; and Mary Page, being big with child, was so violently hauled out of the meeting, that her life was endangered by it. With Helliar it became customary to call men rogues, and the women whores, jades, carrions, and damned bitches: he also bid the boys to tear their scarfs and take up dirt, and throw upon them. Of this his beastly rage there were many witnesses; for these abominable dealings displeased many people of other persuasions: but it seems these enraged fellows had encouragement at court, whereon they durst rely: for the sheriff John Knight was knighted, and therefore grew more insolent. Once it happened that Helliar having disturbed a meeting, drove the women along the streets as if they had been cattle; and being asked whether he made beasts of them, he answered, ‘Ye are worse than beasts; for beasts will be driven, but you will not.’

This disturbing of meetings continued till almost all the men belonging thereto were clapped up in prison; and some of them sending a petition to the mayor and justices of the city, that they might be pleased to let them have larger rooms, since not only their health, but their lives also were endangered, the said magistrates showed themselves inclined to allow the prisoners some ease or enlargement: but the power of sheriff Knight was such, that whatever they said or did, all proved in vain. The mayor also signified to the sheriff, that he would have all convictions made above board, and not in ale-houses and taverns; and that he would have the distrained goods brought into a public warehouse, and not in a by-lane. But though the mayor _ex officio_ might have commanded the sheriff, yet this officer was so countenanced, that he did not care for whatever the mayor said; nay, so exorbitant was he, that his adherents began to threaten the mayor, he should not be a parliament-man; insomuch that he was forced to comply in some degree. In the meanwhile the havoc and spoil was so enormous, that generally twice as much was taken as the fine amounted to. The prisoners, some of whom lay on the floor, others in hammocks, and some in a cold and open room, exposed to the wind, and injury of the weather, suffered great inconveniences, and the jailer Isaac Dennis imagining that nothing could be too bad for them, would not show them any favour, but at a very unreasonable rate; and his wife showed herself no less unreasonable than he, so that one extortion was at the heels of another. Four physicians of Bristol, viz. John Griffith, William Turgis, J. Chauncy, and T. Bourn, seeing how straitly the prisoners were penned up and thronged together, gave a certificate under their hands, in which they declared, that they resenting their condition with compassion, and considering what dangerous consequence such close confinement might be of, were moved to certify, that the prisoners being destitute of room for rest, it had a ready tendency to breed infectious distempers, to the endangering of their lives, &c. But all this did not avail them, it being not counted worth the while to be concerned for them. Nay, so desperately wicked was the jailer, that when the prisoners complained for want of room, he said to his man, if he could but shut the door, it would be well enough. But in due time we shall see what anguish and horror befel him.

After most of the people called Quakers at Bristol were in prison, the women who continued to keep up their religious meetings, were also seized, and confined to that degree, that at length few or none but children, that staid with the servants in the houses of their parents, were left free. The number of the prisoners for the sake of their religion amounted now to one hundred and fifteen, and some of them were confined in Bridewell, among whom were also Barbara Blaugdone, (several times mentioned before,) and Catharine Evans, who had learned at Malta what it was to suffer a tedious and hard imprisonment. It is very remarkable that children under sixteen years of age now performed what their parents were hindered from: for these children kept up their religious meetings as much as was in their power. But though they were not within the reach of the law, yet once nineteen of these youths were taken and carried to the house of correction, where they were kept for some time. And though they were threatened with whipping if ever they returned to the meeting, yet they continued valiant without fainting, although they suffered exceedingly from the wicked rabble. But so great was their zeal, that they despising all reproach and insolence, remained steadfast; and thus showed in spite of their enemies, that God would not suffer that the Quakers’ meeting should be altogether suppressed, as it was intended. This persecution continued till the next year, as it did in several other places also; for there wanted no informers, who continually lay in wait for prey, even to such a degree, that I find that some of those called Quakers, being come from other places to market, and being gone into an inn to refresh themselves, a snatching informer did not stick to declare upon his oath, that the Quakers had kept a meeting there.

But before I leave Bristol, I must give some account of a ridiculous act, performed on one Erasmus Dole, who bore the name of a Quaker. He having said that he scrupled not to declare the contents of the oath of allegiance, it was contrived that he should speak after the clerk, and skip over such words he disliked, and pronounce another in its room, as I declare, instead of I swear. This went on, and whilst he was thus speaking, the jailer held his hand to the book, and when Erasmus had said all, put it to his mouth, to make this pass for kissing it. With this the court seemed satisfied; and the bishop of Bristol seeing these apish tricks, told the court, that altered it not from being an oath, at which they gloried, as having obtained a conquest. But this was but a pitiful one; for Erasmus being a man of an irregular life, the Quakers had but little cause to regret the loss of such a member, who grew so dissolute, that in process of time they found themselves necessitated to deny him, because of his offensive conversation.

In Gloucestershire the people called Quakers were also under great sufferings by imprisonment, for keeping their meetings; and the wife of one John Boy, being at a peaceable meeting at Little Badmanton, was through instigation of the priest of the parish, in a violent manner dragged out of the meeting by the lord Herbert’s footmen; through which abuses the woman fell sick and miscarried, to the endangering of her life; and her husband, who was also taken prisoner at the same place, was not suffered at his request to see his wife.

In Leicestershire it went no better: one Elizabeth Hill being in a meeting at Broughton, was by the rude boys dragged out, and so abused, that she was seemingly quite spent, and near dead; and laying in the dirt, one of the boys, to try whether she was still alive, put his finger into her mouth, and perceiving her to breathe, said, ‘Let us at her again. The devil is yet in her, and we will squeeze him out.’ These cruel abuses made a neighbourly woman cry out, ‘What, will you kill the woman?’ To which the boys said, ‘What care we? Mr. Cotton bid us do so.’ ‘Did he indeed?’ asked the woman. ‘Aye, indeed,’ replied the boys. ‘Then,’ said she, ‘he may be ashamed of it.’ Thus these boys openly said, that it was the parson, viz. Thomas Cotton, who was the priest of the parish, encouraged them to this excessive wickedness; and his man said in plain terms, his master was one of the best men in England; for if every one would serve them so, this heresy would be rooted out. And this man, whose name was Thomas Ambrose, did not stick to say, that nothing would drive the Quakers away, but either fire or water; and if the house was his, (meaning the house where they met together,) he would burn it on their heads. More instances of such exorbitant wickedness which happened at sundry places, I could mention, if I did not study brevity.

George Fox being this year at London about the time of choosing new sheriffs for the city, he wrote a few lines to those who, standing candidates for that office, desired his friends to give their voices for them. And he said in the conclusion, ‘Shall we be free to serve and worship God, and keep his commands, if we give our voices for you? For we are unwilling to give our voices for such as will imprison and persecute us, and spoil our goods.’ The constables now at London were sent sometimes with warrants to disturb the Quakers’ meetings; but it was easily seen that they would rather have been freed from such a commission: for coming there, they would bid George Fox or others that preached, to give over speaking; but they and the soldiers who sometimes came along with them, generally behaved themselves moderate, sufficiently showing that they were not for persecution, and that what they did was for the sake of their office. Sometimes indeed they hindered the friends going into their meetings; but these then being thus kept out, the number notwithstanding increased.

Once it happened that George Fox was stopped by the constables from going into Devonshire-house meeting; and after having stood awhile in the yard, till he was weary, one gave him a stool to sit on; after awhile he stood up and preached, and in his declaration said, ‘Ye need not come against us with swords and staves, for we are a peaceable people, and have nothing in our hearts but good-will to the king and magistrates, and to all people upon the earth. And we do not meet under pretence of religion, to plot against the government, or to raise insurrections; but to worship in spirit and in truth.’ When he had spoken what was upon him at that time, he sat down, and after a while concluded the meeting with prayer, at which the constables and soldiers as well as others put off their hats; and when the meeting was finished, a constable putting off his hat, seriously said, ‘The Lord bless you;’ and all were suffered to pass away unmolested.

Thus this year came to an end. All other Protestant dissenters were now suppressed; for they were restrained from exercising any public worship; and some there were, who, in their nocturnal meetings, would pray God, that it might please him to keep the Quakers steadfast, that so they might be as a wall about them, in order that other dissenters might not be rooted out. And yet these, to render the Quakers odious, formerly had been very active in setting them forth in very ill colours. But the said people continued now so valiant, and without fainting, that some of their persecutors have been heard to say, that the Quakers could not be overcome, and that the devil himself could not extirpate them.

1683.

In the year 1683, persecution continued in many places; and by computation it appeared that above seven hundred of those called Quakers yet suffered imprisonment in England. I could mention several instances of persecution in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and elsewhere; but to avoid being prolix, I will only take a turn again to Bristol, where persecution continued still; for if sometimes any of the people called Quakers came to a meeting, they presently were committed to prison; among these was one Richard Lindy, a blind man, of about fourscore and ten years of age, who was carried to jail, and forced to sit up three nights in a chair, though others offered to pay for his lodging, if some convenient place to lie down on had been allowed him. Some of the prisoners, being tradesmen, would willingly have worked in prison, to earn something for their sustenance: but the jailer Isaac Dennis, would not permit them that liberty. Other prisoners fell sick of the spotted fever, and some died of it: yet all this did not soften the said hard-hearted jailer. But at length a heavy stroke fell from heaven upon him. About the middle of the month of October he fell sick, and was seized with terrible anguish of mind. Then he wished he had never seen the inside of the jail; and he desired some of the Quakers to pray for him, and to forgive him for what he had done. To which they answered, that they forgave him; but he should ask forgiveness of God. But still his anguish increased; and when the physicians ordered him to be let blood, he said, no physic would do him good, his distemper being another thing: and that no man could do him good, his day being over; and there was no hope of mercy from God for him. Some of those called Quakers seeing him in this woful condition, signified, that they desired, if it was the will of the Lord, he might find a place of repentance. And it was told him, they hoped his day was not over, because he had such a full sense of his condition. To which he answered, ‘I thank you for your good hope; but I have no faith to believe.’ And he further said, ‘Faith is the gift of God.’ Whatever was spoken to him, he continued in saying, that his day was over, and there was no mercy for him. Such a gnawing worm is the guilt of conscience; and in this desperate state he continued above a month, and died the last of November, without any visible signs of forgiveness; but the judgment thereof we must commit to God.

Although the people called Quakers were oppressed by sufferings all over the country, yet generally they continued valiant; and as George Fox did not omit from time to time to encourage them by letters to faithfulness and steadfastness, so several others of their teachers did not neglect to exhort them to perseverance both by word and writing: and what was indeed remarkable, those who travelled to and fro in the country, and publicly preached in the meetings of their friends, generally went free; and the informers were often disappointed of catching a preacher. I find it left upon record by Charles Marshall, who was none of the least, that though in the time when persecution was most hot, he travelled through the nation, yet none laid hands on him, or fined him for his preaching, which was the more remarkable, because he being a very zealous man, was used to lift up his voice in a very powerful manner.

William Dewsbury, who was now grown ancient in his imprisonment at Warwick, had wrote an epistle of consolation to his suffering friends, which was thought fit to be reprinted, and is as follows:

‘_Dear Brethren and Sisters_,

‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, ‘Though you now
drink the cup of adversity, and eat the bread of affliction,
and are trampled upon, as though you were not worthy to live
upon the earth, yet notwithstanding all the fury of men, you are
resolved in the strength of my Spirit for ever to be deprived
of the sweet enjoyments of wife, husband, tender children,
parents, and outward possessions, liberty, and life, before you
deny the testimony of my name before the sons of men. Oh! you
dear and tender children, who love not your lives unto death
this day, that you may furnish a good testimony for the glory
of my name, saith the Lord God; lift up you heads in the light
of my covenant, and believe in my name, for I am near unto you,
saith the mighty God of safety; and let not any weight or burden
lie upon you: for I will be more than husband to wife, and more
than wife to husband, or parents to children, or children to
parents; yea, I will be a husband to the widow, and a father
to the children who are deprived of their tender parents for
my name’s sake: I will enlarge your borders in the life of my
righteousness: you that suffer in true innocency, will I refresh
with the depth of my mercies, yea, I will guard you with the
angel of my presence, and all that devise mischief against you
shall be confounded before the glory of my power, with which
I will keep and preserve you in the word of my patience, and
safety, in my presence,’ saith the Lord God.

‘Therefore, you dear children, who drink the deepest in
sufferings, think it not hard, for it is my purpose unto you all
that have not an eye to self, but alone seek my glory in all
you do; I will make you more and more honourable in the glory
of my life, and double my blessings upon you and yours; for I
have beheld your integrity, and my bowels are mightily moved
with compassion towards you; therefore am I risen for your sakes
this day, to declare unto you, my suffering people, that not an
hair of your head shall perish, neither shall you be detained
in prisons and desolate holes any longer than I have determined
shall be for your eternal good, and the glory of my name for
ever; therefore in my life stand faithful, in resistance of every
evil thought, or whatever would cause you to murmur, or desire
any thing but what you know will advance the glory of my name,
and the exaltation of my truth, over all that riseth up against
it, in your being truly subject to the measure of my light and
life, that will not let any seek a pre-eminence or esteem amongst
men; neither let self-striving nor self-serving have power in
any; but in true humility, love, and meekness watch one over
another; and let the strong take the weak by the hand, that
you may all gently, in love, meekness, and holy fear, dread my
name, and serve one another; that your love may be manifest unto
me, saith the Lord your God, and one unto another in the naked
simplicity of your spirits; then will I make my dwelling amongst
you, and with you; and my dreadful and glorious presence you
shall all feel mightily in you, and amongst you, moving in the
exercise of my Spirit, to the renown of my name, and the comfort
of one another; and I will crown you with heavenly blessings,
and the glory of my powerful life; and you shall praise my name
for ever, that I made you my jewels, and counted you worthy to
suffer for the testimony of my name. I will go before you through
all the waters and floods of afflictions; and I will appear with
you before all the councils of the sons of men; and my saving
power shall compass you about in your hot and sharp afflictions,
all you who have your confidence alone in me, the Lord your God.
Therefore, trust in my name, ye my dear children, and cast all
your care upon me; and if any of you joyfully suffer the spoiling
of your goods, I will supply with what is needful for you and
yours; and if any of you seal your testimony in the word of my
patience with your blood, I will take care of your tender wives
and children, or parents, for whom your souls have been poured
forth in prayers unto me for their good.

‘Therefore hear my word, which is sounded unto you from the
throne of my grace and eternal glory: rejoice not too much in
spirits being made subject, but throw down your crowns before
me, that there be not a self-seeking, self-serving spirit in
the family of my people, but all feel the birth immortal raised
up in the resurrection of my life in you all, which truly makes
self of no reputation, so that all loftiness be laid low, and
all haughtiness bowed down in every one, that I the Lord God in
you all may be loved, obeyed, and exalted; who is taking, and
will take to me my great power, to exalt the meek upon the earth,
and reign over all the pride of the children of men, (that is
exalted above my witness in their conscience,) that so my sons
may be brought from far, and my daughters from the ends of the
earth, in the sight of all people, whom I will make to confess,
in subjection to my power, that you are the beloved people of
the most high God, and of the righteous seed which the Lord hath
blessed; and not any weapon formed against you shall prosper,
but come to nought, which will be hastened to your comforts, and
certainly performed according to what is here declared, to your
eternal joy; and you shall assuredly know the mouth of the Lord
hath spoken it.

‘The word of the Lord, before
expressed, came to me in the
prison-house at Warwick, the 13th
day of the First-month, 1664,
which constrained me to send it
to be read amongst you, dear,
faithful, and suffering people of
the Almighty God, in whom I remain
your brother and companion in
tribulation and kingdom of patience
in the Lord Jesus Christ.

WILLIAM DEWSBURY.’

Whilst persecution was on foot in England, there was some division among those called Quakers, which had its rise some years before. Those who first appeared to head it, were John Wilkinson and John Story, preachers among them, who showed themselves discontented against George Fox, chiefly about the management of church affairs, because things went not always so as they would have it: and since George Fox had been the first institutor of good order amongst his friends, he was the chief object of the envy of the malcontented. And because in the beginning there were no such meetings, or discipline, and yet they had lived in mutual peace and unity; it was asserted, that such meetings were needless, and that every one ought to be guided by the Spirit of God in his own mind, and not to be governed by rules of man. By which it appeared, that they were against the establishing of any order of government in the church. But they were greatly bent against the women’s meetings, who as deaconesses, met together at set times, to provide for poor families, and sick people that were in want. It is true, it was objected that in those meetings sometimes was debated what was not so convenient in every respect; because young women were admitted there also, to see and learn how matters were treated by the grave and ancient women: and what if some had been a little too forward to meddle with affairs properly belonging to the men? The creeping in of a wrong use can by no means justify the abrogating what is really useful; and that honest and ancient women took care for the poor and indigent members of the church, was indeed laudable. But as in great communities generally are found some men who love to govern, without being fit for it; so some of these soon adhered to Wilkinson and Story: besides several others, who in time of persecution, rather would have met privately, than have come into public meetings, and so be exposed to the fury of their enemies; and such also as rather would pay tithes to the priests, than suffer spoil or imprisonment for the refusal thereof.

Hence rose a schism or rent first in the north of England, and some who went under the denomination of Separatists, began to keep meetings by themselves, and so to leave their former friends, though they pretended to agree with them in matter of doctrine. To these Separatists afterwards resorted such as were not strict livers, and therefore were unwilling to submit to church discipline: for this was now become the common saying of these people, that every one having received a measure of the Spirit of God, ought to regard that leader, without minding any rules prescribed by others.

In process of time William Rogers and Thomas Crisp appeared in print against their quondam brethren, and upbraided them with every imprudent behaviour, or inconsiderate act: besides that, on mere hearsay, they published a multitude of untruths, and decried even lawful things; an instance of which appeared when Rogers in paltry verses scornfully reviled them, that some sustenance had been given from the public cash to indigent preachers, who, to shun the neglect of their public ministry, could not duly mind their private affairs; though this supply never exceeded necessary provision. To this it was answered, that if it pleased God to call to his ministry persons of mean estate, the church was not warranted to hinder it, and let such suffer want; since he, as Sovereign of the universe, could not be limited in the distribution of his gifts. Rogers would continually appeal to the primitive times, and to give some colour to what they asserted, he and his adherents published a paper with Edward Burrough’s name to it, who had been dead above twenty years; but G. Whitehead and others gave good proofs, that the apostate John Perrot, had been the author of that so much applauded paper. At length this rent appeared also in London, where likewise malcontents were not wanting, who not being strictly conscientious, would rather live without any restraint; and even some that were honest, were by fair words persuaded to separation; for among the Separatists one Charles Harris preached, who was pretty fluent in speech, and not unelegant in his expressions, as I have seen and heard myself. But how specious soever the pretence of these Separatists was, and whatever endeavours were made, yet they were not able to continue and subsist firmly; but at length they decayed and vanished as snow in the fields; for the best among them came in time to see that they had been deceived; and the less honest grew worse, for among themselves, they were not free from division: and though George Keith, (whose apostacy will be mentioned in the sequel,) endeavoured to skulk among them, yet he got no adherents there. I have often wondered how Wilkinson, Harris, and Keith, (all of whom I have known,) could apostatize to such a degree as they did: but yet this is not so exceeding strange as some may think it to be; for we find on record, that even in the primitive apostolical church, was an Alexander the coppersmith, and Hymeneus and Philletus, who made shipwreck of the faith, and caused a rent, insomuch that it is said, their words would eat as did a canker.

At London the meetings this year were often disturbed; but the magistrates themselves seemed not to approve of it, for they clearly saw there was nothing to be feared from the Quakers, and yet they were loth to give offence to the court party which then prevailed. G. Fox coming once to the meeting in Gracechurch-street, and being kept out by the constables, stood up in the court and preached to the people; but a constable plucked him down, and afterwards let him go free. At another time having been in the meeting at the Savoy, and being brought to a justice, there was one Gabriel Shad, an informer, who was so full of impertinent talk, that the justice grew angry; and yet he thought himself bound to do something; and so asked G. Fox if he did not preach in the meeting; to which he warily answered, that he did confess what Christ had done for his soul, and did praise God; and that he thought he might have done that in the streets, and in all places: and this he was not ashamed to confess, neither was this contrary to the liturgy of the church of England. To this the justice said, the laws were against such meetings as were contrary to the church of England; and at length spoke of sending G. Fox to Newgate, and said, he would make a mittimus after he had dined; but the constable coming then, the justice bid him come again after the evening service; which the constable doing, the justice told him, he might let G. Fox go: and next day he signified to one of G. Fox’s friends, that by some accident he had been disappointed of fining him.

Thus G. Fox was freed, and was now much at London, where a plot was said to be on foot against the king and the duke of York, of which the duke of Monmouth was said to be the head. This design, whatever it was, cost the lives of several persons, among whom was the earl of Essex, who unfortunately perished in the Tower, and the lord Russel, who was fain to stoop to the axe.

Now since persecution continued with some colour of justice, those called Quakers drew up the following address to the king:

TO THE KING.

_The humble Address of the people commonly called Quakers._

‘O KING,

‘The King of kings, and Lord of the whole earth, incline thy
heart to that which is just and merciful in his sight, and to
make such clear and equal distinctions, as that the innocent may
not suffer in any case for the guilty; that it may ever redound
to thy honour and safety, and the peaceable subject’s comfort.

‘Our innocency, love, and good-will to thy person and government
that God has committed to thee, encourage us in this our humble
address and application.

‘Whereas the plot against the king, and his brother the duke
of York, &c. is made an occasion to persecute many of us for
our religious meetings, more severely than formerly; we do
solemnly declare that it is known to the Divine Majesty, and
the all-seeing wisdom whereby kings reign, and princes decree
justice, that our manifold, extreme, and continued sufferings,
being only on a religious account, have not been the least motive
or provocation to us to desire, much less to contrive the least
hurt, either to thy person or government, or to the person of thy
brother the duke of York, &c. We are clear in the sight of God,
angels, and men, from all hellish plots, traitorous conspiracies,
and from all murderous designs and undertakings against the king,
his brother, or any person on earth whatsoever, being works of
the devil and darkness; having contrariwise learned of Christ
Jesus our Lord, by his light and grace in our hearts, not so
much as by force to defend, much less avenge ourselves from the
injuries done us, but to commit the cause to him that judgeth
righteously, as peaceable followers of our Saviour and Redeemer,
in his patient example and sufferings, who is the Prince of
Peace.

‘O king, we do further declare, that God Almighty hath taught
and engaged us to acknowledge, and actually to obey magistracy,
as his ordinance, in all things not repugnant to his law and
light in our consciences, which is certainly agreeable to the
holy Scripture, and admits not of any immoral or injurious
actions, and that even where, through tenderness of conscience
we cannot conform, it is our duty patiently to suffer, and not
to rebel, nor seek revenge; and we hope, by his divine grace,
ever to demean ourselves as peaceable minded Christians, in our
conversations, under the civil government; and as we do sincerely
and with reverence, confess to Divine power and Providence in
thy restoration and preservation of thy person hitherto; so our
prayers and supplications are to the Almighty for thy future
safety and peace, and that in a thankful remembrance of God’s
great mercies towards thee, thou mayest be thereby obliged to
show mercy, and relieve the oppressed from these unmerited
afflictions and persecutions, which a great number of us thy
peaceable subjects do even at this day suffer under, in our
persons and estates; not only by laws made against, but also
by laws never intended against us; and which is more extreme,
divers severities of late have been, and still are inflicted, for
which no colour or pretence of law hath been, or can be alleged;
several jails being so filled, as that they want air, and many
innocent persons held under extreme distress, without regard to
age, sex, or condition, to the loss of some lives already, and
apparent hazard of many more; if not to the endangering infection
in divers cities and places in this nation; and so many houses,
shops, barns, and fields, ransacked and swept of goods, corn, and
cattle; tending also to the great discouragement of trade and
husbandry, and to the impoverishing of a great number of quiet
and industrious people; and that for no other cause, but for
their religious worship and exercise of their tender consciences
towards Almighty God that made them, who is the sovereign Lord of
all, and King in men’s consciences.

‘Therefore we humbly intreat thee, O king, in princely justice,
Christian charity, and compassion, to open our prison doors, and
take off our bonds, where the innocent and oppressed in thy land,
that fear God, and, in conversation, truly honour the king; and
suffer not the ruin of such as are quiet in the land, the widow
and the fatherless for their peaceable consciences, to lie at the
door of a prince professing the tender and compassionate religion
of Christ.’

This address was presented to the king at Windsor, on the 8th of the month called August, in this year, by George Whitehead, Alexander Parker, Gilbert Latey, and Francis Camfield, in behalf of themselves and their friends; and it was read to him and his brother the duke of York, then present with some others; but no considerable ease followed: king Charles, it seems, was not to be the instrument thereof: and though that prince by nature was not hard-hearted, yet there were some that could persuade him to severity.

I find about this time, that one Gabriel Shad, who had made it his business to serve as informer against the Quakers, and who had lately informed also against G. Fox, as hath been said, being confined in Newgate at London, for stealing goods from one William Leman, to the value of three hundred pounds, had been found guilty of felony at the Old Bailey; but he had such friends, that he was freed from the gallows, and having obtained the benefit of the clergy, was discharged with being burnt in the hand. Such infamous persons were the informers; for honest people scorned to meddle with such a base and abominable work.

This year the princess Anne, daughter of the duke of York, was married to prince George of Denmark. The duke of Monmouth having been under disgrace, came into favour again; for the king his father indeed loved him, though he was loth, in prejudice of his brother the duke of York, to declare him his legitimate son, as some great men wished he had. But the king persisted in his declaration, that he never had been married to Monmouth’s mother.

1684.

In the next year, viz. that of 1684, G. Fox and Alexander Parker, came into Holland to visit their friends there; and after some stay, they returned to their native country.

In this year died Thomas Stordy of Moorhouse in Cumberland, a gentleman who twenty-two years before had been condemned to a premunire, because for conscience-sake he could not swear; for which sheriff John Lowther seized his estate, real and personal, for the king’s use, and kept him prisoner eleven or twelve years, till discharged by the king’s declaration in 1672, or 73, and his real estate restored. After which, he suffered under great fines and spoil for meeting, and after that was prosecuted on the act for twenty pounds a month for not coming to their worship; on which he continued prisoner several years, till he died in December, having been made willing rather to lose all for Christ’s sake, than to be disobedient to him. This Thomas Stordy released to the land-owners, and their heirs for ever, an impropriation of ten pounds per annum, which descended to him from his father and grandfather, making conscience as well of receiving as paying tithes. Not long before his decease, he exhorted those that were come to visit him, to faithfulness; ‘For,’ said he, ‘if ye continue faithful to the Lord whilst ye live in this world, he will reward you, as now he rewardeth me, with his sweet peace.’ Thus piously Thomas Stordy departed this life, showing forth that he was really a gentleman, whose chiefest nobility consisted in virtue. I could mention some other instances, or cases of persecution; but to make the more speed towards a conclusion, I will not detain my reader with the relation thereof.

1685.

Thomas Briggs, who also had suffered very much, having been one of the first preachers among the Quakers, and being become old and weak, about this time wrote a letter to G. Fox, in which he signified his perseverance in godliness; and not long after, viz. about the beginning of the year 1685, he died.

It was about this time also, that the king was seized with such violent fits of convulsion, that he died in the month called February. The throne by his death being become vacant, was filled again by his brother James the Second, who succeeding him, was the same day proclaimed king. Now I cannot but take notice, that persecution went on to the death of king Charles, and continued hot to that very instant; and he being gone off the stage, many seemed to fear that worse times were at hand, and that burning of heretics would come in vogue again, as in the former age: yet some there were who imagined that ease was like to follow; and that they guessed not amiss, time showed.

King James had not been long at the helm of the government, but the dissenters applied to him for liberty of worship, and among these were also the Quakers, who made the following petition:

_To the King and both houses of parliament, the suffering
condition of the peaceable people called Quakers, only for
tender conscience towards Almighty God, humbly presented._

‘Showing, that of late above one thousand five hundred of the
said people, both men and women, having been detained prisoners
in England, and part of them in Wales, (some of which being since
discharged by the judges, and others freed by death, through
their long and tedious imprisonment,) there are now remaining,
according to late accounts, about one thousand three hundred,
eighty and three; about two hundred of them women. Many under
sentence of premunire, both men and women, and more than three
hundred near it; not for denying the duty, or refusing the
substance of allegiance itself, but only because they dare not
swear: many on writs of excommunication and fines for the king,
and upon the act for banishment: besides above three hundred and
twenty have died in prison, and prisoners, since the year 1660,
near one hundred whereof, by means of this long imprisonment, as
it is judged, since the account delivered to the late king and
parliament, in 1680; thereby making widows and fatherless, and
leaving them in distress and sorrow: the two last hard winters
restraint, and the close confinement of great numbers in divers
jails, unavoidably tending towards their destruction, their
healths being evidently impaired thereby.

‘And here in London, the jail of Newgate hath been from time to
time crowded, within these two years, (sometimes near twenty in
one room) to the prejudice of their health; and several poor
innocent tradesmen, of late, have been so suffocated by the
coldness of the prison, that they have been taken out sick of a
malignant fever, and died in a few days after.

‘Besides these long-continued and destructive hardships upon
the persons of men and women, as aforesaid, great violences,
outrageous distresses, and woful havoc and spoil have been, and
still are frequently made upon our goods and estates, both in
and about this city of London, and other parts of this nation,
by a company of idle, extravagant, and merciless informers, and
their prosecutions upon the conventicle act; many being convicted
and fined, unsummoned and unheard in their own defence. As also
on _qui tam_ writs, at the suit of informers, who prosecute for
one-third part for themselves, and on other processes, for twenty
pounds a month, and two-thirds of estates, seized for the king;
all tending to the ruin of trade, husbandry, and farmers, and the
impoverishing of many industrious families, without compassion
shown to widows, fatherless, or desolate: to some not a bed
left to rest upon; to others, no cattle to till their ground,
nor corn for bread or seed, nor tools to work withal: the said
informers and sheriffs bailiffs in some places being outrageous
and excessive in their distresses, and seizures, breaking into
houses, and making great waste and spoil. And all these and other
severities done against us by them, under pretence of serving the
king and the church, thereby to force us to a conformity, without
inward conviction or satisfaction of our tender consciences,
wherein our peace with God is concerned, which we are very tender
of.

‘The statutes on which we, the said people, suffer imprisonment,
distress, and spoil, are as followeth:

‘The 5th of Eliz. ch. 23. _De excommunicato Capiendo._

‘The 23d of Eliz. ch. 1, for twenty pounds per month.

‘The 29th of Eliz. ch. 6, for continuation.

‘The 35th of Eliz. ch. 1, for abjuring the realm, on pain of
death.

‘The 1st of Eliz. ch. 2, for twelve pence a Sunday.

‘The 3d of K. James I. ch. 4, for premunire, imprisonment during
life, and estates confiscated.

‘The 13th and 14th of K. Charles II. against Quakers, &c.
transportation.

‘The 22d of K. Charles II. ch. 1, against seditious conventicles.

‘The 17th of K. Charles II. ch. 2, against non-conformists.

‘The 27th of Hen. VIII. ch. 20, some few suffer thereupon.

‘Upon indictments at common law, pretended and framed against our
peaceable religious assemblies, for riots, routs, breach of the
peace, &c. many, both men and women, thereupon fined, imprisoned,
and detained for non-payment, some till death. Instance, the city
of Bristol, what a great number have been these divers years
straitly confined and crowded in jail, mostly above one hundred
on such pretence, about seventy of them women, many aged. And in
the city of Norwich, in the years 1682 and 83, about seventy kept
in hold, forty-five whereof in holes and dungeons for many weeks
together, and great hardships have been, and are in other places.
So that such our peaceable meetings are sometimes fined on the
conventicle act, as for a religious exercise, and other times
at common law, as riotous, routous, &c. when nothing of that
nature could ever be proved against them, there being nothing of
violence or injury either done, threatened, or intended, against
the person or property of any other whatsoever.

‘The during and tedious imprisonments, are chiefly on the writs
_de excommunicato capiendo_, upon the judgment of premunire, and
upon fines, said to be for the king.

‘The great spoil and excessive distresses and seizures, are
chiefly upon the conventicle act, and for twenty pounds a month,
two-thirds of estates, and on _qui tam_ writs. In some counties
divers have suffered by seizures and distresses above eight years
last past, and writs issued out for further seizures in several
counties, for twenty pounds a month, amounting to the value of
many thousands of pounds, sometimes seizing for eleven months at
once, and making sale of all goods and chattels, within doors and
without, both of household goods, beds, shop-goods, moveables,
cattle, &c. and prosecution hereupon still continued, and in
divers counties much increased; so that several, who have long
employed some hundreds of poor families in manufacture, and paid
considerable taxes to the king, are greatly disabled from both,
by these writs and seizures, as well as by long imprisonments. So
many serge-makers of Plymouth, as kept above five hundred poor
people at work, disabled by imprisonment. Many in the county of
Suffolk, under a long imprisonment, sentenced to a premunire, one
whereof employed at least two hundred poor people in the woollen
manufacture, when at liberty. Omitting other instances, that we
may not seem too tedious, these may evince how destructive such
severities are to trade and industry, and ruinous to many poor
families.

‘On the conventicle act, within these two years last past, many
in and about this city of London have been extremely oppressed,
impaired, and spoiled in their estates and trades, upon numerous
convictions and warrants, made against them in their absence,
upon the credit of informations sworn by concealed informers,
divers of them impudent women, who swear for their profit in part
of the fines and seizures, their husbands being prisoners for
debt through their own extravagancies. The warrants commonly made
to break open and enter houses, which is done with rigour and
great spoil, not sparing widows, fatherless, or poor families,
who are sustained by their daily care and industry, not leaving
them a bed to rest upon. The fines upon one justice’s warrants
amounting to many hundreds of pounds; frequently ten pounds a
warrant, and two warrants at once for twenty pounds, executed
upon one person; and three warrants at once from another justice,
for sixty pounds upon another person, and all his goods carried
away in about ten cart loads; and five warrants at once for fifty
pounds upon another, &c. besides what we have suffered by others
in the like kind. And in this destructive course the informers
have encouragement, and are suffered still to go on, to the
ruining many families in their trades and livelihoods; divers so
discouraged and disabled, that they are forced to give over their
shops and trades.

‘These informers being accepted for credible witnesses, yet
parties, swearing for their own profit and gain, in the absence
of the persons prosecuted; this we think is very hard, and undue
proceeding, and not consistent with common law or justice.

‘As also convicting and fining us upon their depositions,
unsummoned and unheard in our own defence, and so keeping us
ignorant of our accusers, unless upon traverse of our appeals.
This procedure appears contrary to the law of God, common
justice, and equity, and to the law and justice of the ancient
Romans, and of nations.

‘And although it has been openly manifested, upon trial of
appeals, at several quarter-sessions, both for Middlesex and
London, and other places, that the depositions of divers
informers have been false in fact: yet the great trouble and
charge in the traverse of appeals, and the great encouragement
informers have from him who grants the most warrants, hath been
a discouragement to many from seeking such difficult remedy,
considering also the treble costs against the appellant, in case
he succeeds not, or is not acquitted upon trial: whereas there is
no costs nor restitution awarded nor given against the informers,
for unjust prosecution. Some also have refused to grant appeals,
others denied copies of warrants to prevent appeals: which,
whether this be equal or just, pray consider, ye that are wise
and judicious men: and whether it be for the king’s honour, and
the people’s interest, that idle, drunken, extravagant informers,
should either be encouraged or suffered to go on thus to ruin
trade, husbandry and families, or to command and threaten
justices of peace, with the forfeiture of an hundred pounds, if
they do not make convictions, and issue out warrants upon their
late informations, and uncertain depositions, frequently in the
absence of the accused.

‘And lastly, one-third part of the fines being assigned to the
king, he can only remit that; but the informers and poor being
assigned two-third parts, seems not to allow him to remit them,
how much cause soever may appear to him, to extend his favour
in that case. Is not this against the king’s prerogative, to
restrain his sovereign clemency? And how far it reflects upon
the government, and is scandalous thereto, for beggarly rude
informers, some of them confident women, not only to command,
threaten, and disquiet justices, peace-officers, &c. but to
destroy the king’s honest, industrious and peaceable subjects,
in their properties and estates, is worthy of your serious
considerations: and whether the said conventicle act ought not
therefore justly to be repealed. A noted instance of the like
case, we have, concerning the statute of the 11 Hen. VII. ch.
3, for determining certain offences and contempts only upon
informers’ prosecutions, being repealed in the first year of
K. Hen. VIII. ch. 6, though that, in some respects, was more
tolerable than this.

‘Be pleased to make our case your own, and do to us as you
would be done unto; as you would not be oppressed or destroyed
in your persons, or estates, nor have your properties invaded,
and posterities ruined for serving and worshipping Almighty
God, that made all mankind, according to your persuasions and
consciences, but would, no doubt, enjoy the liberty thereof, so
we intreat you to allow the same liberty to tender consciences,
that live peaceably under the government, as you would enjoy
yourselves; and to disannul the said conventicle act, and to stop
these devouring informers, and also take away all sanguinary
laws, corporal and pecuniary punishments, merely on the score
of religion and conscience; and let not the ruin and cry of the
widow, fatherless, and innocent families, lie upon this nation,
nor at your door, who have not only a great trust reposed in you
for the prosperity and good of the whole nation, but also do
profess Christianity, and the tender religion of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

‘And notwithstanding all these long-sustained extremities, we,
the said suffering people, do solemnly profess and declare
in the sight of the all-seeing God, who is the searcher of
hearts, that as we have never been found in any seditious or
treasonable designs, they being wholly contrary to our Christian
principle and profession, so we have nothing but good will, and
true Christian affection to the king and government, sincerely
desiring his and your safety, prosperity, and concurrence in
mercy and truth, for the good of the whole kingdom.

‘Having thus given you, in short, the general state of
our suffering case, in matter of fact, without personal
reflection, we, in Christian humility, and for Christ’s
sake, intreat that you will tenderly and charitably
consider of the premises, and find out some effectual
expedient or way for our relief from prisons, spoil,
and ruin.’

The following application was likewise presented.

TO KING JAMES THE SECOND.

_The humble application of the people called Quakers._

‘Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, by whom kings reign, to
take hence the late king Charles the Second, and to preserve thee
peaceably to succeed; we thy subjects heartily desire, that
the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, may please to endue
thee with wisdom and mercy in the use of thy great power, to his
glory, the king’s honour, and the kingdom’s good; and it being
our sincere resolution, according to our peaceable principles
and conversation, by the assistance of Almighty God, to live
peaceably and honestly, as becomes true and faithful subjects
under the king’s government, and a conscientious people, that
truly fear and serve God; we do humbly hope that the king’s
tenderness will appear and extend, with his power to express the
same; recommending to his princely clemency, the case of our
present suffering friends hereunto annexed.

TO THE KING.

_The distressed Case and request of the suffering
people commonly called Quakers, humbly presented._

‘SHOWING,