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The next Day we passed on: For the Lord had said unto me; If
but one Man or Woman were Raised up by his Power, to stand and live in
the same Spirit, that the Prophets and Apostles were in, who gave forth
the Scriptures, that Man or Woman should shake all the Country in
their Profession for Ten Miles round. For People had the Scriptures,
but were not in that same Light, and Power, and Spirit, which
they were in, that gave forth the Scriptures: and so they neither
knew God, nor Christ, nor the Scriptures aright; nor had they Unity
one with another, being out of the Power and Spirit of God. There-
fore as we passed along, we Warned all People, where-ever we
met them, of the Day of the Lord, that was coming upon
them.

As we travelled on, we came near a very great and high Hill,
called Pendle-hill, and I was moved of the Lord, to go up to the Top of
it; which I did with much ado, it was so very Steep and High.
When I was come to the Top of this Hill, I saw the Sea bordering
upon Lancashire: And from the Top of this Hill the Lord let me see,
in what Places he had a Great People to be gathered. As I went
down, I found a Spring of Water in the Side of the Hill, with which
I refreshed my self; having eaten or drunk but little in several Days
before.

At Night we came to an Inn, and declared Truth to the Man of
the House, and writ a Paper to the Priests and Professors, declaring
‘the Day of the Lord, and that Christ was come to teach People himself,
‘by his Power and Spirit in their Hearts, and to bring People off
‘from all the World’s Ways and Teachers, to his own free Teaching,
‘who had bought them, and was the Saviour of all them, that be-
‘lieved in him. The Man of the House spread the Paper abroad, and
was himself mightily affected with the Truth. Here the Lord opened
unto me, and let me see a Great People in white Raiment by a River-
side, coming to the Lord: And the Place that I saw them in, was a-
bout Wentzerdale and Sedbergh.

The next Day we travelled on, and at Night got a little Fern or
Brakins to lay under us, and lay upon a Common. Next Morning we
reached to a Town, and there Richard Farnsworth parted from me;
and then I travelled alone again. So I came up Wentzerdale, and at
the Market-Town in that Dale there was a Lecture on the Market-day;
and I went into the Steeple-house. And after the Priest had done,
‘I Proclaimed the Day of the Lord to the Priest and People; Warn-
‘ing them to turn from the Darkness to the Light, and from the Power
‘of Satan unto God, that they might come to know God and Christ
‘aright, and to receive his Teaching, who teacheth freely. And
largely and freely did I declare the Word of Life unto them, and had
not much Persecution there. Afterwards I passed up the Dales, Warn-
ing People to fear God; and preaching the Everlasting Gospel to
them. And in my way I came to a Great House, where there was
a School-master ; and they got me into the House. And I asked them
Questions about their Religion and Worship: and afterward I de-
clared the Truth to them. They had me into a Parlour, and lockt
me in, pretending that I was a Young Man, that was Mad, and had
got away from my Relations; and that they would keep me, till they

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could send to my Relations. But I soon Convinced them of their
Mistake in that, and they let me forth; and would have had me to
stay there: But I was not to stay there. Then having exhorted them
to Repentance, and directed them to the Light of Christ Jesus, that
through it they might come unto him, and be saved; I passed from
them, and came in the Night to a little Ale-house on a Common,
where there was a Company of Rude Fellows drinking. And be-
cause I would not drink with them, they got up their Clubs, and
were striking at me: but I reproved them, and brought them to be
somewhat Cooler; and then I walked out of the House upon the Com-
mon in the Night. After some time one of these drunken Fellows came
out, and would have come close up to me, pretending to whisper to
me: but I perceived, he had a Knife; wherefore I kept off from
him, and bid him Repent, and fear God. So the Lord by his Power
preserved me from this Wicked Man; and he went into the House
again. The next Morning I went on through other Dales, Warning
and Exhorting People every where, as I passed, to Repent and turn
to the Lord: and several were Convinced. At one House, that I came
to, the Man of the House (whom afterwards I found to be a
Kinsman of John Blakelin’s) would have given me Money; but I
would not Receive it.

As thus I traveled on through the Dales, I came to another Man’s
House, whose Name was Tennant: And I was moved to speak to
the Family, and declare God’s Everlasting Truth to them. And as I
was turning away from them, I was moved to turn again, and speak
to the Man himself: And he was Convinced, and his Family, and
lived and died in the Truth. Thence I came to Major Bousfield’s,
who received me, as did also several others; and some that were
then Convinced, have stood faithful ever since. I went also thro’ Gryse-
dale, and several other of those Dales; in which some were Con-
vinced. And then I went into Dent, where many were Convinced also.
But from Major Bousfield’s I came to Richard Robinson’s, and decla-
red the Everlasting Truth to him.

The next day I went to a Meeting at Justice Benson’s, where met a
a People, that were separated from the publick Worship     This was
the place, that I had seen, where a People came forth in white Rai-
ment. A large Meeting it was, and the People were generally Con-
vinced; and continue a large Meeting still of Friends near Sedburgh:
Which was then first gathered through my Ministry in the Name
of Jesus.

In the same Week there was a great Fair, at which Servants used
to be hired: And I went and declared the day of the Lord through
the Fair. And after I had done so, I went into the Steeple-house-
Yard; and many of the People of the Fair came thither to me, and
abundance of Priests and Professors. ‘There I declared the Ever-
‘lasting Truth of the Lord, and the Word of Life for several Hours;
‘shewing, that the Lord was come to Teach his People himself, and
‘to bring them off from all the World’s Ways and Teachers, to Christ
‘the true Teacher, and the true Way to God. I laid open their
‘Teachers, shewing, that they were like them, that were of Old con-
‘demned by the Prophets, and by Christ, and by the Apostles: And I

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‘exhorted the People to come off from the Temples made with Hands;
‘and Wait to receive the Spirit of the Lord, that they might know
‘themselves to be the Temples of God. Not one of the Priests had
power to open his Mouth against what I declared: But at last a Cap-
tain said, Why will you not go into the Church? for this is not a fit
place to preach in, said he. But I told him, I denied their Church.
Then stood up one Francis Howgill, who was a Preacher to a Con-
gregation: He had not seen me before; yet he undertook to Answer
that Captain; and soon put him to Silence. Then said this Francis
Howgill of me; This Man speaks with Authority, and not as the Scribes.
After this I opened to the People, That that Ground and House was
no holier, than another Place; and that that House is not the Church
but the People; whom Christ is the Head of. Then after a while the
Priests came up to me, and I warned them to Repent: One of them
said, I was Mad; and so they turned away. But many People were
Convinced there that day, and were glad at the hearing of the Truth
declared, and received it with Joy. Amongst these was one cal-
led Captain Ward, who received the Truth in the love of it, and lived
and dyed in it.

The next First-day I came to Firbank-Chappel in Westmorland,
where Francis Howgill before named, and one John Audland had
been preaching in the Morning: The Chappel was full of People, so
that many could not get in. And Francis Howgill said, He thought,
I lookt into the Chappel, and his Spirit was ready to fail; the Lord’s
Power did so surprize him: But I did not look in. They made
haste, and had quickly done at that time: and they and some of the
People went to their Dinners; but abundance stay’d, till they came
again. Now John Blakelin, and others came to me, and desired
me not to Reprove them publickly; for they were not Parish-Teach-
ers, but pretty Tender Men. I could not tell them, whether I
should or no (though I had not at that time any Drawings to de-
clare publickly against them;) but I said, They must leave me to
the Lord’s Movings. So while the others were gone to Dinner, I
went to a Brook, and got me a little Water; and then came, and
sate down on the Top of a Rock hard by the Chappel. In the After-
noon the People gathered about me, with several of their Preachers;
it was judged, there were above a Thousand People: amongst whom
I declared God’s everlasting Truth and Word of Life freely and
largely, for about the space of three Hours, directing all to the Spirit
of God in themselves; that they might be turned from the Darkness
to the Light, and believe in it, that they might become the Child-
ren of it: and might be turned from the Power of Satan, which
they had been under, unto God; and by the Spirit of Truth might
be led into all Truth, and sensibly understand the words of the Pro-
phets, and of Christ, and of the Apostles; and might all come to
know Christ to be their Teacher to instruct them, their Counsellor to
direct them, their Shepherd to feed them, their Bishop to oversee
them, and their Prophet to open divine Mysteries to them; and might
know their Bodies to be prepared, and sanctified and made fit Temples
for God and Christ to dwell in. And in the openings of the heaven-
ly Life, I opened unto them the Prophets, and the Figures and Sha-

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dows, and directed them to Christ, the Substance. Then I opened
the Parables and Sayings of Christ, and things that had been long
hid; shewing the intent and scope of the Apostles Writings, how
that their Epistles were written to the Elect. And when I had
opened that State, I shewed also the State of the Apostacy, that hath
been since the Apostles days; how the Priests have gotten the Scri-
pture (but are not in that Spirit, which gave them forth) and have
put them into Chapter and Verse, to make a Trade of the Holy Mens
Words: And how that the Teachers and Priests now are found in the
steps of the false Prophets, Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees of
old, and are such, as the true Prophets, Christ and his Apostles cried
against, and so are judged and condemned by the Spirit of the true
Prophets, and of Christ, and of his Apostles; and that none, who
was in that Spirit, and guided by it now, could own them. Now
there were many old People, who went into the Chappel, and looked
out at the Windows; thinking it a strange thing, to see a Man preach
on an Hill or Mountain, and not in their Church (as they called it;)
whereupon I was moved to open to the People, ‘That the Steeple-
‘house (and the Ground whereon it stood,) was no more holy, than
‘that Mountain; and that those Temples, which they called the
‘dreadful Houses of God, were not set up by the Command of God
‘and of Christ; nor their Priests called, as Aaron‘s Priesthood was;
‘nor their Tithes appointed by God, as those amongst the Jews were:
‘but that Christ was come, who ended both the Temple and its Wor-
‘ship, and the Priests and their Tithes; and all now should hearken
‘unto him: for he said, Learn of me; and God said of him, This is
‘my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. So I de-
‘clared unto them, that the Lord God had sent me to preach the
‘Everlasting Gospel and Word of Life amongst them; and to bring
‘them off from all these Temples, Tithes, Priests and Rudiments of
‘the World, which had gotten up since the Apostles days, and had
‘been set up by such, as had erred from the Spirit and Power, that
‘the Apostles were in. Very largely was I opened at this Meeting,
and the Lord’s Convincing Power accompanied my Ministry, and
reached home unto the Hearts of the People; whereby many were
Convinced that day, and all the Teachers of that Congregation
(who were many) were Convinced of God‘s everlasting Truth that
day.

After the Meeting was over, I went to John Audland’s, and from
thence to Preston-Patrick-Chappel, where a great Meeting was ap-
pointed; to which I went, and had a large opportunity amongst the
People, to preach the Everlasting Gospel to them, opening to them
(as to others on the like occasion) that the End of my coming into
that Place, was not to hold it up; no more than the Apostles going
into the Jewish Synagogues and Temple was, to uphold those: But to
bring them off from all such things (as the Apostles brought the
Saints of old from off the Jewish Temple and Aaron’s Priesthood) that
they might come to witness their Bodies to be the Temples of God, and
Christ in them to be their Teacher.

page 76

From this Place I went to Kendal, where a Meeting was appointed
in the Town-Hall: in which I declared the Word of Life amongst the
Kendal. People, shewing them; ‘How they might come to the saving know-
‘ledge of Christ, and to have a right Understanding of the Holy
‘Scriptures: and opening to them, what it was, that would lead them
‘into the way of Reconciliation with God; and what would be their
‘Condemnation. After the Meeting I stay’d a while in the Town;
and several were Convinced there, and many appeared loving. One,
whose Name was Cock, met me in the Street, and would have given
me a Roll of Tobacco (for People then were much given to
smoking Tobacco:) I accepted his love; but did not receive the
Tobacco.

From thence I went to Under-barrow, to one Miles Bateman’s, and
several People going along with me, great Reasonings I had with
them; especially with Edward Burrough. At Night the Priest came,
and many Professors to the House; and a great deal of Disputing I
had with them. Supper being provided for the Priest and the rest of
the Company, I had not freedom to eat with them; but told them,
If they would appoint a Meeting for the next day at the Steeple-
house, and acquaint the People with it, I might meet them. They
had a great deal of Reasoning about it; some being for it, and some
against it. In the Morning I walked out (after I had spoken again
to them concerning the Meeting:) and as I walked upon a Bank by the
House, there came several poor People, Travellers, asking Relief, who
I saw were in Necessity: and they gave them nothing; but said, they
were Cheats. It grieved me to see such hard-heartedness amongst
Professors; whereupon, when they were gone in to their Breakfast,
I ran after the Poor People about a quarter of a Mile, and gave them
some Money. Mean while some of them, that were in the House,
coming out again, and seeing me a quarter of a Mile off, said; I could
not have gone so far in such an Instant, if I had not had Wings.
Hereupon the Meeting was like to have been put by: for they were
filled with such strange Thoughts concerning me, that many of them
were against having a Meeting with me. I told them, I ran after
those poor People to give them some Money; being grieved at their
hard-heartedness, who gave them nothing. Then came Miles and
Stephen Hubbersty; and they being more simple-hearted Men, would
have the Meeting held. So to the Chappel at Under-barrow I went:
and the Priest came, and a great Meeting there was, and the Way of
Life and Salvation was opened; and after a while the Priest fled
away. And many of the Crook and Under-barrow were Convinced that
day, and received the Word of Life; and stood fast in it under the
Teaching of Christ Jesus. Now after I had declared the Truth to
them for some Hours, and the Meeting was ended; the Chief-Consta-
ble, and some other Professors fell to Reasoning with me in the Chap-
pel-Yard: Whereupon I took a Bible, and opened to them the Scri-
ptures, and dealt tenderly with them, as one would do with a Child.
And they that were in the Light of Christ, and Spirit of God, knew
when I spake Scripture, though I did not mention Chapter and Verse
after the Priest’s Form unto them.

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From hence I went along with an ancient Man, whose Heart the
Lord had opened; and he invited me to his House: His Name was
James Dickinson. He was Convinced that day, and received the
Truth, and lived and died in it.

From his House I came the next day to James Taylor’s of Newton in
Cartmell, in Lancashire. And on the First-day of the Week, I went
to the Chappel, where one Priest Camelford used to preach; and after
he had done, I began to speak the Word of Life to the People. But
this Priest Camelford was in such a Rage, and did so fret, and was
so peevish, that he had no patience to hear; but stirred up the rude
Multitude, and they rudely haled me out, and struck and punched me,
and threw me Headlong over a Stone-Wall: yet, blessed be the Lord,
his Power preserved me. He that did this Violence to me, was a
wicked Man, one John Knipe, whom afterwards the Lord cut off.
But there was a Youth in the Chappel, writing after the Priest; and I
was moved to speak to him, and he came to be Convinced, and re-
ceived a part of the Ministry of the Gospel: His Name was John
Brathwait.

Then went I up to an Ale-house, whither many People resorted
betwixt the time of their Morning and Afternoon-Preaching; and I
had a great deal of Reasoning with the People there, declaring to
them; That God was come to Teach his People himself, and to bring
them off from all false Teachers, such as the Prophets, Christ and the
Apostles cryed against. And many received the Word of Life at that
time, and abode in it.

In the Afternoon I went about two or three Miles to another Steeple-
house or Chappel, called Lyndal. And when the Priest had done, I
spake to him and the People, what the Lord commanded me: and
there were great Opposers; but afterwards they came to be Con-
vinced. After this I went to one Captain Sands, who with his Wife
seemed somewhat affected with Truth: and if they could have held
the World and Truth together, they would have received; but
they were Hypocrites, and he a very Chaffy, light Man. Wherefore
I reproved him for his Lightness, and for his Jesting; telling him,
It was not seemly in a great Professor, as he was. Thereupon he told
me, He had a Son, who upon his Death-bed had also reproved him for
it, and warned him of it. But he neither regarded the Admoni-
tion of his dying Son, nor the Reproofs of God’s Spirit in him-
self.

From hence I went to Ulverston, and so to Swarthmore to Judge
Fell’s; whether came up one Lampitt, a Priest, who I perceived
had been, and still was an high Notionist. With him I had a great
deal of Reasoning: for he would talk of high Notions and Perfe-
ction; and thereby deceived the People. He would have owned
me; but I could not own nor join with him: he was so full of
Filth. He said, He was above John; and made, as though he knew
all things. But I told him; ‘Death reigned from Adam to Moses;
‘and that he was under Death, and knew not Moses: for Moses saw
‘the Paradise of God; but he knew neither Moses, nor the Prophets,
‘nor John. For that crooked and rough Nature stood in him, and the
‘Mountain of Sin and Corruptions; and the Way was not prepared

page 78

‘in him for the Lord. He confessed, he had been under a Cross in
things; but now he could sing Psalms, and do any thing. I told
him; ‘Now he could see a Thief, and join Hand in Hand with him:
‘But he could not preach Moses, nor the Prophets, nor John, nor
‘Christ, except he were in the same Spirit, that they were in. Now
Margaret Fell had been abroad in the Day-time; and at Night her
Children told her, that Priest Lampitt and I had dis-agreed: which
did some-what trouble her, because she was in a Profession with
him; (but he hid his dirty Actions from them.) At Night we
had a great deal of Reasoning; and I declared the Truth to her
and her Family. The next day Lampitt came again, and I had a
great deal of Discourse with him before Margaret Fell, who then
clearly discerned the Priest; and a Convincement of the Lord’s
Truth came upon her, and her Family. Within a day or two
there was a day to be observed for an Humiliation; and Margaret
Fell asked me to go with her to the Steeple-house at Ulverstone,
(for she was not wholly come off from them:) I replied, I must
do, as I am ordered by the Lord. So I left her, and walked into the
Fields; and the Word of the Lord came to me, saying; Go to the
Steeple-house after them. When I came, the Priest Lampitt was
singing with his People: But his Spirit was so foul, and the Matter
they sung, so Unsuitable to their States, that after they had done
singing, I was moved of the Lord to speak to him and the People.
The Word of the Lord to them was; ‘He is not a Jew, that is one
‘Outward; but he is a Jew, that is one Inward, whose Praise is not
‘of Man, but of God. Then, as the Lord opened further; I shew-
ed them, "That God was come to Teach his People by his Spirit, and
‘to bring them off from all their old Ways and Religions, Churches
‘and Worships: for all their Religions, and Worships and Ways was
‘but talking of other Mens Words; but they were out of the Life
‘and Spirit, which they were in, who gave them forth. Then
cried out one, called Justice Sawrey; Take him away: But Judge Fell’s
Wife said to the Officers; Let him alone: Why may not he speak, as
well as any other? Lampitt also, the Priest (in Deceit) said, Let him
speak. So at length, when I had declared a pretty while, this Ju-
stice Sawrey caused the Constable to put me out; and then I spake to
the People in the Grave-yard.

Upon the First-Day after, I was moved to go to Aldenham-Steeple-
house: And when the Priest had done, I spake to him; but he got
away. Then I declared the Word of Life to the People, and warned
them to Return to the Lord.

From thence I passed to Ram-side, where was a Chappel, in which
one Thomas Lawson used to preach, who was a high sort of a Priest:
and he very lovingly spake to his People in the Morning, of my Com-
ing in the Afternoon; by which means very many People were ga-
thered together. When I came, I saw, there was no place so Con-
venient to declare to the People there, as the Chappel; wherefore I went
into the Chappel, and all was quiet: And the Priest Thomas Lawson went
not up into his Pulpit, but left all the Time to me. And the Ever-
lasting Day of the Eternal God was proclaimed that Day, and the
Everlasting Truth was largely declared; which reached and entred

page 79

into the Hearts of People, and many received the Truth in the Love
of it. And this Priest came to be Convinced, and left his Chappel;
and threw off his Preaching for Hire, and came to preach the Lord
Jesus and his Kingdom freely. After that, some rude People cast
Scandals upon him, and thought to have done him a Mischief; but
he was carried over all, and grew in the Wisdom of God mightily,
and proved very serviceable in his Place.

Then returned I to Swarthmore again, and on the next First-Day
went to Dalton-Steeple-house; where after the Priest had done, I de-
clared the Word of Life to the People, that they might be turned
from the Darkness to the Light, and from the Power of Satan to God;
and might come off from their Superstitious Ways, and from their
Teachers made of Man, to Christ the true and living Way, to be taught
of him.

From thence I went into the Island of Walnah: and after the
Priest had done, I spake to him; but he got away. Then I
spake to the People, and declared the Truth unto them; but they
were something Rude. Then went I to speak with the Priest at his
House; but he would not be seen: The People said, he went to hide
himself in the Hay-mow; and they went to look for him there, but
could not find him. Then they said, he was gone to hide himself in
the standing Corn; but they could not find him there neither.
So I went to James Lancaster’s, who was Convinced in the Island;
and from thence I returned to Swarthmore again, where the Lord’s
Power seized upon Margaret Fell, and her Daughter Sarah, and seve-
ral of them.

Thence I went to Becliff, where Leonard Fell was Convinced, and
became a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel: And several others
were Convinced there, and came into obedience to the Truth. Here
the People said, They could not tell how to dispute; and would fain
have put on some other to hold Talk with me: but I bid them, Fear
‘the Lord; and not in a light way hold a Talk of the Lord’s Words, but
‘put the Things in practice. And I directed them to the Divine
‘Light of Christ, and his Spirit in their Hearts, which would let
‘them see all the Evil Thoughts, Words and Actions, that they had
‘thought, spoken and acted; by which Light they might see their
‘Sin, and by which Light they might also see their Saviour, Christ
‘Jesus, to save them from their Sins. This, I told them, was their
‘first Step to Peace, even to stand still in the Light, that shewed them
‘their Sins and Transgressions; by which they might come to see,
‘how they were in the fall of Old Adam, in the Darkness and Death,
‘Strangers to the Covenant of Promise, and without God in the
‘World: And by the same Light they might see Christ, that died
‘for them, to be their Redeemer and Saviour, and their Way to
‘God.

After this I went to a Chappel beyond Gleaston; which was built,
but never Priest had preached in it. Thither all the Country up and
down came; and a quiet, peaceable Meeting it was, in which the
Word of Life was declared amongst the People, and many were con-
vinced of the Truth about Gleaston.

page 80

From thence I returned to Swarthmore again; where after I had
staid a few Days, and most of the Family were Convinced, I went
from thence back again into Westmorland, where Priest Lampitt had
been amongst the Professors on Kendal-Side, and had mightily In-
censed them against me; telling them, I held many strange Things.
So I met with them, that he had so Incensed, and sate up all Night
with them at James Dickinson’s, and answered all their Objections:
And then they were both thoroughly satisfied with the Truth, that I
had declared, and dissatisfied with him, and his Lies that he had di-
vulged; so that he clearly lost the best of his Hearers and Followers,
who hereby came to see his Deceit, and forsook him.

Then I passed on to John Audland’s and Gervase Benson’s, and had
great Meetings amongst those People, that had been Convinced before:
And to John Blakelin’s and Richard Robinson’s, and had mighty Meet-
ings there; and so up towards Grisedale.

Soon after Judge Fell being come home, Margaret Fell his Wife
sent to me, desiring me to return thither: And I feeling Freedom
from the Lord so to do, went back through the Country to Swarth-
more. Where when I came, I found, the Priests and Professors,
and that envious Justice Sawrey had much Incensed Judge Fell and
Captain Sands against the Truth, by their Lies: But when I came to
speak with him, I answered all his Objections; and so thoroughly sa-
tisfied him by the Scriptures, that he was Convinced in his Judgment.
Then he asked me, If I was that George Fox, whom Justice Robinson
spake so much in Commendation of amongst many of the Parliament Men?
I told him, I had been with Justice Robinson, and with Justice Hotham
in Yorkshire, who were very Civil and Loving to me; and that they
were Convinced in their Judgments by the Spirit of God, that the
Principle, which I bore Testimony to, was the Truth, and they did
see over and beyond the Priests of the Nation: So that they, and
many others, were now come to be wiser than their Teachers. After
we had discoursed a pretty Time together, Judge Fell himself was
satisfied also, and came to see, by the Openings of the Spirit of God in
his Heart, over all the Priests and Teachers of the World; and did
not go to hear them for some Years, before he died: for he knew, it
was the Truth, that I declared; and that Christ was the Teacher of
his People, and their Saviour: And he would sometimes wish, that I
were a while with Judge Bradshaw to discourse with him. There
came to Judge Fell’s that Captain Sands before-mentioned, endeavou-
ring to Incense the Judge against me; for he was an evil-minded Man,
and full of Envy against me: And yet he could speak high things,
and use the Scripture-words, and say, Behold, I make all things new.
But I told him, ‘Then he must have a New God; for his God was
’his Belly. Besides him, thither came also that envious Justice
John Sawrey: And I told him, His Heart was rotten, and he was full
of Hypocrisy to the Brim. Several other People also came, whose
States the Lord gave me a discerning of; and I spake unto their Con-
ditions. And while I was in those Parts, Richard Farnsworth and
James Naylor came thither to see me, and the Family; and Judge Fell
being satisfied, that it was the Way of Truth, notwithstanding all their
Opposition let the Meeting be kept at his House: And a great Meeting was

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settled there in the Lord’s Power, to the tormenting of the Priests and
Professors; which hath continued there near Forty Years, until the
Year 1690. that a New Meeting-house was erected near it.

Now after I had stay’d a while, and the Meeting there was well
settled, I departed from thence, and went to Underbarrow, where I
had a great Meeting. From thence I went to Kellet, and had a great
Meeting at Robert Withers, to which several came from Lancaster,
and some from York; and many were Convinced there. Then on the
Market-day I went to Lancaster, and spake through the Market in the
dreadful Power of God; declaring the Day of the Lord to the Peo-
ple, and crying out against all their deceitful Merchandize: And I
preached Righteousness and Truth unto them, which they should all
follow after, and walk and live in; directing them, how and where
they might find and receive the Spirit of God, to guide them
there-into. After I had cleared my self in the Market, I went
to my Lodging, whither several People came to me; and ma-
ny were Convinced there, who have stood faithful to the
Truth.

On the First-Day following, in the Forenoon, I had a great Meet-
ing in the Street at Lancaster, amongst the Souldiers and People, unto
whom I declared the Word of Life, and the Everlasting Truth: And
I opened unto them, That all the Traditions they had lived in, and
all their Worships and Religions, and the Profession they made of the
Scriptures, was good for nothing, while they loved out of the Life
and Power, which they were in, who gave forth the Scriptures. And
I directed them to the Light of Christ, the heavenly Man, and to the
Spirit of God in their own Hearts, that they might come to be ac-
quainted with God and with Christ, and receive him for their Teacher,
and know his Kingdom set up in them.

   In the Afternoon I went up to the Steeple-house at Lancaster, and de-
clared the Truth both to the Priest and People; laying open before
them the Deceits they lived in; and directing them to the Power and
Spirit of God, which they wanted. But they haled me out, and sto-
ned me along the Street, till I came to John Lawson’s House.

On another First-Day I went to another Steeple-house by the Water-
side, where one Whitehead was Priest; to whom, and to the People
I declared the Truth in the dreadful Power of God. And there came
to me a Doctor, who was so full of Envy, that he said, He could find
in his Heart, to run me through with his Rapier, though he was hanged
for it the next Day: Yet this Man came afterwards to be Convinced of
the Truth, so far as to be loving to Friends. And some People were
Convinced there-abouts, who willingly sate down under the Ministry
of Christ, their Teacher: And a Meeting was settled there in the
Power of God, which has continued to this Day.

After this I returned into Westmorland, and spake through Kendal
upon a Market-day: And so dreadful was the Power of God, that
was upon me, that People flew, like Chaff, before me into their Houses.
I warned them of the Mighty Day of the Lord, and exhorted them
to hearken to the Voice of God in their own Hearts, who was now
Come to Teach his People himself. And when some Opposed, many
People took my part; insomuch, that at last some of the People fell

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to Fighting about me: but I went to them, and spake to them; and
they parted again. And several were Convinced.

On the First-Day after I had a very large Meeting in Under-barrow
at Miles Bateman’s House, where I was moved to declare, ‘That all
‘People in the Fall were gone from the Image of God, Righteousness
‘and Holiness, and were become as Wells without the Water of Life,
‘as Clouds without the heavenly Rain, as Trees without the heavenly
‘Fruit; and were degenerated into the Nature of Beasts, and of
‘Serpents, and of tall Cedars, and of Oaks, and of Bulls, and of
‘Heifers: So that they might read the Natures of these Creatures
‘within, as the Prophet described them to the People of Old, that
‘were out of Truth. I opened unto them, how some were in the
‘Nature of Dogs and Swine, biting and rending; some in the
‘nature of Briars, Thistles and Thorns; some like the Owls and
‘Dragons in the Night; some like the wild Asses and Horses, snuffing
‘up the Wind; and some like the Mountains and Rocks, and crooked
‘and rough Ways. Wherefore I exhorted them to read these things
‘within, in their own Natures, as well as without: And that, when
‘they read without of the wandring Stars, they should look within,
‘and see, how they have wandred from the bright and Morning-Star.
‘And they should consider, that as the Fallow Ground in their Fields
‘must be plowed up, before it would bear Seed to them; so must
‘the Fallow Ground of their Hearts be plowed up, before they could
‘bear Seed to God. Now all these Names and Things, I shewed them,
‘were spoken of and to Man and Woman, since they fell from the
‘Image of God; but as they do come to be renewed again into the Image
‘of God, they come out of the Natures of these things, and so out
‘of the Names thereof. Many more such things were declared to
them, and they were turned to the Light of Christ, by which they
might come to know Christ, and to receive him; and might witness
him to be their Substance and their Way, their Salvation and true
Teacher. And many were Convinced at that Time.

Now after I had travelled up and down in those Countries,
and had had great Meetings, I came to Swarthmore again. And
when I had visited Friends a while in those Parts; I heard of a
great Meeting the Priests were to have at Ulverstone, on a Lecture-
Day. Whereupon I went down to it, and went into the Steeple-
house in the Dread and Power of the Lord: And when the Priest
had done, I spake among them the Word of the Lord, which was as
an Hammer, and as a Fire amongst them. And though Lampit (the
Priest of the Place) had been at variance with most of the Priests
before; yet against the Truth he and they all joined together.
But the mighty Power of the Lord was over all; and so won-
derful was the Appearance thereof, that Priest Bennet said, The
Church shook; Insomuch that he was afraid, and trembled: and
after he had spoken a few Confused Words, he hastened out, for
fear the Steeple-house would fall on his Head. There were many
Priests got together there; yet they had no Power as yet, to
Persecute.

page 83

When I had cleared my Conscience amongst them, I went up to
Swarthmore again; whither came up four or five of the Priests:
And coming to discourse, I asked them; Whether any one of them
could say, he ever had the Word of the Lord to go and speak to such
or such a People? None of them durst say, He had: but one of
them burst out into a Passion, and said, He could speak his Experi-
ences, as well as I. I told him, Experience was one thing: but to
receive and go with a Message, and to have a Word from the Lord,
as the Prophets and Apostles had and did, and as I had done to them;
this was another thing. And therefore I put it to them again; Could
any of them say, he had ever had a Command or Word from the Lord,
immediately at any time? but none of them could say so. Then I
told them; the false Prophets, and false Apostles, and Antichrists
could use the Words of the true Prophets, and true Apostles, and of
Christ, and would speak of other Mens Experiences; though they
themselves never knew nor heard the Voice of God and Christ: and
such as They, might get the good Words and Experiences of others:
This puzzled them much, and laid them open. For at another time,
when I was discoursing with several Priests at Judge Fell’s House,
and he was by, I asked them the same Question, Whether any of
them ever heard the Voice of God or Christ, to bid him go to such or
such a People, to declare his Word or Message unto them? for any one
(I told them) any that could but read, might declare the Experiences
of the Prophets and Apostles, which were recorded in the Scriptures.
Hereupon one of them, whose Name was Thomas Taylor, an anci-
ent Priest, did ingenuously Confess before Judge Fell, That he had
never heard the Voice of God, nor of Christ, to send him to any People;
but he spake his Experiences, and the Experiences of the Saints in
former Ages; and That he preached. This very much Confirmed
Judge Fell in the Perswasion he had, That the Priests were wrong; for
he had thought formerly, as the generality of People then did, That
they were sent from God.

This Thomas Taylor was Convinced at this time, and traveled with
me into Westmorland. And coming to Crossland-Steeple-house, we
found the People gathered together there. And the Lord opened
Thomas Taylor’s Mouth amongst the People (though he was Con-
vinced but the day before) so that he declared amongst them, How
he had been, before he was Convinced; and like the good Scribe, that
was Converted to the Kingdom, he brought forth things new and old to
the People, and shewed them, how the Priests were out of the Way:
Which did torment the Priests. Some little discourse I had with them,
but they fled away; and a precious Meeting there was, wherein the
Lord’s Power was over all, and the People were directed to the Spirit
of God, by which they might come to know God and Christ, and to
understand the Scriptures aright. After this I passed on, visiting
Friends, and had very large Meetings in Westmorland.

Now began the Priests to Rage more and more, and as much
they could stir up Persecution. Whereupon James Naylor and
Francis Howgill were cast into Prison in Appleby-Jail, at the insti-
gation of the malicious Priests; some of whom prophesied, That
within a Month we should be all scattered again, and come to nothing.

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But blessed for ever be the Worthy Name of the Lord, the Work of
the Lord went on and prospered. For about this time John Audland
and Francis Howgill, and John Camm, and Edward Burrough, and
Richard Hubberthorn and Miles Hubbersty, and Miles Halhead with
several others, being endued with Power from on high, came forth
into the Work of the Ministry, and approved themselves faithful
Labourers therein; traveling up and down, and preaching the Gospel
freely: by means wherof Multitudes were Convinced, and many ef-
fectually turned to the Lord. Among these Christopher Taylor was
one, who was Brother to Thomas Taylor before-mentioned; and had
been a Preacher to a People, as well as his Brother: But after they
had received the knowledge of the Truth, they soon came into Obe-
dience thereunto; and left their Preaching for Hire or Rewards. And
having received a part of the Ministry of the Gospel, they preach-
ed Christ freely; being often sent by the Lord to declare his
Word in Steeple-houses, and in Markets: and great Sufferers they
were.

After I had visited Friends in Westmorland I returned into Lanca-
shire, and went to Ulverstone, where ----- Lampitt was Priest:
who though he had preached of a People, that did own the Teachings
of God, and had said; That Men and Women should come to declare
the Gospel; yet afterwards, when it came to be fulfilled, he persecu-
ted both it and them. To this Priest’s House I went, where abun-
dance of Priests and Professors were got together after their Lecture;
with whom I had great Disputings concerning Christ and the Scri-
ptures: for they were loth to let their Trade go down, which they
made of preaching Christ’s, and the Apostles and Prophets Words. But
the Lord’s Power went over the Heads of them all, and his Word of
Life was held forth amongst them; though many of them were
exceeding Envious and Devilish. Yet after this, many Priests and
Professors came to me from far and near: of whom, they that were
Innocent and Simple-minded, were satisfied, and went away refreshed;
but the fat and full were fed with Judgment, and sent empty
away: for that was the Word of the Lord to be divided to
them.

Now when Meetings were set up, and we Met in private Houses,
then began Lampitt the Priest to Rage: And he said, We forsook the
Temple, and went to Jeroboam’s Calves-houses: So that many Pro-
fessors began to see, how he was declined from that, which he had
formerly held and preached. Hereupon the Case of Jeroboam‘s
Calves was opened to the Professors, Priests and People; and it was
declared and manifested unto them, ’That their Houses (which
‘they called the Churches) were more like Jeroboam’s Calves-houses, even
‘the Old Mass-houses, which were set up in the darkness of Popery,
‘and which they, who called themselves Protestants, and professed
‘to be more enlightned than the Papists, did still hold up; although
‘God had never commanded them: Whereas that Temple, which
‘God had commanded at Jerusalem, Christ came to end the Service
‘of; and they that received and believed in him, their Bodies came
‘to be the Temples of God, and of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost to
‘dwell in them, and to walk in them. And all such were gathered

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‘into the Name of Jesus, whose Name is above every Name; and
‘there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven
‘but by the Name of Jesus. And they that were thus gathered<
‘met together in several Dwelling-houses, which were not called the
‘Temple, nor the Church; but their Bodies were the Temples of God,
‘and the Believers were the Church, which Christ was the Head of.
‘So that Christ was not called the Head of an Old House, which was
‘made by Mens Hands; neither did he come to purchase and sanctify,
‘and redeem with his Blood an Old House, which they called their
‘Church; but the People, which he is the Head of. Much work I
had in those Days with Priests and People, concerning their Old Mass-
houses, which they called their Churches: for the Priests had persuaded
the People, that it was the House of God; whereas the Apostle says,
Whose House we are, &c. Heb. 3. 6. So the People are God’s House, in
whom he dwells. And the Apostle saith; Christ purchased his Church with
his own Blood; and Christ calls his Church his Spouse, and his Bride,
the Lamb’s Wife: So that this Title Church and Spouse, was
not given to an Old House; but to his People, the true Be-
lievers.

After this on a Lecture-day I was moved to go to the Steeple-house
at Ulverstone, where were abundance of Professors, Priests and People.
I went up near to Priest Lampitt, who was blustering on in his
Preaching: And after the Lord had opened my Mouth to speak, John
Sawrey the Justice came to me, and said; If I would speak according
to the Scriptures, I should speak. I stranged at him for speaking so to
me, for I did speak according to the Scriptures; and I told him, I
should speak according to the Scriptures, and bring the Scriptures to
prove, what I had to say: for I had something to speak to Lampitt
and to them. Then he said: I should not speak; Contradicting him-
self, who said just before, I should speak, if I would speak ac-
cording to the Scriptures: which I did. Now the People were quiet,
and heard me gladly; until this Justice Sawrey (who was the first
Stirrer up of cruel Persecution in the North) incensed them against
me, and set them on to hale, beat and bruise me. Then on a sudden
the People were in a Rage; and they fell upon me in the Steeple-house
before his Face, and knock’d me down, and kicked me, and trampled
upon me, he looking on: And so great was the Uproar, that some
People tumbled over their Seats for fear. At last he came, and took
me from the People, and led me out of the Steeple-house, and put me
into the Hands of the Constables and other Officers; bidding them
Whip me, and put me out of the Town. Then they led me about a
quarter of a Mile, some taking hold by me Collar, and some by my
Arms and Shoulders, and shook and dragg’d me along. And there
being many Friendly People come to the Market, and some of them
come to the Steeple-house to hear me, divers of these they knocked
down also, and brake their Heads; so that Blood ran down from
several of them. And Judge Fell’s Son running after, to see what
they would do with me, they threw him into a Ditch of Water; some
of them crying, Knock the Teeth out of his Head. Now when
that had haled me to the Common-Moss-side a Multitude of People
following, the Constables and other Officers gave me some Blows over

page 86

my Back with their Willow-Rods, and so thrust me among the rude
Multitude: who (having furnished themselves some with Staves,
some with Hedge-stakes, and others with Holm or Holly-bushes) fell
upon me, and beat me om my Head, Arms and Shoulders, till they
had amazed me; so that I fell down upon the Wet Common. And
when I recovered my self again, and saw my self lying in a Watry
Common, and the People standing about me; I lay still a little while:
And the Power of the Lord sprang through me, and the Etenral Re-
freshings refreshed me; so that I stood up again in the strengthening
Power of the Eternal God. And stretching out my Arms amongst them,
I said with a loud Voice, “Strike again; here are my Arms, my Head
“and my Cheeks. There was in the Company a Mason, a Professor,
but a rude Fellow; He with his walking Rule-Stagg gave me a Blow
with all his might, just over the back of my Hand, as it was stretched
out; with which blow my Hand was so bruised, and my Arms si be-
nummed, that I could not draw it unto me again: so that some of
the People cried out, He hath spoil'd his Hand for ever having any
use of it more. But I looked at it in the Love of God (for I was in the
Love of God to them all, that had persecuted me) after a while
the Lord's Power sprang through me again, and through my Hand
and Arm, so that in a Moment I recovered Strength in my Hand
and Arm in the sight of them all. Then they began to fall out a
mong themselves; and some of them came to me, and said; If I
would give them Money, they would secure me from the rest. But I was
moved of the Lord to declare to them all the Word of Life, and
shewed them their false Christianity, and the Fruits of their Priest's
Ministry; telling them: they were more like Heathens and Jews,
than true Christians. Then I was moved of the Lord to come up
again through the midst of the People, and go up into Ulverston-
Market. And as I went, there met me a Man, a Souldier, with his
Sword by his Side; Sir, said he to me, I see, you are a Man, and I
am ashamed and grieved, that you should be thus abused: and he offered
to Assist me, in what he could. But I told him, The Lord's Power
was over all: So I walked through the People in the Market, and
none of them had power to touch me then. But some of the Mar-
ket-People abusing some Friends in the Market, I turned me about,
and saw this Souldier among them with his naked Rapier; whereupon
I ran in amongst them, and catching hold of his Hand, that his
Rapier was in, I bid him, Put his Sword again, if he would go along
with me: for I was willing to draw him out from the Company, lest
some Mischief should be done. Yet a few days after seven Men fell upon
this Souldier, and beat him cruelly, because he had taken part with
Friends and me: For it was the manner of the Persecutors of that
Country, for twenty or forty People to run upon one Man. And they
fell so upon Friends in many Places, that they could hardly pass the
High-ways; stoning, beating and breaking their Heads. Now when I
came up to Swarthmore, I found Friends there dressing the Heads and
Hands of Friends and Friendly People, which had been broken or hurt
that day by the Professors and Hearers of Lampitt, the Priest. My Body
and Arms were yellow, black and blue, with the Blows and Bruises I
received amongst them that day: And now began the Priests to

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prophesy again, That within half a Year we should be all put down and gone.

About two Weeks after this I went into Walney-Island, and James
Naylor went with me; and we stay’d one Night at a little Town
on this side, called Cockan, and had a Meeting, there, where there
was one Convinced. After a while there came a Man with a Pistol;
whereupon the People ran out of Doors. He called for me: and
when I came out to him, he snapp’d his Pistol at me; but it would
not go off. This caused the People to make a great Bustle about
him; and some of them took hold of him, to prevent his doing Mis-
chief. But I was moved by the Power of the Lord, that he trembled for fear;
and went and hid himself. Thus the Lord’s Power came over them
all, though there was a great Rage in the Country.

The next Morning I went over in a Boat to James Lancaster’s;
and as soon as I came to Land, there rushed about Forty Men with
Staves, Clubs and Fishing-poles; and fell upon me, beating and punch-
ing me, and endeavoured to thrust me backward into the Sea. And
when they had thrust me almost into the Sea, and I saw, they would
have knock’d me down there in the Sea, I went up into the Middle of
them: but they laid at me again, and knock’d me down, and
stunn’d me. When I came to my self, I looked up and saw James
Lancaster’s Wife throwing Stones at my Face, and her Husband James
Lancaster, was lying over me, to keep the Blows and the Stones from
off me. For the People had persuaded James Lancaster’s Wife, that
I had bewitched her Husband; and had promised her, That if she
would let them know, when I came thither, they would be my death. And
having got knowledge of my Coming, many of the Town rose up
in this manner with Clubs and Staves to kill me: but the Lord’s
Power preserved me, that they could not take away my Life. At
length I got up upon my Feet; but they beat me down again into the
Boat: which James Lancaster observing, he presently came into the
Boat to me, and set me over the Water from them; but while we
were on the Water within their Reach, they struck at us with long
Poles, and threw Stones after us. By that time we were come to the
other side, we saw them beating James Naylor: for whilst they had
been beating of me, he walked up into a Field, and they never
minded him, till I was gone; then they fell upon him, and all their
Cry was, Kill him, Kill him.

Now when I was come over to the Town again, on the other side
of the Water, the Townsmen rose up with Pitchforks, Flails and
Staves to keep me out of the Town, crying, Kill him; knock him
on the Head; bring the Cart, and carry him away to the Church-yard.
So after they had abused me, they drove me a pretty way out of
the Town, and there left me. Then went James Lancaster back
again, to look after James Naylor; and I being now left alone, went
to a Ditch of Water; and having washed my self (for they had all
bedirted and besmeared my Face, Hands and Cloaths with Miry Dirt
and Wet) I walked about three Miles to Thomas Hutton’s House,
where lodged Thomas Lawson the Priest, that was Convinced. And
when I came in, I could hardly speak to them, I was so bruised;
only I told them, where I left James Naylor: whereupon they took

page 88

each of them an Horse, and went and brought him thither that
Night. The next day Margaret Fell hearing of it, sent an Horse
for me; but so sore I was with the Bruises I had, that I was not able
to bear the shaking of the Horse without much pain. When I was
come to Swarthmore, Justice Sawrey, and one Justice Thompson of Lan-
caster, granted forth a Warrant against me; but Judge Fell coming
home, it was not served upon me: for he was out of the Country all
this time, that I was thus abused and cruelly used. But when he came
home, he sent forth Warrants into the Isle of Walney, to apprehend
all those Riotous Persons: whereupon some of them fled the Country.
James Lancaster’s Wife was afterwards Convinced of the Truth, and
Repented of the Evil she had done me; and so did some others of
those bitter Persecutors also: but the Judgments of God fell upon
some of them, and Destruction is come upon many of them since.
Judge Fell asked me to give him a Relation of my Persecution: but I
told him; They could do no otherwise than in the Spirit wherein they were;
and that they manifested the Fruits of their Priest’s Ministry, and their
Professions and Religion to be wrong. So he told his Wife, I made no-
thing of it; and that I spake of it as Man, that had not
been concerned. For indeed, the Lord’s Power healed me
again.

After I was recovered, I went to Yelland, where there was a great
Meeting. In the Evening there came a Priest to the House, with a
Pistol in his Hand, uder pretence to light a Pipe of Tobacco; and
the Maid of the House seeing the Pistol, told her Master: whoe there-
upon clapping his Hands on both the Door-Posts told him, He should
not come in there. And while he stood there, keeping the Door-way,
he looked up, and spied over the Wall a Company of Men
coming, some armed with Staves, and one with a Musket. But
the Lord God prevented their Bloody Design; so that seeing themselves
discovered, they went their way, and did no harm.

The time for the Sessions at Lancaster being come, I went to Lan-
caster with Judge Fell; who on the way told me, He had never had
such a Matter brought before him before, and he could not well tell, what
to do in the Business. I told him: when Paul was brought before the
Rulers, and the Jews and Priests came down to Accuse him, and laid
many false things to his Charge, Paul stood still all that while. And
when they had done, Festus the Governour, and King Agrippa beck-
ned to him to speak for himself; which Paul did, and cleared him-
self of all those false Accusations: And so he might do by me. Being
come to Lancaster, and Justice Sawrey and Justice Thompson having
granted a Warrant to apprehend me; though I was not apprehended
by it, yet hearing of it, I appeared at the Sessions; where there ap-
peared against me about Forty Priests. These had chosen one Mar-
shal, Priest of Lancaster, to be their Orator; and had provided one
young Priest, and two Priests Sons to bear Witness against me; who
had sworn before-hand, that I had spoken Blasphemy. When the
Justices were set, they heard all, that the Priests and their Witnesses
could say and charge against me; their Orator Marshal sitting by, and
explaining their Sayings for them: But the Witnesses were so Con-
founded, that they discovered themselves to be false Witnesses. For

page 89

when the Court had Examined one of the Witnesses upon Oath, and
then began to Examin another one of them, he aws at such a loss, he
could not Answer directly; but said, the other could say it. Which
made the Justices say to him; Have you sworn it, and given it in al-
ready upon your Oath, and now say, That he can say it? It seems, you
did not hear those words spoken your self, though you have sworn it.

There were then in Court several People, who had been at that
Meeting, wherein the Witnesses swore, I spake those blasphemous
Words, which the Priests accused me of; and these, being Men of
Integrity and Reputation in the Country, did declare and affirm in
Court, Tha the Oath, which the Witnesses had taken against me, was
altogether false; and that no such Words, as they had sworn against
me, were spoken by me at that Meeting: For indeed, most of the serious
Men of that side of the Country, that were then at the Sessions, had
been at that Meeting, and had heard me both at that Meeting, and
at other Meetings also. This was taken notice of by Colonel VVest,
who being a Justice of the Peace, was then upon the Bench; and hav-
ing long been weak in Body, blessed the Lord, and said; The Lord had
healed him that day: adding, That he never saw so many sober People
and good Faces together in all his Life. And then turning himself to
me, he said in the open Sessions; George, If thou hast any thing to say
to the People, thou may’st freely declare it. And I was moved of the
Lord to speak: and as soon as I began, Priest Marshal, the Orator for
the rest of the Priests, went his way. That which I was moved to
declare, was this: ‘That the Holy Scriptures were given forth by the
‘Spirit of God; and all the People must first come to the Spirit of God in
‘themselves, by which they might know God and Christ, of whom
‘the Prophets and the Apostles learnt; and by the same Spirit know
‘the Holy Scriptures: for as the Spirit of God must be in all them, that gave
‘forth the Scriptures; so the same Spirit of God must be in all them,
‘that come to know and understand the Scriptures. By which Spirit
‘they might have Fellowship with the Son, and with the Father, and
‘with the Scriptures, and with one another: and without this Spirit
‘they can know neither God, nor Christ, nor the Scriptures, nor
‘have right Fellowship one with another. I had no sooner spoken
these Words, but about half a dozen Priests, that stood behind my
Back, burst out into a passion; and one of them, whose Name was
Jackus, amongst other things that he spake against the Truth, said:
That the Spirit and the Letter were inseparable. I replied, ’Then
‘every one, that hath the Letter, hath the Spirit; and they might
‘buy the Spirit with the Letter of the Scriptures. This plain dis-
covery of Darkness in the Priest moved Judge Fell and Colonel VVest
to Reprove them openly, and tell them, That according to that Position,
they might carry the Spirit in their Pockets, as they did the Scriptures.
Upon this the Priests being Confounded and put to silence, risht out
in a Rage againt the Justices, because they could not have their
bloody Ends upon me. So the Justices, seeing the Witnesses did not
agree, and perceiving, that they were brought to Answer the Priests
Envy, and finding, that all their Evidences were not sufficient in Law
to make good their Charge against me, they discharged me. And after
Judge Fell had spoken to Justice Sawrey and Justice Thompson con-

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cerning the VVarrant they had given forth against me, and shewed
them the Errors thereof; He and Colonel West granted a Supersedeas,
to stop the Execution thereof. Thus was I cleared in open Sessions
of all those lying Accusations, which the malicious Priests had laid to
my Charge: And Multitudes of People praised God that day; for it
was a joyful Day to many. There was Justice Benson out of West-
morland, who was Convinced; and Major Ripan, that was Mayor of
the Town of Lancaster, who was Convinced also. It was a day of
Everlasting Salvation to hundreds of People: for the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Way to the Father, and the free Teacher was exalted and set up,
and his Everlasting Gospel was preached, and the Word of Eternal
Life was declared over the heads of the Priests, and all such Money-
Preachers. For the Lord opened many Mouths that Day to speak
his Word to the Priests, and several friendly People and Professors
reproved the Priests in their Inns, and in the Streets; so that they
fell, like an old rotten House: and the Cry was among the People,
That the Quakers had got the day, and the Priests were fallen. Many
People were Convinced that day, amongst whom Thomas Briggs was
one, who before had been averse from Friends and Truth; inso-
much, that discoursing on a time John Lawson, a Friend, con-
cerning Perfection, Thomas Briggs said to him, Dost thou hold Per-
fection? and therewithal lift up his Hand, to have given the Friend a
Box on the Ear. But this Thomas Brigg, being Convinced of the
Truth that day, declared against his own Priest Jackus; and after-
wards became a faithful Minister of the Gospel, and stood so to the
End of his Days.

When the Sessions were over, James Naylor, who was present
thereat, gave a brief Account of the Proceedings thereof in a Letter,
which soon after he writ to Friends; which is here added for the
Reader‘s further satisfaction in this Matter:

Friend

‘Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of his Love, boldly to witness
‘forth the Truth, as it is revealed in you by the mighty working of
‘the Father: To him alone be everlasting Praise and Honour for
‘evermore! Dear Friends, the Lord doth much manifest his Love
‘and Power in these Parts. Upon the second day of the last Week
‘my Brother George and I were at Lancaster:There were abundance
‘of Friends from all parts; and a great sort, which sided with the
‘Priests, giving out, They now hoped to see a stop put to that great
‘Work, which had gone on so fast, and with such Power, that their
‘Kingdom is much shaken. We were called before Judge Fell, Colonel
‘West, Justice Sawrey, &c. to Answer, what was charged against
‘George. There were Three Witnesses to Eight Particulars, but they
‘were much Confused in themselves; which gave much ight to the
‘Truth: whereby the Justices did plainly see, that it was Envy;
‘and they divers times told them so. One of the Witnesses was a
‘young Priest, who Confessed, He had not meddled, had not another
‘Priest sent for him, and set him on Work. The other Witnesses

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‘were two Priests Sons: It was proved there by many, that heard
‘one of them say; If he had power, he would make George deny his
‘Profession, and that he would take away his Life. This was a single
‘VVitness to one of the greatest Untruths, that was charged against
‘George; And the Justices told him, That they saw, because he could
‘not take away his Life, he went about to take away his Liberty. There
‘was one Priest chosen out of the whole number, as an Orator, to
‘plead against us; who spared no pains to shew forth his Envy
‘against the Truth: And when he could not prevail, he went down
‘in a Rage; and there came up a Pack of them into the Room,
‘among whom was one Jacus. George was then speaking in the
‘Room (one of the Justices having wished him, if he had any thing
‘to say, he would speak:) at which the said Priest Jacus was in
‘such a Rage, that he brake forth into many high Expressions against
‘the Truth spoken by my dear Brother George; amongst which this
‘was one, That the Letter and the Spirit were inseparable. Hereupon
‘the Justices stood up, and bid him, prove that, before he went any
‘further. Then he seeing himself caught, would have denied it; and
‘when he could not get off so, the rest of the Priests would have
‘helped him to a Meaning for his VVords: But the Justices would
‘admit no other Meaning, than the plain sense of the VVords; but
‘told him, He had laid down a Position, and it was fit, he should prove
‘it; pressing the Matter close upon him. Whereupon the Priests,
‘being put to silence, went down in a greater Rage, than before;
‘and some of them, after they were gone down, being asked, what
‘they had done, Lyed and said, They could not get into the Room;
‘thereby to hide their Shame, and keep the People in blindness. The
‘Justices, Judge Fell and Colonel VVest were much Convinced of the
‘Truth, and did set up Justice and Equity; and have much silenced
‘the Rage of the People. Many bitter Spirits were at Lancaster, to
‘see the Event; but went home, and cried: The Priests had lost the
‘day: Everlasting Praises be to him, who fought the Batttel for us,
‘who is our King for ever! There were Others called, who were the VVit-
‘nesses confessed were in the Room, when all the things charged on
‘George were said to have been spoken; but they all, as one Man,
‘denied, that any such Words were spoken: Which gave much
‘Light to the Justices, and they durst trust, what they witnessed;
‘for they said, they knew many of them to be honest Men. There
‘was a VVarrant granted out against us at Appleby; but Justice Ben-
‘son told them, It was not according to the Law; and so it ceased: As I
‘hear, he is a faithful Man to the Truth. The Priests began to preach
‘against the Justices, and said; They were not to meddle in these
‘things, but to end Controversy betwixt Neighbour and Neighbour.
‘They are not pleased with the Law, because it is not in the Statute to
‘Imprison us, as the Priest, that pleaded against us, said: The
‘Justices bid him Go put it into the Statute, if he could; he said, It
‘should want no will of his. They are much afraid, that they shall
‘loose all: They are much discontented in these parts; and some of
‘them cry, All is gone. Dear Friends, dwell in Patience, and wait
‘upon the Lord, who will do his own VVork. Look not at Man in
‘the VVork; nor at Man, who opposeth the VVork: but rest in the

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‘Will of the Lord, that so ye may be furnished with Patience, both
‘to do and to suffer, what ye shall be called unto; that your End
‘in all things may be his Praise. And take up his Cross freely,
‘which keeps low the fleshly Man; that Christ may be set up and
‘honoured in all things, and so the Light advanced in you, and the
‘Judgment set up, which must give Sentence against akk that opposeth
‘the Truth; That the Captivity may be led Captive, and the Priso-
‘ner set free to seek the Lord; that Righteousness may rule in you,
‘and Peace and Joy may dwell in you, wherein consisteth the King-
‘dom of the Father; to whom be all Praise for ever! Dear Friends,
‘Meet often together: and take heed, of what Exalteth it self above
‘its Brother; but keep low and serve one another in Love for the
‘Lord’s sake. Let all Friends know, how it is with us: that God may
‘have the Praise of all.

At this Time I was in a Fast ; and was not to Eat, until this Work
of God, which then lay weighty upon me, was accomplished. But the
Lord’s Power was wonderfully set over all, and gave Truth and
Friends Dominion therein over all, to his Glory: And his Gospel
was freely preached that Day, ove the Heads of about Forty Hire-
ling-Priests. I stayed Two or Three Days afterwards in Lancaster, and
had some Meetings there: And the rude and baser sort of People
plotted together to have me drawn out of the House, and to have
thrown me over Lancaster-Bridge; but the Lord prevented them.
Then they invented another Mischief, which was this: After a
Meeting at Lancaster they brought down a distracted Man, and another
with him with Bundles of Birchen-Rods, bound together like Besoms,
with which they should have whipped me: But I was moved to speak
to them in the Lord’s mighty Power, which chained down the distra-
cted Man, and the other also; and made them calm and quiet. Then
I bid him, throw his Rods into the Fire, and burn them; and he
did so. Thus the Lord’s Power being over them, they departed
quietly.

But the Priests, fretting to see themselves overthrown at the Sessi-
ons at Lancaster, got some of the Envious Justices to join with them;
and at the following Assize at Lancaster informed Judge Windham
against me. Whereupon the Judge made a Speech against me in open
Court; and commanded Colonel West, who was Clerk of the Assize, to
issue forth a Warrant for the apprehending of me: But Colonel West
told the Judge of my Innocency, and spake boldly in my defence.
Yet the Judge commanded him again, either to write a Warrant, or
go off from his Seat: Then he told the Judge plainly, that he would
not do it; but that he would offer up all his Estate, and his Body also
for me. So he stopt the Judge; and the Lord’s Power came over all:
So that the Priests and Justices could not get their Envy executed.
That same Night I came into Lancaster, it being the Assize-Time: and
hearing of a Warrant to be given out against me, I judged it better
to shew myself openly, than for my Adversaries to seek me. So I
went to Judge Fell’s and Colonel West’s Chambers: And as soon as I

page 93

came in, they smiled on me; and Colonel West said, What! are you
come into the Dragon’s Mouth? I stayed in Town, till the Judge went
out of the Town; and I walked up and down the Town, but no one
meddled with me, nor questioned me. Thus the Lord’s blessed Power,
which is over all, carried me through and over this Exercise; and
gave Dominion over his Enemies, and enabled me to go on in his glo-
rious Work and Service for his great Name’s-sake. For though the
Beast maketh War against the Saints; yet the Lamb hath got, and will
get the Victory.

From Lancaster I returned to Robert Wither’s, and from thence I
went to Thomas Leper’s to a Meeting in the Evening; and a very
blessed Meeting we had there. After the Meeting was done, I walk-
ed in the Evening to Robert Withers’s again. And no sooner was I
gone, but there came a Company of disguised Men to Thomas Leper’s
with Swords and Pistols; who suddenly entring the House, put out
the Candles, and swung their Swords about amongst the People of the
House; so that the People were fain to hold up the Chairs before
them, so save themselves from being cut and wounded. At length
they drove all the People of the House out of the House, and then
searched the House for me; who, it seems, was the only Person they
looked for: for they had laid wait before in the High-way, by which
I should have gone, if I had ridden to Robert Withers’s. And not
meeting with me on the VVay, they thought to have found me in the
House; but the Lord prevented them. Soon after I was come in at Robert
Withers, some Friends came from the Town, where Thomas Leper lived,
and gave us a Relation of this wicked Attempt: And the Friends were
afraid, lest they should come, and search Robert Withers’s House also for
me, and do me a Mischief: But the Lord restrained them, that they came
not. Though these Men were in disguise; yet the Friends perceived some
of them to be French-men, and supposed them to be Servants belong-
ing to one called Sir Robert Bindlas: For some of them had said, that
in their Nation they used to Tye the Protestants to Trees, and whip
them, and destroy them. And his Servants used often to abuse Friends,
both in their Meetings, and going to and from their Meetings. They
once took Richard Hubberthorn and several others out of the Meeting,
and carried them a good way off into the Fields; and there bound
them, and keft them bound in the Winter-Season. And at another
Time one of his Servants came to Francis Flemming’s House.<,?> and
thrust his naked Rapier in at the Door and Windows: But there being
at the House a Kinsman of Francis Flemming’s, one who was not a
Friend, he came with a Cudgel in his Hand, and bid the Serving-
man put up his Rapier: which when the other would not, but va-
poured at him with it, and was Rude; he knock’d him down with
his Cudgel, and took his Rapier from him: And had it not been for
Friends, he would have Run him through with it. So the Friends
preserved his Life, that would have destroyed theirs.

From Robert Wither’s I went to visit Justice West, Richard Hub-
berthorn accompanying me. And not knowing the Way, nor the
Danger of the Sands, we Rid, where (as we were afterwards told)
no Man ever rid before; swimming our Horses over a very dangerous
Place. When we were come in, Justice West asked us if we did

page 94

not see Two Men riding over the Sands? I shall have their Cloaths anon,
said he, for they cannot escape Drowning; and I am the Coroner.
But when I told him, that we were the Men, he was astonished at
it; and wondred, how we escaped Drowning. Upon this the envi-
ous Priests and Professors raised a slanderous Report concerning me,
That neither Water could drown me, nor could they draw Blood of me;
and that therefore surely I was a Witch (for indeed, sometimes when
they beat me with great Staves, they did not much draw my Blood,
though they bruised my Body oft-times very sorely.) But all these
Slanders were nothing to me with respect to my self, (though I was
concerned on the Truth’s behalf, which, I saw, they endeavoured
by these Means to prejudice People against) for I considered, that
their fore-Fathers, the Apostate-Jews, called the Master of the House
Beelzebub; and these Apostate-Christians from the Life and Power of
God, could do no less to his Seed. But the Lord’s Power carried me
over their Slanderous Tongues, and their bloody, murtherous Spirits;
who had the Ground of Witchcraft in themselves, which kept them
from coming to God and to Christ.

Having visited Justice West, I went to Swarthmore, visiting Friends
there-aways; and the Lord’s Power was over all the Persecutors
there. And I was moved to write several Letters to the Magistrates,
Priests and Professors there-abouts, who had raised Persecution be-
fore. That which I sent to Justice Sawrey, was after this
manner:

Friend

‘ple Tumultuous: Thou wast the first Stirrer of them up against the
‘Righteous Seed, and against the Truth of God; and wast the first
‘strenghtner of the Hands of Evil-doers against the Innocent and
‘Harmless: And thou shalt not prosper. Thou wast the first Stirrer
‘up of Strikers, Stoners, Persecutors, Stockers, Mockers and Impri-
‘soners in the North, and of Revilers, Slanderers, Railers and false
‘Accusers, and Scandal-Raisers: This was thy Work, and this thou
‘stirredst up! So thy Fruits declare thy Spirit.Instead of stirring
‘up the pure Mind in People, thou hast stirred up the VVicked, Malici-
‘ous and Envious; and taken Hand with the Wicked. Thou hast
‘made the People’s Minds envious up and down the Country: This
‘was thy Work. But God has shortned thy Days, and limited thee,
‘and set thy Bounds, and broken thy Jaws, and discovered thy Reli-
‘gion to the Simple and Babes, and brought thy Deeds to Light.
‘How is thy Habitation fallen, and become the Habitation of Devils!
‘How is thy Beauty lost, and thy Glory withered! How hast thou
‘shewed thy End, that thou hast served God but with thy Lips, and
‘thy Heart far from him, and thou in the Hypocrisy! How hath the
‘Form of thy Teaching declared it self to be the Mark of the false
‘Prophets, whose Fruit declares it self! for by their Fruits they are
‘known. How are the Wise Men turned backward! Viewed thy Ways,
‘and take notice, with whom thou hast taken part. That of God in

page 95

‘thy Conscience will tell thee: The Ancient of Days will reprove
‘thee. How hath Zeal appeared to be the Blind Zeal; a Perse-
‘cutor, which Christ and his Apostles forbad Christians to follow!
‘How hast thou strengthened the Hands of Evil-doers, and been a
‘Praise to them, and not to them that do well! How like a Mad-
‘man, and a Blind-man didst thou turn thy Sword backward against
‘the Saints, against whom there is no Law! How wilt thou be
‘gnawed and burned one Day, when thou shalt feel the Flame and
‘have the Plagues of God poured upon thee, and thou begin to gnaw
‘thy Tongue for Pain, because of the Plagues! Thou shalt have thy
‘Reward according to thy Works: Thou canst not escape; the Lord‘s
‘righteous Judgments will find thee out, and the Witness of God in
‘thy Conscience shall answer it. How hast thou caused the Heathen
‘to Blaspheme, and gone on with the Multitude to do Evil, and
‘joined hand in hand with the wicked! How is thy latter End worse
‘than thy Beginning, who art come with the Dog to bite, and art
‘turned as a Wolf, to devour the Lambs! How hast thou discovered
‘thy self to be a Man more fit to be kept in a place to be nurtured,
‘than to be set in a Place to nurture! How wast thou exalted and
‘puffed up with Pride! And now art thou fallen down with Shame,
‘that thou comest to be covered with that, which thou stirredst up,
‘and broughtest forth. Let not John Sawrey take the VVords of God
‘into his Mouth, till he be Reformed: Let him not take his Name
‘into his Mouth, till he depart from Iniquity. Let not him and his
‘Teacher make a Profession of the Saints VVords, except they intend
‘to proclaim themselves Hypocrites, whose Lives are so contrary to the
‘Lives of the Saints; whose Church hath made it self manifest to be
‘a Cage of Unclean Birds. You having a Form of Godliness, but not
‘the Power, have made them that be in the Power, your Derision,
‘your By-word, and your Talk at your Feasts. Thy ill Savour, John
‘Sawrey, the Country about have smelled, and of thy unchristian Car-
‘riage all that fear God have been ashamed; and to them thou hast
‘been a Grief: In the Day of Account thou shalt know it, even in
‘the Day of thy Condemnation. Thou wast mounted up, and hadst
‘set thy Nest on high; but never gottest higher, than the Fowls of the
‘Air: But now thou art run amongst the Beasts of Prey, and art fal-
‘len into the Earth; so that Earthliness and Covetousness hath swal-
‘lowed thee up: and thy Conceitedness would not carry thee through,
‘in whom was found the selfish Principle, which hath blinded thy
‘Eye. Thy Back must be bowed down always; for thy Table is already
‘become thy Snare.

G. F.                 

This Justice Sawrey, who was the first Persecutor in that Country,
was afterward drowned.

I writ also to William Lampit, who was the Priest of Ulverston;
and thus it was upon me to write unto him:

page 96

‘up and down in the Scriptures, and blending thy Spirit amongst
‘the Saints Conditions; who hadst a Prophecy, as thy Father Balaam
‘had, but art erred from it, as thy Father did: One whose Fruit
‘hath withered (of which I am a Witness;) and many who have
‘known thy Fruit, have seen the End of it, that it is withered: and
‘do see, where thou art, in the blind World, a blind Leader of the
‘Blind; a Beast wallowing and tumbling in the Earth, and in the Lust,
‘one that is erred from the Spirit of the Lord; who art of old or-
‘dained for Condemnation: Who art in the Seas of the Pharisees,
‘art called of Men Master, standest Praying in the Synagogues, and
‘hast the Chief Seat in the Assemblies; a right Hypocrite in the steps
‘of the Pharisees, and in the way of thy Fathers, the Hypocrites,
‘which our Lord Jesus Christ cried Wo against. Such with the
‘Light thous art seen to be, and by the Light art Comprehended:
‘which is thy Condemnation, who hatest it; and will be so Eternally.
‘except thou Repent. To see this is the Word of God: for in Christ‘s
‘Way thou art not, but in the Pharisees; as thou mayst read, Mat. 23.
‘and all that own Christ’s Words, may see thee there. Christ who
‘died at Jerusalem, cried Wo against such as thou art; and Christ
‘is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. The Wo remains upon
‘thee,, and from under it thou canst never come; but through Judg-
‘ment, Condemnation, and true Repentance. To thee this is the VVord
‘of God: To that of God in thy Conscience I do speak, which will
‘witness the Truth, of what I write, and will Condemn thee. And
‘when thou art in thy Torment (though now thou swellest in thy
‘Vanity, and livest in Wickedness) remember, thou wast warned in
‘thy Life-time when the Eternal Condemnation is stretched over thee,
‘thou shalt witness this to be the VVord of the Lord God unto thee.
‘And if ever thy Eye should see Repentance, thou would’st witness
‘me to have been a Friend of thy Soul.

G. F.                 

Having thus cleared my Conscience to the Justice, and to the Priest
of Ulverstone, who had raised the first Persecution in that Country;
it was upon me to send this VVarning in Writing to the People of Ul-
verstone in general.

‘speak among you, being sent of God to direct your Minds to God,
‘that you might know, where you might find your Teacher; that
‘your Minds might be stayed alone upon God, and you might not
‘gad abroad without you for a Teacher: for the Lord God alone will
‘Teach his People, and he is coming to Teach them, and to gather his

page 97

‘People from Idols-Temples, and from the customary Worships,
‘which all the World is trained up in. And God hath given to
‘every one of you a Measure of his Spirit according to your Capa-
‘city; Liars, Drunkards, Whoremongers and Thieves, and who fol-
‘low filthy Pleasures, you all have this Measure in you. And this is
‘the Measure of the Spirit of God, that shews you Sin, and shews
‘you Evil, and shews you Deceit; which lets you see Lying is Sin,
‘Theft, Drunkeness and Uncleanness, all these to be the Works of
‘Darkness. Therefore mind you Measure (for nothing that is Un-
‘clean, shall enter into the Kingdom of God) and prize you Time,
‘while you have it; lest the Time come, that you say with Sorrow,
‘We had Time, but it is past. Oh, why will ye die! Why will ye
‘chuse your own Ways! Why will ye follow the Course of the
‘World! and why will ye follow Envy, Malice, Drunkenness and
‘foolish Pleasures! Know ye not in your Consciences, that all
‘these are Evil and Sin? and that such as act such things, shall ne-
‘ver enter into the Kingdom of God? Oh that ye would Consider
‘and see, how you have spent your Time, and mind, how ye do
‘spend your Time, and observe, whom ye do serve: for the Wages
‘of Sin is Death. Do ye not know, that whatsoever is more than
‘Yea and Nay, cometh of Evil? Oh ye Drunkards, who live in
‘Drunkenness, do ye think to escape the Fire and the Judgment of
‘God! Though ye swell in Venom, and live in Lust for a while; yet
‘God will find you out, and bring you to Judgment. Therefore love
‘the Light, which Christ hath enlightened you withal, who saith,
‘I am the Light of the World; and who doth enlighten every one,
‘that cometh into the World. One loves the Light, and brings his
‘Works to the Light, and there is no occasion at all of stumbling:
‘the other hates the Light, because his Deeds are Evil, and the
‘Light will reprove him. Thou that hatest this Light, thou hast it:
‘Thou knowest, Lying is Evil, Drunkenness is Evil, Swearing is
‘Evil; Whoredom, Theft and all Ungodliness, and all Unrighteous-
‘ness is Evil: Christ Jesus hath given thee Light enough to let
‘thee see, this is Evil. And this Light (if thou lovest it) will
‘teach thee Holiness and Righteousness, without which none shall
‘see God: but if thou hatest this Light, it is thy Condemnation.
‘And thus are Christ‘s Words found to be true, and fulfilled among
‘you: You that hate this Light, set up Hirelings, and Idols-Tem-
‘ples; and such Priests, as bear rule by their means; and such
‘Shepherds as hold up such things; and such as are called of Men
‘Masters, and have the chiefest Place in the Assemblies, whom
‘Christ cried Wo against; Matt. 23. And such as go in the way of
‘Cain, in Envy; and after the Error of Balaam for Wages, Gifts
‘and Rewards; These have been your Teachers, and these you have
‘held up. But who love the Light, are taught of God; and the
‘Lord is coming to teach his People himself, and to gather his from
‘the Hirelings, and from such as seek for their Gain from their
‘Quarter, and from such as bear Rule by their Means: The Lord
‘is opening the Eyes of foolish People, that they shall see such, as bear
‘Rule over them. But al, whose Eyes are shut, are such as the Pro-
‘phet spake of, That have Eyes, and see not; but are foolish, upholding

page 98

‘such things. Therfore, poor People, as ye love your own Souls,
‘consider the Love of God to your Souls, while ye have time; and
‘do not turn the Grace of God into Wantonness. That which shews
‘you Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, that should and would be your
‘Teacher, if ye would hearken to it; for the Saints of Old witnessed
‘the Grace of God to be their Teacher, which taught them to live
‘Soberly and Godly in this present World. And ye that are not
‘sober, this Grace of God hath appeared unto you; but you turn it
‘into Wantonness, and so set up Teachers without you, who are not
‘sober, not holy, not godly. Here you are left without Excuse, when
‘the Righteous Judgment of God shall be revealed upon you all, who
‘live Ungodlily. Therefore to the Light in you I speak; and when
‘the Book of Conscience shall come to be opened, then shall you Wit-
‘ness, what I say to be true, and you shall be judged out of it.
‘So God Almighty direct your Minds (such of you especially, as
‘love Honesty and Sincerity) that you may receive Mercy in the time
‘of Need. Your Teacher is within you; look not forth: It will
‘Teach you both lying in Bed, and going Abroad, to shun all Occasion
‘of Sin and Evil.

G. F.                 

As the foregoing was directed To all the Inhabitants of Ulverston
in general; so it was upon me to write also to those more particularly,
that did most constantly follow W. Lampitt the Priest there. And
unto these I writ thus:

‘turned from the Light of Christ within, which he hath enlightned
‘you withal: Ye are such, as follow that which Christ cried Wo
‘against, that goes not in Christ’s Way, but in the Pharisees Way;
‘as ye may read Matt. 23. which our Lord Jesus Christ cried Wo
‘against. He is the same yesterday, to day and for ever: but him
‘ye own not, while ye follow such, as he cried Wo against; though
‘under a Colour ye make a Profession, and Lampitt, your Priest,
‘makes a Trade of Christ’s and the Saint’s Words, as his Fathers
‘the Pharisees did make a Profession of the Prophets Words, and of
‘Moses his Words. Wo was unto them, who had not the Life: so
‘VVo is unto you, who have not the Life that gave forth the Scri-
‘ptures; as your Fruits have made manifest. For when the Lord
‘hath moved some to come amongst you, to preach the Truth freely,
‘you have knock’d them down, beat, and punch’d and haled them out
‘of your Assemblies. Such a People serves thee, O Lampitt, to make
‘a prey upon; and these are thy Fruits: O let Shame, Shame strike
‘thee and you all in the Faces, who make a Profession of Christ’s
‘Words, thou and they; and yet are Stoners, and Strikers, and
‘Mockers, and Scoffers. Let all see, if this be not a Cage of Unclean
‘Birds spoken of in the Scriptures, which they, who had the Life of

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‘pass, nor ever escape the Terror of the Lord in the state you are in,
‘who hate the Light.

G. F.                 

Amongst those, who were the Chief Hearers and Followers of
this Priest Lampitt of Ulverston, there was one Adam Sands,
who was a very wicked, false Man, and would have destroyed
Truth and its Followers, if he could: To him was I moved to
write thus:

Adam Sands,

‘ ‘

T

O the Light in thy Conscience I appeal, thou Child of the Devil, thou Enemy of Righteousness; the Lord will strike

‘thee down! though now for a while in thy wickedness thou may’st
‘Reign: And the Plagues of God are due to thee, who hardenest
‘thy self in thy wickedness against the pure Truth of God. With the
‘pure Truth of God, which thou hast resisted and persecuted, thou
‘art to be threshed down, which is Eternal, and doth Comprehend
‘thee: and with the Light, which thou despisest, thou art seen;

page 100

‘and it is thy Condemnation. Thou as one brutish, and thy VVife, as
‘an Hypocrite, and you both, as Murderers of the Just, in that which
‘is Eternal, are seen and comprehended ; and you Hearts searched
‘and tried, and condemned by the Light. The Light in thy Consci-
‘ence will witness the Truth, of what I write to thee ; and will
‘let thee see, that thou art not born of God, but art from the Truth,
‘in the Beastly Nature : And if ever thy Eye see Repentance,
‘thou wilt witness me a Friend of thy Soul, and a seeker of thy Ete-
‘nal Good.

G. F.                 

This Adam Sands afterwards

died miserably

I was moved also to write to Priest Tatham.

‘in the Assembly, and being called of Men Master, and standing
‘Praying in the Synagogue in the Steps of the Pharisees, which our
‘Lord Jesus Christ cried VVo against. In his VVay thou art not ;
‘but in the Way of the Scribes and Pharisees : as thou mayest read,
‘Matth. 23. There Christ’s VVords Judge thee, and the Scriptures of
‘Truth Condemn thee. For thou art such an one, as sues Men at the
‘Law for Tithes, and yet professest thy self to be a Minister of Christ ;
‘which Christ never impowered his to do: neither did any of his
‘Apostles or Ministers ever do so. Here I charge thee in the presence
‘of the Living God to be out of their Doctrine ; and that thou art
‘one of those evil Beasts the Scripture speaks of, that mindest Earth-
‘ly Things, which he Life of the Scriptures is against. Thou art
‘for Destruction in the State wherein thou standest ; and it will be
‘thy Portion eternally, if thou dost not Repent. To that of God in
‘thy Conscience I speak, which will witness the Truth, of what I
‘say. Thou art one, that goest in Cain’s Way, in Envy, an Enemy
‘to God, and from the Command of God : Thou art one that goest
‘in Balaam’s Way, from the Spirit of God, for Gifts and Rewards,
‘the Wages of Unrighteousness. Thou Son of Balaam, thou art
‘worse than thy Father : for though he loved the VVages of Unrigh-
‘teousness, yet he durst not take it; but thou not only takest it, but
‘suest Men at the Law if they will not give it thee: which never
‘did Minister of Jesus Christ. Therefore stop thy Mouth for ever,
‘and never make mention of them, or profess thy self one of them:
‘With the Light thou art seen and comprehended ; who art light and
‘vain, and speakest a Divination of thy own Brain, and deceivest
‘the People. That in thy Conscience will witness what I say, and
‘will Condemn thee; who art one that bearest Rule by thy Means,
‘which the Lord sent Jeremiah to cry against, Jer. 5. and so thou
‘holdest up the horrible and filthy thing, that is committed in the Land.
‘And they, that do not Tremble at the VVord of th Lord, they are the

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‘foolish People, that hold thee up; they are sottish Children, and have
‘no Understanding : They are Wise to do Evil, but not to do Good ;
‘who are deceived by thee. And such an one thou art, that seekest
‘for thy Gain from they Quarter ; a greedy and dumb Dog, that never
‘hath enough, as thy Practice makes manifest ; which the Lord sent
‘Isaiah to cry against, Isa. 56.11,12. And thou art such an one,
‘as the Lord sent Ezekiel to cry against, who feedest of the Fat, and
‘Clothest with the VVooll, and makest a Prey upon the People. But
‘the Lord is gathering his Sheep from thy Mouth, that to thee they
‘shall be a Prey no longer. Thou Enemy of God, here this Prophecy
‘is fulfilled upon thee, Ezek. 34. and thou art one of them ; I charge
‘it upon thee in the presence of the living God : A Hireling thou art;
‘and they that put not into thy Mouth, thou preparest War against
‘them. Thou hatest the Good, and lovest the Evil; which the
‘Lord sent Micah to cry against, Mic. 3. Cover thy Lips, and stop thy
‘Mouth for ever, thou Child of Darkness : for with the Light thou
‘art comprehended, and seen to be among them, which the holy
‘Men of God cryed WO against; and by the Spirit of the living
‘God thou art judged. In the Light, which is thyCondemnation,
‘thou art comprehended ; thy Race is seen, and thy Compass known,
‘whoart out of the Commands of Christ, and out of the Doctrine
‘and Life of the Apostles. Thou art proved and tryed, and to thee
‘this is the VVord of the Lord, and to thee it shall be as an Hammer,
‘a Fire and a Sword ; and from under it thou shalt never come, un-
‘less thou Repent ; who art with the Light to be Condemned, in that
‘State wherein thou standest. And if ever thy Eye see Repentance,
‘this thy Condemnation thou must own.

G. F.                 

I writ also to ---- Burton, Priest of Sedbergh, much what to the
same purpose ; he being in the same evil Ground, Nature and Practice,
which the other Priests were in. Many other Epistles also and Pa-
pers I writ about that Time, as the Lord moved me thereunto, which
I sent abroad among the Priests, Professors and People of all sorts,
for the laying their Evil ways open before them, that they might see
and forsake them ; and opening the Way of Truth unto them, that
they might come to walk therein: which are too many and large,to be
inserted in this Place.

Now after I had cleared my Conscience at that Time, to the
Priests and People in those Parts near Swarthmore, I went again into
Westmorland. And a Company of Men with Pikes and Staves laid
wait for me at a Bridge in the Way ; and they light on some Friends,
but missed me. Afterwards they came to the Meeting with their
Pikes and Staves : But Justice Benson being there, and many consi-
derable People besides, they were prevented from doing that Mis-
chief they intended. So they went away in a great Rage, but did not
hurt any Body.

page 102

I went from the Meeting to Grayrigge, and had a Meeting there at
Alexander Dixon’s House; where the Priest (who was a Baptist, and
a Chappel-Priest) came to the Meeting to oppose : but the Lord Con-
founded him by his Power. And some of the Priest’s People tum-
bled down some Milk-Pales, which stood upon the Side of the House
(the House being much crowded ;) whereupon the Priest, after he
and his Company were gone away, raise a Slander, That the Devil
frighted him, and took away a Side of the House, while he was in the
Meeting. And though this was an apparent and known Falshood, yet
it served the Priests and Professors to feed on for a while: And so
shameless they were, that they Printed it in a Book.

Another Time this Priest came to another Meeting, and fell to Jan-
gling. First he said, The Scriptures were the Word of God. I told
him : They were the Words of God, but not Christ, who is the
Word ; and bid him, prove by Scripture, what he said. Then he said,
It was not the Scripture, that was the Word : and setting his Foot
upon the Bible, he said ; It was but Copies bound up together. Ma-
ny unsavory Words came from him : But after he was gone, we had
a blessed Meeting ; and the Lord’s Power and Presence was preciously
manifested and felt amongst us. Soon after he sent me a Challenge to
meet him at Kendal : I sent him Word, He need not go so far as
Kendal, for I would meet him in his own Parish. So the Hour being
set, we Met, and abundance of rude People were gathered there toge-
ther (besides the baptized People, who were his own Members : ) and
they had intended to have done Mischief that Day ; but God pre-
vented them. Now when we were Met, I declared the Day of the
Lord to them ; and directed them to Christ Jesus. Then the Priest
out with his Bible, and said ; It was the VVord of God. I told him
it was the VVords of God ; but not God, the VVord. His Answer
was, He would prove the Scriptures to be the God, before all the Peo-
ple. So I let him go on, having a Man there, that could take down
in writing, both what he said, and what I said. And when he could
not prove it (for I kept him to Scripture-Proof, Chapter and Verse for
it) the People gnashed their Teeth for Anger; and said, He would
have me anon : But in going about to prove that one Error, he run
into many. And when at length he saw, he could not prove it; then
he said, He would prove it a God: So he toiled himself afresh, till he
sweat again ; and could not Prove, what he had Affirmed. And he
and his Company were full of wrath : For I kept his Assertions on the
Head of him and them all; and told them, I owned, what the Scri-
ptures said of themselves, namely, That they were the Words of God ;
but Christ was the Word. So the Lord’s Power came over all ; and
they being confounded, went away, and the Lord disappointed their
mischievous Intentions against me : and Friends were established
in Christ, and many of the Priests Followers saw the Folly of their
Teacher.

After this, as I came throught the Country visiting Friends, Priest
Bennet of Cartmel sent a Challenge to dispute with me. Whereupon I
came to his Steeple-house on the First-Day, and there found him Preach-
ing. When he had done, I spake to him and his People; but the
Priest would not stand the Trial, but went his Way. After he was

page 103

gone, I had a great deal of Discourse with the People: And when I
was come forth into the Steeple-house-yard, and was discoursing fur-
ther with the Professors, and declaring Truth unto them ; One of
them set his foot behind me, and Two of them ran against my Breast,
and threw me down backwards against a Grave-stone, wickedly and
maliciously, seeking to have spoiled me. But I got up again, and was
moved of the Lord to speak to them. Then I went up to the Priest’s
House, and desired him to come forth, that I might discourse with
him ; seeing he had Challenged me : But he would not as all come
out, or be seen. So the Lord’s Power came over them all, which was
greatly manifested at that Time. There was amongst the Priest’s
Hearers one Richard Roper, one of the bitterest Professors the Priest
had ; and he was very fierce and hot in his Contention: but after-
wards he came to be Convinced of God’s Eternal Truth, and became
a Minister thereof; and continued faithful to his Death.

It was now about the beginning of the Year 1653, when I re-
turned to Swarthmore : And going to a Meeting at Gleeston, a Pro-
fessor there challenged a Dispute with me. Whereupon I went to the
House, where he was, and called him to come forth : but the Lord’s
Power was over him, so that he durst not meddle. Then I departed
thence, and went and visited the Meetings of Friends in Lancashire,
and so came back to Swarthmore again. And great Openings I had
from the Lord, not only of Divine and Spiritual Matters, but also of
Outward Things, relating to the Civil Government. For being one
Day in Swarthmore-Hall, when Judge Fell and Justice Benson were
talking of the News in the News-Book, and of the Parliament that
then was sitting (which was called the Long-Parliament) I was
moved to tell them ; That before that Day Two Weeks the Parliament
should be broken up, and the Speaker pluck’d out of his Chair. And
that Day Two Weeks Justice Benson coming thither again, told Judge
Fell, That now he saw, George was a true Prophet ; for Oliver had
broken up the Parliament by that Time.

About this Time I was in a Fast for about Ten Days, my Spirit
being greatly exercised on Truth’s behalf: for James Milner and
Richard Myer went out into Imaginations, and a Company followed
them. This James Milner, and some of his Company had true Openings
at the first, but getting up into Pride and Exaltation of Spirit, they run
out from Truth. I was sent for to them, and was moved of the
Lord to go, and shew them their Goings forth: And they came to
see their Folly, and Condemned it; and came into the Way of Truth again.

After some Time I went to a Meeting at Arn-side, where Richard
Myer was. Now he had been long Lame of one of his Arms : And
I was moved of the Lord to say unto him amongst all the People,
‘Prophet Myer, stand up upon thy Legs (for he was sitting down:)
And he stood up, and stretched out his Arm, that had been Lame
a long time, and said; ‘Be it known unto you, all People, that this
‘Day I am healed. But his Parents could hardly believe it ; but after
the Meeting was done, had him aside, and took off his Doublet : and
then they saw, it was true. He came soon after to Swarthmore-Meet-
ing, and there declared, how that the Lord had healed him. Yet
after this the Lord commanded him to go to York with a Message

page 104

from him; and he disobeyed the Lord : and the Lord struck him
again, so that he died about three quarters of a Year after.

Now were great Threatnings given forth in Cumberland, That if
ever I came there again, they would take away my Life. When I heard
it, I was drawn to go into Cumberland again; and went to one Miles
Wennington’s, in the same Parish, from which those Threatnings
came : but they had not Power to touch me then.

Much about this Time too it was, that Anthony Pearson was Con-
vinced, who had been an Oppressor of Friends. He came over to
Swarthmore ; and I being then at Colonel West’s, they sent for me :
and Colonel West said ; Go, George, for it may be of great Service to
the Man. So I went, and the Lord’s Power reached him.

About this Time also the Lord opened several Mouths to declare the
Truth to Priests and People ; so that divers were cast into Prison. And
I went again to Cumberland, and Anthony Pearson and his Wife, and
several Friends went along with me to Bootle, where Anthony Pearson
left me; and went on himself to Carlisle-Sessions : for he was a Ju-
stice of the Peace in Three Counties. Upon the First Day of the week
I went into the Steeple-house at Bootle ; and when the Priest had
done, I began to speak. But the People were exceeding rude, and
struck and beat me in the Steeple-house-yard: One gave me a very
great blow over my Wrist, so that the People thought, he had bro-
ken my Hand to Pieces. The Constable was very willing to have kept
the Peace, and would have set some of them by the Heels, that
struck me, if I would have given way to it. After my Service at
that time amongst them was over, I went to Joseph Nicholson’s House;
and the Constable went a little way with us, to keep off the rude
Multitude from us. In the Afternoon I went up again; and then the
Priest had got another Priest to help him, one that came for London,
and was highly accounted of. Before I went into the Steeple-house,
I sate a little upon the Cross, and Friends with me ; but the Friends
were moved to go into the Steeple-house, and I went in after them.
The London-priest was preaching ; who gathered up all the Scriptures
he could think of, that spake of false Prophets, and Antichrists, and
Deceivers, and threw them upon us : But when he had done, I Re-
collected all those Scriptures, and brought them back upon himself. Then
the People fell upon me in a rude manner ; but the Constable charged
them to keep the Peace, and so made them quiet again. Then the
Priest began to Rage, and said ; I must not speak there : I told him
he had his Hour-Glass, by which he had preached ; and he having
done the Time was free for me, as well as for him : for he was
but a Stranger there himself. So I opened the Scriptures to them, and
let them see, ‘That those Scriptures, that spake of the false Prophets,
‘and Antichrists and Deceivers, described them and their Generation,
‘and belonged to them, who were found walking in their Steps, and
‘bringing forth their Fruits ; and not unto us, who were not guilty
‘of such things. And I manifested to them, that they were out of
‘the Steps of the true Prophets and Apostles; and shewed them clearly
‘by the Fruits and Marks, that they were of those, whom those Scri-
‘ptures spake of, and not we. And I declared the Truth, and the
‘Word of Life to the People, and directed them to Christ their

page 105

‘Teacher. And all was quiet, while I was speaking : But when I
had done, and was come forth, the Priests were both of them in such
a Fret and Rage, that they foamed at the Mouth for Anger against
me. The Priest of the Place made an Oration to the People in the
Steeple-house-Yard, and said ; This Man hath gotten all the honest Men
and Women in Lancashire to him; and now, said he, he comes here to do
the same. Then I said unto him, ‘What wilt thou have left ? And
‘what have the Priests left them, but such as themselves? For if it be
‘the Honest, that receive the Truth, and are turned to Christ ; then
‘it must be the Dishonest, that follow thee, and such as thou art.
Some also of the Priest’s People did begin to plead for their Priest,
and for Tithes. But I told them, It were better for them to plead for
Christ, who had ended the Tithing-Priesthood and the Tithes, and
had sent forth his Ministers to give freely, as they had received freely.
So the Lord’s Power came over them all, and put them to Silence ;
and restrained the rude People, that they could not do the Mischief
they intended. And when I came down again to Joseph Nicholson’s
House, I saw a great hole in my Coat, which was cut with a Knife ;
but it was not cut through my Doublet, for the Lord had prevented
their Mischief. And the next day there was a rude, wicked
Man would have done Violence to a Friend ; but the Lord’s Power
stopt him.

Now I was moved to send James Lancaster, to Appoint a Meeting
at one John VVilkinson’s Steeple-house near Cockermouth ; who was a
Preacher in great repute, and had three Parishes under him ; where-
fore I staid at Milholm in Bootel, till he came back again. In the
mean time some of those they called the Gentry of the Country, had
made a Plot against me, and had given a little Boy a Rapier, for him
to do me a Mischief with it. And they came with the Boy to Joseph
Nicholson’s House to seek me : but the Lord had so ordered it, that
I was not in the House, but was gone forth into the Fields. They
met with James Lancaster, but did not much abuse him ; and not
finding me in the House, after a while they went away again. So I
walked up and down in the Fields that Night, and did not go to
Bed ; as very often I used to do. The next Morning we passed from
thence, and came the next day to the Steeple-house, where James Lan-
caster had appointed the Meeting. There were at this Meeting Twelve
Soldiers and their VVives, who were come thither from Carlisle ;
and the Country-People came in, like as it had been to a Fair. I lay
at an House somewhat short of the Place, so that many Friends were
got thither before me. And when I came there, I found James
Lancaster speaking under a Yew-Tree ; which was so full of People,
that I feared, they would break it down. I looked about for a place
to stand upon, to speak unto the People : for they lay all up and
down, like People at a Leaguer. But after a while, that I was dis-
covered, a Professor came to me and asked ; If I would not go into
the Church? I seeing, there was no place abroad convenient to speak
to the People from, told him, Yes : Whereupon the People rushed in ;
so that when I came in, the House and Pulpit was so full of People,
that I had much ado to get in : and they that could not get in, stood

page 106

abroad about the VValls. When the People were settled, I stood up
upon a Seat : ‘And the Lord opened my Mouth to declare his Ever-
‘lasting Truth, and his Everlasting Day ; and to lay open all their
‘Teachers, and their Rudiments, Traditions and Inventions, that they
‘had been in, in the Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days : And
‘I turned them to Christ the true Teacher, and to the true, Spiritual
‘VVorship ; directing them, where to find the Spirit and Truth,
‘that they might Worship God therein. I opened Christ’s Parables
‘unto them, and directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves,
‘that would open the Scriptures unto them. And I shewed them,
‘how all might come to know their Saviour, and sit under his Teach-
‘ing ; and come to be Heirs of the Kingdom of God, and know both
‘God’s and Christ’s Voice, by which they might discover all the false
‘Shepherds and Teachers they had been under, and be gathered to the
‘true Shepherd, Priest, Bishop and Prophet Christ Jesus, whom God
‘commanded all to hear. So when I had largely declared the VVord
of Life unto them, for about the space of three Hours, I walked forth
from amongst the People, and the People passed away very well sa-
tisfied. Among the rest a Professor followed me, praising and com-
mending me ; and his Words were like a Thistle to me : At last I
turned about, and bid him, Fear the Lord : Whereupon one, Priest
Larkham of Cockermouth (for several Priests were got together on the
Way, who came, after the Meeting was done) said to me, Sir, why
do you judge so? you must not judge, said he. But I turned to him
and said, Friend, dost thou not discern an Exhortation from a Judg-
ment ? for I admonished him to fear God ; and dost thou say, I
judge him ? So this Priest and I falling into Discourse, I manifested
him to be amongst the false Prophets and covetous Hirelings. And
several People being moved to speak unto them, he and two other of
the Priests soon got away. When they were gone, John Wilkinson
(who was Preacher of that Parish, and of two other Parishes in Cum-
berland) began to dispute against his own Conscience for several hours,
till the People generally turned against him : for he thought to have
Tired me out ; but the Lord’s Power tired him out, and the Lord’s
Truth came over him and them all. And Many hundreds were Con-
vinced that day, and received the Lord Jesus Christ, and his free
Teaching with Gladness ; of whom some have died in the Truth,
and many stand there faithful Witnesses thereof. The Souldiers also
were Convinced, and their VVives ; and continued with me, till the
First-day.

On the First-day I went to the Steeple-house at Cockermouth, where
Priest Larkham lived : And when the Priest had done, I began to
speak; and the People began to be Rude : but the Souldiers told them,
We had broken no Law; and then they were quiet. Then I turned
me to the Priest, and laid him open among the false Prophets and
Hirelings : At which word the Priest went his way, and said, He
calls me Hireling : which was true enough, and all the People knew
it. Then some of the Great Men of the Town came to me, and said,
Sir, We have no learned Men to dispute with you. I told them, I came
not to dispute, but to declare the way of Salvation to them, and the
way of Everlasting Life. And so I declared largely the way of Life

page 107

and Truth to them, and directed them to Christ their Teacher,
that had died for them, and bought them with his Blood.

When I had done, I passed away about Two Miles to another
great Steeple-house of said John Wilkinson’s, called Brigham ; where
the People, having been at the other Meeting, were mightily affected;
and would have put my Horse into the Steeple-house-Yard : but I said,
No ; the Priest claims that ; have him to an Inn. When I came into
the Steeple-house-Yard, I saw the People coming in great Companies,
as to a Fair ; and abindance were already gathered in the Lanes,
and about the Steeple-house. I was very Thirsty ; and walked about
a quarter of a Mile to a Brook, where I got some Water, and re-
freshed my Self. And as I came up again, I met the said Wilkinson ;
who, as I passed by him, said, Sir, will you preach today? If you
will, said he, I will not Oppose you in Word or Thought. I replied, Op-
pose, if thou wilt ; I have something to speak to the People. And, said
I, thou carried’st thy self foolishly the other day, and spakest a-
gainst they Conscience and Reason ; insomuch that thy Hearers cried
out against thee. So I left him, and went on ; for he saw, it was in
vain to Oppose, the People were so affected with the Lord’s Truth.
When I came into the Steeple-house-Yard, a Professor came to me and
asked, If I would not go into the Church? (as he called it) And I see-
ing no convenient Place abroad, to stand to speak unto the People
from, went in ; and stood up in a Seat after the People were settled.
The Priest came in also ; but did not go up to his Pulpit. ‘So the
‘Lord opened my Mouth, and I declared his Everlasting Truth, and
‘Word of Life to the People ; directing them to the Spirit of God in
‘themselves, by which they might know God and Christ, and the
‘Scriptures, and come to have heavenly Fellowship in the Spirit. And
‘I declared to them, that Every one that cometh into the World, was
‘enlightened by Christ the Life ; by which Light they might see
‘their Sins, and Christ, who was come to save them from their Sins,
‘and died for them. And if they came to walk in this Light, they
‘might therein see Christ to be the Author of their Faith, and the
‘Finisher thereof ; their Shepherd to feed them, their Priest to teach
‘them, and their great Prophet to open divine Mysteries unto them,
‘and to be always present with them : I opened also unto them, in
‘the Openings of the Lord, the first Covenant, shewing them the
‘Figures , and the Substance of those Figures ; and so bringing them
‘on to Christ, the New Covenant. I also manifested unto them, that
‘there had been a Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days ; but that
‘now the Everlasting Gospel was preached again, which brought Life
‘and Immortality to Light : And the day of the Lord was come, and
‘Christ was come to teach his People himself by his Light, Grace,
‘Power and Spirit. A fine opportunity the Lord gave me, to preach
Truth among the People that day, for about three hours time ; and all
was quiet. And Many hundreds were Convinced that day : And some
of them praised God and said ; Now we know the first step to Peace.
The said Preacher also said privately to some of his Hearers, that I had
broken them, and overthrown them.

page 108

After this I went to a Village, and many People accompanied me.
And as I was sitting in a House full of People, declaring the Word
of Life unto them, I cast mine Eye upon a Woman ; and I discerned
an Unclean Spirit in her. And I was move of the Lord to speak
sharply to her ; and told her, she was a Witch : Whereupon the
Woman went out of the Room. Now I being a Stranger there, and
knowing nothing of the Woman Outwardly, the People wondred at it;
and told me afterwards, that I had discovered a great thing : for all
the Country looked upon her to be a Witch. The Lord had given me a
Spirit of discerning, by which I many times saw the States and Con-
ditions of People, and could Try their Spirits. For not long before,
as I was going to a Meeting, I saw some Women in a Field, and I dis-
cerned them to be Witches : and I was moved to go out of my way
into the Field to them, and declare unto them their Conditions ; tell-
ing them plainly, They were in the Spirit of Witchcraft. At another
time there came such an one into Swarthmore-Hall in the Meeting-
time ; and I was moved to speak sharply to her, and told her, she was
a Witch : And the People said afterwards, she was generally accounted
so. There came also at another time another Woman, and stood at
a distance from me; and I cast mine Eye upon her and said : Thou
hast been an Harlot : for I perfectly saw the Condition and Life of the
Woman. The Woman answered and said, Many could tell her of her
Outward Sins ; but none could tell her of her Inward. Then I told
her, Her Heart was not right before the Lord; and that from the In-
ward came the Outward. This Woman came afterwards to be Con-
vinced of God’s Truth, and became a Friend.

From the aforesaid Village we came up to Thomas Bewley’s, near
Coldbeck ; and from thence, having had some Service for the Lord
there, I passed to a Market-Town, where I had Meeting at the
Cross ; and all was pretty quiet : and when I had declared the Truth
unto them, and directed them to Christ their Teacher, some received
the Truth. Then we passed further, and had another Meeting upon
the Borders, in a Steeple-house-Yard, to which many Professors and
Contenders came ; but the Lord’s Power was over all : and when
the Word of Life had been declared amongst them, some received the
Truth there also.

From thence passing on we came to Carlisle, and the Pastor of the
Baptists, with most of his Hearers came to me there to the Abbey ;
where I had a Meeting, and declared the Word of Life amongst them :
and many of the Baptists, and of the Souldiers were Convinced. Af-
ter the Meeting was done, the Pastor of the Baptists (being an high
Notionist, and a flashy Man) came to me, and asked me, What
must be damned? I was moved immediately to tell him, That which
spake in him, was to be damned. This stopt the Pastor’s Mouth ; and
the Witness of God was raised up in him : and I opened to
him the States of Election and Reprobation, so that he said ; He
never heard the like in his Life. He also came afterward to be
Convinced.

Then went I up to the Castle among the Souldiers ; who beat a
Drum, and called the Garrison together : And I preached the Truth
amongst them, ‘Directing them to the Lord Jesus Christ to be their

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‘Teacher, and to the measure of his Spirit in themselves, by which
‘they might be turned from the Darkness to the Light, and from the
‘Power of Satan unto God. And I warned them all, that they should
‘do no Violence to any Man ; but should shew forth a Christian-Life:
‘telling them, that he, who was to be their Teacher, would be their
‘Condemnation, if they were disobedient to him. So I left them,
having no Opposition from any of them, except the Serjeants ; who
afterwards came to be Convinced.

On the Market-day I went up into the Market, to the Market-Cross.
Now the Magistrates had both threatned, and sent their Serjeants :
And the Magistrates Wives had said, That if I came there, they would
pluck the Hair from off my Head ; and that the Serjeants should take me
up. Nevertheless I obeyed the Lord God, and went upon the Cross ;
and there declared unto them, ‘That the day of the Lord was com-
‘ing upon all their deceitful Ways and Doings, and deceitful Mer-
‘chandize ; and that they should put away all Cozening and Cheat-
‘ing, and keep to Yea and Nay, and speak the Truth to one another :
So the Truth, and the Power of God was set over them. And after I
had declared the Word of Life to the People, the Throng being so
great, that the Serjeants could not get to me, nor the Magistrates
Wives come at me ; I passed away quietly. Many People and Souldi-
ers came to me, and some Baptists, that were bitter Contenders ; a-
mongst whom one of their Deacons, being an envious Man, and find-
ing the Lord’s Power was over them, Cried out for very Anger.
Whereupon I set my Eyes upon him. and spake sharply to him in the
Power of the Lord : and he cried, Do not pierce me so with thy Eyes ;
keep thy Eyes off me.

On the first day following, I went into the Steeple-house : And
after the Priest had done, I preached the Truth to the People, and
declared the Word of Life amongst them. The Priest got away ;
and the Magistrates desired me to go out of the Steeple-house : But I
still declared the VVay of the Lord unto them, and told them ; I
came to speak the word of Life and Salvation from the Lord amongst
them. The Power of the Lord was dreadful amongst them in the
Steeple-house, so that the People trembled and shook, and they thought,
the Steeple-house shook ; and some of them feared, it would have
fallen down on their Heads. The Magistrates VVives were in a Rage,
and strove mightily to have been at me : but the Souldiers and
friendly People stood thick about me. At length the rude People of
the City rose, and came with Staves and Stones into the Steeple-house,
crying ; Down with these Round-headed Rogues : and they threw
Stones. Whereupon the Governour sent a File or two of Musketeers
into the Steeple-house, to appease the Tumult ; and commanded all
the other Souldiers out. So those Souldiers took me by the Hand in
a friendly manner, and said ; They would have me along with them
then. When we came forth into the Street, the City was in an Up-
roar; and the Governour came down : and some of those Souldiers
were put in Prison for standing by me, and for me against the Towns
People. There was a Lieutenant, that had been Convinced ; and he
came, and had me to his House, where there was a Baptists-Meeting
and thither came Friends also : and we had a very quiet Meeting ;

page 110

and they heard the VVord of Life gladly, and many received it. The
next day, the Justices and Magistrates of the Town being gathered
together in the Town-hall, they granted a VVarrant against me ;
and sent for me to come before them. I was then gone to a Baptist’s
House ; but hearing of it, I went up to the Hall to them, where
many rude People were : some of whom had sworn strange false
Things against me. I had a great deal of Discourse with the Magi-
strates, wherein I laid open the Fruits of their Priest’s Preaching ;
and shewed them, how Void they were of Christianity : and that,
though they were such great Professors (for they were Independents
and Presbyterians) they were without the Possession of that which
they professed. So after a large Examination they Committed me
to Prison as a Blasphemer, an Heretick and a Seducer ; though they
could not justly charge any such thing against me. The Jail at
Carlisle had Two Jailers, an Upper and an Under, which looked
like Two great Bear-wards. Now when I was brought in, the Upper-
Jailer had me up into a great Chamber, and told me, I should have
what I would in that Room. But I told him, he should not expect
any Money from me, for I would neither lie in any of his Beds, nor
eat any of his Victuals. Then he put me into another Room ; where
after a while I got something to lie upon. There I lay, till the
Assizes came : and then all the Talk and Cry was, that I was to be
Hanged. And the High-Sheriff, whose Name VVilfrey Lawson,
stirred them much up to take away my Life, and said ; He would
guard me to my Execution himself. They were in a black, dark Rage,
and set three Musketeers for Guard upon me ; one at my Chamber-door,
another at the Stairs-foot, and a third at the Street-door : and none
they would let come at me, except one sometimes, to bring me some
necessary things. At Night they would bring up Priests to me,
sometimes as late as the Tenth Hour in the Night ; and they would
be exceeding Rude and Divellish. There were a Company of bitter,
Scotch Priests, Presbyterians, made up of Envy and Malice, who were
not fit to speak of the things of God, they were so foul-mouthed :
But the Lord by his Power gave me dominion over them all, and I
let them see both their Fruits, and their Spirits. Great Ladies also
(as they were called) came to see the Man, that they said was to die.
Now, while both the Judge, Justices and Sheriff were contriving to-
gether, how they might put me to death; the Lord disappointed their
Design by an unexpected way. For the Judge’s Clark (as I was In-
formed) started a Question among them ; which Confounded all
their Counsels : So that after that they had not Power to call me before
the Judge.

Anthony Pearson being then in Carlisle, and perceiving, that they
did not intend to bring me (as was expected) upon my Trial, he
writ a Letter to the Judges, directed as followeth :

page 111

‘To the Judges of Assize and Jail-Delivery for the        
        ‘Northern Parts, sitting at Carlisle.       

‘and to set the oppressed free. I am therefore moved to lay before you
‘the Condition of him, who is called George Fox, whom the Magistrates
‘of this City have cast into Prison, for Words that he is accused to have
‘spoken, which they call Blasphemy. He was sent to the Jail, till he
‘should be delivered by due Course of Law ; and it was expected, he
‘should have been proceeded against in the Common Law-Course at this
‘Assizes. The Informations against him were delivered into Court ;
‘and the Act allows and appoints that way of Trial. How hardly and
‘unchristianly he hath been hitherto dealt with, I shall not now mention :
‘but you may consider, that nothing he is accused of, is nice and difficult.
‘And, to my Knowledge, he utterly abhors and detests every Particular,
‘which by the Act against Blasphemous Opinions is appointed to be pu-
‘nished ; and differs as much from those People, against whom the Law was
‘made, as Light from Darkness. Though he be Committed, Judgment
‘is not given against him; nor have his Accusers been face to face, to
‘affirm before him, what they have Informed against him : Nor was he
‘heard, as to the Particulars of their Accusations : nor doth it appear,
‘that any Word they charge against him, is within the Act. But indeed,
‘I could not yet so much as see the Information, no not in Court, though
‘I desired it both of the Clark of the Assizes and of the Magistrates
‘Clark; nor hath he had a Copy of them. This is very hard: And
‘that he should be so close restrained, that his Friends may not speak
‘with him, I know no Law nor Reason for. I do therefore claim for
‘him a due and lawful Hearing, and that he may have a Copy of his
‘Charge, and freedom to Answer for himself; and that rather before
‘you, than to be left to the Rulers of this Town, who are not competent
‘Judges of Blasphemy : as by their Mittimus appears, who have Com-
‘mitted him upon an Act of Parliament ; and mention Words, as spo-
‘ken by him at his Examination, which are not within the Act, and
‘which he utterly denies. The Words mentioned in the Mittimus he de-
‘nies to have spoken ; and hath neither professed nor avowed them.

                                                    Anthony Pearson

But not withstanding this Letter, the Judges were resolved not to
suffer me to be brought before them ; but reviling and Scoffing at
me behind my back, left me to the Magistrates of the Town : giving
them what Encouragement they could, to Exercise their Cruelty upon
me. Whereupon (though I had been kept up so close in the Jailer’s
House, that Friends were not suffered to come at me ; and Colonel
Benson and Justice Pearson were denied to see me: yet) the next Day,
after the Judges were gone out of Town, an Order was sent to the
Jailer, to put me down into the Dungeon amongst the Moss-Troopers,

page 112

Thieves and Murderers ; which accordingly he did. A Filthy, Na-
sty Place it was, where Men and Women were put together in a very
uncivil manner ; and never a House of Office to it.: And the Prisoners
so lousy, that one Woman was almost eaten to death with Lice. Yet as
bad as the Place was, the Prisoners were all made very loving and
subject to me ; and some of them were Convinced of the Truth, as
the Publicans and Harlots were of old ; so that they were able to
confound a Priest, that might come to the Grates to dispute. But the
Jailer was very Cruel, and the Under-Jailer very abusive both to me,
and to Friends, that came to see me : For he would beat Friends
with a great Cudgel, that did but come to the Window to look in upon
me. I could get up to the Grate, where sometimes I took in my
Meat ; at which the Jailer was often offended. One Time he came
in a great Rage, and fell a beating me with his great Cudgel, though I
was not at the Grate at that time: and as he beat me, he cried, Come
out of the Window, though I was then far enough from it. Now,
while he struck me, I was made to sing in the Lord’s Power ; and
that made him Rage the more. Then he went, and fetched a Fiddler,
and brought him in where I was, and set him to play ; thinking to
vex me thereby : But while he played, I was moved in the everlast-
ing Power of the Lord God to sing ; and my Voice drowned the Noise
of the Fiddle, and struck and confounded them : and made them give
over Fiddling, and go their ways.

Justice Benson’s Wife was moved of the Lord to come to visit me,
and to Eat no Meat, but what she Eat with me at the Bars of the
Dungeon-Window. She was afterwards herself Imprisoned at York,
when she was great with Child, for speaking to a Priest ; and was
kept in Prison, and not suffered to go out, when the time of her Tra-
vail was come : so she was delivered of her Child in the Prison. She
was an honest, tender Woman, and continued faithful to the Truth,
until she died.

Whilst I was in the Dungeon at Carlisle, one James Parnel, a little
Lad of about Sixteen Years of Age, came to see me ; and was Con-
vinced : And the Lord quickly made him a powerful Minister of the
Word of Life, and many were turned to Christ by him ; though he
lived not long. For travelling into Essex in the Work of the Ministry,
in the Year 1655, he was Committed to Colchester-Castle, where he
endured very great Hardships and Sufferings ; being put by the Cruel
Jailer into a Hole in the Castle-wall, called the Oven, so high from
the Ground, that he went up to it by a Ladder : which being six
Foot too short, he was fain to climb from the Ladder to the Hole by a
Rope that was fastned above. And when Friends would have given
him a Cord and a Basket, to have drawn up is Victuals in, the Inhu-
man Jailer would not suffer them ; but he forced him to go down and
up by that short Ladder and Rope, to fetch his Victuals (which for a
long time he did) or else he might have famished in the Hole. At
length, his Limbs being much benummed with lying in that Place, yet
being constrained to go down to take up some Victuals ; as he came
up the Ladder again with his Victuals in one hand, and catched at the
Rope with the other, he missed the Rope; and fell down from a ve-
ry great height upon the Stones : by which Fall he was exceedingly

page 113

wounded in his Head and Arms, and his Body much bruised ; and he
died in a short Time after. And when he was dead, the wicked Pro-
fessors, to cover their own Cruelty, writ a Book of him, and said ;
He fasted himself to Death : which was an abominable Falshood; and
was manifested to be so by another Book, which was written in
Answer to that, and was called, The Lamb’s Defence against Lies.

Now when I saw, that I was not like to be brought forth to a pub-
lick Hearing and Trial (although I had before Answered in Writing
the particular Matters charged against me, at the Time of me first Ex-
amination and Commitment) I was moved to send forth the following
Paper, as a publick Challenge to all those, that did belie the Truth
and me behind my Back, to come forth, and make good their Charge.

‘ed concerning the things of God, which I, who am called George Fox,
‘have spoken and declared, let them declare and publish their Dissa-
‘tisfaction in Writing ; and not back-bite, not lie, nor persecute in se-
‘cret : This I demand of you all in the presence of the living God,
‘as ye will answer it to him. For the Exaltation of the Truth, and
‘the Confounding of the Deceit is this given forth : To that of God
‘in your Consciences I speak ; declare or write your Dissatisfactions to
‘any of them, whom you call Quakers, that Truth may be exalted,
‘and All may come to the Light, with which Christ hath enlightened
‘every one, that cometh into the World : that nothing may be hid
‘in Darkness, in Prisons, Holes or Corners ; but that all things may
‘be tried. This I am moved of the Lord to write, and send forth to
‘be set upon the Market-Crosses in Westmorland, and elswhere. To
‘the Light of Christ in you I speak, that none of you may speak evil
‘of the things of God, which you know not ; nor act contrary to
‘the Light, that gave forth the Scriptures: lest you be found Fighters
‘against God, and the Hand of the Lord be turned against you.

                                                                G. F.

While I thus lay in the Dungeon at Carlisle, the Report, that was
raised at the time of the Assize, That I should be put to Death, was
gone out far and near ; insomuch that the Parliament then sitting
(which, I think, was called the Little-Parliament) hearing, That a
Young-man at Carlisle was to die for Religion, caused a Letter to be
sent down to the Sheriff and Magistrates concerning me. And much
about the same Time I writ also to the Justices at Carlisle, that had
cast me into Prison, and that persecuted Friends at the Instigation of
the Priests, for Tithes ; expostulating the Matter with them thus :

page 114

Friends, Thomas Crafton and Cuthbert Studholm,

‘Goods of People have you made within these few Years, unlike Men;
‘as though you had never read the Scriptures, or had not minded
‘them! Is this the End of Carlisle’s Religion? is this the End of your
‘Ministry ? and is this the End of your Church, and of your Pro-
‘fession of Christianity ? you have shamed it by your Folly and Mad-
‘ness, and blind zeal. Was it not always the Work of the blind
‘Guides, Watchmen, Leaders and false Prophets, to prepare War
‘against them, that would not put into their Mouths ? And have not
‘you been the Priests-Pack-horses and Executioners ? When they spur
‘you up, to bear the Sword against the Just, do not you run on against
‘the Creatures, that cannot hold up such, as the Scriptures did always
‘testify against? Yet will you lift up your unholy Hands, and call up-
‘on God with your polluted Lips, and pretend a Fast, who are full of
‘Strife and Debate. Did your Hearts never burn within you ? Did
‘you never come to question your Conditions? Are you wholly given
‘up to do the Devil’s Lusts, to Persecute ? Where is your Loving
‘Enemies? Where is your Entertaining Strangers ? Where is your
‘Overcoming Evil with Good ? Where are you Teachers, that can stop
‘the Mouths of Gain-sayers, and can convince Gain-sayers, and such as
‘oppose themselves ? Have you no Ministers of the Spirit, no Soldiers
‘with Spiritual Weapons, displaying Christ’s Colours ? But all the Dra-
‘gon’s, the Murderer’s, the Persecutor’s ; Arm of Flesh ; Cain’s Wea-
‘pons ; Chief Priests taking Counsel; Judas and the Multitude with
‘Swords and Staves ; Sodom’s Company raging about Lot’s House ; like
‘the Priests and Princes against Jeremiah ; like the Dragon, Beast and
‘great Whore, and the false Church, which John saw should cast into
‘Prison,andKill,andPersecute? Whose Weapons are you bearing? doth
‘not the false Church, the VVhore, make Merchandize of Cattel, Corn,
‘VVine and Oil, even to the very Souls of Men? And hath not all
‘this been, since the true Church went into the Wilderness? Read Re-
‘velations the 12th, with the 18th : Do you not read and see, what
‘a Spirit you are of, and what a bottomless Pit you are in ? And have
‘not you dishonoured the Place of Justice and Authority ? What!
‘turned your Sword backward, like Mad-Men, who are a Praise
‘to the Evil-Doer, and would be a Terror to the Good, with all Force
‘and Mightto stop the way of Justice ! Doth not the Lord, think
‘you, behold your Actions ? How many have you wronged? how
‘many have you Imprisoned and Persecuted, and put out of your
‘Synagogues ! Are you they, that must fulfil the Prophecy of
‘Christ, Matth 23. John 16. Read the Scriptures, and see, how
‘unlike you are to the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles : and what a
‘Visage you have; like unto them, that persecuted the Prophets, Christ
‘and the Apostles ! You are found in their Steps, wrestling with Flesh
‘and Blood ; and not with Principalities, and Powers, and Spiritual
‘Wickedness : And your Teachers imprisoning and persecuting for
‘outward things, you being their Executioners ; the like whereof

page 115

‘hath not been in all the Nations : The Havock that hath been made
‘the spoiling of the Goods of People, taking away their Oxen and
‘fatted Beeves, their Sheep, Corn, Wool, and Houshold-Goods, and giv-
‘ing them to the Priests that have done no Work for them : More
‘like Moss-Troopers, than Ministers of the Gospel, they take them
‘from Friends ; suing them in your Courts, and fining them, be-
‘cause they will not break the Commands of Christ, that is, because
‘they will not Swear. And thus you Act against them, that so not
‘lift up an Hand against you ; and as much as you turn against them,
‘you turn against Christ. But he is risen, that will plead their Cause ;
‘and you cannot be hid : for your Works are come to Light, and the
‘End of your Ministry is seen, what it is for ; for Means. And ye
‘ have dishonoured the Truth, the Gospel ; and are they, that make it
‘Chargeable : You have lost your Glory ; you have dishonoured your
‘selves. Persecution was ever blind and mad : Read the Apostle,
‘what he saith of himself, when he was in your Nature. Exaltation
‘and Pride, and your lifting up your selves, hath brought you to this ;
‘not being humble, and not doing Justice, and not loving Mercy. And
‘when such, as have beaten been and bruised by your Rude Company
‘(to whom you are a Praise and Encouragement) have come, and laid
‘things before you, that you might have done Justice, preserved and
‘kept Peace ; you (as knowing they could not swear) have put an Oath
‘to them : And this hath been your Trick and Cover, that ye might
‘not do Justice to the Just ; but by this means have gone onstill fur-
‘ther to Encourage the Evil-Doer. But the Lord sees your Hearts !
‘If ye were not Men of past feeling, ye would fear and tremble before
‘him, the God of the whole Earth ; who is risen, and will stain your
‘Glory, and marr your Pride, and deface your Beauty, and lay it in
‘the dust. Though for a Time you may swell in your Pride, and
‘glory in your Shame, and make a mock of God’s Messengers, who, for
‘Reproving Sin in the Gate, are become your Prey ; you will feel
‘the heavy hand of God, and his Judgments at the last. This is from
‘a Lover of Truth and of Righteousness, and of your Souls ; but
‘a Witness against all such, as make a Trade of the Prophets, Christ’s
‘and the Apostles Words, and are found in the Steps of them, that
‘persecuted the Prophets, Christ’s and the Apostles Life : who will
‘persecute them, that will not hold you up, and put into your Mouths,
‘and give you Means. Tithes were before the Law, and Tithes were
‘in the Law ; but Tithes since the Days of the Apostles have been on-
‘the Law, and to end War, Redeems Men out of the Tenths and out
‘of the Nines also. The Redeemed of the Lord shall reign upon
‘the Earth ; and know the Election, which was, before the World
‘began. Since the days of the Apostles Tithes have been set up by the
‘Papists, and by them that went forth from the Apostles into the
‘World; so set up by the false Church, that made Merchandize of
‘People, since the true Church went into the Wilderness. But now is
‘the Judgment of the great Whore come, and the Beast and false
‘Prophet (the Old Dragon) shall be taken, and cast into the Fire ; and
‘the Lamb and his Saints shall have the Victory. And now is Christ
‘come, who will make War in Righteousness, and destroy with

page 116

‘the Sword of his Mouth all these Inventers and Inventions, that have
‘got up, and been set up since the Days of the Apostles, and since the
‘true Church went into the Wilderness. And the everlasting Gospel
‘which is the Power of God, shall be preached again to all Nations,
‘and Kindreds, and Tongues in this the Lamb’s Day ; before whom
‘you shall appear to Judgment : and you have no way to Escape For
‘he hath appeared, who is the First and Last, the Beginning and
‘the Ending, the Alpha and the Omega : He that was Dead, is alive
‘again, and lives for evermore !

I mentioned before, That Gervase Benson and Anthony Pearson,
(though they had been Justices of the Peace) were not permitted to
come to me in the Prison ; whereupon they jointly wrote a Letter to
the Magistrates, Priests and People at Carlisle concerning my Imprison-
ment. And thus it was :

‘who suffers Imprisonment of his Body at this present, as a Blasphemer,
‘and an Heretick, and a Seducer, him do we witness (who in mea-
‘sure are made Partakers of the same Life, which lives in him) to be
‘a Minister of the Eternal Word of God, by whom the everlasting
‘Gospel is preached : by the powerful Preaching whereof the Eternal
‘Father of the Saints hath opened the Blind Eyes, hath unstopped the
‘deaf Ears, hath let the Oppressed go free, and hath raised up the Dead
‘out of the Graves. Christ is now preached in and among the Saints,
‘the same, that he ever was : and because his heavenly Image is born
‘up in this his faithful Servant, therefore doth fallen Man (Rulers,
‘Priests and People) persecute him : because he lives up out of the
‘Fall, and testifies against the Works of the VVorld, that the Deeds
‘thereof are Evil, he suffers by you Magistrates ; not as an Evil-
‘Doer. For thus it was ever, where the Seed of God was kept in
‘Prison under the cursed Nature, that Nature sought to imprison
‘them, in whom it was raised. The Lord will make him to you as a
‘burdensome Stone : for the Sword of the Spirit of the Almighty is put
‘into the Hands of the Saints, which shall wound all the Wicked ;
‘and shall not be put up, till it hath cut down all corrupt Judges,
‘Justices, Magistrates, Priests and Professors ; till he hath brought
‘his wonderful thing to pass in the Earth, which is, to make New
‘Heavens and a New Earth, wherein shall dwell Righteousness ; which
‘now he is about to do. Therefore fear the Lord God Almighty,
‘ye Judges, Justices, Commanders, Priests and People : ye that forget
‘God, suddenly will the Lord come, and destroy you with an utter
‘Destruction ; and will seep your Names out of the Earth, and will
‘restore his People Judges, as at the First, and Counsellors, as at the
‘Beginning. And all Persecutors shall partake of the Plagues of
‘the VVhore, who hath made the Kings of the Earth, and the
‘great Men drunk with the VVine of her Fornications ; and hath
‘drunk the Blood of the Saints : and therefore shall you be Parta-

page 117

‘takers of her Plagues. We are not suffered to go see our Friend
‘in Prison, whom we witness to be a Messenger of the Living God.
‘Now all People, mind, Whether this be according to Law, or from
‘the wicked, perverse, envious Will of the envious Rulers and
‘Magistrates, who are of the same Generation, that persecuted Jesus
‘Christ : for, said he, as they have done to me, so will they do to you.
‘And as he took the love, the kindness and service, that was shewed
‘and performed to any of his Afflicted Ones in their Sufferings and
‘Distress, as done unto himself ; so the Injuries and Wrongs, that
‘were done by any to any of his Little Ones, he resented, as done
‘unto himself also. Therefore you, who are so far from visiting him
‘your selves in his suffering Servant, that ye will not suffer his Bre-
‘thren to visit him ; ye must depart, ye Workers of Iniquity, into
‘the Lake, that burns with Fire. The Lord is coming to thresh the
‘Mountains, and will beat them to Dust : And all corrupt Rulers,
‘corrupt Officers and corrupt Laws the Lord will take Vengeance on,
‘by which the tender Consciences of his People are oppressed. And he
‘will give his People his Law, and will judge his People himself,
‘not according to the sight of the Eye, and hearing of the Ear ;
‘but with Righteousness, and with Equity. Now are your Hearts
‘made manifest, to be full of Envy against the living Truth of God,
‘which is made manifest in his People ; who are contemned and de-
‘spised of the World, and scornfully called Quakers. You are worse
‘than the Heathens, that put Paul in Prison ; for none of his Friends
‘or Acquaintance were hindred to come to him by them : therefore
‘they shall be Witnesses against you. Ye are made manifest to the
‘Saints, to be of the same Generation, that put Christ to death, and
‘that put the Apostles in Prison, on the same pretence, as you act
‘under ; in calling Truth Error, and the Ministers of God Blasphem-
‘ers, as they did. But the day is dreadful and terrible, that shall
‘come upon you, ye Evil Magistrates, Priests and People, who pro-
‘fess the Truth in Words outwardly, and yet persecute the Power of
‘Truth. and them that stand in and for the Truth. While ye have
‘Time, prize it ; and remember, what is written Isa. 54. 17.

                                                George Benson,
                                                Anthony Pearson.

Not long after this, the Lord’s Power came over the Justices, and
they were made to set me at Liberty. But sometime before I was
set at Liberty, the Governour, and the said Anthony Pearson came
down into the Dungeon to see the Place, where I was kept; and un-
derstand, what Usage I had. And when they were come down to
me, they found the place so bad, and the savour so ill, that they
cried shame of the the Magistrates, for suffering the Jailer to do such
things: And they called for the Jailers into the Dungeon, and
required them to find Sureties for their good Behaviour ; and the Un-
der-Jailer, who had been such a Cruel Fellow, they put into the Dun-
geon with me, amongst the Moss-Troopers.

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Now after I was set at Liberty, I went to Thomas Bewley’s, where
there came a Baptist-Teacher to Oppose me; and he was Convinced.
And Robert Widders being with me, and was moved to go to Coldbeck-
Steeple-house ; and the Baptist-Teacher went along with the same
day. And the People fell upon them, and almost killed Robert Wid-
ders ; and took the Baptist’s Sword from him, and beat him sorely
This Baptist had the Inheritance of an Impropriation of Tithes ; and he
went home, and gave it up freely. Robert VVidders was sent to
Carlisle-Jail ; where having lain a while, he was set at Liberty again.
VVilliam Dewsberry also went to another Steeple-house hard by ; and
the People almost killed him, they beat him so ; but the Lord’s Power
was over all, and healed them again. At that day many Friends went
to the Steeple-houses, to declare the Truth to the Priests and People ;
and great Sufferings they underwent : but the Lord’s Power sustained
them.

Now I went into the Country, and had mighty great Meetings ;
and the Everlasting Gospel and VVord of Life flourished, and Thou-
sands were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, and his Teaching. And
several that took Tithes, as Impropriators, denied the receiving of
them any longer ; and delivered them up freely to the Parishioners
Then passing on into VVestmorland, I had many great Meetings : and
at Strickland-Head I had a large Meeting, where a Justice of Peace
out of Bishoprick, whose Name was Henry Draper, came up ; and
many Contenders were there. The Priests and Magistrates were in a
great Rage against me in Westmorland, and had a VVarrant to ap-
rehend me ; which they renewed from time to time, for a long
time : yet the Lord did not suffer them to serve it upon me. So I
traveled oon amongst Friends, visiting the the Meetings, till I came to
Swarthmore; where I heard, that the Baptists and Professors in Scot-
land had sent to me to have a Dispute with me. Whereupon I
sent them word, that I would meet them in Cumberland at Thomas
Bewley’s House : whither accordingly I went ; but none of them
came. Some dangers at this time I underwent in my Travels to and
fro : for at one time, as we were passing from a Meeting, and going
through VVighton on a Market-day the People of the Town had set a
Guard with Pitch-forks : and although some of their own Neighbours
were with us ; they kept us out of the Town, and would not let us
pass through the Town, under a pretence of preventing the Sickness:
though there was no Occasion for any such thing. However they
fell upon us, and had like to have spoiled us and our Horses : But
the Lord did restrain them, that they did not much hurt ; and we
passed away. Another time, as I was passing between two Friend’s
Houses, some Rude Fellows lay in Wait in a Lane, and exceedingly
stoned and abused us ; but at last, through the Lord’s Assistance, we
got through them, and had not much hurt. But this shewed the
Fruits of the Priest’s Teaching, which shamed their Profession of
Christianity.

Now, after I had visited Friends in that County, I went through
the Countries into Bishoprick ; having large Meetings by the way :
and a very large Meeting I had at Anthony Pearson’s where many
were Convinced. From thence I passed through Northumberland to

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Darren-Water, where there were great Meetings : and the Priests
threatned, that they would come ; but none came. The everlasting
Word of Life was freely preached, and freely received ; and many
Hundreds were turned to Christ, their Teacher.

In Northumberland there came many to dispute ; of whom some
pleaded against Perfection : unto whom I declared, That Adam
‘and Eve were perfect, before they fell ; and All that God made,
‘was perfect ; and that the Imperfection came by the Devil, and the
‘Fall : But Christ, that came to destroy the Devil, said, Be ye perfect.
Then one of the Professors said, That Job said, Shall mortal Man be
more pure, than his Maker? The Heavens are not clear in his sight. God
charged his Angels with Folly. But I shewed him his Mistake, and let
him see, ‘That it was not Job, that said so ; but one of those, that
‘contended against Job : for Job stood for Perfection, and held his In-
‘tegrity ; and they were called miserable Comforters. Then these Pro-
fessors said, The Outward Body was the Body of Death and Sin. I
shewed them their Mistake in that also ; shewing them, ‘That Adam
‘and Eve had each of them an Outward Body, before the Body of
‘Death and Sin got into them ; and that Man and Woman wiil have
‘Bodies, when the Body of Sin and Death is put off again ; when
‘they are Renewed up into the Image of God again by Christ Jesus,
‘which they were in, before they fell So they ceased at that time
from Opposing further ; and glorious Meetings we had in the Lord’s
Power.

Then passed we on to Hexam, where we had a great Meeting a
Top of an Hill : The Priest threatned, that he would come and Op-
pose us, but he came not ; so that all was quiet : ‘And the Ever-
‘lasting Day, and Renowned Truth of the Everliving God was
‘sounded over those dark Countries, and his Son exalted over all.
‘And it was proclaimed amongst the People, that the Day was now
‘come, wherein all that had made a Profession of the Son of God,
‘might receive him ; and that to as many as would receive him, he
‘would give Power to become the Sons of God, as he had done to me.
And it was further declared, ‘That he, that had the Son of God, he
‘had Life Eternal : but he that had not the Son of God (though he
‘profest all the Scriptures, from the first of Genesis to the last of the
‘Revelations) he had not Life. So after that all were directed to the
Light of Christ, by which they might see him, and receive him ,
and know, where their true Teacher was, and the Everlasting
Truth had been largely declared amongst them ; we passed
away through Hexam peaceably, and came into Gilsland, a
Country noted for Thieving.

Here a Friend spying the Priest, went to speak to him : whereupon
the Priest came down to our Inn, and the Town’s People gathered
about us. The Priest said, He would prove us Deceivers out of the
Bible ; but could find no Scripture for his purpose. Then he went
into the Inn ; and after a while came out again, and brought some
broken Sentences of Scripture, that mention the Doctrines and Com-
mandments of Men, &c. and Touch not, Taste not, &c. for they perish
with the using ; All which (poor Man) was his own Condition :
whereas we were persecuted, because we would not Taste, nor Touch,

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nor Handle their Doctrines and Traditions, which we knew, perished
with the using. I asked him, What he called the Steeple-house? Oh,
said he, the dreadful House of God, the Temple of God. Then I
shewed him, and the poor, dark People, ‘That their Bodies should
‘be the Temples of God : and that Christ never commanded these
‘Temples, but ended that Temple at Jerusalem, which God had com-
‘manded. While I was speaking, the Priest got away : and after-
wards the People made, as if they feared, we would take their Purses,
or steal their Horses ; judging us like themselves, who are naturally
given to Thieving.

The next day we came through the Country into Cumberland
again, where we had a general Meeting of many Thousands of People
a Top of an Hill near Langlands. A glorious and heavenly Meeting
it was ; for the Glory of the Lord did shine over all : and there
were as many, as one could well speak over ; the Multitude was so
great. Their Eyes were fixed on Christ their Teacher ; and they came
to sit under their own Vine : insomuch that Francis Howgill coming
to Visit them, found, they had no need of Words ; for
they were sitting under their Teacher Christ Jesus : In the sense
he sate down amongst them, without speaking any thing.
A great Convincement there was in Cumberland, Bishoprick, Northumber-
land, Westmorland, Lancashire and Yorkshire: And the Plants of God
grew, and flourished so, the heavenly Rain descending, and God’s Glory
shining upon them, that many Mouths were opened by the
Lord to his Praise ; yea, to Babes and Sucklings he ordained
Strength.

After my Release from Carlisle-Prison, I was moved to go to Priest
Wilkinson’s Steeple-house again : and I being got into the Steeple-
house before him, when he came in, I was declaring the Truth to the
People, though they were but few ; for the most and the best of his
Hearers were turned to Christ’s free Teaching : and we had a Meeting
of Friends hard by, where one Thomas Stubbs was declaring the
Word of Life amongst them. As soon as the Priest came in, he Op-
posed me : and there did we stay most part of the Day; for when I
began, he Opposed me : so if any Law was broken, he broke it. And
when his People would be haling me out, I manifested his Fruits to
be such, as Christ spake of, when he said ; They shall hale you out of
their Synagogues : And then he would be ashamed, and they would
let me alone. There did he stand, till it was almost Night, jang-
ling and opposing me; and would not go to his Dinner : for he thought
to have wearied me out. But at last, the Lord’s Power and Truth
came so over him, that he packt away with his People. Then when
he was gone, I went to the Meeting of Friends, who were turned to
the Lord, and established by his Power upon Christ, the Rock and
Foundation of the true Prophets and Apostles, but not if the
False.