James Nayler, who upon an indictment of blasphemy, appearing at the sessions at Appleby, in the month called January, 1652, found the said justice Pearson sitting there on the bench as one of his persecutors: who asking him several questions received such pertinent answers from J. Nayler, that in a great degree he was convinced of the truth held by J. Nayler and his friends.

By what hath been related here may be seen how unexpectedly some entered into society with the Quakers, so called; more instances of which might be produced if needful; since I have known such, who being naturally of a boisterous temper, yet were so struck with the terror of the Lord, that they came to be of such a quiet spirit, and harmless behaviour, that as formerly they could not suffer the least provocation, so now they bore all revilings and mockings with an even and undisturbed mind; because the fear of God had made such deep impression upon them, that they were careful lest by an angry or impetuous deportment they should sin against him. And thus continuing to live in fear, and a reverential awe, they improved in true godliness; insomuch that by their pious lives they preached as well as others with words. After this manner the number of their society increased; but then grievous sufferings ensued; for the priests could not endure to see that their hearers left them; the furious mob was spurred on, and among the magistrates there were many, who, being of a fierce temper, used all their strength to root out the professors of the light, (as they were called at first,) and to suppress and stifle their doctrine; but all proved in vain, as appears abundantly from this history; although there were hardly any prisons in England, where some of these people were not shut up; besides the spoil of goods, and cruel whippings that befel some of them. Yet all this they bore with a more than ordinary courage, without making resistance, how great soever their number was; and notwithstanding many of them had been valiant soldiers, who often had slain their enemies in the field, without regarding danger.

In the consideration of this undaunted steadfastness, it hath seemed to me, that there have been some such among VOL. II.

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this people, whose talent was valiantly to endure persecu tion for a good cause; and who perhaps in ease would not have been such good Christians as they proved to be under these sufferings; resembling the camomile in this, which the more it is depressed or rubbed, the better it grows, and yields the stronger scent. Being then thus oppressed, they found themselves under a necessity of continuing vigilant and watchful; and, according to king Solomon's advice, to keep their hearts with all diligence. This made them love what they judged to be truth, more than their lives, and it caused them to be careful, lest that should come over them which the church of Ephesus was threatened with, because she had left her first love, viz. the removing of her candlestick out of its place. Thus their mutual love increased, and their own lives they valued not, when the grieving of their consciences stood in competition with it.

Having thus passed through many adversities, with an unwearied and lasting patience, and being become a great people, known by the name of Quakers, they were at length, by the generous clemency of king William III. and the favour of the Parliament, declared to be a society, who should henceforth be tolerated in the kingdom as Protestant dissenters, with liberty to perform their religious worship in public without disturbance.

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS.

THE TWELFTH BOOK.

QUEEN ANNE having now ascended the throne, and taken in hand the reins of government, was congratulated from all quarters; and the people called Quakers thought themselves no less obliged than others to condole the king's death, and testify their affection and fidelity to the Queen; and therefore they drew up an address; and when some of them, of whom G. Whitehead was one, went to present it, (which was on the 11th of the 24 month, April,) they were introduced by the then earl, but now duke, of Marlborough, and the duke of Ormond. The address was as followeth :

TO QUEEN ANNE, OVER ENGLAND, &c.

May it please the Queen,

We, thy peaceable subjects, cannot but be sorrowfully affected with a deep sense of the 1 ss sustained by the death of our late king William the Third, whom God made the

instrument of much good to these nations; a prince who indeed desired to be the common father of his people, and as such did by his great example, as well as precept, endeavour to unite them in interest and affection, and promoted and confirmed a legal liberty to tender consciences, by all which his reign was adorned, to the renown" of his memory.

'And it having pleased the all-wise God, the disposer of kingdoms, to preserve thee to succeed to the government of these nations; and thereby to the maintaining and consummating those great works so happily begun; we humbly beg leave to congratulate thy free and peaceable accession to the throne, from whence we observe the queen's excellent declaration, manifesting her care for the good of all her people, and therefore doubt not but we, her Protestant dissenting subjects, shall partake of her royal favour and protection.

We sincerely declare, that with the assistance of the grace of God, we will always, according to our Christian duty, demonstrate our good affection, truth and fidelity to the queen and her government; and heartily pray that his wisdom may direct, and his blessing be upon the queen and her great council, to the suppressing of vice and immorality, and the promoting of piety, peace, and charity, to the glory of God, and the benefit of these nations.

"May the King of kings make thy reign long and glorious, to which temporal blessing we shall pray for thy eternal happiness.

'Signed on behalf and by appointment of the aforesaid people, at a meeting in London, the 10th of the second month, 1702.'

This address was very favourably received by the and after it was read to her, she answered,

queen,

'I thank you for your address, and I assure you of my protection.'

It was scarce a month after, when war was proclaimed in England against France, which had been proclaimed in Holland also against that crown some days before. Not long after followed the general yearly meeting of those called Quakers, held at London, in which it was thought fit to thank the queen for her declaration, that she would maintain the act of toleration in favour of the dissenters; and therefore an address was drawn up by the said assembly, which was as followeth:

TO QUEEN ANNE, OVER ENGLand, &c.

The humble and thankful acknowledgment of the people commonly called Quakers, from their yearly meeting in London, the 30th day of the 3d month, called May, 1702.

May it please the Queen,

We, thy peaceable and dutiful subjects, met from most parts of thy dominions at our usual yearly meeting, (for the promotion of piety and charity,) being deeply affected with thy free and noble resolution in thy late speech at the prorogation of the parliament, to preserve and maintain the act of toleration for the ease and quiet of all thy people, could not but in gratitude esteem ourselves engaged both to thank Almighty God for that favourable influence, and to renew and render our humble and hearty acknowledgments to the queen for the same, assuring her, on behalf of all our friends, of our sincere affection and Christian obedience.

And we beseech God, the fountain of wisdom and goodness, so to direct all thy counsels and undertakings, that righteousness, which exalts a nation, and mercy and justice, that establish a throne, may be the character of thy reign, and the blessings of these kingdoms under it.

Signed by the appointment and on the behalf of the said meeting.'

Of those who presented this address, William Penn was the deliverer, and the queen was pleased to speak to him