cast it from thee, and enjoy life which is better than all. And this is our desire for you all that are our brethren, who have believed in the Truth, that you keep nothing back that God calls for: and that you have not peace in your employments, of which we have sometimes discoursed, concerning superfluity, and things altogether needless, and that which some of us for many years have left undone; and we wish it were so with all, that there might be a clearness and an enlargement in the Lord's power, and an increase of his love, which is much better than the increase of corn, and wine, and oil. And these things, friends, we lay before you in the love of God, and in a true sense of the same, as being delivered from under those burdens that many yet groan under, and are not redeemed out of, as lace, ribbons, and needless buttons, altogether useless; and such like things, which the light doth not justify, but is out of that in which the true fellowship stands. And as for the manner and way of answering the world in making their clothes, we leave it to the witness of God in you all, and as much as in you lies beget them into moderation: and as for friends, we hope that they will not desire, nor wear any thing inconvenient, and therefore need say nothing about it more: believing the Lord will also open their understandings, so that they will preach to the world in all things, and adorn themselves as becomes the gospel; which is the power of God, by which we are called, and the way in which we are to walk, while we are in these earthly tabernacles; that so our lights may shine forth to the world, that they seeing our good works, may glorify our father which is in heaven, and that to the brightness of our rising many may come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." And this is that our very souls travail for, to God for you all, and for every one convinced of the Lord's heavenly truth, that all may enjoy it fully, and that nothing may be wanting; and for this cause is this written, in the requirings of the Lord's dear and tender love to you all, not as exercising lordship over God's heritage, nor with reflection upon any man's person; nor for disputation, nor leading into parties, or gratifying any narrow private judgment; but for the honour of Truth, and the glory of God, which is our whole aim, the Lord knoweth. So in the blessed unchangeable Truth of God, we salute you all, dear brethren, and in which we remain in love unfeigned, "Your dear Friends and Brethren, Gilbert Latey, John Bowlover, Edw. Eldershaw William Taylby William Tillit John Pearce Henry Day William Brown Degory Marshal John Thorpe. "From our Meeting in London, the 25th of the 1st Month, 1672." And now I come to give some account of Gilbert's service in attending king Charles, which he having done several times, my intention being brevity, I shall therefore give but this one particular relation out of them all, it being thus: In the year 1683, our friends at Norwich being under severe sufferings and close confinement, for meeting to worship the Lord, according as in conscience they were persuaded, to the number of sixty three persons, both men and women, ten of whom were put into a low dungeon, twenty-nine steps under ground, and several put into the hole among the felons; the cruelty of their sufferings cried aloud, and the severity they underwent, through the rage and great hardship of the sheriff and gaoler thus inflicted upon them, not being warrantable according to law, stirred up friends here the more to have those sufferings laid before the king; and in order thereto, they drew up the case that it might be presented; and Gilbert being a man well fitted с and very ready at all times to solicit for the ease of suffering friends, he, with our ancient and honourable friend, George Whitehead, whom he truly loved, and ever had a more than ordinary esteem for, were appointed by way of petition, to deliver this suffering case to the king; they being partly known to him, both having attended him before in the suffering case of friends, which in those times were great in sundry parts of the nation; and the king being now at Windsor, and the council to meet at Hampton-court, it being about the middle of the second month, thereupon George and Gilbert went the evening before, intending for Kingston; but the tide being spent, and the wind strong against them, they could reach no farther than Wandsworth ; and the next morning, though wet went on foot to Kingston, where making but a very little stay at Ann Fielder's who was Gilbert's mother in law, they proceeded on towards Hampton-court; and having gone about something more than half way up the park, saw a concourse of people near the canal, and drawing a little nearer, perceived the king was there; upon which they drew towards him, and being come pretty near the king, some of his nobles took notice of them, and said, the Quakers were coming towards his Majesty; the king then looking towards the friends, said he thought he knew them; upon which they spake, and prayed the king that he would be pleased to hear them a few words, they being come on purpose from London to attend the king. Upon this the king was pleased to make a little stop, and George delivered to the king the suffering case of our friends, and laid before him the severities and hardships they underwent, and that it was contrary to law; upon which the king was pleased to say he would search into the matter; adding, "I will not have them overcharged contrary to law by any means, but will have my laws observed;" and after his thus speaking was very pleasant, and asked the friends several questions, as why they could not as well say, Aye and No, as Yea and Nay? To which they answered, that it was equal to our friends, either to say Aye or No, or Yea or Nay, that which was most proper they could make most use of. "But," said the king, "you will say Thee and Thou, and what is your reason for that?" To which Gilbert made answer, "The same reason expressed in the 26th of the Acts of the Apostles, the second and third verses, give we now to the king, where the apostle Paul speaking to king Agrippa, says, I think myself happy king Agripa, that I shall answer for myself before thee, especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs, &c. Also, verse 27, King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? And, verse 29, Would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear |