At the first convincement, when Friends could not put off their hats to people, or say You to a single person, but Thou and Thee; when they could not bow, or use flattering words in salutations, or adopt the fashions and customs of the world, many Friends, that were tradesmen of several sorts, lost their custom at the first; for the people were shy of them, and would not trade with them; so that for a time some Friends could hardly get money enough to buy bread. But afterwards, when people came to have experience of Friends' honesty and truthfulness, and found that their Yea was yea. and their Nay was nay; that they kept to a word in their dealings, and that they would not cozen and cheat them; but that if they sent a child to their shops for anything, they were as well used as if they had come themselves; the lives and conversations of Friends did preach, and reached to the witness of God in the people. Then things altered so, that all the inquiry was, "Where is there a draper, or shopkeeper, or tailor, or shoemaker, or any other tradesman, that is a Quaker?" Insomuch that Friends had more trade than many of their neighbours, and if there was any trading, they had a great part of it. Then the envious professors altered their note, and began to cry out, "If we let these Quakers alone, they will take the trade of the nation out of our hands."
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While Friends abode in the northern parts, a certain priest of Wrexham, in Wales, one Floyd,(1) having heard reports concerning us, sent two of his preachers into the North to inquire concerning us, to try us, and bring him an account of us. But when these triers came down amongst us, the power of the Lord seized on them, and they were both convinced of the truth. So they stayed some time with us, and then returned to Wales; where afterwards one of them departed from his convincement; but the other, whose name was John ap John, abode in the truth, and received a part in the ministry, in which he continued faithful.
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When the Churches were settled in the North, and Friends were sate down under Christ's
teaching, and the glory of the Lord shined over them, I passed from Swarthmoor (about the
beginning of the year 1654) through the countries, visiting Friends till I came to
Synderhill-Green,(2) where a meeting was appointed three weeks before. When I came to
Synderhill Green, there was a mighty meeting, some thousands of people (as it was supposed).
Many persons of note were there, as captains and other officers; and there was a general
convincement; for the Lord's power and truth was over all, and there was no opposition.
About this time did the Lord move upon the spirits of many, whom He had raised up, and sent forth to labour in His vineyard, to travel southwards, and spread themselves in the service of the gospel to the eastern, southern and western parts 'of the nation; for above sixty ministers had the Lord raised up, and now sent abroad out of the North country, the sense of their service being very weighty upon me.
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About this time Rice Jones of Nottingham (who had been a Baptist, and was turned Ranter), and
his company, fell a-prophesying against me that I was then at the highest, and ,that after that time
I should fall down as fast. He sent a bundle of railing papers from Nottingham to Mansfield,
Clawson and the towns thereabouts, judging Friends for declaring the truth in the markets and in
steeple-houses; which papers I answered. But his and his company's prophecies came upon
themselves for soon after they fell to pieces and their meetings scattered, except that some of
them met together on the First-day to play at shovell-board. Many of his followers became
Friends, and continued so. And through the Lord's blessed power, Truth and Friends have
increased and do increase in the increase of God: and I, by the same power, have been and am
preserved, and kept in the everlasting Seed, that never fell nor changes. But Rice Jones took the
oaths that were put to him, and so disobeyed the command of Christ. Many such false prophets
have risen up against me, but the Lord hath blasted them, and will blast all who rise against the
blessed Seed and me in that. My confidence is in the Lord; for whosoever did, I saw their end,
and how the Lord would confound them, before He sent me forth.
I was now at Synderhill-Green, where I had had a large meeting in the daytime; and at night we had a great meeting again in Thomas Stacey's house; for people came from far, and could not soon depart. The high sheriff of the county told Captain Bradford(3) that he intended to have come up with half a dozen of his troopers to the meeting; but the Lord prevented him. When I had attended some meetings thereabouts, I travelled up and down in Yorkshire, as far as Holderness, and to the land's end that way, visiting Friends and the Churches of Christ; which were finely settled under Christ's teaching, At length I came to Captain Bradford's house, whither many Ranters came from York to wrangle; but ,they were confounded and stopped. Thither came also the Lady Montague, who was then convinced, and lived and died in the truth.
Then I came again to Thomas Taylor's, within three miles of Halifax, where was a meeting of about two hundred people; amongst which were many rude people, and divers butchers, several of whom had bound themselves with an oath, before they came out, that they would kill me (as I was told); one of those butchers had killed a man and a woman. They came in a very rude manner, and made a great disturbance in, the meeting. The meeting being in a close, Thomas Taylor stood up, and said unto them, "If you will be civil, you may stay, but if. not, I charge you to be gone from off my ground," But they were the worse, and said they would make it like a common; and they yelled, and made such a noise as if they had been at a bearbaiting. They thrust Friends up and down; and Friends being peaceable, the Lord's power came over them. Several times they thrust me off from the place I stood on by the crowding of due people together against me; but still I was moved of the Lord to stand up' again as I was thrust down. At last I was moved of the Lord to say unto them, if they would discourse of the things of God, let them come up to me one by one; and if they had anything to say or to object, I would answer them one after, another; but they were all silent, and had nothing to say. And then the Lord's power came so over them all, and answered the witness of God in them, that they were bound by the power of God; and a glorious, powerful meeting we had, and His power went over all, and the minds of the people were turned by the Spirit of, God in them to God, and to Christ their Teacher. The powerful word of life was largely declared that day; and in the life and power of God we brake up our meeting; and that rude company went their way m Halifax. The people asked them why they did not kill me, according to, the oath they, had sworn; and they maliciously answered that I had so bewitched them that they could not do it. Thus was the Devil chained at that time. Friends told me that they used to come at other times and be very rude and unruly; and, sometimes break their stools and seats, and make frightful work amongst them; but the Lord's power had now bound them.
Shortly after this, the butcher, that had been, accused of killing a. man and a woman before, and who was one of them that had then bound: himself by an oath to kill me, killed another man, and was sent to York jail. Another of those rude butchers, who had also sworn to kill me, that used to thrust his tongue out of his mouth to Friends when they passed by him, had it so swollen out of his mouth that he could never get it in again, but died so. Several strange and sudden judgments came upon many of these conspirators, against me, which would be too large here to declare. God's vengeance: from heaven came upon the blood-thirsty who sought after blood; for all such spirits I laid before the Lord, and left them to Him to deal with them, who is stronger than them all; in whose power I was preserved, and carried on to do His work. The Lord hath raised a fine people in these parts, whom He hath drawn to Christ, and gathered in His name; who feel Christ amongst them, and sit under His teaching.
After this I came to Balby, from whence several Friends went with me into Lincolnshire; of whom some went to the steeple-houses, and some to the Separate meetings. There came to the meeting where I was the sheriff of Lincoln,(4) and several with him, who made great contention and jangling for a time. But at length the Lord's power struck him, that he was convinced of the truth, and received the word of life, as did several others also that had opposed, and continued among Friends till they died. Great meetings there were, and a large convincement in those parts. Many were turned to the Lord Jesus, and came to sit under His teaching, leaving their priests, and their superstitious ways; and the day of the Lord flourished over all. Amongst them that came to our meetings in that country was one Sir Richard Wrey, who was convinced; as was also his brother(5) and his brother's wife, who abode in the truth, and died therein, though he afterwards ran out.
Having visited these countries, I came into Derbyshire; the sheriff of Lincoln, who was lately convinced, being with me. In one meeting we had some opposition, but the Lord's glorious power gave dominion over all. At night there came a company of bailiffs and serving-men, and called me out. I went out to them, having some Friends with me. They were exceedingly rude and violent; for they had, it seems, complotted together, and intended to carry me away with them in the dark of the evening by force, and then to do me a mischief; but the Lord's power went over them, and chained them, so that they could not effect their design; and at last they went away.. The next day, Thomas Aldam, understanding that the serving-men belonged to one called a knight, who lived not far off, went to his house, and laid before him the bad conduct of his servants. The knight rebuked them, and did not allow of their evil carriage towards us.
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I passed towards Kidsley Park, where came many Ranters; but the Lord's power checked them. From thence I went into the Peak Country towards Thomas Hammersley's,(6) where came the Ranters of that country, and many high professors. The Ranters opposed me, and began swearing, and I reproved them for it.
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This Thomas Hammersley, being summoned to serve upon a jury, was admitted to serve without an oath; and when he, as foreman of the jury, brought in the verdict, the judge declared that he had been a judge so many years, but never heard a more upright verdict than that Quaker had then brought in. Much might be written of things of this nature, which time would fail to declare. But the Lord's blessed power and truth was exalted over all, who is worthy of all praise and glory for ever I
Travelling through Derbyshire, I visited Friends till I came to Swannington, in Leicestershire, where there was a general meeting, to which many Ranters, Baptists, and other professors came; for great contests there had been with them, and with the priests in that town. The Ranters made a disturbance, and were very rude, but at last the Lord's power came over them, and they were confounded.
Then I went to Drayton to visit my relations. As soon as I was come in, Nathaniel Stephens the priest, having got another priest, and given notice to the country, sent down to me to come up to them, as they could not do anything till I came. Having been three years away from my relations, I knew nothing of their design. But at last I went up into the steeple-house yard, where the two priests were; and they had gathered abundance of people. When I came there, they would have me go into the steeple-house. I asked them what I should do there; and they said, "Mr. Stephens cannot bear the cold." I told them he might bear it as well as I. At last we went into a great hall, Richard Farnsworth being with me; and a great dispute we had with these priests, concerning their practices, how contrary they were to Christ and His apostles. The priests would know where tithes were forbidden or ended, whereupon I shewed them out of the seventh chapter to the Hebrews that not only tithes but the priesthood that took tithes was ended; and the law was ended and disannulled, by which the priesthood was made and tithes were commanded to be paid. Then the priests stirred up the people to some lightness and rudeness. Now I had known Priest Stephens from a child, therefore I laid open his condition, and the manner of his preaching; and how that he, like the rest of the priests, did apply the promises to the first birth, which must die. But I shewed that the promises were to the Seed, not to the many seeds, but to one Seed, Christ, who was one in male and female; for all were to be born again before they could enter into the kingdom of God. Then he said I must not judge so: but I told him he that was spiritual judged all things. Then he confessed that that was a full Scripture; "But, neighbours." said he, "this is the business: George Fox is come to the light of the sun, and now he thinks to put out my star-light." But I said, "Nathaniel, give me thy hand": then I told him I would not quench the least measure of God in any, much less put out his star-light, if it were true star-light--light from the Morning Star. But I told him if he had anything from Christ or God, he ought to speak it freely, and not take tithes from the people for preaching, seeing Christ commanded His ministers to give freely, as they had received freely. So I charged him to preach no more for tithes, or any hire. But he plucked his hand out of mine and .said he would not yield to that. After a while the people began to be vain and rude; so we brake up; yet some were made loving to the truth that day. Before We parted, I told them that, if the Lord would, I intended to be at the town that day seven-night again.
In the interim I went into the country, and had meetings, and came thither again that day seven-night. Against that time this priest had got seven priests to help him: for Priest Stephens had given notice at a lecture on a market-day at Atherstone, that such a day there would be a meeting and a dispute with me. I knew nothing of it; but had only said I should be in town that day seven-night again. Now these eight priests had gathered several hundreds of people, even most of the country thereabouts, and they would have had me into the steeple-house; but I would not go in, but got on a hill and there spake to them and the people. There were with me Thomas Taylor, who had been a priest, James Parnell, and several other Friends. 'The priests thought that day to have trampled down Truth; but the truth came over them. Then they grew light, and the people rude; and the priests would not stand trial with me; but would be contending here and there a little with one Friend or other. At last one of the priests brought his son to dispute with me; but his mouth was soon stopped. When he could not bow to answer, he would go and ask his father; and his father was confounded also, when he came to answer for his son. So, after they had toiled themselves, they went away in a rage to Priest Stephens' house to drink. As they went away, I said, "I never came to a place where so many priests together would not stand the trial with me." Whereupon they and some of their wives came about me, laid hold of me, and fawningly said what might I have been, if it had not been for the Quakers! Then they began a-pushing Friends to and fro to thrust them from me, and to pluck me to themselves. After a while several lusty fellows came, took me up in their arms, and carried me into the steeple-house porch, intending to carry me into the steeple-house by force; but the door being locked, they felt down on a heap, having me under them. As soon as I could, I got up from under them, and got to the hill again. Then they took me from that place to the steeple-house wall, and set me on a bass like a stool; and all the priests being come back, stood under with the people. The priests cried, "Come, to argument, to argument": I said I denied all their voices, for they were the voices of hirelings and strangers. And they cried, "Prove it, prove it." Then I directed them to the tenth of John, where they might see what Christ said of such; He declared He was the true shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep, and His sheep heard His voice, and followed Him; but the hireling would fly when the wolf came, because he was a hireling. And I offered to prove that they were such hirelings. Then the priests plucked me off from the bass again; and they themselves got all upon basses under the steeple-house wall.
Then I felt the mighty power of God arise over all, though the people began to be a little rude, and told them if they would but give audience, and hear me quietly, I would shew them by the Scriptures why I denied those eight priests or teachers that stood before me, and all the hireling teachers of the world whatsoever; and I would give them Scriptures for what I said. Whereupon both priests and people consented. Then I shewed them out of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Malachi, and others, that they were in the steps of such as God sent His true prophets to cry against; for, said I, "You are such as the prophet Jeremiah cried against, chap. v., when he said, 'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means',which he called an astonishing and horrible thing."
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Though they thought to have confounded Truth that day, many were convinced of it; and many that were convinced before were by that day's work confirmed in the truth, and abode in it; and a great shake it gave to the priests. My father in the flesh, though he was a hearer and follower of the priests, thwacked his cane on the ground, and said, "Well, I see he that will but stand to the truth, it will carry him out."
I passed about in the country till that day seven-night, and then came again; for we had appointed
a meeting at my relations' house. Now Priest Stephens having had notice beforehand thereof, had
got another priest to him; and they had a company of troopers with them, and sent for me to come
to them. But I sent them word our meeting was appointed, and they might come to it if they
would. The priests came not; but the troopers came, and many rude people. They had laid their
plot, that the troopers should take every one's name and then command them to go home; and
such as would not go they should take and carry them away with them. Accordingly they began,
and took several names, charging them to go home; but when they came to take my name, my
relations told them I was at home already: so they could not take me away that time. Nevertheless
they took my name; but the Lord's power was over them, and they went away, both professors
and troopers, crossed and vexed because they obtained not their end. But several were convinced
that day, and admired the love and power of God. This was that Priest Stephens who once said of
me, "Never such a plant was bred in England": yet afterwards he reported that I was carried up in
the clouds, and found again full of gold and silver; and a many lies and false reports he raised on
me: but the Lord swept them all away. The reason why I would not go into their steeple-house
was because I was to bear my testimony against it, and to bring all off from such places to the
Spirit of God; that they might know their bodies to be the temples of the Holy Ghost; and to bring
them off from all the hireling teachers, to Christ their free Teacher, who died for them, and
purchased them with His blood.
1. Morgan Lloyd (c. 1619-1659). (N.P.)
2. Cinder Hill, near Woodhouse, South Yorkshire. (N.P.)
3. William Bradford, living at or near Cinder Hill. (N.P.)
4. Robert Craven (d. 1670). (N.P.)
5. Probably Sir John Wray, Bart., of Glentworth. (N.P.)
6. Basford, near Leek, in Staffordshire. (N.P.)