to him, went to his house, and as soon as we appeared before him, he looked upon me with an angry countenance, saying, I am informed you are a Jesuit; upon which the Friends smiling, told the justice, that whosoever had given him that information were greatly mistaken, for they knew me to be otherwise, and that I was born in that county, and then lived in that city. full stop, which occasioned a general silence; and after a little time I said, "I understand this is a place of great profession of religion: I am sorry to see so much irreligion as appears amongst you at this time, through your rude behaviour. It is not long since I came out of my native country, and I think it will not be long ere I return again, and then what shall I say of you to your poor suffering brethren in England?" There was a dread upon me when I spoke these words, which also af fected those present, for many of them trembled, and their faces gathered paleness. Upon which I advised them, if they had any regard to the reputation of religion, to inquire after After which he talked with us more freely, and signified that it was no pleasure to him to persecute his religious neighbours, and as this was the first that came before him on that account, he hoped it would be the last. Then we requesting to know his pleasure, whether the Friend who had been with him should those that were the occasion of these disor come before him again: after some little more discourse he told us, she might go about her business; which we told him we took as a favour from him, and so departed. And after she had visited several more meetings in the county, she returned towards her habitation, being well satisfied with her jour ney. An account of his visit to Friends in Ireland. My Irish journey now falling pretty weightily upon me, I found myself engaged to visit Friends' meetings in Norfolk and some parts of Suffolk, and pretty thoroughly in Essex; and after I was clear of my service there, I returned again to Norwich; and every thing being prepared for my journey into Ireland, I set out in the beginning of the seventh month, after having taken a solemn farewell of Friends at Norwich, and went through the Isle of Ely into Huntingtonshire, and thence into Northamptonshire, and to Warwick, where I once more visited William Dewsbury; and from thence into Staffordshire and Cheshire, visiting meetings as I passed along. I staid but little with my friend Mary Lowe, and went to Frandley on a first-day; from thence to Warrington and Liverpool, where staying one night, I went next morning on board, and in twenty-four hours the ship cast anchor in the bay of Dublin, where I arrived about the latter end of the seventh month, in the year 1682. ders, for that such behaviour was base and scandalous. And moreover I was moved to say, that the time draws nigh, that you will be blown away like the chaff before the sum mer threshing-floor, and the place of your meeting will not be found. After this, some cried out in a Scottish tone, We be all shamed, and getting out of the house, inquired after those that were the occasion of the disorders: some lads they beat, of others who absconded they took the names; after which we had a solemn good meeting, the lively sense of the love of God reached to the hearts of many present, and the meeting ended well. At this meeting a young man a Papist, and servant to William Wilkinson, was convinced, as were many more elsewhere in the north and other parts. I travelled through Ulster and several parts of Munster and Leinster, where I had many meetings. I departed from Dublin on the 14th of the ninth month, and returned thither again on the 25th of the first | month, 1683. After the conclusion of the following Halfyear's meeting, I intended to return to England, and in order to it I sold my horse and prepared for the voyage, but the wind proving contrary I could not get off. Besides this, I found some stop in myself, a further service being presented to my view; to which I gave up, though contrary to my inclinations, viz: It fell with some weight upon me to have a meeting at Tralee, in the county of Kerry, where William Bingley had been. AccordIn this nation I travelled up and down in ingly I set out from Dublin the 17th of the the work of the Gospel, and had good service, third month, taking meetings in the way, and many being convinced by means of my min- went to Cork, and from thence to Tralee, a istry. At Antrim, a place of great profession, journey of one hundred and fifty-eight miles, I had a meeting in the evening, to which accompanied by John Hammond, Thomas many came, and some with a design to oppose Wight and some others, and had a comfortme. The place was not large enough to con-able opportunity; many hearts were tendered, tain the people, which occasioned those with- the Lord's presence attending, and after the out to be very noisy and turbulent, some of meeting ended, the people withdrew in a sothe ruder sort pelting them with bits of dirt lemn and peaceable manner. P. White, a and turf, whilst I was preaching. I made a man of note in the town, came and offered them his house to meet in, which they kindly accepted, as also of his invitation to dine with him next day, and we parted in much friendship. After this I visited several meetings in Leinster province, and went to the north again. They were well pleased with this discourse, declaring at parting, that they had never heard things so opened to them in their lives. few days. The number of miles I travelled in Ireland was one thousand seven hundred and fortysix; the number of meetings I had there, exAs I was going from Antrim to the Grange, clusive of Dublin, was one hundred and eighty; I saw ten or twelve men upon the road walk-and in this service I spent one year, within a ing in a very solitary manner, and it arose in my heart, These are sheep having no shepherd. When I came up to them, I slackened my pace, and queried of them, What news? The men were startled at the question, and answered, We know of none; continuing to go softly, I said, Are ye going to a meeting? They answered, Our minister is silenced; for orders are come down, commanding all Dissenters not to assemble; so now we have no teacher. This brought to my remembrance what I had been concerned to deliver as above, at the evening meeting I had at Antrim, where I met with so much rudeness, viz: that the time draws nigh, that you will be blown away like chaff before the summer threshing-floor, and the place of your meeting will not be found. At this time all Dissenters, except Friends, had declined keeping up their meetings. I proceeded to discourse with the men aforementioned, and said, The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep; as it is said, John x. 11, 12, 13; referring them to the text; further showing, that it is happy for those who are come to the knowledge of that Teacher who cannot be removed into a corner. God said he would teach his children himself; and the children of the Lord are taught of the Lord. And you may read in the first Epistle of John, chap. ii. 27, The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, &c. And in Titus ii. 11, 12., The grace of God which bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, &c. Here I directed them to the great heavenly School-master, who said, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; follow me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Thus I laboured to bring them from their hireling teachers, to the teaching of God and Christ in themselves, by which they might come to the knowledge of God, and walk in the ways of his salvation; "for a manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." I advised them to turn their minds inward, and mind the secret operation of it, which checks and reproves for bad words and actions; and as they turned to it, they would find it would lead them into all Truth; with many more words to this effect. Having cleared myself of what service lay upon me in this kingdom, I took leave of Friends in a very large and solemn meeting at Dublin, where the Lord's blessed presence and power crowned the assembly, to our mutual joy and satisfaction; it was indeed a very tendering opportunity, and in great unity we parted. Soon after I took shipping in Dublin bay, and in twenty-two hours we cast anchor at Liverpool, and I got to my friend Mary Lowe's, at Crude-hall, that day twelve-month that I left it; and found she was but newly discharged from imprisonment, having been confined about three months for the first of fence upon the Act of banishment, she refusing to take the oaths. I staid not long there before it came upon me to visit meetings in Lancashire, and after I had cleared myself of what was before me there, I came to Stockport in Cheshire, and had a meeting; from thence I went to Hugh Burges's in Styall, where my friend Mary Lowe, with several others, met me; I then went to Joseph Endon's, in Bosley, where we met with our friend John Gratton, it being the first time I had seen him, and we had there a very comfortable meeting, the hearts of many being greatly tendered; and it was also the first time I had been on that side of the county. After having taken one or two more meetings, we returned to Crude-hall. In the beginning of the ninth month we declared our intentions of marriage to Friends of Frandley Monthly Meeting; after which I soon set out for Norwich, our Friend Jeffery Alcock accompanying me, that being then the place of my settlement. Their Monthly Meeting being on the third fourth-day of the same month, I took but a few meetings in my way, and got thither time enough to lay my intentions before the same; which being done, I travelled into Suffolk, and had meetings at Beccles and Aldborough, the place where I formerly met with very rough entertainment from a man, whose wife was some time before convinced by me, and who had threatened to kill me if I came there again. He hearing that I was to be at the meeting, came in, greatly enraged, to revenge himself upon me. was speaking when he came in, and making his way up to me, he pulled me down, and gave me several very ill blows about my head I and face, which raised swellings. In execut- his Divine presence was amongst us, he then ing his fury upon me he fell down, but reco-struck me over my head with his cane, with vering himself, and attempting to pursue his such violence as to raise several great swellrevenge further upon me, a Friend whose ings on my head, and after that he kicked me name was John Mason, who had accompanied down with his foot from off my knees. my honourable friend Giles Barnardiston and me to the meeting, observing it, laid hold of him to prevent his doing any more mischief, and being a very strong man, held him so fast that he could not disengage himself, and desiring to be set at liberty, and promising to go away peaceably, the Friend let him go. In the mean time his wife went out of the meeting undiscovered by him, and he not finding her, came in again; I was then concerned in my testimony as before, but he seeing my friend Mason standing up before me, did not venture to come up to me, but after venting a volley of revengeful oaths against me, he withdrew; after which we had a peaceable good meeting. The good woman lived not long after, through the horrid abuses that he committed upon her; she kept steady to her testimony to the end, and was beloved by Friends and others that were acquainted with her. After this, Friends rising from their knees and putting on their hats, he broke several of their heads, so that the blood ran down. Then Sir Philip cried, Brother, brother, let us prosecute the law upon them, and not abuse them; and my wife stood up and said with a raised voice, Turks, Heathens and Infidels, would scorn such practice. Their intention was to tender us the oaths, and send us to prison, but having no Bible with them, they took down names to prosecute us on the Conventicle Act, and I was fined twenty pounds, and others proportionably to their stations, which was levied with great rigour. Their rigorous proceedings were so noised about in that and neighbouring counties, that they were ashamed of their conduct, and came no more to break up our meetings. Not many days after, my wife was taken with a warrant and committed to Chester castle for the second offence upon the Act of banishment, where she continued with many others until the spring Quarter Sessions at Chester, and was then discharged. In the year 1684, I went up to the Annual Meeting at London, and Friends there being kept out of their meeting-houses, held their meetings in the streets. From hence we went to Woodbridge, and so to Ipswich, and after having visited some other meetings, I accompanied my good friend Giles Barnardiston to his habitation at Clare in Suffolk. After passing through some meetings I made my way to Norwich; where, according to the good order used amongst us, I presented my intentions of marriage a second In the spring of 1685, I found it upon my time, and all things being found clear, I set mind to visit Friends in Lancashire, Westout for Cheshire, and taking a few meetings moreland and Cumberland; and coming to by the way, I reached Derbyshire Quarterly Penrith, I heard that our friend Thomas WilMeeting, which was held the 25th of the tenth son lay dangerously ill, so I left my horse at month. The next day I went home with John Penrith, and walked to pay him a visit, and Gratton, staid one night, and then came to found him in a very weak condition. After a Stockport, and the day following to Crowton, short stay I was moved in spirit to supplicate where I met with my friend Mary Lowe. On the Lord on his behalf, and I received a grathe 1st of the eleventh month we again precious answer, that he should be restored again sented our intentions of marriage to Frandley to health; upon which I desired him not to be Monthly Meeting, where being left to our lib- discouraged, for he should do well; and I told erty, we accomplished the same on the fifth- him, I believed in a short time I should see day following at Frandley, being the 3d of him again in Cheshire; and it was not long the same month. before it came to pass. A general meeting at Newton coming on soon after, we went to it, and it being a suffering time for Friends in that county, Sir Philip Egerton and Captain Needham, two justices of the peace, came to break up the meeting. I was at prayer when they came in, and they stood awhile silent; then Captain Needham stepped up to me and commanded silence, which I not observing, he first took my hat and threw it away, then got hold of my cravat and pulled it in pieces. I still continuing my address to Almighty God, for The next day I came from Penrith to Carlisle, and got to the Border Meeting on firstday, where the Lord was pleased to give us a comfortable opportunity together. Several of our Friends were prisoners at that time at Carlisle. From thence, passing through most of the meetings in Cumberland, I came to Pardsay-cragg meeting, which was very large; and as in the other meetings I had passed through, so in that, the Lord greatly favoured us with his life-giving presence, by which the hearts of many were tendered. From thence I crossed the water into Lan- where having visited several meetings, we cashire, and came to the house of Dr. Lower, passed through Wellingborough to Northampwhere I staid one night, and went to Swarth-ton, at which places the Lord greatly favoured more, the seat of Margaret Fox, and paying us with his blessed presence. a visit to the family, I went next to Lancaster, and staid a meeting there; and taking a few more meetings in that county I came to Warrington, and staid one night at Roger Haydock's, and the next day home, where I found all well to my great satisfaction. In the year 1686, our ancient Friend Isaac Ashton and I went to see how our brethren fared northwards, and taking some meetings. in the eastern parts of Lancashire, we came to Sedburg in Yorkshire, where we had a blessed meeting; and taking meetings in the Dales of Yorkshire, we came to Grayrig, and had there, as in other meetings we passed through, a very seasonable opportunity. From thence, taking meetings by the way, we came to Yarm, where the next evening we had a very large meeting; from thence we went to Stockton, in the bishoprick of Durham, where we found a pretty large body of Friends, and had a good and solid opportunity amongst them. Returning thence into Yorkshire, we came to Whitby and Scarborough, where we had large and good meetings. From thence we passed through Malton to York, where in the afternoon we had a large meeting, a great many of King James' soldiers coming to it, who behaved themselves, for some time after they came in, a little rudely in talking to one another; but after awhile the Lord's power broke in amongst them, so that many were greatly tendered and broken, and the meeting ended to the satisfaction, I think, of all pre sent. From York we went to Leeds, and so to Halifax; at both which meetings the Lord greatly favoured us. There I parted with my friend Isaac Ashton, and making my way towards Manchester, I got home. In the year 1687, I and my wife went for London, in company with Samuel Watson and several other Friends. After the Yearly Meeting was over, we went for Essex, and visited the greatest part of the meetings in that county, which were generally very large. From Essex we went into Suffolk, where we had several large and precious opportunities; and taking meetings as we went, we came to Norwich, where we stayed some days, and had several very good and comfortable meetings. After having visited many meetings in the county of Norfolk, we felt drawings in our minds towards home. We set forwards to my brother Joshua's, at Mildenhall in Suffolk, and had a large and precious good meeting there; from thence to the Isle of Ely, and so into Huntingtonshire, From thence passing through part of Leicestershire, we came through Nottinghamshire, to Robert Mellor's, at Whitehough, in Staffordshire, where we staid all night; in the morning we went to Leek, and so to Macclesfield, and from thence home, where we were gladly received: this was a satisfactory journey to us both. In the year 1688, we removed from Crowton to Stockport; this and the following year I staid pretty much at home. About the latter end of the year 1690, having strong drawings in my mind to visit Friends at London, and in some parts of the West of England; it was then a very cold time, and the lanes between Stockport and Macclesfield so full of snow, that they were not passable, and we were forced to make our way through the fields. We got to Macclesfield, where we staid that night: James Dickenson being also for London, and hearing that I was set out, came and overtook me at Macclesfield. We travelled together, taking meetings as we went, till we came to Banbury in Oxfordshire, where we found a meeting of public Friends at the house of Richard Vivers: we came seasonably to it, and had a very reviving and comfortable opportunity, to the great satisfaction of that solid assembly. To this place we had a very hard journey, the ways being very bad, the snow and ice considerable, and cold winds attending it. From hence we went to Ailsbury, Uxbridge and London; here I staid some time, and after I had cleared myself I set out for the west, and taking meetings as I went, came to Southampton and Ringwood; then to Pool, and passing through the Isle of Purbeck, I came to Weymouth, where we found the people in a great consternation, they espying a great fleet of ships, supposed them to be French; but having sent out a boat to discover what they were, upon the return of it, to their great joy and satisfaction, it was found to be a fleet of English merchant-men, under convoy of some men of war. War had before been declared between France and England. After a short stay here, I came to Yeovil and Bristol; where I staid some days, and had very large and comfortable meetings amongst Friends, as indeed I had all along hitherto; Friends being generally glad to see me, I having formerly visited those meetings; and the Lord's presence and power attended me in my service. From Bristol I went to Frenchay, Nails worth and Gloucester; from thence to Wor- age, but as an ensample to the flock, not forcester, Sturbridge, Woolverhampton and Staf-ward to appear in public service; in doctrine ford; and taking a meeting or two more by sound, clear, instructive and uncorrupted; his the way, I came to Stockport, arriving there openings were fresh and lively, and his manpretty early in the spring, in the year 1691, ner of expression excellent. He delighted where I found all well, and was received with much to wait in silence for the pure openings joy. This was a satisfactory journey; for of the word of life, whereby he became strong having discharged the duty which the Lord re- in the Lord and in the power of his might, quired of me, I had peace and comfort therein. sounding forth the word of reconciliation by Christ our Lord, and salvation through his eternal Spirit; and was often fervent in prayer and supplication, and drawn forth in a sweet and heavenly manner, to the joy of the sincere in heart. He was signally qualified in our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, to speak a word in season for the promotion of peace, good order and discipline in the church; which meetings he constantly attended when at home and in health. POSTSCRIPT. OUR worthy Friend could not be prevailed upon to bring down his memoirs lower than in the foregoing account. I believe he did I believe he did not travel much for many years before his decease, but was a constant attender of our Circular Meetings, as also Quarterly and Monthly Meetings; in which he was of singular service, and eminently gifted both for doctrine and discipline, well knowing how to divide the word aright, and was indeed as a prince in our Israel. A Testimony from the Quarterly Meeting of the 9th of the twelfth month, 1741, concerning He was remarkably compassionate to the poor of the Society, in whom he observed a degree of sincerity and worthiness, who were sure to meet with an advocate in him. In his private capacity, his countenance was solid, his deportment grave, but interexpression, that rendered his company pleamixed with a pleasant and familiar manner of sant to all with whom he conversed. And even when old age and infirmities attended, his understanding was clear, and many sweet and heavenly expressions dropped from him, concerning the largeness of the love of God to his soul, together with seasonable advices, to the tendering of the hearts of those present. He often said to this purpose, that his work was finished, and he freely resigned, feeling nothing but peace from the Lord upon his spirit; yea, so plentifully was it poured forth upon him, that when near his end, he could not forbear rejoicing in the blessed experience thereof, saying, "Now I know and witness the saying of our blessed Lord fulfilled,” viz: "He that believeth in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." THIS our ancient honourable Friend and eminent minister of Jesus Christ, was born in the parish of Longham, in the county of Norfolk, the 1st day of the tenth month, 1652, of reputable parents, and was religiously educated in the principles of the Church of England, so called, by his mother, his father dying when he was young. The Lord was pleased in his young and tender years to extend a merciful visitation of love to him, with which he was at times deeply affected; and about the nineteenth year of his age, being then settled in London, he was convinced of the blessed Truth, as professed by us, and in a short time after came forth in a public testimony, and became an able Much more might be said concerning this minister of the Gospel of Christ, in which good man, and his services and labours in the he laboured faithfully and fervently in divers work of the Gospel for many years, which parts of this nation, and in the kingdom of Ire- are so well known to many, that we need not land, before he came to settle amongst us, and enlarge thereon. And although his removal was instrumental in the convincement of many. from us is a loss to the church, yet we fully In the year 1683, he married our worthy believe it is his everlasting gain, he being gaFriend Mary Lowe, of this county, and set- thered home into the garner of God, as a tled amongst us; after which he visited many shock of corn fully ripe, there to enjoy the parts of this nation and the Principality of blessed reward of the righteous in an endless Wales, and even until age and infirmities fruition of joy and glory. As he lived, so he prevailed, continued to visit the meetings of died, a servant of the Lord and his people, on Friends in this and the adjacent counties, the 6th day of the twelfth month, and was where his services were always acceptable. He was an elder worthy of double honour, having obtained a good report, not seeking glory of men, nor lording it over God's herit decently buried the 9th of the same, in Friends' burying-ground in Stockport, in the year 1741, in the ninetieth year of his age, and was a minister about sixty-five years. |