We came next day to Plymouth, and after having refreshed ourselves at our inn, we went to Robert Cary's house, where we had a very precious meeting. At this meeting was one Elizabeth Trelawney, daughter to a baronet; she being somewhat dull of hearing came close up to me, and clapped her ear very nigh me while I spake; and she was convinced. After the meeting some jangling Baptists came in, but the Lord's power came over them, and this Elizabeth Trelawney came and said, "George is over all," with a loud voice. A fine meeting was settled there in the Lord's power, which has continued ever since, where many faithful Friends have been convinced.
From thence we passed into Cornwall, and travelled through Penryn to Helston; but could not obtain knowledge of any sober people, through the badness of the innkeepers. At length we came to a village where some Baptists and sober people lived, with whom we had sore, discourse; and some of them were brought to confess that they stumbled at the light of Christ. They would have had us to stay with them, but we passed thence to Market-Jew;(1) and having taken up our lodging at an inn, we sent out over-night to inquire for such as feared the Lord. Next morning the mayor and aldermen gathered together, with the high-sheriff of the county; and they sent first the constables to bid us come before them. We asked them for their warrant, and they saying they had nope, we told them we should not go along with them without. Upon the return of the constables without us, they sent their serjeants, and we asked them for their warrant. They said they had none; but they told us the mayor and aldermen stayed for us. We told them the mayor and his company did not well to trouble us in our inn, and we should not go with them without a warrant. So they went away and came again; and when we asked them for their warrant, one of them plucked his mace from under his cloak; we asked them whether this was their custom to molest and trouble strangers in .their inns and lodgings. After some time I said to Edward Pyot, "Go thy ways, Edward, and see what ails the mayor and his company," and Edward Pyot went to the mayor and aldermen, and had much discourse with them; but the Lord's power gave him dominion over them all. When he had returned, several of the officers came to us, and we laid before them the incivility and unworthiness of their carriage towards us, who were the servants of the Lord God, thus to stop and trouble us in our lodgings; and what an urnchristian act it was. Before we left the town I wrote a paper, to be sent to the seven parishes at the Land's End, to declare that the Lord was come to teach His people Himself by His Son Christ Jesus.
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This paper William Salt, who was then with me, had; and when we were gone three or four miles from Market-Jew towards the west, he meeting with a man upon the road, gave him a copy of the paper. And as soon as he had given it I felt we were as taken prisoners, but he should have given it me before he gave it abroad. But I saw it would be well. This man(2) proved to be clerk to one Peter Ceely, major in the army, and a justice of peace in that county; and he riding before us to a place caned St. Ives, shewed the paper to his master, Major Ceely. When we came to Ives, Edward Pyot's horse having cast a shoe, we stayed to have it set; and while he was getting his horse shod I walked down to the sea-side. When I returned I found the town in an uproar; and they were haling Edward Pyot and William Salt before Major Ceely. I followed them into the justice's house, though they did not lay hands upon me. When we came in, the house was full of rude people; whereupon I asked whether there were not an officer among them to keep the people civil. Major Ceely said he was a magistrate. I told him he should shew forth gravity and sobriety then, and use his authority to keep the people civil; for I never saw any people ruder; the Indians were more like Christians than they. After a while they brought forth the paper, aforesaid, and asked whether I would own it. I said, "Yes." Then he tendred the oath of Abjuration to us; whereupon I put my hand in my pocket and drew forth the answer to it, which had been given to the Protector. After I had given him that, he examined us severally one by one. He had with him a silly, young priest, who asked us many frivolous questions; and amongst the rest he asked to cut my hair, which then was pretty long; but I was not to cut it though many times many were offended at it. I told them I. had no pride in it, and I did not put it on. At length the justice put us under a guard of soldiers, who were hard and wild, like the justice himself; nevertheless we warned the people of the day of the Lord, and declared the truth to them. The next day he sent us, guarded by a party of horse with swords and pistols, to Redruth.
On the First-day the soldiers would have taken us away; but we told them it was their Sabbath, and it was not usual to travel on that day. Several of the town's-people gathered about us, and whilst I held the soldiers in discourse, Edward Pyot spake to the people; and afterwards he held the soldiers in discourse whilst I spake to the people; and in the mean time William Salt got out the back way, and went to the steeple-house to speak to the priest and people. The people were exceeding desperate, in a mighty rage against him, and abused him. The soldiers also, missing him, were in a great rage, ready to kill us; but I declared the day of the Lord and the word of eternal life to the people that gathered about us. In the afternoon the soldiers would needs have us away, so we took horse. When we had ridden to the town's end, I was moved of the Lord to, go back, again, to speak to the old man of the house. The soldiers drew out their pistols, and swore I should not go back. I heeded them not but rid back, and they rid after me. I cleared myself to the old man and the people, and then returned with them, and reproved them for being so rude and violent.
At night we were brought to an inn in Smethick.(3) It being the evening of the First-day, there came to our inn the chief constable of the place, and many sober people, some of whom began to inquire concerning us. We told them we were prisoners under guard for Truth's sake; and much discourse we had with them concerning the things of God. They were very sober and loving to us. Some were convinced and stand to this day.
After the constables and these people were gone, other people came in, who were also very civil, and went away very loving. When all were gone we went to our chamber to go to bed, and about eleven o'clock Edward Pyot said, "I will shut the door, it may be some may come to do us some mischief." Afterwards we understood that Captain Keate, who commanded the guard, had purposed to do us some mischief that night; but the door being bolted he missed his design. Next morning Captain Keate brought a brother or kinsman of his, a rude, wicked man, and put him into the room, he himself standing without. This evil minded man walking huffing up and down the room, I bid him fear the Lord; whereupon he ran upon me, struck me with both his hands, and clapping his leg behind me, would have fain thrown me down, but he could not, for I stood stiff and still and let him strike. As I looked without the door, I saw Captain Keate look on and see his brother or kinsman thus beat and abuse me. Whereupon I said, "Keate, dost thou allow this?" and he said he did. "Is this manly or civil," said I, "to have us under a guard and put a man to abuse and beat us? is this manly, civil, or Christian?" I desired one of our friends to send for the constables, and they came. Then I desired the captain to let the constables see his warrant or order, by which he was to carry us; which he did; and his warrant was to conduct us safe to Captain Fox, governor of Pendennis Castle;(4) and if the governor should not be at home, he was to convey us to Launceston jail. I told him he had broken his order concerning us; for we, who were his prisoners, were to be safely conducted, but he had brought a man to beat and abuse us; so he having broken his order, I wished the constable to keep the warrant. Accordingly he did, and told the soldiers they might go their ways, for he would take charge of the prisoners; and if it cost twenty shillings in charges to carry us up, they should not have the warrant again. I shewed the soldiers the baseness of their carriage towards us; and they walked up and down the house in their dumps, being pitifully blanked and down. The constables went to the castle and told the officers what they had done. The officers shewed great dislike of Captain Keate's base carriage towards us; and told the constables that Major-General Desborough(5) was coming to Bodmin, and that we should meet him, and that it was likely he would free us. Meanwhile our old guard of soldiers came by way of entreaty to us, and promised that they would be civil to us if we would go with them. Thus the morning spent till it was towards the eleventh hour of the day; and then upon the soldiers' entreaty, and promise to be more civil, the constables gave them the order again, and we went with them. Great was the civility and courtesy of the constables and people of that town towards us, who kindly entertained us; and the Lord rewarded them with His truth, that many of them have since been convinced thereof, and are gathered into the name of Jesus, and sit under Christ, their Teacher and Saviour, to this day.
Captain Keate, who commanded our guard, understanding that Captain Fox, who was the governor of Pendennis Castle, was not at home but gone to meet Major-General Desborough, did not have us thither; but went with us directly to Bodmin, and as we went we met Major-General Desborough on the way. The captain of his troop that rode before him knew me, and said, "Oh, Mr. Fox, what do you here?" I replied, "I am a prisoner." "Alack," said he, "for what?" I told him I was taken up as I was travelling. "Then," said he, "I will speak to my lord, and he will set you at liberty." So he came from the head of his troop, rode up to the coach, and spoke to the major-general. We also told him how we were taken. He began to speak against the light of Christ, for which I reproved him; then he told the soldiers they might carry us to Launceston; for he could not stay to talk with us lest his horses should take cold.
So to Bodmin we were had that night; and when we were come to our inn, Captain Keate, who was in before us, put me into a room, and went his way. When I was come in, there stood a man with a naked rapier in his hand. Whereupon I turned out again, called for Captain Keate, and said unto him, "What now, Keate, what trick hast thou played now, to put me into a room where there is a man with his naked rapier? what is thy end in this?" "Oh," said he, "pray hold your tongue; for if you speak to this man, we cannot all rule him, he is so .devilish." "Then," said I, "dost thou put me into a room where there is such a man with a naked rapier, that thou sayest you cannot all rule him? what an unworthy, base trick is this! and to put me singly into this room from the rest of my friends, that were my fellow-prisoners with me!" Thus his plot was discovered, and the mischief they intended was prevented, Afterwards we got another room, where we were together all night; and in the evening we declared the truth to the people; but they were a hardened, dark people. The soldiers also, notwithstanding their fair promises, were very rude and wicked to us again, and sate up drinking and roaring all night.
Next day we were brought to Launceston, where Captain Keate delivered ns to the jailer. Now was there no Friends or friendly people near us; and the people of the town were dark and hardened. The jailer required us to pay seven shillings a week for our horse-meat, and seven for our diet a-piece. But after some time several sober people came to see us, and some of the town were convinced; and many friendly people out of several parts of the country came to visit us, and were convinced. Then arose a great rage among the professors and priests against us; and they said, "This people Thou and Thee all men without respect, and they will not doff their hats, nor bow the knee to any man": this made them fret. "But," said they, "we shall see, when the Assize comes, whether they will dare to Thou and Thee the judge, and keep on their hats before him." They expected we should be hanged at the Assize. But all this was little to us; for we saw how God would stain the world's honour and glory, for we were commanded not to seek that honour, nor give it; but we knew the honour that came from God only, and sought that.
It was nine weeks from the time of our commitment to the Assizes, to which abundance of people came from far and near to hear the trial of the Quakers. There was one Captain Bradden that lay with his troop of horse there, whose soldiers and the sheriff's men guarded us up to the Court through the multitude of people that filled the streets; and much ado they had to get us through them. Besides, the doors and windows were filled with people looking out upon us. When we were brought into the Court, we stood a pretty while with our hats on, and all was quiet; and I was moved to say, "Peace be amongst you!" Judge Glynne,(6) a Welchman, then Chief Justice of England, said to the jailer; "What be these you have brought here into the Court?" "Prisoners, my lord," said he. "Why do you not put off your hats?" said the judge to us: we said nothing. "Put off your hats," said the judge again. Still we said nothing. Then said the judge, "The Court commands you to put off your hats." Then I spake, and said, "Where did ever any magistrate, king, or judge, from Moses to Daniel, command any to put off their hats, when they came before them in their Courts, either amongst the Jews, the people of God, or amongst the heathen? and if the law of England doth command any such thing, shew me that law either written or printed." Then the judge grew very angry, and said, "I do not carry my law-books on my back." "But," said I, "tell me where it is printed in any statute book, that I may read it." Then said the judge, "Take him away, prevaricator! I'll ferk(7) him." So they took us away, and put us among the thieves. Presently after he calls to the jailer, "Bring them up again." "Come," said he, "where had they hats from Moses to Daniel? come, answer me. I have you fast now," said .he. I replied, "Thou mayest read in the third of Daniels that the three children were cast into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar's command, with their coats, their hose, and their hats on." This plain instance stopped him; so that not having any thing else to say to the point, he cried again, "Take them away, jailer." Accordingly we were taken away, and thrust in among the thieves, where we were kept a great while; and then, without being called again, the sheriff's men and the troopers made way for us (we were almost spent to get through the crowd of people), and so guarded us to the prison again, a multitude of people following us, with whom we had much discourse and reasoning at the jail. We had some very good books to set forth our principles, and to inform people of the truth, which the judge and justices hearing of, they sent Captain Bradden for them, who came into the jail to us, and violently took our books from us, some out of Edward Pyot's hands, and carried them away; so we never got them again.
In the afternoon we were had up again into the Court by the jailer and sheriff's men and troopers, who had a mighty broil to get us through the crowd of people. When we were in the Court, waiting to be called, I seeing both the jury and such a multitude of others swearing, it grieved my life that such as professed Christianity should so openly disobey and break the command of Christ and the Apostle. And I was moved of the Lord to give forth a paper against swearing, which I had about me, to the grand and petty juries.
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This paper passing among them from the jury to the justices, they presented it to the judge; so that when we were called before the judge, he bade the clerk give me that paper; and then asked me whether that seditious paper was mine. I told him if they would read it up in open Court, that I might hear it, if it was mine I would own it, and stand by it. He would have had me to take it, and look upon it in my own hand; but I again desired that it might be read, that all the country might hear it and judge whether there was any sedition in it or not: for if there were I was willing to suffer for it. At last the clerk of the Assize read it with an audible voice that all the people might hear it, and when he had done, I told them it was my paper; I would own it; and so might they too, except they would deny the Scripture: for was not this Scripture language, and the words and commands of Christ and the Apostle, which all true Christians ought to obey? Then they let fall that subject; and the judge fell upon us about our hats again, bidding the jailer take them off, which he did, and gave them to us; and we put them on again. Then we asked the judge and the justices what we had lain in prison for these nine weeks, seeing they now objected nothing to us but about our hats; and as for putting off our hats, I told them that was the honour which God would lay in the dust, though they made so much to do about it; the honour which is of men, and which men seek one of another, and is the mark of unbelievers. For "How can ye believe," said Christ, "who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" and Christ saith, "I receive not honour from men"; and all true Christians should be of His mind.
Then the judge began to make a great speech, how he represented the Lord Protector's person,
who had made him Lord Justice of England, and sent him to come that circuit, &c. We desired:
him, then, that he would do us justice for our false imprisonment, which we had suffered nine
weeks wrongfully. But instead of that, they brought in an indictment that they had framed against
us; so strange a thing, and so full of lies, that I thought it had been against some of the thieves;
that we came" by force and arms, and in a hostile manner into the Court," who were brought as
aforesaid. I told them it was false: and still we cried for justice for our false imprisonment, being
taken up in our journey without cause by Major Ceely. Then Peter Ceely spake to the judge, and
said, "May it please you, my lord, this man [pointing to me] went aside with me, and told me how
serviceable I might be for his design; that he could raise forty thousand men at an hour's warning,
and involve the nation in blood, and so bring in King Charles, and I would have aided him out of
the country, but he would not go. If it please you, my lord, I have a witness to swear it." So he
called upon his witness; but the judge not being forward to examine the witness, I desired that he
would be pleased to let my mittimus be read in the face of the Court and country, in which my
crime was signified, for which I was sent to prison. The: judge said it should not be read; I said it
ought to be, seeing it concerned my liberty and my life. The judge said again, "It shall not be
read"; but I said, "It ought to be read; for if I have done anything worthy of death or of bonds, let
all the country know it." Then seeing they would not read it, I spake to one of my
fellow-prisoners, "Thou hast a copy of it, read it up," said I. "It shall not be read," said the judge;
"Jailer," said he, "take him away, I wilt see whether he or I shall be master." So I was taken away;
and a while after called for again. I still cried to have my mittimus read; for that signified the cause
of my commitment: wherefore I bid William Salt to read it. He did read it, and the judge, justices,
and whole Court were silent; for the people were eager to hear it. It was as follows:
Peter Ceely, one of the Justices of the Peace of this County, To the Keeper of His Highness's gaol at Launceston, or his Lawful Deputy in that behalf, Greeting:--
I send you herewithal by the bearers hereof, the bodies of Edward Pyot of Bristol, and George Fox of Drayton and Clea in Leicestershire, and William Salt of London, which they pretend to be the places of their habitations, who go under the notion of Quakers and acknowledge themselves to be such; who have spread several papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, and cannot render any lawful cause of-coming into these parts, being persons altogether unknown, and having no pass for their travelling up and down the country, and refusing to give sureties of their good behaviour according to the law in that behalf provided; and refuse to take the oath of' abjuration, &c. These are therefore; in the name of His Highness the Lord Protector; to will and command you, that when the bodies of the said Edward Pyot, George Fox. and William Salt shall be unto you brought, you them receive, and in His Highness's prison aforesaid you safely keep them, until by due course of law they shall be delivered. Hereof fail you not, as you will answer the contrary at your perils. Given under my hand and seal, at St. Ives, the eighteenth day of January, 1655.
P. Ceely.
When it was read I spake thus to the judge and justices, "Thou that sayest thou art Chief Justice of England, and you that be justices, know that if I had put in sureties, I might gone whither I pleased; and have carried on the design(if I had had one) which Major Ceely hath charged me with: and if I had spoken those words to him, which he hath here declared, judge ye whether bail or mainprize could have been taken in that case." Then, turning my speech to Major Cooly, I said, "When or where did I take thee aside? Was not thy house full of rude people, and thou as rude as any of them at our examination: so that I asked for a constable or some other officer to keep the people civil? But if thou art my accuser, Why sittest thou on the Bench? That is not a place for thee to sit in, for accusers do not use to sit with the judge; thou oughtest to come down and stand by me, and look me in the face. Besides, I would ask the judge and justices whether or no Major Ceely is not guilty of this treason which he charges against me, in concealing it so long as he hath done. Does he understand his place either as a soldier or a justice of the peace? For he tells you here that I went aside with him, and told him what a design I had in hand, and how serviceable he might be tor my design: that I could raise forty thousand men in an hour's time, and bring in King Charles, and involve the nation in blood. He saith, moreover, he would have aided me out of the country, but I would not go; and therefore he committed me to prison for want of sureties for the good behaviour, as the mittimus declares. Now do not you see plainly that Major Cooly is guilty of this plot and treason that he talks of, and hath made himself a party to it, by desiring me to go out of the country, and demanding bail of me, and not charging me with this pretended treason till now, nor discovering it? But I deny and abhor his and am innocent of this devilish design." So that business was let fall: for the judge saw clearly enough that instead of ensnaring me he had ensnared himself.
Major Ceely then got up again and said, "If it please you, my lord, to hear me; this man struck me, and gave me such a blow as I never had in my life." At this I smiled in my heart, and said, "Major Ceely, art thou a justice of peace and a major of a troop of horse, and tells the judge here in the face of the Court that ! struck thee, and gave thee such a blow as thou never hadst the like in thy life? What! art thou not ashamed? Prithee, Major Ceely," said I, "where did I strike thee? and who is thy witness for that? who was by?" He said it was in the Castle Green, and that Captain Bradden was standing by when I struck him. I desired the judge to let him produce his witness for that, and I called again upon Major Ceely to come down from off the Bench, telling him it was not fit that the accuser should sit as judge over the accused. When I called again for his witnesses, he said Captain Bradden was his witness. Then I said, "Speak, Captain Bradden, didst thou see me give him such a blow, and strike him, as he saith?" Captain Bradden made no answer, but bowed his head towards me. I desired him to speak up if he knew any such thing, but he only bowed his head again. "Nay," said I, "speak up, and let the Court and country hear, and let not bowing of the head serve the turn. If I have done so, let the law be inflicted on me; I fear not sufferings, nor death itself, for I am an innocent man concerning all this charge." But Captain Bradden never testified to it, and the judge finding those snares would not hold, cried, "Take him away, jailer": and then, when we were taken away, he fined us twenty marks a-piece for not putting off our hats; and to be kept in prison till we paid it. So he sent us back to the jail.
At night Captain Bradden came to see us, and seven or eight justices with him, who were very civil to us, and told us they believed neither the judge nor any in the Court gave credit to the charges which Major Ceely had brought forward against me in the face of the country. And Captain Bradden said that Major Ceely had an intent to take away my life if he could have got another witness. "But," said I, "Captain Bradden, why didst not thou witness for me, or against me, seeing Major Ceely produced thee for a witness that thou saw me strike him? and when I desired thee to speak either for me or against me, according to what thou saw or knew, thou wouldst not speak." "Why," said he, "when Major Ceely and I came by you, as you were walking in the Castle Green, he put off his hat to you, and said, 'How do you do, Mr. Fox ? Your servant, Sir." Then you said to him, "Major Ceely, take heed of hypocrisy, and of a rotten heart; for when came I to be thy master, and thou my servant? Do servants cast their masters into prison?'" This was the great blow he meant I gave him. Then I called to mind that they walked by us, and that he spake so to me, and I to him; which hypocrisy and rotten-heartedness he manifested openly, when he complained of this to the judge in open Court, and in the face of the country; and would have made them all believe that I struck him outwardly with my hand.
Now were we kept in prison, and many came from far and near to see us; of whom some were people of account in the world; for the report of our trial was spread abroad, and our boldness and innocency in our answers to the judge and Court were talked of in town and country. Among others came Humphry Lower to visit us, a grave, sober old man, who had been a justice of peace; he was very sorry we should lie in prison, telling us how serviceable we might be if we were out of prison, but we reasoned with him concerning swearing; and having acquainted him how they tendered the oath of Abjuration to us, as a snare, because they knew we could not swear, we shewed him that no people could be serviceable to God if they disobeyed the command of Christ; and that they that imprisoned us for the hat-honour which was of men, and which men sought for, prisoned the good, and vexed and grieved the Spirit of God in themselves, which should have turned their minds to God. So we turned him to the Spirit of God in his heart, and to the light of Christ Jesus; and he was thoroughly convinced, and continued so to his death, and was very serviceable to us.
There came also to see us one Colonel Rouse,(8) a justice of peace, with a great company with him. He was as full of words and talk as ever I heard any man in my life, so that there was no speaking to him. At length I asked him, to stop him, whether he had ever been at school, and knew what belonged to questions and answers. "At school!"said he. "Yes." "At school!" said the soldiers; "doth he say so to our colonel, that is a scholar?" Then said I, "If it be so, be still and receive answers from me to what thou sayest." Then I was moved to speak the word of life to him in God's dreadful power; which came so over him that he could not open his mouth; his face swelled and was red like a turkey; his lips moved, and he mumbled something; but the people thought he would have fallen down. I stepped to him, and he said, "I was never so in my life before": for the Lord's power stopped the evil power and air in him, so that he was almost choked. The man was ever after very loving to Friends, and never so full of airy words to us, though he was full of pride; but the Lord's power came over him, and the rest that were with him.
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Now the Assize being over, and we settled in prison upon such a commitment, that we were not likely to be soon released, we brake off from giving the jailer seven shillings a-week each for our horses, and seven for ourselves; and sent our horses cut into the country. Upon which he grew very wicked and devilish; mad put us down into Doomsdale, a nasty, stinking place, where they used to put witches and murderers, alter they were condemned to die. The place was so noisome, that it was said few that went in ever came out again alive. There was no house of office in it; and the excrements of the prisoners that from time to time had been put there, had not been carried out (as we were told)for many years. So that it was all like mire,-and in some places to the top of the shoes in water and piss; and he would not let us cleanse it, nor suffer us to have beds or straw to lie on. At night some friendly people of the town brought us a candle and a little straw, and we burnt a little of our straw to take away take stink. The thieves lay over our heads, and the head jailer in a room by them, over us also. Now it seems the smoke went up into the jailer's room, which put him into such a rage that he took the pots of excrements of the thieves, and poured them through a hole upon our heads in Doomsdale; whereby we were so bespattered that we could not touch ourselves or one another. And the stink increased upon us, so that what with that, and what with smoke, we had nearly been choked and smothered. We had the stink under our feet before, but now we had it on our heads and backs also; and he, having quenched our straw with the filth he poured down, had made a greater smother in the place. Moreover he railed at us most hideously, calling us "hatchet-faced dogs," and such strange names as we had never heard in our lives. In this manner were we fain to stand all night, for we could not sit down, the place was so full of filthy excrements. A great while he kept us after this manner before he would let us cleanse it, or suffer us to have any victuals brought in but what we had through the gate. Once a lass brought us a little meat, and he arrested her for breaking his house, and sued her in the town Court for breaking the prison. Much trouble he put the young woman to, whereby others were so discouraged that we had much to do to get water or drink or victuals. Near this time we sent for a young woman, Anne Downer, from London (that could write, and take things well in short-hand), to get and dress our meat for us, which she was very willing to do, it being also upon her spirit to come to us in the love of God; and she was very serviceable to us.
The head-jailer, we were informed, had been a thief, and was branded in the hand and in the shoulder; his wife, too, bad been branded in the hand for some wickedness. The underjailer had been branded in the hand and shoulder; and his wife in the hand also. Colonel Bennet,(9) who was a Baptist teacher, having purchased the jail and lands belonging to the Castle, had placed this head-jailer therein. The prisoners, and some wild people, talked of spirits that haunted Dooomsdale, and how many had died in it; thinking perhaps to terrify us therewith. But I told them that if all the spirits and devils in hell were there, I was over them in the power of God, and feared no such thing.
By this time the General Quarter Sessions drew nigh; and the jailer still carrying himself basely and wickedly towards us, we drew up our sufferings and sent it to the Sessions at Bodmin; upon reading of which the justices gave order that Doomsdale door should be opened and that we should have liberty to cleanse it, and to buy our meat in the town. We also sent a copy of our sufferings to the Protector, setting forth how we were taken and committed by Major Ceely, and abused by Captain Keate as aforesaid, and the rest in order, whereupon the Protector sent down an order to Captain Fox, governor of Pendennis Castle, to examine the matter about the soldiers abusing us, and striking me.
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Hugh Peters, one of the Protector's chaplains, told him they could not do George Fox a greater service for the spreading of his principles in Cornwall than to imprison him there. And indeed my imprisonment there was of the Lord, and for His service in those parts: for after the Assizes were over, and it was known we were likely to continue prisoners, several Friends from most parts of the nation came into the country to visit us. Those parts of the West were very dark countries at that time; but the Lord's light and truth brake forth and shined over all, and many were turned from darkness to light, and from Satan's power unto God. Many were moved to go to the steeplehouses; and several were sent to prison to us; and a great convincement began in the country.
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One time there came a soldier to us; and whilst one of our friends was admonishing of him and exhorting him to sobriety, &c., I saw him begin to draw his sword. Whereupon I stepped to him and told him what a shame it was to offer to draw his sword upon a naked man, and a prisoner; and how unfit and unworthy he was to carry such a weapon; and that if he should have offered such a thing to some men, they would have taken his sword from him, and have broken it to pieces. So he was ashamed, and went his way; and the Lord's power preserved us.
Another time, about the eleventh hour at night, the jailer being half drunk, came and told me he had got a man now to dispute with me (this was when we had leave to go a little into the town). As soon as he spake these words, I felt there was mischief intended to my body. All that night and the next day I lay down on a grass-plat to slumber, and I felt something still about my body; and I started up and struck at it in the power of the Lord, and yet still it was about my body. Then I arose and walked into the Castle Green, and the under-keeper came to me and told me there was a maid would speak with me in the prison. I felt a snare in his words too, therefore I went not into the prison, but to the grate, and looking in, I saw a man that was lately brought to prison for being a conjurer, and he had a knife in his hand. I spake to him, and he threatned to cut my chops (as he said); but being within the jail, he could not come at me. This was the jailer's great disputant. I went soon after into the jailer's house, and found him at breakfast; and he had then got his conjurer out with him. I told the jailer his plot was discovered. Then he got up from the table, and struck his napkin away in a rage; and I left them and went away to my chamber; for at this time we were out of Doomsdale. At the time the jailer had said the dispute should be, I went down and walked in the court (the place appointed) till about the eleventh hour, but nobody came. Then I went up to my chamber again, and after a while I heard one call for me. I stepped to the stairs' head, and there I saw the jailer's wife upon the stairs, and the fortune-teller at the bottom of the stairs, holding his hand behind his back and in a great rage. I asked him, "Man, what hast thou in thy hand behind thy back? Pluck thy hand before thee," said I; "let us see thy hand and what thou hast in it." Then in a rage he plucked forth his hand with a naked knife in it. I shewed the jailer's wife the wicked design of her husband and herself against me; for this was the man they had brought to dispute of the things of God. But the Lord discovered their plot, and prevented their evil design; they both raged, and he threatned. Then I was moved to speak sharply to him in the dreadful power of the Lord, which bound him down, so that he never after durst appear before me to speak to me. I saw it was the Lord alone that preserved me out of their bloody hands; for the Devil had a great enmity to me, and stirred up his instruments to seek my hurt. But the Lord prevented them; and my heart was filled with thanksgivings and praises unto Him.
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The Lord, who saw the integrity of our hearts to Him, and knew the innocency of our cause, was with us in our sufferings, bore up our spirits, and made them easy to us; and gave us opportunities of publishing His Name and truth amongst the people; so that several of the town came to be convinced, and many were made loving to us. Friends from many parts came to visit us.
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Now in Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire and Somersetshire, Truth began mightily to spread, and many were turned to Christ Jesus and His free teaching; for many Friends that came to visit us were drawn forth to declare the truth in those counties; which made the priests and professors rage, and they stirred up the magistrates to ensnare Friends. They placed watches in the streets and highways, on pretence of taking up all suspicious persons; under which colour they stopped and took up the Friends that travelled in and through those countries coming to visit us in prison; which they did that they might not pass up and down in the Lord's service. But that by which they thought to stop the truth was the means of spreading it so much the more; for then Friends were frequently moved to speak to one constable, and to the other officer, and to the justices they were brought before; and this caused the truth the to spread more amongst them in all their parishes. And when Friends got among the watches, it would be a fortnight or three weeks before they could get out of them again; far no sooner had one constable taken them and carried them before the justices, and they had discharged them, than another would take them up, and carry them before other justices; which put the country to much needless trouble and charges.
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The mayor of Launceston(10) was a drunken, bad man, and loose, for he took up all he could get, and cast them into prison; and he would search substantial grave women, their petticoats and their head-clothes for letters. A young man having come to see us, who came not through the town, I drew up all the gross, inhuman and unchristian actions of the mayor (for his carnage was more like a heathen than a Christian). To him I gave it, and bid him seal it up, and go out again the back way; and then come into the town through the gates. He did so; and the watch took him up, and carried him before the mayor, who presently searched his pockets and found the letter, wherein he saw all his actions characterised. This shamed him so, that from that time he meddled little with the servants of the Lord.
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There coming to my hand a copy of a warrant issued from the Exeter Sessions, in express terms,
"for apprehending all Quakers," wherein Truth and Friends were reproached and vilified, I was
moved to write an answer thereunto, and send it abroad, for clearing Truth and Friends from the
slanders therein cast upon them, and to manifest the wickedness of that persecuting spirit from
whence it proceeded; which was after his manner:
Whereas there was a warrant granted forth the last Sessions held at Exeter, on the eighteenth day of the Fifth Month, 1656, which warrant is "for the apprehending and taking up all such as Quakers or call themselves Quakers or go under the notion of Quakers"; and is directed to the chief constables, to be sent by them to the petty constables, requiring them "to set watches, able men with bills, to take up all such Quakers as aforesaid." And whereas in your said warrant, you speak of the Quakers as spreading seditious books and papers; I answer, They whom ye in scorn call Quakers have no seditious books or papers; but their books are against sedition, and seditious men, and seditious books, and seditious teachers, and seditious ways. Thus ye have numbered them, who are honest men, godly men, holy men, men that fear God, among beggars, rogues, and vagabonds; thus putting no difference between the precious and the vile. You are not fit to judge, who have set up your bills, and armed your men to stand up together in battle against the innocent people, the lambs of Christ, who have not lifted up a hand against you. But if ye were sensible of the state of your own country, your cities, your towns, your villages, how the cry of them is like Gomorrah, and the ring like Sodom, and the sound like the old world, where all flesh had corrupted its way, which God overthrew with the flood;--if you did consider this with yourselves, you would find something to turn the sword against, and not against the lambs of Christ.
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We continued in prison till the next Assize; but we were not called before the judges any more.
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While I was in prison here, the Baptists and Fifth-monarchy-men prophesied that this year Christ should come and reign upon earth a thousand years. And they looked upon this reign to be outward, when He was come inwardly in the hearts of His people, to reign and rule there, and these professors would not thus receive Him. So they failed in their prophecy and expectation, and had not the possession of Him. But Christ is come, and doth dwell in the hearts of His people and reign there. Thousands, at the door of whose hearts He hath been knocking, have opened to Him; and He is come in, and doth sup with them and they with Him; the heavenly supper with the heavenly and spiritual Man. So many of these Baptist and Monarchy-people became the greatest enemies to the possessors of Christ; but He reigns in the hearts of His saints over all their envy.
At the Assize divers justices came to us and were pretty civil, and reasoned of the things of God soberly, having a pity towards us. Captain Fox, governor of Pendennis Castle, came and looked me in the face, and said not a word; but went to his company, and told them he never saw a simpler man in his life. I called after him, and said, "Stay, man, we will see who is the simpler man." But he went his way; a light chaffy man.
One Thomas Lower also came to visit us, and offered us money; we accepted of his love but
refused his money. He asked us many questions concerning our denying the Scriptures to be the
word of God; and concerning the sacraments and such like, to all which he received satisfaction. I
spake to him and he afterwards said my words were as a flash of lightning, they ran so through
him. He said he never met with such wise men in his life; for they knew the thoughts of his heart,
and were as the wise master-builders of the assemblies, that fastned their words like nails. He
came to be convinced of the truth, and remains a Friend to this day. When he came home to his
aunt Hambly's,(11) where he then lived, and made report to her concerning us, she, with her sister,
Grace Billing, hearing the report of Truth, came to visit us in prison, and was convinced also.
Great sufferings and spoiling of goods both he and his aunt have undergone for the truth's sake.
About this time I was moved to give forth the following exhortation to Friends in the ministry:
Friends,--In the power of life and wisdom, and dread of the Lord God of life, and heaven, and earth, dwell, that in the wisdom of God over all ye may be preserved, and be a terror to all the adversaries of God, and a dread, answering that of God in them all, spreading the truth abroad, awakening the witness, confounding deceit, gathering out of transgression into the life, the covenant of light and peace with God. Let all nations hear the sound by word or writing. Spare no place, spare no tongue nor pen; but be obedient to the Lord God; go through the work; be valiant for the truth upon earth; and tread and trample all that is contrary under...
The ministers of the Spirit must minister to the Spirit that is in prison, which hath been in captivity in every one, that with the Spirit of Christ people may be led out of captivity up to God, the Father of Spirits, do service to Him, and have unity with Him. with the Scriptures, and one with another. Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a blessing and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you will be a sweet savour, and a blessing...
G.F.
After the Assizes, the sheriff, with some soldiers, came to guard a woman to execution that was sentenced to die; and we had much discourse with them. One of them wickedly said, "Christ was as passionate a man as any that lived upon the earth"; for which we rebuked him. Another time we asked the jailer what doings there were at the Sessions; and he said, "Small matters; only about thirty for bastardy." We thought it very strange that they who professed themselves Christians should make small matters of such things. But this jailer was very bad himself; I often admonished him to sobriety; but he abused people that came to visit us. Edward Pyot had a cheese sent him from Bristol by his wife; and the jailer took it from him, and carried it to the mayor, to search it for treasonable letters, as he said; and though they found no treason in the cheese, they kept it from us. This jailer might have been rich if he had carried himself civilly, but he sought his own ruin which soon after came upon him; for the next year he was turned out of his place, and for some wickedness cast into the jail himself; and there begged of our Friends. And for some unruliness in his carriage, he was, by the succeeding jailer, put into Doomsdale, locked in irons, and beaten; and bid to remember how he had abused those good men whom he had wickedly, without any cause, cast into that nasty dungeon; and told that now he deservedly should suffer for his wickedness; and the same measure he had meted to others should be meted out to himself. He became very poor, and died in prison; and his wife and family came to misery.
While I was in prison in Launceston, a Friend(12) went to O. C. and offered his body to lie in Doomsdale in my stead, if he would take him, and let me have liberty. Which thing so struck him, that he said to his great men and Council, "Which of you would do so much for me if I were in the same condition?" And though he did not accept of the Friend's offer, but said he could not do it, for that it was contrary to law, yet the truth thereby came mightily over him.
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After this Major Desborough came to the Castle Green, and played at bowls with the justices and others. Several Friends were moved to go and admonish them not to spend their time so vainly; desiring them to consider that though they professed themselves to be Christians, yet they gave themselves up to their pleasures, and kept the servants of God meanwhile in prison; and telling them the Lord would plead with them, and visit them for such things; but notwithstanding what was written or said to him, he went away and left us in prison. We understood afterwards that he left the business to Colonel Bennet, who had the command of the jail. For sometime after, Bennet would have set us at liberty if we would have paid his jailer's fees. But we told him we could give the jailer no fees; for we were innocent sufferers; and how could they expect fees of us, who had suffered so long wrongfully? After a while Colonel Bennet, coming to town, sent for us to an inn, and insisted again upon fees, which we refused. At last the power of the Lord came so over him. that he freely set us at liberty on the 13th day of the Seventh Month, 1656. We had been prisoners nine weeks at the first Assize, called the Lent-Assize, which was in the spring of the year.
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1. Now Marazion. (N.P.)
2. He was Captain John Keate, mentioned later. (N.P.)
3. Now Falmouth. (N.P.)
4. Captain John Fox, lieutenant-governor 1646 to 1658 and then governor. (N.P.)
5. John Desborough, Major-General for the Western Counties. (N.P.)
6. Sir John Glynne (1603-1666), Chief Justice of the Upper Bench, 1655-1659. (N.P.)
7. Ferk=beat, correct, punish. (N.P.)
8. Probably Anthony Rouse, who succeeded Captain Fox as governor of Pendennis Castle. (N.P.)
9. Probably Robert Bennet (1605-1683), M.P. for Launceston in 1653 and 1659. (N.P.)
10. The mayor in 1655-6 was Phillip Peare (or Pearse). (N.P.)
11. Loveday Hambly (c. 1604-1682), of Tregangeeves, near St. Austell. (N.P.)
12. His name was Humphrey Norton. (N.P.)