As soon as he was come within the room, having a file or two of musketeers at his heels, he commanded his men to present their muskets at us, which they did; with intent (I suppose) to strike a terror into the people. Then he made a proclamation, that all who were not Quakers, might depart if they would.

It so happened, that a young man, an apprentice in London, whose name was — Dove, the son of Dr. Dove of Chinner, near Crowell, in Oxfordshire, came that day in curiosity to see the meeting; and coming early, and finding me there, whom he knew, came and sat down by me.

As soon as he heard the noise of soldiers, he was much startled; and asked me softly if I would not shift for myself, and try to get out. I told him no; I was in my place, and was willing to suffer if it was my lot. When he heard the notice given, that they who were not Quakers might depart, he solicited me again to be gone. I told him I could not do so; for that would be to renounce my profession; which I would by no means do. But as for him, who was not one of us, he might do as he pleased. Whereupon, wishing me well, he turned away, and with cap in hand, went out. And truly I was glad he was gone, for his master was a rigid Presbyterian, who in all likelihood would have led him a wretched life, had he been taken and imprisoned among the Quakers.

The soldiers came so early, that the meeting was not fully gathered when they came; and when the mixed company were gone out, we were so few, and sat so thin in that large room, that they might take a clear view of us all, and single us out as they pleased.

He that commanded the party, gave us first a general charge to come out of the room. But we, who came thither at God's requirings, to worship him, (like that good man of old, who said, We ought to obey God, rather than men. Acts v. 29.) stirred not; but kept our places. Whereupon he sent some of his soldiers among us, with command to drag, or drive us out; which they did roughly enough.

When we came out into the street, we were received there by other soldiers, who with their pikes, holden lengthwise from one another, encompassed us round as sheep in a pound; and there we stood a pretty time, while they were picking up more to add to our number

In this work none seemed so eager and active, as their leader major Rosewell. Which I observing, stepped boldly to him as he was passing by me, and asked him if he intended a massacre; for of that, in those times, there was a great apprehension and talk. The suddenness of the question, from such a young man especially, somewhat startled him; but recollecting himself, he answered, no; but I

intend to have you all hanged by the wholesome laws of the land.

When he had gotten as many as he could, or thought fit, which were in number thirtytwo, whereof two were catched up in the street, who had not been at the meeting, he ordered the pikes to be opened before us, and giving the word to march, went himself at the head of us; the soldiers with their pikes making a lane to keep us from scattering.

He led us up Martins; and so turned down to Newgate; where I expected he would have lodged us. But to my disappointment, he went on through Newgate, and turning through the Old Baily, brought us into Fleet-street. I was then wholly at a loss to conjecture whither he would lead us; unless it were to Whitehall; (for I knew nothing then of OldBridewell ;) but on a sudden he gave a short turn, and brought us before the gate of that prison; where knocking, the wicket was forthwith opened, and the master with his porter ready to receive us.

One of those two who were picked up in the street, being near me, and telling me his case, I stepped to the major, and told him, that this man was not at the meeting, but was taken up in the street; and shewed him how hard, and unjust a thing it would be to put him into prison.

I had not pleased him before, in the question I had put to him about a massacre, and

that, I suppose, made this solicitation less acceptable to him from me, than it might have been from some other. For looking sternly. on me, he said, Who are you! that take so much upon you. Seeing you are so busy, you shall be the first man that shall go into Bridewell; and taking me by the shoulders, he thrust me in.

As soon as I was in, the porter, pointing with his finger, directed me to a fair pair of stairs, on the further side of a large court ; and bid me go up those stairs, and go on till I could go no farther.

Accordingly I went up the stairs; the first flight whereof brought me to a fair Chapel on my left hand, which I could look into through the iron grates, but could not have gone into it if I would.

I knew that was not a place for me. Wherefore following my direction, and the winding of the stairs, I went up a story higher, which brought me into a room, which I soon perceived to be a court-room, or place of judicature. After I had stood a while there, and taken a view of it, observing a door on the further side, I went to it, and opened it, with intention to go in but I quickly drew back, being almost affrighted at the dismalness of the place. For besides that the walls quite round were laid all over from top to bottom in black, there stood in the middle of it a great whipping-post, which was all the furniture it

had.

In one of these two rooms judgment was given, and in the other it was executed, on those ill people, who for their lewdness were sent to this prison, and there sentenced to be whipped. Which was so contrived, that the court might not only hear, but see, if they pleased, their sentence executed.

A sight so unexpected, and withal so unpleasing, gave me no encouragement, either to rest, or indeed to enter at all there, till looking earnestly, I spied on the opposite side a door, which giving me hopes of a further progress, I adventured to step hastily to it, and opened it.

This let me into one of the fairest rooms, that, so far as I remember, I was ever in; and no wonder, for though it was now put to this mean use, it had for many ages past been the royal seat, or palace of the kings of England, until Cardinal Wolsey built Whitehall, and offered it as a peace-offering to king Henry VIII. who until that time had kept his court in this house, and had this (as the people in the house reported) for his dining room, by which name it then went.

This room in length (for I lived long enough in it to have time to measure it) was threescore feet; and had breadth proportionable to it. In it, on the front side, were very large bay-windows, in which stood a large table. It had other very large tables in it, with benches round; and at that time the floor