ings to see how well these things are observed; and tenderly to admonish such, in brotherly love, that shall decline the same.

We also understand that divers of our Friends, who were captives at Mequinez, and suffered great hardship there, are dead. And there yet remain five; for whose ransom great endeavours have been used, but it is not yet effected.

And it hath been matter of great comfort and joy to us (which we also believe it will be to you) to understand by the Friends that came up to this Yearly Meeting from the several counties in England and Wales, as well as by the epistles from divers parts beyond the sea; viz. Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Jersey, Maryland, Barbadoes, Bermudas, Jamaica, and Long Island, which most generally give account truth spreads and prospers, and is in good esteem, and inany sober people inquire after it in many places; and Friends generally are preserved in love and unity, and watchfulness against the spirit of looseness and separation. Blessed be the God of love and peace for this and all his manifold mercies.

Howbeit, dear Friends, we are sorrowfully affected with the straights and hardships which our Friends and brethren in the kingdom of Scotland deeply partake of in the common calamity, which sorely afflicts the nothern parts of that nation, by reason of the failing of their crops for these three years last past, which hath occasioned a great scarcity of bread to some hundreds there: the consideration whereof engages us to recommend to you their distressed conditions; hoping and believing the Lord will open your hearts, in a sympathizing spirit of brotherly love and christian compassion, cheerfully and freely to administer to their great and pressing necessities. And inasmuch as there are other occasions for some supplies to some poor Friends beyond the seas at Dantzick and Embden, as well as for other general and necessary services of truth; we therefore recommend to you, that a collection be made in your respective meetings, and Friends stirred up to be open-hearted on this occasion; there having been no collection made of this kind for seven years last past; and what was then collected being all expended, and considerable sums besides, as we understand by those Friends that were appointed to examine the accounts.

And it is farther desired that Friends be careful and expeditious in sending up what money shall be so collected to John Harwood, Richard Diamond, John Knight, Henry Gouldney, Robert Ruddle, Francis Plumsted, or some of them; and to give advice thereof by letter to your several correspondents here, to be communicated to the Meeting for Sufferings.

And now, dear Friends; not thinking it peedful to renew our

often-repeated advices to keep out of the evil ways, fashions, and customs which the spirit of the world leads into; we recommend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace; which is able to prosper and build you up, and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified; and will keep and preserve you, as you sincerely mind and obey it, in love, peace, and unity one with another, and watchful against that spirit which would lead into indifferency, slackness or dullness in going to meetings, and in waiting upon the Lord therein; and which would sow discord, and make divisions, parties, or breaches, to the scandal of the church of Christ.

And we beseech you therefore, in the fear of the Lord, that ye will exercise a watchful and tender care over the weak among you, that they may not be hurt, or drawn away thereby.

So in dear love we conclude with the exhortation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, "Have salt in yourselves, and "have peace one with another." MARK ix. 50.

And having had a comfortable season together, and the good presence of the Lord among us, in the sense of his goodness, with ihankfulness for the same, this meeting adjourns to this time twelvemonth, if it please the Lord to give us an opportunity. Signed in behalf of our said Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXII-1699.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

In the renewed love of our Lord Jesus Christ, our holy head and heavenly lawgiver, we dearly salute you; wishing you a plentiful increase of all spiritual blessings in him, who, according to his wonted goodness, hath, through his divine providence, afforded us a peaceable and comfortable season: so that notwithstanding the rage and enmity of restless apostates, and some others, who have grossly misrepresented us; yet hath this our meeting been kept, as usually, in the name, power, love, and spirit, of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And as, in the sense thereof, we have been under a godly concern to exhort one another to abide therein, and to persevere in faithfulness and sincerity in our ancient and christian testimony, in all the several parts thereof; so we tenderly exhort you in the love of God, in your respective meetings, to take effectual care therein, that all may be so preserved to the end.

And dear Friends; we hereby give you to understand, that we

have received accounts, as well by the Friends that came up to this Yearly Meeting, from the several counties in England and Wales, as by epistles from divers foreign parts (viz. from Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Pennsylvania, the Jerseys, Rhode-Island, Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Jamaica, &c.) that truth spreads and prospers; that Friends grow up, and are preserved in love and unity therein; that many sober people, both in this and other countries, resort to Friends' meetings; and that the Lord hath of late raised up and sent forth divers of his servants, in the spirit of his Son, to labour in the work of the ministry, for the gathering into, and building up in, the way of truth and holiness: which accounts, as they were cause of great comfort and joy to us, so we gladly impart the same to you, that you may partake with us therein; and both you and we may jointly return thanksgiving and praises to the Lord our God therefore.

The deep sufferings of many in Scotland, by reason of a great scarcity of corn, heretofore intimated, have been considered by Friends, as desired last year, to the great relief of the poor Friends there; whose acknowledgments of Friends' love and care therein have gratefully been presented to this meeting. And the scarcity still continuing, and rather increasing, a farther assistance is intended to be continued, till we see how the Lord will be pleased to do with them, as to a plentiful harvest or otherwise.

Earnest endeavours have again lately been used for the liberty of our Friends, captives in Barbary, though not as yet obtained; and there being at this time some negociations on foot, by the tenderness and care of the government, for the redemption of all the English there; and though the persons in Barbary, employed therein by Friends, do wait some time to see the effect of that; yet we shall continue our farther endeavours for their discharge. And in the mean time have and do take care to send them supplies for food; they having little allowance in that country of any thing to support their bodies, under the great severities of labour, and undeserved stripes that captives often endure. Also farther direction by this meeting is given on their behalf.

And let all Friends be exhorted to abide ander the daily cross; whereby the earthly mind may be crucified, which hath its delights and ease in vanity, pride, covetousness, &c. That Friends being preserved out of those things wherein the enemy hath had, and has, his kingdom (and too plainly lays his snares to hinder their holy progress), may every where be more and more a retired, serious, plain and self-denying people; growing in the grace and knowledge of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and exalting his spiritual kingdom in their souls.

And because our comfort, as a people, depends upon our care

to maintain peace and fellowship amongst brethren, in all our services we earnestly recommend an humble and condescending frame of spirit unto all; that with godly fear, wisdom and meekness, we may be so ordered in all our respective services, that every high and rough thing may be laid low, and all occasion of striving be prevented, and the peace of the church of Christ preserved and augmented among us: and to that purpose it is tenderly advised, that we diligently and carefully observe the comely and blessed gospel order, so long known and in practice among us, in the spirit of meekness and a sound mind; which is the way to crush all differences in their infancy, and suppress the rise, as well as stop the progress, of every thing that is unseemly, and inconsistent with the testimony of the precious truth.

We have an account, that since last year fourteen Friends are discharged from imprisonment; yet there are remaining thirtyseven Friends prisoners, mostly on account of tithes.

And lastly: God having hitherto blessed and eminently preserved his heritage, and lifted up his countenance upon us and our solemn assemblies; let it be the earnest supplication and breathing of our souls to him, that we may ever be preserved a faithful and innocent people, following those things which make for peace, and the completing of that universal spiritual union and fellowship in Christ Jesus our Lord, which as a peculiar people, we are called unto by his grace; that the God of peace may ever be with us, and his mercies and blessings continued.

And this meeting (having had a peaceable and comfortable season together, in the enjoyment of the Lord's presence, in the sense of his great love and goodness to us, and care and providence over us) adjourns till the usual time next year, in this city.

Signed on behalf, and by direction, of this Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXIII-1700.

Dear and well-beloved Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus, We tenderly salute you in his dear love and life, whereby we were made alive unto him, and hitherto helped and preserved, to be a peculiar people to his praise and glory, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Blessed be his glorious name and power for ever.

And as his living presence and word of life, hath been felt among us, to our edification and comfort, in these our solemn as

semblies; our souls' fervent desire is, that you may enjoy and partake of the same in all your assemblies, to engage and to confirin you in faithfulness to the end, that a crown of righteousness and glory you may inherit for ever.

The things following are, in true brotherly love, briefly recommended to you, for your information, concerning truth's progress and prosperity; as also, for your tender consideration and christian

care.

This meeting hath had divers good accounts from the several counties both in England and Wales, as also by epistles from Friends in foreign parts (as Scotland, Ireland, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode-Island, Bermudas and Holland), importing the prosperity of truth, and increase of Christ's government and peace, of which there shall be no end: howbeit, that our Friends at Dantzick are under sufferings for truth and their testimony thereto; and our Friends at Frederickstadt under some hardships, and their lives have been under apparent dangers, occasioned by the war in those parts; for whose relief care is taken, as occasion shall require.

Friends' care is also continued for the redemption of our Friends that are captives in Barbary; and (as was hoped) the king has now agreed for the ransom of all the English captives there; and agents are arrived from thence, in order to receive the said ransom. And although now, as heretofore, Friends have acquainted the government that they intend to redeem our Friends at our own charge, nevertheless Friends are so far willing to encourage a public collection for the said service, that when the collectors shall come with the briefs to Friends' houses, we hope Friends will be inclined to extend their charity, in common with their neighbours, towards the redemption of the other English captives.

Concerning the present sufferings of Friends in this nation: First, by imprisonments....Notwithstanding ten have been discharged since last year, forty remain prisoners, mostly for tithes, by priests and impropriators. Secondly, by goods taken away :.... The accounts now received amount to above 4700l. most of which is on the account of tithes. And as we have formerly advised that you keep exact and true accounts of all your sufferings for conscience sake, both by distresses, sequestrations, and imprisonments, that we may be capable to give a true account thereof to the government, when necessity requires; and also that care be taken to give speedy account when any Friends are discharged from imprisonments, or proceedings against them stopped, and how, and by what means (the want of which hath given much

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