CHAPTER 19
The Last Imprisonment
1673-1678
Between this and the fair, my wife came out of the
North to Bristol to me, and her son-in-law, Thomas Lower, with two
of her daughters, came with her. Her other
son-in-law, John Rous, William Penn and his wife, and Gerrard
Roberts, came from London, and many Friends from several parts of
the nation to the fair; and glorious, powerful meetings we had at
that time, for the Lord's infinite power and life was over all.
I passed into Wiltshire, where also we had many
blessed meetings. At Slattenford, in Wiltshire, we had a very good
meeting, though we met there with much opposition from some who had
set themselves against women's meetings; which I was moved of the
Lord to recommend to Friends, for the benefit and advantage of the
Church of Christ, "that faithful women, who were
called to the belief of the Truth, being made partakers of the same
precious faith, and heirs of the same everlasting gospel of life
and salvation with the men, might in like manner come into the
possession and practice of the gospel order, and therein be
helpmeets unto the men in the restoration, in the service of Truth, in the
affairs of the Church, as they are outwardly in civil, or temporal
things; that so all the family of God, women as well as men, might
know, possess, perform, and discharge their offices and services in
the house of God, whereby the poor might be better taken care of,
the younger instructed, informed, and taught in the way of God; the
loose and disorderly reproved and admonished in the fear of the
Lord; the clearness of persons proposing marriage more closely and
strictly inquired into in the wisdom of God; and all the members of
the spiritual body, the Church, might watch over and be helpful to
each other in love."
After a visit at Kingston, I went to London, where
I found the Baptists and Socinians, with some old apostates, grown
very rude, having printed many books against us; so that I had a
great travail in the Lord's power, before I could get clear of that
city. But blessed be the Lord, his power came over them, and all
their lying, wicked, scandalous books were answered.
[After a visit with William Penn at the latter's
home at Rickmansworth, he started on his journey north towards
Swarthmore, accompanied by his wife, two of her daughters and his
son-in-law, Thomas Lower, a journey which led to more than a year's
imprisonment -- his last imprisonment, as it proved.]
At night, as I was sitting at supper, I felt I was
taken; yet I said nothing then to any one of it. But getting out
next morning, we travelled into Worcestershire, and went to John
Halford's, at Armscott, where we had a very large and precious
meeting in his barn, the Lord's powerful presence being eminently
with and amongst us.
After the meeting, Friends being most of them gone,
as I was sitting in the parlour, discoursing with some Friends,
Henry Parker, a justice, came to the house, and with him one
Rowland Hains, a priest of Hunniton, in Warwickshire. This justice
heard of the meeting by means of a woman Friend, who, being nurse
to a child of his, asked leave of her mistress to go to the meeting
to see me; and she speaking of it to her husband, he and the priest
plotted together to come and break it up and apprehend me.
But from their sitting long at dinner, it being the
day on which his child was sprinkled, they did not come till the
meeting was over, and Friends mostly gone. But though there was no
meeting when they came, yet I, who was the person they aimed at,
being in the house, Henry Parker took me, and Thomas Lower for
company with me; and though he had nothing to lay to our charge,
sent us both to Worcester jail, by a strange sort of mittimus.
Being thus made prisoners, without any probable
appearance of being released before the quarter-sessions at
soonest, we got some Friends to accompany my wife and her daughter
into the north, and we were conveyed to Worcester. Thence, by the
time I thought my wife would reach home, I wrote her the following
letter:
"Dear Heart:
"Thou seemedst to be a little grieved when I was
speaking of prisons, and when I was taken. Be content with the will
of the Lord God. For when I was at John Rous's, at Kingston, I had
a sight of my being taken prisoner; and when I was at Bray Doily's,
in Oxfordshire, as I sat at supper, I saw I was taken, and I saw I
had a suffering to undergo. But the Lord's power is over all;
blessed be His holy name forever!
G. F."
[This imprisonment began December 17th, 1673. The
case was brought before the sessions on the 21st of January, 1674.
"When we came in," he writes, "they were stricken with paleness in
their faces, and it was some time before anything was spoken;
insomuch that a butcher in the hall said, 'What, are they afraid?
Dare not the justices speak to them?'" There was manifestly no case
against them on the mittimus, but the judge, at the
suggestion of the "priest," took the easy way to catch them. "You,
Mr. Fox, are a famous man, and all this may be true which you have
said: but, that me may be the better satisfied, will you take the
oaths of allegiance and supremacy?" The usual refusal was given,
followed with the penalty of praemunire. During this long
imprisonment he had the promise of a pardon from the king, but he
refused to get his liberty by any method which implied that he had
done wrong and needed pardon. At the next sessions, in April, he
got a temporary liberty, so that he went to London and attended
yearly meeting, after which he returned to Worcester for a new
trial, which ended in the same old way. Meantime the strong man's
constitution was yielding to the incessant strain upon it.]
About this time I had a fit of sickness, which
brought me very low and weak in my body; and I continued so a
pretty while, insomuch that some Friends began to doubt of my
recovery. I seemed to myself to be amongst the graves and dead
corpses; yet the invisible power did secretly support me, and
conveyed refreshing strength into me, even when I was so weak that
I was almost speechless. One night, as I was lying awake upon my
bed in the glory of the Lord which was over all, it was said unto
me that the Lord had a great deal more work for me to do for Him
before He took me to Himself.
After this [about October 1st, 1674] my wife went
to London, and spoke to the King, laying before him my long and
unjust imprisonment, with the manner of my being taken, and the
justices' proceedings against me, in tendering me the oath as a
snare, whereby they had praemunired me; so that I being now his
prisoner, it was in his power, and at his pleasure, to release me,
which she desired.
The King spoke kindly to her, and referred her to
the Lord-Keeper; to whom she went; but she could not obtain what
she desired, for he said the King could not release me otherwise
than by a pardon, and I was not free to receive a pardon, knowing I
had not done evil. If I would have been freed by a pardon, I need
not have lain so long, for the King was willing to give me pardon
long before, and told Thomas Moore that I need not scruple, being
released by a pardon, for many a man that was as innocent as a
child had had a pardon granted him; yet I could not consent to have
one. For I would rather have lain in prison all my days, than have
come out in any way dishonourable to Truth; therefore I chose to
have the validity of my indictment tried before the judges.
Thereupon, having first had the opinion of a
counsellor upon it (Thomas Corbet, of London, with whom Richard
Davis, of Welchpool, was well acquainted, and whom he recommended
to me), an habeas corpus was sent down to Worcester to bring me up
once more to the King's Bench bar, for the trial of the errors in
my indictment. The undersheriff set forward with me the 4th of the
Twelfth month.
We came to London on the 8th, and on the 11th I was
brought before the four judges at the King's Bench, where
Counsellor Corbet pleaded my cause. He started a new plea; for he
told the judges that they could not imprison any man upon a
praemunire.
Chief-Justice Hale said, "Mr. Corbet, you should
have come sooner, at the beginning of the term, with this
plea."
He answered, "We could not get a copy of the return
and the indictment."
The Judge replied, "You should have told us, and we
would have forced them to make a return sooner."
Then said Judge Wild, "Mr. Corbet, you go upon
general terms; and if it be as you say, we have committed many
errors at the Old Bailey, and in other courts."
Corbet was positive that by law they could not
imprison upon a praemunire.
The Judge said, "There is summons in the
statute."
"Yes," said Corbet, "but summons is not
imprisonment; for summons is in order to a trial."
"Well," said the Judge, "we must have time to look
in our books and consult the statutes." So the hearing was put off
till the next day.
The next day they chose rather to let this plea
fall and begin with the errors of the indictment; and when they
came to be opened, they were so many and gross that the judges were
all of opinion that the indictment was quashed and void, and that I
ought to have my liberty.
There were that day several great men, lords and
others, who had the oaths of allegiance and supremacy tendered to
them in open court, just before my trial came on; and some of my
adversaries moved the judges that the oaths might be tendered again
to me, telling them I was a dangerous man to be at liberty.
But Chief-Justice Hale said that he had indeed
heard some such reports, but he had also heard many more good
reports of me; and so he and the rest of the judges ordered me to
be freed by proclamation.
Thus after I had suffered imprisonment a year and
almost two months for nothing, I was fairly set at liberty upon a
trial of the errors in my indictment, without receiving any pardon,
or coming under any obligation or engagement at all; and the Lord's
everlasting power went over all, to His glory and praise.
Counsellor Corbet, who pleaded for me, obtained
great fame by it, for many of the lawyers came to him and told him
he had brought that to light which had not been known before, as to
the not imprisoning upon a praemunire; and after the trial a judge
said to him, "You have attained a great deal of honour by pleading
George Fox's cause so in court."
Being at liberty, I visited Friends in London; and
having been very weak, and not yet well recovered, I went to
Kingston; and having visited Friends there, returned to London,
wrote a paper to the Parliament, and sent several books to
them.
A great book against swearing had been delivered to
them a little before; the reasonableness whereof had so much
influence, that it was thought they would have done something
towards our relief if they had sat longer. I stayed in and near
London till the yearly meeting, to which Friends came from most
parts of the nation, and some from beyond sea. A glorious meeting
we had in the everlasting power of God.
The illness I got in my imprisonment at Worcester
had so much weakened me that it was long before I recovered my
natural strength again. For which reason, and as many things lay
upon me to write, both for public and private service, I did not
stir much abroad during the time that I now stayed in the north;
but when Friends were not with me, I spent much time in writing for
Truth's service. While I was at Swarthmore, I gave several books to
be printed.
[This letter to his "Dear Heart" from York during
the winter of 1677 shows that he still had some power of endurance
left.]
"DEAR HEART:
"To whom is my love, and to thy daughters, and to
all Friends that inquire after me. My desires are that ye all may
be preserved in the Lord's everlasting Seed, in whom ye will have
life and peace, dominion and settlement, in the everlasting home or
dwelling in the house built upon the foundation of God.
"In the power of the Lord I am brought to York,
having had many meetings in the way. The road was many times deep
and bad with snow, our horses sometimes were down, and we were not
able to ride; and sometimes we had great storms and rain; but by
the power of the Lord I went through all.
"At Scarhouse there was a very large meeting, and
at Burrowby another, to which Friends came out of Cleveland and
Durham; and many other meetings we have had. At York, yesterday, we
had a very large meeting, exceedingly thronged, Friends being at it
from many parts, and all quiet, and well satisfied. Oh the glory of
the Lord that shone over all!
"This day we have had a large men's and women's
meeting, many Friends, both men and women, being come out of the
country, and all was quiet. This evening we are to have the men's
and women's meeting of the Friends of the city.
"John Whitehead is here, with Robert Lodge and
others; Friends are mighty glad, above measure. So I am in my holy
element and holy work in the Lord; glory to His name for ever!
To-morrow I intend to go out of the city towards Tadcaster, though
I cannot ride as in days past; yet praised be the Lord that I can
travel as well as I do!
"So with my love in the fountain of life, in which
as ye all abide ye will have refreshment of life, that by it we may
grow and gather eternal strength to serve the Lord, and be
satisfied, to the God of all power, who is all-sufficient to
preserve you, I commit you all.
G. F.
"York, the 16th of the Second month [April]
1677."
[After much service in several counties, he returns
to London. The Journal proceeds:]
It pleased the Lord to bring me safe to London,
though much wearied; for though I rode not very far in a day, yet,
through weakness of body, continual travelling was hard to me.
Besides, I had not much rest at night to refresh nature; for I
often sat up late with Friends, where I lodged, to inform and
advise them in things wherein they were wanting; and when in bed I
was often hindered of sleep by great pains in my head and teeth,
occasioned, as I thought, from cold taken by riding often in the
rain. But the Lord's power was over all, and carried me through
all, to His praise.
To the London Yearly Meeting many Friends came from most
parts of the nation; and some out of Scotland, Holland, etc. Very
glorious meetings we had, wherein the Lord's powerful presence was
very largely felt; and the affairs of Truth were sweetly carried on
in the unity of the Spirit, to the satisfaction and comfort of the
upright-hearted; blessed be the Lord for ever!
After the yearly meeting, having stayed a week or
two with Friends in London, I went down with William Penn to his
house in Sussex, John
Burnyeat and some other Friends being with us. As we passed through
Surrey, hearing the quarterly meeting was that day, William Penn,
John Burnyeat, and I, went from the road to it; and after the
meeting returning to our other company, went with them to William
Penn's that night; which is forty miles from London.
I stayed at Worminghurst about three weeks; in
which time John Burnyeat and I answered a very envious and wicked
book, which Roger Williams, a priest of New England (or some colony
thereabouts) had written against Truth and Friends.
When we had finished that service, we went with
Stephen Smith to his house at Warpledon in Surrey, where we had a
large meeting. Friends thereaway had been exceedingly plundered
about two months before on the priest's account; for they took from
Stephen Smith five kine (being all he had) for about fifty
shillings tithes.
Thence we went to Kingston, and so to London, where
I stayed not long; for it was upon me from the Lord to go into
Holland, to visit Friends and to preach the gospel there, and in
some parts of Germany. Wherefore, setting things in order for my
journey as fast as I could, I took leave of Friends at London; and
with several other Friends went down to Colchester, in order to my
passage for Holland.
Next day, being First-day, I was at the public
meeting of Friends there, which was very large and peaceable. In
the evening I had another large one, but not so public, at John
Furly's house, where I lodged. The day following I was at the
women's meeting there, which also was very large.
Thence next day we passed to Harwich, where Robert
Duncan, and several other Friends out of the country, came to see
us; and some from London came to us there, that intended to go over
with me.
The packet in which we were to go not being ready,
we went to the meeting in the town, and a precious opportunity we
had together; for the Lord, according to His wonted goodness, by
His overcoming, refreshing power, opened many mouths to declare His
everlasting Truth, to praise and glorify Him.
After the meeting at Harwich we returned to John
Vandewall's, where I had lodged; and when the boat was ready,
taking leave of Friends, we that were bound for Holland went on
board about nine in the evening, on the 25th of the Fifth month,
1677. The Friends that went over with me, were William Penn, Robert
Barclay, George Keith and his wife, John Furly and his brother,
William Tallcoat, George Watts, and Isabel Yeomans, one of my
wife's daughters.
About one in the morning we weighed anchor, having
a fair brisk wind, which by next morning brought us within sight of
Holland. But that day proving very clear and calm we got forward
little, till about four in the afternoon, when a fresh gale arose
which carried us within a league of land. Then being becalmed
again, we cast anchor for that night, it being between the hours of
nine and ten in the evening.
William Penn and Robert Barclay, understanding that
Benjamin Furly was come from Rotterdam to the Briel to meet us, got
two of the boatmen to let down a small boat that belonged to the
packet, and row them to shore; but before they could reach it the
gates were shut; and there being no house without the gates, they
lay in a fisherman's boat all night.
As soon as the gates were opened in the morning,
they went in, and found Benjamin Furly, with other Friends of
Rotterdam, that were come thither to receive us; and they sent a
boat, with three young men in it, that lived with Benjamin Furly,
who brought us to the Briel, where the Friends received us with
great gladness.
We stayed about two hours to refresh ourselves, and
then took boat, with the Holland Friends, for Rotterdam, where we
arrived about eleven that day, the 28th of the month. I was very
well this voyage, but some of the Friends were sea-sick. A fine
passage we had, and all came safe and well to land; blessed and
praised be the name of the Lord for ever!
Next day, being First-day, we had two meetings at
Benjamin Furly's, where many of the townspeople and some officers
came in, and all were civil. Benjamin Furly, or John Claus, a
Friend of Amsterdam, interpreted, when any Friend declared. I spent
the next day in visiting Friends there.
The day following, William Penn and I, with other
Friends, went towards Amsterdam with some Friends of that city, who
came to Rotterdam to conduct us thither. We took boat in the
afternoon, and, passing by Overkirk, came to Delft, through which
we walked on foot.
We then took boat again to Leyden, where we lodged
that night at an inn. This is six Dutch miles from Rotterdam, which
are eighteen English miles, and five hours' sail or travelling; for
our boat was drawn by a horse that went on the shore.
Next day, taking boat again, we went to Haarlem,
fourteen miles from Leyden, where we had appointed a meeting, which
proved very large; for many of the townspeople came in, and two of
their preachers. The Lord gave us a blessed opportunity, not only
with respect to Friends, but to other sober people, and the meeting
ended peaceably and well. After it we passed to Amsterdam.
[After a conference the following meetings were
established or "settled."]
A monthly, a quarterly, and a yearly meeting, to be
held at Amsterdam for Friends in all the United Provinces of
Holland, and in Embden, the Palatinate, Hamburg, Frederickstadt,
Dantzic, and other places in and about Germany; which Friends were
glad of, and it has been of great service to Truth.
[One of the most interesting episodes of this
journey was the visit paid by George Keith's wife and Fox's
step-daughter, Isabel Yeomans, to the Princess Elizabeth, to whom
Fox sent a personal letter. "Princess Elizabeth" was the daughter
of the unfortunate Frederick, Elector Palatine, and granddaughter
of James the first of England. She was a woman of great spiritual
gifts and of considerable intellectual power. She was the friend
and correspondent of the philosopher Des Cartes. She had, previous
to this visit, made the acquaintance (which developed into close
friendship) of William Penn and Robert Barclay. She frequently used
her influence upon her uncle, King Charles, and her brother, Prince
Rupert, to secure the release of Friends from the prisons of
England and Scotland. Her answer to George Fox's letter is as
follows:]
"Dear Friend:
"I cannot but have a tender love to those that love
the Lord Jesus Christ, and to whom it is given, not only to believe
in Him, but also to suffer for Him; therefore your letter and your
Friends' visit have been both very welcome to me. I shall follow
their and your counsel as far as God will afford me light and
unction; remaining still your loving friend,
"Elizabeth.
"Hertford [Westphalia], the 30th of August,
1677."
[Twice we get glimpses of the great world movements
which just then had these Low Countries for their stage. In the
great struggle with Louis XIV, the dykes had been cut and much of
the country was under water. Here is an experience in East
Friesland:]
One of the magistrates of that city [Groningen]
came with us from Leeuwarden, with whom I had some discourse on the
way, and he was very loving. We walked nearly two miles through the
city, and then took boat for Delfziel; and passing in the evening
through a town called Appingdalem, where had been a great
horse-fair that day, there came many officers rushing into the
boat, and being somewhat in drink, they were very rude. I spoke to
them, exhorting them to fear the Lord, and beware of Solomon's
vanities. They were boisterous fellows; yet somewhat more civil
afterwards.
[The other circumstance which connects Fox here
with history is his epistle written to the Peace Ambassadors in the
city of Nimeguen. The entry in the Journal says: "I wrote an
epistle to the ambassadors who were treating for a peace at
Nimeguen." This is dated Amsterdam, the 21st of 7th mo.
(September), 1677. It concludes with these words:]
"From him who is a lover of Truth, righteousness,
and peace, who desires your temporal and eternal good; and that in
the wisdom of God that is from above, pure, gentle, and peaceable,
you may be ordered, and order all things, that God hath committed
to you, to His glory; and stop those things among Christians, so
far as you have power, which dishonour God, Christ, and
Christianity!
"G. F."
[Here is an incident of travel in Germany.]
Being clear of Hamburg, we took leave of Friends
there, whom we left well; and taking John Hill with us, passed by
boat to a city in the Duke of Luneburg's country; where, after we
were examined by the guards, we were taken to the main-guard, and
there examined more strictly; but after they found we were not
soldiers, they were civil, and let us pass.
In the afternoon we travelled by wagon, and the
waters being much out, by reason of heavy rains, when it drew
towards night we hired a boy on the way to guide us through a great
water we had to pass. When we came to it, the water was so deep,
before we could come at the bridge, that the wagoner had to wade,
and I drove the wagon.
When we were come on the bridge, the horses broke
part of it down, and one of them fell into the water, the wagon
standing upon that part of the bridge which remained unbroken; and
it was the Lord's mercy to us that the wagon did not run into the
brook. When they had got the horse out, he lay a while as if dead;
but at length they got him up, put him to the wagon 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. Finding it to
be very deep, and it being in the night, we hired two men to help
us through, who put cords to the wagon to hold it by, that the
force of the water might not drive it from the way. But when we
came into it, the stream was so strong that it took one of the
horses off his legs, and was carrying him down the stream. I called
to the wagoner to pluck him to him by his reins, which he did, and
the horse recovered his legs; and with much difficulty we got over
the bridge, and went to Bremerhaven, the town where the wagoner
lived.
It was the last day of the Sixth month that we
escaped these dangers; and it being about eleven at night when we
came in here, we got some fresh straw, and lay upon it until about
four in the morning. Then, getting up, we set forward again towards
Bremen, by wagon and boat.
On the way I had good opportunities to publish
Truth among the people, especially at a market-town, where we
stayed to change our passage. Here I declared the Truth to the
people, warning them of the day of the Lord, that was coming upon
all flesh; and exhorting them to righteousness, telling them that
God was come to teach His people Himself, and that they should turn
to the Lord, and hearken to the teachings of His Spirit in their
own hearts.
[While the work was going forward in these fresh
fields, trouble was increasing at home, as this brief letter
shows:]
Next day, feeling a concern upon my mind with
relation to those seducing spirits that made division among
Friends, and being sensible that they endeavoured to insinuate
themselves into the affectionate part, I was moved to write a few
lines to Friends concerning them, as follows:
"All these that set up themselves in the affections
of the people, set up themselves, and the affections of the people,
and not Christ. But Friends, your peaceable habitation in the
Truth, which is everlasting, and changes not, will outlast all the
habitations of those that are out of the Truth, be they ever so
full of words. So they that are so keen for John Story and John
Wilkinson, let them take them, and the separation; and you that
have given your testimony against that spirit, stand in your
testimony, till they answer by condemnation. Do not strive, nor
make bargains with that which is out of the Truth; nor save that
alive to be a sacrifice for God, which should be slain, lest you
lose your kingdom.
"G. F."
Amsterdam, the 14th of the Seventh month,
1677."
After some time George Keith and William Penn came
back from Germany to Amsterdam, and had a dispute
with one Galenus Abrahams (one of the most noted Baptists in
Holland), at which many professors were present; but not having
time to finish the dispute then, they met again, two days after,
and the Baptist was much confounded, and Truth gained ground.
Finding our spirits clear of the service which the
Lord had given us to do in Holland, we took leave of Friends of
Rotterdam, and passed by boat to the Briel, in order to take
passage that day for England. Several Friends of Rotterdam
accompanied us, and some of Amsterdam, who were come to see us
again before we left Holland. But the packet not coming in till
night, we lodged that night at the Briel; and next day, being the
21st of the Eighth month, and the first day of the week, we went on
board, and set sail about ten, viz., William Penn, George Keith,
and I, and Gertrude Dirick Nieson with her children.
We were in all about sixty passengers, and had a
long and hazardous passage; for the winds were contrary and the
weather stormy. The boat also was very leaky, insomuch that we had
to have two pumps continually going, day and night; so that it was
thought there was quite as much water pumped out as the vessel
would have held. But the Lord, who is able to make the stormy winds
to cease, and the raging waves of the sea calm, yea, to raise them
and stop them at His pleasure, He alone did preserve us; praised be
His name for ever!
Though our passage was hard, yet we had a fine
time, and good service for Truth on board among the passengers,
some of whom were great folks, and were very kind and loving. We
arrived at Harwich on the 23d, at night, having been two nights and
almost three days at sea.
Next morning William Penn and George Keith took
horse for Colchester; but I stayed, and had a meeting at Harwich.
There being no Colchester coach there, and the postmaster's wife
being unreasonable in her demands for a coach, and deceiving us of
it also after we had hired it, we went to a Friend's house about a
mile and a half in the country, and hired his wagon, which we
bedded well with straw and rode in it to Colchester.
I stayed there till First-day, having a desire to
be at Friends' meeting that day; and a very large and weighty one
it was; for Friends, hearing of my return from Holland, flocked
from several parts of the country, and many of the townspeople
coming in also, it was thought there were about a thousand people
at it; and all was peaceable.
I stayed at Bristol all the time of the fair, and
some time after. Many sweet and precious meetings we had; many
Friends being there from several parts of the nation, some on
account of trade, and some in the service of Truth. Great was the
love and unity of Friends that abode faithful in the Truth, though
some who were gone out of the holy unity, and were run into strife,
division, and enmity, were rude and abusive, and behaved themselves
in a very unchristian manner towards me.
But the Lord's power was over all; by which being
preserved in heavenly patience, which can bear injuries for His
name's sake, I felt dominion therein over the rough, rude, and
unruly spirits; and left them to the Lord, who knew my innocency,
and would plead my cause. The more these laboured to reproach and
vilify me, the more did the love of Friends that were sincere and
upright-hearted, abound towards me; and some that had been betrayed
by the adversaries seeing their envy and rude behaviour, broke off
from them.
About two weeks after I came to London, the yearly
meeting began, to which Friends came up out of most parts of the
nation, and a glorious, heavenly meeting we had. Oh, the glory,
majesty, love, life, wisdom, and unity, that were amongst us! The
power reigned over all, and many testimonies were borne therein
against that ungodly spirit which sought to make rents and
divisions amongst the Lord's people; but not one mouth was opened
amongst us in its defense, or on its behalf.
Good and comfortable accounts also we had, for the
most part, from Friends in other countries; of which I find a brief
account in a letter which soon after I wrote to my wife, the copy
whereof here follows:
"Dear Heart:
"To whom is my love in the everlasting Seed of life
that reigns over all. Great meetings here have been, and the Lord's
power hath been stirring through all. The Lord hath in His power
knit Friends wonderfully together, and His glorious presence did
appear among them. And now the meetings are over, blessed be the
Lord! in quietness and peace.
"From Holland I hear things are well there: some
Friends are gone that way, to be at their Yearly Meeting at
Amsterdam. At Embden, Friends that were banished are got into the
city again.
"At Dantzic, Friends are in prison, and the
magistrates threatened them with harder imprisonment; but the next
day the Lutherans rose, and plucked down (or defaced) the Popish
monastery; so they have work enough among themselves.
"The King of Poland received my letter, and read it
himself; and Friends have since printed it in High Dutch. By letters
from the Half-Yearly Meeting in Ireland, I hear that they are all
in love there.
"At Barbadoes, Friends are in quietness, and their
meetings settled in peace. At Antigua also, and Nevis, Truth
prospers, and Friends have their meetings orderly and well.
Likewise in New England and other places, things concerning Truth
and Friends are well; and in those places the men's and women's
meetings are settled; blessed be the Lord!
"So keep in God's power and Seed, that is over all,
in whom ye all have life and salvation; for the Lord reigns over
all in His glory, and in His kingdom; glory to His name forever,
Amen.
"In haste, with my love to you all, and to all
Friends.
G. F.
"London, the 26th of the Third month, 1678."
