Chapter IV (1)

1650-1651.—A trooper visits George Fox from an inward
intimation—declines a commission in the army, and is put in the
dungeon—confutes one who denied Christ’s outward appearance, from
whence a slander is raised against Friends—testifies against capital
punishments for small matters—writes for more speedy justice to
prisoners—intercedes for the life of a young woman, imprisoned for
stealing, who is brought to the gallows but reprieved, and
afterwards convinced—again refuses to bear arms, and is committed
close prisoner—writes to Barton and Bennet, justices, against
persecution—addresses the convinced and tender people against
hirelings—to the magistrates of Derby against persecution, and
foretelling his own enlargement and their recompense—is greatly
exercised for the wickedness of Derby—sees the visitation of God’s
love pass away from the town, and writes a lamentation over it—a
great judgment fell upon the town—he is liberated after a year’s
imprisonment—visits Lichfield—preaches repentance through
Doncaster—many dread “the man with leather breeches”—goes to
steeple-houses, as the apostles did to the temples, to bring people
off from them—is denied entertainment, and ill-treated at some
places—refuses to inform against his persecutors—many are convinced
in Yorkshire, amongst others, Richard Farnsworth, James Naylor,
William Dewsbury, Justice Hotham, and Captain Pursloe.

While I was yet in the House of Correction, there came unto me a trooper, and said, as he was sitting in the steeple-house, hearing the priest, exceeding great trouble came upon him; and the voice of the Lord came to him saying, “Dost thou not know that my servant is in prison? Go to him for direction.” So I spoke to his condition, and his understanding was opened. I told him, that which showed him his sins, and troubled him for them, would show him his salvation; for he that shows a man his sin, is the same that takes it away. While I was speaking to him, the Lord’s power opened him, so that he began to have a good understanding in the Lord’s truth, and to be sensible of God’s mercies; and began to speak boldly in his quarters amongst the soldiers, and to others, concerning truth (for the Scriptures were very much opened to him), insomuch that he said, “his colonel was as blind as Nebuchadnezzar, to cast the servant of the Lord into prison.” Upon this his colonel had a spite against him; and at Worcester fight, the year after, when the two armies were lying near one another, two came out of the king’s army, and challenged any two of the Parliament army to fight with them; his colonel made choice of him and another to answer the challenge. And when in the encounter his companion was slain, he drove both his enemies within musket-shot out of the town, without firing a pistol at them. This, when he returned, he told me with his own mouth. But, when the fight was over, he saw the deceit and hypocrisy of the officers; and being sensible how wonderfully the Lord had preserved him, and seeing also to the end of fighting, he laid down his arms.

Now the time of my commitment to the house of correction being nearly ended, and there being many new soldiers raised, the commissioners would have made me captain over them; and the soldiers said they would have none but me.[9] So the keeper of the house of correction was commanded to bring me before the commissioners and soldiers in the market-place; and there they offered me that preferment, as they called it, asking me, if I would not take up arms for the Commonwealth against Charles Stuart? I told them, I knew from whence all wars arose, even from the lust, according to James’s doctrine; and that I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars. But they courted me to accept their offer, and thought I did but compliment them. But I told them, I was come into the covenant of peace, which was before wars and strifes were. They said, they offered it in love and kindness to me, because of my virtue; and such like flattering words they used. But I told them, if that was their love and kindness, I trampled it under my feet. Then their rage got up, and they said, “Take him away, jailer, and put him into the dungeon amongst the rogues and felons.” So I was had away and put into a lousy, stinking place, without any bed, amongst thirty felons, where I was kept almost half a year, unless it were at times; for they would sometimes let me walk in the garden, having a belief that I would not go away. Now when they had got me into Derby dungeon, it was the belief and saying of people that I should never come out; but I had faith in God, and believed I should be delivered in his time; for the Lord had said to me before, that I was not to be removed from that place yet, being set there for a service which he had for me to do.

Footnote 9:

The English nation at this period was much engrossed with the great
subjects of religion and politics, and both were mingled together in
strange conjunction. The chief rulers of the Commonwealth, more
especially Oliver Cromwell, had contrived to interweave their own
views on spiritual matters into the minds of the soldiers; who, in
those days, commonly united, with the profession of arms, the
profession also of Christianity. The unsettled state of the country
caused them to be stationed in considerable numbers in most of the
principal towns of the north, and several of them had made
acquaintance with George Fox during his imprisonment, and were so much
impressed in his favour, that it appears they were desirous, as the
time of his release drew near, to engage him in the capacity of their
captain.

After it was noised abroad that I was in Derby dungeon, my relations came to see me again; and they were much troubled that I should be in prison; for they looked upon it to be a great shame to them for me to be imprisoned for religion; and some thought I was mad, because I advocated purity, and righteousness, and perfection.

Among others that came to see, and discourse with me, was a person from Nottingham, a soldier, that had been a Baptist (as I understood), and with him came several others. In discourse he said to me, “Your faith stands in a man that died at Jerusalem, and there was never any such thing.” I was exceedingly grieved to hear him say so; and I said to him, “How! did not Christ suffer without the gates of Jerusalem through the professing Jews, and chief priests, and Pilate?” And he denied that ever Christ suffered there outwardly. Then I asked him whether there were not chief priests, and Jews, and Pilate there outwardly? and when he could not deny that, then I told him, as certainly as there was a chief priest, and Jews, and Pilate there outwardly, so certainly was Christ persecuted by them, and did suffer there outwardly under them. Yet from this man’s words was a slander raised upon us, that the Quakers denied Christ that suffered and died at Jerusalem; which was all utterly false, and the least thought of it never entered our hearts; but it was a mere slander cast upon us, and occasioned by this person’s words. The same person also said, that never any of the prophets, or apostles, or holy men of God, suffered any thing outwardly; but all their sufferings were inward. But I instanced to him how many of them suffered, and by whom they suffered: and so was the power of the Lord brought over his wicked imaginations.

There came also another company to me, that pretended they were triers of spirits; I asked them what was the first step to peace, and what it was by which a man might see his salvation? and they were presently up in the airy mind, and said I was mad. Thus they came to try spirits, who did not know themselves, nor their own spirits.

In this time of my imprisonment, I was exceedingly exercised about the proceedings of the judges and magistrates in their courts of judicature. I was moved to write to the judges concerning their putting men to death for cattle, and money, and small matters; and to show them how contrary it was to the law of God in old time; for I was under great suffering in my spirit because of it, and under the very sense of death; but standing in the will of God, a heavenly breathing arose in my soul to the Lord. Then did I see the heavens opened, and I rejoiced, and gave glory to God. So I wrote to the judges as follows:—

“I am moved to write unto you to take heed of putting men to death for
stealing cattle or money &c.; for thieves in the old time were to make
restitution; and if they had not wherewith, they were to be sold for
their theft. Mind the laws of God in the Scriptures, and the Spirit
that gave them forth; let them be your rule in executing judgment; and
show mercy, that you may receive mercy from God, the judge of all.
Take heed of gifts and rewards, and of pride; for God doth forbid
them; they blind the eyes of the wise. I do not write to give liberty
to sin; God hath forbidden it; but that you should judge according to
his laws, and show mercy: for he delighteth in true judgment and in
mercy. I beseech you to mind these things, and prize your time, now
you have it: fear God, and serve him; for he is a consuming fire.”

Besides this, I wrote another letter to the judges, to this effect:—

“I am moved to write unto you that ye do true justice to every man;
and see that none be oppressed, or wronged, or any oaths imposed; for
the land mourneth because of oaths, and adulteries, and sorceries, and
drunkenness, and profaneness. O consider, ye that are men set in
authority: be moderate, and in lowliness consider these things. Show
mercy to the fatherless, to the widows, and to the poor; and take heed
of rewards or gifts, for they blind the eyes of the wise; the Lord
doth loathe all such. Love mercy and true judgment, justice, and
righteousness, for the Lord delighteth therein. Consider these things
in time, and take heed how ye spend your time. Now ye have time, prize
it, and show mercy, that ye may receive mercy from the Lord; for he is
coming to try all things, and will plead with all flesh, as by fire.”

Moreover I laid before the judges what a hurtful thing it was, that prisoners should lie so long in jail; showing how they learned wickedness one of another in talking of their bad deeds: and therefore speedy justice should be done. For I was a tender youth, and dwelt in the fear of God, and being grieved to hear their bad language, I was often made to reprove them for their wicked words, and evil conduct towards each other. People admired that I was so preserved and kept; for they could never catch a word or action from me, to make any thing of against me, all the time I was there; for the Lord’s infinite power upheld and preserved me all that time; to him be praises and glory for ever!

While I was here in prison, there was a young woman in the jail for robbing her master of some money. When she was to be tried for her life, I wrote to the judge and to the jury about her, showing them how it was contrary to the law of God in old time to put people to death for stealing, and moving them to show mercy. Yet she was condemned to die, and a grave was made for her; and at the time appointed she was carried forth to execution. Then I wrote a few words, warning all people to beware of greediness or covetousness, for it leads from God; and exhorting all to fear the Lord, to avoid all earthly lusts, and to prize their time while they have it: this I gave to be read at the gallows. And though they had her upon the ladder, with a cloth bound over her face, ready to be turned off, yet they did not put her to death, but brought her back again to prison: and in the prison she afterwards came to be convinced of God’s everlasting truth.

There was also in the jail, while I was there, a prisoner, a wicked, ungodly man, who was a reputed conjuror. He threatened how he would talk with me, and what he would do to me; but he never had power to open his mouth to me. And once the jailer and he falling out, he threatened that he would raise the Devil, and break his house down, so that he made the jailer afraid. Then I was moved of the Lord to go in his power, and rebuke him, and say unto him, “Come let us see what thou canst do; do Thy worst;” and I told him the Devil was raised high enough in him already, but the power of God chained him down: so he slunk away from me.

Now the time of Worcester fight coming on, Justice Bennet sent the constables to press me for a soldier, seeing I would not voluntarily accept of a command. I told them that I was brought off from outward wars. They came down again to give me press-money, but I would take none. Then I was brought up to Sergeant Holes, kept there awhile, and then taken down again. After a while the constables fetched me up again, and brought me before the commissioners, who said I should go for a soldier; but I told them that I was dead to it. They said I was alive. I told them, where envy and hatred are, there is confusion. They offered me money twice, but I would not take it: then they were angry, and committed me close prisoner, without bail or mainprize. Whereupon I wrote to them again, directing my letter to Colonel Barton (who was a preacher), and the rest that were concerned in my commitment. I wrote thus:—

“You who are without Christ, and yet use the words which he and his
saints have spoken; consider, neither he nor His apostles did ever
imprison any; but my Saviour is merciful even to the unmerciful and
rebellious. He brings out of prison and bondage; but men, while the
carnal mind rules, oppress and imprison. My Saviour saith, ‘Love your
enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that
despitefully use you and persecute you;’ for the love of God doth not
persecute any, but loveth all where it dwelleth. ‘He that hateth his
brother is a murderer.’ You profess to be Christians, and one of you a
minister of Jesus Christ; yet you have imprisoned me, who am a servant
of Jesus Christ. The apostles never imprisoned any, but were
imprisoned themselves. Take heed of speaking of Christ in words, and
denying him in life and power. O friends, the imprisoning of my body
is to satisfy your wills; but take heed of giving way to your wills,
for that will hurt you. If the love of God had broken your hearts, ye
would not have imprisoned me; but my love is to you, as to all my
fellow-creatures; and that you may weigh yourselves, and see how you
stand, is this written.”

About this time I was moved to give forth the following, to go amongst the convinced and tender people, to manifest the deceits of the world, and how the priests have deceived the people:—

_To all you that love the Lord Jesus Christ with a pure and naked heart, and the generation of the righteous._

“Christ was ever hated; and the righteous for his sake. Mind who they
were that did ever hate them: he that was born after the flesh did
persecute him that was born after the Spirit; and so it is now. Mind
who were the chiefest against Christ; even the great, learned men, the
heads of the people, rulers and teachers, that professed the law and
the prophets, and looked for Christ. They looked for an outwardly
glorious Christ, to hold up their outward glory; but Christ spoke
against the works of the world, and against the priests, and scribes,
and Pharisees, and their hypocritical profession. He that is a
stranger to Christ, is a hireling; but the servants of Jesus Christ
are free men. The false teachers always laid burdens upon the people;
and the true servants of the Lord spoke against them. Jeremiah spoke
against hirelings, and said, It was a horrible thing; What will ye do
in the end? for the people and priests were given to covetousness.
Paul spoke against such as made gain upon the people; and exhorted the
saints to turn away from such as were covetous men and proud, such as
loved pleasures more than God—such as had a form of godliness, but
denied the power thereof; ‘for of this sort,’ said he, ‘are they that
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, who are ever
learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; men of
corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith; and as Jannes and
Jambres withstood Moses, so,’ said he, ‘do these resist the truth; but
they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be made manifest
unto all men.’ Moses forsook honours and pleasures which he might have
enjoyed. The apostle in his time saw this corruption entering, which
now is spread over the world, of having a form of godliness, but
denying the power. Ask any of your teachers whether you may ever
overcome your corruptions or sins? None of them believe that; but, ‘as
long as man is here, he must,’ they say, ‘carry about with him the
body of sin.’ Thus pride is kept up, and that honour and mastership,
which Christ denied, and all unrighteousness; yet multitudes of
teachers! heaps of teachers! the golden cup full of abominations! Paul
did not preach for wages, but laboured with his hands, that he might
be an example to all them that follow him. O people, see who follow
Paul! The prophet Jeremiah said, ‘The prophets prophesy falsely, and
the priests bear rule by their means;’ but now the priests bear rule
by the means they get from the people: take away their means, and they
will bear rule over you no longer. They are such as, the apostle said,
‘intruded into those things which they never saw, being vainly puffed
up with a fleshly mind;’ and as the Scriptures declare of some of old,
‘They go in the way of Cain, who was a murderer, and in the way of
Balaam, who coveted the wages of unrighteousness.’ The prophet Micah
also cried against the judges that judged for reward, and the priests
that taught for hire, and the prophets that prophesied for money; and
yet leaned on the Lord, saying, ‘Is not the Lord amongst us? Gifts
blind the eyes of the wise.’ The gift of God was never purchased with
money. All the holy servants of God did ever cry against deceit; and
where the Lord hath manifested his love, they do loathe it, and that
nature which holdeth it up.”

Again a concern came upon me to write to the magistrates of Derby; which I did as follows:—

“FRIENDS,

“I desire you to consider in time whom ye do imprison; for the
magistrate is set for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise
of them that do well. But when the Lord doth send his messengers unto
you, to warn you of the woes that will come upon you, except you
repent, then you persecute them, and put them in prison; and say, ‘We
have a law, and by our law we may do it.’ For you indeed justify
yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts. He will not be
worshipped with your forms and professions, and shows of religion.
Therefore consider, ye that talk of God, how ye are subject to him;
for they are his children that do his will. What doth the Lord require
of you but to do justice, to love and show mercy, to walk humbly with
him, and to help the widows and fatherless to their right? But instead
thereof ye oppress the poor. Do not your judges judge for rewards, and
your priests teach for hire? The time is coming, that he who seeth all
things, will discover all your secrets: and know this assuredly, the
Lord will deliver his servants out of your hands, and he will
recompense all your unjust dealings towards his people. I desire you
to consider of these things; search the Scriptures, and see whether
any of the people of God did ever imprison any for religion. They were
themselves imprisoned. I desire you to consider, that it is written,
‘When the church is met together, ye may all prophesy one by one, that
all may learn, and all may be comforted;’ and then, ‘if anything be
revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.’
Thus it was in the true church; and thus it ought to be now. But it is
not so in your assemblies; he that teaches for hire may speak, and
none may contradict him. Again, consider the liberty that was given to
the apostles, even among the unbelieving Jews; when after the reading
of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue said unto
them, ‘Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the
people, say on.’ I desire you to consider in stillness, and strive not
against the Lord; for he is stronger than you. Though ye hold his
people fast for a time, yet when he cometh, he will make known who are
his; for his coming is like the refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap.
Then the stone that is set at nought by you builders, shall be the
headstone of the corner. O friends, lay these things to heart, and let
them not seem light things to you. I write to you in love, to mind the
laws of God and your own souls, and to do as the holy men of God did.”

Great was my exercise and travail in spirit, during my imprisonment here, because of the wickedness that was in this town; for though some were convinced, yet the generality were a hardened people; and I saw the visitation of God’s love pass away from them. I mourned over them; and it came upon me to give forth the following lamentation for them:—

“O Derby! as the waters run away when the flood-gates are up, so doth
the visitation of God’s love pass away from thee, O Derby! Therefore
look where thou art, and how thou art grounded; and consider, before
thou art utterly forsaken. The Lord moved me twice, before I came to
cry against the deceits and vanities that are in thee, and to warn all
to look at the Lord, and not at man. The woe is against the crown of
pride; the woe is against drunkenness and vain pleasures, and against
them that make a profession of religion in words, yet are high and
lofty in mind, and live in oppression and envy. O Derby! thy
profession and preaching stink before the Lord. Ye profess a Sabbath
in words, and meet together, dressing yourselves in fine apparel; you
uphold pride. Thy women go with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes,
&c., which the true prophet of old cried against. Your assemblies are
odious, and an abomination to the Lord: pride is set up, and bowed
down to; covetousness abounds; and he that doeth wickedly is honoured:
so deceit bears with deceit; and yet they profess Christ in words. O
the deceit that is within thee! it doth even break my heart to see how
God is dishonoured in thee, O Derby!”

After I had seen the visitation of God’s love pass away from this place, I knew that my imprisonment here would not continue long; but I saw that when the Lord should bring me forth, it would be as the letting of a lion out of a den amongst the wild beasts of the forest. For all professions stood in a beastly spirit and nature, pleading for sin, and for the body of sin and imperfection, as long as they lived. They all raged, and ran against the life and Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures, which they professed in words. And so it was, as will appear hereafter.

There was a great judgment upon the town, and the magistrates were uneasy about me; but they could not agree what to do with me. One while they would have me sent up to the parliament; another while they would have banished me to Ireland. At first they called me a deceiver, and a seducer, and a blasphemer; afterwards, when God had brought his plagues upon them, they said I was an honest, virtuous man. But their good report or bad report, their well speaking or ill speaking, was nothing to me; for the one did not lift me up, nor the other cast me down: praised be the Lord! At length they were made to turn me out of jail, about the beginning of Winter, in the year 1651, after I had been a prisoner in Derby almost a year, six months in the House of Correction, and the rest of the time in the common jail and dungeon.

Thus being set at liberty again, I went on, as before, in the work of the Lord, passing through the country, first, into my own country of LEICESTERSHIRE, and had meetings as I went; and the Lord’s Spirit and power accompanied me. Afterwards I went near to BURTON-ON-TRENT, where some were convinced; and so to BUSHEL-HOUSE, where I had a meeting. I went up into the country, where there were friendly people; yet an outrageous wicked professor had an intent to do me a mischief, but the Lord prevented him. Blessed be the Lord!

As I was walking along with several Friends, I lifted up my head and saw three steeple-house spires, and they struck at my life. I asked them what place that was? and they said, LICHFIELD. Immediately the word of the Lord came to me that I must go thither. Being come to the house we were going to, I wished the Friends that were with me, to walk into the house, saying nothing to them whither I was to go. As soon as they were gone, I stepped away, and went by my eye over hedge and ditch, till I came within a mile of Lichfield; where, in a great field, there were shepherds keeping their sheep. Then I was commanded by the Lord to pull off my shoes. I stood still, for it was Winter; and the word of the Lord was like a fire in me. So I put off my shoes, and left them with the shepherds; and the poor shepherds trembled and were astonished. Then I walked on about a mile, and as soon as I was within the city, the word of the Lord came to me again, saying, “Cry, Woe unto the bloody city of Lichfield.” So I went up and down the streets, crying with a loud voice, “WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY OF LICHFIELD!” It being market-day, I went into the market-place, and to and fro in the several parts of it, and made stands, crying as before, “WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY OF LICHFIELD!” And no one laid hands on me; but as I went thus crying through the streets, there seemed to me to be a channel of blood running down the streets, and the market-place appeared like a pool of blood. When I had declared what was upon me, and felt myself clear, I went out of the town in peace; and returning to the shepherds, gave them some money, and took my shoes of them again. But the fire of the Lord was so in my feet, and all over me, that I did not matter to put on my shoes any more, and was at a stand whether I should or not, till I felt freedom from the Lord so to do; and then, after I had washed my feet, I put on my shoes again. After this a deep consideration came upon me, why, or for what reason, I should be sent to cry against that city, and call it THE BLOODY CITY. For though the parliament had the minster one while, and the king another, and much blood had been shed in the town, during the wars between them, yet that was no more than had befallen many other places. But afterwards I came to understand, that in the Emperor Dioclesian’s time, a thousand Christians were martyred in Lichfield. So I was to go, without my shoes, through the channel of their blood, and into the pool of their blood in the market-place, that I might raise up the memorial of the blood of those martyrs which had been shed above a thousand years before, and lay cold in their streets. So the sense of this blood was upon me, and I obeyed the word of the Lord. Ancient records testify how many of the Christian Britons suffered there. Much I could write of the sense I had of the blood of the martyrs that hath been shed in this nation for the name of Christ, both under the ten persecutions and since; but I leave it to the Lord, and to His book, out of which all shall be judged; for His book is a most certain record, and His Spirit a true recorder.

Then I passed up and down through the countries, having meetings amongst friendly people in many places; but my relations were offended at me. After some time I returned into Nottinghamshire, to MANSFIELD, and went into Derbyshire, visiting Friends. Then passing into Yorkshire, I preached repentance through DONCASTER, and several other places; and after came to BALBY, where Richard Farnsworth[10] and some others were convinced. So travelling through several places, preaching repentance, and the word of life to the people, I came into the parts about WAKEFIELD, where James Naylor lived; he and Thomas Goodyear came to me, and were both convinced, and received the truth. William Dewsbury[11] also and his wife, with many more, came to me, who were convinced, and received the truth.

Footnote 10:

Richard Farnsworth became an eminent minister, and many were turned to
God by him. He was mighty in discourses with priests and professors,
and laboured much in the gospel. He was twelve months imprisoned at
Banbury in 1655, and after great sufferings and persecutions, he
finished his testimony in London, in 1666. A short time before his
death, sitting up in bed, he spoke in as much power and strength of
spirit as he had done at any time in his health, testifying that he
was filled with the love of God more than he was able to express. He
published many small works in defence of truth.

Footnote 11:

William Dewsbury, often mentioned in this Journal, became a valiant
minister of the gospel, travelling extensively in its advocacy.
Whiting says, “he was an extraordinary man many ways, and I thought as
exact a pattern of a perfect man as ever I knew.” His health became
impaired through the sharp persecutions he passed through, consisting
of many long imprisonments, beatings, and bruisings. In 1688, going up
to London to visit the brethren, he was taken ill of a distemper
contracted in prison. Returning home, he died shortly after, leaving a
heavenly testimony behind him, expressed about a week before he died.
This, with other information, is recorded in _Piety Promoted_, vol.
i., pp. 163-168, and further particulars in Whiting’s _Memoirs_, p.
25, and at pp. 376-387. His works were published in 1 vol. quarto, in
1689.

From thence I passed through the country towards Captain Pursloe’s house by SELBY, and visited John Leek, who had been to visit me in Derby prison, and was convinced. I had a horse, but was fain to leave him, not knowing what to do with him; for I was moved to go to many great houses, to admonish and exhort the people to turn to the Lord. Thus passing on, I was moved of the Lord to go to BEVERLEY steeple-house, which was then a place of high profession; and being very wet with rain, I went first to an inn, and as soon as I came to the door, a young woman of the house came to the door, and said, “What, is it you? come in,” as if she had known me before; for the Lord’s power bowed their hearts. So I refreshed myself and went to bed; and in the morning, my clothes being still wet, I got ready, and having paid for what I had had in the inn, I went up to the steeple-house, where was a man preaching. When he had done, I was moved to speak to him, and to the people, in the mighty power of God, and turned them to their teacher, Christ Jesus. The power of the Lord was so strong, that it struck a mighty dread amongst the people. The mayor came and spoke a few words to me; but none of them had any power to meddle with me. So I passed away out of the town, and in the afternoon went to another steeple-house about two miles off. When the priest had done, I was moved to speak to him, and to the people very largely, showing them the way of life and truth, and the ground of election and reprobation. The priest said, he was but a child, and could not dispute with me; I told him I did not come to dispute, but to hold forth the word of life and truth unto them, that they might all know the one Seed, which the promise of God was to, both in the male and in the female. Here the people were very loving, and would have had me come again on a week-day, and preach among them; but I directed them to their teacher, Christ Jesus, and so passed away.

The next day I went to CRANSWICK, to Captain Pursloe’s, who accompanied me to Justice Hotham’s. This Justice Hotham was a tender man, one that had some experience of God’s workings in his heart. After some discourse with him of the things of God, he took me into his closet; where, sitting together, he told me he had known that principle these ten years, and was glad that the Lord did now publish it abroad to the people. After a while there came a priest to visit him, with whom also I had some discourse concerning Truth. But his mouth was quickly stopped, for he was nothing but a notionist, and not in possession of what he talked of.

While I was here, there came a great woman of Beverley to speak to Justice Hotham about some business; and in discourse she told him, that the last Sabbath-day (as she called it) there came an angel or spirit into the church at Beverley, and spoke the wonderful things of God, to the astonishment of all that were there; and when it had done, it passed away, and they did not know whence it came, nor whither it went; but it astonished all, both priests, professors, and magistrates of the town. This relation Justice Hotham gave me afterwards, and then I gave him an account how I had been that day at Beverley steeple-house, and had declared truth to the priest and the people there. There were in the country thereabouts some noted priests and doctors, with whom Justice Hotham was acquainted. He would fain have them speak with me, and offered to send for them, under pretence of some business he had with them, but I wished him not to do so.

When the First-day of the week was come, Justice Hotham walked out with me into the field; and Captain Pursloe coming up after us, Justice Hotham left us and returned home, but Captain Pursloe went with me into the steeple-house. When the priest had done, I spoke both to priest and people; declared to them the word of life and truth, and directed them where they might find their teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some were convinced, received the truth, and stand fast in it; and have a fine meeting to this day.

In the afternoon I went to another steeple-house about three miles off, where preached a great high-priest, called a doctor, one of them whom Justice Hotham would have sent for to speak with me. I went into the steeple-house, and stayed till the priest had done. The words which he took for his text were these, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Then was I moved of the Lord to say unto him, “Come down, thou deceiver; dost thou bid people come freely, and take of the water of life freely, and yet thou takest three hundred pounds a-year of them, for preaching the Scriptures to them. Mayest thou not blush for shame? Did the prophet Isaiah, and Christ do so, who spoke the words, and gave them forth freely? Did not Christ say to his ministers, whom he sent to preach, ‘Freely ye have received, freely give?’” The priest, like a man amazed, hastened away. After he had left his flock, I had as much time as I could desire to speak to the people; and I directed them from the darkness to the light, and to the grace of God, that would teach them, and bring them salvation; to the Spirit of God in their inward parts, which would be a free teacher unto them.

Having cleared myself amongst the people, I returned to Justice Hotham’s house that night, who, when I came in, took me in his arms, and said his house was my house, for he was exceedingly glad at the work of the Lord, and that his power was revealed. Then he told me why he went not with me to the steeple-house in the morning, and what reasonings he had in himself about it; for he thought, if he had gone with me to the steeple-house, the officers would have put me to him; and then he should have been so put to it, that he should not have known what to do. But he was glad, he said, when Captain Pursloe came up to go with me; yet neither of them was dressed, nor had his band about his neck. It was a strange thing then to see a man come into a steeple-house without a band; yet Captain Pursloe went in with me without his band, the Lord’s power and truth had so affected him that he minded it not.

From hence I passed on through the country, and came at night to an inn where was a company of rude people. I bid the woman of the house, if she had any meat, to bring me some; but because I said Thee and Thou to her she looked strangely on me. Then I asked her if she had any milk; and she said, No. I was sensible she spoke falsely, and being willing to try her further, I asked her if she had any cream; she denied that she had any. Now there stood a churn in the room, and a little boy playing about it, put his hands into it, and pulled it down, and threw all the cream on the floor before my eyes. Thus was the woman manifested to be a liar. She was amazed, and blessed herself, and taking up the child, whipped it sorely; but I reproved her for her lying and deceit. After the Lord had thus discovered her deceit and perverseness, I walked out of the house, and went away till I came to a stack of hay, and lay in the hay-stack that night in rain and snow, it being but three days before the time called Christmas.

The next day I came into YORK, where were several people that were very tender. Upon the First-day of the week following, I was commanded of the Lord to go to the great minster, and speak to the priest Bowles and his hearers in their great cathedral. Accordingly I went: and when the priest had done, I told them I had something from the Lord God to speak to the priest and people. “Then say on quickly,” said a professor that was among them, for it was frost and snow, and very cold weather. Then I told them, This was the word of the Lord God unto them, that they lived in words; but God Almighty looked for fruits amongst them. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, they hurried me out, and threw me down the steps; but I got up again without hurt, and went to my lodgings. Several were convinced there: for the very groans that arose from the weight and oppression that was upon the Spirit of God in me, would open people, and strike them, and make them confess that the groans which broke forth through me did reach them: for my life was burthened with their profession without possession, and words without fruit. After I had done my present service in York, and several were convinced there, received the truth of God, and were turned to his teaching, I passed out of York, and looking towards Cleveland, I saw there was a people that had tasted of the power of God. I saw then there was a seed in that country, and that God had an humble people there.

Passing onwards that night, a Papist overtook me, and talked to me of his religion, and of their meetings; and I let him speak all that was in his mind. That night I stayed at an ale-house. The next morning I was moved of the Lord to speak the word of the Lord to this Papist. So I went to his house, and declared against his religion, and all their superstitious ways; and told him that God was come to teach his people himself. This put the Papist into such a rage, that he could not then endure to stay in his own house.

The next day I came to BURRABY, where a priest and several friendly people met together. Many of the people were convinced, and have continued faithful ever since; and there is a great meeting of Friends in that town. The priest also was forced to confess to the truth, though he came not into it.

The day following I went into CLEVELAND, amongst those people that had tasted of the power of God. They had formerly had great meetings, but were then all shattered to pieces, and the heads of them turned Ranters. I told them that after they had had such meetings, they did not wait upon God to feel His power, to gather their minds inward, that they might feel His presence and power amongst them in their meetings, to sit down therein, and wait upon Him; for they had spoken themselves dry; they had spent their portions, and not living in that which they spoke of, they were now become dry. They had some kind of meetings still; but they took tobacco and drank ale in their meetings, and were grown light and loose. But my message unto them from the Lord was, That they should all come together again, and wait to feel the Lord’s power and Spirit in themselves, to gather them to Christ, that they might be taught of Him who says, “Learn of me.” For when they had declared that which the Lord had opened to them, then the people were to receive it; and both the speakers and hearers were to live in that themselves. But when these had no more to declare, but went to seek forms without life, that made themselves dry and barren, and the people also; and from thence came all their loss: for the Lord renews His mercies and His strength to them that wait upon Him. The heads of these people came to nothing: but most of them came to be convinced, and received God’s everlasting truth, and continue a meeting to this day, sitting under the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour.

Upon the First-day of the next week, the word of the Lord came to me to go to the steeple-house there, which I did. When the priest had done I spoke the truth to him and the people, and directed them to their teacher within, Christ Jesus, their free teacher, that had bought them. The priest came to me, and I had a little discourse with him; but he was soon stopped, and silent. Then being clear of the place, I passed away, having had several meetings amongst those people.

Though at this time the snow was very deep, I kept travelling; and going through the country, came to a market-town, where I met with many professors, with whom I had much reasoning. I asked them many questions, which they were not able to answer; saying, they had never had such deep questions put to them in all their lives.

From them I went to STAITHES, where also I met with many professors, and some Ranters. I had large meetings amongst them, and a great convincement there was. Many received the truth; amongst whom, one was a man of an hundred years of age; another was a chief constable; and a third was a priest, whose name was Philip Scafe. Him the Lord, by his free Spirit, did afterwards make a free minister of his free gospel.

The priest of this town was a lofty one, who much oppressed the people for his tithes. If they went a-fishing many leagues off, he would make them pay the tithe-money of what they made of their fish, though they caught them at a great distance, and carried them as far as Yarmouth to sell. I was moved to go to the steeple-house there, to declare the truth, and expose the priest. When I had spoken to him, and laid his oppression of the people before him, he fled away. The chief of the parish were very light and vain; so after I had spoken the word of life to them, I turned away from them, because they did not receive it, and left them. But the word of the Lord, which I had declared amongst them, remained with some of them; so that at night some of the heads of the parish came to me, and most of them were convinced and satisfied, and confessed to the truth. Thus the truth began to spread in that country, and great meetings we had; at which the priest began to rage, and the Ranters to be stirred; and they sent word that they would have a dispute with me, both the oppressing priest, and the leader of the Ranters. A day was fixed, and the Ranter came with his company; and another priest, a Scotchman, came; but not the oppressing priest of Staithes. Philip Scafe, who had been a priest, and was convinced, was with me; and a great number of people met. When we were settled, the Ranter, whose name was T. Bushel, told me he had had a vision of me; that I was sitting in a great chair, and that he was to come and put off his hat, and bow down to the ground before me; and he did so; and many other flattering words he spoke. I told him it was his own figure, and said unto him, “Repent, thou beast.” He said it was jealousy in me to say so. Then I asked him the ground of jealousy, and how it came to be bred in man? and the nature of a beast, what made it, and how it was bred in man? For I saw him directly in the nature of the beast; and therefore I wished to know of him how that nature came to be bred in him? I told him he should give me an account of the things done in the body, before we came to discourse of things done out of the body. So I stopped his mouth, and all his fellow Ranters were silenced; for he was the head of them. Then I called for the oppressing priest, but he came not; only the Scotch priest came, whose mouth was soon stopped with a very few words; he being out of the life of what he professed. Then I had a good opportunity with the people. I laid open the Ranters, ranking them with the old Ranters in Sodom. The priests I manifested to be of the same stamp with their fellow-hirelings, the false prophets of old, and the priests that then bore rule over the people by their means, seeking for their gain from their quarter, divining for money, and teaching for filthy lucre. I brought all the prophets, and Christ, and the apostles, over the heads of the priests, showing how the prophets, Christ, and the apostles had long since discovered them by their marks and fruits. Then I directed the people to their inward teacher, Christ Jesus their Saviour; and I preached up Christ in the hearts of His people, when all these mountains were laid low. The people were all quiet, and the gainsayers’ mouths were stopped; for though they broiled inwardly, yet the power bound them down, that they could not break out.

After the meeting, this Scotch priest desired me to walk with him on the top of the cliffs; whereupon I called a brother-in-law of his, who was in some measure convinced, and desired him to go with me, telling him I desired to have somebody by to hear what was said, lest the priest, when I was gone, should report anything of me which I did not say. We went together; and as we walked, the priest asked me many things concerning the light, and concerning the soul; to all which I answered him fully. When he had done questioning, we parted, and he went his way; and meeting with Philip Scafe, he broke his cane against the ground in madness, and said, if ever he met with me again, he would have my life, or I should have his; adding that he would give his head, if I was not knocked down within a month. By this, Friends suspected that his intent was, in desiring me to walk with him alone, either to thrust me down from off the cliff, or to do me some other mischief; and that when he saw himself frustrated in that, by my having one with me, it made him rage. I feared neither his prophecies nor his threats; for I feared God Almighty. But some Friends, through their affection for me, feared much that this priest would do me some mischief, or set on others to do it. Yet after some years this very Scotch priest, and his wife also, came to be convinced of the truth; and about twelve years after this I was at their house.

After this, there came another priest to a meeting where I was, one that was in repute above all the priests in the country. As I was speaking in the meeting, that the gospel was the power of God, and how it brought life and immortality to light in men, and was turning people from darkness to the light, this high-flown priest said the gospel was mortal. I told him, the true minister said, the gospel was the power of God, and would he make the power of God mortal? Upon that the other priest, Philip Scafe, that was convinced, and had felt the immortal power of God in himself, took him up and reproved him; so a great dispute arose between them: the convinced priest holding that the gospel was immortal, and the other priest that it was mortal. But the Lord’s power was too hard for this opposing priest, and stopped his mouth; and many people were convinced, seeing the darkness that was in the opposing priest, and the light that was in the convinced priest.