THE

HISTORY

OF THE

RISE AND PROGRESS

OF THE

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

THE SECOND BOOK.

THE year 1651 had scarce begun, when the Scots resolved, notwithstanding their overthrow, to crown their new King, which, after he had sworn to maintain the covenant, they did in the beginning of the month called January. But leaving this

We return again to George Fox, whom we left at Derby, in the house of correction; where, about this time a trooper came to him, who said, that having been in the steeple-house, hearing the priest, exceeding great trouble came upon him, and that a voice (which he took to be that of the Lord) said to him, Dost thou not know that my servant is in prison? Go to him for direction.' G. Fox speaking to his condition, told him, 'That which shewed him his sins, and troubled him for them, would also shew him his salvation; because He that shews

a man bis sin, is the same that takes it away.' Whilst he was thus speaking, the trooper's understanding began to be opened concerning the truth, and he was sensible of God's mercies, which made him speak boldly in his quarters among the soldiers, and others, alleging the Scriptures for what he now believed to be truth. He also said, his colonel (which I take to be Barton) was as blind as Nebuchadnezzar, to cast the servant of the Lord into prison. This so incensed his colonel, that, when at Worcester fight, the two armies lying near one another, two from the King's army challenged any two of the Parliament's army to fight with them, the said colonel made choice of him and another to answer the challenge: and when in the encounter his companion was slain, he drove both his enemies within a musket-shot of the town, without firing a pistol at them. Thus he returned victorious; but then he saw the deceit of the officers, and how wonderfully the Lord had preserved him; and in process of time becoming sensible that fighting was unlawful for a true Christian, he laid down his arms, henceforth to fight under the banner of the Prince of Peace, by entering into the spiritual warfare.

Now the time of G. Fox's commitment to the house of correction, being very near out, and there being many new soldiers raised, the commissioners would have made him captain over

them, and the soldiers cried, 6 They would have none but him.' So the keeper of the house of correction was commanded to bring him up be fore the commissioners and soldiers in the mar ket-place; and there they proffered him that preferment, (as they called it) asking him if he would not take up arms for the Commonwealth, against Charles Stuart. G. Fox, never having been a fighter, though it has appeared he was bold and valiant, told them, 'That he could not do so, as well knowing from whence all wars did arise, (viz. from the lusts, according to the doctrine of the apostle James) and that he lived in the virtue of that life and power, that took away the occasion of all wars.' The commissioners, to fawn upon him, said, "They offered him the office in love and kindness, because of his virtue.' But he not mattering those flattering words, replied, If this be your love and kindness, I trample it under my feet.' This bold answer presently shewed how shallow their pretended kindness was; for it so enraged them, that they said, 'Take him away jailer, and put him into the dungeon amongst the rogues and felons.' Thus G. Fox was put into a lousy stinking place amongst thirty felons, where he had no bed, and was kept almost half a year, unless that at times he was suffered to walk in the garden, for they believed of him that he would not run away.

Being in this nasty prison, it was said among the people, that he never should come out: but he, trusting in God, believed the contrary, it being shewed him from the Lord (according to what he relates) that he was not yet to be removed from that place, there being a service for him to do.

In the meanwhile it was noised abroad, that he was in Derby dungeon, and his relations came again to see him, they being much troubled about it; for they thought it a great shame to them, that he should lie thus in jail : besides, it was a strange thing then to be imprisoned for religion. But some judged him to be mad, because he maintained the doctrine of purity, righteousness, and perfection. Among others that came to see him, there was also a soldier from Nottingham, who said to him, "Your faith stands in a man that died at Jerusalem; and there never was any such thing.' This so grieved G. Fox, that he said to him, How! did not Christ suffer without the gates of Jerusalem, by the professing Jews, the chief priests, and Pilate? No,' said the other, he did not suffer there outwardly.' Then G. Fox asked him, Whether there were not Jews, chief priests, and Pilate outwardly? This puzzled the soldier a little, so that he could not deny it. Then he told him: As certainly as there was a chief priest, and Jews, and Pilate,

so certainly Christ did suffer there outwardly under them.' Yet this inconsiderate person, said also, That never any of the prophets, or apostles, or holy men of God, suffered any thing outwardly; but that all their sufferings were inward.' Then G. Fox instanced to him many of the prophets and apostles, how they suffered, and by whom they suffered, thereby to confound his silly imaginations. Yet such was the malice of some, that a slander was raised among the people, that the Quakers denied Christ that suffered and died at Jerusalem. This, indeed, is a singular evidence of the credulity of people, taking upon trust any story, how false soever, when it relates to those that are become the object of vulgar odium. Now, as G. Fox was often visited by those that came out of curiosity, it is not to be wondered, that sometimes he was contradicted by presumptuous and self-conceited persons. Once there came to him some that pretended they were triers of spirits; and these he asked, 'What was the first step to peace and what it was by which a man might see his salvation.' But they being of an airy mind, took this to be such a strange question, that they did not stick to say he was mad. Thus it appeared, that these who pretended to try spirits, did not know what spirit they themselves were of, and that they had not sufficient knowledge to make