Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

for he came all night on purpose to diperse us. I asked him what honour it would be to him, to ride with swords and pistols amongst so many unarmed men and women as there was? But if he would be still and quiet our meeting probably might not continue above two or three hours; and when it was done, as we came peaceably and civilly together, so we should part: for he might perceive the meeting was so large, that all the country thereabouts could not entertain them, but that they intended to depart towards their homes at night. He said he could not stay to see the meeting ended, but must disperse them before he went. I desired him then, if he himself could not stay, that he would let a dozen of his soldiers stay, and see the order and peaceableness of our meeting. He said he would permit us an hour's time; and left half a dozen soldiers to stay with us. Then went the captain away with his troop, and friends of the house gave those soldiers that staid, and their horses, some meat. When the captain was gone the soldiers that were left told us, we might stay till night if we would. But we staid but about three hours after, and had a glorious, powerful meeting: for the presence of the living God was manifest amongst us, and the Seed, Christ, was set over all, and friends were built upon him the foundation, and settled under his glorious, heavenly teaching. And after the meeting was done, friends passed away in peace, greatly refreshed with the presence of the Lord, and filled with joy and gladness, that the Lord's power had given them such dominion. For many of the militia soldiers staid also, and were much vexed that the captain and troopers had not broken up our meeting, and cursed the captain and his troopers: for it was reported that they intended to have done us some mischief that day; but the troopers, instead of assisting them, were rather assistant unto us, in not joining with them, as they expected, but preventing them from doing the mischief they designed. And yet this captain was a desperate man, for it was he that had said to me in Scotland, that he would obey his superior's commands, and if it were to crucify Christ he would do it: or execute the great Turk's commands against the Christians, if he were under him. So that it was an eminent power of the Lord which chained down both him and all his troopers, and those envious militia soldiers also, so that they went away, not having power to hurt any of us, nor to break up our meeting.

The next day we had a heavenly meeting at Warmsworth, of friends in the ministry, and several others; and then friends parted; and as they passed through the coun

tries, several were taken up. For that day that our first meeting was on, Lambert was routed, and it made a great blunder in the country, but friends were not kept long in prison at that time. As I went to this meeting at Balby, there came several to me at Skegby in Nottinghamshire, that were then going to be soldiers under Lambert, and would have bought my horse of me, and because I would not sell him to them, they were in a great rage against me, using many threatening words; but I told them God would confound and scatter them; and within two or three days after they were scattered indeed.

From Warmsworth I passed in the Lord's power to Barton Abbey, where I had a great meeting, and from thence to Thomas Taylor's, and so to Skipton, where there was a general meeting of men-friends out of many counties, concerning the affairs of the church. There was a friend went naked through the town, declaring truth, and he was much beaten. Some other friends also came to me all bloody; and as I walked in the street there was a desperate fellow, had an intent to have done me a mischief; but he was prevented, and our meeting was quiet. To this meeting came many friends out of most parts of the nation, for it was about business relating to the church, both in this nation and beyond the seas. Several years before, when I was in the north, I was moved to recommend to friends the setting up of this meeting for that service; for many friends suffered in divers parts of the nation, and their goods were taken from them contrary to the law, and they understood not how to help themselves, or where to seek redress. But after this meeting was set up, several friends that had been justices and magistrates, and others that understood something of the law, came thither, and were able to inform friends, and to assist them in gathering up the sufferings, that they might be laid before the justices, judges, or parliament. Now this meeting had stood several years, and divers justices and captains had come to break it up, but when they have understood the business friends met about, and have seen friends' books and accounts of collections for relief of the poor, how we took care one county to help another, and to help our friends beyond the seas, and provide for our poor, that none of them should be chargeable to their parishes, &c. the justices and officers would confess that we did their work, and would pass away peaceably and lovingly, commending friends' practices. And sometimes there would come two hundred of the world's poor people, and wait there till the meeting was done (for all the country knew we met

about the poor) and then after the meeting was over, friends would send to the bakers for bread, and give every one of those poor people a loaf, how many soever there were of them for we were taught to do good unto all; though especially to the houshold of faith.

:

After this meeting I passed through the countries, visiting friends in their meetings, till I came to Lancaster; from whence I went to Robert Withers, and so to Arnside, where I had a general meeting for all the friends in those countries, as Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lancashire. The meeting was quiet and peaceable, and the living presence of the Lord was amongst us. After meeting I went back with Robert Withers, and friends all passed away, fresh in the life and power of Christ, in which they had dominion, being settled upon him, the heavenly rock and foundation. But after the meeting, there came several rude fellows (serving-men, belonging to one called Sir George Middleton, a justice, that lived not far off) to have made some disturbance (as it was thought;) but the meeting being ended, they did nothing there: but lighting on three women friends, who were going from the meeting, they set upon them with impudent scoffs, and one of them (whose name was Thomas) said he would kiss one of them and carried himself very abusively and immodestly towards them. The same man did abuse other friends also, and was so outrageous that he would have cut friends with an axe; but that he was restrained by some of his fellows. At another time the same man set upon six friends, that were going to meeting to wait upon the Lord, at a place called Yellan, and beat and abused them very much, so that he bruised their faces, and shed much of their blood, wounding them very sore, and one of them in several parts of his body; yet they lifted not up an hand against him, but gave him their backs and their cheeks to beat.

From Robert Withers's I went next day to Swarthmore, Francis Howgil and Thomas Curtis being with me. I had not been long there before one Henry Porter, who was called a justice, sent a warrant by the chief constable, and three petty constables, to apprehend me. I had a sense of the thing before-hand; and being in the parlour with Richard Richardson and Margaret Fell, some of her servants came, and told her that there were some come to search the house for arms; and they went up into some of the chambers under that pretence. It came upon me to go out to them; and as I was going by some of them, I spake some words to them; whereupon they asked me my name. 1 readily told them my name; and then they laid hold on VOL. I.

2 G

me, saying I was the man they looked for, and led me away to Ulverstone. There they kept me all night at the constable's house, and set a guard of fifteen or sixteen men to watch me, some of whom sat in the chimney for fear I should go up the chimney; such dark imaginations possessed them. They were very rude and uncivil to me, and would neither suffer me to speak to friends, nor suffer friends to bring me necessaries; but with violence thrust out friends, and kept a strong guard upon me. Very wicked and rude they were, and a great noise they made about me. One of the constables, whose name was Askburuham, said he did not think a thousand men could have taken me. Another of the constables, whose name was Mount, a very wicked man, said he would have served judge Fell himself so, if he had been alive, and he had a warrant for him. Next morning, about the sixth hour, I was putting on my boots and spurs to go with them before some justice; but they pulled off my spurs, and took my knife out of my pocket, and so hastened me away along the town, with a party of horse, and abundance of people, not suffering me to stay till my own horse came down. When I was gone about a quarter of a mile with them, some friends, with Margaret Fell and her children came towards me; and then a great party of horse gathered about me in a mad rage and fury, crying out, Will they rescue him! Will they rescue him! Whereupon I said unto them, Here is my hair, here is my back, here are my cheeks, strike on!' with which words their heat was a little asswaged. Then they brought a little horse, and two of them took up one of my legs, and put my foot in the stirrup, and two or three lifting over my other leg, set me upon the little horse, behind the saddle; and so led the horse by the halter: but I had nothing to hold by. When they were come a pretty way out of the town, they beat the little horse, and made him kick and gallop : whereupon I slipped off him, and told them they should not abuse the creature. They were much enraged at my getting off, and took me by the legs and feet, and set me upon the same horse, behind the saddle again; and so led the horse on, about two miles, till they came to a great water called the Carter Ford. By this time my own horse was come to us, and the water being deep, and their little horse scarce able to have carried me through, they let me get upon my own horse, through the persuasion of some of their own company; they leading him through the water. There was one wicked fellow kneeled down, and lifting up his hands, blessed God that I was taken. When I was come over the

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

sands, I told them I had heard I had liberty to choose what justice I would go before: but Mount, and the other constables cried No, I should not.' Then they led me on to Lancaster, about fourteen miles, and a great triumph they thought to have had : but as they led me, I was moved to sing praises to the Lord, in his triumphing power over all. When I was come to Lancaster, the spirits of the people being mightily up, I stood and looked earnestly upon them; and they cried, Look at his eyes!' After a while I spake to them; and then they were pretty sober. Then came a young man, and had me to his house; and after a little time the officers had me to major Porter's house, who was called a justice, and who had sent forth the warrant against me; and he had several others with him. When I came in, I said, Peace be amongst you.' But Porter asked me why I came down into the country that troublesome time: I told him, to visit my brethren. Then, said he, you have great meetings up and down. I told him though we had so, our meetings were known throughout the nation to be peaceable, and we were a peaceable people. He said we saw the devil in people's faces. I told him if I saw a drunkard, or a swearer, or a peevish heady man, I could not say I saw the Spirit of God in him; and I asked him if he could see the Spirit of God: he said we cried against their ministers: I told him while we were as Saul, sitting under the priests, and running up and down with their packets of letters, we were never called pestilent fellows, nor makers of sects, but when we were come to exercise our consciences towards God and man, then we were called pestilent fellows, as Paul was: he said we could express ourselves well enough, and he would not dispute with me, but he would restrain me. I desired to know for what, and by whose order he sent forth his warrant for me; and I complained to him of the abuse of the constables and other officers to me, after they had taken me, and in their bringing me thither. He would not take notice of that, but told me he had an order, but would not let me see it; for he would not reveal the king's secrets, he said: and besides, a prisoner, he said, was not to see for what he was committed. I told him that was not reason, for bow should he make his defence then: I said I ought to have a copy of it; but he said there was a judge once that fined one for letting a prisoner have a copy of his mittimus; and, said he, I have an old clerk, though I am a young justice. Then he called to his clerk, saying, Is it not ready yet; bring it, meaning the mittimus: but it not being ready, he told me I was a disturber of the nation.

« VorigeDoorgaan »