earl of Oldenburgh going to the treaty of peace at Lem

bachie.

Next day, hiring another waggon, we passed through the country to the city of Oldenburgh, lately a great and famous place, but then burnt down, and but few houses left standing in it. At this place we hired another waggon, and went through the country to Delmenhurst; where, after we had been examined by the guards, we went to a burgher-master's to lodge, whose house was an inn. And there being many people, I declared the way of truth to him and them, warning them all of the day of the Lord that was coming upon all evil-doers.

From hence we passed next day by waggon to Bremen, which is a stately city in Germany; and from thence, after a double examination, we went by waggon to a water called Overdelend, and there took boat to Fisher-holder; where finding pretty many people together, I declared the way of God to them, and exhorted them to fear the Lord. There we took waggon again, and travelled in the bishop of Munster's country, to a place called Closterseven; and having no inclination to stay there, we got fresh horses there, intending to travel all night. Accordingly we went out a little way, but it quickly grew so dark, and rained so hard, that we thought it best to turn back again thither; for our waggon being open, we had no defence against the rain, and our clothes were already wet with the rain that had fallen for several days before. So we went back to an inn, and got a little fresh straw, upon which we lay till about break of day; and then set out in our waggon again, and travelled through the country to the city of Buxtehude.

The people in the bishop of Munster's country were very dark; and as we passed amongst them I preached truth to them, warning them of the great and notable day of the Lord; and exhorting them to soberness, and to mind the good spirit of God in themselves.

It was on the first-day of the week that we went through this city Buxtehude; and without the walls was a great fair of sheep and geese that day. We staid but a little to refresh ourselves, and went on as fast as we could to Hamburgh, partly by waggon and partly by water.

We got to Hamburgh time enough to get a meeting there that evening, and a good and glorious meeting it was. There were at it, amongst others, a baptist-teacher and his wife, and a great man of Sweden and his wife; and all was quiet, blessed be the Lord, whose power was exalted over

all; yet a dark hard place this is, and the people are much shut up from truth.

At Hamburgh there was a woman that had spoken against me in John Perrot's time, (though she had never seen me till now) and she had been troubled for it ever since; and now was glad of an opportunity to acknowledge her fault; which she very readily did, and I did as readily and freely forgive her.

We staid that night at Hamburgh, encouraging and strengthening the friends there in the testimony to the truth; and betimes next morning we set forward towards Frederickstadt, which is two long days journey from Hamburgh. We went the first-day to a town called Elmsboorn, where we baited; and then rode on through a garrison town of the king of Denmark's; and passing by the monument of the earl of Ransenny, we came to the city of Itzeho, where we lodged that night; and I had some service in the evening among the people in the inn, whom I exhorted to soberness, and to live in the fear of the Lord. Next morning setting out again, we travelled to a town called Hoghenhorn, where we dined at an inn with one of the council of Frederickstadt; to whom, and to the rest of the people present, I declared the truth, with which they seemed to be affected. Then travelling on, we came to a river called Eyder, where we took boat and so went to Frederickstadt. We went to a friend's house there, whose name is William Pauls, where several friends came to us (for there is a pretty many friends in that city) and we had a fine refreshing meeting together that evening, which made us forget our weariness; for we were indeed very weary, having travelled hard those two days, and being wet through our clothes, having had much rain in our open waggons. But the Lord made all easy and good to us; and we were well, and glad to see friends; blessed be his holy name for ever!

This city is in the duke of Holstein's country, who would have banished friends out of the city and country, and did send to the magistrates of the city to do it; but they said they would lay down their offices rather than they would do it, inasmuch as friends came to that city to enjoy the liberty of their consciences. And not long after the duke himself was banished out of that city by the king of Denmark; but friends do still enjoy their liberty there, and truth and they are of good report amongst the people, both in city and country.

On the first-day of the week I had a meeting here, to which many people came, and some rough spirits; but the

power of the Lord bound them down, and the seed of life was set over all. While I was here I had a discourse with a Jew that was a Levite, concerning the coming of the Messiah, and he was much confounded in what he said; yet he carried himself lovingly, and invited me to his house: I went thither, and there I discoursed with another Jew, who shewed me their Talmud and many other Jewish books; but they are very dark, and do not understand their own prophets.

There was at this city a baptist-teacher, who had reproached and belied friends; wherefore John Claus went with two friends of the town, to the house where he lodged, and cleared truth and friends from his reproaches; and laid his lies and slanders upon his own head, to his shame.

Before we left this place I had another meeting with the friends only, wherein I laid before them the usefulness and benefit of a monthly-meeting, for the looking after the poor, and taking care that marriages, and all other things relating to the church, were done and performed in an orderly manner; and the thing answered the witness of God in their consciences, so that they readily consented, and agreed to have monthly meetings thenceforward amongst themselves, that both men and women might look after, and take care of, the outward concerns of the church.

After this meeting, feeling my spirit clear of that place, we took leave of friends there (whom we left in good order) and not intending to go further that way, we turned back again for Hamburgh. When we had travelled one day's journey, and came to an inn at night to lodge, I inquired there whether there were any tender people in the town, that feared God, or that had a mind to discourse of the things of God; but the innkeeper told me there were few such in that town. Next night we got to Hamburgh; and having passed the guards, we went to a friend's house, being very weary; for we had been up those two mornings before the third hour, and had travelled each day hard and late. Here we met with John Hill, an English friend, who had been travelling in Germany, and being in a ship bound for Amsterdam, that waited for a wind, he had lain sick on board her about two weeks; and now hearing that I was in the country, got off from the ship and came hither to meet me, and to go along with me.

The next day after we came to Hamburgh we had a very good meeting there, and very peaceable. After the meeting I had discourse with a Swede, an eminent man in

his own country, who having been banished from thence upon the account of his religion, was come to Hamburgh, and was at the meeting I had there before. And when I had done with him, I had another discourse with a baptist concerning the sacraments (so called;) in both which I had good service, having opportunity thereby to open truth unto them.

Being clear of Hamburgh, we took our leave of friends. there, whom we left well; and taking John Hill along with us, we passed by boat to a city in the duke of Lunenburgh's country; where after we were examined by the guards, we were had to the main-guard, and there examined more strictly; but after they found that we were not soldiers, they were civil to us, and let us pass. In the afternoon we travelled by waggon, and the waters being much out, by reason of the great rains that had fallen, when it drew towards night, we hired a boy upon the way to guide us through a great water that we had to pass. When we came to it, the water was so deep before we could come at the bridge, that the waggoner was fain to wade, and I drove the waggon. But when we were come upon the bridge, the horses brake part of it down, and one of them fell into the water, the waggon standing upon that part of the bridge which remained unbroken; and it was the Lord's mercy to us that the waggon did not run into the brook, When they had got the horse out, he lay a while as if he had been dead; but at length they got him up, and put him to the waggon again, and laid the planks right; and then (through the goodness of the Lord to us) we got safe

over.

After this we came to another water, which finding to be very deep, and it being in the night, we hired two men to help us through. These men put cords to the waggon to hold it by, that the force of the water might not drive it beside the way. But when we came into it, the stream was so strong, that it took up one of the horses off his legs, and was carrying him down the stream, which I seeing called to the waggoner to pluck him to him by his reins, which he did, and the horse recovered his legs, and so with much difficulty we got over the bridge, and went to Bormer-haven, the town where the waggoner lived. It was the last day of the sixth month that we escaped these dangers; and it being about the eleventh hour in the night when we came in here, we got some fresh straw and lay upon it, till about the fourth hour in the morning; and then getting up, we set forward again towards Bremen, going part of the way by waggon and part by boat. In the

way I had good opportunities to publish truth among the pecole, expecially at a market-town, where we said to change our passare: where I declared the truth to the people, warning them of the day of the Lord that was coming upon all fesh: and exhorting them to righteousness, and telling them that God was come to teach his people himself and that they should turn to the Lord, and bearken to the teachings of his spirit in their own bearts.

At Bremen we were examined as we usually were in cities and garrisco-towns) and after that we went to an inn and ståld a while, till another waggon was provided to carry us firber. And bere, though I felt the Lord's power was over the city, and kept the wicked and rarely spirits down, yet my spirit sufered much in this place for the people's sake. When our wargon was ready, we left Bremen, and travelled through the country to Keby, where we lodged at an inn that night, and early next morning set forth for Oldenburgh, which was a lamentable sight to see so great and brave a city burnt down. We west to an in, and though it was the first-day of the week, there were the soldiers drinking, and playing at shovel-board; and at those few houses that were left the shops were open, and the people trading one with another. I was moved to speak to the people, and declare the truth among them, and warn them of the judgments of God: and though they heard me quietly, and were civil towards me, yet I was bardened with their wickedness. And many times in mornings, moons, and nights, at the ins and on the ways as I travelled, I spake to the people, preaching the truth to them, and warning them of the day of the Lord, and exhorting them to turn to the light and spirit of God in themselves, that thereby they might be led out of evil.

Next day, passing through many great waters, we came at night to Leer, and the day following to Embden, where Joba Class his wife's father lived; at whose bouse, when we went up into Germany, we left a young man sick, who travelled with me, and used to write for me; whom DOW at our return, we found pretty well recovered. John Claus went to his father-in-law's: John Hill and I to an jan, where we dined; and after dinner we went also to John Claus his father's, and had a good meeting there in the evening.

The day following we took shipping at Embden, and passed to Delfziel, and went to an in. where a friend came to us that then lived in Delfziel, having been often banished from Embden; he was a goldsmith by trade, and bad an house and shop in Embden; and still as they ba