CHAPTER 11
In the Home of the Covenanters
1657
After I had tarried two First-days at Swarthmore, and had
visited Friends in their meetings thereabouts, I passed into
Westmoreland, in the same work, till I came to John Audland's,
where there was a general meeting.
The night before I had had a vision of a desperate
creature that was coming to destroy me, but I got victory over it.
And next day in meeting-time came one Otway, with some rude
fellows. He rode round about the meeting with his sword or rapier,
and would fain have got in through the Friends to me; but the
meeting being great, the Friends stood close, so that he could not
easily come at me. When he had ridden about several times raging,
and found he could not get in, being limited by the Lord's power,
he went away.
It was a glorious meeting, ended peaceably, and the
Lord's everlasting power came over all. This wild man went home,
became distracted, and not long after died. I sent a paper to John
Blakelin to read to him, while he lay ill, showing him his
wickedness, and he acknowledged something of it.
I had for some time felt drawings on my spirit to
go into Scotland, and had sent to Colonel William Osburn of
Scotland, desiring him to meet me; and he, with some others, came
out of Scotland to this meeting. After it was over (which, he
said, was the most glorious meeting that ever he saw in his life),
I passed with him and his company into Scotland, having with me
Robert Widders, a thundering man against hypocrisy, deceit, and the
rottenness of the priests.
The first night we came into Scotland we lodged at
an inn. The innkeeper told us an earl lived about a quarter of a
mile off, who had a desire to see me; and had left word at the inn
that if ever I came into Scotland, he should be told of it. The
innkeeper told us there were three drawbridges to the earl's house;
and that it would be nine o'clock before the third bridge was
drawn.
Finding we had time in the evening, we walked to
his house. He received us very lovingly, and said he would have
gone with us on our journey, but that he was before engaged to go
to a funeral. After we had spent some time with him, we parted very
friendly, and returned to our inn. Next morning we travelled on,
and passing through Dumfries, came to Douglas, where we met with
some Friends. Thence we passed to the Heads, where we had a blessed
meeting in the name of Jesus, and felt Him in the midst.
Leaving Heads, we went to Badcow, and had a meeting
there, to which abundance of people came, and many were convinced.
Amongst them was one called a lady. From thence we passed towards
the Highlands to William Osburn's, where we gathered up the
sufferings of Friends, and the principles of the Scotch priests,
which may be seen in a book called "The Scotch Priests'
Principles."
Afterwards we returned to Heads, Badcow, and
Garshore, where the said lady, Margaret Hambleton, was convinced;
who afterwards went to warn Oliver Cromwell and Charles Fleetwood
of the day of the Lord that was coming upon them.
On First-day we had a great meeting, and several
professors came to it. Now, the priests had frightened the people
with the doctrine of election and reprobation, telling them that
God had ordained the greatest part of men and women for hell; and
that, let them pray, or preach, or sing, or do what they would, it
was all to no purpose, if they were ordained for hell. Also that
God had a certain number elected for heaven, let them do what they
would; as David was an adulterer, and Paul a persecutor, yet still
they were elected vessels for heaven. So the priests said the fault
was not at all in the creature, less or more, but that God had
ordained it so.
I was led to open to the people the falseness and
folly of their priests' doctrines, and showed how they, the
priests, had abused those Scriptures they quoted. Now all that
believe in the Light of Christ, as He commands, are in the
election, and sit under the teaching of the grace of God, which
brings their salvation. But such as turn this grace into
wantonness, are in the reprobation; and such as hate the Light, are
in the condemnation.
So I exhorted all the people to believe in the
Light, as Christ commands, and to own the grace of God, their free
teacher; and it would assuredly bring them their salvation; for it
is sufficient. Many Scriptures were opened concerning
reprobation, and the
eyes of the people were opened; and a spring of life rose up among
them.
These things soon came to the priest's ears; for
the people that sat under their dark teachings began to see light,
and to come into the covenant of light. The noise was spread over
Scotland, amongst the priests, that I was come thither; and a great
cry went up among them that all would be spoiled; for, they said, I
had spoiled all the honest men and women in England already; so,
according to their own account, the worst were left to them.
Upon this they gathered great assemblies of priests
together, and drew up a number of curses to be read in their
several steeple-houses, that all the people might say "Amen" to
them. Some few of these I will here set down; the rest may be read
in the book before mentioned, of "The Scotch Priests'
Principles."
The first was, "Cursed is he that saith, Every man
hath a light within him sufficient to lead him to salvation; and
let all the people say, Amen."
The second, "Cursed is he that saith, Faith is
without sin; and let all the people say, Amen."
The third, "Cursed is he that denieth the
Sabbath-day; and let all the people say, Amen."
In this last they make the people curse themselves;
for on the Sabbath-day (which is the seventh day of the week, which
the Jews kept by the command of God to them) they kept markets and
fairs, and so brought the curse upon their own heads.
Now were the priests in such a rage that they
posted to Edinburgh to Oliver Cromwell's Council there, with
petitions against me. The noise was that "all was gone"; for
several Friends were come out of England and spread over Scotland,
sounding the day of the Lord, preaching the everlasting gospel of
salvation, and turning people to Christ Jesus, who died for them,
that they might receive His free teaching.
After I had gathered the principles of the Scotch
priests, and the sufferings of Friends, and had seen the Friends in
that part of Scotland settled by the Lord's power, upon Christ
their foundation, I went to Edinburgh, and in the way came to
Linlithgow, where lodging at an inn, the innkeeper's wife, who was
blind, received the Word of life, and came under the teaching of
Christ Jesus, her Saviour.
At night there came in abundance of soldiers and
some officers, with whom we had much discourse; and some were rude.
One of the officers said he would obey the Turk's or Pilate's
command, if they should command him to guard Christ to crucify Him.
So far was he from all tenderness, or sense of the Spirit of
Christ, that he would rather crucify the just than suffer for or
with them; whereas many officers and magistrates have lost their
places before they would turn against the Lord and His Just
One.
When I had stayed a while at Edinburgh, I went to
Leith, where many officers of the army came in with their wives,
and many were convinced. Among these Edward Billings's wife was
one. She brought a great deal of coral in her hand, and threw it on
the table before me, to see whether I would speak against it or
not. I took no notice of it, but declared the Truth to her, and she
was reached. There came in many Baptists, who were very rude; but
the Lord's power came over them, so that they went away
confounded.
Then there came in another sort, and one of them
said he would dispute with me; and for argument's sake would deny
there was a God. I told him he might be one of those fools that
said in his heart, "There is no God," but he would know Him in the
day of His judgment. So he went his way.
A precious time we had afterwards with several
people of account; and the Lord's power came over all. William
Osburn was with me. Colonel Lidcot's wife, and William Welch's
wife, and several of the officers themselves, were convinced.
Edward Billings and his wife at that time lived apart; and she
being reached by Truth, and become loving to Friends, we sent for
her husband, who came. The Lord's power reached unto them both, and
they joined in it, and agreed to live together in love and unity as
man and wife.
After this we returned to Edinburgh where many
thousands were gathered together, with abundance of priests among
them, about burning a witch, and I was moved to declare the day of
the Lord amongst them. When I had done, I went thence to our
meeting, whither came many rude people and Baptists.
The Baptists began to vaunt with their logic and
syllogisms; but I was moved in the Lord's power to thresh their
chaffy, light minds. I showed the people that, after that
fallacious way of discoursing, they might make white seem black,
and black seem white; as, that because a cock had two legs, and
each of them had two legs, therefore they were all cocks. Thus
they might turn anything into lightness and vanity; but it was not
the way of Christ, or His apostles, to teach, speak, or reason
after that manner.
Hereupon those Baptists went their way; and after
they were gone we had a blessed meeting in the Lord's power, which
was over all.
I mentioned before that many of the Scotch priests,
being greatly disturbed at the spreading of Truth, and the loss of
their hearers thereby, were gone to Edinburgh to petition the
Council against me. When I came from the meeting to the inn where I
lodged, an officer belonging to the Council brought me the
following order:
"Thursday, the 8th of October, 1657, at his
Highness' Council in Scotland:
"Ordered, That George Fox do appear before
the Council on Tuesday, the 13th of October next, in the
forenoon.
"E. Downing,
Clerk of the Council."
When he had delivered me the order, he asked me
whether I would appear or not. I did not tell him; but asked him if
he had not forged the order. He said "No"; that it was a real order
from the Council, and he was sent as their messenger with it.
When the time came I appeared, and was taken into a
great room, where many persons came and looked at me. After awhile
the doorkeeper took me into the council-chamber; and as I was going
he took off my hat. I asked him why he did so, and who was there
that I might not go in with my hat on. I told him I had been before
the Protector with my hat on. But he hung up my hat and took me in
before them.
When I had stood awhile, and they said nothing to
me, I was moved of the Lord to say, "Peace be amongst you. Wait in
the fear of God, that ye may receive His wisdom from above, by
which all things were made and created; that by it ye may all be
ordered, and may order all things under your hands to God's
glory."
They asked me what was the occasion of my coming
into that nation. I told them I came to visit the Seed of God,
which had long lain in bondage under corruption, so that all in the
nation who professed the Scriptures, the words of Christ, of the
prophets and apostles, might come to the Light, Spirit and power,
which they were in who gave them forth. I told them that in and by
the Spirit they might understand the Scriptures, and know Christ
and God aright, and might have fellowship with them, and one with
another.
They asked me whether I had any outward business
there. I said, "Nay." Then they asked me how long I intended to
stay in that country. I told them I should say little to that; my
time was not to be long; yet in my freedom in the Lord I stood, in
the will of Him that sent me.
Then they bade me withdraw, and the doorkeeper took
me by the hand and led me forth. In a little time they sent for me
again, and told me that I must depart the nation of Scotland by
that day sevennight. I asked them, "Why? What have I done? What is
my transgression that you pass such a sentence upon me to depart
out of the nation?" They told me they would not dispute with me. I
desired them to hear what I had to say to them. They said they
would not hear me. I told them, "Pharaoh heard Moses and Aaron, yet
he was an heathen; and Herod heard John the Baptist; and you should
not be worse than these." But they cried, "Withdraw, withdraw."
Thereupon the doorkeeper took me again by the hand and led me
out.
I returned to my inn, and continued still in
Edinburgh; visiting Friends there and thereabouts, and
strengthening them in the Lord. After a little time I wrote a
letter to the Council to lay before them their unchristian dealings
in banishing me, an innocent man, that sought their salvation and
eternal good.
After I had spent some time among Friends at
Edinburgh and thereabouts, I passed thence to Heads again, where
Friends had been in great sufferings. For the Presbyterian priests
had excommunicated them, and given charge that none should buy or
sell or eat or drink with them. So they could neither sell their
commodities nor buy what they wanted; which made it go very hard
with some of them; for if they had bought bread or other victuals
of any of their neighbors, the priests threatened them so with
curses that they would run and fetch it from them again. But
Colonel Ashfield, being a justice of the peace in that country, put
a stop to the priests' proceedings. This Colonel Ashfield was
afterwards convinced himself, had a meeting settled at his house,
declared the Truth, and lived and died in it.
After I had visited Friends at and about Heads, and
encouraged them in the Lord, I went to Glasgow, where a meeting was
appointed; but not one of the town came to it. As I went into the
city, the guard at the gates took me before the governor, who was a
moderate man. A great deal of discourse I had with him. He was too
light to receive the Truth; yet he set me at liberty; so I passed
to the meeting.
Seeing none of the town's people came to the
meeting, we declared Truth through the town; then passed away,
visited Friends' meetings thereabouts, and returned towards Badcow.
Several Friends declared Truth in the steeple-houses and the Lord's
power was with them.
Once as I was going with William Osburn to his
house there lay a company of rude fellows by the wayside, hid under
the hedges and in bushes. Seeing them, I asked him what they were.
"Oh," said he "they are thieves." Robert Widders, being moved to go
and speak to a priest, was left behind, intending to come after. So
I said to William Osburn, "I will stay here in this valley, and do
thou go and look after Robert Widders"; but he was unwilling to go,
being afraid to leave me there alone, because of those fellows,
till I told him I feared them not.
Then I called to them, asking them what they lay
lurking there for, and I bade them come to me; but they were loath
to come. I charged them to come up to me, or else it might be worse
with them; then they came trembling, for the dread of the Lord had
struck them. I admonished them to be honest, and directed them to
the Light of Christ in their hearts that by it they might see what
an evil it was to follow after theft and robbery; and the power of
the Lord came over them.
I stayed there till William Osburn and Robert
Widders came up, then we passed on together. But it is likely that,
if we two had gone away before, they would have robbed Robert
Widders when he had come after alone, there being three or four of
them.
We went to William Osburn's house, where we had a
good opportunity to declare the Truth to several people that came
in. Then we went among the Highlanders, who were so devilish they
were like to have spoiled us and our horses; for they ran at us
with pitchforks. But through the Lord's goodness we escaped them,
being preserved by His power.
Thence we passed to Stirling, where the soldiers
took us up, and had us to the main guard. After a few words with
the officers, the Lord's power coming over them, we were set at
liberty; but no meeting could we get amongst them in the town, they
were so closed up in darkness. Next morning there came a man with a
horse that was to run a race, and most of the townspeople and
officers went to see it. As they came back from the race, I had a
brave opportunity to declare the day of the Lord and His Word of
life amongst them. Some confessed to it, and some opposed; but the
Lord's truth and power came over them all.
Leaving Stirling, we came to Burntisland, where I
had two meetings at one Captain Pool's house; one in the morning,
the other in the afternoon. Whilst they went to dine I walked to
the seaside, not having freedom to eat with them. Both he and his
wife were convinced, and became good Friends afterward; and several
officers of the army came in and received the Truth.
We passed thence through several other places, till
we came to Johnstons, where were several Baptists that were very
bitter, and came in a rage to dispute with us. Vain janglers and
disputers indeed they were. When they could not prevail by
disputing they went and informed the governor against us; and next
morning he raised a whole company of foot, and banished me and
Alexander Parker, also James Lancaster and Robert Widders, out of
the town.
As they guarded us through the town, James
Lancaster was moved to sing with a melodious sound in the power of
God; and I was moved to proclaim the day of the Lord, and preach
the everlasting gospel to the people. For the people generally came
forth, so that the streets were filled with them, and the soldiers
were so ashamed that they said they would rather have gone to
Jamaica than guarded us so.
But we were put into a boat with our horses,
carried over the water, and there left. The Baptists who were the
cause of our being thus put out of this town, were themselves, not
long after, turned out of the army; and he that was then governor
was discarded also when the king came in.
Being thus thrust out of Johnstons, we went to
another market-town, where Edward Billings and many soldiers were
quartered. We went to an inn, and desired to have a meeting in the
town, that we might preach the everlasting gospel amongst them. The
officers and soldiers said we should have it in the town-hall; but
the Scotch magistrates in spite appointed a meeting there that day
for the business of the town.
When the officers of the soldiery understood this,
and perceived that it was done in malice, they would have had us go
into the town-hall nevertheless. But we told them, "No; by no
means; for then the magistrates might inform the governor against
us and say, 'They took the town-hall from us by force, when we were
to do our town-business therein.'" We told them we would go to the
market-place. They said it was market-day. We replied, "It is so
much the better; for we would have all people to hear the Truth and
know our principles."
Alexander Parker went and stood upon the
market-cross, with a Bible in his hand, and declared the Truth
amongst the soldiers and market-people; but the Scots, being a
dark, carnal people, gave little heed, and hardly took notice what
was said. After awhile I was moved of the Lord to stand up at the
cross, and to declare with a loud voice the everlasting Truth, and
the day of the Lord that was coming upon all sin and wickedness.
Thereupon the people came running out of the town-hall and gathered
so together that at last we had a large meeting; for they only sat
in the court for a colour to hinder us from having the hall to meet
in.
When the people were come away the magistrates
followed them. Some walked by, but some stayed and heard; and the
Lord's power came over all and kept all quiet. The people were
turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for them, and had
enlightened them, that with His Light they might see their evil
deeds, be saved from their sins by Him, and might come to know Him
to be their teacher. But if they would not receive Christ, and own
Him, it was told them that this Light which came from Him would be
their condemnation.
We travelled from this town to Leith, warning and
exhorting people, as we went, to turn to the Lord. At Leith the
innkeeper told me that the Council had granted warrants to
apprehend me, because I was not gone out of the nation after the
seven days were expired that they had ordered me to depart in.
Several friendly people also came and told me the same; to whom I
said, "Why do ye tell me of their warrants against me? If there
were a cart-load of them I would not heed them, for the Lord's
power is over them all."
I went from Leith to Edinburgh again, where they
said the warrants from the Council were out against me. I went to
the inn where I had lodged before, and no man offered to meddle
with me. After I had visited Friends in the city, I desired those
that travelled with me to get ready their horses in the morning,
and we rode out of town together. There were with me at that time
Thomas Rawlinson, Alexander Parker, and Robert Widders.
When we were out of town they asked me whither I
would go. I told them it was upon me from the Lord to go back again
to Johnstons (the town out of which we had been lately thrust), to
set the power of God and His Truth over them also. Alexander Parker
said he would go along with me; and I wished the other two to stay
at a town about three miles from Edinburgh till we returned.
Then Alexander and I got over the water, about
three miles across, and rode through the country; but in the
afternoon, his horse being weak and not able to hold up with mine,
I rode on ahead and got into Johnstons just as they were drawing up
the bridges, the officers and soldiers never questioning me. I rode
up the street to Captain Davenport's house, from which we had been
banished. There were many officers with him; and when I came
amongst them they lifted up their hands, wondering that I should
come again. But I told them the Lord God had sent me amongst them
again; so they went their way.
The Baptists sent me a letter, by way of challenge,
to discourse with me next day. I sent them word that I would meet
them at such a house, about half a mile out of the town, at such an
hour. For I considered that if I should stay in town to discourse
with them they might, under pretence of discoursing with me, raise
men to put me out of the town again, as they had done before.
At the time appointed I went to the place, Captain
Davenport and his son accompanying me. There I stayed some hours,
but not one of them came. While I stayed there waiting for them, I
saw Alexander Parker coming. Not being able to reach the town, he
had lain out the night before; and I was exceedingly glad that we
were met again.
This Captain Davenport was then loving to Friends;
and afterwards, coming more into obedience to Truth, he was turned
out of his place for not putting off his hat, and for saying Thou
and Thee to them.
When we had waited beyond reasonable ground to
expect any of them coming, we departed; and Alexander Parker being
moved to go again to the town, where we had the meeting at the
market-cross, I passed alone to Lieutenant Foster's quarters, where
I found several officers that were convinced. Thence I went up to
the town, where I had left the other two Friends, and we went back
to Edinburgh together.
When we were come to the city, I bade Robert
Widders follow me; and in the dread and power of the Lord we came
up to the two first sentries. The Lord's power came so over them
that we passed by them without any examination. Then we rode up the
street to the market-place and by the main-guard, out at the gate
by the third sentry, and so clear out into the suburbs; and there
we came to an inn and put up our horses, it being Seventh-day. I
saw and felt that we had ridden as it were against the cannon's
mouth or the sword's point; but the Lord's power and immediate hand
carried us over the heads of them all.
Next day I went to the meeting in the city, Friends
having had notice that I would attend it. There came many officers
and soldiers to it, and a glorious meeting it was; the everlasting
power of God was set over the nation, and His Son reigned in His
glorious power. All was quiet, and no man offered to meddle with
me.
When the meeting was ended, and I had visited
Friends, I came out of the city to my inn again. The next day,
being Second-day, we set forward towards the borders of
England.
As we travelled along the country I espied a
steeple-house, and it struck at my life. I asked what steeple-house
it was, and was told that it was Dunbar. When I came thither, and
had put up at an inn, I walked to the steeple-house, having a
Friend or two with me.
When we came to the steeple-house yard, one of the
chief men of the town was walking there. I asked one of the Friends
that was with me to go to him and tell him that about the ninth
hour next morning there would be a meeting there of the people of
God called Quakers; of which we desired he would give notice to the
people of the town. He sent me word that they were to have a
lecture there by the ninth hour; but that we might have our meeting
there by the eighth hour, if we would. We concluded to do so, and
desired him to give notice of it.
Accordingly, in the morning both poor and rich
came; and there being a captain of horse quartered in the town, he
and his troopers came also, so that we had a large concourse; and a
glorious meeting it was, the Lord's power being over all. After
some time the priest came, and went into the steeple-house; but we
being in the yard, most of the people stayed with us. Friends were
so full and their voices so high in the power of God, that the
priest could do little in the house, but quickly came out again,
stood awhile, and then went his way.
I opened to the people where they might find Christ
Jesus, and turned them to the Light with which He had enlightened
them, that in the Light they might see Christ who died for them,
turn to Him, and know him to be their Saviour and Teacher. I let
them see that the teachers they had hitherto followed were
hirelings, who made the gospel chargeable; showed them the wrong
ways they had walked in the night of apostasy; directed them to
Christ, the new and living way to God, and manifested unto them how
they had lost the religion and worship which Christ set up in
spirit and truth, and had hitherto been in the religions and
worships of men's making and setting up.
After I had turned the people to the Spirit of God
which led the holy men of God to give forth the Scriptures, and
showed them that they must also come to receive and be led by the
same Spirit in themselves (a measure of which was given unto every
one of them) if ever they would come to know God and Christ and the
Scriptures aright, perceiving the other Friends to be full of power
and the Word of the Lord, I stepped down, giving way for them to
declare what they had from the Lord to the people.
Towards the latter end of the meeting some
professors began to jangle, whereupon I stood up again, and
answered their questions, so that they seemed to be satisfied, and
our meeting ended in the Lord's power quiet and peaceable.
This was the last meeting I had in Scotland; the
Truth and the power of God was set over that nation and many, by
the power and Spirit of God, were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ,
their Saviour and Teacher, whose blood was shed for them; and there
is since a great increase and great there will be in Scotland. For
when first I set my horse's feet upon Scottish ground I felt the
Seed of God to sparkle about me, like innumerable sparks of
fire.
Not but that there is abundance of the thick,
cloddy earth of hypocrisy and falseness above, and a briery,
brambly nature, which is to be burnt up with God's Word, and
ploughed up with His spiritual plough, before God's Seed brings
forth heavenly and spiritual fruit to His glory. But the husbandman
is to wait in patience.
