"Of what use can you be in any kingdom or government, seeing you will not bear arms and fight."

To this I replied: "That many of us had borne arms in times past, and been in many battles and fought with courage, and thought it lawful and a duty then in days of ignorance; and I myself had worn a sword and other arms, and knew how to use them; but when it pleased God to reveal in our hearts the life and power © of Jesus Christ his Son, our Lord, who is the Prince of Righteousness and Peace, whose commandment is love ; we were then reconciled unto God, one unto another, unto our enemies, and unto all men. And He that commanded that we should love our enemies, hath left us no =right to fight and destroy, but to convert them.

And yet we are of use, and helpful in any kingdom or government; for the principle of our religion prohibits idleness and excites to industry; as it is written: They shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks :' and we being husbandmen, concerned in all manner of husbandry and improvements, as likewise in manufactory and merchandizing, with the blessing of heaven upon our labours, do not want but rather abound. And though we are prohibited arms and fighting as inconsistent, we think, with the

rules of the Gospel of Christ; yet we can and do, by his example, readily and cheerfully pay unto every government, in every form, where we happen to be subjects, such sums and assessments as are required of us by the respective laws under which we live.”

Upon which the Czar took several turns in the passage, and then came and looked steadfastly upon us, though we did not seem to mind him or to know that it was he. Then I said to the interpreter: "That we understood there was a person of great distinction in that place, a stranger, very inspectious into the state of affairs and things in general; and, no doubt, might be also inquisitive into the state of religion; and we being a people differing in some points from all others, and so much misunderstood and misrepresented in our own country, that even our neighbours themselves did not know us; lest that great prince should be misinformed and imposed on concerning us and our religion, we had brought him some books, dedicated to the sovereign of our native country; by which he might see a full account of our principles."

We then produced two of Barclay's Apology in Latin; upon which the Czar talked again with the interpreter, who asked us: "Were not these books written by a Jesuit? It is said there are

Jesuits among you." To which Gilbert Mollison replied: "That is a calumny, and proves the necessity of our endeavours in that respect at this time. We have no Jesuits among us; our religion and theirs differ very widely. This book was written by a near relation of mine, who was not a Jesuit, but sincerely of those principles asserted and maintained in the book, as our whole community is."

Then the Czar and interpreter talked together, after which the latter took some gold out of his pocket and offered us for the books. But I told them: "We were no such men as to want any thing for the books or otherwise; they were a present to that great prince, and given freely; and all that we desired was, that they might be acceptable; and that in case any of our Friends should at any time hereafter come into his country, and preach those principles contained in the books, and if they should meet with opposition, and be persecuted by any officers or persons in power under him for the same, he would please to afford them protection and relief." Then they talked together again, and the interpreter kept the books, and the Czar and Prince Menzicoff, whom I supposed the other to be, retired into the room from whence they came. They being gone, we asked the interpreter: "If that was the Czar." He said, he was.

Then we enquired if he had told him the substance of what we had said : and he said he had. He told us the Czar did not understand the Latin tongue, but only his own language and High Dutch. Then Gilbert Mollison gave one of the Apologies to the interpreter, for he had several with him; and so we departed in peace and satisfaction.

After this he was at several of our meetings; and William Penn, George Whitehead, and some other Friends waited on him privately, and presented him with more of the same books.

During my continuance in London, I employed myself in conveyancing and the like; and having more business than I could manage alone, I had several clerks or apprentices offered, both in London and from the north, and considerable sums of money with them; but could not accept of any, lest it should prove too great a confinement from my calling in the Truth. For though I was willing to take pains for my necessary support and the charges of my travels, yet I suffered much in my mind by reason of confinement; since the calling of God cannot be rightly and fully answered by any one, too much entangled with other concerns, though lawful and gainful, and to the view of reason needful.

Section V.

Visits Ireland in company with William Penn and John Everott.-Epistle to the Yearly Meeting in London.-Providential preservation of a gentlewoman and her daughter, during the siege of Cork.-Discourses with a Romish Priest at Clonmel on excommunication and Baptism.-Returns to London.

I staid in London attending the city meetings, and sometimes visiting those of the neighbourhood in the country, until the year 1698, when having a letter from William Penn, then at Bristol, desiring me to meet him and John Everott, at Holyhead, in Wales, at a certain day, in order to go for Ireland, I accordingly set forward from London on the 28th of 2nd month, and went by way of Coventry, Litchfield, &c. to Aberconway, in Wales, where I met with my friends aforesaid; and from thence we went the next day to Holyhead; and the day after, about two in the afternoon, we set sail, and arrived in Dublin Bay in about twentyfour hours; for which we were thankful. On the 6th of 3rd month we went to Dublin, and on the 8th, being the first day of the week, were the half-year meeting there; where we were greatly comforted, not only in the enjoyment 1698. H 4