CHAPTER 10
Planting the Seed in Wales
1656-1657
Being released from our imprisonment, we got
horses, rode towards Humphrey Lower's, and met him upon the road.
He told us he was much troubled in his mind concerning us, and
could not rest at home, but was going to Colonel Bennet to seek our
liberty. When we told him we were set at liberty, and were going to
his house, he was exceeding glad. To his house we went, and had a
fine, precious meeting; many were convinced, and turned by the
Spirit of the Lord to the Lord Jesus Christ's teaching.
Soon after we came to Exeter, where many Friends
were in prison; and amongst the rest James Nayler. For a little
before we were set at liberty, James had run out into imaginations,
and a company with him, who raised a great darkness in the nation.
He came to Bristol, and made a disturbance there. From thence he was coming to
Launceston to see me; but was stopped by the way, and imprisoned at
Exeter; as were several others, one of whom, an honest, tender man,
died in prison there. His blood lieth on the heads of his
persecutors.
The night that we came to Exeter I spoke with James
Nayler: for I saw he was out, and wrong, and so was his company.
The next day, being First-day, we went to visit the prisoners, and
had a meeting with them in the prison; but James Nayler, and some
of them, could not stay the meeting. There came a corporal of horse
into the meeting, who was convinced, and remained a very good
Friend.
The next day I spoke to James Nayler again; and he
slighted what I said, was dark, and much out; yet he would have
come and kissed me. But I said that since he had turned against the
power of God, I could not receive his show of kindness. The Lord
moved me to slight him, and to set the power of God over him. So
after I had been warring with the world, there was now a wicked
spirit risen amongst Friends to war against. I admonished him and
his company.
When he was come to London, his resisting the power
of God in me, and the Truth that was declared to him by me, became
one of his greatest burdens. But he came to see his out-going, and
to condemn it; and after some time he returned to Truth again; as in the
printed relation of his repentance, condemnation, and recovery may
be more fully seen.
On First-day morning I went to the meeting in
Broadmead at Bristol, which was large and quiet. Notice was given
of a meeting to be in the afternoon in the orchard.
There was at Bristol a rude Baptist, named Paul
Gwin, who had before made great disturbance in our meetings, being
encouraged and set on by the mayor, who, it was reported, would
sometimes give him his dinner to encourage him. Such multitudes of
rude people he gathered after him, that it was thought there had
been sometimes ten thousand people at our meeting in the
orchard.
As I was going into the orchard, the people told me
that Paul Gwin was going to the meeting. I bade them never heed,
for it was nothing to me who went to it.
When I was come into the orchard, I stood upon the
stone that Friends used to stand on when they spoke; and I was
moved of the Lord to put off my hat, and to stand a while, and let
the people look at me; for some thousands of people were there.
While I thus stood silent, this rude Baptist began to find fault
with my hair; but I said nothing to him. Then he ran on into words;
and at last, "Ye wise men of Bristol," said he, "I marvel at you,
that you will stand here, and hear a man speak and affirm that
which he cannot make good."
Then the Lord opened my mouth (for as yet I had not
spoken a word), and I asked the people whether they had ever heard
me speak, or had ever seen me before; and I bade them take notice
what kind of man this was amongst them that should so impudently
say that I spoke and affirmed that which I could not make good; and
yet neither he nor they had ever heard me or seen me before.
Therefore that was a lying, envious, malicious spirit that spoke in
him; and it was of the devil, and not of God. I charged him in the
dread and power of the Lord to be silent: and the mighty power of
God came over him, and all his company.
Then a glorious, peaceable meeting we had, and the
Word of life was divided amongst them; and they were turned from
darkness to the Light, -- to Jesus their Saviour. The Scriptures
were largely opened to them; and the traditions, rudiments, ways,
and doctrines of men were laid open before the people; and they
were turned to the Light of Christ, that with it they might see
these things, and see Him to lead them out of them.
I opened also to them the types, figures, and
shadows of Christ in the time of the law; and showed them that
Christ was come, and had ended the types, shadows, tithes, and
oaths, and put down swearing; and had set up yea and nay instead of
it, and a free ministry. For He was now come to teach the people
Himself, and His heavenly day was springing from on high.
For many hours did I declare the Word of life
amongst them in the eternal power of God, that by Him they might
come up into the beginning, and be reconciled to Him. And having
turned them to the Spirit of God in themselves, that would lead
into all Truth, I was moved to pray in the mighty power of God; and
the Lord's power came over all. When I had done, this fellow began
to babble again; and John Audland was moved to bid him repent, and
fear God. So his own people and followers being ashamed of him, he
passed away, and never came again to disturb the meeting. The
meeting broke up quietly, and the Lord's power and glory shone over
all: a blessed day it was, and the Lord had the praise. After a
while this Paul Gwin went beyond the seas; and many years after I
met him in Barbadoes.
Soon after we rode to London. When we came near
Hyde Park we saw a great concourse of people, and, looking towards
them, espied the Protector coming in his coach. Whereupon I rode to
his coach side. Some of his life-guard would have put me away; but
he forbade them. So I rode by his coach side with him, declaring
what the Lord gave me to say to him, of his condition, and of the
sufferings of Friends in the nation, showing him how contrary this
persecution was to the words of Christ and His apostles, and to
Christianity.
When we were come to James's Park Gate, I left him;
and at parting he desired me to come to his house. The next day one
of his wife's maids, whose name was Mary Sanders, came to me at my
lodging, and told me that her master came to her, and said he would
tell her some good news. When she asked him what it was, he told
her, "George Fox is come to town." She replied "That is good news
indeed" (for she had received Truth), but she said she could hardly
believe him till he told her how I met him, and rode from Hyde Park
to James's Park with him.
After a little time Edward Pyot and I went to
Whitehall to see Oliver Cromwell; and when we came before him, Dr.
Owen, vice-chancellor of Oxford, was with him. We were moved to
speak to him concerning the sufferings of Friends, and laid them
before him: and we directed him to the Light of Christ, who had
enlightened every man that cometh into the world. He said it was a
natural light; but we showed him the contrary; and proved that it
was divine and spiritual, proceeding from Christ the spiritual and
heavenly man; and that that which was called the life in Christ the
Word, was called the Light in us.
The power of the Lord God arose in me, and I was
moved in it to bid him lay down his crown at the feet of Jesus.
Several times I spoke to him to the same effect. I was standing by
the table, and he came and sat upon the table's side by me, saying
he would be as high as I was. So he continued speaking against the
Light of Christ Jesus; and went his way in a light manner. But the
Lord's power came over him so that when he came to his wife and
other company, he said, "I never parted so from them before"; for
he was judged in himself.
After this I travelled into Yorkshire, and returned
out of Holderness, over Humber, visiting Friends; and then
returning into Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and
Warwickshire, among Friends, I had a meeting at Edge-Hill. There
came to it Ranters, Baptists, and several sorts of rude people; for
I had sent word about three weeks before to have a meeting there,
so that hundreds of people were gathered thither, and many Friends
came to it from afar. The Lord's everlasting Truth and Word of life
reached over all; the rude and unruly spirits were chained down;
and many that day were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, by His
power and Spirit, and came to sit under His blessed, free teaching,
and to be fed with His eternal, heavenly food. All was peaceable;
the people passed quietly away, and some of them said it was a
mighty, powerful meeting; for the presence of the Lord was felt,
and His power and Spirit was amongst them.
Thence I passed to Warwick and to Bagley, having
precious meetings; and then into Gloucestershire, and so to Oxford,
where the scholars were very rude; but the Lord's power came over
them. Great meetings we had as we travelled up and down.
Thus having travelled over most of the nation, I
returned to London again, having cleared myself of that which lay
upon me from the Lord. For after I was released out of Launceston
jail, I was moved of the Lord to travel over the nation, the Truth
being now spread in most places, that I might answer, and remove
out of the minds of the people, some objections which the envious
priests and professors had raised and spread abroad concerning
us.
In this year the Lord's Truth was finely planted
over the nation, and many thousands were turned to the Lord;
insomuch that there were seldom fewer than one thousand in prison
in this nation for Truth's testimony; some for tithes, some for
going to the steeple-houses, some for contempts (as they called
them), some for not swearing, and others for not putting off their
hats.
Having stayed some time in London, and visited the
meetings of Friends in and about the city, and cleared myself of
what services the Lord had at that time laid upon me there, I left
the town and travelled into Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, visiting
Friends. I had great meetings, and often met with opposition from
Baptists and other jangling professors; but the Lord's power went
over them.
We lay one night at Farnham, where we had a little
meeting. The people were exceeding rude; but at last the Lord's
power came over them. After meeting we went to our inn, and gave
notice that any who feared God might come to our inn to us. There
came abundance of rude people, the magistrates of the town, and
some professors. I declared the Truth to them; and those people
that behaved themselves rudely, the magistrates put out of the
room.
When they were gone, another rude company of
professors came up, and some of the chief of the town. They called
for faggots and drink, though we forbade them, and were as rude a
people as ever I met. The Lord's power chained them, that they had
not power to do us any mischief; but when they went away they left
all the faggots and beer, for which they had called, in the room,
for us to pay for in the morning. We showed the innkeeper what an
unworthy thing it was; but he told us we must pay it; and pay it we
did.
Before we left the town I wrote to the magistrates
and heads of the town, and to the priest, showing them how he had
taught his people, and laying before them their rude and uncivil
carriage to strangers that sought their good.
Leaving that place we came to Basingstoke, a very
rude town; where they had formerly very much abused Friends. There
I had a meeting in the evening, which was quiet; for the Lord's
power chained the unruly. At the close of the meeting I was moved
to put off my hat and to pray to the Lord to open their
understandings; upon which they raised a report that I put off my
hat to them and bade them good night, which was never in my
heart.
After the meeting, when we came to our inn, I sent
for the innkeeper, as I was used to do; and he came into the room
to us, and showed himself a very rude man. I admonished him to be
sober, and fear the Lord; but he called for faggots and a pint of
wine, and drank it off himself; then called for another, and called
up half a dozen men into our chamber. Thereupon I bade him go out
of the chamber, and told him he should not drink there; for we
called him up to speak to him concerning his eternal good.
He was exceeding mad, rude, and drunk. When he
continued his rudeness and would not be gone, I told him that the
chamber was mine for the time I lodged in it; and called for the
key. Then he went away in a rage. In the morning he would not be
seen; but I told his wife of his unchristian carriage towards
us.
We then travelled to Exeter; and at the sign of the
Seven Stars, an inn at the bridge foot, had a general meeting of
Friends out of Cornwall and Devonshire; to which came Humphrey
Lower, Thomas Lower, and John Ellis from the Land's End; Henry
Pollexfen, and Friends from Plymouth; Elizabeth Trelawny, and
diverse other Friends. A blessed heavenly meeting we had, and the
Lord's everlasting power came over all, in which I saw and said
that the Lord's power had surrounded this nation round about as
with a wall and bulwark, and His seed reached from sea to sea.
Friends were established in the everlasting Seed of life, Christ
Jesus, their Life, Rock, Teacher, and Shepherd.
Next morning Major Blackmore sent soldiers to
apprehend me; but I was gone before they came. As I was riding up
the street I saw the officers going down; so the Lord crossed them
in their design, and Friends passed away peaceably and quietly. The
soldiers examined some Friends after I was gone, asking them what
they did there; but when they told them that they were in their
inn, and had business in the city, they went away without meddling
any further with them.
We passed through the countries, having meetings, and gathering
people in the name of Christ, their heavenly teacher, till we came
to Brecknock, where we put up our horses at an inn. There went with
me Thomas Holmes and John ap-John, who was moved of the Lord to
speak in the streets. I walked out but a little into the fields;
and when I returned the town was in an uproar. When I came into the
chamber in the inn, it was full of people, and they were speaking
in Welsh. I desired them to speak in English, which they did; and
much discourse we had. After a while they went away.
Towards night the magistrates gathered in the
streets with a multitude of people, and they bade them shout, and
gathered up the town; so that, for about two hours together, there
was a noise the like of which we had not heard; and the magistrates
set them on to shout again when they had given over. We thought it
looked like the uproar amongst Diana's craftsmen. This tumult
continued till night, and if the Lord's power had not limited them,
they would likely have pulled down the house, and torn us to
pieces.
At night the woman of the house would have had us
go to supper in another room; but we, discerning her plot, refused.
Then she would have had half a dozen men come into the room to us,
under the pretence of discoursing with us. We told her, "No person
shall come into our room this night, neither will we go to them."
Then she said we should sup in another room; but we told her we
would have no supper if we had it not in our own room. At length,
when she saw she could not get us out, she brought up our
supper.
So she and they were crossed in their design; for
they had an intent to do us mischief, but the Lord prevented them.
Next morning I wrote a paper to the town concerning their
unchristian carriage, showing the fruits of their priests and
magistrates; and as I passed out of town I spoke to the people, and
told them they were a shame to Christianity and religion.
After this we returned to England, and came to
Shrewsbury, where we had a great meeting, and visited Friends all
over the countries in their meetings, till we came to William
Gandy's, in Cheshire, where we had a meeting of between two and
three thousand people, as it was thought; and the everlasting Word
of life was held forth, and received that day. A blessed meeting it
was, for Friends were settled by the power of God upon Christ
Jesus, the Rock and Foundation.
At this time there was a great drought; and after
this general meeting was ended, there fell so great a rain that
Friends said they thought we could not travel, the waters would be
so risen. But I believed the rain had not extended as far as they
had come that day to the meeting. Next day, in the afternoon, when
we turned back into some parts of Wales again, the roads were
dusty, and no rain had fallen there.
When Oliver Cromwell sent forth a proclamation for
a fast throughout the nation, for rain, when there was a very great
drought, it was observed that as far as Truth had spread in the
north, there were pleasant showers and rain enough, while in the
south, in many places, the fields were almost spoiled for want of
rain. At that time I was moved to write an answer to the
Protector's proclamation, wherein I told him that if he had come to
own God's Truth, he should have had rain; and that the drought was
a sign unto them of their barrenness, and their want of the water
of life.
We passed through Montgomeryshire into Wales, and
so into Radnorshire, where there was a meeting like a leaguer, for
multitudes. I walked a little aside whilst the people were
gathering: and there came to me John ap-John, a Welshman, whom I
asked to go to the people; and if he had anything upon him from the
Lord to them, he might speak in Welsh, and thereby gather more
together. Then came Morgan Watkins to me, who was become loving to
Friends, and said, "The people lie like a leaguer, and the gentry
of the country are come in." I bade him go up also, and leave me;
for I had a great travail upon me for the salvation of the
people.
When they were well gathered, I went into the
meeting, and stood upon a chair about three hours. I stood a pretty
while before I began to speak. After some time I felt the power of
the Lord over the whole assembly: and His everlasting life and
Truth shone over all. The Scriptures were opened to them, and the
objections they had in their minds answered. They were directed to
the Light of Christ, the heavenly man; that by it they might see
their sins, and Christ Jesus to be their Saviour, their Redeemer,
their Mediator; and come to feed upon Him, the bread of life from
heaven.
Many were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to
His free teaching that day; and all were bowed down under the power
of God; so that though the multitude was so great that many sat on
horseback to hear, there was no opposition. A priest sat with his
wife on horseback, heard attentively, and made no objection.
The people parted peaceably, with great
satisfaction; many of them saying they had never heard such a
sermon before, nor the Scriptures so opened. For the new covenant
was opened, and the old, and the nature and terms of each; and the
parables were explained. The state of the Church in the apostles'
days was set forth, and the apostasy since was laid open; the free
teaching of Christ and the apostles was set atop of all the
hireling teachers; and the Lord had the praise of all, for many
were turned to Him that day.
I went thence to Leominster, where was a great
meeting in a close, many hundreds of people being gathered
together. There were about six congregational preachers and priests
amongst the people; and Thomas Taylor, who had been a priest, but
was now become a minister of Christ Jesus, was with me. I stood up
and declared about three hours; and none of the priests were able
to open their mouths in opposition; the Lord's power and Truth so
reached and bound them.
At length one priest went off about a bow-shot from
me, drew several of the people after him, and began to preach to
them. So I kept our meeting, and he kept his. After awhile Thomas
Taylor was moved to go and speak to him, upon which he gave over:
and he, with the people he had drawn off, came to us again; and the
Lord's power went over all.
From this place I travelled on in Wales, having
several meetings, till I came to Tenby, where, as I rode up the
street, a justice of the peace came out to me, asked me to alight,
and desired that I would stay at his house, which I did. On
First-day the mayor, with his wife, and several others of the chief
people of the town, came in about the tenth hour, and stayed all
the time of the meeting. A glorious meeting it was.
John ap-John being then with me, left the meeting,
and went to the steeple-house; and the governor cast him into
prison. On Second-day morning the governor sent one of his officers
to the justice's to fetch me; which grieved the mayor and the
justice; for they were both with me in the justice's house when the
officer came. The mayor and the justice went to the governor before
me; and awhile after I went with the officer. When I came in I
said, "Peace be unto this house," and before the governor could
examine me I asked him why he cast my friend into prison. He said,
"For standing with his hat on in the church."
I said, "Had not the priest two caps on his head, a
black one and a white one? Cut off the brims of the hat, and then
my friend would have but one: and the brims of the hat were but to
defend him from weather."
"These are frivolous things," said the
governor.
"Why, then," said I, "dost thou cast my friend into
prison for such frivolous things?"
He asked me whether I owned election and
reprobation. "Yes," said I, "and thou art in the reprobation."
At that he was in a rage and said he would send me
to prison till I proved it. I told him I would prove that quickly
if he would confess Truth. I asked him whether wrath, fury, rage
and persecution were not marks of reprobation; for he that was born
of the flesh persecuted him that was born of the Spirit; but Christ
and His disciples never persecuted nor imprisoned any.
He fairly confessed that he had too much wrath,
haste and passion in him. I told him that Esau was up in him, the
first birth; not Jacob, the second birth. The Lord's power so
reached the man and came over him that he confessed to Truth; and
the other justice came and shook me kindly by the hand.
As I was passing away I was moved to speak to the
governor again; and he invited me to dinner with him, and set my
friend at liberty. I went back to the other justice's house; and
after some time the mayor and his wife, and the justice and his
wife, and diverse other Friends of the town, went about half a mile
out of town with us, to the water-side, when we went away; and
there, when we parted from them, I was moved of the Lord to kneel
down with them, and pray to the Lord to preserve them. So, after I
had recommended them to the Lord Jesus Christ, their Saviour and
free Teacher, we passed away in the Lord's power; and He had the
glory.
We travelled to Pembrokeshire, and in Pembroke had
some service for the Lord. Thence we passed to Haverford West,
where we had a great meeting, and all was quiet. The Lord's power
came over all, and many were settled in the new covenant, Christ
Jesus, and built upon Him, their Rock and Foundation; and they
stand a precious meeting to this day. Next day, being their
fair-day, we passed through it, and sounded the day of the Lord,
and His everlasting Truth, amongst them.
After this we passed into another county, and at
noon came into a great market-town, and went into several inns
before we could get any meat for our horses. At last we came to one
where we got some. Then John ap-John being with me, went and spoke
through the town, declaring the Truth to the people; and when he
came to me again, he said he thought all the town were as people
asleep. After awhile he was moved to go and declare Truth in the
streets again; then the town was all in an uproar, and they cast
him into prison.
Presently after several of the chief people of the
town came, with others, to the inn where I was, and said, "They
have cast your man into prison."
"For what?" said I.
"He preached in our streets," said they.
Then I asked them, "What did he say? Had he
reproved some of the drunkards and swearers, and warned them to
repent, and leave off their evil doings, and turn to the Lord?" I
asked them who cast him into prison. They said, the high-sheriff
and justices, and the mayor. I asked their names, and whether they
understood themselves; and whether that was their conduct to
travellers that passed through their town, and strangers that
admonished and exhorted them to fear the Lord, and reproved sin in
their gates.
These went back, and told the officers what I had
said; and after awhile they brought down John ap-John, guarded with
halberts, in order to put him out of the town. Being at the inn
door, I bade the officers take their hands off him. They said that
the mayor and justices had commanded them to put him out of town. I
told them I would talk with their mayor and justices concerning
their uncivil and unchristian carriage towards him.
So I spoke to John to go look after the horses, and
get them ready, and charged the officers not to touch him. After I
had declared the Truth to them, and showed them the fruits of their
priests, and their incivility and unchristian carriage, they left
us. They were a kind of Independents; a very wicked town, and
false. We bade the innkeeper give our horses a peck of oats; and no
sooner had we turned our backs than the oats were stolen from our
horses.
After we had refreshed ourselves a little, and were
ready, we took horse, and rode up to the inn, where the mayor,
sheriff, and justices were. I called to speak with them, and asked
them why they had imprisoned John ap-John, and kept him in prison
two or three hours. But they would not answer me a word; they only
looked out at the windows upon me. So I showed them how unchristian
was their carriage to strangers and travellers, and how it
manifested the fruits of their teachers; and I declared the truth
unto them, and warned them of the day of the Lord, that was coming
upon all evil-doers; and the Lord's power came over them, that they
looked ashamed; but not a word could I get from them in answer.
So when I had warned them to repent, and turn to
the Lord, we passed away. At night we came to a little inn, very
poor, but very cheap; for our own provision and that for our two
horses cost but eight pence; but the horses would not eat their
oats. We declared the Truth to the people of the place, and sounded
the day of the Lord through the countries.
Passing thence we came to a great town, and went to
an inn. Edward Edwards went into the market, and declared the Truth
amongst the people; and they followed him to the inn, and filled
the yard, and were exceedingly rude. Yet good service we had for
the Lord amongst them; for the life of Christianity and the power
of it tormented their chaffy spirits, and came over them, so that
some were reached and convinced; and the Lord's power came over
all. The magistrates were bound; they had no power to meddle with
us.
After this we came to another great town on a
market-day; and John ap-John declared the everlasting Truth through
the streets, and proclaimed the day of the Lord amongst them. In
the evening many people gathered about the inn; and some of them,
being drunk, would fain have had us come into the street again. But
seeing their design, I told them that if there were any that feared
God and desired to hear the Truth, they might come into our inn; or
else we might have a meeting with them next morning.
Some service for the Lord we had amongst them, both
over night and in the morning; and though the people were slow to
receive the Truth, yet the seed was sown; and thereabouts the Lord
hath a people gathered to Himself.
In that inn, also, I but turned my back to the man
that was giving oats to my horse, and, looking round again, I
observed he was filling his pockets with the provender. A wicked,
thievish people, to rob the poor, dumb creature of his food. I
would rather they had robbed me.
Thence we went to Beaumaris, a town wherein John
ap-John had formerly been a preacher. After we had put up our
horses at an inn, John went and spoke through the street; and there
being a garrison in the town, they took him and put him into
prison. The innkeeper's wife came and told me that the governor and
magistrates were sending for me, to commit me to prison also. I
told her that they had done more than they could answer already;
and had acted contrary to Christianity in imprisoning him for
reproving sin in their streets and gates, and for declaring the
Truth. Soon after came other friendly people, and told me that if I
went into the street, the governor and magistrates would imprison
me also; therefore they desired me to keep within the inn.
Upon this I was moved to go and walk up and down in
the streets. And I told
the people what an uncivil, unchristian thing they had done in
casting my friend into prison. And they being high professors, I
asked them if this was the entertainment they had for strangers; if
they would willingly be so served themselves; and whether they, who
looked upon the Scriptures to be their rule, had any example in the
Scriptures from Christ or His apostles for what they had done. So
after awhile they set John ap-John at liberty.
Next day, being market-day, we were to cross a
great water; and not far
from the place where we were to take boat, many of the
market-people drew to us. Amongst these we had good service for the
Lord, declaring the Word of Life and everlasting Truth unto them,
proclaiming amongst them the day of the Lord, which was coming upon
all wickedness; and directing them to the Light of Christ, with
which He, the heavenly man, had enlightened them, by which they
might see all their sins, and all their false ways, religions,
worships and teachers; and by the same Light might see Christ
Jesus, who was come to save them, and lead them to God
After the Truth had been declared to them in the
power of God, and Christ the free teacher set over all the hireling
teachers, I made John ap-John get his horse into the boat, which
was then ready. But there being a company of wild "gentlemen," as
they were called, gotten into it (whom we found very rude, and far
from gentleness), they, with others kept his horse out of the boat.
I rode to the boat's side, and spoke to them, showing them what an
unmanly and unchristian carriage it was; and told them that they
showed an unworthy spirit, below Christianity or humanity.
As I spoke, I leaped my horse into the boat amongst
them, thinking John's horse would follow when he had seen mine go
in before him. But the water being pretty deep, John could not get
his horse into the boat. Therefore I leaped out again on horseback
into the water, and stayed with John on that side till the boat
returned.
There we tarried, from the eleventh hour of the
forenoon to the second in the afternoon, before the boat came to
fetch us; and then had forty-two miles to ride that evening; and by
the time we had paid for our passage, we had but one groat left
between us in money.
We rode about sixteen miles, and then got a little
hay for our horses. Setting forward again, we came in the night to
a little ale-house, where we thought to have stayed and baited.
But, finding we could have neither oats nor hay there, we travelled
all night; and about the fifth hour in the morning got to a place
within six miles of Wrexham, where that day we met with many
Friends, and had a glorious meeting. The Lord's everlasting power
and Truth was over all; and a meeting is continued there to this
day.
Next day we passed thence into Flintshire, sounding
the day of the Lord through the towns; and came into Wrexham at
night. Here many of Floyd's people came to us; but very rude, wild,
and airy they were, and little sense of truth they had; yet some
were convinced in that town. Next morning one called a lady sent
for me, who kept a preacher in her house. I went, but found both
her and her preacher very light and airy; too light to receive the
weighty things of God. In her lightness she came and asked me if
she should cut my hair; but I was moved to reprove her, and bade
her cut down the corruptions in herself with the sword of the
Spirit of God. So after I had admonished her to be more grave and
sober, we passed away; and afterwards, in her frothy mind, she made
her boast that she came behind me and cut off the curl of my
hair; but she
spoke falsely.
From Wrexham we came to Chester; and it being the
fair time, we stayed a while, and visited Friends. For I had
travelled through every county in Wales, preaching the everlasting
gospel of Christ; and a brave people there is now, who have
received it, and sit under Christ's teaching. But before I left
Wales I wrote to the magistrates of Beaumaris concerning the
imprisoning of John ap-John; letting them see their conditions, and
the fruits of their Christianity, and of their teachers. Afterwards
I met with some of them near London; but, oh, how ashamed they were
of their action!
Soon we came to Manchester, and the sessions being
there that day many rude people were come out of the country. In
the meeting they threw at me coals, clods, stones, and water; yet
the Lord's power bore me up over them that they could not strike me
down. At last, when they saw they could not prevail by throwing
water, stones, and dirt at me, they went and informed the justices
in the sessions, who thereupon sent officers to fetch me before
them.
The officers came in while I was declaring the Word
of life to the people, plucked me down, and haled me into their
court. When I came there all the court was in a disorder and a
noise. I asked, "Where are the magistrates that they do not keep
the people civil?" Some of the justices said that they were
magistrates. I asked them why, then, they did not appease the
people, and keep them sober, for one cried, "I'll swear," and
another cried, "I'll swear."
I declared to the justices how we were abused in
our meeting by the rude people, who threw stones, clods, dirt, and
water; and how I was haled out of the meeting and brought thither,
contrary to the instrument of government, which said that none
should be molested in their meetings that professed God, and owned
the Lord Jesus Christ; which I did. The Truth so came over them
that when one of the rude followers cried, "I'll swear," one of the
justices checked him, saying "What will you swear? hold your
tongue."
At last they bade the constable take me to my
lodging, and there secure me till they sent for me again to-morrow
morning. So the constable took me to my lodging.
As we went the people were exceedingly rude; but I
let them see the fruits of their teachers, how they shamed
Christianity, and dishonored the name of Jesus which they
professed.
At night we went to see a justice in the town who
was pretty moderate, and I had a great deal of discourse with him.
Next morning we sent to the constable to know if he had anything
more to say to us. He sent us word that he had nothing to say to
us; we might go whither we would.
The Lord hath since raised up a people to stand for
His name and Truth in that town over those chaffy professors.
We passed from Manchester, having many precious
meetings in several places, till we came to Preston. Between
Preston and Lancaster I had a general meeting, from which I went to
Lancaster. There at our inn I met with Colonel West, who was very
glad to see me, and meeting with Judge Fell he told him that I was
mightily grown in the Truth; when, indeed, he was come nearer to
the Truth, and so could better discern it.
We came from Lancaster to Robert Widders's. On the
First-day after I had a general meeting of Friends of Westmoreland
and Lancashire near Sandside, when the Lord's everlasting power was
over all. In this meeting the Word of eternal life was declared,
and Friends were settled upon the foundation Christ Jesus, under
His free teaching; and many were convinced, and turned to the
Lord.
Next day I came over the Sands to Swarthmore, where
Friends were glad to see me. I stayed there two First-days,
visiting Friends in their meetings thereabouts. They rejoiced with
me in the goodness of the Lord, who by His eternal power had
carried me through and over many difficulties and dangers in His
service; to Him be the praise for ever!
