yard while their horses were getting ready, and saw a captain and large company of soldiers coming, with lighted matches and muskets. They soon came up and told them they must go before the captain. When brought before him, he asked which was George Fox, and with his usual intrepidity and frankness, George answered "I am the man." The captain appeared somewhat struck with his readiness, and stepping to him observed, "I will secure you among the soldiers." They seemed to look on George Fox as a person possessing great power and influence, and took no small pains, though very unnecessarily, to guard him. The great parade of muskets and lights excited George's curiosity, and he asked the persons who conducted him, what it meant, desiring them to be civil to their peaceable neighbours. They gave him little satisfaction, but conveyed him to an inn, where he underwent an examination of some length. He answered them with so much prudence, that none of their accusations would stand. He showed that Friends were a peaceable people; that their meetings were for the worship of the Almighty, and that the Society never meddled with any of the affairs of government. He then spoke to them respecting their own states, exhorting them to live in the fear of God, to walk in his wisdom, and be tender of their pious neighbours. His discourse had so much effect, that they set him and all the other Friends at liberty. George parted from them in a friendly manner, acknowledging that their civility was noble.

After a meeting at Tiverton in Devonshire, he went to Collumpton and Wellington, and had a large meeting at a butcher's house, where the Gospel was freely preached. Persecution had been very hot in that county some time before, and the meetings of Friends often interrupted, but now they are quiet.

"Friends told us," says he, "how they had broken up their meetings by warrants from the justices, and how by their warrants they were required to carry Friends before the jus tices. The Friends bid them, carry them then. The officers told them, they must go; but they said, nay, that was not according to their warrants, which required them to carry them. Then they were forced to hire carts, wagons, and horses, and to lift them into their wagons and carts to carry them before a justice. When they came to a justice's house, sometimes he happened to be from home, or if he was a moderate man he would get out of the way, and then they were obliged to carry them before another; so that they were many days carting and carrying Friends up and down from place to place. And when afterwards the officers came to lay their charges for this upon the town, the town's people would not pay it, but made them pay it themselves, which broke the neck of the persecution there for that time. The like was done in several other places, till the officers had shamed and tired themselves, and then were glad to give over.

"At one place they warned Friends to come to the steeple-house. Friends met to consider At Pulner, in Hampshire, he attended a of it, and finding freedom to go, they met toMonthly Meeting held for the neighbourhood. gether there. They sat down to wait upon Previous to the hour of its collecting, the sol- the Lord in his power and Spirit, and minded diers came to break up the meeting and im- the Lord Jesus Christ, their Teacher and Saprison Friends, but they came so early that viour; but did not mind the priest. When but few were there. "After they were gone, the officers saw that, they came to them to put says George Fox, Friends began to come in them out of the steeple-house again; but the apace, and a large and glorious meeting we Friends told them, it was not time for them to had, for the everlasting Seed of God was set break up their meeting yet. Awhile after, over all, and the people settled in the new when the priest had done, they came to the covenant of life, upon the foundation, Christ Friends again, and would have had them go Jesus." Toward the close of the meeting, home to dinner; but the Friends told them, while George was speaking to the people, a they did not choose to go to dinner, they were man in gay apparel came up and looked in at feeding upon the bread of life. So there they the window; and presently went away to sat, waiting upon the Lord, and enjoying his Ringwood, and informed the magistrates that power and presence, till they found freedom the soldiers had taken up two or three men at in themselves to depart. Thus the priest's Pulner, and left George Fox there preaching people were offended, first because they could to as many hundreds. The magistrates forth-not get them to the steeple-house, and when with despatched the officers and soldiers again, there, they were offended because they could but the man having a mile and a half to car- not get them out again." ry the information, and the soldiers as much During most of the year 1663, he continto walk back, the meeting was over and ued travelling through England, and went Friends dispersed before they arrived. Thus into Wales, where he "had several precious they were again mercifully delivered from their meetings: the Lord's name and standard was persecutors. set up, many were gathered to it and settled

under the teaching of Christ Jesus, their Sa- force. On the following morning, an officer viour, who bought them." Coming into the armed with sword and pistols came to apprecounty of Cumberland, where persecution was hend him, and carried him before the justices; very hot at that time, Friends asked him if he here he was examined on various points. had come there to go to prison. So eager They then tendered the oath to him, and on were magistrates to stir up the people against his refusal to swear, required him to appear at Friends, that some offered five shillings and the next sessions. The time appointed coming some a noble* a day to any that would appre-on, George Fox repaired to Lancaster and aphend speakers among the Quakers, but it peared before the judges according to his enbeing now the time of the quarter sessions, gagement. The concourse was large, and the most of those mercenary persecutors had gone court-house very full, but he made his way to thither to get their wages, and Friends held the bar, and there stood with his hat on. Sitheir meetings in quietness. lence being ordered, he addressed the company twice, "Peace be among you." The chairman asked him if he knew where he was.

There was quite an anxiety among the justices to take George Fox prisoner, and it is truly remarkable, and a proof of the preserv-" Yes, I do," he replied, "but it may be my ing power of an overruling Providence, that although frequently very near them and apparently exposed to the liability of being arrested, yet he escaped out of their hands. In the open sessions at Kendal in Westmoreland, justice Flemming offered a reward of five pounds to any one that should take him. On the way to a Friend's house, George met a man coming from the court, to whom this reward had been tendered. As he passed he remarked to his company, "that is George Fox," but did not attempt to molest him; "for," says he, "the Lord preserved me over them all."

hat offends you. That is a low honour-it is not the honour that I give to magistrates-for the true honour is from above. I hope it is not the hat that you look upon to be the true honour." After some further conversation, they bade one of the officers to take his hat off, and then proceeded to examine him respecting a pretended plot against the govern ment, of which he showed himself entirely clear. Not being able to find any other charge against him, they tendered him the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and for his refusal to swear, committed him to prison. He bid the judges and people take notice, that "he Few persons possessed a more undaunted suffered for the doctrine of Christ and for obecourage and firmness than did George Fox. dience to his command." Several others were No danger seemed to alarm or disconcert him, also committed, some for refusing the oaths, no perils to deter him from the performance of and some for attending their religious meetduty. He was ever ready to bear his full por-ings, so that the jails were full. Many of tion of suffering for the religion he espoused, the prisoners were poor men, whose families and by example as well as precept to encour- were dependent on their daily labour, and this age his brethren in the faithful maintainance of their principles. Hearing that Colonel Kirby had sent a lieutenant to the house of Margaret Fell, in Swarthmore, to search for him, he started on the following morning for Kirby Hall, where the colonel resided. On being introduced to him, he observed, that " understanding he was desirous of seeing him, he had come to visit him to know what he had to say, or whether he had anything against him. Colonel Kirby seemed taken by surprise, and said, before all the company, he had nothing against him. After much friendly conversation had passed, they shook hands and parted. Soon after this, Kirby went to London, and the other justices held a private meeting and granted a warrant to apprehend George Fox. Information was given to him over night, both of the meeting and the warrant, and he had ample opportunity to avoid it; but he chose rather to stay and meet the storm-hoping he should thus shield his friends from its

* A gold coin of the value of $1 48 cts.

being now taken from them, their wives went to the justices who committed them, and told them if they persisted in keeping their hus bands in prison for the truth of Christ and the testimony of a good conscience, they must bring their children to them to be maintained. Their innocence and the righteousness of their cause, gave them great boldness, and they feared not to plead with and warn their persecutors against their cruelty and hardness of heart.

On the 14th of the month called March, George Fox was brought to the assizes, before Judge Twisden, when the following conversation took place :—

G. F.-Peace be amongst you all. Judge.-What! do you come into court with your hat on!

G. F.-The hat is not the honour which comes from God.

Judge.-Will you take the oath of allegiance?

G. F.-I never took an oath in my life, nor any covenant nor engagement.

Judge.-Well-will you swear or no? G. F.-I am a Christian, and Christ commands me not to swear; so does the apostle James; and whether I should obey God or man, do thou judge.

Judge. I ask you again, whether you will swear or no?

G. F.—I am neither Turk, Jew, nor Heathen, but a Christian, and should show forth | Christianity. Dost thou not know that Christians in the primitive times, and also some of the martyrs in Queen Mary's days, refused swearing, because Christ and the apostle had forbidden it? You have had experience enough, how many first swore for the king and then against him. But as for me, I never took an oath in my life. My allegiance does not lie in swearing, but in truth and faithfulness; for I honour all men, much more the king. But Christ, who is the great Prophet, the King of kings, the Saviour and Judge of the whole world, saith I must not swear. Now, whether must I obey Christ or three? for it is tenderness of conscience, and in obedience to the command of Christ, that I do not swear: and we have the word of a king for tender consciences. Dost thou own the king?

Judge.-Yes-I do own the king.

G. F.-Why then, dost thou not observe his declaration from Breda, and his promises made since he came into England; that no man should be called in question for matters of religion, so long as he lived peaceably? If thou own the king, why dost thou call me in question, and put me upon taking an oath, which is a matter of religion; seeing neither thou nor any one else can charge me with peaceable living?

Judge.-Sirrah! will you swear?

G. F.-I am none of thy Sirrahs-I am a Christian; and for thee, an old man, and a judge, to sit there and give nicknames to prisoners, does not become either thy gray hairs nor thy office.

Spirit of God, or how could they quench, vex, grieve and resist the Holy Ghost, like the stiffnecked Jews? To the second erroneous assertion George answered, that the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world, was Christ the Word, and that He was divine and eternal, and not natural; and he might as well say the Word was natural, as that the life in the Word was so. And it was expressly said, that men hated the light because their deeds were evil, and would not come to it because it reproved them—which of course must be in them, as a reprover.

Some envious persons frequently reminding Friends of a plot in the north, as though they were implicated in it, he wrote the following paper, to clear them and their Christian profession of such an unjust reflection :— "A Testimony from the people of God, whom the world calls Quakers, to all the magistrates and officers of what sort soever, from the highest to the lowest.

"We are peaceable, and seek the peace, good, and welfare of all, as in our lives and peaceable carriage is manifested, and we desire the eternal good of all, and their souls' everlasting peace. We are become heirs of the blessing before the curse was, and of the power of God before the devil was, and before the fall of man. We are heirs of the Gospel of peace, which is the power of God; we are heirs of Christ, who have inherited him and his everlasting kingdom, and do possess the power of an endless life. Knowing this our portion and inheritance, this is to take off all un-jealousies out of your minds, and out of the minds of all concerning us, that all plots and conspiracies, plotters and conspirators against the king, and all aiders or assisters thereunto we always did and do utterly deny to be of us, or to be of the fellowship of the Gospel, of Christ's kingdom, or his servants. For Christ said, 'His kingdom was not of this world, if it were, his servants would fight.' Therefore he bid Peter, put up his sword; for,' said he, he that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword.' Here is the faith and patience of the saints, to bear and suffer all things, knowing vengeance is the Lord's and he will repay it to them that hurt his people and wrong the innocent; therefore cannot we avenge but suffer for his name's sake. We know that the Lord will judge the world in righteousness according to their deeds, and that, when every one shall give an account to him of the 'deeds done in the body,' then will the Lord give every man according to his works, whether they be good or evil. Christ saith, he came not to destroy men's lives;' and when his disciples would have had fire to come down

Judge.-Well-I am a Christian too. G. F.-Then do Christian works. The judge again pressed the oath upon him, and he declining to take it, was remanded to prison, there to remain until the next assizes. George Fox was not idle while waiting in jail for the return of the assizes. A Baptist preacher, also a prisoner, challenged Friends to a dispute, and George obtaining liberty to go to his apartment, engaged with him in the controversy. The preacher affirmed, that "some men never had the Spirit of God, and that the true light, which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world, is natural;" and for proof instanced Balaam, affirming that he had not the Spirit of God. George asserted that Balaam and other wicked men had the

derer, the man-slayer, and the envious.— Christ's mind and his doctrine being to save men's lives, we who are of Christ's mind are out of and above these things. Our desire is, that in the fear of the Lord ye may live, that therein ye may receive God's wisdom, by which all things were created, that by it all may be ordered to his glory.

"This is from them that love all your souls, and seek your eternal good."

As a warning to his friends against the spirit of dissension which actuated John Perrot and his company, he published the following: "Dear Friends,

from heaven,' to have consumed those that did not receive him, he told them, They knew not what spirit they were of,' they would have men's lives destroyed; therefore he rebuked them, and told them, that he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.' We are of Christ's mind, who is the great prophet, whom all ought to hear in all things, who commandeth his, 'If they strike thee on one cheek turn the other, and render to no man evil for evil.' This doctrine of his we have learned, and not only confess him in words, but follow his doctrine; and therefore we suffer all manner of reproaches, scandals, slanders, spoiling of goods, buffetings, whippings, stripes, and "Dwell in the love of God, and in his imprisonments for these many years, and can say, 'The Lord forgive them that have thus righteousness, that will preserve you above all served us, and lay not these things to their unclean and changeable spirits, that dwell not Avoid such, and charge! We know the Jews' outward sword, in the truth but in quarrels. by which they cut down the heathen outward keep your habitations in the truth. Dwell in ly, was a type of the inward sword of the the truth and in the word of God, by which Spirit, which cuts down the inward heathen, ye are reconciled to him. Keep your meetthe raging nature in people. The blood of ings in the name of Jesus Christ, who never bulls, lambs, rams, and other offerings, and fell; then you will see over all the gatherings that priesthood which offered them, together in the life over them all, in which is your uniof Adam's sons and daughters, you being met with other things in the law, were types of Christ, the one offering, and of his blood, who ty, peace and fellowship with God, and one with another, wherein ye may enjoy God's is the everlasting priest and covenant, our life, and way to God, the great prophet and shep- Friends in the everlasting Seed of God. All presence among you. So remember me to all herd, the head of his church, and the great bishop of our souls, whom we witness come; that are got into fellowship in outward things, their fellowship will corrupt, and wither away. he doth oversee and keep his flock. For in Adam, in the fall, we know the striving, quar-which was before the devil. This fellowship Therefore live in the Gospel, the power of God, relling, unpeaceable spirits are at enmity one with another, and not in peace; but in Christ in the Gospel, is a mystery to all the fellowJesus, the second Adam, that never fell, is ships in the world. So look over all outward peace, rest, and life. The doctrine of Christ, sufferings, and eye the Lord and the Lamb, who never sinned, is to 'love one another, who is the First and the Last, the Amen; in

whom farewell."

In the sixth month the assizes were held again, when he was brought before Judge Turner, a jury empannelled, and the justices sworn as witnesses that he refused the oath at the last session. The following dialogue then took place: Judge. Did you not refuse the oath at the last session?

G. F.-I never took an oath in my life; and Christ, the Saviour and Judge of the world, said, "Swear not at all."

and those who are in this doctrine hurt no man; in which we are, in Christ, who is our life. Therefore it is well for you to distinguish betwixt the precious and the vile, between them that fear God and serve him and them that do not, and to put a difference between the innocent and the guilty, between him that is holy and pure and the ungodly and profane; for they that do not so, bring troubles, burdens, and sorrows upon themselves. This we write in love to your souls, that ye may consider these things; for those that hate enemies, and one another, we cannot say are of God, nor in Christ's doctrine, but are opposers of it. And such as wrestle with flesh and blood, with carnal weapons, are gone into the flesh out of the Spirit. They are not in our fellowship in the Spirit, in which is the bond of peace, neither are they of us, nor have we unity with them in their fleshly state, and with their car- Judge. I am not now to dispute whether nal weapons. For our unity and fellowship it is lawful to swear, but to inquire whether stands in the Gospel, which is the power of you refused to take the oath.

The judge seemed not disposed to notice this answer, but again repeated his former question.

G. F.--The words that I then spoke to them were, that if they could prove, either judge, justices, priest or teacher, that after Christ and the Apostle James had forbidden swearing, they commanded that Christians should swear, I would swear.

God, before the devil was, the liar, the mur- G. F.-Those things mentioned in the oath,

G. F.-Look into the indictment, and you Judge. You must have justice, and you may see that you have left out the word sub-shall have law.

ject. So, not having named me as a subject, G. F.-Am I at liberty then, and free from in the indictment, you cannot premunire me all that hath been done against me in this for not taking an oath. matter?